Math 911 {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

Math, math, math. It’s often one of those subjects. You know, the one that is often difficult to teach, often difficult to learn. It is the nemesis of many a parent and student (teacher too!).

But math is very important and most people understand that. There are even some who enjoy math. I think I would be correct to say that Professor Weissman is one of those individuals. He has been teaching math since at least 1963. He created a program for those who are serious about math. Enter…Math 911. The program has been used in schools since 1989.

Through the Schoolhouse Review Crew I have been reviewing the Math 911 program. We were given a download of the Introductory Algebra course (that is a free download on the website) as well as codes for the Premier / Premier Password/ Network Password versions ($49.95 for all 3), that include :

• Introductory Algebra course
• Intermediate Algebra Course (or Algebra 2),
• PreCalculus topics,
• Trigonometry topics,
• and Introductory Statistics Course.

You can see screenshots at the website.

* Mastery Learning approach.* All problems are algorithmically generated. * 10 minute learning curve. * Step by Step solutions. * Only Free-form answers. * Dynamic Grade reports on all screens. * Needs no internet connection. * Can be networked. * Free Home Use For Teachers * Free Upgrades * Free Install on New PCs *

So… that’s what is included but what’d we think? I’ll be completely honest –yes, I usually am –I didn’t let my kids actively use this. Why not? Because I had a difficult time figuring it out for quite awhile and then… because I was using it. I want so much to show you images of this program in action but one of the reasons I had a difficult time figuring it out was that it wouldn’t work on my Vista laptop. I had to install it on my XP netbook. I’m on my laptop, it’s on my netbook. I am going to direct you to some reviews that have screenshots of this program in action: look at Angie’s post here, or Karen’s post here.

What didn’t ‘work’ for me:

• not terribly user friendly- it took me what I think is a bit long to figure out how to find the step-by-step or how to switch courses, there is no how-to manual
• had no luck with getting it to work with my Vista larger screen laptop, even using ‘run as admin’, and multiple attempts with help of tech support 
• the colors of the program- it’s just rough on my eyes.
• cluttered- on the netbook it is crammed into the small screen space.
• switching between courses requires restarting the program
• doesn’t ‘teach’ new concepts; definitely need to be a motivated math student to use this independently
• nothing is marked as incorrect (but the number of the problem turns red) so a couple times I didn’t notice that I didn’t master the concept (which led to, “Why can’t I move on??”)

What did work for me:

• mastery approach- I appreciated that it continued to present concepts until they are mastered; it won’t move on
• limited number of problems for each section- there aren’t 50 problems to work on right then, each section that I went through had between 3-10 problems
• grading is built in
• doesn’t require the internet
• step-by-step on every problem if needed (on the screenshot above, to the right, there is a button, in green, that says See Next Step –keep clicking that to see it step-by-step)
• upgrades are included in the purchased download
• good for practice to keep math fresh
• customer service is SUPERB; quick and ready to help

Other things:

• definitely no ‘frills’ math program but not very much ‘fun’ –I’m torn on whether I ‘like’ that or not

All in all, I do think this is a beneficial program –now that I have it figured out. If I were to have had my kids use this (neither of which are very math inclined) their frustration level would have been at an all time high. BUT I’m taking into account the cost of this program ($49.95 for Premium) and what is included. I’m going to be continuing using this for myself. I will use it for my kids as well when they need more practice.

Math911 also is the maker of “Algebra in a Flash”, which is the same program on a flash drive. At the bottom of the website you can find a code that will allow you to purchase this for $9.95, normally $40.00

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Contact:
Website: http://www.math911.com
Email: mathprof@math911.com
Support (phone): 1-347-528-7837

Professor  Weissman's Software
246 Crafton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10314

Make sure to read other reviews by other Schoolhouse Review Crew members.

***Disclaimer: I was given the above program free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Uncover Exciting History {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

History in our homeschool, or even if just for me, is important. I don’t want to say that other subjects get left by the wayside, but, well, sometimes they do. I’d much prefer to do history than math *wink*. Through the Schoolhouse Review Crew I was given a Kindle ready book, Uncover Exciting History: Revealing America's Christian Heritage in Short, Easy-to-Read Nuggets By Amy Puetz, from Golden Prairie Press.

