Sneak Peek...

More "Senior moments" - I got a preview of his Senior Pictures.  Sniff, sniff - he's just so handsome!

But - this is more like our real-life - always a photo bomber!

The Magic Stories from Allsaid & Dunn, LLC: A TOS Crew Review

The Magic Stories from Allsaid & Dunn, LLC publishers of The Reading Game and authors of the Wordly Wise series

We have been learning to read for a loooong time at Bentz Test Laboratory!  We are happy to introduce you to a new program - The Magic Stories from Allsaid & Dunn, LLC, who are the publishers of The Reading Game and authors of the Wordly Wise series.  This is a supplemental program for readers at the 2nd/3rd grade level, designed to boost their reading confidence. It can be used as a follow up to The Reading Game (we did not use this).

The Magic Stories are a downloadable set of 6 stories.

• The Magic Hole
• The Magic Ax
• The Magic Joke
• The Magic Hotdog
• The Magic Book
• The Magic Box

 Each story is around 20 pages in length with sweet black and white illustrations.  You can print out the books and let your student color the illustrations, or read them digitally. The stories are optimized to work well on your tablet or e-reader.  My testers loved having their "own" books on our Kindle Fire, and it made the reading even sweeter for them.

The stories are written well, and are a great complement to your regular reading instruction. The "magic" in the stories isn't the kind you think.  These stories are filled with moral characters, and wholesome stories. (I wish they'd named it something different...)  My tester in 3rd grade found them easy to read, and enjoyable.  They are short enough for one sitting.

 Each story comes with 4 additional printable exercises you can use alongside the stories for deeper discussion, creative writing and more.  These exercises allow for plenty of imagination, as well as writing practice.

 In addition, each story features a "Naughty 40" -  once again, not the way you think, they are the are words new readers tend to struggle with.  

The additional downloads contain printable flashcards for practicing these words, which do not always conform to straight phonics rules.  There is a fun reading maze as well to test their comprehension of the story.

The Pre-Post Reading assessment is a great way to see if they are mastering those new words.  A Running Record gives you an opportunity to see how well their fluency is.  Both great tools for you with your new readers.

These are a great addition to our reading and my testers truly enjoyed them.

Allsaid & Dunn, LLC is generously offering a 25% discount Just use the code - "raisingreaders"

Find The Magic Stories on Social Media:

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReadingGame/ 
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheReadingGame2   
• Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/TheReadingGame/   
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVfPcsCZ7zyM7kjiD5Qjn5g   

Hashtags: #hsreviews, #goodmorals, #character, #childrenstories

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Gospel Tracts and Evangelism Tools Sampler Pack from Let the Little Children Come: A TOS Crew Reveiw

Gospel Tracts and Evangelism Tools Sampler Pack from Let the Little Children Come
I love discovering new ways to encourage my children to share the Gospel.  Gospel Tracts and Evangelism Tools Sampler Pack from Let the Little Children Come is a wonderful tool! This bright colored pack comes with 10 different ways to share:

• John 3:16 Animated Tract
• Gospel Buttons FlipAbout
• The Most Amazing House Pop-up Tract
• Wordless Bracelet Kit
• The True Story of Christmas Animated Tract
• The Lost Easter Egg Pop-up Tract
• John 3:16 FlipAbout
• Silicone Salvation Bracelet
• Where’s Everybody Going? Animated Tract
• and Wordless Book

The tracts are fun and interactive - take a peek -

One of our favorites was the Animated tracts.  It came with three different styles, and they all work the same way.  A black screen is used to view the tract and make the images "move".  These are fun, and attention grabbing! Each of the tools in this sampler pack come with a page of instructions.  I really like how they teach you exactly what to say while presenting the Gospel.  

The FlipAbout books are another interactive tool your children can use.  The sampler contains two different styles - one uses colored buttons to walk through the Gospel message, and the other illustrates John 3:16.

With just 4 easy folds, you present the entire verse!

And the instruction page clearly explains how to use the tract, and what to say. 

This tool is a pop-up book.  The pack contained two different stories.  The Lost Easter Egg is a story of why we celebrate Easter and The Most Amazing House tells children about how we get to heaven.  The stories are short, but create a wonderful introduction to the Gospel.

The remaining tools are a bead bracelet kit, a silicon salvation bracelet, and a wordless book.  Each of these items use 5 colors to tell the Gospel message.  These are very effective tools when ministering cross-culturally.  We used them in India on my last mission trip!

Yellow - reminds of us of Heaven,  Black - is the sin that keeps us seperated from God, Red  - the blood of Jesus to cover our sin, White - our hearts, Green - growth, who else can we tell?

There are so many ways you can use these!  In your Sunday School or small groups, as a teaching tool in your homeschool and even in your neighborhood and beyond. They are a simple, effective way to teach your children how to share the Gospel!
Be sure to check out our review of another fun way to share with - Is There Anything Better than Candy? Box-Tract! Find Let the Little Children Come on Facebook Hashtags: #hsreviews, #ShareTheGospel, #evangelism

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Halloween Reflections

Just feeling nostalgic today...

My kiddos have ceased to participate in my themed costume ideas!  So, here's a blast from the past, and 2 of my favorites!


My SEVEN DWARFS!  (when we only had seven...I tried to talk them into reviving this one this year with the oldest away at college.  They revolted)  This was back in the "sew all the costumes by hand" days.

My POOL BALLS - this was our first year in AR - we had nothing but cardboard and packing materials to work with...but they turned out delightful!

Another Million Dollar Smile!

Just like that... another one is done.  Our orthodonist does great work! 

 If you're keeping track...3 done, 4 in process, and 1 to go!

