Friday, November 20, 2015

Things That Make Me Smile 11/20/15

Jake (9½), Alyssa (7½), Zac (6), Tyler (3½), Nicholas (11 months)



Happy Friday! This week we played a lot of LEGO, did some fall clean-up in the yard, and reorganized parts of the house.


1. Zac: "Ty, that's a Sharpie. I don't think you should just randomly color with it."

2. Leighton proposed 13 years ago this week. We thought it would be fun to take the kids to the restaurant we went to that night. We don't go out to eat very often, so that was a treat in itself. My favorite part though was having many people--both servers and diners--stop at our table and rave about how well-behaved the kids were.

3.

4. Tyler: "Smoke is like flies."
Me: "How's that?"
Tyler: "Because smoke and flies float up."

5. Tyler: "I put it where I put it." 

6. Zac: "I know the trick to solving the Rubik's Cube. You just move it the opposite way you moved it."

7. Alyssa, about new curriculum: "Could we start it today, perhaps?"

8. Nicholas is enjoying being able to walk and is getting confident and curious. And maybe a bit mischievous.


9. The kids were playing baseball. Jake pitched the ball, Zac missed it, and it hit Alyssa in the mouth, knocking out a loose tooth. She had the biggest smile.

10. Tyler: "Mommy, I like that song. You singed it nicely."

11. Tyler, because I tossed his blanket on his head: "I wasn't able to see the iPad."

12. Jake: "Where does the queen deer live?"
Me: "I don't know. Where?"
Jake: "At Buckingham Palace."


What made you Smile this week?

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Friday, November 13, 2015

Things That Make Me Smile 11/13/15

Jake (9½), Alyssa (7½), Zac (6), Tyler (3½), Nicholas (10 months)




Happy Friday! This week I took Zac out for his special day alone with mommy for his birthday, we celebrated Leighton's birthday, and Nicholas learned to walk! Lots of reasons to Smile this week.


1. Tyler, picking up something: "Whoa, heavy."
Me: "Yeah, so it's a good thing you're strong."
Tyler: {blank stare}
Me: "You're Superman. Look at your shirt."
Tyler: "Mom, they're just pajamas."

2. Jake, after eating dinner: "Now I know what a garbage can feels like that hasn't been emptied in two weeks."

3. Tyler: "Can you do it when you're done feeding your baby? Wait--that's my baby!"
Me: "He is?"
Tyler: "Yes! Daddy got him for me!"

4. Nicholas eating spaghetti.


5. Me: "Why do we have to dump the Duplos right in the walkway?"
Zac: "Tyler did it."
Jake: "He has poor thinking."

6. Zac: "I want to build something new with my Legos. Then I'll put it right back after I enjoy the new thing I built."

7. Jake: "I know which state Mary the mother of Jesus was from."
Me: "Which one?"
Jake: "Virginia."

8. Zac: "Apparently it's really loud when it's quiet."

9. Me: "Are you going to play with Papa today?"
Ty: "What?"
Me: "Are you going to play with your papa today?"
Ty: "He's not our papa."
Me: "Whose papa is he?"
Ty: "He's Gramma's papa."

10. The kids wanted to put all 33 candles on their daddy's cake.


11. Jake: "Gramma told me yesterday that I'd be taller than her shortly, haha."

12. Jake's new record for solving the Rubik's Cube is 1 minute and 2 seconds. 

13. Tyler, counting on his fingers: "I know all the vehicles that go in the sky: jets, planes, helicopters."
Me: "What about rockets?"
Tyler: "No, those go in outer space."


What made you Smile this week?

