Udderly Smooth-REVIEW

On December 16th, I received a rather unique package in the mail;  An assortment of Udderly Smooth products for a quick review.  As I've shared, I am a bit of a farm girl, and I live in the frozen north, so this one was something I had looked forward to as a challenge of a product that potentially fit my needs. 

Now, to see what they have available, visit their website at www.uddercream.com
Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/udderlysmoothusa
And on Twitter at https://twitter.com/udderlysmooth


You see, I have a daily routine that includes dates with this fine bovine:

 

Except that it is now late December.  And I live in Minnesota.  That means that the temps these past few weeks have rarely been above zero, we have snow up to our knees, and we are constantly dealing with moisture on our skin in those temps to do chores and milk by hand.  That means this stuff was put to the test. 

I had used some of the Udderly Smooth a number of years ago at the recommendation of a doctor for a child's nasty diaper rash, but it had been almost 20 years and I really don't remember what the result was of that usage, just that the package was familiar.

To give an idea of the condition of my hands, I've been having to wear non-latex exam gloves to prevent further irritation of chapped hands.  They are cracked and rough, and bumping and rubbing against a dirty udder are not a friendly feeling.  A picture couldn't be taken to really show it, our lighting is too poor. 

Now, the nitty gritty:
This product is made in the USA.  That is pretty important to a lot of folks, so it deserves a good mention.
The product has been around for more than 30 years, also worthy of note to many. 
It can be found in many big name retailers.
Prices will vary according to place of purchase.

I received the hand cream in both 2 and 4 ounce sizes, along with 6 of the sample packets.  I also received a tub of body cream and a tub of foot cream, along with a great coupon.


Pros:

• Convenient options for package sizing.  The 2oz. tube is perfect for a coat pocket or purse!  The larger 4oz. works great for the counter/night stand/desk locations. 
• The packaging makes EASY dispensing.  As long as you don't have an overly eager child squeezing for all they can, the tube doesn't seem to allow large bursts of cream to come out at once.
• The ingredient list is almost identical to the udder balm I have from the farm store (as the company suggests in their promotions) with only slight variations in formulation and a few ingredients that are not identical.  The entire ingredient list is easily found on their website!

Cons:

• For those who want all natural stuff on their skin, there are some ingredients that may be less than desired. 

• There is also "fragrance", which can bother some.  Several in my house commented when I'd used it because they noticed the fragrance without even seeing me use it (we are exceptionally sensitive to smells in our house, so this is NOT likely a problem for everyone!

Personal Experience:

 I lean towards the more natural things for preferences and wasn't all that excited by the ingredient list.  Not that there is anything I disagree with in particular, but I like "simple".  Meaning the fewer ingredients, the better.  If I don't know exactly what an ingredient is by reading the name, I wonder if I should be using it.  I often use coconut oil and beeswax to make my own lotion bars.  Having a soft, flowing hand cream was a bit of a variation that was nice to have.  I used the entire 2 ounce tube in less than 10 days and found that while my hands didn't heal from being chapped (who can truly expect them to when the temperature is -20f and you have to get them wet regularly?!?!), it did help to maintain them.  My hands did NOT get any worse, and the areas that are not damaged are soft and smooth as the company suggests. 

For those who want something to use "off the shelf", this is a great product.  For those who are concerned about ingredients, it may be something they'd rather pass on, but I am not an expert, nor a chemist, and I know this worked for me.   As with all products?  It may not work for everyone the same, and your experience may be different, but if you need to work on your hands, I'd say give this stuff a try!

If you want to learn more about the experiences of my Mosaic Reviews friends, check out their reviews in the linky at the bottom of this page: http://mosaicreviews.com/udderly-smooth/

REVIEW: EEME Project Genius Light

The Mosaic Reviews team had an opportunity to check out a product that I never imagined existed, but knew it was a perfect fit for one of our kiddos as soon as I heard a bit about it.  

EEME's monthly hands-on project kits teach kids about electronics. Each project kit is paired with online curricula to not only guide the kids in assembling the project but also to teach the concepts applied.

EEME is a monthly subscription program that has a couple of options available.  Prices are $18.95 per month for the basic kit, and $29.95 per month for the pro kit.  Subscriptions may be canceled at any time.

The Dad at EEME  has generously offered all new subscribers the opportunity to have their first month FREE for this next week.  

We decided to extend your readers a 1st month free towards an EEME subscription limited time promo - expires 9/16/2013

The promo URL is here - http://eeme.co/mosaic_eeme_promo

About Project Genius Light

---

With the Genius Light project, you will assemble a simple LED circuit system that does the smart thing - lights up when it is dark and dims when it is light.

The project kit will be shipped with all the materials needed to build the Genius Light (a breadboard, resistors, circuits, LEDs, battery).

Once you've gotten your kit, you'll come back to eeme.co to access our 45 minutes of online videos, which will (1) teach you and your kid how to build the Genius Light, and (2) explain the electrical engineering concepts behind it. (Videos are free to check out.)

Questions? Feel free to get in touch with Jack at jack.pien@eeme.co!

We set aside a couple of hours to do this project, not knowing really what we were getting ourselves into.  There are no directions in the box, you log in online on the company website to access the free videos (the directions to log in are included in the box).  I chose my 8 year old for this review because he LOVES "projects" and is constantly building and creating with any materials his imagination can spin into something else.

