Teach Those Kiddos How to Read!

Another great opportunity that I have had with Mosaics Review Team is to review Ooka Island Adventure!

Ooka Island is a computer game for your children ages 3-7 to help them learn how to read while having fun doing it! You can download it right from the internet to your Mac or PC, or you can buy a disk and get it in the mail so that you have the physical copy for whatever computers you need it on!

 (click on image to enlarge).

Quite honestly, I had never heard of Ooka Island before I received my disk in the mail! I was excited to try it out with my three year old cousin, Eliza,  who is very smart and wants to learn how to read and write at such a young age.

Eliza had SO much fun playing Ooka Island. She played a lot of the games on Ooka Island and was sounding out letters and words that she hadn't ever learned before!

There are 3 different editions of Ooka Island - the Home Edition, the School Edition, and the Homeschool Edition. You can read about their differences on the main page of the Ooka Island website. The Home and Homeschool Editions are the same, but the School Edition is different since it's more set up for teachers and their many students! :)

PRICING:

Home & Homeschool Editions of Ooka Island cost $12.95 per month for 1 child; $19.95 per month for up to 4 children. You can also purchase for a year which costs $124.95 for 1 child; or $149.95 for up to 4 children.

For the School Edition, you can go on their website and request a quote here.

MY THOUGHTS:

Did my three-year old cousin like this? Yes, she did. She seemed to really enjoy playing on the computer and learning at the same time.

Do I think this is a FUN way for children to learn to read and comprehend letters and sound? Yes, I really do. It's a great way for them to think they're having fun, but also learn at the same time! I know that I would've enjoyed this as a child.

Do I think it's worth the money? Well, that's a hard one. Not being a parent myself, my first instinct is No way, Jose. I can't imagine spending that kind-of money to help my child learn to read. But I think that if you have a reluctant reader - a child that doesn't want to sit down and actually read a book with you or learn from you - then YES, this is going to be worth your money and you'll be incredibly surprised with the progress your child makes while using this program.

To read more about Ooka Island, head over to their website and figure out if their program is right for you! Take a video tour, and see what Ooka Island is all about, and how it might work in your homeschool, or your classroom setting!

Also, read the testimonials that other parents and teachers posted about the reasons they love Ooka Island, and how it worked for them! It might just make you realize that it will work for your children, too!

Family Memories...

One of the opportunities I've gotten with the Mosaics Review Team was to review the app for Saving Memories Forever.

I had never heard of Saving Memories Forever, so I was going into this blindly - without knowing all that much about it.

What I learned from the website and from the app that I downloaded for my iPod touch is that you use the app to record special things; ie - your family members telling you stories about their childhood, etc.

I love to hear my family tell stories about their childhood and what went on in different times in history, and I always think "I should write that down so that I don't forget that", but I never do because...well, writing things down takes a lot of time and energy, and who wants to have to do that anyway?

So I think that the idea of the app/website is really cool. You have to register on the website and get your account set up - it's free! - and then download the app to your Apple Product or your Android. The app is also free - so this is a completely free way to record your family's memories.

Once you're done recording your family's memories, you can click the "Upload" button on the app and then it will upload to your account on the Saving Memories Forever website. That way, you are always sure to have the memories and hopefully will never lose them. :)

There is also a Premium Membership which costs $3.99 a month. This particular account gives you some extra options. Here are some of the differences between the free and premium accounts:

 

Here's a video of people who LOVE this app:

Now comes the question that I have been trying to answer since I first downloaded the app: Would I use this? 

And to be honest, the answer is no, I probably will never use this app. It's not that I don't like the idea of it, or that I feel there's anything wrong with it. I think that Saving Memories Forever is GREAT for some people. But for me, it just doesn't work. If I'm going to sit with my iPod to record someone telling me something, I'll use the Voice Memo app that came with my iPod - it's easier to find and you can upload those right to your computer too.

But PLEASE check into this a little more yourself! You may find yourself loving the app and website, and think that I'm crazy for not using it! If you DO start using the app, let me know - I want to hear if you liked it or not!

Planning, Planning, Planning!

*Warning - long post, lots of picture!*

Something you may not know about me is the fact that I absolutely LOVE day planners. I love to plan my month out each month. It helps me keep my life in order. If I DIDN'T have a calendar or planner, I'm pretty sure that I would never make it anywhere that I was supposed to go...ever.

