Blogging Through The Alphabet With God's Word - Letter V

Sharing a little ABC's of the Bible!

I'm teaching these to my preschool class and if 3-4 year old preschoolers can memorize them, surely we can too! We are also learning the ASL alphabet along with the verses too.

Letter V is ...John 6:47  - Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

Join us in Blogging Through the Alphabet.

Here are the letters we've already done in case you missed them:

Letter A         Letter G        Letter M           Letter T
Letter B         Letter H        Letter N            Letter U
Letter C         Letter I         Letter O
Letter D         Letter J        Letter P
Letter E         Letter K        Letter Q
Letter F         Letter L        Letters R&S

The Old Schoolhouse Freebies Just For You!

Through out the month of April, The Old Schoolhouse is offering up a few freebies just for you - my readers!!  Since I am totally failing at any type of organization at the moment, I thought these might motivate me and give you some encouragement and tips too.

By using the code MLCREW16, you will receive the following 3 freebies!  Don't forget, they're only available through the month of April!

Freebie 1)  Molly Green E-Book: Organize With Molly

In this freebie, you will find articles on a household inventory binder, couponing, frugal storage ideas, menu planning, cleaning and organization, and so much more!  This is a collection of a year's worth of organization articles!

Freebie 2) HomeWork: Juggling Home, Work, and School Without Losing Your Balance

Are there any work at home moms here trying to homeschool and keep up with the house too?

Here are a few of the topics covered in this e-book. . .

• Considering a new home business endeavor, or already working from home,
• Seeking creative ideas or exploring opportunities that might work for you,
• Wondering how to set up a home business,
• In need of some inspiration, encouragement, motivation, or advice from experienced home”preneurs who”ve been there, or
• Wondering how others manage homeschooling and homework and continue to smile,

Freebie 3)  Organize Your Homeschool

Have you ever purchased double of the same book before?  I have!  In this e-book you will...

• Learn how to adapt an organizational system to fit the curriculum and supplies you use.
• Figure out the best location for books and supplies, a place that works best for your family’s learning and living lifestyle.
• Discover the top ten supplies for organizing.
• Create a plan that will keep everything organized.

So go ahead, choose one, two, or all three and let's get organized!  Don't forget you will need to use the code MLCREW16 and order before the end of April.  These are guaranteed not to clutter your home bookshelves - that's a step in the right direction already.  :)

I'd love to know what you learn and even more I'd love to know what you implement!  

Review of Stopmotion Explosion Animation Kit #stopmotion

My son, Jonathan, has been interested in different forms of animation so we were thrilled to receive the Stopmotion Explosion Animation Kit to review.  As a part of his school curriculum this year, he has been studying video including recording and editing so this was another great addition.  He has his own YouTube channel where he usually shares about Minecraft.  He has always been a Lego lover as well so this was the perfect fit for him.

Stopmotion Explosion has designed a kit to help interested animators of all ages create high definition stop motion films.  The kit includes everything you need to complete your own stop motion films.  

Here's what is included:

1. The Stopmotion Explosion: Animate ANYTHING and Make MOVIES book which contains over 290 pages including a short history of animation and step by step animation instructions. This comprehensive resource includes tips on creating stories, building the sets, lighting techniques, adding sound clips, video editing, frame conversion and so much more! It gives your student suggestions on camera choices, video editing software choices, and different ways to share their creations. I loved that it introduces students to a glossary of words like hue, white balance, compression, BMP, resolution, pixel, and many more.
   
   
   
   
2. A 12 page quick start guide which will have you diving right in to the art of stop motion quickly. 
   
3. A camera allowing images of 720p High Definition resolution (1280x720).  The camera is small and has a clip that can attach to most any surface.  On the top of the camera is the "framegrabber" button which allows you to capture the images needed for your film.  The camera also has a USB cord allowing you to sync with your computer and save the files you capture.  In order for the camera to work, it has to be attached by USB.  You can adjust the camera's focus by turning the ring on the front. 
   
4. A software CD that contains the Stopmotion Explosion Animator where you make your images come to life, sound effects collection, Audacity program which allows you to make voice recordings, and Windows Media Video player. It also includes sample videos and a storyboard printable to help your student when they are creating their stories. It has very clear black and white illustrations all through out the book to help the visual learner. 
   

