Every Bed of Roses

Tuesday 4 June 2013

My Favourite Apps and Websites for Learning

This week's Homeschool Help topic is Your Favorite Apps (iPad or Droid) or Learning Websites. I'm on the fence with on line learning. At heart I am a pencil, pen and paper girl. I love the look and feel of a new or old book.

One of the things I have noticed with all the all new approach to schooling using Internet and app learning is that the new generation of learners have no understanding of information storage or how to learn. Using real books and the library is a natural way for students to learn how to find information accurately. This in turn empowers students to use Google more efficiently.

Saying this however I do love using the Internet and am here far more than I aught to be. I love to discover new helps. I have also been using YouTube clips to enhance our learning and best of all I enjoy finding anything FREE to enrich our home education experience.

I do have a Galaxy Tab which I really delight in using for Pinterest. I have used it for a few school apps. Here is a list of a few apps I've enjoyed and places I go to find apps if I'm looking.

Math
The first school Apps we used and totally love are The Squeebles from Key Stage Fun. I love these apps because there are no in-game purchasing or web links making them safe for Sir N to use. They also have a good balance between work/play and a good stats area for me to monitor his progress. These apps are available for your iPhone, iPad, Android and Kindle Fire. Click on a button to find out more

Spelling

I was looking for a spelling app to use with Sir N when my blog friend Princess Warrior Jo told us about Squeebles Spelling. I ♥ this app because I have total control. I created the lists and record the words verbally which means that it's my accent he is learning to hear.

I really like the look of Word Wizard for the iPad. This is a phonics based app that helps children with their spelling.

Handwriting
For Handwriting support I really liked using the Wet-Dry-Try app from Handwriting Without Tears. This app is available for your android and apple device.

Art Appreciation
I really love these apps and have five volumes on my phone. I hope this company makes these apps available for the Galaxy Tab and I really love the look of the updated app that's available for the apple market.

ART vol 1 Early artists - up to 1600s (
Android Samsung Phones

ART vol 2
Baroque and Renaissance
(1600-1700)
Android Samsung phones

Art by ADS Software Group Inc
iTunes App Store iPhone App
ART HD Great Artists Gallery and Quiz FREE iTunes
ART HD Great Artists Gallery and Quiz Full Purchase Version on iTunes

App Schooling Central
I love going over to Ben and Me where Marcy shares her apple app discoveries.

Confessions of a Homeschooler

Over the years Erica has shared some of the iPad Apps she has used with her children

Apps for Homeschooling

This site has apps organized by

Grade/Age
Subject (19 areas of learning)
Cost (Free, Lite and Paid)
Device (Android, HP, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Mac, Nook, Windows)
Rating (1-5, App of the Month/week/year, Golden App, guest review)
Giveaway
News
Top 10

Pinterest

Where do you find your apps and which are your favourite? I'm on the hunt for my one day maybe list.

Blessings
Chareen

This week

Bernadette declares we are NOT Techie Home Schoolers despite all the tech around them they still love pens and paper.
Julie says they needed help with multiplication so her husband designed an app and they discovered Educational Ways to Use an iPad
Hwee ponders on Technology: A Few Considerations.
Savannah shares Twenty Free Learning Apps
Lucinda ponders Favourite Homeschool Apps - For Kids And Mums
Nicole says the digital world of iPhone and iPad have completely changed the face of homeschooling here are her iWorld of Homeschooling: Favorite Apps!
Erin speaks on If I Had An Ipad . . .

---ooOoo---

Linking with

Saturday 1 June 2013

Shipwrecked - Art Instruction DVD {Review}

I first heard about See The Light art classes a couple of years ago when I was looking for an art curriculum to use with Sir N. I was so excited when we were picked to review Shipwrecked which is part of the Bible Stories category.

I was very impressed with how quickly the DVD arrived in the mail. When it arrived Sir N watched and enjoyed the 15 minute story of the Apostle Paul told through the eyes of a little boy who accompanies his father for the first time on a ship. It is brought to life with the captivating chalk artwork of Gloria Kohlmann. We love how the picture within the picture comes to life at the end of the story as they dim the lights and turn on the black light. Sir N has asked to watch this a number of times.