 

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Surfing the Net: Science Review



The internet is a wonderful tool. we use it almost daily to find recipes, research homeopathic remedies, catch up with friends, shop, and so much more. You can look up pretty much all information that you can possibly think of. While that can be beneficial, it can also be a hindrance. The internet is also destructive and full of horrific things. We have very specific guidelines in place for our children when they use the computer. One of those rules is that they are not allowed to preform their own searches. Too many weird things can be the result of those innocent searches. I am reminded of one time a few years ago. Our oldest child (who is 9 years old now) typed a few simple words directly into the address bar because he "wanted to see what came up." That thinking has the potential of a very bad outcome. If they need to find information, their father or I preform the search, find an appropriate source, and hand it off to the child. Now that our son is older now, I felt it was time to teach him how to safely preform internet searched on his own.

The Critical Thinking Co. is "committed to developing students' critical thinking skills for better grades, higher test scores, and success in life." They offer many books and curricula to prepare students, like Surfing the Net: Science, which is exactly the type of resource we needed to teach our son.



Surfing the Net uses free, internet resources and reproducible worksheets to teach science concepts to 3-6 graders. It teaches them to research information and broaden their understanding of the web as an information resource. The topics covered in the book include animals, atmosphere, ecosystems & habitats, energy, geology, plants, and space.

Each topic covers critical thinking in the following ways:
  1. Defining: Students use key word searches to gather general information from the internet using text, videos, charts, or images and answer questions.
  2. Describing: Students use key word searches to gather specific information from the internet using text, videos, charts, or images.
  3. Analyzing & Synthesizing: Students used the information they gathered to fill in a graphic organizer and write a paragraph.
  4. Expanding Knowledge: Students collect additional information about something specific about the topic and may write paragraphs about it.
  5. Investigating: Students form their own question and find the answer through additional research.

The first part of each activity begins with a key word search section. For instance, the very first question of the book reads, Use the key words in each question to find the answers on the Internet:  "Amphibians are ectothermic. How do habitats affect ectothermic animals?" The problem we ran into right away is that there is no help with the key words. Yes, there is a click-through video that the student watches before starting that briefly touches on key words, but that is all. I think it would be so much more beneficial if the key words were written in bold, at least for the first topic or so, to help the student understand key words. The purpose of the book is to teach the student to research. Also, there is no information about what types of websites are good for information. Many times, sites that anyone can ask a question and anybody can give a response--whether he knows what he talking about or not--showed in the top list of searches. I had to teach my son what kind of sites are good for information and what kind are untrustworthy. Don't get me wrong, I am very involved in teaching my children these things (I do homeschool, after all), but I think there should be some teaching about that in the book itself or through better training videos.

The remaining questions for the activities direct students to specific URLs to find information. Icons next to the questions easily show what kind of activity is involved.

Honestly, I think the concept of the book is a good one, but I don't believe there is enough in it to actually teach the student about searching. Many of the questions sent my son searching all over websites to find specific answers. I was able to direct him to where he could find the answers on the page because I can skim read, whereas he hasn't learned that yet and still reads word-for-word. Even some of the designated URLs had him looking for another link within them to eventually find what he needed. The process was daunting. All in all, it was a frustrating experience for us both. Maybe it would be easier or more appealing to an older child, but, unfortunately, it did not work well for my 9 year old.


You can connect with The Critical Thinking Co. on the following social media sites:
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If you'd like to see how other homeschool families used this book or one of the other products offered by The Critical Thinking Co., please read the reviews on the Schoolouse review Crew blog.

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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Eat Your Science Homework Review



If you've followed our blog for any amount of time, you know that cooking is a passion of mine. Not only do I love to cook delicious meals and bake yummy treats for my family, but I believe that it's important to teach my kids those skills, as well. You can often find one of my little ones in the kitchen scrambling eggs, baking a cake from scratch, or chopping veggies for a snack. And just like I thrive on working in the kitchen, they feel the same way about performing science experiments. They get excited about the hands-on learning. They are enthralled watching reactions. They love learning the hows and whys things work. Cooking and science go hand-in-hand. Combining the two in our school day is pretty much perfection.

Ann McCallum Books were written by a teacher with a Master in Education. Ann has written several award-winning children's books. Many of her books focus on learning concepts. Eat Your Science Homework is one such book. 

