Window Pane Reviews

What Does the Bible Say About That? Review

2009-05-03T12:05:00.001-05:00

I recently received a copy of WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THAT? by Carolyn Larsen, published by Crossway Books.

This book is written for ages 8-12 and includes over 300 topics. The purpose of the book is to lead children to scripture to answer their questions. Ranging from sin issues, to world events, to relationships, this book is a great tool for any parent.

Mercy is one of the topics covered in What Does The Bible Say About That? First, a detailed explanation based on biblical scriptures is given. Then the information is supported by one or more scriptures. In this case, Exodus 34:6, Lamentations 3:22, and Hebrews 4:16. The next section is Face the Facts, and shares how to apply these scriptures to life. The last section on Mercy is a call to action, Today I Will, which describes to children how they can implement Mercy in their life right away.

The book is very easy for children to read, and it is written in a conversational style. There are also many fun illustrations throughout the book. My son has enjoyed reading this book with his devotional in the mornings.

I love that this book teaches children to look to God's Word for the answers. His Book really does answer all of our questions. I look forward to reading this book with my children for years to come.

Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day Review

2009-04-09T19:05:00.002-05:00

I was thrilled to discover we would be reviewing one of the Elementary Science Texts from Apologia Educational Ministries.

First of all, Jeannie K. Fulbright did an excellent job writing to children. She doesn't talk down to them, and has a conversational style. My son was completely engaged in the text. In fact, the first day he picked up Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day, he read the entire book. He took it in the car when we ran a few errands. I never thought he would read a Science book like a novel.

This is a Science text with a Christian perspective. Apologia does a wonderful job of sharing God's awesome creation with children. All information is given is such a way to glorify God, and support Creationism.

Apologia uses an immersion approach, not a spiral-approach like the public school system. There are a total of 14 lessons, which can be broken down into daily requirements based on the student. Some may choose to use 2 weeks to cover each lesson since because of the wealth of information given in each lesson.

Unlike much of the Science curriculum I have seen, Apologia does not use worksheets. Instead they suggest notebooking and narration. Each chapter ends with a project or experiment to further the child's understanding of the subject. Most of these projects can be completed with common household items. I was thrilled to find a complete supplies list in the front of the text showing every single item needed for each week. This helps if there are any items I need to buy. I can take a quick glance or copy the page to keep in my purse.

The pictures are beautiful. They are in full color. We loved the hummingbird pictures, the picture of the hatching bird, and my son loved the bats.

Apologia offers a course website that holds links to information on many of the subjects in Zoology 1. The student can log in with the password given in the text and learn even more about Zoology. This is an awesome bonus. It saves me the time of looking up websites when Roo wants to know more, which is often the case.

I look forward to formally using Apologia for our Science Curriculum in the years to come. I wholly endorse the Elementary series by Jeannie K. Fulbright. It works with my eclectic/Charlotte Mason style. And my son loves it, what mom could ask for more?

Classic Bible Storybook Review

2009-04-01T22:30:00.001-05:00

The Classic Bible Storybook by Kenneth N. Taylor is such a precious book. My husband and I have enjoyed reading the beautiful stories aloud to our children at bedtime. The book itself is a beautiful hardback that many parents will want to add to their “forever” collection.

The stories in this book are very concise. Most are 2-3 pages long. The Bible stories are well-written and accurate. This is very important to us because we don’t like Bible books that add events to the story to make them exciting for children. We believe the original story can captivate our children, and we appreciate Kenneth Taylor’s method.

There are more than 120 stories included. Each story has review questions to help lead a discussion with the children about what they have learned. I like using the questions because my children often glean truth from the stories that I would never have thought possible. The questions help me to draw out their hearts as we talk about our Lord.

The illustrations in the Classic Bible Storybook are wonderful. Each page is given an antiqued look. There are many beautiful color illustrations of the stories and my children love looking at them as we read together.

