TOS Review: Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek!

Does the thought of teaching your children a foreign language cause your hair to stand in attention? Well, if you're anything like me it does.  Boy was I nervous when I was assigned to review Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! Level 3.  I thought how could I teach a foreign language when I could barely learn one in college.  Seriously, the only reason I passed Spanish was by the grace of God and with the help of an incredibly generous classmate who helped me along the entire semester.  Thankfully teaching my kids wasn't as painful as I feared it would be.

Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! teaches the koine` (biblical) form of the Greek language.  To review Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! Level 3, I received the worktext book, the full text worktext answer key, and the pronunciation CD.  The worktext is a 180 page (36 lessons) consumable workbook with 170 pages of worksheets/practice pages and 10 pages of appendix.  There are also an additional 13 pages containing 78 different flashcards. I laminated the flashcards for durability.

Worktext sample

The (full text) worktext answer key is virtually a copy of the worktext, but with all the answers, in addition to an instructional break down for each lesson. 

Sample of teacher's instructional page

The pronunciation CD allows you to hear the Greek alphabet sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Tea Pot," as well as, all the pronunciation of the Greek words taught in levels three and four.   

There are 8 levels to the Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! series.  Each level builds on one another. For information on which level is best suited for your student and placement tests, please see FAQ.   

In Level 3 students begin by reviewing the alphabet and vocabulary that was introduced in Levels 1 and 2. Students then learn to build sentences such as, I see a brother, I see brothers, I see a man, I see men. As the lessons progress the sentences lengthen as well, An apostle and a servant know laws, You take gifts for brothers of men, etc.  Each lesson is broken down to teach whether words are plural or regular, what words are masculine and feminine, first person or second person, and more. 

I personally had a difficult time understanding the concepts taught.  I think I would have understood it better if there was an instructional CD or DVD that went along with each lesson.  My daughter has enjoyed learning the Greek sounds, alphabet, vocabulary words, and how to build sentences, but unfortunately I was not able to give her a firm grasp on the rule behind language.  Overall, she really likes the curriculum. She enjoys singing the alphabet and has a great time stumping her friends with what she's learned.      

Even though learning/teaching a foreign language is not on my list of strengths and I had difficulty teaching my daughter Greek the way it was intended; I still feel it is a great curriculum.  Many others have found it a breezy to teach and you may too.   

Here are sample pages for 

Lesson 6, Lesson 25, and Lesson 30.   

Table of Contents

Greek 'n' Stuff also offer Latin and Bible Study curriculums.  To make a purchase for your classroom or as a gift for someone else, go to the Greek 'n' Stuff site.  

Be sure to stop by and read what my fellow TOS Crew members had to say about Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! and other curriculum Greek 'n' Stuff has to offer. 

I'm a crew member with The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew and I received Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! Level 3 from Greek 'n' Stuff in exchange for my honest review.   

TOS Review: Growing Healthy Homes – Nutrition 101: Choose Life

Have you ever heard the old saying, “Good in - good out, bad in - bad out?”  Even if you haven’t, we all know that the foods we eat greatly impact our bodies and our health.  We all want our families to be healthy and strong, but in today’s society it is becoming increasingly more difficult.  With the mass production of sugary, fat filled, no nutritional garbage that is targeted directly to our children, we as the parents have a constant battle on our hands.  Our children hear us say, “No, that’s not good for you,” but they don’t really understand the reasoning behind our decisions. This is why Growing Healthy Homes – Nutrition 101: Choose Life was created.  Debra Raybern, Sera Johnson, Laura Hopkins, and Karen Hopkins, whom all have children of their own, had the desire to create a health curriculum designed to teach families not only what we should eat, but why and how the foods we eat affect our body.

Nutrition 101: Choose Life is a biblically based, full year health and nutrition curriculum.  There are 448 pages covering the 12 main body systems. The curriculum is divided into 6 units and each unit is further divided into 4 chapters.