 

Checking to make sure all parts are accounted for before starting the project.

Once you log in online, the videos show you step by step with extremely clear explanations of what to do.  They start with the "whats" and then go back and teach the "hows" of each part of the project.  The videos for this particular project are broken up into very short pieces.  Most of them were only a minute or two. The steps were short, easy to understand and very clear.

These projects require some detailed work and some excellent fine motor skills.  There are NO tools required, but a parent does have to be involved with the whole process for younger children, and it is encouraged for all students.  The projects are geared towards 7-12 year old students, but I have to admit that I found it fun and fascinating to be able to do this project, so I think that I'd use the age as a guideline for understanding the concepts, but use it rather loosely.  Some younger children would do well with this project (all of mine stood around us and watched!) and surely older ones would too.

As you progress through each step of the project, some of the videos have a few short questions to help ensure that there is understanding of the concepts and the process. As you complete each part, there is a window that opens to give you a congratulatory message. This gives you the chance to continue on to the next step or go back to review what you want to spend a bit more time learning or understanding.  We had to stop a few times and adjust placement of wires to make them look nice for the project maker.

My little project maker was very thoughtful during the process and was able to soon anticipate what was needed and why.  He tends to be very analytical and thought this project was a blast. 

All told, this project took us a bit over an hour, with interruptions.  We REALLY enjoyed this one!  The reward of a working LED light at the end lit up the faces of the little guys watching and got the wheels turning in my project maker as he considered what else he might be able to do (yes, it spurred that critical thinking that EEME seeks to encourage!)  The parts can be a bit tricky to handle since they are so small, but with a parent's help, it is easy enough to get done. The explanations of the terminology and the parts/components were clear enough that even the 4 year old observer picked them up quickly.  The price is a bit daunting to some, but the quality of the videos and instruction and the "all parts included" (YES, even the batteries!) makes it seem very affordable in most budgets if you have a child with an interest in building and creating.

If you have a project builder at your house, this one is AWESOME to jump in and try!  Thank you EEME and Mosaic Reviews for such a great opportunity!  My guy is thrilled to have something to show off to adults now and share what he has learned in school here at home.

You can find the EEME team at:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/projecteeme

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/projecteeme

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/eemeco

REVIEW: Teen Coder Windows and Game Programming

Mosaic Reviews recently offered us the chance to review something a bit different than your standard curriculum.  Homeschool Programming offers both "kid" and "teen" courses in computer programs, games and Android applications.  Reaching into some of the electives, computer programming is a bit of a specialized market and an even more specialized interest.  In our house, the computer minded folks are affectionately dubbed the "geeks".  This program appealed to me for that very group of students in our home. The time of year was tough for us to dig in deeply and use it as a set, structured curriculum and work through it fully.  We were able to do several lessons and skim the rest, checking out what it had to offer.  It left enough of an impression, it will be part of our school program this year (we aren't starting just yet, for family needs).

From the website:

  Our computer programming courses for kids and teens teach students to write programs, games, and Android applications!

No teacher expertise required! All of our award-winning computer science courses for Visual Basic, C#, and Java are self-study.

And boy, oh boy!  Let me tell you, I am thankful for that "no teacher expertise required" bit!  I will explain more in a moment. 

As a reviewer, I received:

A digital copy of both the Windows Programming and Game Programming text books
Online access to all of the videos (optional part of the program)


This is the equivalent to the year pack for $155.00 on the website, with the videos included.

A brief summary of the product from the publisher:

 The TeenCoder C# programming courses are designed for 9th-12th grade students who may be interested in computer science as a career, hobby, or who may need a computer course for high school graduation. Build your school transcript with a high quality technical elective that is easily recognized by college professors.

I will tell you that way back when, in my final months of high school, I took a computer programming course that I still vaguely remember.  "If then, go to" will forever be stamped in my mind.  It left me feeling a bit arrogant about what I knew, I will unashamedly admit.  Computer programming has come a very long way and changed so much that it was like reading a foreign language to me, as I was browsing the terminology and components.  To say that it has been 20+ years and I do somewhat know my way around computers meant absolutely nothing when I opened this program.  I was quickly humbled by my meager, fading knowledge of this ever changing subject.  After a deep breath, and following the steps from the beginning, taking bite size pieces at a time (remember that part about reading instructions? Yeah, trust me!  It helps sometimes, LOL!).  The team at Homeschool Programming knew there would be parents like me.  They broke it all down so very well that I was back on my feet and running in no time. 

The program helped me understand the history and background of programming and how it has changed and evolved.  The lessons explain not only the HOW of various tasks and lessons, but the WHY.  This was huge.  I am a firm believer in understanding.  I like to say that if you can't understand how it works, you probably shouldn't be using it.  I will admit, I haven't applied this mantra to my computer usage.   This program is helping me fix that problem.  What? You thought it was only for the kids? I think parents can easily learn from this too. 

As we worked through the various lessons, I truly, and I mean *TRULY* appreciated having the videos to help me.  If you've read any of my other reviews, you may remember that I am a visually oriented learner, and having a digital copy of the text book challenged me, but the videos helped pull me back together again.