Eat Your Science Homework: Recipes for Inquiring Minds is a book that teaches science with edible projects. Each section highlights a scientific idea. It starts with a description, is followed by a step-by-step recipes, and concludes with an additional activity that correlates to the study.

Recipes:
  • Atomic Popcorn Balls
  • Density Dressing & Veggie Sticks
  • Invisible Ink Snack Pockets
  • Loop, Whorl, & Arch Cookies
  • Sedimentary Pizza Lasagna
  • Black Hole Swallow-Ups
 

Ann has a down-to-earth way of explaining science concepts. Her book reads like a story. I read each section aloud to my kids (9, 7, 5, 3) and had only a few times where I had to stop to explain something further. Of course, the level of understanding with vary depending on the age of the child. My 9-year-old has a deeper knowledge of science than his 3-year-old little brother, obviously, but the book held the attention of them all equally. That is an important aspect to a homeschooling mom who is teaching multiple ages at once. Some of the concepts are easier to grasp, while others are more complex.

 
The recipes themselves were the kiddos favorite part. The loved mixing and creating in the kitchen. I supervised, but they did most of the work themselves. The recipes are easy enough to be completed by the students. The majority of the ingredients are items that we keep stocked in the house: i.e. cheese, sausage, bbq sauce, pepperoni, popcorn, (not all in the same recipe though, ha!) There are some ingredients required, like refrigerated pizza dough and pancake mix, that we never purchase. I appreciate that they were chosen for this book for their convenience and ease, but we decided to make them ourselves like we always do.


Though the book is written at an elementary level, there are multiple scientific words woven throughout. Each of these words is in bold to draw attention and then defined in the glossary in the back of the book. There is also a review section that discusses the scientific method, atoms and molecules (Atomic Popcorn Balls), properties of matter (Density Dressing & Veggie Sticks & Invisible Ink Snack Pockets), inherited traits (Loop, Whorl, & Arch Cookies), rocks and minerals (Sedimentary Pizza Lasagna), and our solar system (Black Hole Swallow-Ups).

This book is just a sampler of scientific ideas and not meant to be a full curriculum, but if you'd like to take the learning even further, there is also an educator's guide that is filled with more activities and experiments that accompany the concepts in this book. (Any resource that teaches melting point by experimenting with cheese and chocolate is worth looking into!)


Eat Your Science Homework was a huge hit in our house. The kiddos would ask first thing in the morning if they could do their science. Before we even finished the book, they asked if we could get the other Eat Your Homework books. I have a feeling we'll be eating our math or history soon. Yum!


If you'd like to see how other homeschool families used this book or one of the other fun books offered by Ann McCallum books, please read more reviews on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.


 


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Friday, November 6, 2015

Things That Make Me Smile 11/6/15

Jake (9½), Alyssa (7½), Zac (6), Tyler (3½), Nicholas (10 months)


Happy Friday! This week we celebrated Zac's 6th birthday, raked a ton of leaves, and had a lot of fun together as a family. What made you Smile this week?  



1. Zac, about Nicholas: "He's taking bigger steps and more steps. I love where he's heading."

2. Jake learned to solve the Rubik's Cube. He's done it probably 50 times now with his fastest time being 1 minute and 16 seconds.
 
3. We always take the kids with us to vote and they each get a sticker.


4. Tyler, helping me bake a cake: "Can I have the bowl and the spatula?"
Me: "You have to ask Zac which one he wants. It's his birthday."
Tyler: "Zachy, do you want the bowl or the spatula?"
Zac: "Tyler, you pick first. Which one do you want?"

5. Zac, the day after his birthday: "I kinda feel  like I'm 5, but I'm 6."

6. Tyler, because Nicholas was sleeping in and he hadn't seen him that morning: "Mommy, did we get rid of my baby brother?"