1. The Brain and Nervous System
    C1. The Brain
    C2. Brain Health and Nutrition
    C3. The Nervous System
    C4. Nervous System Health and Nutrition

2. The Digestion System
    C1. The Digestive System
    C2. Digestive Health and Nutrition
    C3. Enzymes
    C4. Elimination

3. The Respiration, Olfactory, Auditory, and Visual Systems
    C1. The Respiration System
    C2. The Olfactory System and the Nose
    C3. The Auditory System and the Ears
    C4. The Visual System and the Eyes

4. The Muscular and Skeletal Systems
    C1. The Skeletal System
    C2. Joints and The Muscular System
    C3. Skin, Hair, and Nails
    C4. Exercise

5. The Cardiovascular and Immune Systems
    C1. The Cardiovascular System
    C2. Heart Health and Nutrition
    C3. The Immune System
    C4. Carbohydrates and Sugar

6. The Endocrine System and Emotions
    C1. The Endocrine System
    C2. Endocrine Health and Vitamins 
    C3. Diabete
    C4. Emotions

Here is a youtube video created by the authors.  

Nutrition 101: Choose Life is designed for all ages in mind and is a great Health curriculum for any family. Each chapter offers yummy easy to make recipes such as, Green Apple Bean Salad, No Dairy No Chocolate “Chocolate” Pudding, Guacamole, Vegetarian Sheppard’s Pie, Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls, Basil and Garlic Pesto, Spinach Salad, Chicken Nuggets, and SO MUCH more. You will also find many fun activities, hands-on experiments, reading and writing assignments, resources, and more.

The authors recommend you start the program with a few initial tasks to help you and your family get started on the right track.

• Get rid of junk food
• Make a list of healthy foods your children enjoy
• Eat all the healthy foods you and your family enjoy  
• Make positive confessions – pray and thank God for the food He has provided
• Try at least one new thing at each meal
• Find healthy alternatives to those old favorites

Nutrition 101: Choose Life is available in printed form (book) for $99.95 or on CD-ROM for $79.95.  A combo pack (book and CD-ROM) is also available for $129.95.  Nutrition 101: Choose Life would make a great addition to your classroom and/or a wonderful gift for someone else.

I can’t say enough good things about this book!  I’m so thankfully to be part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and to have the opportunity to review Growing Healthy Homes – Nutrition 101: Choose Life. (I received this in an eBook version).  I absolutely love it and will continue to use this as our health curriculum until we’ve completed the book.

Be sure to stop by and read what my fellow TOS members have to say about Growing Healthy Home - Nutrition 101: Choose Life. Disclaimer:     

I'm a crew member with The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew and I received Nutrition 101: Choose Life eBook for free in exchange for my honest review.

TOS Review: Science Weekly

My daughters absolutely love science, so they were pretty thrilled to have the opportunity to review Science Weekly. 

What is it?
Science Weekly is a monthly instructional module designed in a newspaper format. There are 6 levels available; each level comes with one Science Weekly Teaching Notes information sheet.

Level Pre-A (Kindergarten)
Level A (Grade 1)
Level B (Grade 2)
Level C (Grade 3)
Level D (Grade 4)
Level E (Grade 5-6)

Each issue is printed on an 11x17 inch piece of paper that is folded in half and printed on both sides.

It is called Science Weekly, not because you receive a different issue each week, but rather because each issue should be completed over the course of the week. Every issue introduces something new and exciting. All issues include neat graphics, vocabulary words, multiple choice questions, math, science labs, writing assignments, and more.

Science Weekly's website offers a few fun activities for your student to enjoy, such as interactive issues on pyramids, kites, dams, living in space, and hurricanes, (Only Levels for levels A, B, C, and D are available.)

Printable coloring books about the sun, gravity, forest, photosynthesis, hair, and dams are also available.

Here is a sample issue about Coral Reefs.   

We had the opportunity to review an issue about The Flu. We studied such things as, how the virus attacks the cells, how it mutates, ways to prevent the spread of the virus, what flu means in Latin. We also learned multiple vocabulary words, completed a fun science experiment, and more.

I would have liked the issue to be a bit larger, but overall my daughters enjoyed the Science Weekly issue we received. (For review purposes only I reviewed all 6 levels on the flu.)