Thoughts and summaries:

• This program is very thorough to my non expert eye and mind. 
• The price point is a bit steep to some one's pocket book if you are cheap like I am, but the program is very easily handed to a child with total self direction for the teen program that we reviewed.  That is priceless to many parents.
•  The depth of the language was above my head and I felt lost until I took it step by step.  The text and the videos make it clear what is being explained and what is expected. 
• The projects are simple, practical, and fun
• I was impressed by the lesson plans, the scope and sequence, the tests that and the solutions manual.  They are so straight forward that I don't need to fully understand the concepts to help my student.
• While the videos are optional, they can be beneficial.  They are animated and not anything fancy, but highlight printed text and activities to help those who learn through different input.
• The basic graphics and cartoon styling are perfect for the easily distracted in the house.  Simple, yet appropriate.  

All in all?  I have had a crazy summer, interrupted by health issues, garden and farm life and work, but the time I did spend with this program left me wanting more time to use it and absorb it. 

To check it out more, here are the must know details:

Homeschool Programming, Inc
980 Birmingham Rd, Suite 501-128
Alpharetta, GA 30004

Find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/HomeschoolProgramming

The website: http://www.homeschoolprogramming.com/index.php


To read all of the team reviews of both TeenCoder and KidCoder, visit Mosaic Reviews

The Classical Historian Medieval History for Kids- REVIEW

The Classical Historian recently partnered with the Mosaic Reviews team to get the word out about a few of their products.  I was lucky enough, I got to review the Medieval History Memory Game. 

The team at The Classical Historian works to make fun ways to learn history.  You can play this game one of two ways, as directed by the instructions that are included with the game.  You can play as a memory game for ages 3 and up, or you can sort the cards by the 4 categories of: Europe, The Americas, The Far East, and Arabia.  During the second version of game play, the play is timed and it is a "race".

Specifics of this game can be found HERE
The game is $14.95 by itself, but can be purchased in two different bundle options with other games as well. 
You can find The Classical Historian at their website and on facebook.
The game includes 64 playing cards that you have to punch out from their frame.

The Classical Historian offers many other products, including games, books, and even classes!  Check them out to see if there is anything to fill in the gaps of your educational supplies.


Personal thoughts:
This game is a great variation on a well known and well loved childhood game.  The company has chosen to use sturdy, quality materials, which is something we greatly appreciate in our home!  The box has held up to the boys, which says that they didn't pick junk.  The game offers pictures that are not nearly as common as many of the other games of memory that we've played and get a child thinking. 

I would LOVE to see a small guidebook added to this game, or even a simple brochure with a bit of info about each of the cards.  While most parents know the significance of the pictures or topics, children may not yet know, and having a little guide to add to those teaching games would be VERY valuable to me. 

All in all, we had a lot of fun with this game and it is a nice departure from just your average memory game.  I like having a purpose to our play, and I LOVE having more than one play option offered by a publisher!

How Do We know God is Really There? - REVIEW

How Do We Know God Is Really There?

The latest item that came my way as a part of the Mosaic Reviews* team is a thought provoking little story book that tackles the big question:

How Do We Know God Is Really There?

How Do We Know God Is Really There?

How Do We Know God is Really There?

ISBN: 978-1-935495-96-3

ISBN: 978-1-935495-96-3

Melissa Cain Travis, ©2013
Apologia Press
A division of Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.
1106 Meridian Plaza, Suite 340/220
Anderson, IN 46016
www.apologia.com
ISBN 978-1-935495-96-3
$16.00

It can be found, along with a preview in PDF form, at this link:
http://shop.apologia.com/books/367-how-do-we-know-god-is-really-there-.html


This quick little read has a page of text complemented with a full page illustration on the opposite of each page that brings the words to life.  It is classified as a picture book, but it is more than just pictures.  As you read the story, you get a glimpse of the big childhood question, "How do we know God is really there?".  Thomas and his father come upon this question in their nightly routine, and come to their conclusion through logical reasoning.  The illustrations almost tell the story by themselves for the youngest of readers. 

This book is a fun, gentle approach at a very tough question.  It doesn't tackle theology or scientific evidence but a child's perspective of faith and understanding in a very simple, delicate way.  This is a great bedtime story, or a book to just read.  It isn't heavy on scripture, only having one verse cited, Psalms 19:1, to back up their final conclusion. 

I have to say, I am a book lover, and this little hard cover book is sturdy, with heavy duty paper for the pages.  At 48 pages, it is a bit intimidating for new readers, but great for the intermediates if they are planning to read independently.   With a bit of digging to learn more about this book, I found that this is expected to be the first in a series of books that tackle questions for young readers digging into the details of their Christian faith.   I look forward to seeing future offerings, I believe this one was well done.


*Check back for an updated link that will link you to all the other team member reviews for this item!

Waterproof Bible - REVIEW

Have you ever come across something that makes you share your head and say, "HUH??!?! A what?!?!"  Yeah, me too.  This happened to be one of those things.  Bardin Marsee Publishing is really taking something classic and turning it on its head, as the saying goes.  Or are they?  Any book lover knows that you don't mistreat these beloved creatures, no matter how big or small.  Those of us who are of the Christian faith hold the Bible in an even higher regard.  Making a Bible waterproof and having reviewers put this claim to the test is such an amazing opportunity.  I admit to being a skeptic.  I admit to also being very challenged by the thought of intentionally trying to cause harm to a book. 

