Koru Naturals: A TOS Crew Review

Skin Clear Cream, Manuka Honey Propolis Soap and Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream from Koru Naturals

Yeah!  I got another chance to tell you about Koru Naturals!   (you can check out my earlier  review  here)   “Koru” is the Maori word for a new, unfurled fern frond. It symbolizes new life, growth, strength and peace to New Zealand aboriginal culture. 
This company produces all natural products, does no animal testing, and every product we have tried is fabulous!

First, let me tell you a little about what we got. 

Emu Oil and Blue Tansy Oil Cream  -  4 oz.
"An odorless, non-greasy, and fast-acting topical cream. This cream combines the effective ingredients of Emu Oil at 8%, Blue Tansy, Arnica Extract, MSM and Aloe Vera. Deep penetrating. Soothing formula. For minor pains on back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders, legs, arms, wrists, hands, elbows."
I have to admit... my age is starting to show! The "for minor pains" part jumped right out at me. Lately, I've been having a lot more of those :-) The Blue Tansy Oil cream is a wonderful product. I've really enjoyed using this cream for those sore joints, especially in my hands. It's light and non-greasy. It has a slight scent, but it's pleasant. It's not like most muscle creams that leave you smelling like a medicine cabinet. I like that it was soothing without leaving my skin tingling with a burning sensation, like other creams I've tried. I would recommend it.




Manuka Honey Propolis Soap - 4.93 oz, boxed
"A combination of Manuka Honey and Propolis. Both Manuka Honey and Propolis have a reputation for their natural intense moisturizing and skin protective properties."
I knew right away this was heading for my teenage tester's sink.  This soap was fantastic!!  I have two tester son's that are struggling to tame the acne monster.  This soap was a great weapon for them.  It has a light, pleasant scent.   It's easy to use.  Funny, my tester's weren't quite sure how to use a bar of soap... they've always had liquid soaps.  I guess they don't get out much ;-) They both reported that their skin felt softer after using this soap after a few days.  I plan to get more for the rest of the family!

Skin Clear Cream - 4 oz.

"Contains: raw, unpasteurized Manuka Honey (rated at 20+) and pure steam-distilled East Cape Manuka Oil.  Additional botanical ingredients:

• Kawakawa and Harakeke: two traditional Maori remedies for many skin conditions
• Burdock Root: a Chinese root rich in several minerals and used traditionally for skin conditions
• Thyme: a natural astringent and anti-inflammatory extract from leaves
• Canadian Aspen Bark: a natural preservative

Ideal for acne-prone skin, this cream will improve the appearance of blemished skin and promote skin elasticity through the action of manuka honey and other powerful natural moisturizers."

This one BLEW US AWAY! Like I mentioned, two teenage testers with major acne woes. They are skepics too...and boys. You probably know where I'm going here. My female testers would be all like "ohh ahhh" and eagerly try anything and expect it all to give them amazing results. My male testers...not so much.

However, they were to the point that they were willing to give anything a try that might help their face look more "normal", even washing with a bar of soap and applying a cream twice a day! (side note - the teenage years are horrible to your self-esteem) The cream is lightweight, absorbs quickly and doesn't have much of a scent.  If it had smelled remotely "girly" my testers would have been done.

They both have been using this cream and getting AMAZING, NOTICEABLE results! Their faces look and feel so much better. They report that after only one use, they could feel a difference. Their face didn't itch anymore (regular acne creams had left their poor skin very dry and itchy). Their faces weren't as red, and the acne bumps were already shrinking!

I cannot stress how impressed we were to find something that worked! 

I am a HUGE fan of everything we have tried from Koru Naturals, and I'm sure you will be to. Be sure to check out the other products the Crew reviewed, I know I will be!

Argan Oil and Sandalwood Hair Tonic
Emu Oil Shampoo and Emu Oil Leave-in Conditioner
Manuka Honey and Manuka Oil Facial Cleanser  Manuka Honey, Tamarind and Manuka Oil Facial Toner

Find Koru Naturals on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/korunaturals
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/korunaturals/
See what other members of the Crew thought here