7. Jake: "I won it fairly and squarely."

8. Tyler, watching the street sweeper outside: "Mommy, it's the vacuum cleaner!"

9. The kids raked the majority of the front yard by themselves, because they wanted to.


10. Jake: "Mom, you get the rest of day off."
Me: "Really? Wow, thanks! So, who's going to do all my chores?"
Jake: "Uhhh . . . we all get the day off."
Me: "Oh, so I have to do double tomorrow?"
Jake: "Yeah, probably."

12. Jake, making his birthday list, looking through the entire LEGO site: "Some of these sets are so last season." 

13. Tyler: "Zachy, do you want to play with me?"
Zac: "No."
Tyler: "Will you play with me when you're done?"
Zac: "No."
Tyler: "Pretty please? Pretty please will you play with me? Zachy, you're hurting my feelings."


What made you Smile this week?


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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Things That Make Me Smile 10/30/15

Jake (9½), Alyssa (7½), Zac (5½), Tyler (3½), Nicholas (10 months)



Happy Thursday? I've been trying to play catch-up with Smiles the past few weeks. I have a whole list today and a will have a brand new list tomorrow! Lots of Smiling going on. Don't forget to share a Smile of your own, too! 


1. Me: "Aw, Ty, did you bump your head? You have a purple spot right here."
Tyler: "But, Mommy, you like purple!"

2. Tyler: "I like the Leaning Tower of Pizza."

3. Zac, while I was cooking broccoli cheese soup: "Mmm, that smells so good! Mom, you make the best stuff ever."

4. The kids helped me make apple juice to can.


5. Jake, about the Children's Christmas Program at church: "Do you want a speaking part this year?"
Alyssa: "Yeah, but I'm probably not going to get one."
Jake: "You volunteer for the parts; you're not volun-told."

6. Tyler, looking at leaves covering the grass: "The outside is messy."

7. Zac: "Mom, I hope you know you make me so, so happy."

8. Zac: "Ty, do you remember which one?"
Tyler: "Yeah!"
Zac: "Which one?"
Tyler: "I don't know."

9. Tyler, watching Leighton stoke the fire: "There are fireflies in there!"

10. 

11. Zac "What number am I thinking of?"
Me: "23."
Zac: "No."
Me: "2."
Zac: "No".
Alyssa: "Flapjacks."
Zac: "Yes!"
Me: "What?"
Zac: "That's another name for pancakes." 

12. Zac: "Mommy, was I the goodest today?"

13. Tyler, opening and closing my kitchen tongs: "Mama, look this is how I be a shark!"
Me: "Yeah, that's neat, but I really don't want you playing with those."
Tyler: "But I'm a shark."
Me: "What if you break them?"
Tyler: "Oh, then I won't play with them anymore."



What made you Smile this week?





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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Brinkman Adventures Review




We use all sorts of resources and manipulatives for school. I believe in having many options to keep my little ones learning. But our foundation, the basis of our education is literature. Whether it's fun picture books or engaging fiction or historical biographies, you can be sure there is a fair amount being read in our home every day. While I do believe in the importance of the written word, there are times when it's not feasible to sit down and read a novel. It's times like these that we love to turn on an audio book.

The Brinkman Adventures has combined two of our favorite things--audio books and missionary stories--to make a truly entertaining and educational production. My kids fell in love with these stories while listening to The Brinkman Adventures: Season 3.


  • God’s Mule
  • Mountain Mover
  • The Silent Ambassador
  • Translating Trouble
  • Man-Up
  • Acorns & Oaks
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 1
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 2
  • Untouched
  • Busy Bees and a Bullhorn
  • Missionary Tourist, Pt. 1
  • Missionary Tourist Pt. 2
  • - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/brinkman-adventures-review-2/#sthash.1khVNtEi.dpuf

