My world geography class has taken a few weeks to focus in on the good old USA. For the unit project (I love to have a unit project!) I assigned them a creative endeavor - to build a Texas Float.
Simple instructions - take a box and use it as a base. Include landmarks, symbols and whatever else you want to make a visual representation of our state.
They blew me away...
These two really celebrated the SPIRIT of Texas - Go BIG!
I love getting to let my highly creative students shine...
Multiple ways to approach this project made it a good fit for everyone.
Designed for ages 7-17 (or even adults) each lesson is around 30-50 minutes. The subscription gives access for a year, and you can repeat lessons anytime. Optional workbooks are available. Take a peek at this video to see how it works:
.
This video based program uses recorded classroom style lessons that incorporate fun hand gestures, complete action sequences, student skits, and stories taught by Caryn Hommel - author and homeschool mom with years of experience teaching ESL.
A student workbook is available to reinforce and expand the language learning from the videos. We were not given it as part of our review - but the program can be used without it.
Vocabulary review and practice (including flashcards, games and quizzes) are available for FREE on the Quizlet website. The website also offers a variety of helpful links and resources you can use alongside the video lessons.
Each video lesson begins with the introduction of vocabulary. Words are written on the white board, pronounced clearly, and the definition is given a unique gesture that is used to help the students recall the meaning. This is part of the Total Physical Response (TPR) teaching that has shown to be a very effective tool in learning foreign languages. Students learn advanced vocabulary from the very first lesson. My testers have each had several years of Spanish instruction, so they were able to jump right in and keep learning.
This program teaches Spanish vocabulary in context with a story and questions. New vocabulary is introduced in a logical sequence. This helps students naturally learn the language and how to use it in real life situations. My testers liked learning words that could really be used in situations that they may encounter, not just the basics of common greetings, what is your name, etc. I feel like this is because they already had those basic skills already, it may be harder for a complete newbie.
The instructor, Caryn Hommel models the vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar usage directly to the students in a fun, lighthearted style with plenty of humor included.
Each lesson covers a LARGE amount of vocabulary at a fast pace, so it was hard to master it with just one viewing, and no written workbook to refer to. I highly encourage having your students write it down as they watch.
Additionally, the recorded lessons use live students participating in the class to demonstrate the new Spanish words, phrases, and sentences in small, entertaining skits that they act out. My testers enjoyed watching this, but commented that they felt like the audience, and not a participant - one of the down sides of watching a class. Getting them to stand up and do the motions along with the class felt forced, and they did not enjoy it.
I liked that all my students can use the program together. It was nice to see them interacting, and hearing their giggles when I could get them moving. This may be a great option for really active learners.
If you are looking for an independent learning option, this program is a good fit as well. You do not need to know Spanish, in fact - you can learn alongside them.
Overall, Excelerate SPANISH offers solid instruction and your students will learn to hear the language spoken correctly - a big benefit over a dull textbook any day!
We have been improving our math, reading comprehension, logic and reasoning skills in just 15 minutes a day with a 6 month subscription to Smartick.
Smartick is an online, subscription based program designed to reinforce skills and provide vital math enrichment exercises by using it just 15 minutes a day, at least 4-5 times per week. For students ages 4-14. By using advanced technology, the program actually adapts to your child's skill and and pace (instead of standard grade levels). My testers completed a placement exercise during their first session - and the program has decided the rest. So easy to use!
The program has both a parent login - where we can see progress, speed, a calendar of completion, and more, and a student login. In addition, daily emails are sent directly to my inbox detailing their progress, or letting me know if they missed or stopped their session. Very handy!
Both of my students could login and create their personal avatar and password. The program is very intuitive to use, so all I had to do was to introduce it.
Let me show you some of the features:
The goal is to earn "ticks" by answering questions correctly. The student simply begins, and the program has determined the level. I love that my students are getting valuable practice in math skills while improving their speed too. Immediate feedback is given after they answer...either a satisfying (but sometimes annoying to siblings) ding! Or, a red x with the correct answer shown.