Drawing Around the World: USA from Brookdale House: A TOS Crew Review

Drawing Around the World: USA   from Brookdale House
Designed for grades 4-12.  Available in Digital Download EBook or Print Book - $22.95-25.95. Check out the Drawing Around the World USA sample pages
Brookdale House is a site you will WANT to visit!  It's a curriculum candy store of Charlotte Mason style treats.  
The Bentz Test Laboratory was super excited to get a chance to take a peek at Drawing Around the World: USA ,  I've had my eye on this one for awhile :-)
We got the Ebook - a downloadable and printable 282 page PDF. Since it's a rather large file, and I was going to use it with multiple testers (grades 4-5-7),  I didn't print the whole book at once.  I choose to print the pages that corresponded with our state study each week.  This is a very nice feature for those of us with multiple children!
Drawing Around the World: USA is a very effective way to teach your USA geography.  The lessons are short and enjoyable.  Instead of memorization alone, this program used gentle repetition to teach all 50 States.  Basically, plan to spend about 15 minutes a day, four days a week to complete a 27 week plan.  
Day 1 -  Print off the state study pages.  My testers completed a "State Fact Table" that contained the basic information about the state: Postal Abbreviation, Capital, Bird, Flower, interesting facts, etc.  They include suggested websites that are a great way to find the information, as well as books.  Then my testers colored in their state on a outline map.  As they learned more states, they colored in all the states they have learned so far on their map.
Day 2 & 3: Each day review the fun facts about their state and once again - locate and color/label the states on the map. One day the map has outlines, the next day your student draws them in.  We also occasionally added a craft or recipe from this state on this day (but, that was our own "touch" not included in the curriculum) 
Day 4: List, from memory, all the states/capitals learned so far.  And, draw the outline of the states learned onto a blank map outline of the USA.
This simple, but very effective, process really works!  My testers loved it as well!!  Instead of treating "geography" as another boring task to do and move on, they were learning to make a great mental map of the USA.  Typically geography study seems to be a history add-on, with students tracing routes on a map.  I really like that this program does it differently.  
Even though they are drawing the states,  drawing is not the focus.  If you have an artistic child, they will love this.   If you have not-so-artistic children (like mine) they will love it too.  The point is for them to be able to place the states in their correct positions by memory, not that each is perfectly, correctly shaped and detailed.
The process of searching for the information for the Fact Table kept them excited about finding new facts to share, and got them actively involved in the learning process.  I was pleasantly surprised by how many states they correctly identified in a little "family contest", after using this for only a few weeks.  I may have to join them in re-learning all those tiny Northeast states!
For mom - this requires almost no prep for you.  Just printing the pages, and possibly helping with the research (if your children are too young to do it on their own).  I love when the simple things are also the most effective ones too!  This is one of my favorite geography programs.   

Check out the other products from Brookdale House the Crew reviewed: Drawing Around the World: Europe
The Fun Spanish
The Grammar Workbook Set Sheldon’s New Primary Language Lessons

Writing Through History

Find  Brookdale House on Social Media:

Twitter -https://twitter.com/BrookdaleHouse
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brookdalehousehomeschool
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/BrookdaleHouse
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/107691583736742187981/videos

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Introducing the Cast of Characters

Ok - we've really been doing school for about a month and a half (true!!) and I haven't introduced the Cast of Characters for 2015-16.  Have I mentioned...sniff, sniff... that this is the FINAL year with my whole tribe under one roof..sniff, sniff...   You should expect plenty of "Senior moments" this year!


Before I get too overcome... let me introduce them!

Bentz Academy High School

Bentz Academy Middle School

Bentz Academy Elementary School

 

These are the very best of days, aren't they??

Do You Believe? from FishFlix.com : A TOS Crew Review

Do You Believe? from FishFlix.com

FishFlix.com is an online, Christian movie retailer. Their mission: "We believe that media and entertainment are gifts from God that help us spread his message with creativity and excellence." With family friendly selections in everything from apologetics to music videos, you will want to check them out!

Do You Believe? impacting movie about the power of the Cross.  It's from the same people that brought us "God's Not Dead".  Check out some of the actors & actresses:  Sean Astin, Mira Sorvino, Lee Majors, Cybil Shepherd, Ted McGinley and Brian Bosworth.  This movie is 119 minutes long, and rated PG-13.