See The Light Philosophy

SEE the artist draw the Bible story.
  HEAR the dramatic telling of the story.
  DRAW step-by-step lessons related to the Bible.
  SHARE the art and the story with others.

What is on the CD

I received one DVD in a plastic cover. The DVD contained the following 260 minutes of content

Shipwrecked - The story of the Apostle Paul told from the perspective of Giovanni a child joining his father at work on the ship for the first time. The story is told using the artwork of Gloria Kohlmann.
3 Art Lessons
COURAGE!(24 minutes) Letter Art taught by Heidi Shorts
Who Will Save Us? (19 minutes) Chalk Art taught by Pat Knepley
God is My Lighthouse (27 minutes) Mixed Media art lesson taught by Jim Pence
Revel Watch chalk-artist Gloria Kohlmann create a beautiful chalk art drawing depicting the story of the Apostle Paul while listening to original music "Breathing Room"
The Plan of Salvation a short creative presentation of the plan of salvation.
Gloria Kohlmann’s step by step commentary of her creation of the chalk art masterpiece used in the musical presentation.
Meet the See The Light team
Extra Sound Track - Spanish included

Shipwrecked is part of the Bible Stories Series. The Story is suitable for ages 3+ and the art projects are suitable for ages 6+.

Supplies needed

Creative Lettering: COURAGE
Crayola Extreme Colors Pencils (Office Works or See the Light)
Coloured pencils
Grey pencil
Ruler
White paper
Eraser

God is My Lighthouse
Crayola Extreme Colors (Office Works or
Permanent Black pens (thick and thin)
Water Colours
Water Colour paper
Masking tape
Two paintbrushes
Two large water containers
Paper Towel

Who Will Save Us
Fluro Pastels ( I was unable to find any in Australia so substituted with Crayola Extreme Colors Pencils)
Chalk pastels (I could not find any so used the oil pastels I had on hand)
Black Paper

What We Did
Sir N watched the story of the Apostle Paul a number of times as he enjoyed the dramatisation and especially the end when the secret picture appears.

The next day we gathered our supplies to do Courage! and sat together and learned to do some creative lettering together. The teacher is Heidi Shorts. We had the DVD controls handy and paused the DVD several times in order to complete the steps before proceeding to the next step. Originally I thought we would do the class over two days but Sir N was really enjoying the class so we continued to the end. The highlight was at bed time when we showed Daddy and borrowed his black light torch to see the letters illuminate in the dark.

Our second project was God is My Lighthouse. This class was taught by Jim Pence using mixed media. It took a while to gather all our resources and Jim does an excellent job of explaining exactly why you need each item and how it will be used in the lesson. His instructions are clear. The one thing we did differently was we did not halve our paper as I find Sir N struggles a little with working in small detail so we left our page a full size (A4). There were two things we learned and will do differently when we do this project again and they are: we will use a better quality masking tape. The one we used stuck too well to the paper and when we removed it we damaged our picture a little. The second was that we did not add enough water to the back ground as I was fearful of using that much water. This was a mistake because the sky paint did not run as easily as he showed us. Sir N found creating the little ship on the horizon a little difficult and asked me to help him with this part of the project. Once again we really enjoyed bed time when we could switch off the lights and use Paul's black light to reveal the stars and lighthouse beams over the ocean.

The third project we did was Who Will Save Us? taught by Pat Knepley. Unfortunately I could not source chalk pastels locally or on line so we substituted with oil pastels. (I have subsequently discovered you can purchase them on line from Office Works {Chalk, Soft Pastel Set, Fluoro Oil,} )This worked well and one advantage was that our hands did not get as dirty as they would have with chalk. Sir N struggled a little with this project and was unhappy with his own effort about a third of the way in and decided to start again. He was very keen to get to the part of drawing the ship and couldn't wait for bed time to use Daddy's black light to see the hidden scene emerge.

