Butterflies & Flowers❤️

 This is NOT a review... 

I am loving my camera on my new iPhone 12 pro!  Check out these amazing pics from our walk...

I'm such a geek... 😂

Famous Figures of the Early Modern Era from Figures In Motion: A TOS Crew Review

                                 

  

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

Famous Figures of the Early Modern Era from Figures In Motion

 Figures In Motion has been a family favorite for years! In fact, we were delighted we could complete our collection with Famous Figures of the Early Modern Era (the only one we didn't have yet!)

These delightful articulated, historical paper figures are creations of Cathy Diez-Luckie, a homeschool mom.   "What is an articulated paper figure?"  They are sturdy card stock paper figures with several movable sections - connected together with brads.  They make a wonderful, hands-on addition to any of your history studies.

Each volume comes with full-color figures, and black-and-white figures for you to color yourself. The pages are perforated to make them easy to remove. The  Famous Figures of the Early Modern Era volume includes 21 history makers from the mid-1500s through the mid-1800s.

This is a great history project for ages 6-12 but, we have enjoyed them at any age! My testers have loved these and created the figures from every other volume of the series, so we were happy to have Famous Figures of the Early Modern Era  to go along with our modern history study this year.

Each book contains mini-biographies of each of the figures with dates, and some key facts to remember. Using the figures to create a moveable timeline is a great idea!

A Reading List is also included, which makes a great way to bring the figures to life.

The Directions are super clear and easy to follow.  No unusual supplies are required, all you need is a scissors and some brads. It's easy enough for most children to complete independently.  So much easier than some of our complicated history projects that are so intense... like paper mâché or salt dough, anyone with me? 

Each assembled figure is about 12-13 inches tall with the name of the figure printed on the back (nice when you have a pile of them)

We have used these in so many ways.  My first book was Famous Figures of the Middle Ages & Renaissance and I used it to tell history stories in my co-op history class, the students loved seeing "who" was coming to class to tell them the story.  When I brought them home, I saw that my children kept on playing and telling stories with them... and I have been using them as an addition to our history study ever since.  They make a great review tool to see what they have remembered.

My son (now 15) has LOVED the figures - in fact, they were on his birthday list for several years.  Not only did they provide hours of interesting play, they also greatly helped him develop his fine motor skills as he carefully cut and assembled each of them. He's a "lefty",  so cutting skills took lots of practice and a left-handed scissors.  The figures gave him motivation to keep practicing!

When I asked him what he liked best about them, he said he loved that they could move and make poses.  He created elaborate battle scenes with these figures for hours on end. Even now, he offered to "make some more" just to help me 😊 

My daughter (age 11) was not about to let him have all the fun!  She claimed this volume as "hers" and has been happily creating figures.  She really loves using the hole punch we were sent to make the openings for the brads - it helps the figures move more easily.  

 

One of her favorite parts of these books is being able to color her own figures and create new historical figures.

I have been so impressed by how much these figures have gotten used over the years in our homeschool.  I would highly encourage you to add them to your history tool chest.

Make sure to visit their website and sign up to get a FREE Articulated King Tut puppet and visit the blog for tons of great ideas and freebies.

    

Check out reviews from the Crew on the other editions:

Famous Figures of Ancient Times
Famous Figures of the Middle Ages & Renaissance
Famous Figures of the American Revolution
Famous Figures of the Civil War

PS - They also have editions for  Dinosaurs and Queen Esther and we love them too!

Find Figures In Motion on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/figuresinmotionbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiguresInMotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figuresinmotionbooks/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/figuresinmotion/_created/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwr8ROHgSkGmCrutlMg76KQ


Hashtags: #hsreviews #figuresinmotion #homeschooling #learningthroughplay #playbasedlearning #kidsactivities #learningathome #montessori #homeeducation #paperdoll

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Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 From Teaching Textbooks: A TOS Crew Review

 

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 from Teaching Textbooks


I have never been a fan of teaching math, and for YEARS Teaching Textbooks has been our "go to" math curriculum for all levels. The new version -  Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 has made it even better!

Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0 is app-based subscription that is able to be used on most any device, including smartphones and tablets.  This program is designed with homeschooling families in mind and contains full, comprehensive math curriculum (grades 3- Pre-Calculus).  Lessons contain audiovisual teaching and explanations, lectures, quizzes and automated grading for a 12 month period.  All you have to do is download it and let your child start learning!

We have been using Teaching Textbooks for many years and we love their product.  My students are able to work independently, and all my graduates have earned college math credit on their ACT scores after using Teaching Textbooks exclusively during high school.  

The Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0  contains all the great content and lessons from previous versions, with some nice upgrades.  Here's a few:

• You can enroll your entire family, and use the app feature across multiple devices.  This was a HUGE upgrade for my family, since we all share laptops, tablets, and phones.  The app can be installed, and the student data is stored on servers, so it's available from device to device.  

• They offer a great deal for families with 4-8 children - we used the family subscription for 5 students: Math 7, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 2 and 2 students in Geometry during this time.  Each student has their own login and parents have their own login for the parent portal.

• The scratch pad is a nice addition as a place for them to do their scratch work.  We travel a lot more now that we are in CA and TX, so having a fully "on the go" curriculum has been great. It's designed to work best on a tablet and is not as "mouse friendly" when using a laptop or desktop.

• Students can customize screen wallpapers, animated buddies, and sounds.  My younger students really enjoy this feature!

• The 4.0 version appears on screen in a book-type format that my testers perfer.  It's super user friendly and intuitive.  When a student logs in, the program takes them right to the place they left off.

• You can pause lessons for up to 3 months (90 days) whenever you want to with just one click.  This is a nice feature if you plan on taking any extended breaks or even mini-math vacations.

• Life time access to your student's grade book. Another great feature if you have multiple children - it's easy to keep up with their work and progress.

• Check out the free 15 day trial to see for yourself - you can try any level you want, and all their grades will transfer in, if you decide to upgrade to a full subscription. Not sure where to start? Have your student take the free placement test to find out!

Here's some other features we like about Teaching Textbooks:

I'm not in charge of math any more, my students are.  I can't tell you how many arguments this has prevented, but it has also encouraged my student's independence and motivation!

The 4.0 app contains printable PDF copies of the lessons - a nice feature if you want to work offline (but you certainly do NOT have to print them) and full answer keys with my Parent Login.

Immediate feedback is given for answers (hints can be included).  My students have greatly improved using the 4.0 app version over our old method of pen/paper.  When an answer is incorrect, they immediately know and can try again for the correct answer or see the problem worked out step-by-step. (notice her cute wallpaper?  She changes it daily! 😂)

I also appreciate the Parent Portal information being easy to find and use.  I can manage settings like hints and second chances, and see their progress any time I want to.

 

Teaching Textbooks customer service is hands down, THE BEST!  We have used this product for years and every interaction has been positive - they answer the phone, and quickly answer your questions.
I just learned that they even offer free math tutoring help over the phone as part of your subscription.

I highly recommend Teaching Textbooks Math 4.0  as our favorite math program ever!

Find Teaching Textbooks on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Teachingtextbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TThomeschool
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingtextbooks/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVlomrjY7xTs2cRxSsuKCrw


Hashtags: #hsreviews #TeachingTextbooks

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Two Birthdays

 April 16th – this day holds deep grief and great joy together.

I have 2 birthdays to celebrate today… Matt's birth into heaven, and Monty’s birthday here on earth. Please don’t throw rocks at me for comparing these 2 events, I’m aware that one was my dear husband of 25 years and the other just a puppy. But, they are related in my world...

Matt entered into eternal joy and delight on this day 2 years ago. It was the hardest moment I’ve ever endured. I want so often to show or tell him something one of the kids has done or said, or to ask his wise advice. He would be so proud of them and how they are growing, both physically and spiritually. They were his pride and joy, and he was an amazing husband and dad! We all miss him terribly.

Monty entered this world 1 year ago, on the very date that Matt went to heaven a year earlier. Misha (Matt’s other pride and joy – his beloved golden retriever) left us early into the spring COVID shutdown. It was brutal to say goodbye to her, it felt like losing a little more of Matt. I did NOT want another dog! I was convinced no other dog could ever measure up, and I certainly didn’t want to risk letting my heart break again (not to mention the agony of puppyhood!)

But, Don & Noah had devised other plans and plotted a puppy coup. The twists and turns of that adventure brought a little golden miracle into my heart, one that had been born on April 16th of all dates.

Yet, I can’t help but think that God planned those dates to overlap just to make a point I couldn’t miss. Monty has brought our family so much JOY! He is a great friend and a fun companion to walk and romp with. His favorite activity is called “Let’s wake up the kids” where he gleefully runs into each room and licks each face awake. His energy is contagious and he is FULL of life! He didn’t replace Misha, he’s entirely his very own dog. He didn’t make us miss Misha less, he came and made his own space in our hearts.