Science Weekly offers rates for individual orders (homeschoolers) and classroom/co-op orders.  For individual orders (less than 20 subscriptions to one mailing address), Science Weekly is mailed to your home 15 times a year, at a cost of $19.95, per level.

A classroom/co-op rate (about $136.55 a year) is also available to teachers needing 20+ issues of the same level.
If you would like to subscribe to Science Weekly, click HERE.

Be sure to check out what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say about Science Weekly.

Disclaimer: I'm a crew member with The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew and I received all 6 levels of the Flu from Science Weekly in exchange for my honest review.

TOS Review: Big IQ Kids

BigIQkids is an e-learning site designed for students grades K-8. It provides your student with daily academic lessons in an interactive, easy to follow format. With BigIQkids your student will study US geography, vocabulary, spelling, and math.

• US geography: state capitals, locations, spelling, abbreviations, and common facts.
• Vocabulary: see/say the word, read the definition, synonyms, and antonyms, and spell the word.
• Spelling: see and say the word, hear it in a sentence, and spell the word.
• Math: single digit addition through double remainder division.

BigIQkids offers free and premium accounts. We received a free subscription for the premium account, which includes all 4 programs. Here is an informative video explaining the differences.

 To begin using the program the parent must create an account for the student. Once this is done the student is free to begin working on whichever subject they wish.  BigIQkids does not offer a parent account however the parent is kept informed on the student’s progress via emails. These emails inform the parent on how the student has scored on a lesson, what questions they answered incorrectly, when they have advanced to the next level, and when modifications have been made to their lessons. Here are a few excerpts from emails I have received. I have changed my daughter’s name for privacy purposes.

Hi Emily’s Parent/Guardian:

Emily successfully completed the State Abbreviations Lesson - LEVEL 3.

Emily is doing great!

Hi Emily's Parent/Guardian:

Emily completed the pop quiz on BigIQkids.com Spelling Program for lesson 6 with a score of 100% This week Emily is in the 100% Club!

Hi Emily's Parent/Guardian:

Emily completed the pop quiz on www.BigIQkids.com Spelling Program and scored a 93%. Emily spelled the following words incorrectly: vetoes

The above words were spelled: vitoes

Lesson 6 words: vetoes,echoes,radios,heroes,handkerchiefs,tornadoes,videos,banjos,leaves,tomatoes,mosquitoes,potatoes,lives,hoofs,studios

Some parents may frown on the number of emails they receive, however I look at it as a bonus. Since I don’t have the ability to log into a parent account and I’m unable to sit with my daughters the entire time they are working, it is nice to be continually undated on their progress.

All four programs are very flexible and can be easily modified through the student’s account. By simply clicking on the green book that says “Modify Lesson” within each program (subject) allows the parent to change grade levels, add or remove spelling and vocabulary words, choose the number of problems assigned, and much more.


The programs are based on a 1-3-mastery + level. The student begins working at level 1 and as they master the information presented, the program automatically advances them to the next level. If you feel a particular level is too hard or easy for you student, you can adjust it accordingly. Level 1 is usually incredibly easy, as the answers are visible to the student, but as they work through the lessons the difficulty increases.

BigIQkids also offers a great reward system that both my daughters really enjoyed. You guessed it! GAMES! As the student completes their lessons they are rewarded coins. They have the option of either banking the coins or redeeming them to play games. They are even required to earn coins in order to create and clothe their avatar (IQ Buddy). Like the rest of the program, the reward system can also be modified by the parent.

Pros:

• Most of the program is verbal, which is great for the students who struggle with reading.
• Programs are easy to modify.
• Spelling and vocabulary words can be added or removed.
• Lessons and reports are printable
• Multiple free programs and activities available
• Students can work independently

Cons:

• The computerized voices were rather bothersome, although we did get used to it after awhile.
• Not having access to a parent account.
• The math program does not go beyond division. Since BigIQkids is designed for students K-8th grades, I would have liked to have seen some pre-algebra/algebra questions.
• We dealt with many technical errors, but we just worked around them the best we could.