184 Pages
E-book, retails for $14.95 {sale until September 1st- $11.96}
View Sample Pages
Table of Contents
Also available as an illustrated printed book {retail: $18.95} and an audio book, narrated by Jim Hodges {retail: $25.00}
Amy Puetz is having a Back-to-School sale from August 20-September 1, 2012, that gives 20% off. Now is a great time to get the books you want to add to your homeschool. Check website for current prices.

Here are some of the stories in this book:

• Discover how the U.S. created the Constitution
• Experience the miraculous victory at the Battle of New Orleans
• Explore America’s expansion west
• Uncover one of America’s best weapons used during World War II

There are also four bonus chapters in this book:

• The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: Mothers Who Changed the World Through Their Children
• Medieval Explorer: Marco Polo
• Evangelistic Explorer: David Livingstone
• Daring Explorer of Antarctica: Robert Falcon Scott

The purpose of the book, and others that Amy Puetz writes, is to bring history alive for readers. There are quite a few books available that can tell what happened, but how many pull you into the history and make you want to keep reading; make you want to find out more? That list might be quite a bit shorter!

I chose this book to review because my dd, a 10th grader, is studying the beginning of United States history, and I thought this would be a good supplement to her current studies. The book is for ages 8 and up.

Here are the chapter titles:

1. Christopher Columbus
2. Settling the New World
3. The Lost Colony of Roanoke
4. The Pilgrims’ Legacy
5. The Great Awakening
6. The French and Indian War
7. Freedom Founded
8. Crossing the Delaware
9. The Making of a Republic
10. To Kentucky and Beyond
11. To the Shores of Tripoli
12. The Lewis & Clark Expedition
13. Miracle at New Orleans
14. The Second Great Awakening
15. Daniel Webster: Defender of the Constitution
16. The Mexican War
17. The Oregon Trail
18. The Pony Express
19. A Tale of Two Generals
20. The Spanish American War
21. The Klondike Gold Rush
22. The Great War
23. The Legacy of Alvin York
24. The Great Depression
25. The Navajo Code Talkers

This book is a good resource for getting into a particular point in America’s history, for whetting the appetite to learn more about what happened, who was influential, how it affects our country today. Also, Amy Puetz has strived to include God in these stories. For instance, when writing about the French-Indian War, which she by the way considers to be an “over-looked war”, she states that God, in His providence, “was preparing the men and the circumstances that would eventually lead to the formation of the United States of America. (location 482)”

I have read the book but my dd hasn’t –not yet. Much of what I’d wanted my dd to read, for her history studies, she has already read elsewhere. As we move on, I will be able to use it more with her. Although I personally didn’t see the stories as ‘exciting’, I didn’t find them to be droll and boring like a textbook would present history. We use living books in our home on a regular basis, as our primary sources actually. Now, I didn’t say that I didn’t like the stories! I suppose that I expect a book to be written the way Amy Puetz has written and therefore I have lost that initial wonder when a book isn’t dull. Perhaps. I did find the stories to be quite interesting but I’ll admit that putting “exciting” in the title is catchier than “interesting”.

What I really appreciated about this book was the Digging Deeper included after each chapter. This gives the reader a chance to, well, dig deeper into the subject, learn more about the individuals, and also directs them to other books or resources that will help. She gives suggestions that I only wish I had thought of and am glad that she did.

I also really liked the inclusion of chapter 19 and 25. While Lee and Grant are covered in probably every written work about the Civil War, rarely are their lives presented in the way that Amy has done so in this book. Especially in secular public school, these men are often portrayed as any other man, albeit very courageous and determined. How often are their views about God presented? As for the Code Talkers in chapter 25, I didn’t learn about this aspect of WWII until I was in college.

I really like how Amy Puetz has taken perhaps the highlights of American history and presented it in short stories. They aren’t long and drawn-out, neither are they boring. The Digging Deeper is a great addition to this book. I honestly think that aspect and that it is a living book, is a compelling reason to purchase this for help with studying American history. I would recommend this.

If you wish to keep a secular perspective of American history, this book could still be used, I believe, but much would need to be skipped while reading. Perhaps it would work best as a read-aloud in that case.

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Amy Puetz is a homeschooled graduate. You can read more about her at her website.

Contact:Amy Puetz
P.O. Box 429
Wright, WY 82732

Website: http://www.amypuetz.com
Contact page: http://amypuetz.com/store/index.php?main_page=contact_us
Facebook: http://facebook.com/GoldenPrairiePress

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Some Schoolhouse Review Crew members received this book, while others chose to receive one of the following three books:

You can read the reviews at the Schoolhouse Review Crew website by clicking the image below.

