Health education is so important! We have been enjoying the many videos on a variety of health topics with the Homeschool Special from MarshMedia. Our subscription access allows us to view any or all of their library of 59 educational videos any time we want.
MarshMedia offers an extensive collection of videos for grades K-8 on topics like hygeiene, health, puberty, safety and many more. They have been producing high quality instruction since 1969 for schools, nurses, and other organizations. Now, they are offering it to the homeschool community as well. Normal price is up to $70 per program, but they are offering all 59 titles to be streamed at your convience for just $50! If you wish to take advantage of the opportunity to introduce the MarshMedia curriculum to your home schooler(s) click on the link below for more information: https://marshmedia.com/pages/homeschool-offer
We have been talking about our eyes lately, so the first video we watched was for my younger crew (2nd - 5th graders). This was approx. 13 minutes long set in "Annie's Place". It was reminiscent of educational TV programs we used to watch. It was fun and bright. I was surprised by how much information they covered... how our eyes work, problems like pink eye, wearing glasses, and how visually impaired people read. My testers thought it was a little goofy at first, but they quickly started to really enjoy it. And, they learned so much.
After the younger crew was done, my middle students choose a couple of videos. It's a very easy website to use, and well organized. They have been studying human anatomy and found this 10 minute video all about Blood Borne Pathogens. It was fascinating. We learned about what do to stop the spread of germs, and even some basic steps to use when someone has a nosebleed. I think adding videos to our curriculum gives them another way to enrich, reinforce and increase their learning.
MarshMedia offers plenty of videos to help you discuss puberty and some of the changes your children are experiencing. This one - "You're Not a Little Kid Anymore" is a 18 minute video that provides a great way to clearly show some basic self-care they need to know. The video discusses the importance of daily showers, keeping your nails trimmed and clean, and taking care of your body. I'm hoping that hearing this message from outside sources will help my young boys realize it's not just a "mom thing". If only "use a deodorant" is a message that sticks with them :-)
My younger testers really enjoyed -"Hello Potter", a video production of a picture story book. This story deals with teasing and how to get along. The illustrations were bright and colorful, and the story very engaging.
This is a treasure of resources! We kept finding new videos on a huge variety of interesting topics. Best of all, we have access to the entire library for the same affordable price.
You will not want to miss having this one in your educational tool box!
Bentz Test Laboratory is always looking for supplemental practice for our K-5th graders in math and reading. We have been having fun learning with K5 Learning - anonline supplemental math and reading program. K5 is a subscription based program that includes reading, math,as well as, spelling and vocabulary practice. Check out this quick intro video:
This easy to use program begins with assessments in math and reading that will help get your student learning at a customized pace. My testers are 2nd, 3rd and 5th graders.
This program is not designed as core teaching curriculum, but rather, as supplemental review and practice. Perfect for summer learning! The Parent login allows you to see a detailed report (which is also emailed) of your child's assessments. This was a very helpful snapshot of what we need to work on. If you're not a big standardized tester, this may be a nice way to assess where your student's needs are.
Each 5-10 minute lesson has videos, models, questions and games as part of learning and review. The program offers over 3,000 tutorials and activities in 3 core areas: K5 Reading focuses on phonics, sight words, vocabulary and comprehension exercises. K5 Math covers numbers, measurement, geometry, data and even early algebraic thinking. K5 Spelling has both spelling and vocabulary tutoring.
After logging in with their own login ID and password, the student can select which area they want to work on. One of my tester's favorite parts was the daily riddle on the login page. I've been hearing them repeat these riddles over and over, and it's a fun way to start the lesson.
K5 Spelling has spelling practice and vocabulary practice. The program has over 150,000 words, and is adaptive. The program actually remembers every word the student misspells and will reintroduce that word in an upcoming session. It is begins with the student hearing the spelling word, and can read or see a picture example of the word on-screen. Then, they type the word. They get immediate feedback if it's spelled correctly. This program is a treasure just for the spelling portion! It's much more fun, and effective to practice your spelling words like this. (not to mention, painless for me as well!) Parents can customize the spelling lists using words from the student's outside reading and lesson directly from the Parent Login.