Once they have earned enough ticks - they have options of how to use them. This is what my testers loved most about this program...the rewards. Surprising how hard they will work for these... The ticks can be use to purchase items for their virtual rooms, or even send items to friends. My girls love this feature.
The program also has an arcade that allows them to play a wide variety of games -shhh...don't tell them they are actually working on memory, reasoning, flexibility and attention skills, it just seems like fun! One of their favorites was Rush Hour - a puzzle game moving cars on a grid (just like the physical game).
They can also play games, or challenges with a friend. They get to choose the topic to compete in, and then the challenge appears on their login. This was super fun for the sisters to get to compete against each other.
The students get plenty of feedback on their progress from their login as well.
They really enjoy this program, in fact - it's the first thing they do daily. The program has a nice parental feature, it that it only allows them to complete one session per day (otherwise, we'd never get anything else done!).
I'm thoroughly impressed with this program. It's well designed, and easy to use. I've already seen massive improvement in their math skills.
My students love the online Drawing Program from Creating a Masterpiece! This easy-to-use online program is so easy to use - they were off and creating, without any help from me.
The Drawing Program consists of 4 different levels of video-guided drawing lessons.
Beginning - 8 lessons
Level 1 - 7 lessons
Level 2 - 6 lessons
Level 3 - 8 lessons
Each project is designed to teach different drawing techniques with skills, increasing in difficulty as they move through the levels.
Students are guided step-by-step by video instruction done by Sharon Hofer, a master artist, as their guide.
The videos are designed so that you feel you are with her, in the studio.
My testers really enjoyed the lessons. One thing we really like, is the ability to work at our own pace. They could pause, stop or rewind whenever they want - an advantage over a class room.
The supplies needed are limited to just paper, pencil, colored pencil, and charcoal, each lesson gives a detailed list. This makes it a great place to start learning to draw and developing skills.
From their first project, my testers were hooked. The guided lesson made it easy for them to break it down to manageable steps, and they loved what they created!
The lessons teach them how to plan, develop and enhance their drawings. As they worked through the levels, they were learning plenty of art theory like incorporating value, shading, two point perspective and more. They were also developing concentration and confidence.
The program is specifically designed so that students can work independently. All I had to do was put out the supplies, and get out of their way.
Here's a few of their masterpieces.... I really like how they are similar, but distinctly their own at the same time.
They keep begging for more drawing time. You'll want to check this one out - it's a great program!
Remember when your parents told you all they had to play with was a block of wood? Well, I'm thinking they were the lucky ones... We have not been able to put our new Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks from Brain Blox away!
These simple blocks are precision cut out of natural pine wood and smooth as can be. Our box came with 200 planks and a sturdy drawstring bag to hold them. I love products with real-life packaging! Way to go Brain Blox - you really understand that a quality toy needs a quality way to store it...can I hear the amen moms?
While these blocks seem like a fairly simple toy - they are really anything but simple! They are one of the best tools I've encountered for turning on your child's thinking and problem solving skills. Bold statement, but it's true. I simply opened the box, and several eager testers were clamoring for a handful of blocks.
What happened next surprised me even more - my testers, ages 10-13 started building things together. These blocks are a great way to encourage your kids to turn off the screens!
Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks offers a section of free building ideas online - which includes videos, an idea book you can download, idea cards, pictures of characters you can create, and some pretty challenging building ideas for your more advanced builders. A printed idea book comes along with your blocks and storage bag.
I'm impressed - not only were they having a great time...with each other. But, these blocks are great tools for building so many valuable skills! Math, physics, engineering, logical thinking, spatial awareness and more.
Let me show you a few:
This was literally minutes after opening the box...
The instructions are very easy to follow, and they could build complex structures right away.
They decided to build a roman Colosseum!
This kid is definitely interested in engineering, and these are the perfect way to practice. I see these delightful blocks used all over my house, in many different ways.
I loved seeing my children use their very own, God-given creativity to build and explore ideas. These are way better than any video game!
They are great for all ages, and come in 100, 200 & 300 planks.
Christmas is right around the corner and these would make a great gift Find on Amazon here.