***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed ebook for free from Amy Puetz, Golden Prairie Press, via the Schoolhouse Review Crew, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***

This Week in History- A Thomas Jefferson Education {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

Perhaps you’ve heard of A Thomas Jefferson Education {TJED}, as I had. Although I had been to the site and even receive the newsletter via email, I had forgotten that they offer the resource This Week in History {TWIH}. Being a history inclined individual, when this resource came up for review from the Schoolhouse Review Crew, of course, I raised my hand high to be able to review it! I’ve graciously been given a one-year subscription to this resource.

TJED focuses on the 7 Keys of Great Teaching:

1. Classics, Not Textbooks
2. Mentors, Not Professors
3. Inspire, Not Require
4. Structure Time, Not Content
5. Quality, Not Conformity
6. Simplicity, Not Complexity
7. You, Not Them

This resource is geared to students and teachers from about age six or seven on up (I think it is adaptable to any age). This is a subscription service that is accessed online from A Thomas Jefferson Education put together by Rachel DeMille. The cost is $9.99 per month (billed monthly). And the amount of content is well worth that cost, imho.

Benefits of TWIH (from the website):

• relieves fear, stress and burnout
• energizes your kidschool
• fills in the gaps
• cultivates cultural literacy
• facilitates state or provincial compliance
• correlates resources for co-ops, classrooms and family learning
• harnesses the power of technology in a classical leadership education
• harmonizes with Unschooling, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Trivium/Quadrivium, IEW, eclectic, etc.
• delivers new ideas and areas of learning to you and your child
• instigates discussions and projects that expand wisdom and understanding
• connects the subject areas–from music to math, from geography to world religions, from hobbies to science projects, etc.
• motivates you and your students to greater excellence
• delivers Face to Face with Greatness
• empowers you to mentor your students in the classics
• enlivens the 7 Keys of Great Teaching
• activates Phases of Learning

“The focus of This Week in History is to help you ‘Inspire, not Require.’ (Rachel DeMille)”

Each day includes a massive amount of information that it most definitely would still be a great resource without the internet. They include discussion points, images, photographs, poems, recipes, printables, and so much more (not every day has every aspect that I gave)! Each week includes many website links, this is heavy on internet use. I don’t see how this can be utilized fully without using the internet. Honestly when I received my first email with the week in history, I felt overwhelmed. The range of topics included for the week in history is very broad; you can choose what you need to fit in with what you are currently studying or take it in a totally different direction!

See sample weeks of TWIH.

Some ways that are put forth for using this resource (Rachel DeMille):

1. A week or two in advance (since you have it all together and you like to see how everything is going to shape up before it happens) you review the coming week's resources and consider how they fit with your interests, your kids' projects, etc., and plan how to use it

2. On the day of (since your week has been nutty and you haven't had time to plan what you're going to do), you get up and review that day's resources, print out a few pdfs and preview a few topics, and then invite the children to discover with you

3. In the moment (since you're an adventurous, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of girl/boy), you bring up the site and wander your way through it like a treasure hunt

4. Review the archives (available at the bottom of each week's article, or by searching by date or keyword) to explore for a date of interest, like a child's birthday, your wedding anniversary, or even some random date chosen by your child-of-the-day, and explore what is notable about that date

I chose to use primarily the email edition. The emails are sent out a few days before the week starts. From there I looked at what was presented for the days. If there was something of particular interest, then I could share it with the kids. If there were activities and other resources, whether online or not, I could utilize those as I wanted. Something I knew but seemed to forget while having this for review is that you can see past TWIH by viewing the archives at the website (#4). This I found, later than sooner, to be quite useful. Also, the search option is quite nice. This way when we were studying a particular subject, person or event, I could search previous weeks to find some great resources.

My thoughts:

Great resource that is well worth the cost. As is mentioned on the website, for pennies a day, you have access to an incredible amount of information. I highly recommend this as something that can be used across the curriculum. 

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You can read more about TJED at their website. They also offer books and other resources for “any educational setting, and for any student, age, and/or phase of learning.” Don’t miss the freebies page on their website, where you can find free audios, samples to the books they offer and also can sign up for the newsletter.

