There's a brand new eBook for Home Educating families called: Homeschooling Successfully When Life Happens. I'm really excited about this eBook. I've printed it and it's on my bedside table. I love the real life encouragement from these woman who all share their real life experience in the different chapters of the book.
Their message is clear that no matter what your
individual situation, know that you can homeschool, and do it well despite your circumstances. Each Mother share practical wisdom and insight.
Welcome to the second installment of 2015 for the Poppins Book Nook a virtual book club for children hosted by the Enchanted Homeschooling Mom. This months theme is Farms.
I was so excited about this theme as this is one of my favourite books from Sonlight. One of my passions in book collecting is having books that are beautifully illustrated. This book is a timeless classic for your shelf. The pictures are elegant and the story is a beautiful introduction to farm life for children.
This book takes your children on a journey through time. They will learn what a year is, what the seasons are and introduces them to the beautiful world of living on a farm where every single day something IS happening. They will see how the seasons impact every day life and how every day impacts every aspect of the farm.
This is one of those books your children will spend hours looking through.
An official interactive Poppins Book Nook bookmark for this month’s theme
This month’s Passport pages to add to your lap book
Several lap book elements centered around The Laboratory.
Reading response writing prompt
Each month we will share our reading adventures with all of you on a different theme. We have a wide variety of age ranges joining us this year so there should be something fun found on one of the co-hosts sites each and every month for everyone. Be sure to come back and see what these other bloggers are doing with their families on our theme.
Left - Harmony Ivan Juniper (My Grandfather)
Right - Dennis Juniper (My Dad)
Today is ANZAC day in Australia. I thought I would share about these two special people. My grandfather and father. They both served in the Defense Force. I grew up where ever the South African Air Force posted my Dad.
Dad I need you to know I appreciate all you did to keep our family safe and all you did to insure our FREEDOM. Thank you for your courage and determination. I love you and I'm proud of you and Pop-Pops.
Handwriting is one of those super interesting topics as a homeschooler. I recently came accross this infographic on hand writing and how it helps you to learn. What are your thoughts ?
It's been a very exciting week for me. I recently joined the Homeschool Blogging Connection and one of the first projects I have been involved with is the writing of a new homeschool book which was launched this week. You can purchase the brand new eBook Homeschooling Successfully When Life Happens for the introductory price of $3.99. If you purchase your eBook before 30 April you will receive three bonuses to the value of $19.95.
I am on a mission to conquer the CHAOS in my home. Instead of spring cleaning I'm autumn cleaning and it feels so very good.
SCHOOL AT MY HOUSE
Susan Wise Bauer
Fall of 2000: a day with a fourth and second grader, a four-year-old and a newborn.
In our home school this week…
We have had a fruitful week this week and it feels good to be getting some sort of regular rhythm going.
We are doing our written work in the mornings and are attending meetings and other extra mural things in the afternoons.
Collected a heap of books from the library about Kinghts and Castles for a unit study we are doing.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We attended my nieces dedication. She is so cute!
Took my oldest son to his course induction morning. He is beginning his studies to be an educational support officer.
Resumed art and music classes this week.
My favourite thing this week was…
Seeing this beautiful painting my daughter did. It's the first one she's ever done and she's had no lessons either.
Here on the Blog…
Orphs of the Woodlands This must be one of our favourite review products, be sure to take a look they have a FREE trial you can read and do the first 100 pages of the first book: The Treasure of High Tower
My Daughter Started Painting! {Virtual Fridge} Are you looking for some artistic inspiration ? Be sure to look through this months linky and see what others are doing for art this month.
What do a secret spy, stars, a toaster, secrets, knowledge, Orphs and character have in common? They all belong to a wonderful new online educational program brought to you by Star Toaster. We are currently exploring the wonderful new online educational adventure book The Treasure of High Tower from Orphs of the Woodlands series. It so much more than you can think of. Think of it as an online twaddle free adventure suspense novel that enriches your children's vocabulary, builds and encourages their character, builds their academic skills and has a game all rolled into one.
Orphs of the Woodlands is a series of adventure books begining with The Treasure of High Tower. It is a cliff hanging suspense filled twaddle free, vocabulary rich story. It is designed to be an adventure story built around a full curriculum. It is the first of a series of books. The curriculum covered in the book is divided up into over 300 lessons!
As we have progressed through the book it reminds me of the quality and calibre of a G.A. Henty novel. The designers have done a brilliant job of seemlessly marrying curriculum learning within a well told story.
What we received
A subscription to Orphs of the Woodlands Book one The Treasure of High Tower for three students. The book is 375 pages long.
How we used it
Signing up to Orphs of the Woodlands was very easy via their subscription page. You create an account using your name, email address and password. This is the parent account. Once you have paid you can log in and redeem your student accounts. Each student account uses the same email address as the parent account but uses a different password chosen by you.
The story is written for a strong grade four reader up to and including grade seven. Nathaniel is not reading at that level yet so we logged in each day and I read the book to him. Each time we saw a hyper linked word we would click on it and read the pop up box.
