Peace 2019-20

Peace is the Co-op I helped launch 5 years ago.  It's a collection of like-minded families sharing this homeschool journey together.

This year, I get to teach: Biology, American History, World Geography, Writing and Literature

Here's a few snapshots of our day -

My American history class is making history Smash books this year...plan to see more soon.  Basically, we took old Childcraft encyclopedias and are rebuilding them into scrapbooks of history.

We have art lessons - thankfully, not taught my me :-)

This is my World geography class - I LOVE teaching this!  We are playing Fantasy Geopolitics this year (think Fantasy Football with the countries of the world)  and having so much fun!

This is my "World in 11 people" demo... they love getting dressed up, and I get to teach them about the world that God loves!  What could be more fun than that?

We all share the teaching... this is our Advance Biology class. We have grades 5-12th with 7 families.  The students all work very hard.  But they play hard too...

Stay tuned - I'll definitely have more adventures to share with you!  Sharing the homeschool adventure together is one of my greatest blessings.

HiGASFY Art History Video Series from HiGASFY Art History Video Series: A TOS Crew Review

HiGASFY Art History Video Series from HiGASFY Art History Video Series


Looking for a way to add some art history into your schoolyear?  HiGASFY Art History Video Series from HiGASFY Art History Video Series offers a easy, memorable way to introduce your 1-8th grade students to several art history eras.

Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist series are all available on DVD, Flash Drive or as an online Subscription.  We have completed the Renaissance series last year, so this time we decided to look at Impressionists with our online subscription.

HiGASFY stands for "Have I Got A Story For You".  Mrs. Beth, the author and storyteller, along with her animated buddy, the paintdrop - Gasfy, introduce you to art history in a fun and memorable way.

Each series has 12 video lessons that explore the major artists and their work during a particular time period.

• Renaissance Series - daVinci, Raphael, Michelangelo
• Baroque Series - Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Vermeer
• Impressionist Series - Monet, Pissarro, Degas
• Post-Impressionist Series - van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso

The videos are about 20 minutes each.  In each video, you join Mrs. Beth in her workshop (I want to visit there!) as she tells you a story about that artist.  In addition, she shows you the actual work of the artist, and interacts with her animated buddy.

The videos are very informative.  We enjoy the storytelling approach much better than reading a textbook!  Along the way, you learn so much about history, science, geography and art.  My testers enjoyed the antics of Gasfy (they are on the older side), but younger children will love him. Mrs. Beth's passion for sharing art comes across loud and clear, her enthusiasm is contagious.  You can pick and choose from the episodes, but you will want to watch them all.

In addition, you have access to online resources.  This includes a Curriculum Bundle with a 1 Week Lesson Plan, Name that Artist PowerPoint, and Printable Art Flash Cards for each Art Era.  By using all of the resources, you have a very comprehensive art history study (with no prep for you!)

Let me show you a few examples of the lesson plans which incorporate hands-on activities, critical thinking, vocabulary, writing, science, group activities and more. Keeping an art journal and portfolio is encouraged, along with free drawing activities and printable activities are included as well, sheets like word finds and crossword puzzles to help cement the vocabulary. I think they are very well though out, and we enjoyed our discussions as we worked through the lessons.

The Name that Artist can be used a review tool or game.  It's a PowerPoint filled with the slides of the art pieces that Mrs. Beth has introduced in the videos.  This is a component you could easily use with older children too, to review the art period together.

The Art Flash Cards can be printed out, and used in a wide variety of ways including printing them, laminating and keeping on a ring for more use.

We were very excited to learn more about Degas.  On our summer trip this year, we got to see some of his work up close in Kansas City.  We were so excited to see the lesson about the statue we saw!

HiGASFY Art History Video Series is a fun, memorable way to learn art history. Be sure to check them out!


Find HiGASFY Art History Video Series on Social Media:


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/higasfy/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/higasfy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrNWpYDazk50FyV7AdKhkw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/higasfy/

Hashtags: #hsreviews #art #arthistory #education #arteducation #renaissance #baroque #impressionist #postimpressionist #famousartist #davinci #michelangelo #rembrandt #monet #degas #vangogh #matisse #picasso #gasfy #artteacher

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Port A - 2019

We did it! Our annual "last-week-of-summer" escape to the beach.

I picked a great house, with a view of the ocean  - and we could walk to the beach.  No more sandy van...

It was great to have all of us together for some great family time.

First stop, our favorite tacos on the beach...

Then, a few days and nights in our sleepy little town of Port Aransas.  Lot's of eating, reading, playing games and beach time.

I love being with these amazing people...exactly the recharge we needed before we head off to school! It's one of my favorite places!