Contact:
Website: http://www.tjed.org
Discussion groups, contact page, twitter, facebook, etc: http://www.tjed.org/contact/

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Read what other reviewers have to say about this resource by clicking on the image below.
***Disclaimer: I received the above subscription from A Thomas Jefferson Education via the Schoolhouse Review Crew free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given. All opinions stated are my own. I only recommend what I feel would be truly beneficial to others based on my personal experience. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Algebra the *No-Nonsense* Way–and Geometry Essentials {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

Features of Math Essentials Math programs:

• Short, concise, self-contained lessons
• Easy to follow program
• Daily exercises to help students master, maintain, and reinforce math skills through consistent review
• Dramatic results

No-Nonsense Algebra
ISBN: 978-0-9743629-9-8
Paperback, 280 pages
Retails: $27.95

Age range- if your child (or yourself) are working on Algebra1, this book will work for them (or you ).

Algebra doesn’t need to be long and drawn out. This book, written by “America’s Math Teacher”, Richard W. Fisher, proves that. Each lesson is very to the point and short. There is a video that corresponds to every lesson. The book actually contains the code you need to get to the lessons online.

Table of Contents

  Chapter  1            Necessary Tools for  Algebra
  Chapter  2            Solving Equations
  Chapter  3            Graphing and Analyzing Linear Equations
  Chapter  4            Solving and Graphing Inequalities
  Chapter  5            Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities
  Chapter  6            Polynomials
  Chapter  7            Rational Expressions (Algebraic Fractions)
  Chapter  8            Radical Expressions and Geometry
  Chapter  9            Quadratic Equations
  Chapter 10          Algebra Word Problems

I had my ds, who is in 8th grade work through this program. It was quite easy for me to sign up and register for the video lessons. Each day he worked on the lesson, he signed in on the website, http://www.nononsensealgebra.com, and chose which lesson to view. The amount of time per lesson averaged about 6 minutes {some were upwards of 10 minutes} and then the assignment ranged from 9 to 20 problems. There are four practice problems first, then assigned problems followed by four review problems.

It really goes quite quick. I think the website says “20 minutes”.

The videos are clear, without any fluff- nothing distracting. The background is white with visible black writing. The teacher, Richard W. Fisher, does well  explaining the concepts. Also the videos are meant to be worked along with –the student should do the problem while it is being worked out in the video.

We are still in the first chapter {math was assigned 2-3 days a week and we had a ‘vacation’ during the review time} and haven’t done a chapter review. But looking ahead at the reviews, they are not overkill. Chapter 1 review is a total of 34 problems; chapter 2 has 18. There is also a final exam and solutions are given for all problems.

What I think of this program:

Videos, although meant to not be distracting, are somewhat boring at times {I found myself tuning them out at points- hopefully when I had a good grasp, eh?} and I know my ds did as well. I suppose I felt they weren’t ‘visually appealing’ although they definitely keep on track. Good but could possibly be improved.

Perhaps extra problems could be included for when a concept isn’t grasped at first. Doing the original problems over…well, I don’t like that idea {especially since one of my kids almost has a photographic memory- it wouldn’t be learning, just writing what they’d captured in ‘image’}. Just a few extra problems for just in case would be nice. Could be an improvement.

Quick lessons that do not take hours to work through. When the student has the concept down and they’ve shown it by mastering the problems, they can move on. There aren’t fifty more problems just like the last twenty-five. Good!

Reasonable price for the book and videos. It could be the saving piece for some families that are struggling with Algebra and finances. Good!

My son didn’t complain to do this math. Wow. Perhaps that should be at the top of this little list. He still didn’t love math and I’m not entirely sure that his scores improved greatly {he does alright in math- has good days and bad lol} but it was so nice not to hear the moaning and groaning while he was working on it. Good!

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Mastering Essential Math Skills: Geometry

Mastering Essentials Math Skills: Geometry
ISBN: 978-0-9666211-7-4
Paperback, 80 pages
Retail: $11.95

See Table of Contents and Sample Pages.

This is suitable for upper elementary/middle school grades/ages- it is not a high school Geometry course {the website doesn’t say that anywhere that I could find} but I am actually having my dd, who is in 10th grade, use it to refresh her skills in this particular area. I do think that a high schooler and higher would be able to use this as well to help with ‘mastering’ the basics of geometry.