There is so much to the book the easiest way to describe it to you is by way of the following screenshots.
To start each chapter we would login and be taken straight to the secret journal page which gives the student a summary of where they are in the story. The program auto remembers where they are in the book when they log off.
In the skills report area you can see the eight learning areas that are covered in Orphs of the Woodlands. As the student completes jobs they are paid. Pay rates are indicated in the shield. All pay rates start at six gold stars and pay increases happen as the student improves their skill set in the particular area. The chevrons indicate how far through the job list the student has progressed. Each category is hyper-linked to the job area where students can re-watch lessons or do the jobs that are available. Jobs are only released to the student upon completing a chapter of reading.
There are no second chances. If a student completes their training and decides to proceed and do the job and then get the answer wrong there is zero pay and the cross is highlighted. If the learning is successful and the students answers the question correctly then the tick is highlighted.
The top of the screen has a book tracking meter so you can see at a glance where you are in the book. When you reach the end of each chapter you are given a summary of where you are in the game and a short note of what you need to do next. The bottom of each page has a number and beneath the number is a note telling the students how many pages until the end of the chapter. This was a wonderful incentive for Nathaniel to keep going.
Once you click continue you are then taken to the job area. Select the skill are you want to work on and then the job board appears. For example here in the language area there are 11 jobs to do. The student can then choose which job they would like to do first. They are paid immediately upon completing a job correctly. We have both loved the creativity of the job lists in the various skill sets. Every single chapter is different.
Here is a sample of a job. Each job is in the form of a multiple choice answer. You click on Get Paid to see if you have selected the correct answer each time.
Prof. Forp loves to teach the students and he encourages the students to learn New Information Daily. You can watch a sample of his lesson on Science Lesson: pH and Math: The decimal point point on YouTube. You can access lessons within the chapter as you read or you can wait until you go to do a job and watch the video in your training.
One of our favourite lessons in the book are the life skills lessons. They involve practicle life skills. Here is one of the first ones we did. This inspired Nathaniel to go outside and pick leaves to try and create his own special brew.
We're loving the latin phrases used through out and a little bird tells
me they are working on adding audio of the phrases so that the students
can practice reading the phrases correctly.
Once your student has completed their work it is time to play!
This is Ivythwaite where your student has to make decisions on how his orphange will work and how he will care for the Orphs in his care. IF he does not care for them properly they will leave and not return. The stakes are high. Students need to earn enough golden stars to maintain what they have as well as save up in order to adopt more Orphs. It is also stragey based in that they can keep purchasing esentials or else choose to purchase propterty and equip the Orphs to become self sufficient. The game constantly encourages the students to pay attention and learn the true value of knowledge.
For the Parent
Regular emails updating you of your students progress. The email contains a summary of what the student has accomplished in the chapter (lessons completed correctly) and what they will be learning or doing in the next chapter.
Emails explaining the concepts behind different jobs in the different areas.
Notes explaining how to use different parts of the program equipping your to get the full benefit of StarToaster.com
Log in and select a student, from there you can click through and view their skills page and see their progress at a glance.
Cost of Orphs of the Woodlands
FREE trial. This is the first 100 pages of Book One.
Book One The Treasure of High Tower $19.99. This is a 60 day subscription for up to 3 children. (375 page book)
30 day extension $6.99
Recommended Age Range
4th to 7th Grade
Connect with Star Toaster
I am impressed with the Support team at Star Toaster, they were professional and prompt in answering any questions I had. We had a few technical issues and they helped me within an hour of contacting them.
We have not completed the book yet and are looking forward to working our way to adopting and caring for all the Orphs at Ivythwaite. When I asked Nathaniel what his favourite part was he replied that he couldn't choose any one thing as he LOVED everything.
One of the things that impressed me most so far in our journey through The Treasure of High Tower is the fact that personal character plays an important role in the formation of the story. Excellent choices equal excellent role models to grow with.
We are looking forward to enjoying the next instalment of Orphs of the Woodlands. The Treasure of High Tower would make an excellent summer reading program or a wonderful family enrichment online schooling supplement. To read a more detailed explanation of each area be sure to read the FAQ area under the general tab in the support area.
This Week
I'm so proud of my daughter. She's currently exploring the world and is currently in the USA. The other day when she was out and about she decided she wanted to try painting so she purchased herself some acrylic paint and paper. This is her very first attempt
Featured This Week
This post by Solagratianmom is choc full of hands on activities covering: April Fools Day joke, Colour Explosion Experiment, Forgiveness Demonstration, Wooden Cross Project, Crown of Thorns, Chocolate Gak,, Making Puff Peeps, Erupting Easter Egg Dying and Easter Themed Snacks.
Your Turn
I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits
put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see
the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.
Blessings
Chareen
Connect with me
The Virtual Fridge a weekly art meme where we can hang our children's art on a virtual fridge. This meme was started by Jennifer over at A Glimpse of our Life who kindly invited three other bloggers to co-host this weekly meme.
