I discovered Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing, a couple of years ago because of their affiliation with Answers in Genesis. I was thrilled to see the many wonderful resources available. When I was made part of the Moms of Master Books team I was over the moon! I’ve had the opportunity to review some really great things through this group and feel blessed to be counted among them! Below are my favorite 5 resources from this year.
As we focus this week on thankfulness many of us think back to the Pilgrims. Under increasing persecution these steadfast individuals made a seemingly impossible journey on ship built for trading, not passengers, during inopportune months of the year all in the name of faith freedom. It is difficult for those of us living in America nearly 400 years forward to even imagine the type of persecution which would lead them to this drastic journey. Beth and I have spent a good portion of our year studying about the Pilgrims and one thing we learned was how limited they were in what they could bring. Precious cargo space could not be filled with anything frivolous. We do know at least one Bible would have been aboard as this was considered treasure above all else.
I’m reviewing and hosting a giveaway for something I think the Pilgrims would have heartily approved for their voyage across the ocean…a Waterproof Bible! Bardin and Marsee Publishing has created this very unique publication of Scripture for the purpose of use outdoors without the fear of damage. Whether camping, hiking, hunting, or hanging out by the pool, this ensures your ability to meditate on the Word of God without fear of damaging the binding or pages. 
As soon as I showed it to Rose she asked, “So, can we test it out?” It only made sense, so we proceeded to do what seems completely insane…pour water onto the Bible. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t easy to do the first time. I was nervous. I believed what the company said about their product, but intentionally putting water on any book goes completely against my upbringing. However, once we tried it out, it was way too cool not to do again. Rose is very much looking forward to warmer weather so she can give it a test at the pool!
I love their slogan: Be Inspired Anywhere. I see this particular Bible being extremely helpful for missionaries and our military who are serving in areas with little to no protection from humidity. It can be written on although the website tells you to specifically use pencil or ball-point pens. Dry highlighters may also be used. The key is using something which will not smear if it does get wet. There are also a variety of accessories available to go along with this Bible including waterproof journals and bible covers.
The One Year Devotions for Women: Becoming a Woman At Peace by Ann Spangler is one you’ll want to add to your bookshelf whether as a beginning first step or an addition to your established quiet-time routine. I have enjoyed reading other books by Ann Spangler and was so excited for the opportunity to review this! I knew this would be a wonderful addition to my day already being familiar with the author’s ability to take deep theology and make in understandable. As a homeschooling mother of three girls ages 8, 6, and 4 my mornings are unpredictable more often than not. I know how I would like my mornings to go, but I can count on one hand how many times it has actually gone this way! This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to center myself on Christ first thing while being able to meet my girls’ needs as they come up first thing in the morning.
Record keeping for homeschooling isn’t always easy. Although I live in a state with minimal requirements regarding record keeping, I keep lesson plans, grades, field trips, and attendance in a notebook so I can easily see where we are. My main reason is to help me stay on track and know where my girls are at in their learning. In the past I was spending a good hour or so at the end of the week grading and recording grades. Bleh…not my favorite part of homeschooling, but definitely something I felt was necessary.
When I purchased my iPad one of the first apps I wanted to download was the Homeschool Helper App. I had heard of it about a year ago and really liked what I saw. This very functional app is available for iPad, Android tablets, Nook Color, and in the Amazon store for Kindle. The $4.99 cost is well-worth it once you realize all this app can do! In addition this is a one-time purchase with no need to pay for updates. 
The first thing I noticed about this app after installing it is just how pretty it is. Many of the life-management apps I have looked at are very functional, but also very sterile. I love the look of the opening screen for this app because it feels so personal. I quite often have my steaming cup of tea by my side as I work on record upkeep and I’m very much a pencil and paper kind of girl for the most part. Using this app makes me feel happy and not like I’m turning into a technology zombie. I appreciate the effort that the creators put into making this eye-pleasing in addition to being extremely functional.
As for the features, wow there are just so many! As I began to use this app I would find myself enjoying features I never thought would have been included. One I particularly like is the inclusion of field trips. We try to take 1-2 field trips a month as a family. I kept a mental list of what we did, but now we have a formal list. I do not have to report at the end of the year to our state or create a portfolio, but it is really nice to be able to look back and see some of the fun we’ve had. 
I can add as many students as I want which is a nice feature for families with lots of kids. My three girls were very easy to setup. My oldest two are receiving letter grads and my youngest daughter receives effort based grades. I like being able to have it both ways and that I have the ability to set how the grades are calculated. I can also enter up to 14 subjects. I thought that was more than I could ever need, but I ended up using all of them for my oldest daughter because I included things like art and computer.
The lesson planning feature allows you to input lessons for each day and every subject. You can also track what lessons have been taught and which ones are still waiting to be covered. This would be very nice for families who create their own curriculum and lesson plans. Since we follow a pre-planned curriculum this has not proved as useful for me. I do make a weekly checklist but it is still fast for me to do this as a pencil and paper project than it is to type into my iPad.