The story behind the Waterproof Bible really is a practical one.  The company motto is "Be Inspired.  Anywhere".  We've all had that moment of regret with a book.  A spilled drink, dropping it while carrying it outside, something causing us to forget it in a place that gets it wet or dirty..and for parents, the ultimate horror is that moment when a young child grabs that book by the pages and they end up ripping it.  My very first Bible was damaged at the teeth of my beloved Irish Setter, and so I know well the heartache of having something as precious as my Bible permanently damaged by something so simple as daily life.  The publishers, being outdoorsy and adventurous, found a gap that needed to be filled.  While camping, hiking, and even just having fellowship outside are normal things, your average, every day Bible is not likely to be a regular part of it because those delicate pages don't tolerate the wind, the rain, the rigorous trekking without showing wear and tear.  Let me tell you, we put ours to the test. 

I waited for the best possible days to get good pictures and show what we really did, as much as I could.  That meant waiting until the last minute to get the best pictures to go with the review.  The weather here has been rather wild and not conducive to being outside and taking pictures.

We took it to the creek and let it go for a ride. 

Picked it right up, squeezed it firmly to get the water out...

KJV Waterproof Bible NT, Ps & Pr Blue Wave ISBN# 9780984085712

• New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs • Extremely Durable Synthetic Pages • 100% Worry Free • Stain Resistant • Ultra Clear Text • Ideal for Gear Bag or Backpack, Tote Bag or Purse • Dry Highlight • Write and Underline • No Bleed Thru The durability of the Waterproof Bible gives you the freedom to take God's Word with you anywhere - lounging, fishing, exercising, traveling, camping, missions... with worry free confidence that your Bible will withstand the test of time. Specs: 376 pages, 4 1/4" x 7", 7 pt font Material: 100% Waterproof Synthetic Paper and Binding

Price: $24.95 

These Bibles are made of synthetic materials that are not only waterproof, but allow some of the Bibles to float.  These Bibles come in both the full version and the New Testament Version with Psalms and Proverbs.  They come in the 5 most popular translations (King James Version, English Standard Version, New King James Version, New International Version, and New Living Translation).  There are 4 different options for the cover (Camouflage, Blue Wave, Pink Brown Floral, or Lily Pad).

There is a whole list of buying options on the shopping page.  You can find anything from accessories to a clearance section with affordable options for fulfilling the needs of a family on a tight budget.

I really appreciate that there is the ability to personalize these Bibles!  My dog-chewed Bible has always been special to me because it has my name embossed in the leather cover.  It was a big deal to get that first Bible from my church back in 2nd grade, and I worried that these Bibles wouldn't afford that opportunity.  I was wrong. I found that the prices are VERY affordable for a quality Bible, and was impressed with the options.  The company also offers a BOGO opportunity where you "Buy One, Give One" that is used within the ministry they choose to partner with and they do all the leg work to get the Bible into the hands of those who need it.

We sprayed it with a garden hose to be sure there was nothing left of the sediment and sand from the creek.

Nice and strong....

See the water run right out of it?

Squeeze out what you can (two hands works better, but it is hard to do that and use the camera!)

Stand it up to let it air out a bit...note the pages seem to cling together...just fan it out when dry, and all is back to normal.

Right back to where we started.

Weathered, but not worn.

I am totally thrilled with this Bible and the materials with which it was made.  I would LOVE to recommend this to anyone!!!

 Now, I can tell you what we did NOT do: 

• I didn't try any writing utensils or highlighters in it.  I couldn't do it.  I was always taught to not write in my books, not even my Bible.  Note pads are for that job. 
• I was sorely tempted, but never did try red beverages.  I just couldn't imagine what it would feel like if it didn't wash off as easily as the mud, dirt, cracker crumbs and frosting did.  
• We did not try any petroleum based products.  The publisher was clear that those types of products could affect the integrity of the materials used to make the book.
• We did not leave it outside for any extended periods of time.  While the publishers were clear that the book is durable and could handle some exposure, our weather has been so very extreme, I didn't feel safe for fear it may have been damaged by wind or flying debris, if not disappear on me. There was also that concern of stray or wild animals that I'd rather not discuss.
•  We discussed a run through the dishwasher to simulate a good cleaning.  I opted not to because of the heat.  I do not want to risk damaging this book, as I rather like it and want to keep it in usable condition. 
  
  
  
  To reach the publisher:

http://www.bardinmarsee.com/
866.846.4338
Find them on Facebook

And last, but not least?  I got the video to work!  Here you go! Don't mind the amateur flaws, it was fun to do anyway.  My tester was not thrilled to participate, but it was fun to see how the Bible would hold up.

Waterproof Bible put to the test from Stacy Erickson on Vimeo.
As a reviewer for Mosaic Reviews, I had the opportunity to review the Waterproof Bible and put it to the test.

Ooka Island - REVIEW

Created by a leading reading researcher in the U.S., Dr. Kay MacPhee*, Ooka Island was born out of a project that originally started out of a need in the 60's for her own child who was hard of hearing.  She found a strong correlation between speaking and reading, and put her ideas to work.  More recently, the idea came to incorporate technology and engage a new generation in a format that is familiar and appealing to them, and to be able to reach them at a younger age.   The methodology is rigorous with 6,698 skills to master at 75% to complete the game.  There are more than 80 hours of activities to complete.

The program is a self contained, web based application geared towards children from ages 3 to 7 that is compatible with both Mac and PC computers.  This format was chosen to protect young children from having to be online and deal with safety issues, pop ups and other hazards of being online and visiting a website.  As a child plays the games, they incorporate the original Eye/Ear Method that is the foundation of Dr. MacPhee's work.

