Saturday, November 20, 2010

My Precise Prince

Today Precise Prince is 11!  Time sure flies.

Words to describe him:

Precise-Ask him what time it is and you'll get the time to the exact minute.  It's not 10:00, it's 10:02.

Inquistive and curious-Precise Prince always loves learning new things and researching his current interests.


Sharing-He let his dad and me pick out the first candies from his Halloween bag. 

Helpful-He's good about helping around the house when we need it.

What a blessing Precise Prince is to our family!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

TOS review: KB Teachers

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KBTeachers is an online worksheet and activity resource.  Here is some information from their website on what you get when you purchase a membership:

* One click worksheet generators and alphabet factory
* Create an unlimited number of engaging printable activities - For all ages and grade levels
* No watermarks and unlimited access
* Exclusive graphics and clipart - Decorate your websites, Blogs, activity sheets etc...
* Diverse educational resources - From simple ABC worksheets, to 20 pages exams
* Intuitive activities online or off - At home, at school or in study hall
* Free 24/7 Support - If we don't have it, we'll create it - or help you find it
* Answer Keys - Proofed and checked quality materials you can trust
* Updated regularly - New features and member created content added every week
* Nothing to download, instant access - From any internet connection
How we used KB Teachers:
Looking over the website, I decided to start with the math section first.  I do not have a specific math curriculum for either of my children.  For Creative Princess, I either write out my own math problems for her to work on or I search for worksheets on the computer to print out for her.  KB Teachers has been a great resource for this-no searching needed.  I used the telling time worksheets first. Each time I went into the time telling section, a new worksheet was generated so I was able to print out plenty of problems for her to practice with.  I did the same for addition and subtraction worksheets (so she could practice borrowing and carrying.)

I used some of the division and multiplication worksheets for Precise Prince.  While working on geometry I discovered he needed some extra work in long division so I generated a worksheet on KB Teachers and gave him that extra practice. At this time, the division worksheets do not have problems with remainders.  However, it is important to note that they are adding to the website and I would expect to see that in the future.

In the "For This Season" section, we used a couple of the links to look up information for Veteran's Day. 

I tried out the clip art and wasn't able to open anything so I sent them an email. I got a very quick reply with what to do to be able to open their clip art. It was an easy fix and I really appreciate the quick customer service.  (And I did not tell them that I was a reviewer when I sent them the email.)

I looked over the Grammar-Writing section and plan to use some of it after Thanksgiving when we get back into a regular schedule. Although most of that section states it is geared towards grades 6 and up, some of them will be useful for both my 3rd and 5th grader-especially the punctuation worksheets.

Good information to know about KB Teachers:
In addition to the sections I wrote about above, there are lessons for science (such as astronomy and geology), Biology (such as human anatomy and nutrition), social studies, and more including a dino workbook to print for younger kids and an arts and crafts section.

When you print out the math worksheets, an answer sheet prints out as well (except for the very easy worksheets, such as the counting worksheets for younger children.)
 
KB Teachers also has a "For This Season" section with worksheets and activities geared towards the current season. This section changes at least monthly so you never know what you'll find but for November there is clip art for Thanksgiving and Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving mazes, Thanksgiving coloring pages, copywork for Veteran's Day and more. The Thanksgiving section includes invitations and posters that you can type your own text into and print out.

The "For This Season" section also includes webquests for most days of the week.  These are worksheets usually with web links based on something that happened on that day in history.  For example, did you know that November 3rd is National Sandwich Day?  There is a printable on the November 3rd webquest page with information about Sandwiches and links to websites with more information.  The webquests are posted monthly so once the month is over, you don't have access to previous webquests. 


I think it's important to note to my readers that this is a secular website.  The dino workbook sheets include references to the Late Cretaceous Period, Pleistocene Epoch and other terms you would find in any secular resource on dinosaurs.  The geology section contains information concerning evolution and millions of years.  I didn't see a lot of pages like this and it would be easy to just not use those pages.  I use many secular websites and resources in my schooling and it's no problem to just skip anything that suggests the earth is billions of years old. 

KB Teachers does not have a search button on their website because they believe that a website should be well organized enough that a search button isn't necessary.  (I agree and I didn't have any trouble finding what I was looking for, but I still wouldn't mind a search button. :)

KB Teachers is always adding to the website.  If there is something you need, send them an email.

The bottom line:
This website is worksheet based and oriented more towards traditional schooling though there is something for everyone.  It is a good resource for when your child needs a little extra help or you want to supplement your current curriculum.  We will continue to use KB Teachers as a resource for our homeschooling.

There are a few free pages on the website you can access.  Everything else, you can still look at before buying however you won't be able to print out the pages.  A free 30 trial is available as well.

Current price:  $29 per year or $49 for two years. 

