Fast Track Bible Pack: New Testament from Wizzy Gizmo: A TOS Crew Review

Fast Track Bible Pack: New Testament from Wizzy Gizmo

Great for ALL ages!   Cost - $14.99


I love new tools for Bible study, don't you?  Fast Track Bible Pack: New Testament from Wizzy Gizmo is just the fun tool to add to your Bible studies this year.   Wizzy Gizmo is a brilliant inventor, who creates products to help make the Bible come alive!   This "gizmo" contains 27 - 5x9 , sturdy cardstock cards,  one for each book in the New Testament.  These cards are the perfect way to introduce the New Testament books to your children.  They would also be a handy resource to keep around for your Sunday school and Co-op classes.

The Front of each card contains a simple summary, with interesting facts, about each New Testment book.  The Author, number of chapters, and a timeline of the date of writing is included.  The main theme of the book is also listed on the front of the card.  I really appreciated that every card followed the same format, so you could easily find the same information for different books. 

On the back of the card, you will find a wealth of information to help you dive into deeper study.  An outline, key chapters, key passages and doctrines plus the key people are all listed to give you an "at a glance" snapshot of that particular book of the Bible.

Wizzy Gizmo's website offers suggestions of how to use these tools with different ages- check them out here.  These are truly something that ALL my ages can use, even myself!

What we liked best at Bentz Test Laboratory was the design.  These colorful cards are just the right size for taking with you, putting into your Bible, or even hanging on the fridge (where everyone is sure to see it!)

We also thought of all the ways we could use these cards to help us learn more about our Bible.

• My youngest testers took a sticker, and covered the number of the book on the front of the card, and shuffled them up.  Then, they practiced putting the books of the New Testament into the proper order.

• My older testers liked to take the cards and arrange them into a chronological order from the date of writing information, creating a visual Bible timeline.

• We also enjoyed putting them into piles by the author who wrote that particular book. Do you know who wrote most of the New Testament?  You can SEE it when you stack them up!

• We decided that we'll also use these cards for our family Scripture memory time. We began with posting the card on the fridge, and memorizing the Key scripture on the front.  Week by week, we'll be memorizing a key verse from each book in the New Testament.

• With 27 books, it works out nicely for our school year plan as well.  We'll be doing a more in depth study from the information on the back of the cards.  One card per week, gets us a Bible study curriculum for our homeschool!   Best of all, we can customize the information for all the levels we have - Kindergarten through High School. 

I love the way you can use these cards in so many ways.  It's a very affordable "gizmo" that will give you plenty of ways to study your Bibles!   For your visual learners, you won't find a better way to make Bible study come alive.


Other Crew members got to check out these great products : Audio Drama One: Who Created Everything?, Book One: Who Created Everything?, Book Two: In His Image - you should too!


Find Wizzy Gizmo on   Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+:   & Vimeo

Find out what other members of the Crew thought here

Girl Time

I finally got the opportunity to sneak away with just my swee daughter, Selah. We planned our first Mother/Daughter Getaway to Fredericksburg, TX.

Only about a hour and half away... it was a perfect destination for us.

First stop... lunch at a German restaurant (what Fredricksbug is famous for) and then off to the quilt shop!! One Quilt Place is a wonderful shop, we both walked in and took a huge breath of delight!  Fabric is a shared love of ours.

But, our getaway wasn't just about eating and shopping (although, we did a lot of both of those activities...)  I took Selah away on my first ever - Passport to Purity weekend,  a time for us to discuss the important changes and challenges she'll be facing as she heads into her teenage years.

This is an amazing curriculum to guide you through this conversation.  It is audio cd's with Dennis Rainey and his wife, Barbara teaching.  VERY WELL DONE!  In addition to the 5 lessons, they have 5 demonstration projects you prepare to reinforce the teaching points, a journal to take notes in, and plenty of parental support to guide you through, even a what to pack list.  (this isn't a review by the way, I just loved this program and wanted to share.)

This was just the program we needed.  It gave me a structure to work with, and the teaching was very straightforward and offered us plenty of discussion points.  I had been very nervous about doing "the talk", but it turned out to be a very special and bonding time for us.  I wouldn't have done it any other way!

My beautiful young woman, how blessed am I?

Told you we ate all the time!!

We stayed at a sweet Bed & Breakfast,  and had our cream with or without coffee on the gazebo every morning.  Our last night, we completed the study with Selah signing a contract to maintain her purity, and wait to date.  Matt and I gave her a grown-up, beautiful pink and brown study Bible to remind her of this special time. 

After a special dinner out at a nice spot - we went back to our plush bedroom and watched HGTV together...girl style ;-)

Best weekend getaway ever!

Dave Raymond's American History from Roman Roads Media : A TOS Crew Review

Dave Raymond's American History 1  From  Roman Roads Media

Suitable for 6th grade and up
A 2 Part series, each part is sold separately in a 4 disc DVD set.  Includes: Video Presentations, Teacher's Guide and Student Reader (in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI formats).  Cost: $100 (each part).  ON SALE for $75 each right now!

Check out a sample of the Teacher's Guide  and  Student's Reader
I'm am super excited about this one... just a little warning!  Dave Raymond's American History 1   From Roman Roads Media is my latest discovery in the search for our American History curriculum for this coming year.  
I spotted this gem months ago, and bought both parts on DVD as quick as I could - it looked that good!  I was even more excited to see it as a review as part of the TOS Crew.  I was given a downloadable Dave Raymond's American History 1  to preview.
The Bentz Test Laboratory loves history.  But, we do not love history lessons from dusty textbooks, dry, boring and filled with endless dates... We love history that engages us, introduces us to important figures, and engages us in the story of what God has been doing throughout history.  
Dave Raymond's American History 1  does just that!  I have found it hard to find a history program for my upper middle school and high school students that meets our history study requirements.  Many of the programs suitable for this age seem to be primarily textbooks.  I wanted something more for my students, being a lover of history,  I want them to love it too.  This program met and exceeded my expectations!
Here's a little taste.... The lessons in Part 1 include 13 weeks of study covering these topics:

1. Orientation
2. The Banner of the Sun: Meso-America
3. Brave New World: The Early Explorers
4. The Colossus of Empire: The Colonies
5. Stability and Change: The Reformational Colonies
6. A City Upon a Hill: The Puritans
7. A Foreign War at Home: Wars of Control
8. Grace, the Founder of Liberty: The Great Awakening
9. Fathers of Independence: Adams, Franklin, Witherspoon, and Henry
10. Liberty or Death: The Declaration of Independence
11. Awesome Providence I: The War of Independence
12. Awesome Providence II: The War of Independence
13. A More Perfect Union: The Constitution

Part 2 topics (we didn't review this section, but - you may want to see all the topics covered)

1. Federal Headship: George Washington
2. How Good and Pleasant It Is: Adams and Jefferson
3. Manifest Destiny: Settlers, Explorers, and War
4. Word and Deed: John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson
5. The Original United Nations: The Expansion of the Early US
6. Idols of Mercy: Revival, Counterfeits, and Art
7. A House Divided I: The Age of Compromise and Divided Cultures
8. A House Divided II: Abraham Lincoln and Secession
9. The Second War of Independence: The War Between the States
10. Brother Against Brother: The War Between the States II
11. The Lost Cause: Reconstruction
12. A New Normal: The West, Immigration, and Robber Barons
13. Theology as Biography: Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington 

Each lesson contains 5 video presentations, taught by Dave Raymond.   Dave Raymond is an experienced, Christian teacher.  The videos are very professionally done, and only about 10 minutes each.  You could do one per day, or several in one sitting, which is how we choose to view them.  Notetaking is encouraged during the videos, and my testers really needed this skill.  Not often in our homeschool studies do they get the opportunity to hone this valuable skill...  In addition to the video presentations, there are reading assignments, writing assignments, weekly exams, ongoing portfolio work and projects.  This is truly a balanced curriculum - suitable for all learning styles.  

Some of the projects include; a colonial mapping project, a costumed character speech, a research paper, and one of our favorite ideas - the "hour project".  This project involves the student crafting a single project in a medium of their choice about any topic covered during the course of the study.  Suggestions like creating a working cotton gin, re-enacting an early American baseball game, and cooking a traditional Irish-American meal instantly caught and held the attention and imaginations of my testers!

The Portfolio is a "visual textbook" that the student creates by themself.  They can use visual entries like photographs, famous paintings, and artwork. Additionally, they are encouraged to write entries as well. Your student in encouraged to create this with their best craftsmanship, and is graded on completion. 

The Teacher's Guide has plenty of guidance, and rubrics to help you objectively grade your student's work. I love that this is not a standard fill-in-the-blank type of curriculum.  You will be evaluating their research, craftsmanship, appropriateness, ingenuity, ownership and even work ethic!  

Answers for all the lesson questions and exams are included in the Teacher's Guide for your convenience,  nice to be able to stay a step ahead of these high schoolers!  Speaking of the lesson questions and exams, they are challenging and are designed to make your student think and process what they are learning. For example, exam #1 is to write an essay from a collection of history quotes.  

Throughout the Student Reader, my testers were reading selections from source documents, which are included in the reader, that accompanied the video presentations.  A nice feature of this curriculum is that you can read it on most mobile devices (they include PDF, MOBI, and EPUB versions for you).  I printed out the Student Reader & Teacher Guide and had them spiral bound.  I prefer a hard copy, but my tester's like to take their reading with them on the go.

This 2 part course has a total of 26 lessons (Part 1 has 13 lessons, Part 2 has 13 lessons), and a total of 4 projects.  When covered over the course of a year, this is a high school credit for American history.  My testers were able to work independently through this program, although - I was enjoying it alongside them.

The apologetically, Christian worldview is the very best part of this high school course!  With so many changes being made to American history standards in the public arena, you'll be reassured that your students can have a high quality, high level American history course that will strengthen their Christian worldview at the same time.

Two thumbs up for Dave Raymond's American History!
  Other members of the TOS Crew took a peek at some other amazing programs from Roman Roads Media   Including: Old Western Culture: The Greeks,  Old Western Culture: The Romans - The Aeneid, The Grammar of Poetry, Dave Raymond's American History 1 or 2, Economics for Everybody Curriculum and Visual Latin I and II - Make sure to check them out!

Find  Roman Roads Media on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Mathletics from 3P Learning : A TOS Crew Review

Mathletics from 3P Learning - $59 per year online access 24/7 (Includes printable workbooks found in the parent login for each grade level.)

Check out a  FREE trial of Mathletics

Mathletics from 3P Learning is an online math practice program.  It is designed to be a supplemental math activity for your K-12th grade students.  

Bentz Test Laboratory was excited to try Mathletics and were given a full year subscription for 2 students. The testers for this product were my two high schoolers.  It's very difficult to find higher level math supplements, so we were excited to take a peek at this new program being used by families and schools worldwide.

Mathletics is easy to use.  My testers were working on their math skills in algebra and geometry.  I signed up under a "Parent Account" and then set them both up with student accounts.   A nice feature of this program, the parent account gets a weekly progress email that details what your student has been working on, and accomplishing during the week.  

This program, although online and worldwide, really protects your child while online.  They get to create their own avatar, and it uses only first name and last initial identification.  They were proud to be part of "Team USA".  The interactive feature of getting to compete with other students around the world in math challenges, was my testers favorite aspect of this program. There are not "chat features", this is purely math facts competition, but a fun dynamic to the program (especially for my boys!).

Each of my testers was able to select the Section and Topic that they wished to work on.  Both of my testers really liked getting to customize to the exact area they needed to practice.  

For example, my older tester wanted to brush up on "slopes, points, and midpoint formulas."  He liked getting to zero in on exactly what he needed work on, and not have to sift through to find it.  Once they selected a topic to review, they were given optional approaches for study.  My tester could choose three levels of each approach - "Easier", "Core" and "Harder".  Several options include:  "Activities" - answering 10 questions.  "Ebooks" - reading and seeing explanations of problems, "Interactives" - watching demonstrations of solutions "Videos" - watching explanations and solutions.   In addition,  parents can print workbook pages too.

My algebra tester (disclaimer: poor kid got my poor math comprehension gene) did enjoy having an online math program.  He struggled more with it though than did my geometry tester (who got his father's math gene).  Keeping that in mind, this program does a much better job at review than it does for teaching concepts - but, it is promoted as a "supplement".  Remember this is another tool to keep in the math tool chest, not as a full math curriculum.

The "Animated Maths Dictionary" was a useful section.  I think I enjoyed it even more than my testers.  Ever wonder what "Pascal's Triangle" is?  You can look up math terms, see the definition and a simple animation.  

"Times Tables Toons" and "Rainforest Maths" are colorful math supplements for the younger crowd.  My testers were much more interested in the "Live Mathletics" section.  In this section, students can compete with other students from around the world (or the computer).  My testers preferred competing against students :-)  A world map appears, and they are randomly assigned a competition from students from other parts of the world.  My testers were surprised when the questions were all simple addition, until they discovered how to adjust it to their appropriate level.  Although, they enjoyed competing in addition more than algebraic expressions!  

Overall, my testers enjoyed the novelty and the variety of Mathletics.  They found the website easy to use, and easy to navigate.  

As a mom,  I was pleased to see an online program that could be used with ALL my children - even over a wide age and ability range.  

If you need another math tool in you tool chest, this may be worth checking out for your family too.

Find Mathletics on  Facebook & Twitter


See what other members of the Crew thought here      

Being Wrecked...

Last summer I read this book - Kisses From Katie, by Katie Davis.

 I have to say, it wrecked me.  How can I want a "normal, American life" for my children after reading what this amazing young woman has done?

I don't want them to be anywhere but in the center of God's will for them.  Even if that takes them around the world, to places I've never even dreamed about. 

I want to share this short video with you,  you'll see what I mean!

“It may take place in a foreign land or it may take place in your backyard, but I believe that we were each created to change the world for someone. To serve someone. To love someone the way Christ first loved us, to spread His light. This is the dream, and it is possible.”  Katie Davis

I hope this inspires you as much as it has me.  I can't wait to share more of what I'm planning for my daughters this upcoming season...  you'll have to stay tuned!  (here's a hint...

Lightning Literature and Composition: American Mid-Late 19th Century By Hewitt Homeschooling: A TOS Crew Review

 

Lightning Literature and Composition: American Mid-Late 19th Century Student's Guide - $29.95

with the

Lightning Literature and Composition: American Mid-Late 19th Century Teacher's Guide - $2.95

from 
 

Hewitt Homeschooling

 

For Grades 9-12

 







Are you ready for High School Literature?  No, well...I'm not either!  But, Lightning Literature and Composition: American Mid-Late 19th Century Student's Guide from Hewitt Homeschooling will make it manageable and enjoyable!

Hewitt Homeschooling  specializes in creating products that truly educate your students.  By reading great, classic literature and responding to it with writing - your students are forced to develop high-level thinking and reasoning skills.

This study covers four units with reading selections focusing on American classics: books, short stories and poetry.  The books are not included, and must be purchased separately (or retrieved from the library :-).  The books included in this edition are:  Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, and The Call of the Wild by Jack London.  Short Stories from Bret Harte, and poetry from Walt Whitman & Emily Dickinson are included in the Student's Guide.  Check out the  Table of Contents and a Sample Chapter.

You can customize your schedule to cover this in a semester, or a full year - handy Semester and Full-Year Schedules will help you plan. 

The Bentz Test Laboratory will be studying American History this coming year, so this could not have been more perfectly timed.  My tester is entering his junior year of high school (how did THAT happen... I swear he was in kindergarten a minute ago)  Back to the review... 

The introduction covers important topics like "Why Read Literature?",  "How to Read Literature", "How to Read Poetry" and "Figurative Language".  The second section is a "Paper Writing 101" with very basic writing instruction.

My tester started with "The little woman who wrote the book that started this great war" - Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.   Each unit begins with an Introduction, which covers basic information about the author and the selection.  "While you Read" questions are included to keep you thinking as you read the book.    This particular unit's literary lesson's focus was on "Theme".  Explanations of the literary term, and examples from the reading were clearly taught.

Comprehension Questions are available to discuss with your student as they read the selection.  Uncle Tom's Cabin is quite a heafty book - so, the questions were an excellent way to keep up with what my tester was reading (without having to read it myself)  One feature I admire about Lightning Lit Guides - they are designed for independent work from your student.

Following the reading, questions and literary lesson, writing exercises are included.  This is where your student moves from "fill-in-the-blank" to higher level processing.  My tester liked that there was a variety of options to pick from - this lesson had 8 writing exercise choices. (don't make them do them all... unless you like torturing your poor child).

 He choose to write his paper by focusing on a character, other than Tom, that the author used to illustrate her argument against slavery. He used George, another slave, to make his point of how slavery was "cruel to even the most talented slaves, and how slave holders tormented their property, even when it produced a tremendous profit". 

The Teacher's Guide offers grading tips and rubrics for evaluating your child's writing, as well as answers to the comprehension questions.   Discussion Questions and Project Suggestions are included for each selection and are excellent ways to expand the learning.  These are more than comprehension questions, these are the deeper questions that challenge ideas and make some amazing dinner table discussions!  An example from Uncle Tom's Cabin - "How does doing evil affect the doer?"  An excellent resource, for only $2.95!

Project Suggestions add art, geography, Biblical references, Science, Health & Nature ideas you can add to the study.

I have been very impressed with Lightning Literature and Composition - it's a comprehensive literature program, at an affordable price.  You will want to give these a try!

 

Other members of the Crew reviewed additional products including: Lightning Lit & Comp, Joy of Discovery and Learning Objectives for Grades K-8 , Chronicles of . . . A State History Notebook, & My First Report - make sure to go check them out!