In December of 2012, when I knew that I had to start looking for a new planner for 2013, I was really dreading it. I couldn't find the same one that I had for 2012, and I had to get used to something new. I hate that. I guess that's because I don't like change all that much, and I couldn't find anything that looked exactly like what I wanted!

When I found out that the Mosaics Review Team was going to be reviewing the new Apologia Planners designed by Debra Bell, I was thrilled!

Then the planners came in the mail! I received both the Ultimate Homeschool Planner, and The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens (since I have a sister, I figured this would be used in my house, too!). 

If you're not a homeschooling parent, don't be turned off by the fact that it says "Homeschool Planner". I believe that this can be used for homeschooling, but it can also be used for anybody! I am not a homeschooling parent, and I am going to be using this planner next year!

 

There is so much in this planner - lots of different things to work with. The first few pages are the User's Guide - telling you how to use the planner. The next few pages are the one-year planning grid, the student goal setter and pre-planning guides (family priorities and resource lists). 

 Next up in the planner are the Monthly Planner, which pretty much speaks for itself. There are, of course, 12 of these monthly calendars. They are blank, so you can use them any month of any year and not worry about your calendar matching up. :) 

What I like best is that I don't have to use this calendar a particular year. I got it in the middle of 2013, and didn't want to start a new calendar a few months into the year. So I'm planning to start using it in 2014! (I can't wait to start using it!)

Next up is the weekly planners -52 of them to be exact! 

Some of the things spaces they have for these weekly planners are: Bible Plan, Battle Plan, Prayers, Hospitality/Outreach. There are some places for this week's memorable moments and achievements, and evidences of grace. (left picture).

Then of course, the spaces that you can write in your children's different subjects and what they have to do each day. On the side of that page, there are places for Notes, Supplies, and Appointments. (middle & right picture). 

Next up comes the fun part - the extra goodies in the back! This part is definitely more designed for the homeschool parent. 

There are 2 full pages for records and grades (enough for 6 students), 3 full pages (but 6 columns) for reading lists, and 3 full pages for field trips (6 columns again). 

There is also a High School Planning Guide, which lets you write out what your high schooler does from 8th-12th grade.

And also a Year in Review sheet (2 full pages).

 

Now. Onto the Teen Planner. Are you even still here? Still reading? I hope so! This one's cool too!

In the beginning of the plan there's an All About Me section. This asks some cool questions - my best friends, favorite bands, favorite books, favorite movies, favorite places, favorite sayings, colors, animals, the future "me" I want to be, books I want to read, places I want to go, topics I want to study, things I want to do, talents I want to development, etc.

 

Then there are of course the monthly and weekly planners.

 

As you can tell, the weekly planners are set up to be used with hours, as well. This is required in some states, but in some it isn't. It'd still be nice to know how long your teens were working on their schoolwork each day!

Next up is the two full pages of grading sheets. 

Then is two full pages for your teen's reading list, and two full pages for their activities log.

Last but not least I'll share the Credit Tracker that is in the back of this planner.

 There are always MANY resources at the back of this planner! I mean, so much stuff! Some include: Guide to Punctuation, Italics, and Capitalization, Fractions, Decimals, Percent Equivalency Chart, Periodic Table of Elements, Measurements Equivalency Chart, Common Units of Measure, Conversions, Algebra Review, Physics Review, Map of the World, US Map with State Capitals, Timeline of US and World History, High School Checklist, Recommended Reading List for the College Bound, and a Notes section.

These planners are spiral bound so they're easy to use, they look great, and they are easy to use!

There is just so much in these planners that I cannot possibly try to explain it all to you. I'm sorry for the long post with so many pictures, but I knew it would help me to show you the planners a little better!

Will I use these planner?  Heck yes!
Do I recommend them for you? YES!

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner is priced at $28. I think this is completely worth the money.
The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens is priced at $19.
The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students is also $19. (I didn't receive this one but if it's anywhere as awesome as the ones I did receive, I'm sure it's worth the money!).

Go click on those links and think about purchasing these great planners for your next school year, for keeping your life in order, and just for the fun of it!

We Choose Virtues Review + Coupon Codes!

When I first heard that we were going to be receiving the We Choose Virtues Flash Cards, I didn't really know what I was getting! I hadn't even  heard of We Choose Virtues, but I am always up for a new challenge - and to learn something new with new products that I've never seen before.

I currently "nanny" for my cousin's 4 kids. 3 of which these flash cards work for! I was excited to sit down and work with them to learn the different virtues that are given.

The virtues include: Obedient, Kind, Patient, Helpful, Gentle, Diligent, Self-Controlled, Forgiving, Attentive, Perseverant and Content.

To be completely honest, a lot of these words and concepts were just too big for the girls I watch to understand. They are 5, 5, and 3.

So I stuck to the 3 that I thought were the best for them. Those were Obedient, Kind, and Helpful. I worked with them on those for quite some time, and they seemed to really begin to understand - and love - the concepts of some of these virtues! You can buy these flash cards in KJV, NIV or any secular version. I have NIV, which I also think helped them understand a little better since they are so young.

(They messed up a little bit...but it's still pretty darn cute!)
They seemed to really love Obedient. I think that it helped that this one's "catchphrase" rhymed and was easy for them to remember. (I took them upstairs for their naps this afternoon after we had just finished working on this one, and they were still saying it over and over. I'd say that's a good review if I've ever heard one!)

 

Once they have finished learning these 3 better, we'll move onto some of the harder concepts to grasp. But they really seemed to enjoy working on these cards and learning new things. 

I also incorporated a "game". I held up a card and they told me what the word was, then the "catchphrase" on the back. They REALLY liked that, as I gave them points for every one that they got right! 

Although I ONLY used the flashcards, Heather from We Choose Virtues also included the following for me to use (I plan to use them with the girls as we get more in depth into what we're learning...they're still trying to grasp some of it): Kids of Virtue Coloring pages, Family Character Assesment, Memory Verses, Bible Heroes and Truths, Teacher's Handbook, a product comparison chart, and a Butterfly Award that you can give to your student when they've "mastered" the virtues.

I have enjoyed working with these virtues, and so have the three kids that I watch!

I also wanted to include Heather's Top 3:
We Choose Virtues Flash Cards: $14.99
Virtue Clues: $5.50
3 Rules Poster: $6.00

I think that this product is something that ANY homeschool family could use. You can add it into your school day in a snap, and it's easy to learn and remember!

Oh, and not to mention! I have coupon codes for you, my readers! These are for YOU to use for your set of Virtue Flash Cards, or anything else that you may want to purchase at the We Choose Virtues Store.

HOME20 is good for the months of March and April and can be used toward the purchase of a HomeschoolKit only. This, of course, gives you 20% off your purchase.
VIRTUE15 is good anytime for the purchase of anything in the We Choose Virtues store! There's some sales in their store right now, too, so now is a good time to go over and use the coupon code to get even more of a deal!

I thank Heather, and We Choose Virtues, for sending me all these great products that I'm sure that I will use in the future!

Beauty - It's Only Skin Deep

In the past, I had a blog with a friend of mine called Beautiful in Christ. That blog has long since been put on hold since neither Kylie or I have time to sit down and write regular posts for it. We had good intentions of turning it into a small magazine with articles and posts from many great teenage and young adult writers, but it just never came to be.

But I still have a heart for teenage girls and the hardships that they have to face in this day and age. I was in pubic school for only a few years, and I wasn't necessarily "bullied", but the girls were very petty - even in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades.

I hated almost every minute of my public school years, and I can't imagine what high school would've been like had my mother not pulled me out of public school and back into our home.

But, even though I was homeschooled, there were still pressures to be "beautiful". And beautiful, by definition of Hollywood is: perfect skin, perfect body, perfect clothes.

But like the title says, beauty is only skin deep. Real beauty radiates from the inside out, not the other way around. Someone can have a beautiful face, but their heart and soul could be as cold as stone and as black as ashes.

Whereas, real beauty - beauty through Christ - comes from the inside and shines through to the outside.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God sight. 

Wow, that's powerful, isn't it?

Sure, we love nice clothes and beautiful jewelry and cool hairstyles. But it's not only about that, and that doesn't make us beautiful. Sure, it makes us feel that way, maybe.  

But here's the reality: It doesn't last. Fashion changes, hairstyles change. Nothing is constant - except beauty that comes from Christ and trusting in Him always and forever.

Proverbs 31:30: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 

So, hold your head high today. Don't listen to what the mirror is trying to tell you - it's all lies. You are beautiful in Christ, and no one can ever change that as long as you hold onto Him, and keep your eyes set on Him.

Oh, and I want to share what I have on my mirror to remind myself of this daily, since I tend to look down on myself for one reason or another:

The world may say that you're not pretty enough, you're not skinny enough, you don't wear the right clothes.

But God says: You're beautiful.