Our thoughts:
There are a few aspects of the program we liked more than others, but overall I feel BigIQkids is a good learning site.

My 7th grader was not thrilled with it. She felt it was boring and babyish, often groaning when asked to log on. However, it has strengthened her geography skills.

My 5th grade absolutely loved it. She wanted to log on first thing in the morning and multiple times throughout the day. She enjoyed the positive feedback and the coins she earned when the lessons were completed. She loved the geography and her avatar most.

If you’re interested in seeing for yourself what BigIQkids is all about, but not sure you want to commit to a paid membership, BigIQkids.com offers a free 7 day trial of the premium account.

Be sure to stop by and see what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say about BigIQkids.com

Here are multiple screen shots of different areas of the programs.

Vocabulary

Geography (US States)

Locate capitals

Modification page for geography

Math

Spelling

I'm a crew member with The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew and I received two free premium accounts from BigIQKids.com in exchange for my honest review.

TOS Review: ARTistic Pursuits

Art is one subject I know nothing about. So, I wasn’t sure where to start when my oldest asked me to find a curriculum or something to help strengthen her drawing ability. Needless to say I was pretty thrilled when shortly thereafter I was asked to review ARTistic Pursuits. I was given a chose as to which book I wanted to review and I chose, Junior High Book One: The Elements of Art and Composition. Junior High Book One covers, “the elements of art and composition with emphasis on World Art! Students learn how to draw and gain understanding of how different ideas affect the look of the art made by cultures around the world.”

Artistic Pursuits was designed by a fellow homeschool mom, Brenda Ellis. It is written directly to the student in an easy to understand format, making the curriculum great for your independent learner. It could be easily taught in a co-op setting, as well.  Curriculum is available for all your students, Preschool - Sr. High.  Simply click on the covers for a sneak peek of what each book has to offer. The books are non-consumable, so you can use them again and again with all your students. 

ARTistic Pursuits is not your typical step-by-step drawing instructional textbook, but rather a “comprehensive art program designed to involve the student in the creative process while developing observational skills.”

The curriculum is designed to cover a full school year (32 weeks), if used twice a week for approximately 1 hour each class. The Junior High Book One is divided into 16 units; 7 covering the elements of art and 9 covering composition.

 

Each of the 16 units covers the same 4 lessons.

• Building a Visual Vocabulary
• Art Appreciation and Art History
• Techniques
• Application

Some of the topics your student will explore are space, line, texture, lines in 3 dimensions, rhythm, space with and without depth, proportion and so much more.

Throughout the pages of this textbook your student will enjoy wonderful works of art from professionals, other students, and a cartoon character named Creative Cory. Seeing these works of art enables your student to have a visual idea of what they will be creating.

The first lesson was incredibly simple. They were asked to write their name across their paper, making sure to stretch it so it would reach from end to end. As the lessons progress they increase in difficulty.

Here are a few photos of my daughter’s art work alongside excerpts from the book.

Some of the needed supplies are, drawing pencils, sharpener, vinyl eraser, sketchpad, sandpaper block, aluminum wire, pen or marker pad.  If you do not already have the supplies on hand, you can find them at any local art or craft store. As a convenience to their customers, ARTistic Pursuits offers a bundle package of supplies.

Our thoughts:
Before our book arrived I thought we would be receiving a step-by-step style curriculum, but once we dove into it, I was pleasantly surprised. I’m pleased with how Mrs. Ellis teaches the student to truly see and observe objects around them, rather than just drawing line by line.

My daughter has also enjoyed it so far, but has said, “I wish it gave some step-by-step instruction, because it would make it easier to draw the pictures.” Howvever, I think once we complete the book, she will have a greater appreciation for the ARTistic Pursuits Art Program. I intended to purchase the ARTistic Pursuits Grades 4-6 book one for my 5th grader sometime in the near furture. 

Artistic Pursuits offers a money back GAURANTEE for individual orders. "Should you decide for any reason that you are not satisfied with the book or art supply pack you order, Artistic Pursuits Inc. will refund the cost (shipping not included) when the items are returned in unused condition within 30 days. Simply return the items in the original packaging for safe shipping. This refund applies only to orders purchased directly from Artistic Pursuits Inc. For any concerns about your order simply e-mail alltheanswers@artisticpursuits.com . We want you to see our books, and we care about your satisfaction!"