To see what my fellow crewmates had to say about KB Teachers go here.
(As part of the TOS crew, I received a free subscription to KB Teachers in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was received.)

Monday, November 15, 2010

TOS review: Corps of Re-Discovery

We received a fringe pouch kit from the Corps of Re-Discovery for review.
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Having two kids, I was not looking forward to figuring out who would review this product.  I was happy when Creative Princess said Precise Prince could make the pouch.

I opened the package with Precise Prince and we looked at the directions together.  The kit parts stated that two drawstrings were included in the package but we received only one.  That was not an issue however, because we just cut the one drawstring into two.  I was concerned that would make the drawstring pieces too small but they weren't-we could have even cut them a little more and they would have been fine.

The instructions for sewing the pouch were pretty simple.  Precise Prince was able to sew the pouch easily and quickly.  It took him about 20 minutes to sew it.  The instructions for putting the drawstring on the pouch were confusing.  There was a picture included but it was not labeled.  Precise Prince was able to figure it out himself in about 10 minutes.  The drawstring ended up tight and it is easy to close the drawstring but not as easy to open it.





Precise Prince loved this project!  It would go well with any frontiersman study (such as a study of Lewis and Clark.)  I would say this project is geared to ages 7 and up, although younger ages (7-9 or so) would need some adult help. Precise Prince is almost 11 and was able to do the whole thing with minimal help--I only helped him with understanding some of the sewing instructions.  He put the whole thing together himself.




Overall, I would recommend this project as a fun way to supplement a history lesson.  I will keep this site as a reference for the next time we are studying frontiersman, Native Americans, leather working or pioneers.  They have many projects with a variety of prices.

The current price for the Fringe Pouch Kit is $11.99. You can purchase it here.  Go here to see what my fellow crewmates had to say about this and other products from Corps of Re-Discovery.

(I received the Fringe Pouch Kit free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Free Holiday Gift from TOS

2010 Holiday Digital Supplement/Idea Book

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The Old Schoolhouse magazine is offering this free Holiday help e-book download.  There are articles about Christmas celebrations from around the world, encouragement for the holidays, crafts, recipes, and more!  Get your free download HERE.

Monday, November 8, 2010

My Creative Princess

Creative Princess is 9 years old today!

Words to describe my beautiful girl:

Creative-She makes her own Halloween costumes.  She planned her birthday party-making the games and decorations.  Her play time is spent writing and illustrating her own books.

Loving-She is always hugging and cuddling with the people she loves (much to the chagrin of her brother.)

Strong-willed-The goal is to have this strong will be used for God's glory!


 
Giving-She starts making Christmas presents for everyone around Halloween.  She used her allowance to buy some of the prizes for her birthday party.  She made a comic book and a gift bag for a present for her friend, Cole.

What a blessing this child is to our family.  I thank God for her every day!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Creative Princess's Birthday Party

For the first time in 9 years, we are allowing the kids to have their own birthday party.  In the past, they have had a joint party and last year, we went to the Great Wolf Lodge as a family and didn't have a friend birthday party.

Creative Princess wanted a gymnastics themed party and she planned it all!

First she put streamers on the stair railing and decorated her cake.



She drew, colored and cut out paper balloons.  Each balloon was numbered and had a game to go with it.
The goal of the first game was to see who could stand on one foot the longest.  Our ballerina friend won (although all the girls did well!)


Game two was pin the rope in the girl's hand.


Next was a scavenger hunt.  World Traveller, Precise Prince and his friend hid candy and the girls hunted for them.  (I'm sure it will be no surprise to hear that Precise Prince and his friend hid a couple of secret stashes that the girls didn't find.  But they also shared with the younger girls once they found them.)

After the scavenger hunt was pizza time!


With full bellies, the girls now had to see who could hold themself up the longest on World Traveller's pull up bar.  The winner held herself up for just over 30 seconds!  Amazing! All the girls wanted at least two turns.  They would have kept going but World Traveller was getting warn out lifting them on and off the bar. 
Here's the winner!
The last game was an obstacle course.  World Traveller used some 2x4's and constructed a balance beam.  Creative Princess had the girls walk on a board on the ground, jump over two roller blades, walk the balance beam and jump rope twice. 



We went inside for presents and cake after the obstacle course and the girls played until it was time to go home.






This was a great party!  The girls had a blast and I didn't feel too crazy running from one thing to the next.  I am so proud of how well Creative Princess organized her party.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween

Precise Prince's grand jack-o-lantern:


Creative Princess's grand jack-o-lantern:


As is becoming tradition, Creative Princess made her own costume-a coyote.  Precise Prince kept it simple-a baseball player.  I love how easy costumes are around here.

The gang before heading out:

The goods: