Times Alive App ~ Review

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Jennifer

Quinton has started learning his Times Tables with an Online Times Alive (six month subscription) from City Creek Press, Inc. and with the Times Alive App. The App is available through the App Store for  iOS 9.0 or above, which means he now has a good reason to be stealing my phone. Ha

For this review, I will be focusing mainly on the iOS app as I’ve previously reviewed the Online Times Alive here.

Initially, I got the Quinton started on the App, which was very user friendly. He completed the Pre-test Nuts and Bolts first. As you can see from the screenshot below he hasn’t had much experience with multiplication and scored 58% on the initial assessment. Not too bad considering, but plenty of room for improvement.


Once inside the app he gets to choose which lesson he completes. Often he actually completes the same lesson several times, but that’s totally fine with me. Since I am more concerned about him truly learning his times tables I would rather him go over them multiple times (punn intended) rather than race through the lessons just to get done.

Each lesson begins with a video and catchy phrase just like the Online Times Alive version. Maybe I can get this one stuck in your head; “one-two-three-four, I like math. Let’s do some more.” The memory phrase helps the student remember that three times four equals twelve. Each story or phrase contains all the digits in both the factors and product.

Here’s another example:

After the video the student is asked if they remember the facts from the story. They then fill out the fact and check it, first with the picture to help remind them of the story and then a second time with just the numbers.

At the completion of most of the lessons, there is a review called the Guessing Game. Other reviews look more like the screenshot of One Two Buckle My Shoe I below:

The student is supposed to fill in the blanks as quickly as they can.

What Do We Think of Online Times Alive and the Times Alive App?

We have really enjoyed the app. Quinton has always liked to steal my phone so now he has a valid reason why he “needs” to. LOL I like how the the kids have been able to truly memorize the times tables by using the various products from City Creek Press, Inc. Times Tales are just another example of making STEM learning fun.

I’m also excited to share that City Creek Press, Inc. even gave me a code to offer to my readers to waive the sign up fee($6.95 value) It is— lovetolearn

Also if you want to try out the app there is a free version that you can try to see if it’s a good fit. To have access to the entire program you do have to pay for it.

Connect with City Creek Press, Inc. on these Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearnMultiplication/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TimesTablestheFunWay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citycreekpress/

As always, I encourage you to read about the experiences of other members of the Homeschool Review Crew by clicking the banner below.

Online Times Alive {City Creek Press, Inc. Reviews}

Blessings,

Jennifer

Posted in Homeschool, Homeschool Review Crew, STEM education | Leave a comment

Daily GRAMS: Grade 7 ~ Review

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Jennifer

I have to admit that as a student grammar was my least favorite subject; give me math, science, social studies, literature anything but grammar. However, as a homeschool mom, I don’t really get to opt out of those subjects I (or the kids) don’t particularly like. So when given the opportunity to review a grammar program that is designed to take 5-10 minutes per day to complete, I knew that was a good option for us. Eli has been working onDaily GRAMS:  Grade 7from Easy Grammar Systems

I’m excited that I’ve been able to review a grammar program that actually doesn’t seem like it’s torture for me or for Eli. You know since grammar will probably never be our favorite subject, but it is a very necessary subject. Daily GRAMS is designed to be a daily review of grammar topics that have already been taught.

Since I’ve been using Daily GRAMS with only one student, I didn’t go ahead and make copies from the Teacher’s Guide. I’ve just opened it up to the lesson each day and had Eli write in his grammar notebook. This has worked well for us as he didn’t have to wait for me to remember to make copies. Ha (Surely I’m not the only one who gets behind on making copies for kids, but I digress.)

How Did We Use Daily GRAMS?

Daily GRAMS is set up so that each page follows the same format. This made it very easy for Eli to get into a routine. The first sentence contains capitalization errors. The teacher’s guide encourages the student to just write the words that need capitalized rather than writing out the whole sentence. So that is what we’ve been doing.

The second sentence contains punctuation errors. Eli writes the punctuation sentences out, this makes grading the sentences much easier. Numbers 3 and 4 focus on general grammar topics such as pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and anologies,

The final part of the lesson focuses on combining sentences. The student is given several simple sentences and must combine them. Eli often combines his sentences differently (but not incorrctly) than the teacher’s guide does. There is certainly room for variation when combining 4 or 5 sentences.

What Did We Think About Daily GRAMS?

I like that Eli can have a daily grammar review that doesn’t take a great deal of time to complete but that covers a wide variety of grammatical topics. What can I say about Eli’s thoughts, it’s grammar so it’s not like he’s jumping up and down to do it. But on the other hand, he doesn’t seem to dread it either so I’d say that’s a win. I really like the way the lessons are set up and I feel like the book provides excellent review and is a solid grammar course.

Connect with Easy Grammar Systems on These Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EasyGrammarSystems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Easygrammar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easygrammarsystems/

Other members of the Homeschool Review Crew have been reviewing other books from Easy Grammar Systems. These include:

I hope you will take the time to read some of their reviews by clicking on the banner below.