Sex by Design from Abby Ludvigson: A TOS Crew Review

Sex by Design from Abby Ludvigson
Purity is important, and having the discussions about it are a privilege of parenting teens.  We have found a great way to introduce the topic, and have the deep discussions, it's called Sex by Design from Abby Ludvigson. 

Bentz Test Laboratory is growing up... we now have 4 teens at home, one young adult at college and just 3 youngers.  Where has time gone?  With all these ages, we need ways to discuss some very important topics.  

Sex by Design is a program designed to help you.  It contains three components:  a film series, parent & teen guidebooks, and online resources.  This program can be used how you want - their recommendation is to take the time you need to work through it together.  It can even be repeated at different ages. 

We choose to do it as a group study together.  My testers are ages 18, 16, 14, and 13, both boys and girls.

Here are the topics covered:

1) Plan Ahead: Living Pure In A Sex-Saturated Culture
2) Counting The Cost: Every Decision Has A Price Tag
3) Dating: Doing Relationships God’s Way
4) Sex: God’s Purpose And Plan
5) Modesty: God Cares What I Wear
6) Pornography: Its Deception And Steps To Get Out Or Stay Out
7) Secondary Virginity: Running Back To God


The author, Abby Ludvigson,  is a fellow MN girl with an education degree and a passion for encouraging young adults to consider what God says about purity and sex. Her story is very inspiring - she faithfully waited for God to fulfill her dreams of marriage.  I love that we can point to real-life, modern day examples for our children.

The program features video segments for parents to watch (preview it alone first) with their children.  Each segment is  around 15-25 minutes long. These are supposed to be the "springboard" to start the discussions that you will have together.  This isn't an independent study for your teens - you need to be involved. The videos are very professionally done - with segments featuring teens sharing and Abby teaching.

The guidebooks have questions to work through together.   We decided to work through this slowly - we have teenage schedules to consider!

The first unit is exactly right where we are - Plan Ahead: Living Pure in a Sex-Saturated Culture.  With some of my testers on the younger side, and some already well into high school, this message of deciding for yourself what your boundaries are and strategies to use is very applicable.  It focuses on spending time with God, learning to listen to the Holy Spirit and limiting exposure to dangerous media.

The curriculum is designed with options so you can customize to your child's learning style.  There are note-taking pages in the guidebooks to use, or not. The "Follow up" section includes discussion questions will get you talking about the topics.  "Personalize it" sections are for your teen to make this their own.  Practical steps, strategies and commitments (like purity rings) are recommended.  Finally, "Apply it" offers suggestions and activities to put what they are learning into practice like journals and additional articles to read.

The Guidebooks also include a Bible Study designed to fit each of the 7 topics discussed.   The goal is to get your teens into the Bible learning and listening to God themselves.

There are also more resources online to accompany the study, if you want them. Abby has compiled resources from leading experts and put them all in one place for you.  You can find books, articles, and even downloads.

This study is beautifully done.  The Guidebooks are engaging, the videos are high quality and the online resources are a treasure chest.  I highly recommend it!


Find Abby Ludvigson  on Facebook

Hashtags: #hsreviews, #purity, #growingup, #rightchoices

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Weave Your Word in Me -- Part 1 from Kid Niche Christian Books: A TOS Crew Review

Weave Your Word in Me -- Part 1 from Kid Niche Christian Books
One of our most important subjects is Bible study and prayer.  We have been exploring a delightful resource to help your 4th-6th graders study God's Word - Weave Your Word in Me -- Part 1 from Kid Niche Christian Books.
This easy-to-use curriculum has 36 lessons that focus on who God is and how we can talk to him.  All you need is the study, your Bible and a pencil and a dictionary.  It comes as a loose-leaf, 3 hole punched, binder-ready, 72 page study.  
It is compatible with many favorite translations - including King James Version (KJV), English Standard Version (ESV), New King James Version (NKJV), New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and New American Bible Revised Edition (NASBRE).
My tester is in 4th grade and ready to for her very "own" Bible study.  I found this to be the perfect fit for her!
Each of the 36 lessons focus on a theme.  The themes are grouped into sections that focus on God the Father, God the Son, What God Wants and God the Holy Spirit. 
 It can be done at your own pace. My tester likes to do a lesson a day during her "quiet time".  You could also easily use this study in a family setting for a devotional time. 
But, this is more than just a Bible study guide, it is also a prayer guide to help your child learn how to talk to God.  A rhythmical prayer - My Whole Self Before YOU is a focus of each of the 9 unit themes as well.

Each lesson is short and easy for your child to do independently.  My tester really liked getting to look up the Scriptures and answer the fill-in-the-blank style questions.  The study is printed in full color with simple, but eye-catching pictures on each page.  The prayer for the lesson is included on each page as well.  
Finally, each lesson has a "My Prayer" sections for your child to complete.  My tester like this area the best, it's her very own start to having a prayer journal.
In addition, the author - Susan Case Bonner, has included many activities on her website to go along with the study.  There are videos, puzzles, crafts, additional printable worksheets, and even inspiring music to complement each lesson.

I really like the additional  activities.  My tester and I enjoyed watching this video with a rap about how to make pottery on a wheel -

Here's another fun activity - making prayer boxes.  We have plenty of legos around here... I love that she ties it all back to prayer!

We found many great ideas here.  This well-done study would make an excellent resource for a small group or Sunday school setting as well.
I love their niche and mission!  

Find Kid Niche Christian Books on Social Media:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/susancasebonner/

Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/susancasebonner @susancasebonner

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/susancasebonner

Hashtags: #hsreviews #tweensbiblestudy #prayer #biblecurriculum

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