I think this book is a wonderful companion to our Bible studies. I am thankful to have it, and the Classic Bible Storybook has become a favorite in our home. I am sure in a few years it will show the signs of being well-loved.

Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure Review

2009-04-01T21:01:00.003-05:00

My family was thrilled to have the opportunity to review Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure DVD.

First of all, Max Lucado has been instrumental in my walk with Christ. When I first became a Christian, Lucado’s books help to reveal God’s heart for me. I am thankful for the wisdom God has allowed Max to share with thousands of people. When I discovered several years later that Max Lucado was involved in children’s ministry through books and movies I was very excited.

Hermie’s friend Skeeter has a crooked stinger. This causes him to feel inferior to other mosquitoes, especially his brother Sinclair, who seems to be perfect in every way. Sinclair has come home to find a treasure hidden by the mosquitos’ father. Skeeter wants to help, but is not sure if his stinger can lead the adventurers to the treasure.

This movie is very sweet. It teaches us that God makes all unique, and he thinks that we are perfect just the way we are. It also teaches us not to compare ourselves with others. Believing God loves us can help overcome feelings of insecurity and self-doubt.

My children really like this movie, and ask to watch it often. We also like the recipe that is included as a bonus.

Skeeter and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure is great if you are looking for a good moral lesson for your children, without it being too “cheesy”. Click HERE to read more about Hermie, Skeeter, and all of their friends.

Trigger Memory Systems

2009-03-24T14:45:00.003-05:00

I am very impressed with Trigger Memory Systems. They offer great products, at great prices!I am familiar with the company because I purchased the Bedroom Cleaning for Kids Clean N Flip book about a year ago. I had been looking for a way to break down the cleaning steps of a very messy bedroom for my son. He would get very overwhelmed. I can understand. I am the type of person that can end up moving things around the room until I am back where I started. Well, we both loved the simple instructions given in this chart. I bought some laundry baskets from the dollar store and labeled them according to the directions. This system really works! It is fast, and efficient, and maybe a little fun, too! We have even used it for the other rooms in the house.Here is a description from the website:

* Makes cleaning FUN!
* Complete a task & flip the page
* Add extra personalized chores
* Boosts self-esteem and organizational skills

My son feels a sense of accomplishment, and is more eager to clean his bedroom now that we have a guide that adds structure.So....when I received more Clean N Flip charts from Trigger Memory Systems I was SO excited!!

Zone Cleaning for Kids was one of the titles we received. It includes written and visual instructions for cleaning the Living Room, Kitchen, and Bathroom areas. The pictures are great, and even my toddler can understand the instructions. The chart has added space for adding additional chores and tasks. The book is non consumable so it can be used again and again. Simply check off completed tasks with a dry-erase marker! I love Zone Cleaning for Kids. I love to see my children excited about chores! I love it when they ASK me to clean. I am forever indebted to Trigger Memory Systems.

We also received the Laundry for Kids Clean N Flip Chart. This is great timing because I have been training my 8 year old to be responsible for his own laundry. I have showed him a few times, and now I can just refer him to the chart when it is his laundry day. There are a couple of tasks that I would have included, but it was easy enough to add them to the chart. One task is checking pockets, after a melted crayon in the dryer, I never want Roo to forget about pockets. The other task is to empty the dryer vent. Overall, the instructions were simple and easy to follow. Complete a task and flip the page to see the next task. I absolutely have to recommend this product to every parent! Kids are capable of so much, and to see their joy at success is a beautiful thing.

Trigger Memory Systems also offers educational products. We reviewed Times Tales, a program to memorize upper multiplication facts. This is what the website has to say:

*Covers the most difficult to memorize times tables: 3x6,3x7,3x8,3x9,4x6,4x7,4x8, 4x9,6x6,6x7,6x8,6x9,7x7,7x8,7x9,8x8,8x9,9x9-
*FAST - most children learn in two 45 minute sessions!-
*Non-consumable - can be used by the whole family.
*FUN - kids love this learning method and ask for more!