I know Matt wanted us to LIVE – to be fully, thankfully alive. Embracing the miracle of Monty has been something I’m sure would have made him proud (and given him something to tease me endlessly with… I’m a DOG person?!)

Happy Heaven Birthday Matt – we’ll keep on doing our best to choose life and joy here until we all join you there!

Happy Birthday Monty – thank you for showing us what life and joy looks like!

K-3 Vol. 6 Art of the Impressionists from ARTistic Pursuits: A TOS Crew Review

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

                     

K-3 Vol. 6 Art of the Impressionists from ARTistic Pursuits

Making art is so much fun -  K-3 Vol. 6 Art of the Impressionists from ARTistic Pursuits   (part of the Art for Children - K-3 Series) makes it easy too! This series is one of our family favorites.

Art for Children - K-3 Series a 4 year, sequential course explores the history of art for your Kindergarten through Third grade students as it teaches the BIG ideas in art history. It includes 8 volumes which you can move through in chronological order, or jump to any specific time period you want to study. (

Be sure to check out our reviews by clicking on the link!)

• K-3 Vol. 1 Art for Children, Building a Visual Vocabulary 
• K-3 Vol. 3 Art of the Middle Ages
• K-3 Vol. 4 Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance
• K-3 Vol. 5 Art of the Northern Countries, Renaissance to Realism 
• K-3 Vol. 6 Art of the Impressionists
• K-3 Vol. 7 Art of the Modern Age
• K-3 Vol. 8 Art in America

Each volume includes video instruction that will help your child learn how to use the art supplies, and a written text lesson to gain an understanding of art history and art appreciation. 

Each volume features an emphasis on using different art materials.  Watercolor painting, chalk pastels, paper cutting and folding, clay sculpture, print making, and much more are all introduced.  Additionally, each time period contains historical lessons and examples.

Different artists and cultures are introduced in this chronological series, along with visual images of the time period's master's artwork to enjoy and discuss together.

In K-3 Vol. 6 Art of the Impressionists focuses on the Impressionist artists of the Industrial Age: Manet, Morisot, Caillebotte, Monet, Pompon, Rodin, Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, Cassat, and Bartholdi in easy-to-use lessons that combine art and history as they create their own projects.

It is available in a hardcover book with a DVD and BluRay disk.  Or, we were able to access the Online Streaming for this 18 lesson course, a great option for taking it on the go.

The Online Streaming Course gives 2 year, unlimited access - and is available immediately with a streamed flip book (identical to the hardcover copy), tumbnails & note-taking capabilities, and additional tips and videos to help navigate the course.

My family has loved these books, and not just my K-3 students - EVERYONE got involved with the projects! (yes, even my high schoolers)

The book gives you a materials list so you can be prepared.  After that, my testers are able to work and create independently, which I love.

The lessons are short, only about 10 minutes each.  You can easily complete 2 volumes over a year. 

My testers love to pick and choose from the excellent projects.  This volume includes a variety gouache painting techniques, as well as, carving, modeling, and constructing sculpture, and oil pastels.

Each lesson includes prep notes for the project, an introduction to the famous artist & a sample of their work to discuss, and the art project.  The video lessons teach techniques and how to use the supplies.  

Here's a peek at what they were creating -

They loved creating clay sculpture and learning about Degas, especially my almost 14 year old dancer! 

They really had a fun time gathering some fruit, and pinecones to work on gouache techniques while learning about Renoir.

The lesson using oil pastels was also a huge hit!  I love how the lessons give them confidence to create, and they are very proud of their finished products. It was during this lesson, that the high schoolers couldn't stand not getting to be part of the fun and started to create too (even Monty our dog didn't want to be left out!)

Our favorite project in this volume was the lesson on Pompon and our soap sculptures! We have learned so many new art techniques in this series and it has really built their confidence in creating.

These are HIGH SCHOOL students - they loved getting involved and creating too!

Of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to show them a science trick with our soap shavings and the microwave...

We really love this series!  It's made art instruction easy for me, and exciting for them.  I highly recommend checking them out for yourself.

Other members of the Crew created with :

• Beginner Level, Art Core 1, Drawing with Graphite Pencils 
• Beginner Level, Art Core 2, Painting with Watercolor Pencils

Find ARTistic Pursuits on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtisticPursuitsInc
Twitter: @ARTisticPursui1
Instagram: @artisticpursuitsinc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk75eIpDhZUqbr1On5xEQJQ


Hashtags:
#hsreviews #ARTisticPursuits #Art #Creative #arthistory #arteducation #educationSEO Keywords:
Creative, Art education, Art History, Art

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