The lessons are very to the point- actually there isn’t a ‘lesson’, imho. Look at the sample pages and you will see what I mean. The “Helpful Hints” is the lesson. The first page of the ‘lesson’ is new information and the second page is using what has been learned- or review. Each page also has six review exercises at the top of the page and at the very bottom is a “Problem Solving” exercise. Personally, my favorite thing is the “Problem Solving”. Word problems have always been, well, a problem {pun slightly intended *wink*}.

I chose to have my dd use this book because we cannot recall her really covering much geometry thus far. We’ve used various programs for math and they most likely touched on it a bit here and there but not much. She is going through it independently, I should add. The book starts with a “Notes to the Teacher or Parent” and “How to Use This Book” that I did read. I suppose we skipped Step 3 of the “How to…” Since we are using it as a refresher, I figured my dd could do these without my going over problems with her. Of course, if she has a problem, or questions, I am right beside her.

What I think of this program:

It is very simply laid out. It doesn’t have anything that is unnecessary. I like that. I really have nothing to suggest as an improvement. It is quick, as it advertising. It never takes my dd more than 20 minutes to do a lesson. She has always been more inclined to do math than her brother so I didn’t expect to hear any complaining from her –and I didn’t. This will help her fill in the gaps, I believe, that may be present and prepare her to move onto high school Geometry. And the price is great.

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Math Essentials offers math resources for grades 4 through high school. See the offerings at the website. Many come with a companion DVD.

UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE –THERE IS NO RISK
Use Rick Fisher's Mastering Essential Math Skills for 20 minutes a day as directed. If you don't see what you feel are dramatically improved math test scores, send us a note saying so. You'll receive a prompt, complete refund - no questions asked! (from the website)

Contact Information:
Richard W. Fisher, Owner/Author
Math Essentials
P.O. Box 1723
Los Gatos, CA 95031

Email: math.essentials@verizon.net
Phone: 866.444.MATH     
Fax: 408.358.3738
Speak to the Author: 408.358.6586     

***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed items free from Math Essentials via the Schoolhouse Review Crew. No other compensation was given. All opinions stated are my own or those of my family. I only recommend products that I feel would truly be of benefit to others based on my own experiences. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Pearson Homeschool- Algebra 1 {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

Here is the first Schoolhouse Review Crew product that I have been privileged to review this summer.

This review has a lot of screen shots, just a warning  

We received from Pearson Homeschool:
MyMathLab Algebra 1 Student/Child Access Kit- $49.97 (ISBN: 9780132939348)
MyMathLab Parent Access Kit- $30.00 (ISBN: 9780132939317)
The access kits look the same but one says “parent”, the other “student”. These come to you as simple cardboard mailers.
This is a program geared toward middle and high school students working on Algebra 1. My son has just finished the 7th grade so majority of this will be completed during his 8th grade year.
Key features and benefits from the website {emphasis mine}:

• Ready to use out-of-the-box or choose to create your own lessons and assignments
• Fully interactive eText
• Robust multimedia library with videos and animations to improve understanding
• Personalized learning based on quiz and test results
• Easy-to-create online homework, quizzes, and tests that are automatically-graded
• Immediate feedback for all your child’s work

I should add also that the access is for 18 months to the site and course. You can see the contents of the Algebra 1 here. It consists of 10 Units, each unit {which is a ‘chapter’} has a mid-chapter quiz and an end of chapter test.

Where to start with this... First you have to register with your access codes. The registration process is somewhat difficult to figure out. It is written out step-by-step on the cards that you receive but honestly, the steps are not the same. You can visit pearsonmylab.com/howtoregister for a video tutorial to help with this. There are some minor differences that will either make you shake your head or you may not even notice (if it all runs smoothly for you). I was in the first category. I tell you this because it could very well affect how you feel about this program. At first.

this is what it will look like when you have successfully added your course. It will have a number after the “course ID” {for some reason I’d blocked mine out of this image}. This is what you will see whether you log into the parent or student account.

clicking on the name will take you to this screen. At first, in my opinion, it’s confusing. There are “Getting Started” tutorials for both parents and students on how to use the program. If you log in with the parent account, your screen will most likely show this each time. At first I was confused that there was no activity when I know my son had completed assignments- this is *your* page- not theirs. If *you* do the work it *will* show up here. Logging into the student account will show the same ‘page’ just different results {without a Control Panel option}.

this is Fox’s recent activity. Or the next screen is accessed by clicking Check Your Progress on the left sidebar…

Going back to the parent account…

this is an important screen! The Control Panel (accessed from the previous screen) will give you access to many different things. I still didn’t get them all figured out at the time of this posting. Mostly I use the links under “MyMathLab”- Gradebook, Study Plan Manager, Homework/Test Manager.

clicking Gradebook brings me here. I can then select the student I wish to view the progress of.