As they go through each level, there is a set pattern for them to follow with work, practice, and "free play".  A child can stop at any point during the play and the program will pick up where they left off. 

 

The Ooka Island team didn't want to focus solely on screen time and offers printable workbook activities and downloadable songs as well as motivational tools and other great information to help parents and teachers utilize this program to its fullest potential.  The "Lighthouse" is the page for parents and teachers to track progress, print reports and check up on their students' progress and time spent playing. 

From the Ooka Island website:

This learn-to-read program is Ooka-riffic!

The Ooka Island Learn-to-Read Adventure offers adaptive instruction, a narrated e-Reader, and real-time progress reports. Young learners play and learn in a safe, 3D virtual world and take part in a heroic quest!
The program features an adaptive learning algorithm called READirectTM and ensures skill mastery in the five foundations of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Here is the Ooka-mazing news!
5 year olds are breaking into reading after just 8 hours
4 year olds are breaking into reading after 13 hours
Children that complete the program are reading at the 2nd Grade level

Pricing:

Homeschool and Home Editions
Monthly
$12.95 per student
$19.95 per family (up to 4 students)

Annual
$124.95 per student
$149.95 per family (up to 4 students)

School Edition provides and annual license, per student
$10 per student with a District subscription of 500+ students
$15 per student for a school with 31-500 students
$20 per student for less than 30 students

All of the Books are available for purchase through the website as well.

 30% off  Special through this blog through June 1, 2013

Personal thoughts:

In our house, we have a wide range of reading abilities and skills and interests.  Our family is a video game loving group.  We have a 4 year old that was my intended student, but I was pleasantly surprised by a bit older "reluctant reader" who was enthusiastic and excited by the game from the moment he heard the songs when I first installed the program on my computer.  He partnered with the 4 year old and they played as a team.  I was honestly very skeptical about the play being anything more than a chance to have screen time and a reason to play on mom's computer.  I was quite surprised to find them practicing sounds together at various times when NOT playing at the computer.  I hear them coaching each other through the activities and games, and correcting each other whenever possible.  I am seeing a MAJOR boost in the confidence of my reluctant reader and my little guy is becoming more interested in reading words rather than picture books.  The catchy little tunes have made it a familiar part of our home very quickly. 

While I am still a book lover at heart, I am glad that researchers and leaders in education are finding new methods to reach students and help them learn.  I have seen how learning styles and methods can impact a student, and this program helped me see that technology isn't always something to be wary of.  I was able to reach a student in my house who hasn't been all that enthusiastic about learning to read until now.  This program, for whatever reason was able to pique an interest that I haven't been able to do yet with other programs for this particular student.  I had hoped to get a picture of my reading team, but Mr. Reluctant Reader was a bit too shy about it and asked me to not do so.  I can tell you though, that the sight of his face when things finally connected that had challenged him before has been priceless.

Find Ooka Island at the following links for more information:

YouTube Channel

Facebook Page

Website

Blog- Village Voices

Contact Us page





*Should you want to check her credentials, they are listed here.

 

Saving Memories Forever - REVIEW

Many of us treasure the stories of our family and friends.  The memories of childhood, the reminders of things long forgotten. Time slips by, stories are forgotten, voices fade, memories dim.  Saving Memories Forever was created out of the desire to keep those stories alive, in their original voices.  Written stories hold the details, but they lack the emotion, the energy, the highs and the lows that seep through inflections and changes in the spoken words.

This handy little app and website combo can help ANYONE with access to a recording device and a computer become a record keeper of some of those beloved stories and tales.  The app itself is intended for use on either the iPhone or an Android based phone (certain specifications apply, of course. Some of us still have dinosaurs for smart phones and technology is moving along faster than we are!).  To use the program, you simply download the app to your hand held device, register your account online, and start recording and uploading the stories as they happen. 

The creators of this program shared with us that they learned at a genealogy conference that 40% of the people alive today will leave no record of themselves....did you read that?!?! 40%!  To me, that is huge.  The memories I have of my grandparents and others who have passed on already in my life are very special, I can't imagine if I had nothing available to me to remind me of them and share their stories with others.

Harvey and Jane Baker took this to heart and set to work, after realizing what they were lacking in their own desire to record family history.  Their website was released in June 2012, the iPhone app was released in August 2012, and the Android app in November 2012.  They took great care in organizing some clear tutorials on their website, a user's guide, and even a video.  Your audio files can be categorized, tagged, shared with others.  They set up the program so that you may record and upload an "audio biography", and then share the link so that others can appreciate that same recording. 

There are some pretty cool features available with this program: 

• There is a free version as well as a monthly subscription for $3.99 or yearly subscription for $40. The free version is more limited, but gives you a good taste of the possibilities!
• They took great care to create a question list or "story starters" that you can print off and keep handy or use right from the app.  These also help categorize the stories so you can remember Uncle Joe's story about school and go look for it under the "school" themed category of childhood.
• They have some AMAZING customer service!  I have been emailing back and forth with Harvey trying to get my "semi-smart, smart phone" to work as the program is intended, and he has given me great insight, ideas, and tools to make the app and program work even if my phone won't. 
• A facebook page full of genealogy tidbits and news.You can also find their blog, twitter, and a regular newsletter for more info and updates!
• You can "manage" your files and delete those you do not like from the website.  
• You can add photos and biographical info about your various storytellers (and the opposite is true of them as well, you can simply leave some parts blank if you have concern for privacy on the internet!  I had this concern myself with some of the info when I am just "trying" something new, and it worked even with blank data fields).
• Should "forever" not really happen, and the unthinkable happen, the website allows you do download all of your files for saving with the paid apps.  You can find more info on the Free vs. Fee page about what each subscription offers.