Vocabulary exercises are similar to spelling, but the student needs to discover the word from some examples and clues given onscreen. It's a fun challenge!
In addition, K5 offers printable worksheets for both reading and math lessons. My testers really liked the word puzzles and variety. The worksheets are on the login screen as you begin a lesson.
My testers really enjoyed this program. I really liked that they could work independently, and at their own pace. I really like how customized this program is, after taking the assessments - your student works exactly at the level they are at for each skill. So, my students needed more help with phonics, but were doing better in comprehension, the program adjusted to their need. I also appreciate that subscriptions allow multiple users, so it's very big family friendly and affordable.
Summer is an excellent time to keep working on these important math and reading skills, and K5 makes it fun! You can try it for FREE by using their free 14-day trial. to see for yourself.
Bentz Test Academy is filled with animal lovers, and we have been learning more with a new science based program called Nature's Beautiful Order from Memoria Press.
Memoria Press publishes a variety of classical education products - and the new science titles are a wonderful complement to their selection.
Nature's Beautiful Orderis designed for grades 6-9. This would also make an excellent companion for biology students, or a home library resource. Our set included a 187 page Student Textbook, a 51 page consumable Student Guide, and a 51 page Teacher Key.
The Textbook has 18 Lessons covering animals from the sea, land and air. "Man, the Steward" is the final chapter. The book is written to serious students - you won't find any pictures or twaddle. It's goal is to "provide an introduction to the study of animals for today's youth that will nourish in them a love for nature's beautiful order." It's authors are both students of Aristotle, and classical naturalists..
The lesson topics are:
The Cat
The Lobster
The Cuttlefish
The Sea Urchin
The Bee
The Trout
The Frog
The Turtle
The Canada Goose
The Miracle of Flight
Day's Herald Bird
Birds at Home
The Groundhog
The White-Tailed Deer
The Carnivora
Farm Friends
Man the Upright Animal
Man the Steward
The Student Guide has 2-3 pages of comprehension style questions for each lesson, after reading from the text. These are excellent reading comprehension exercises. We used them orally together, as a narration exercise instead of having her write out the answers. Older students would benefit from writing as well.
The Teacher Key contains answers to all of the questions in the Student Guide. Helpful for busy mom's that haven't got the time to read first!
My tester is a 6th grader. She is an avid reader, and an avid animal lover. I gave her the book, and turned her loose! She was a bit intimidated, but only at first. The vocabulary is at times very challenging, but each lesson is filled with amazing facts that caught and kept her reading.
Her favorite lesson was on the cat. Even though the cat is a fairly common animal, and covered in the "What is an animal?" lesson, we both learned new facts about our favorite animal. Facts from history are included, as well as, science related information. Did you know cats were valued so highly to have heavy fines imposed upon their killers in Europe?
I appreciate that this curriculum is filled with wonder at what God has created. It's completely written from a Biblical worldview that supports science as God's handiwork. It's also rigorous enough to challenge our students to use their minds as well. I do think that pictures or drawings would enhance a book on animals. For that reason, I would recommend this book for older students.
Memoria Press does not disappoint. We plan to keep this handy as a supplement to high school biology.
Check out some other great products from Memoria Press that the Crew has been enjoying:
One of the best parts of homeschooling is sharing the journey with friends! Our Coop always does an end of the year celebration. This year, it was entirely planned by the students. Here are some displays of what we worked on...
We studied ancient history, so our younger students picked out a character, dressed the part, and did a presentation.
The students did a poetry recitation of their choice for the audience.
We had over 50 friends and family attending, so it was wonderful public speaking practice!
The high schoolers actually learned how to plan a large event for most of our spring semester.
Noah gave a passionate sermon on the life of Jim Elliot and a call for missions to Unreached people!
One of our show stoppers was the student produced drama - "The Tex-odus" A modern, Texan retelling of the the Exodus story. The created the script, coordinated the costumes and rehearsed...entirely on their own!
We're calling this year the "Burning Cactus" - so fitting, we had plenty of prickly moments, but we made it to the Promised Land!