I really like the grade calculator because I prefer a points based system and the grade calculator allows me to do that and then quickly input the number onto the subject page. I would prefer a points only system as and option since that is what I’m most comfortable with using, but this is working out fine.
I printed report cards for my girls last week and they were so beautiful! I easily sent them to my e-mail and now have a lovely printed record of my girls grade including their school name, attendance record, and exact grades.They are attractively designed and look as formal as traditional report cards. Disclaimer: I was provided with this app for my iPad for free for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review. No other compensation was received.
My girls are always asking how to say things in another my response is typically, “Ummmm….let’s look it up a little later!” Foreign language is not one of my strong-suits. I did take a few years of a foreign language in high school, but it became very clear my freshman year of college I didn’t retain very much! Needless to day, foreign language hasn’t really been on my radar for homeschooling yet…until now!
French Essentials uses a combination of downloadable pdf files and online content to explore the French language and culture in a unique blend of interactive and pencil-to-paper instructional activities. The available assessments are a wonderful way to check and gauge the students progress. You can choose either to purchase a full set with access to all modules and downloads or to purchase modules individually. Each module can be purchased for $69.95 (available for 90 days) and the full-package will all modules (available for 1 year) is $149.95. We were given the Full Access Online Program for review. 
My girls really enjoyed getting to hear the letters, words, and phrases pronounced correctly. As I said before my foray into foreign languages wasn’t all that fabulous and my pronunciation is simply dreadful! Native French speakers teach correct pronunciation and the entire program was created by experienced French teachers. I appreciated how grammar is incorporated so as the students learn the language they also learn how to put the parts of speech in the correct order. Another nice feature are the audio files embedded into the pdf files so there is no need to open multiple programs. 
I loved the very first activity in the first module. In order to help student learn to identify the correctly pronounced French alphabet a native French speaker calls out letters which will spell English words. This unique activity really resonated with Rose. She quickly picked up on the different vowel sounds and I really think the connection to English helped her do this more rapidly. Beth also liked the activity although it was harder for her.
This program is ideally used with students 3rd through eighth grade, but it can be used with students who are younger because of the extensive amount of oral practice and older if they are interested. The worksheet portions are best suited for students with a 3rd grade reading level or higher.
As I mentioned before many aspects of the French culture are included which provide a nice balance and a fuller picture of what the language is all about. This is a really fun portion which I think would also encourage students to be open to more cultures as they learn.
I do hope that a language arts app is in the works. I have found that learning and play is much easier for the girls, especially Grace, on the iPad. She doesn’t waste time and get frustrated with the mouse. I’m so glad IXL has this app available so she can have a better experience.Click below to see what my Crewmates had to say!
Carole P. Roman and Away We Go Media has created a wonderful set of resources for children to explore other cultures. They are beautifully illustrated and give children an idea of what life is like for other kids all around the world. So far If You Were Me and Lived in… South Korea, If You Were Me and Lived in… Mexico, If You Were Me and Lived in… France, and If You Were Me and Lived in… Norway (link coming soon!) are included in the series. The first three books in this series are available for purchase on Amazon in two formats: Kindle ($.99 each) and Paperback ($8.99 each). If You Were Me and Lived in…Norway is $1.99 (Kindle) or $10.79 (Paperback). They can also be purchased at Barnes and Noble for $9.99 each with the exception of If You Were Me and Lived in…Norway which can be purchased for $8.63. They are geared toward preschoolers through 8-year-old children. My girls thoroughly enjoyed each of the four and enjoyed taking turns reading them!
AAEach book contains information about the language, customs, heritage, and lifestyle. I loved the inclusion of various tourist sites as well as what children would do at every age. The girls snuggled up on the couch and took turns reaching through each title in one sitting! 
Beth’s favorite was If You Were Me and Lived in South Korea. She really liked learning about the variety of food. She also really liked the picture of the baby, which is why I think she most enjoyed this one! 
Rose and I really liked If You Were Me and Lived in Norway. We have good friends and neighbors who moved their a couple of years ago. It was a lot of fun to think about what our friends might be doing, eating, or seeing! 
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| A sewing project from last year…Yogi, Cindy, and Boo Boo Bear! |
My husband and I got married two weeks after I graduated from college and my sweet man bought me a sewing machine, something I’d wanted for a while but didn’t have any clue how to use. This was obvious from the fact that it sat in a closet for several years. I finally pulled it out to give a go at sewing a plain straight curtain. My husband (who took a home economics class in junior high in the hopes of meeting girls) taught me how to use it. I got frustrated, made a curvy curtain, and into the closet it went again for a few more years. I’ve had a good friend helping me gain courage and I’ve managed a few projects for my girls. When Rose came to me during my last project and asked me to teach her to sew I panicked! I barely know what I’m doing and don’t have a clue how to teach an eight-year-old!