Find Hewitt Homeschooling on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus  & Hewitt Blog
 

 

 See what other members of the Crew thought here

 

     

Beyond the Book Report from Analytical Grammar: A TOS Crew Review

Beyond the Book Report from Analytical Grammar For grades 6th-8th (Seasons 1 and 2) Season 3 - grades 8th-10th
Season 1:

• The Basic Book Report
• The Pamphlet Book Report
• The News Article Book Report

Season 2:

• The Poetry Book Report
• The Drama Book Report

Season 3:

• The Oral Book Report
• The Essay
• The Research Paper

Cost: $24.95 per season, or get all 3 Seasons for $69.95 - may be used with multiple children in a family.

One of my favorite language arts curriculums - Beyond the Book Report from Analytical Grammar will breathe new life into your middle/high school student's writing!  
Each Season contains a Teacher Packet and DVD.  The DVD features video instructions from the authors -Robin Finley and Erin Karl  (a mother/daughter team).  In addition to the videos, the DVDs also contain step-by-step schedules, printable PDF student handouts, rubrics, examples and all activities.
This program is ideal for your middle school students, and Robin Finley is a middle school expert, having taught language arts for 34 years.  Her daughter, Erin Karl joins her in teaching this program.  Several different schedules are outlined for you.  If you have a 6th-7th grade student - you can cover this material over 3 years.  8th - 9th grade students can complete in 2 years, and older high school students can complete in a 1 year course. You can see the schedules here.   I love that it is so customizable!
The Bentz Test Laboratory testers are a 8th grader, and a 9th grader.  Both boys ;-)  They jumped right in with Season 1.   
In this season there are 3 main assignments.  The Basic Book Report teaches:  following a rubic, literary terms of conflict, point of view, climax, protagonist, antagonist as well as, paraphrasing and summarizing.    My testers are both Analytical Grammar students, so the author is a familiar figure for them, and Beyond the Book Report combines perfectly to provide a complete language arts program. The videos are very simply done - just one of the authors on their laptop at the kitchen table.  (feels like home!)  The DVD includes printable slides for them to follow along and have plenty of space for note taking, a focus of this program.  I love how active listening is included throughout these Seasons. The rubrics make it easy for you to objectively grade your students writing.   
In the Pamphlet Book Report, new literary terms of elements of the plot, mood and tone, setting,genre are introduced. My testers created a pamphlet from their chosen book. One of the best features of this program is that your student can choose their book. My testers appreciated the freedom to pick the book they wanted to read and write with, and had much more enthusiasm toward writing as a result.

The News Article Book Report introduces concepts of headline, byline, dateline, inverted pyramid, lead, objectivity, bias, objective point of view. Definitely my testers favorite! Their final assignment was to create their own news article on favorite scene from their book, and then to also write opposite bias news article from that same scene.
This program is much more than your run-of-the-mill, fill-in-the-blank type of program.  It will challenge your student to think critically about what they have read, and then write clearly in response.  
Season 2 features the Poetry Book Report and the Drama Book Report. Concepts covered in Poetry Book Report section include: Figures of speech: alliteration, metaphor, hyperbole, simile, personification, etc.Terms: stanza, rhyme scheme, verse, etc. and Types: sonnet, haiku, limerick, etc. I hate to admit this, but poetry is not my middle school tester's favorite topic! Writing their own limerick was quite the patience trying experience... but, we managed. Middle school boys have a sense of humor - how many words can you think of to rhyme with "Bart"? See what I mean! :-) The author doesn't try to push them into the deep end of poetry - but, gives them the encouragement to give it a try.
The Drama Book Report introduces literary terms: dialogue, monologue, 4th wall, cast,props, staging, aside, blocking, etc and Genres: comedy, drama, farce, melodrama. Yeah - after the poetry melt-down, this subject hit a home run. One of my tester's is a HUGE Shakespeare fan (I don't know where he got it, he just is...) The final project of dramatizing a scene from  A Midsummer Night’s Dream definitely took the learning way beyond the average book report!  

Season 3 dives into important concepts from giving an oral presentation, writing personal, literary, and

“issues” (SAT) essays, and the basics of writing a research paper on a famous author.  I'm looking forward to slowing down and really digging deep into this season as we progress into high school.

I feel like this program is perfectly paced.  The videos are short enough to hold attention spans, but are filled with proven instruction.  It's very important  to engage your children in language arts learning.  Learning is much more than just completing a page and moving on.  I believe that Analytical Grammar does one of the best jobs making it both memorable and fun that I've seen. 

Be sure to check out the other great products the Crew took a look at: Analytical Grammar, Junior Analytical Grammar, & The Eternal Argument.

Find Analytical Grammar on Facebook and Twitter


See what other members of the TOS Crew thought here