Family movie nights are a highlight for the Bentz Test Laboratory.  But, finding something that a majority of family will enjoy, and will be appropriate can sometimes present a challenge.
Do You Believe? is a great choice for your next movie night!  (PG-13 rating for some rather intense police scenes).  This movie follows a dozen people's life stories from very different backgrounds:  a pastor, a gang member, a homeless mother and daughter, a nurse, a couple who have lost their daughter.   Their lives all come together in surprising ways to discover the power of the Cross.  It opens with a question from a street preacher that challenges one of the main characters, a pastor,  with the simple question:
“Do You Believe in the Cross of Christ?" "What are you going to do about it?"
I don't like reading reviews that spoil the surprise and spill out the entire movie...so, I won't do that!  But, let me assure you - this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat.  The characters will draw you into their stories.  You will be surprised, you will laugh, you will cry.  You will be moved! 
 This movie prompts some great family discussions as well.  We were all talking about how our belief will influence our actions, and change our lives...from the inside out.   
My testers all agree that this is one of our favorite movies.  This is a well-done movie, it's professionally produced.  Best of all, it uses the best "entertainment" has to offer to bring us a movie that both entertains and encourages us.  I am delighted to know that Christian filmmakers are turning their talents into something that we can use to combat culture!
This is one of those movies that sticks with you long after you are done watching.  The question will challenge you to examine yourself...“Do You Believe?"
If you like this movie as much as we did, you can get a DVD based study & guide too.  A bonus is a Special Features section on the DVD with actor interviews.
Don't miss this one!

Other titles reviewed by the Crew: 
Faith of Our Fathers
 Little Boy
When Calls the Heart, Heart of the Family
Living Waters: Intelligent Design in the Oceans of the Earth

Find FishFlix.com on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fishflix
Twitter: https://twitter.com/christiandvd
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fishflix/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Fishflix/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/familychristianmovie


See what other members of the Crew thought here

To Kill a Mockingbird from Progeny Press: A TOS Crew Review

To Kill a Mockingbird from Progeny Press Progeny Press states their mission statement as:

“To teach our children to think clearly, to understand literature, and to rely on the scripture for truth and values, and enjoy themselves while they do it!”

This perfectly sums up my philosophy on teaching literature!  The Bentz Test Laboratory recently had the chance to review To Kill a Mockingbird  (for High School level) from Progeny Press.  We got the 59 page interactive E-Guide download version (other versions are available... CD, Physical, etc.)  I like the downloads the best!  Click here for a sample section of the guide.
They are "interactive" because your student can type in their answers directly to the PDF.  The guide is designed to take about 8-10 weeks to complete (depending on your student) and by completing 4 guides a year, they can earn a full high school credit.
Progeny Press is one of our all-time favorite resources for teaching literature.  With many titles to choose from, and at all levels, you can find exactly the literature resource you want and need.  You can create a fully custom literature course for each child! The E-Guide begins with an overview, a brief synopsis of the book, information about the author - Harper Lee, and helpful background information for the story. Ideas for Pre-Reading Activities and help "set the stage" for your student.  For example, spending some time discussing Slavery, Civil War, and Jim Crow Laws gave my testers more depth of understanding as they read this book. The E-Guide breaks down a variety of activities into manageable sections.  Each section covers: 

• vocabulary 
• comprehension questions 
• discussion and critical thinking questions 
• literary terms and analysis 
•  Digging Deeper  -  Biblical worldview and applications (my favorite part!)   Did the characters act in accordance to God's will, or not? Helping them to draw conclusions and applications that they can use in real life.

My testers love that the E-Guide uses a variety of vocabulary exercises - sometimes matching, sometimes it's fill-in-the-blank, sometimes synonyms or antonyms.  This keeps it from getting boring. The questions are designed to encourage your high school student to think and apply.  Ten Essay topics are listed for your student to choose from to write in depth about, they are encouraged to write 2 essays. If you want to "test" them to make sure they are learning, the Summary section makes a great high school grading or review tool.

 
Also included is an Additional Resources section if you want to encourage more reading on similar themes.

Progeny Press guides are very easy to use, everything you need (just add the book) is laid out for you. The Answer Keys are included as well (a great bonus for busy moms that may not have had the time to read along with her high schoolers...) 

I am wholly impressed with the quality of these guides. We have used many of them, and find the same high standard apply from study to study.  

Be sure to check them out!
  Find Progeny Press  on Social Media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ProgenyPress
Youtube: http://youtube.com/progenypress
Twitter: http://twitter.com/progenypress

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Reading Kingdom Online from Reading Kingdom: A TOS Crew Review

Reading Kingdom Online from Reading Kingdom
Reading Kingdom can teach children to read and write to a third grad level, with a fun, easy to use online program for ages 4-10 .   There are 2 pre-reader levels and 5 reader levels. Each of the reader levels has six books that teach reading, writing, spelling, and grammar.   Did you know that fewer than 1 in 5 words can be "sounded out" and there are 1,768 ways to spell 40 sounds?? No wonder reading is hard work!   Consider the sentence above where "ea" can be pronounced 13 different ways.... 