These lessons are intended for students 8 and up (which means adults can learn too!) There are six modules intended to be used over a period of 6 weeks, but as with any course such as this you can speed up or slow the pace down as needed. Each module is broken down into smaller sections which is then divided into video segments. I much prefer this over a long video without sections because there were some things I already knew, and this way I wasn’t concerned I would miss something if I skipped ahead. In addition to the course instruction are 8 doll clothes patterns along with video instruction for each. This was great for Rose because she had the visual explanation along with someone who actually knew what they were talking about!
Rose was very interested from the start. Rosie’s gentle voice and soft Australian accent kept her captivated! She attentively stayed engrossed for each segment and was so excited to finally be learning how to sew.
I appreciated that even the most basic steps, such as pattern cutting, were fully explained in a way Rose could understand. I also appreciated that not once has Rose had to ask me what something. It isn’t that I mind answering her questions, I just know I probably wouldn’t know the answer!
Another aspect which I appreciated was the emphasis on sewing safety. It is so very important that children especially are aware the tools used for sewing can be dangerous if not handled properly. Since my other two girls were up at this time they received some much coveted iPad play time. They’ll have their chance to learn to sew when they are older.
For Rose this has been a dream come true. She was very careful to pin the fabric pieces together just the way Rosie instructed her and patiently followed every step. She asks me frequently how soon we will get to practice sewing again. This is been a real joy for us to work on together.
Whether you are just beginning to sew yourself or have a child interested in learning, this is an excellent way to learn! No confusion, no pressure, and no hassle! My favorite quote was when Rosie was explaining the various tools used for sewing. When she got to the seam ripper she said no matter how experienced you are at sewing everyone makes mistakes and needs the seam ripper to help fix them. It meant to much for me to hear that because my daughter with perfectionist tendencies gets very frustrated when she gets something wrong. This one matter of fact statement put her at ease for the rest of her time with Rosie. See what my Crewmates had to say by clicking below!
I’m a huge fan of Christian historical fiction and I’m usually game for trying new authors. This is my first time reading a Tracy L. Higley novel and I was hooked from the first chapter.
The story opens with the burning of the temple in Jerusalem and quickly fast-forwards several years. The young Jewish girl introduced at the beginning has been enslaved by a hideous senator in Rome. She is able to escape by pretending to be a male gladiator. While she is still enslaved in this life, it is better than the treatment she received by her other master. As the story unfolds she is introduced to a kind Roman who increasingly dislikes the incessant lust and violence pervading the culture and chooses to fight against it in the political realm.
It is set in the final days before Pompeii’s destruction. I very much enjoyed following their spiritual journey as they encounter Christians and the early church. It was a different view of this time than I have seen before.
I was also struck by how much the Roman culture mimics our own today. The insatiable desires for things which go against God’s Word is unmistakable throughout the novel and I could not help but compare it to our on society.
This is my first opportunity to read a novel by this author, but I am certain it will not be my last. The character development was fantastic as was the intertwining of historical facts. I appreciated that I learned a lot without feeling like I was reading a history book. The plot took unexpected turns which kept me turning pages.
I also liked how the feeling of impending doom from the volcano was included as an aside from the story. The parallel between the citizens physical fate and their spiritual fate is beautifully implied and left me feeling so sad for those who died without knowing Christ. It also urges me to share the gospel more with those around me who don’t know the truth of where saving faith really comes from.
I highly recommend this book even if you don’t typically read this genre. Although I love historical fiction, this particular period has never interested me before. Now I’m very intrigued and interested to know more. I would strongly suggest this for adults only because of some of the intensity of the content and implied actions of the Romans.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Since our iPad is new and shiny I’ve enjoyed finding learning apps for the girls. I was so excited to find out I could use this for Vocabulary Spelling City and she was too. I give my daughter a pretest of 20 words each week, then the words which she misses or she had to think longer about become her spelling words. I don’t believe in busy work and in my opinion including words she already knows is busy work. This program allows me to include only the words I want which can range from 1 all the way to 51. She has been averaging about 6 a week. 
There are so many games to choose from for practice. She liked to try them all and when I asked her which was her favorite she said, “I don’t know. They were all so fun!” It is great to have something fun to add to our spelling. She is already learning spelling rules which she seems to enjoy, but a change of pace is always a welcome diversion for any subject. The games are colorful and fun with immediate feedback so she knows if she made a mistake and how to fix it. 
This past week I let Beth enter the word list herself instead of doing them for her. She felt so grown up to be able to do the parent’s part and it was also great practice. She choose the definition she thought fit best and I was pleased she did this with ease. I also really like the option for a spelling test. The program calls the word out and she types out the correct word. Since everything is scored and recorded with the premium account her weekly spelling tests have been a breeze!
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