Once I’d figured out how to add my course, I registered my son {that went smoothly}. From here I was able to choose what to include or omit from his assignments. This is set up to be continuous. If you start at the beginning {which we sort of did since we are at the end of our school year but not very far into Algebra 1}, then each assignment would be done in order and the program automatically tells what is next.

There is very little that the parent really needs to do with this. The reasons that I could see that the study plan would be changed is if the program is being used for review or if it is started mid-year {or mid-subject}. I didn’t go that route so I don’t know really how easy that is. For us I did omit a few lessons because after doing the Pre-Test, Fox really didn’t need to cover all of them to move forward.

from the Parent Guide from Pearson. It shows what it will look like when a lesson has been mastered {the cap} or needs more review {pencil}.

this shows some of the work that has been completed {near the beginning of our subscription} but the real reason I’ve taken this screenshot is to show the omitted lessons {in gray}.

here’s another view of all the assignments. From this screen you have the option of doing things with the assignments. See the next screen…

this {from the Parent Guide} shows how to change the prerequisites for lessons in case you’ve omitted some that were required before moving on. You would click on “Set Prerequisites” on almost any of the previous screens will allow you to change them. I had to do this with Lesson 5 because it would not allow the student to continue without reaching mastery of the previous lesson- which I’d omitted.

The assignments are ordered automatically {unless you change them} so the student continues on. I’ve not set any due dates but do require him to work on math each day {I think the average amount of time might be 20-25 minutes}. I like that he can log in and pretty much do the assignments without me there to help him. He has needed some assistance a time or two but generally he has all he needs built right in.

above is an assignment page. You can see that on the left are two links; these are for the ‘media’ for the lesson. See next screen shot..

this little box shows up when working on Questions, on the right of the question. The student can click on these to help with the problem. We didn’t use Ask My Instructor or Print.

Now after all those pictures, here’s what I found to be not-so-good and good.
Cons:

• Very difficult to navigate and find things; not very user friendly. Even after trying to troubleshoot what I was doing wrong by following tutorials, I could not because the instructions were not quite right. I just really had a difficult time with navigating all the possible goodies this program purported to have.
• You really just need to click all the buttons to figure out what they do. Or you could try to contact Customer Service {I did *not* do that even once}. I went all over the site trying to figure it out. My best source for figuring it out was others using the program- asking them what they’d done.

Pros:

• All-inclusive. It includes the text, videos, automatic results. It is the teacher. Or it can definitely be if you want it to be! {that’d be me}
• It has so many features that it is mind-boggling. Although it is difficult to find your way around, once you have figured out what is where it is relatively easy to ‘fix’ it the way you want it.
• You can delete assignments, unassign them, change the score, change the “mastery” percentage of all tasks, count some assignments and not others. I mean there really is just so much to do! You can also change how the scores of work affects the overall grade {the weight}.

from the Parent Guide.

Pearson Homeschool also offers curriculum for K-12 in just about all subject areas.

Contact information:
Website: Pearson Homeschool
Contact: Form on their website
Customer Service: 1-888-695-6577
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Bottom line:

I’ll be very honest with you- I did not like this program when we first started. It was confusing, frustrating and it seems there is a lot of clicking needed to get things done. I had a difficult time getting it set up so that my son could skip some lessons. My ds, who dislikes math anyway, also was very frustrated with this at the start. The learning curve just for the program is very sharp. But… since we’ve used it, it’s grown on us.

I feel now that this is worth the time it took us to get acclimated to the program. I can check his progress. I can see how many times he attempts a problem, an assignment or a quiz or test. I can change how often he can attempt those things. I can change what I consider mastery (I’m happy with the default 90% personally). He can access videos and other aids to help him learn. He can see the results of his work automatically. He is motivated to reach ‘mastery’, I think, partially because of this. He still doesn’t really like math but this takes the sting out a little. He doesn’t have to rely on *my* math knowledge to help him when he hits a wall.

I would love to see a more detailed, accurate step-by-step tutorial on how to use all that this program offers. In visual form, not just written. I still get annoyed with some aspects of it but overall, I am content.