Roo is in 3rd grade, and we are just beginning lower multiplication. But I really wanted to see if this product could help a child learn times tables in just two sessions. The answer is YES! After one session, Roo knew many of them, after the second session, he knew them all! I have gone over the multiplication facts with flashcards and quizzed Roo while we drove in the car. He KNOWS the answers. And quickly. I am completely amazed. The stories in Times Tales are cute and simple enough to recall quickly and accurately.
I suggest that any parent concerned about teaching their child multiplication invest in this program. I believe it can help any child that is struggling. In closing, I would like to say that I highly recommend Trigger Memory Systems and hope they continue to make great products. I am thinking of buying some extra cleaning charts to give to friends for Christmas!!

(orig. posted 12/15/08)

Time4Learning.com

2009-03-24T14:42:00.001-05:00

Time4Learning.com is a tool where parents can help supplement their child in Math, Language Arts, and more!Many parents have enjoyed the features offered by Time4Learning.

The child is assigned activities based on grade level. We reviewed PreK and 3rd grade. The PreK had some fun games on it, but I think it would be more suited for an older preschooler as my daughter had trouble using the mouse. She liked the games but grew impatient with the directions being read repeatedly.

My son had the most fun with the Science and History. He enjoyed some of the games Time4Learning offered for Math and Language Arts. He really liked the pattern maker and the section on Astronomy. He also enjoyed learning about dinosaurs.

The sections are divided by Subject and have quizzes and tests so that the parent can monitor the child's progress. I believe the parent can even assign lessons to the child.

We do not spend a lot of time on the computer, so it took a while for us to get through the activities on Time4Learning.com that we chose to explore. Families with older children, or that spend a great deal of time on the computer may find this educational website very useful.

We appreciated our time on Time4Learning.com, but I have to warn that evolution is present throughout the lessons. And in one of the preschool games, there was an image of a witch. For these reasons, we did not spend as much time with this particular resource. There is a forum provided for Christian Discussion, but I still don't want my children to play games where evolution is taught. I have been careful in choosing curriculum that supports this ideal, so I must be careful to choose supplements that have a creation view.

I do think Time4Learning.com can be a useful and fun website. I think many children will enjoy the lessons and it will be beneficial to help them improve in subjects where they might be struggling.Please visit Time4Learning.com and take a look!

(orig. posted 12/15/08)

Schoolside Press-The Little Man in the Map

2009-03-24T14:40:00.001-05:00

I was excited when we received The Little Man in the Map. And it was the very same week we were studying the United States geography with My Father's World!The children wanted to read it right away...and again, and again.

The Little Man in The Map by E. Andrew Martonyi is "A journey through the 50 states using catchy rhymes and clever pictures. The boundaries of the states are used to create visual images to connect state names to their location on the map".

We did enjoy the pictures. My favorite was the Virginia Ham, and Roo enjoyed the little man in the map.

Roo, after reading the book one time, was able to identify 39 states! We had done a pre-test on U.S Geography two days before for our regular curriculum. He was only able to identify 5 states correctly at the time. The second time Roo read the book, he could point to 43 of the states!

This book is fun, but there are some images parents may not agree with, such as elves, and a monster face.

As an educational tool, I do recommend this book. The Schoolside Press website offers supplemental material to go with the book. You can download coloring pages or purchase a wall map. As a book children will love, I highly recommend The Little Man in the Map.

(orig. posted 12/10/08)

Spears Art Studio

2009-03-24T14:35:00.002-05:00

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!

I love ART. In all forms. I have studied art for years, and this was my focus in college, although I have not yet finished. I love painting, drawing, ceramics, and papermaking.

My dream (which for now is on hold while I fulfil a more important task...wife and mother) is to be an Art Therapist. I want to work with terminally ill children. I would use Spears Art Studio K-8 Christian Art Curriculum if this dream ever became reality.

At this point in my homeschooling journey Spears Art Studio is the best art curriculum I have seen. I am really impressed by each and every lesson. I feel that Dr. Spears put forth her very best, and included so much "meat" in each lesson.

The curriculum is for students grades K-8, but my 3 year old was able to do many of the K projects, so we did the K and 3rd grade projects. A lot of information is given to explain why teaching art is so important, and the best methods of relating artistic objectives to your children. Each lesson contains a theme with art objectives and targets. The lessons are divided January-December with activities to go along with the season. There are scriptures included to support the theme of the art project. Some lessons include vocabulary, teacher focus and inspiration, and art history. These lessons are very well planned.

A supply list is given, and a teacher prep section is included.Each activity is explained very well. It was a breeze showing my kids what to do and explaining the directions to them. I think that parents who need help teaching art would LOVE this program. I learned quite a bit myself!I was thankful for the teaching rubric, and other evaluation methods given in this curriculum. I have always been unsure how to "grade" my child's artwork. I also have wondered how my art was graded when I was in school. I think Dr. Spears teaches to be very constructive, encouraging children to do their best.

BUT, the best part....All of the activities were FUN! We had a blast. We were not doing simple, brainless activities. My children were stretched, so to speak. They created art that they thought impossible. I had so much fun working on these projects with the kids.

We received the program in PDF format. I was able to print the pages I needed. This helps to not have paint spilled on the expensive art curriculum! And I will be able to use this program for years. I looked at the older grades and I can't wait to try some of the lessons with my children. Take a look at the pictures of the kids using the AWESOME Spears Art Studio Curriculum.

(org. posted 12/8/08)

Salem Ridge Press Review

2009-03-24T14:29:00.001-05:00

All of my family and friends know that I devour books. I LOVE reading. I mostly enjoy reading classical literature. In college, I took several British Lit courses.Then I came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I was convicted early on that I must be very careful in my reading choices. As a Christian, it can be difficult to find wholesome novels to read. I share this concern for my children, but especially for Roo who is an avid reader like me. He will pick up any book and have it read in less than 2 hours!

You can imagine how excited I was to be receiving 3 books from Salem Ridge Press. Salem Ridge Press is a publishing company started by a homeschool graduate. They are "dedicated to bringing back quality children’s books of the 1800’s and early 1900’s for a new generation of readers and strive to republish books that are well-written, interesting and wholesome".

The box was delivered by the postman and it was quickly opened. Roo and I split up the books. We spent a quiet afternoon reading and enjoying our new literature.The first book he devoured was American Twins of the Revolution by Lucy Fitch Perkins. Every time I saw him the book was attached to his nose! He did not want to play legos or go outside. I had to make him take breaks from the reading. He loved the story, and told me about how the family had to trust in God throughout their adventures. I read the story next, and enjoyed it very much. It does have content, such as slavery, that you may want to address with your children before they read this book.

We also read Mary Jane Her Book by Clara Ingram Judson. This was a fun story. The little ones really liked hearing about Mary Jane and her day. We look forward to getting the next book in the Mary Jane series. I think this is a great book for little girls.

The last book I read was Glaucia the Greek Slave by Emma Leslie. I absolutely loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were very real and I found myself very involved in their struggles as the book continued. As a Christian, the story of the early church is fascinating. It was wonderful to take part in the journey of these characters as they learn of and accept Jesus Christ. The story was powerful and I will be ordering more books from Salem Ridge Press by this author.

The Salem Ridge Press website is very user friendly. It is very easy to find titles by author, time period, alphabetically by title, or age of reader. If you are an avid reader, or have avid readers in your family, I highly recommend reading a book republished by Salem Ridge Press. The books are wholesome, well-written, artful in language, and are just plain fun to read!

(originally posted 12/7/08)

Rime To Read Review

2009-03-24T14:25:00.002-05:00

Have any of you used the Bob books to help your children to read??I didn't although I heard of them. I found some used books, and made up a lot of my own. I wish that Rime to Read was available when I was teaching Roo to read. Rime to Read offers 20 books online to aid in teaching your children to read. These books teach single syllable short vowel words.

Here is a little information from the website:

Rime to Read: A program for Beginning Readers is now available ONLINE!!
Highly effective approach to beginning reading
Emphasizing word families (rimes) Unique color-coded system
Structured for success
Having trouble reading a word? CLICK it and it will be read back to you.
The cumulative 20 book program can be printed or read on your home computer monitor
How is a Rime different from a Rhyme? Rimes are word families (e.g., rat, cat). They are consistent both visually and auditorily, as opposed to rhymes (son, fun), which are just consistent auditorily.
We believe that consistency is important for beginning or struggling readers.

Roo sat with me and we read through these books. We both enjoyed the stories and illustrations. We felt they were very creative. My 3 year old wanted to read the books, too. Although I did not sit and try to teach her reading, she picked up PAT and CAT and DAD very quickly. The authors of Rime to Read do not recommend teaching a child to read until the age of four. So, I did not sit down with my little girl and try to master a book, but I will be working with her using Rime to Read in the near future!!

There are 20 books in all. They can all be viewed on a computer monitor or printed out to make small booklets. I like the option, and have printed several of them out.My children really enjoyed clicking on a word to hear it spoken. This is one benefit of viewing the books online. If a child is struggling to sound out the word, they can simply click on the blue text and hear the word spoken quite clearly!

So, I will wrap up by giving Rime to Read two thumbs up...or 6 thumbs up if you include all of our thumbs!! Visit Rime to Read and view a FREE SAMPLE BOOK!

(originally posted 12/7/08)

The Missing Link: Found

2009-03-24T14:21:00.001-05:00

I recently received a copy of The Missing Link: Found written by Christina Gerwitz and Felice Gerwitz. Christina and her mother wrote this book with homeschoolers in mind. In fact, Christian was just a teen when she and her mother collaborated to produce this novel.

I was excited to receive a book that was written for youth from a Christian perspective. I happen to love mystery/action novels, and if your child does, you may want to consider purchasing the first book in the Truth Seekers Mystery Series.The characters are portrayed honestly, and their struggles in choosing the Godly thing to do adds reality to the novel.

My eight year old started to read it and loved the beginning. I do think the content was a bit much for him, so I do recommend this book for older children.Here is an excerpt from the author's website:

"Once again, the Murphy teens are propelled into another exciting adventure! While on vacation in the Keys, a devious plot unfolds, and the Murphys find themselves in the middle of a full-speed boat case and encounter with the FBI. Their vacation plans are then cut short by the arrival of a cryptic message form Dr. Murphy's brother, requesting his immediate presence at an anthropological dig along the Peace River. What Dr. Murphy, Christian, and Anna find there is anything but peaceful!Encountering a deadly illness, the Murphys must also wrestle with a startling discovery and its potential results. The Missing Link has been discovered, finally providing evidence for the theory of evolution. But, what about the Bible? Didn't God create the world as recorded in Genesis? In addition, is there a connection between their adventure on the high seas and their discoveries a the dig site? Join the Murphys as they are faced with danger and a race against time in search for the truth.In the Truth Seekers Mystery Series, you'll experience adventure, mystery, heart stopping suspense, and faith played out first-hand by the Murphy family. This action adventure mystery will keep you guessing to the very end!"

The other great thing about this book is it is using Creation Science to add to the adventure. The Media Angels website is full of resources pertaining to Creation Science. Visit Media Angels and Truth Seeker Mystery Series Today!

(originally posted 11/3/08)

HelpMe2Teach.com

2009-03-24T14:18:00.002-05:00

I have had the opportunity to review HelpMe2Teach.com, and I believe this website can be very helpful to homeschool families. Here is an excerpt from the site:

"Over 2300 Safe, Educational Links for Children, Parents and TeachersUpdated DailyPre-K through High School Use as a Complete Curriculum or to find SupplementalMaterial"

As I searched on subjects related to our current studies, I did find manyfun and educational links. I found several links on Deserts, Lapbooks, WildAnimal Tracks, Preschool Games, Thanksgiving and Autumn, and many more. All links have symbols to show the age appropriateness of the listed website. I realize that the creators of HelpMe2Teach.com are very careful about the content of the sites, and that I could allow my older child to do his own research. I am very careful when it comes to the Internet and my kids. In fact, I can probably say that I have NEVER let my son look things up online. But I do feel that I could let him explore HelpMe2Teach safely.

There were times when a search resulted in no links. This was about half of the time. Of course, I was not searching for the most common subject matter. I know that Elaine, the creator of this site, has done wonders compiling all of these websites. She has been very responsive to emails and has great customer service. She updates the site daily, and has included several websites suggested by reviewers after she has a chance to evaluate the content.I do think this website to be very helpful.

Helpme2Teach.com offers different membership options, and you may find one that works great for your family. It was a bit higher in price than I expected. However, it may be worth it to have a safe place for your children to "explore" the Internet.

(originally posted 11/3/08)

One2Believe Nativity Playset

2009-03-24T14:16:00.001-05:00

I am so thrilled to have been chosen to do product reviews as part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew. It has been like Christmas everyday for the past few weeks!

Recently, we received the 17-piece Nativity set from One2Believe. My children could not wait to open it and were fascinated by the baby Jesus.The figures are the perfect size for little hands. They are made out of PVC and seem very durable and well constructed. I really enjoy the animal figures, especially the camel. The characters all have very sweet faces. This set is suitable for children 3 and up.

The playset also comes with a book containing the Nativity Story in three different languages: English, French, and Spanish. I really appreciate the scripture that is included with this product.

As a bonus, the company offers "points" on the product box. These points can be used to earn free toys from One2Believe. My family can't wait to purchase and earn more of the Biblical playsets.Our family usually decorates for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. My 8 year old son told me, "I really, really like this Mom, and I want it out all year long!" So we are grateful to add this Nativity Playset to our holiday decorations.

Thank you One2Believe for producing Faith-based toys for our children!

Homeschool Library Builder

2009-03-24T14:12:00.001-05:00

I have just been made aware of a website every homeschool family needs to visit! Homeschool Library Builder

Here is an excerpt from their website explaining what they have to offer:

"We offer new and gently used books for all ages at affordable prices, giving others an opportunity to build their own home library. We stock titles used in literature-based curricula (Sonlight, Tapestry of Grace, Ambleside, Five in a Row, Beautiful Feet, and others), as well as those useful for unit studies for all interests and grade levels. ."

So, I have been spending a the better part of an hour pouring through this site. I have already found so many books that I want to purchase. You can't beat the prices.Currently, they are having a Big Bin Blow-Out sale.They have "bins" offering books for these great prices: $1, $2, $3, and $5!!!!Oh my goodness, I cant stop shopping!

They also offer a wish list, and mine is filling up quickly! I am compiling all the books that I like in the wish list, and then I will make some final decisions on what to purchase now, and what books to save for later.

They have a point system, too. You can earn points from purchasing books, or referring a friend. And for those of us needing to raise money to fund certain homeschool activities, they have an awesome Fundraiser. Wow, they offer so many services!

Last, but not least, they offer the HSLB Marketplace. A way to advertise and promote your business...for FREE!!I believe this site is a homeschoolers dream. I am sure that as time passes, these ladies will have even more books and great deals to offer our community. Check them out Homeschool Library Builder today!

P.S. Shhh...I am buying some Christmas presents...so don't tell my kids!!!

(originally posted 10/21/08)

The Schoolhouse Planner

2009-03-24T14:08:00.001-05:00

Finally, what all of us homeschoolin’ mamas have been waiting for! Summer of 2008, The Old Schoolhouse published their “everything” planner. I have been going through it every day, and I find more useful forms and information then I ever believed possible in ONE planner. This is a calendar, planner, organizer, record keeper, address book, and home school guide.