Reading Kingdom Online uses a 6 skill model of reading instruction: Phonics, Sequencing, Writing, Meaning, Grammar & Comprehension that is well designed for all learners, even your "special" ones! By incorporating these areas together in a colorful, game-like environment...reading becomes fun, without focusing on all those "reading rules."  You can click HERE to see samples of each levels.

To learn more about how the Reading Kingdom is fundamentally different from other reading systems available today in both what it teaches and how it teaches, download this PDF. 

The testers at Bentz Test Laboratory were super excited for Reading Kingdom! They are in 1st and 2nd Grade. The program starts with an individual assessment so that the program knows exactly where to begin each individual student. Parental help is strongly discouraged. That was fine with my testers. The program is very easy to use - they needed no help from me!  Both my girls needed help with their keyboarding skills, so they began in Letter Land.  This segment focuses on helping them develop the keyboard skills they need to navigate through the rest of the program.  It took them around 6-12 sessions to complete this and move to Level 1. (where they are both now).

It is recommended that your child use the program at 4-5 times a week. Each time they log on they can see how many times they have used it. This was a big motivator, since my testers could see both of their numbers on the "dashboard" :-) The program automatically starts where they leave off. We used this as a supplemental reading activity and for extra practice.  They both loved having independent computer time.

I like that this program integrates more than just a pure phonics based approach. With a struggling reader, this was a breath of fresh air for her!  Our strict phonics/rules based approach just hasn't been working with her "special" style, and reading has become a painful subject.  Not the case with Reading Kingdom -  She is happy and EAGER to do this program!  I noticed a big improvement in her reading skills in the short time we have been using it.

My "regular" reader loved the program too. An added bonus, both of their keyboarding skills are getting developed at the same time their reading skills are being worked on.

I highly recommend this program, if it's in your budget. It's a great way to supplement, or take a new approach in reading instruction. It was just what we needed.

Reading Kingdom Online is a subscription program that you can try for FREE for 30 days. $19.99/month or $199.99 per year for 1 student. You can add additional students for $9.99/month.

Find  Reading Kingdom  on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readingkingdom
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/readingkingdom
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/readingkingdom/

See what other members of the Crew thought here

Wonky & Tapple from USApoloy: A TOS Crew Review

We LOVE games at the Bentz Test Laboratory!   So we were super excited to get to review 2 games Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game and 
Tapple: Fast Word Fun for Everyone  from USAopoly .

This is a company that is serious about games and bringing families together! Their goal is "to show our passion through each and every game we make."  They have been a leading developer and manufacturer of many well-loved games since 1994. Let me tell you a little about them.


Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game:



For ages 8+.  This fast paced building game is great for 2 or more players.  


The "Wonky" blocks are wooden blocks that come in three different sizes and three different colors.  Simply play a card from the 54 card deck that shows the detail of the block which you can add to your tower, or a special action to complete.  The first player to have no cards remaining to play, or successfully adds the ninth block to their tower wins.

A super easy to learn and fun to play game for the entire family! 

We loved the "wonky" shaped box!  One thing that drives me crazy is games with flimsy boxes... I'm happy to say, Wonky has a great, sturdy box!  But, it's not just the box we liked :-)   This is a very easy to learn stacking game,  you don't even need to be a reader to follow the instructions.  It also comes with a handy carrying pouch, so it makes the perfect grab-and-go game as well.

The stacking is a great fine motor control skill in this game, as well as the strategy skills to keep your tower from falling.

This one is a keeper!





Tapple: Fast Word Fun for Everyone:

Touch Activated Press & Play Letter Eliminator (TAPPLE) is a fun-filled word game for 2 -8 players,  ages 8+.

Simply choose a category from one of the 36 category cards, tap the timer and press the first letter of a word that matches your category.  You only have 10 seconds to complete your turn.  Once you have tapped your answer, pass to the next player.  Letters that have been tapped can't be used again - the pressure is on! 

Be the last player left to win the round, three rounds will win the game.  No spelling skills required! 

This has become a new favorite.  It's easy to play, anywhere!  It rarely gets put away (ok...the box isn't that great on this one - but, it totally doesn't matter because the cards are all stored in the back of the game!)  This is one of our favorites to take with us for waiting room entertainment - ballet, doctor's office, soccer...

This game is fun all by itself,  but you can easily adapt this for some "covert learning missions" too by making up your own category cards.  I'm thinking science terms might be our next TAPPLE challenge.

We highly recommend both ofthese games.  They were super easy to learn and fun to play - for even my youngest testers!

Visit USAopoly on Social Media:

Twitter https://twitter.com/USAopoly
Instagram https://instagram.com/usaopoly/

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

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

See what other members of the Crew thought here