Thursday, June 28, 2018

Graduation 2018

I promised more pics... are are some from our photographer. 

Our co-op does an amazing job with our Graduation ceremony, don't they?


He wore Shakespeare socks... really, he did. 



A special prayer time... sniff, sniff



Each graduate gets a table to display who they are... Luke's had plenty of books!


My pride and joy!



My favorite shot from the day!  


The entire tribe!  My parents and brother's family all together.


And,  he's off to change the world!


The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective: A TOS Crew Review

The Master and His Apprentices
The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective from The Master and His Apprentices

Here is a high school elective you are sure to love!  We have been using the digital version of The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective from The Master and His Apprentices.  

This comprehensive program is available in print and digital formats, and contains a full Student Text and Teacher Guide.  It can be completed for a full high school credit.  Why should you bother to teach art history?  Well, it's a key to understanding God, the Bible and our history better - and this program does an EXCELLENT job of putting it all together for you!



The Master and His Apprentices is written from a unashamedly Christian worldview, that alone makes it worth your high school student's time.  There is absolutely NO questionable images in this book  and it is free from secular and humanistic ideology- which is hard to find in art books for older students.  

My digital version came with a 380 page PDF Student Text and a 116 page Teacher Guide that included copy privileges for my family.  They have a generous offer of allowing you to purchase additional student worksheet copies for just $2 each.  If you prefer hard copies, you can print your books (or purchase a hardcover text, with free shipping).  I always like a physical copy to work with, so I printed them with the easy-to-follow directions and had them spiral bound.  The PDF's are optimized to work best on a computer screen.  They are also ready to use on your e-readers.  This book is so beautiful, you will want it in full-color!


The 19 chapter Student Text covers art history - starting with Creation through Today.  I love that the author, who was homeschooled herself, repeatedly points to God and Scripture throughout this text.  She covers art chronologically, addressing each major civilization and time period.  Right away, I liked that this could be used as a stand alone art curriculum, or a valuable addition to your history study.

As you read the text, you are really learning the history of humanity and God's hand in it.  I LOVE it!

The book covers all areas of art - painting, sculpture, architecture and more.  Your students will most definitely have a well-rounded art history education.  Best of all, you do NOT have to worry that they will stumble across inappropriate images or ideas!





One of my favorite parts of this curriculum is the Timelines in each chapter.  The author has taken the major works of art and combined them on a timeline which included "Important World Events" and "Biblical Events and Christian History".  It gives us a big picture view of the world!



This text includes some great extras in the Appendix.  Several thought-provoking essays from the author, an art period chart, a complete timeline, terms to learn, and even a list of "Pieces by Location" that shows where to find these amazing art pieces (do you see geography tie-in? I do!)

The Teacher Guide is a valuable component of the program.  The author shows how to utilize this program in schools or at home, provides detailed instructions and even includes a syllabus you can customize.



In addition, there are worksheets with discussion style questions for each chapter, a full answer key,  and 4 exams.  To complete a full credit, you student will write 4 papers - on artists, style or specific pieces from different art periods. 

The questions are more than just comprehension, they make the student really consider what they think about the artwork, and why.  This is really what we want to accomplish by teaching art history - we want them to think!



 This is the most WELL ORGANIZED, and comprehensive art history curriculum I have ever seen. I have enjoyed it as much, if not more, than my high schoolers!   My students will be using this one for years to come.


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The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective {The Master and His Apprentices Reviews}

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The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective {The Master and His Apprentices Reviews}

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Thursday, June 21, 2018

White House Holidays Unit Studies from Silverdale Press LLC: A TOS Crew Review

Silverdale Press





White House Holidays Unit Studies from Silverdale Press LLC

We can learn with holidays?  Really! The White House Holidays Unit Studies from Silverdale Press LLC take our American holidays, and turn them into full unit studies that give us a rich education as well.

The White House Holidays Unit Studies have 6 downloadable PDF studies:
Labor Day

  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Valentine's Day

These studies are designed for ages 5-18 with two options in each study, one for elementary ages, one for Middle/High school. It's the perfect way to bring the whole family together to learn!

The author, Jill Hummer is a homeschooling mom and Presidential scholar herself.  However, you will see right away,  that these unit studies are different from the fluffy, craft-filled (there are some optional craft projects) fact-less, activity based unit studies.  These are studies are well-written with plenty of research.  They are truly a course in American History!

Each study contains 3 to 5 lessons.  These studies can be used in a variety of ways.  You could spend a day going through each lesson, or spread lessons out over several days leading up to a particular holiday.  We purchased the Christmas study this past year and used it throughout the month of December as a break from our "regular" studies.

Let me show you what I mean by highlighting a few studies:

Valentine's Day

This 63 page study contains 5 lessons that focus in on different Presidents and the love of their life.  Our favorite was reading about Ronald and Nancy Regan, and their "pet names" for each other.  In our family, nicknames speak love...so, we enjoyed reading about a President who called his beloved wife "Mommie poo"

It's interesting facts like this that make these unit studies stand out from all the rest. They truly make our history come alive in a fresh new way.


Each study is filled with primary source documents, video links, art study, music appreciation, recipes and more.  In this particular study, the author gives helpful tips on how to calculate High school credit when using the study.


 Optional activities are included in each study.  I really liked that they were designed for different levels, or were activities all ages could enjoy doing.  With children in elementary, middle and high school right now, a well-designed unit study that we can all do is a TREASURE!



Martin Luther King Jr. -





This is a 77 page study with 5 lessons that introduce us to the amazing Martin Luther King Jr. and the holiday that bears his name.  I love how these studies incorporate so many additional topics that you can explore more.  For instance, learning about the Freedom songs of the Civil Rights era made us want to learn more about this musical genre.  We had a great time using YouTube, and even making some music of our own.


We spent 5 years living near Little Rock, AR.  My testers were intrigued to read about the part Little Rock played in MLK Jr's story too!


Veteran's Day - 





This 49 page study contains 3 lessons that introduce us to President Woodrow Wilson and the story of Veteran's Day. 

We celebrate this holiday, but really didn't know much about it's history (Did you know it used to be called Armistice Day?)  This study was fascinating.   I finally know what those poppy pins mean!

  A activity that was included was  having a "meatless, wheatless,  or sugarless" day or trying to eat corn at every meal. We failed our attempts to help the war effors with "food conservation" - but, we did get a better first-hand experience of the hardships during this time in history!


Labor Day - 


This study has 53 pages and 3 lessons that teach us about the history of Labor Day.  Since this is a traditional "end of summer" holiday - it makes the perfect study to ease back into school with. 

One feature I really love about these studies is that they reference primary source documents and photographs.  You get the opportunity to read it for yourself, see it or watch actual footage on videos (how did we ever homeschool without Youtube?)




These are MY FAVORITE unit study resource!  You will want to check them out and add them to your plan.

Other members of the Crew got a chance to review their new curriculum - Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers for ages 14-18.  I'll be checking this one out!



Find Silverdale Press LLC on Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverdalePress/ Tag: @SilverdalePress
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/silverdalepress/

Hashtags: #hsreviews #HomeschoolWritingCurriculum #UnitStudies #Christmas #Thanksgiving #ValentinesDay #PresidentsDay #LaborDay #MLK


Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers & White House Holidays Unit Studies {Silverdale Press LLC Reviews}

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers & White House Holidays Unit Studies {Silverdale Press LLC Reviews}
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