If you would like to read about Mrs. Ellis and her homeschool family, click HERE.

The ARTistic Pursuits curriculum is available for $42.95 each. To purchase this program for your students or as a gift for someone else, go to http://www.artisticpursuits.com/.   

Be sure to check out what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say,

Disclaimer: I’m an independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I received Junior High Book One: The Elements of Art and Composition for free in exchange for my honest review.

TOS Review: Who is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?)

Title: Who Is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?)

Price: $39

Publisher: Apologia

Excerpt from Apologia's website: Who is God and can I really Know Him?, introduces the concept of worldview laying the foundational truths upon which the evangelical Christian worldview is built: God is truth to people; He is the one true and almighty God; He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; He created everything; we are God's children and are made to love and to praise Him; God meets all our needs; sin keeps us from God; and Jesus is the only way to God.

We have used Apologia science books in our homeschool for the past few years and we absolutely love them. So when I was asked to review "Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him?" I was thrilled.  Apologia offers amazing products and this book is no exception.   

Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him is the first book in a four part series - What We Believe: Biblical Worldview of God and Truth, written by Mr. John Hay and Mr. David Webb. It was written directly to the student in a conversational style making it easy to read and understand.  The book is recommended for children ages 6-14. However, I personally feel the textbook would be of greater value to children ages 8/9 and older. I don’t feel the average 6 year old would understand the content.

 Who Is God is jammed packed with creative stories, thought provoking questions, stunning pictures, scripture memorization, fun experiments, yummy recipes, and so much more.  All the stories and pictures are combined with scripture to reinforce the lessons. Most of the scripture is from the New International Version (NIV), however, Apologia recommends you use which ever translation best suits your family.  I personally use the New Living Translation (NLT).

Does God really exist? If God created the world, why isn't it perfect? Who are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? These questions and a plethora more are part of a continuous debate between biblical truths and worldviews. Without focusing on a particular denomination (religion), I feel Mr. Hay and Mr. Webb have done a superb job in showing us who God truly is, while revealing why so many of the worldviews are false.  

Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him has 252 pages divided into ten lessons.

1. Where Am I Building My Life?

2. How Can I Know What's True?

3. What is God Like? (Part I)

4. What is God Like? (Part II)

5. Who are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?

6. If God Created the World, Why Isn't it Perfect?

7. Why Did God Create Me?

8. Will God Meet All My Needs?

9. Why Does Sin Keep Me From Knowing God?

10. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?

Each lesson is then divided into several key elements.

• The Big Idea
• What You Will Do
• Short Story
• Think About It
• Words You Need to Know
• Hide It in Your Heart
• Integrated Learning
• What Should I Do?
• Prayer
• Worldview Study
• House of Truth

A sample schedule is provided, which divides the lessons up over six days, three days per week. The book is designed to be flexible for all families. We personally found it easier not to follow the sample schedule, and simply read and completed the activities until we were ready to move to another subject.

Apologia encourages the student to keep a notebook to help reinforce what they are learning. Numerous notebooking pages are available on the Apologia site. The access code can be found in the text.

Here is a sample ... Check out Lesson One and the Table of Contents to see what you can expect from Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him.

My daughters and I love this textbook and we are looking forward to reading the other three books in the series. Thank you, Apologia for such a wonderful book!

If you like what you've heard about Apologia's Who Is God and would like to purchase it for your family, click HERE.

Be sure to stop by and see what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say.

Disclaimer: I’m an independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I received the first book in the What We Believe series, Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him for free in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Walk

Come walk with me as I journey through the weekly blogs. My blog is on the list this week, too!   

Homeschool Circus

Discover Their Gifts

Nicki Black A Mosaic in the Making

Ever After... My Way

Created 2B Creative

Wrightsboro Sonrise Center

Knee Deep in Grace

Indoor Garden Musings

Mom of Many Bentzs