Online Times Alive & Times Alive App from City Creek Press, Inc.: A TOS Crew Review

Online Times Alive & Times Alive App from City Creek Press, Inc.

Multiplication facts have never been my favorite - but Online Times Alive &the NEW Times Alive App from City Creek Press, Inc. have really helped liven them up!

We have been using this online subscription over the past years with a number of my students.  Not all of them learn the same way, and this is where this program has an advantage over traditional methods.

It features short videos with animated characters and silly stories that help illustrate the multiplication facts in a memorable way - great for my visual learners. The songs help my auditory learners cement the multiplication facts. I find myself singing them as I'm correcting their math! Take a peek at one of the videos...

The Online Times Alive is designed for computer use and keeps track of an unlimited number of students on one computer. Students can clear their progress and use the program over and over. Subscriptions do not require a contract and can be cancelled anytime.

The program is very easy to use, and does not require my assistance - a bonus for me!  It teaches the multiplication facts from 0-9.  The lessons are short, and the variety of activities keeps them interested and learning math facts in a fun way. 

Let me give you a peek:

The lesson starts with a short video and song introducing characters to represent the multiplication fact.  This is so helpful for your out-of-the-box learners.  It encourages recall.

Then, the student is reminded with visual cues and practices with numerals.

 Additional activities are included - just for fun.

Throughout the lessons, students get to practice with timed tests.  This is where my testers really needed the extra practice - solidifying the facts, and increasing the speed at which they can remember.

Handy lesson lists show you what your student has been working on.

The Times Alive App has all the same features of the Online version, but lets you take it on the go! This is a great way to maximize any waiting room time.  They love time with the phone, and so I let them...as long as it's this app.

We love this program, my older children still remember the catchy tunes.  So, if you want to liven up those multiplication facts, why not give it a try?

Check out this special offer:   When you sign up for Times Alive, the company is offering to waive your set-up fee, a $6.95 value, when you use the code lovetolearn.

Find City Creek Press, Inc. on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearnMultiplication/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TimesTablestheFunWay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citycreekpress/


Hashtags: #hsreviews #timestablesthefunway #timesalive #learnmultiplication

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 9 from Easy Grammar Systems: A TOS Crew Review

Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 9 from Easy Grammar Systems

High school students should have mastery of basic grammar concepts, but - in reality, they still need practice.  That's where Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 9 with Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 9 Test Booklet from Easy Grammar Systems can help!

The Easy Grammar Ultimate Series (Grades 8-12+) is a teaching tool with 180 lessons . It provides highs chool students with continued grammar instruction and practice in short, daily lessons.  Each lesson takes roughly 5-10 minutes.

The book is both a teacher guide, and student workbook as the lessons are intended to be done independently by the student.  Easy Grammar Systems allows you to reproduce them within your family (a nice perk), but I always find it easier to just let every student have their own workbook.

Let me show you an example of a daily lesson, they all follow the same structure.

Each lesson begins with Capitalization and Punctuation.  Concepts are briefly introduced, and the student practices with a sentence.  Short and simple...exactly the type of reinforcement and practice our busy high school students have time for.  Many of the sentences provide information about history, cultures, nutrition, geography, health, government, music, art and more.

Parts of Speech are covered next.  The text is specifically designed to begin with basic concepts and build on them to more complex grammar concepts.

The last section covers Sentence Combining. This is where students can use the information they have learned to practice writing an excellent sentence.

A separate book of Tests is also included.  These assessments provide your student a chance to see what they remember with a test every 10 lessons.  The tests follow the same format as the lessons.

 A full answer key is included in both the student workbook and the test book.  No need for any additional guides. A handy Scope and Sequence in the book can help you pinpoint lessons with particular topics as well.

We have been long time fans of Easy Grammar Systems.  I like that lessons are short and independent.  We have found this to be a very effective way to keep grammar skills sharp, even through high school, while leaving enough time in the busy schedule to focus on literature and writing skills.

Be sure to check out some of the other levels the Crew is reviewing:

• Easy Grammar: Grade 1
• Easy Grammar: Grade 3

• Daily GRAMS: Grade 3
• Daily GRAMS: Grade 7

• Easy Grammar Plus (This text is frequently used for 7th grade, but would be good for any middle school grade.

• Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 9 with Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 9 Test Booklet
• Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 11 with Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 11 Test Booklet

Find Easy Grammar Systems on Social Media:


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EasyGrammarSystems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Easygrammar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easygrammarsystems/

Hashtags: #hsreviews #grammar, #curriculum, #languagearts, #homeschool, #easygrammar, #dailygrams

See what other members of the Crew thought here