I would recommend this to others who are looking for an Algebra 1 math program that is the best of both worlds {can be done as is or can be changed to suit}, can be done at a moderate pace {or as quick as one wants}, and is relatively well priced {for 18 months it is less than $5 a day for one student and one parent access kit}.

Have a read of what others on the Schoolhouse Review Crew had to say about this and other Pearson Homeschool products.

***Disclaimer: I received the above access kits and subscription for Algebra 1 from Pearson Homeschool via the Schoolhouse Review Crew for free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given. All opinions stated are my own or those of my family. I only recommend products that I truly feel will be beneficial to others based on my experiences. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Homeschool Library Builder

It’s a rare homeschooler you’ll see that doesn’t like books. It’s a rare sight to *not* have bookshelves upon bookshelves of books in their homes. Even before I homeschooled, I loved books but honestly it wasn’t until I homeschooled that the collecting truly began!

But this habit obsession need procuring of books can get very expensive.

Enter Homeschool Library Builder.

The purpose behind HSLB is to “help homeschool families affordably collect books for their literary-based educational needs”. They offer fiction, non-fiction, activity books, books for the teacher, inspirational, science books and more, or search by curriculum, age or geographically.

Sign up for the HSLB mailing list that lets you know of current specials and suggests books you might be interested to purchase. Also in the month of May you can receive 25% off of *everything* on the site (read the fine print!). Become a member and get the option of earning free books, help with finding difficult books, possibly inclusion in their HSLB Marketplace, and a portion of profit goes to Helping Hand. You can actually shop at that section of the website even if you are not a member but what an excellent ministry!

The prices are pretty unbelievable. The books are organized by condition and sometimes are up to 60% off of what you would pay elsewhere. The website itself is easy to navigate. Below is a crop of a screenshot of just one of the books offered at HSLB (at the time of this post).

Don’t forget to stop by Homeschool Library Builder in the month of May to receive 25% off everything in the entire store, and start building your library today!

This is definitely a resource I will be using to add to our library. I like the selection, the prices, and the vision behind it. It’s a win-win!
See what others think of the website by visiting the Crew blog.

***Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I reviewed the above website without compensation. Opinions stated are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***

TOS REVIEW: TruthQuest History- Ancient Rome

God initiates > People respond > History happens.

Through the TOS Homeschool Crew I’ve been using TruthQuest History’s Ancient Rome study with my seventh grader. I received a pdf download through email. It is available from TruthQuest History for $19.95 or printed for $24.95. Ideally for Grades 5-12, but younger siblings can participate. Includes book recommendations for all ages, where available.

From the website: TruthQuest History is a deep and rich literature-based history study…but with a difference. You will not learn the story of mankind; you will learn the lovestory of mankind. You will not focus on the rise and fall of human civilizations; you will focus on the arrow-straight line of God's unchanging existence, power, love, truth, and plan for civilization. You will not simply 'meet the culture' or 'get the facts;' you will probe the truths of history so deeply that your students will be equipped to change their world!

Ancient Rome: A unique insight into a civilization built on human power. Their understanding of it led to some excellent governmental and engineering advancements, but without acknowledging God's higher power, the stage was set for tyranny. Yet into this mighty realm, came the centerpiece of civilization--Jesus Christ! Why then? How did the early church begin to affect the world? Was it affected by the world? Why? You'll see! The Roman emperors expected the church to collapse; instead, their empire did. Hmmm. That makes for some interesting history! The reasons must be learned by modern Americans, if a similar collapse is to be avoided. from the website

This is a very different approach to history than most history curriculums take. This is definitely a very different approach than secular history curriculums. There isn’t one particular textbook that is used for this and there aren’t worksheets to fill out. We are actually quite used to that aspect in our homeschool so I was looking forward to this. There isn’t even a schedule to follow. This guide gives you information and lets you go!

Does that sound a little scary? To just give you the information and let you go to it? Well, count me in that group. When we first received this, I read and reread the beginning pages. I like the way it centers history not on mankind but on God. I liked the list of books that were included in this study. Many of the books I’d planned to use for our study before I was chosen to review this and many I’d not thought of or even known about. I’m used to using narrations and discussions to gauge understanding and appreciated that about this curriculum. But…Where’s the schedule? This is only our third year of homeschooling and sometimes I still need that schedule. At least for a program that I’ve not already researched for quite awhile and figured out. For those of us that panic without a schedule, here is a page at TQH that helps some with “How to Use”.

The entire guide is 112 pages. See a pdf of the Table of Contents, or click on the images below.

Each section begins with a commentary by Michelle Miller of TruthQuest History (TQH). This review has made me think more than I thought I would because there is a lot of information in the beginning commentaries that I did not know, or just never thought about. I’m used to books and references to the Bible and God in our history studies but this had me thinking in more depth.

After the commentary are books that relate to the specific person, place, event, etc. She lists quite a few books in each part, along with the corresponding chapters, but really, it would be quite overkill to read them all. Most of the books she lists in this study can be found at the library or inexpensively at used book stores. I found quite a few at the library (we do have a pretty amazing interlibrary loan system though and I know that some places do not) and we already had a few.

Throughout the study are also words of note- vocabulary words?- as well as “ThinkWrite” boxes. The vocabulary words are discussed in the commentary. The “ThinkWrite” boxes include questions to get the student (and the teacher!) to dig deeper into the study- to think about what is being discussed. There are keys to the “ThinkWrite” questions in the Appendix to help gauge the student’s understanding.

I do need to tell you that we are only to 3f in this study. I decided to ‘go with the flow’ with this and not plan it out- as in, “do 3a-c this week, read this and that book”. Also we didn’t do writing for the “ThinkWrite” questions, instead they were for discussion. Perhaps further in I would have him do some writing assignments but we didn’t up to this point. As for the commentary- I read aloud what I felt was pertinent for him to hear. And this could just be me but, if I were to see the person actually speaking the way it is written, I’d say they need to calm themselves at some points. It’s good to be enthusiastic but there are an awful lot of exclamation points.

For implementing this, I went through the book suggestions for the first few sections and gathered what I had on hand and checked with the library for others. Some were not possible to locate so we obviously didn’t use them. A few others were above my son’s level so I left those out as well. In the end, we ended up using the books we were originally going to use (even if we weren’t reviewing this) and one or two more that were suggested.

History is an every day subject for us, in one form or another, but we did this (the commentary, vocabulary and “ThinkWrite”) 3 times a week. We read through the books we had up to 5 days a week.

There is a Yahoo! Group for TruthQuest History users to use. Send an email to Historyquesters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com if interested in subscribing. Although not done by TQH, there are some companion resources available from A Journey Through Learning that can be purchased at TQH’s website. I actually decided to purchase and use the notebooking pages; they were somewhat useful.

And I must mention that there is a page that was created to help with spine books –to help find the right spine book for the study guide that you’re using. Some of the pages don’t match up in my guide with the books I’d found –because I had the wrong edition –not just the spine books.

Bottom line:

Here are our/my Pros:

1. It is adaptable. It can be used by those who go the Classical, Charlotte Mason, and/or unit study route in their school. A teacher can really use this however they wish to.
2. It is full of books that I would not have thought of including.
3. Christian perspective. But not just that, it takes the focus off of humans and directs it to God. Imagine how history would have been different if God were put first.

Here are our/my Cons:

1. There is no schedule. It goes along a sensible path (chronological) in terms of the times and people being studied but a person could easily spend 1 day or 3 weeks on one spot! It just seemed to me to take more planning than I thought it would. In hindsight, I think I would have broken down the guide into weeks and tried to cover more of it.
2. The commentary is …interesting. I don’t know how to put my finger on what I don’t really like about the commentary but there is something that just prevents me from wanting to read it to my kids. It is always good to dig deeper but…something just didn’t click with me.

Would I recommend this? Yes –if they are looking a curriculum that implements a lot of reading, doesn’t advocate (or even include) worksheets, and/or they like to pretty much make their own schedules. As for the use as a unit study, I can see how this could be integrated into just about all subject areas for that but we didn’t use it that way so I can’t really recommend it to those who prefer that method.

I can see how this is not for everyone though, for the same reasons I’d recommend it. Also, the thick application of the Big 2 Beliefs (although not a problem for our family) may bother some others.

I think I am rather on the fence with this curriculum, to be honest. There are parts I really like (but nothing that I find to be really awesome) and some that I don’t care for (but nothing I cannot stand). I would encourage you to read other reviews by my fellow Crewbies at the TOS Crew blog.

***Disclaimer: I received the study guide above free from TruthQuest History via the TOS Homeschool Review Crew in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are mine or those of my family. I only recommend products that I truly feel would benefit others, based on my experiences with the product. See Disclosure/Policies.***