This low cost, affordable program is a great tool for genealogists everywhere, dabbler, novice, mom who wants to keep memories, or professional.  My only regret with this program so far is that not one member of my household has willingly been recorded, aside from my own silly test recordings of myself.  I have tried recording a couple of little people to share with family, but they all get shy as soon as the "record" button is pushed. 

I will say that even with my nuisance phone, the app is easy to use, relatively easy to work around, and easy to understand.  I look forward to using it more in the future and am thankful to have had this opportunity.  I am excited about the gift possibilities within my family, and the ideas that were shared with us on how to use this program are pretty much endless...from recording those silly little mispronunciations of your preschooler to "pass the phone" at a family reunion, this app is going to be a hit amongst the family history enthusiasts that I know!

Spanish for You - Estaciones REVIEW

Spanish for You is a unique program that takes a whole new approach to teaching Spanish.  Imagine finding a curriculum that isn't designated to a set age or grade.  A curriculum that can be used for multiple levels at once, from the same book.  A curriculum that offers a book as well as a full audio recording of the book both in a native speaking voice and a non-native voice that offers slower pronunciations for clearer understanding. 

Author, Debbie Annett, MSEd., of Spanish-for-You.net has tried very hard to create just that in her Spanish curriculum, Spanish for You.  She has used this program herself for more than 4 years, but the curriculum has only been available for sale for less than a year.  Her goal of making an affordable curriculum is one that she takes very seriously.  The artwork for the books, done by her own daughter, brings a more relaxed appeal for the students.  The black and white pages allow for students to get more hands' on by coloring the pages if they'd like.  Her choice to offer some of the materials through downloads via PDF and MP3 formats allows the user to print only what is needed, when it is needed.  Using any of the books in any order allows the cost savings of not having to stick to strict schedules and programs.


The books contain instructions and guidance for the teacher and the student.  Each workbook is able to span a full school year with 4 instructional days per week.  The books take on a whole new approach in that they teach common language based on a theme, rather than parts of speech or functional phrases.  It builds skills and familiarity for the formal instruction of older grades. While grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 are designated for the worksheets and activities, the material can be adapted for earlier ages.  The worksheets are geared towards the reading and writing skills of each grade range, but are totally flexible.  The author describes her curriculum as a "middle of the road Spanish curriculum" that tries to balance the European Spanish with North and South American Spanish so that a student may be able to function with any of the variations and dialects.  Her position on language learning is that a student must have continued exposure and repeated practice rather than just occasional practice for fluency.


There are currently 2 full programs available, Fiestas (Celebrations) and Estaciones (Seasons), and Viajes (Travels) coming in June 2013 with a trial version available right now.


Included in the curriculum:

• Soft cover book (e-book available for trial packages)
• 24-30 week lesson guide for the grades ordered (full package of all grades available) PDF download
• Self Checking worksheets PDF download
• 2 Audio files (one of the other reading with slower pronunciation in non-native speaking voice and the other in a native speakers voice) (MP3 download)
• Activity pictures (to use for activities or making flash cards PDF download

Optional teacher lesson plans for classroom use are available separately on the website.

The trial packages start at $9.99, the regular packages are $39.95 each or $64.95 for the entire Grade 3-8 collection of a book.

Personal reflections:
My experience with this program is a bit hard to describe.  I love the concept, I love the layout.  I am still a bit of a "fuddy duddy" and like paper.  As much as I love my computer, I like having hard copies.  Having downloads has great advantages with only needing to print what you need at a time, but feels like a bit of a handicap to me.  I had the unfortunate experience of having a little one use my computer unattended and delete my files at one point.  That turned into a great opportunity to see how the customer service skills stand up behind this new curriculum.   I quickly emailed Debbie, and she was gracious and understanding and took care of my needs within hours.  Her customer service was amazing!  I love having the audio files to listen to  in both voices, because to me, it was overwhelming to open that book for the first time and see words in Spanish with no idea how to pronounce them or even identify them (yeah, picture that deer in the headlights look, it may have been me!). Sure there are English words there, but my overwhelmed mind didn't see those right away.  The non-native recordings include instructions in English, which was much more appealing to me as a total beginner.  I can see the ability to go through this book twice, the first with the English helps, and the second in only the native speaking narration for even greater retention.

With a wee bit of planning and preparation, it was easy to take this curriculum "on the road" and adapt for a recent road trip that was a 3 hour trip each way.  Had I thought ahead, we could have used an MP3 player, but my laptop played the audio files just fine.  Having that portability is very welcome.  The more exposure I have to this program, the more I appreciate it and like it.  I am slow to change some things, and while I would like to see the program offered on a disc as well as just downloads (because I don't do change well with how I handle my curriculum, not because it would in any way improve the program), I am glad I had the opportunity to try this one and look forward to seeing how this new curriculum takes off.  It makes me think of "tv Spanish meets Spanish 101" and bridges the gap in between for younger students who are not ready for the formal instruction, but are beyond learning a simple word or phrase with their favorite cartoon characters.  As a parent, this approach is more relaxed feeling and more practical for those with a more casual interest in language learning.