What does it Cost (From See The Light Store)

Connect with See The Light

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest (There are 30 boards brimming with wonderful art ideas and inspiration)
Blog here you will find art tips, video tutorials, resources, free downloads, How to ..., etc
Free Video lessons
Downloads (Mini Projects, Lesson Plans and Line Art)

We both really enjoyed doing these lessons and look forward to investing in more bible story DVD's from See the Light. I really enjoyed doing these lessons too. Here are the results of my work

Every classes is encouraging on two fronts: one they build your faith and help you to see God at work in the every day and secondly they don't assume you know how to draw. They equip you to grow in your artistic skills. The teaching is gently paced and several times the artists encourage you to slow down and pause the video to do the steps they are showing you. If you are not artistically creative and would like a teacher I would highly recommend you look at purchasing some See The Light classes (available on DVD or on line).

Want to know more about Shipwrecked ? Check out the video

Blessings
Chareen

Friday 31 May 2013

HSMJ - the one about Bird Books, Monet Garden and Handel.

In my life this week…
Nominations for the Circle of Mom's Top 25 opened and Every Bed of Roses has been nominated.

I have so enjoyed remembering each of my children and learning to look at them afresh in the Releasing the Butterfly's series this month.

I'm so excited Mary from over at Homegrown Learners has finished her book! I have been blessed with a copy of SQUILT {Music Appreciation Made Simple} to preview. It arrived yesterday and I am looking forward to using Chapter 9 next week.

I have enjoyed looking at photographs of famous creative people: 40 Inspiring Work spaces of the Famously Creative.

In our home school this week…

We have a delightful week exploring and reading many many books as well as doing another See the Light Shine project.
Reading Monet and next week we are planning on exploring the NGV site to learn more about his paintings as this collection is currently on display in Melbourne and we are planning to go and look at it.
We've been exploring the Baroque Music era and reading a biography {Handel at the court of Kings} about George F Handel
The Paper Maid loaned us Journey to the Center of the Earth and Paul and Sir N have really enjoyed this book. In fact they read it cover to cover in two days!
We are enjoying Tales of Wordishure Book II {Review coming soon}

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

I discovered a wonderful read aloud to introduce birds to children and it's free for your kindle! The Burgess Bird Book for Children.
When Homeschooling Becomes an Idol over at Upsidedown Homeschooling
Fizzics Education over 100 FREE Science Experiments and Project ideas for you.
Animal Corner a place to meet the amazing animals that live on our planet.
Step by Step tutorial for Making a book over at (Our) Life's Adventures
The Newbery Medal Challenge over at Watch. Connect. Read
Homeschool Helps from Curriculum Choice Authors

Notebooking Pages

is having a 7th Birthday

SALE-A-BRATION

Save $25 for just 1 more day!

I am inspired by…

Amazing Grace: My Story {Part 1} what an amazing story of God's redemption for a great family.
Wonder if I should try this: Why I took my kids’ toys away {& why they won’t get them back}
The Drop Box in Korea. A safe place abandoned babies can be left. Be sure to check their Facebook page and watch the trailer of the movie. The man who did the documentary became a christian while making it.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Lots of Dr and Physiotherapy appointments!
Tennis and Kelly Sports
Science experiments at the T Family
Play group with the L family
Catch up with the M family.

My favourite thing this week was…

This Incredible Full Scale Lego X-Wing Is the Largest Model In History. This Lego model contains over "This is truly unbelievable: Lego has built a 1:1 scale model of the X-Wing fighter using an astounding 5,335,200 bricks! It's as big as the real thing, capable of fitting the real Luke Skywalker—and Porkins."

Full Scale Lego X-Wing

What’s working/~~not working~~ for us…

Quitting my gym membership and sleeping in in the morning. I'm more of a night owl.

Questions/thoughts I have…

Things I’m working on…

Preparing the Butterfly post remembering my journey as a Mom.
Science in the Junior Years
Getting my thoughts in order to prepare for our three week trip to the Simpson Desert!

On My Bedside Table ...