Easy Grammar, Daily GRAMS & Easy Grammar Ultimate {Easy Grammar Systems Reviews}

Blessing,

Jennifer


Posted in Homeschool, Homeschool Review Crew | Leave a comment

Encouraging Hearts & Home 9.12.19

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Jennifer

And Now, for This Week’s Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

The Encouraging Hearts & Home Bloggers

Join your Encouraging Hearts & Home Co-Hosts each week for encouragement and support for your heart & your home. We hope to provide a space that builds each other up and lends a helping hand along the way. With all the negativity in the world, let’s shine a positive light!

 

Linda at Apron Strings & Other Things

Amy at A Nest in the Rocks

Use the form below to share your posts this week, and please consider these nice things you can do:

***Each week, our co-hosts will each choose our favorite links, along with the most clicked link, and pin them to our Encouraging Hearts & Home Pinterest board. 

Most Clicked Post from Last Week:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Blessings,

Jennifer

Posted in Encouraging Hearts & Homes | Leave a comment

College-Ready Writing Essentials™ ~ Review

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Jennifer

Many educators have noted that there is a direct correlation between college success and writing ability, despite the major that someone pursues. Members of the Homeschool Crew have had the opportunity to review College-Ready Writing Essentials™ from BetterRhetor.

BetterRhetorwas the founded by William Bryant, PhD. He has over thirty years of experience as a writer, editor and educator. Based on this experience, and his ten years working in ACT, Inc. test development as the Director of Writing Assessments, he developed College-Ready Writing Essentials™. (CRWE)

The target audience is for high school juniors and seniors. Since I happen to have a high school senior, reviewing CRWE made sense. CRWE can also be used with high school freshman and sophomores with the recommendation to repeat the course when they are seniors.

What Does College-Ready Writing Essentials™ Teach?

CRWE was originally written to be completed in 5 weeks, completing one lesson per day, five days per week, however homeschoolers are encouraged to “follow the instruction and develop their essay at whatever speed they wish.” The lessons are delivered through the Teachable Platform which makes it very user friendly.

The course is divided into four sections: Planning, Drafting, Revising, and Finalizing. The Planning section consists of the first eleven lessons, while the Drafting section is eight lessons long. Revising is broken into four lessons and Finalizing is two lessons in length.

Brock and Adisyn have both been working through the course, Brock as a senior and Adisyn as a sophomore. I would not say that this has been a favorite course for them but as they have worked through the course independently I have seen improvement in their writing. 

I really like how the information is presented throughout CRWE! Below is a screenshot from within the course on Understanding the Culture of College Academics. The course truly encourages students to take their learning into their hands to make the best of it. This is one of my favorite aspects of homeschooling! I LOVE that my children get to be indivduals and help determine much of what they study and learn about. Now for sure there are courses that I say they are going to learn (CRWE might have been one of them. Ha) But one of my main goals as a home educator is helping them learn to love learning. I’m really not sure how many of the kids will go to college or even what they might major in, but if they can love to learn and can write well they will be successful no matter what field they chose (even if it doesn’t include college courses.)

I like that we’ve been able to adapt College-Ready Writing Essentials™ to their schedule. I also really like how they are taught to work through the writing process to create a thoroughly researched and thought out essay.

I hope you will read reviews from other members of the Crew who also reviewed College-Ready Writing Essentials™ Full Package as well as the Premium Package.

College-Ready Writing Essentials™ {BetterRhetor Reviews}

Connect with College-Ready Writing Essentials™ on these Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collegereadywriting
Twitter: https://twitter.com/collreadywrite
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/collegereadywriting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegereadywriting

Blessings,

Jennifer

Posted in High School Homeschool, Homeschool Review Crew | Leave a comment

Low Carb and Keto Recipe Resources

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Jennifer

I have to tell you about a resource that I am so excited to have gotten, the 2019 edition of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle! So with Scott’s diabetis I really try to limit the number of carbs I fix with our meals. This UHLB contains a contains some great resources in the Recipe section; both Keto and Low Carb. These four resources by themselves are a $62 value, with the UHLB. You not only get these four resources but 89 other great products which are valued at $3,236.39  all for the price of $37!

If you have grabbed a copy in prior years (which is definitely possible since it’s been around since 2012 with 88,000+ bundles sold), you’re going to want to know what’s new with this year’s bundle. And why you should totally grab yourself a copy.

Of course, if you already know you want a copy, ignore the rest of this email and just get your copy here.

But if you’ve never bought yourself a copy of the bundle, I am going to tell you exactly why you should make this year’s version your first!

UHLB2019 Full Bundle

I know a lot you suffer with chronic illness, sleep deficiencies, and hormone imbalances. So I was really excited to see that the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle has categories focused on those specific topics, PLUS brain and mental health too. In addition to these topics, there are great resources for some of my favorite topics: Garden & Home, Healthy Kids, Nutrition, Recipes

What I love most is that you get 93 resources you can refer to as you and your family make healthy baby steps so you can feel as well as possible. With a library of health resources this big and diverse, it can meet your needs when you run into a new health concern, or as you master one area and are ready to move on to the next.

When you buy the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle you’ll get access to:

  • 47 eBooks
  • 32 eCourses, audios & workshops
  • 11 printable packs & workbooks
  • 2 summits

Blessings,

Jennifer

This post contains affiliate links.

Posted in Garden, Healthy Me, Healthy You, In The Kitchen | Leave a comment