The planner comes in eBook format. You download and save the planner to your computer. It is in PDF format, and is very easy to navigate. The Table of Contents is linked to the different forms and articles. One click and you are taken directly to the relevant page. There are 247 pages of information. You have the option to print out the planner in its entirety, or print the pages relevant to your schooling needs.

The Schoolhouse Planner is divided into months. Each has a calendar, and a fun recipe or two. Several wonderful authors have written inspirational and informational articles. Fun charts are included that correspond with the monthly theme. Some of these lists feature: U.S Presidents, Wonders of the World, Famous Composers, United States and Capitals, a Timeline of Inventions, Kitchen Conversion Chart, and my favorite-The Periodic Table!

There are many forms important for planning your home school year. Annual plans, yearly goals, curriculum planning, course of study, and subject forms are available to help you prepare. There are forms for recording grades and tests. There are progress reports and report cards. A tracking log for high school hours is included. There are many forms for core subjects like Science lab sheets, Bible memorization, Nature Journals, and Unit Studies. Extracurricular activity logs, field trip logs, co-op, and support group information can also be recorded when using The Schoolhouse Planner.But this planner is not just for home school!

It is also for the HOME! I have constructed Home Management planners for several years, and they have always been lacking. With The Schoolhouse Planner, you don’t have to worry about leaving anything out. There are meal planning sheets, chore charts for you and the kids, and a Bible Verse Log. Of course an address list is included, and there is a form for important websites. A budget planner and gift log help to manage finances. A Bible reading schedule and prayer journal help to maintain focus on our Lord. This is very important to me, and is the sole reason I home school. It is good to have a reminder to study the Word of God. In the midst of life, laundry, and schooling, it is too easy to put off our number one relationship. I am thankful that The Schoolhouse Planner is equipped to keep me on track with my Bible.

I could go on forever about the contents of this planner, but I could never describe it all. I am excited about implementing it this school year. I plan to be very organized this year. Thank you to The Old Schoolhouse for publishing such an awesome resource. I encourage everyone to look at the free preview. Please consider this planner for all of your Home and School needs!

(org. 8/30/08)

The Old Schoolhouse Digital Magazine (Summer 2008)

2009-03-24T11:13:00.003-05:00

I have spent the past several days exploring my favorite home school magazine The Old Schoolhouse. However, this time it was online, in digital format. At first, I was a little dubious but I quickly fell in love with the digital version. I have the summer 2008 in print so I was able to compare the digital and print copies. The digital is EXACTLY the same, but the pages always stay free from coffee spills and sweet toddler finger prints!
The first thing that I discovered was on the front cover. You can click on the featured articles, and you are taken directly to the correct page. No more searching for the tantalizing article that first caught your eye. And no paper cuts because the table of contents utilizes the same function. One click on any article and your reading adventure begins!This magazine is very user friendly. There is a keyword search that returns a list of all the articles with the specified word. You can download articles, and easily email them to friends with the Share option from the top menu. Of course you can print the articles, and there is even a bookmark. But this is not even the most exciting part of the digital magazine.
If you are like me, you love seeing the advertisements for home school resources and Christian living. I have always written down websites for products I saw in the magazine. I like the opportunity to research all the things offered to us for our children’s education. In The Old Schoolhouse Digital Magazine, every advertisement includes a link directly to the product website! For instance, KONOS, one of my favorite curriculums is advertised on page 6. Just click on the web address in the advertisement and you are visiting KONOS online!
I can’t say enough about The Old Schoolhouse digital magazine. It has been exciting to be able to review it, and share it with my friends and family. I never loaned out my print magazines before. I read them over and over again, and I feared not getting them back! Now I can email articles and loan out my print copies with no worries! Please give the digital magazine a try, you will not regret it!

(originally published 8/30/08)