Apologia Ultimate Homeschool Planner System - REVIEW

Homeshooling requires planning and record keeping to some degree, no matter what style or method a family uses for getting the job done.  I recently had the chance to review the entire "Planning System", created by Debra Bell, famed author (at least in all of the homeschooling circles I have ever been involved with!) of The Ultimate Guide To Homeschooling. These resources, as well as many others can be found at Apologia Press' website, Apologia.com

This was quite a challenge for me, as:
a)  I am NOT a planner, contrary to popular belief
b) I already have a calendar full of items that I carry in my purse and have filled with scattered things all the way through next fall
c) I am NOT, I repeat, NOT a planner.  Did I happen to mention that already?  Ok, sure, I note times and dates of events, but I am truly a "fly by the seat of my pants and go with what works today" kind of person.  If something requires planning and preparation, I can do it, but it is not my natural tendency and takes discipline to get those things done.

The items in the picture are the items I received for review. 

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner   $28  If you click on the link, you can find a sample as well as Table of Contents links.
This planner is great, not only for homeschool records but as an all around planner.  It includes a yearly calendar, month-at-a-glance, and weekly options to fit your needs.  There are record keeping pages, as well as goal setting and summary/journal spaces to document memorable moments and achievements. 

The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens  $19  There is a sample view on their page for this one.This planner contains space and tips for record keeping for graduation, tips and reminders for topics such as algebra, spelling rules, grammar rules, etc.

The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students  $19
This planner is a great starter for the younger students or the no-fuss, no frills type of student.  It contains a month at a glance page, but focuses on the weekly and daily planning.  There are many great resources in this one as well.


You can find them all, as well as the alternate designed cover version of the Ultimate Homeschool Planner on this page.

I could write pages and pages and pages about this, but my natural tendency towards being a bit verbose is getting the best of me lately, so I will keep it short and sweet as much as I can. 

The most notable things for me about each of these planners:

1. The covers of each of these planners is plastic.  Not just card stock or tag board, but plastic.  The kind that can be wiped off when you KNOW you will spill something on it... what? that only happens to me?  Come on, now...tell the truth... I am sure it has happened to someone else before.

2.  The Ultimate Homeschool Planner has POCKETS!  I *love* pockets.  Notes, scraps of paper for reminders, stickers, assignments, paperwork needing to be done, you name it, I keep it with my planner.

3.  The resources!  From the snippets of trivia, to scripture, to words of encouragement, all 3 planners are liberally adorned with these extra tidbits of knowledge and encouragement.  There are teaching resources and tips in the Homeschool Planner, there are charts and maps and "rules" pages in both the Teen Planner and the Student Planner.

4.  The dates have to be filled in.  I *loathe* having to do that with a planner.  Or at least I used to.  After listening to Mrs. Bell on the webinar for those of us who participated in this review, it became clear that it was a concern for her and her partner (Zan Tyler) in this project as well.  The reality is, if the planners are dated, they have an expiration date and things get wasted.  With this method, you don't have to worry about waste.  You can pick it up in August and not lose the first 7 months of calendar, and in turn, the publisher also has no waste.  Her suggestion was to have a child fill it in.  I LOVE that idea!  And I have changed my mind about having to fill in those dates. 

5.  My teen daughter was immediately in love with the Teen planner and until writing this review, I haven't been able to see it again.  She took it, compared notes on my desk calendar, consulted me for details on bigger appointments and events, and took off with hers.  This independence was one of the goals Mrs. Bell had with this system, creating independence in learning.  The goal of the products is that I could compare with her to make sure she is being held accountable for her work and time, but we haven't had that need in a printed form in our house, it happens regularly throughout the day, every day.


All in all, I am impressed with these products.  They are not a great fit for our family at this point since we have systems in place already that work well for us and it is hard to change mid-stream.  I can see great potential for the yearly switch over for us though!  I would LOVE to see the Homeschool Planner available in a smaller size, for my own personal preferences.  I carry a planner with me everywhere and it needs to fit in my purse.  I don't personally do well with one at home and one with me, I inevitably forget to transfer info, and I can't seem to practically manage a separate planner for each "section" of my life.  This planner would do GREAT with that, it is too large for the purses I choose to carry. 

To learn more about these great products and how to make the best use of them, find Mosaic Reviews or Apologia on facebook and join our party!  On Friday, April 12, 2013, at this link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/357468417706643/  The party starts at 9pm EST!



****Please, accept my apologies for the lack of more detailed pictures.  Apparently, my camera has decided that all the great pictures I took should show up blurry :(  I am a bit more than disappointed with this, and hope to have the problem solved soon.

I am up to something else today...go check it out!

 

Every month, I have an article over at Homeschool Mosaics about Unschooling.  Some may consider my family unschooling, some may consider us eclectic...some may just not want to say what they think, but we do choose a non-traditional style of learning. 

Today, I discussed our curriculum, or lack of it... you can find that article and my others over at Mosaics.

Let me know what you think!

We Choose Virtues REVIEW

  Virtues are a quality or trait that is desired or considered good by moral standards. (My paraphrase of the definitions on several websites)  Virtues are something that has to be taught and practiced and modeled.  Heather McMillan of We Choose Virtues saw a need for students to have a formal, structured, focused approach to teaching virtues to young children.  She developed the various products to help parents and teachers as they work with their students to instill these core traits in different teaching settings.  I have to admit, while I knew the virtues themselves, the term "virtue" hadn't crossed my path enough to stick, and I had to go look it up and figure out exactly what a "virtue" meant.  I mean, I had heard of the virtuous woman of Proverbs and all, but what did it really mean?  yeah, go ahead, laugh at me.  I sure did. 

Follow the links for details and info:

As a member of Mosaic Reviews, I was given the opportunity to review the Virtue Flash Cards ($14.99 value) as well as a single Parent Card ($34.99 for the set) and electronic files of:   Coloring Pages ($3.00 downloadable), Butterfly Award, Character Assessment   (FREE), Product Comparison Chart (FREE), Memory Verses, Bible Heroes, and Truths (FREE) and the Teacher's Handbook ($5.00).  Heather sent an introductory email with great details and helpful hints for using the materials she sent.  I am a paper and pen kind of gal, so even though Heather said it was not needed, I chose to print the teacher's manual as well so I could flip through it at will.  Besides, I had just purchased a new printer that was able to do double sided printing, and I had to try it out.  I have to say, it was worth it. 
If you'd like to see more reviews of the We Choose Virtues (WCV) products from other Mosaic Reviews team members, to go Mosaic Reviews and look for the We Choose Virtues post.

Technical info: 

The materials through WCV are offered in 3 formats:  secular, King James and NIV.  I received the secular version.  The cards we secular, but the parenting card does contain one Bible verse.  The coloring pages were completely secular as well. 

Many of the items are available as a digital PDF file for downloading and printing.

Several of the items are free.  Prices and needs will vary, but if you have to start somewhere, you can manage to get the basics covered with the flash cards.

For the month of April, We Choose Virtues has a special.... use the code HOME20 during checkout for 20% off your Homeschool Kit order! 

Any other products, or after the month of April, you may use the code VIRTUE15.  At this time, there is no expiration date on this code!

During our conference call, Heather did give hints that new products are in the works, and the product line will be expanding  in the future!  Be watching for updates!

Personal Experience and Opinion:

We started with the Character Assessment in our family, and all children, ages 4-15 were required to rate themselves at the beginning of our adventure with the cards.  Notice the dark marks on the left.  This was the self scoring of our class clown, fun loving, mischievous little boy who often finds himself on the receiving end of extra chores, reprimands from older siblings, and lots of one on one training on days when his impulses get the best of him.  I was amused and shocked at his brutal honesty in this assessment.  He giggled his way through, somewhat out of silliness, somewhat out of embarrassment as he was the last one to complete this and he was well aware of the expectations.  Each one was read aloud to each child to help them "score" themselves.  No, he really isn't a difficult child, but one who embraces life with all of the gusto he can manage.  That somehow translates into trouble maker, even though he doesn't usually intend to end up that way.

The circles to the right are after some practice with the cards and reviewing expectations.  The improvement was significant within the first few days of use. 

 The use of the coloring pages and the cards has become a daily thing at our house.  The children are helping each other memorize what they see as weaknesses among each other. 

The thing I am finding most impressive with the use of these cards is that my kids are taking initiative in areas that I have not seen before.  I woke yesterday morning to find that the garbage had already been taken out, the birds fed and tended, and school work being done...yes, even on a holiday that landed on a Sunday!

I have to admit, when I first heard about this review, I wasn't all that excited.  I guess I didn't really see a need for more "flash cards".  I am a trailblazer who has to be different and not do things like everyone else, and the thought of flash cards brought up images of drills and repetition.  These cards are NOT like that at all.  They are bright, colorful and "friendly" in both their illustration and approach.  They *can* be done by the old drill and recite method, but they do not HAVE to be.  Phew!  Now that I got that out of the way?  I can tell you, I was thoroughly impressed.  These cards came at a time when they are very much needed.  Refer to picture number 1.  That sweet little boy was not lying.   He has not learned self control, and for whatever reason, we hadn't found the right methods to teach it to him either.   I can't say that the cards are miracles, but they are a welcome tool. 

If I were to never have received another item, the Assessment itself would have proven very beneficial.  It is what got my kids and myself thinking about our intentional choices and actions.  They are working on their perseverance and diligence now without me prodding them along.  This was a welcome surprise!


While Heather suggests starting with the 3 basic rules (Obey, Be Kind, Be a Helper), we did not do that.  I let the kids lead the way on this one since they dove in so heartily with the assessments that they took off on their own.  I just sit back and watch, and give suggestions along the way since the older ones are leading the younger ones naturally, and the younger ones are holding the older ones accountable on their weaknesses. 

I am thankful for the opportunity to review these products and really enjoy them.  I wasn't sure which version would be the best fit for our household, and the secular version is good for us.  I will say that if someone is not wanting any scripture or Bible references, they may want to contact customer service before ordering to be sure they get exactly what they want.  Heather's faith is very clear, and the Bible provides so many passages that support these virtue lessons, that they are heavily blended.  While this is a big bonus to some, it may be a bit of a deterrent for others.  I can tell you from listening to Heather during the conference call that she cares deeply about teaching virtues and will do her best to help you.  Please, contact her or the rest of her team if you have any questions.