  • God’s Mule
  • Mountain Mover
  • The Silent Ambassador
  • Translating Trouble
  • Man-Up
  • Acorns & Oaks
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 1
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 2
  • Untouched
  • Busy Bees and a Bullhorn
  • Missionary Tourist, Pt. 1
  • Missionary Tourist Pt. 2
  • - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/brinkman-adventures-review-2/#sthash.1khVNtEi.dpuf
    Episodes:
    1. God's Mule
    2. Mountain Mover
    3. The Silent Ambassador
    4. Translating Trouble
    5. Man-Up
    6. Acorns & Oaks 
    7. A Saint's Story, Pt. 1
    8. A Saint's Story, Pt. 2
    9. Untouched
    10. Busy Bees and a Bullhorn
    11. Missionary Tourist, Pt. 1
    12. Missionary Tourist, Pt 2
  • God’s Mule
  • Mountain Mover
  • The Silent Ambassador
  • Translating Trouble
  • Man-Up
  • Acorns & Oaks
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 1
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 2
  • Untouched
  • Busy Bees and a Bullhorn
  • Missionary Tourist, Pt. 1
  • Missionary Tourist Pt. 2
  • - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/brinkman-adventures-review-2/#sthash.1khVNtEi.dpuf

  • God’s Mule
  • Mountain Mover
  • The Silent Ambassador
  • Translating Trouble
  • Man-Up
  • Acorns & Oaks
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 1
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 2
  • Untouched
  • Busy Bees and a Bullhorn
  • Missionary Tourist, Pt. 1
  • Missionary Tourist Pt. 2
  • - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/brinkman-adventures-review-2/#sthash.1khVNtEi.dpuf

  • God’s Mule
  • Mountain Mover
  • The Silent Ambassador
  • Translating Trouble
  • Man-Up
  • Acorns & Oaks
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 1
  • A Saint’s Story, Pt. 2
  • Untouched
  • Busy Bees and a Bullhorn
  • Missionary Tourist, Pt. 1
  • Missionary Tourist Pt. 2
  • - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/brinkman-adventures-review-2/#sthash.1khVNtEi.dpuf



    The Brinkman Adventures is an audio drama series. It's not like a typical audio book that we utilize often as it is not converted from a book, but the episodes weave true missionary stories into the family's adventures to make it a hybrid of sorts. The drama follows the Brinkmans across the globe as they experience challenges like hypothermia, dangerous animals, and intimidating terrorists.

    These amazing accounts are entertaining, for sure, but what makes them even more inspiring is that they are based on modern-day missionary heroes. The episodes that our family enjoyed the most were #7-8, A Saint's Story. When my husband was a young boy living in Florida, he personally knew Steve Saint. In fact, he grew up calling him Uncle Steve. Hearing the story of a man that their father knew and realizing that the people and events were true made it even more meaningful to my kids. They were in awe as they listened.  

    To say that we've enjoyed this series is a bit of an understatement. I don't even know how many times the kids have listened to the entire 5 hours worth of entertainment. Many times I asked where a disc was and they tell me that it was in their room because they had been listening to it, again. We listened to it in the van, while folding laundry, and making dinner. The kids had it playing while building Legos and cleaning their rooms. I'm almost surprised they haven't worn out the CD yet, ha! When I asked what they thought of the Brinkman Adventures, they told me, "It's awesome! We love it!"


    You can take the learning to a deeper level past simply listening to the series. There is an entire section on their site that is filled with the stories behind the stories. You can learn more about translating the Bible into Yalunka (and a battle between a giant spider and a mammoth cockroach), what God did with some "ice cream money," flying in a powered parachute to get medical attention for a snake bite, and being imprisoned in a Taliban jail. There is also a ton more information about the real events and how the writers used things in their own lives for inspiration. There are many pictures and videos that enhance the learning, as well. 

    This audio drama has been a big hit with the whole family. I appreciate that the kids are entertained with wholesome stories, but even more than that, I love that they're learning that there are still true heroes in the world, that God is still using regular people to change the hearts of a sinful world.



    If you'd like to follow the adventures of the Brinkman family, you can connect with them on Facebook.

    You can read more reviews of Season 3 of the Brinkman Adventures on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.


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