If you already have cameras, apps, and editing software that you are familiar with then the book may be all you need but if you're looking to start from the beginning the kit is a great deal.  Having some background in making videos, Jonathan felt that it would have been easier for him to use his phone to make a creation.  He did like the quality of the camera and the ease of just clicking the button to quickly grab the many images he needed to make his movie.  

He took over 400 images to make his 32 second video!  It took way longer to complete than he expected. This kit introduces students to serious video animation skills!  I think he's only skimmed the surface of what he really could achieve with the Stopmotion Explosion Animation Kit, time and dedication.

Without further ado, please enjoy the art of stop motion animation:

You will also need to have access to these software/computer requirements:

• Windows and OS X compatible
• Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 supported
• CD-ROM Drive or other device to download software

Overall, we found this to be a great resource especially for children interested in stop motion animation.  Here is Sarah's creation and a little surprise at the end.  :)

Find out more about Stopmotion Explosion on Facebook, and Twitter.

Free High School Forms - limited time

Don't miss this chance to download free high school forms.  Regular price is $9.95 but currently FREE!  Transcript, grading charts, college evaluation tips, and more.

Remember Your "Why" - Day 5 Tip

This week members of The Schoolhouse Review Crew will be sharing 5 Days of Tips For Homeschool Parents.  There were some great tips yesterday!
We are finishing up our 8th year of homeschooling and have a 7th grader, 9th grader and a graduating Senior this year! 
Today's Tip
Never forget your "why".  Why did you start homeschooling? What was your main reason?  Do you have a mission statement?  It doesn't have to be elaborate.  Just a statement of why you are homeschooling.  Write it down, post it in your teacher planner, print it out and frame it on your wall, put it on your whiteboard or chalkboard.  Then, when those hard days come and believe me they will!  Read it and remember so you can refocus and get back to your "why".

Our why has always been to allow each of us more time to grow closer to God first, and then to each other.  I have always known that if my children could even glimpse at how much God loves them and live their lives for Him, the rest would follow.  He would equip them with what they need to know when they need to know it.  That's my why!  What is yours?

Here are just a few of the homeschools participating this week! I'll share a new set each day. Take a break and enjoy!!

Other tips I shared are Take A Break, If It Ain't Broke - Don't Fix It, Read Aloud To All Ages, and Weekly Planning Keeps Me Sane.  

Hope you have been encouraged this week but and really the best tip of all is to do what works best for you family!

Dawn @ Double O Farms

Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool

Debbie @ Debbie's Homeschool Corner

Desiree @ Our Homeschool Notebook

Diana @ Busy Homeschool Days

Diana @ Homeschool Review

Elyse @ Oiralinde: Eternal Song

Emilee @ Pea of Sweetness

Erin @ For Him and My Family

Jen @ Chestnut Grove Academy

Weekly Planning Time Keeps Me Sane - Day 4 Tip

This week members of The Schoolhouse Review Crew will be sharing 5 Days of Tips For Homeschool Parents.  
We are finishing up our 8th year of homeschooling and have a 7th grader, 9th grader and a graduating Senior this year! 


Today's Tip
Decide on a day to complete your weekly planning and do it! I choose Saturday but let's face it sometimes it's Sunday or Monday before I actually get it done.  When I do take the time to get it done the weekend before, I already feel one step ahead of the game come Monday morning.  

Depending on your curriculum and needs, your planning time may look different but the point is to get it done!
Here is an older video of my weekly planning time.  The only thing I changed is making the kids fill out their own checklists for the week.  I think it helps them to fill accountable to what will be accomplished during the week.

Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 tips in case you missed them.  Here is an older post on my brain that may give you some ideas too.

Bonus Tip - FriXion pens rock for homeschool planning!!

(affiliate link)

Here are just a few of the homeschools participating this week! I'll share a new set each day. Take a break and enjoy!!

Jeniffer @ Thou Shall Not Whine

Jennifer @ A Peace of Mind

Jennifer @ Faithful Homestead

Joelle @ homeschooling for His Glory

Joesette @ Learning Curve

Kari @ Random Acts of Boyhood

Katie @ Katie's Daily Life

Kemi @ Homemaking Organized

Kim @ Homestead Acres

Kylie @ Our Worldwide Classroom

Review of Logic of English

Today's review has been such an eye opening experience for both my daughter and myself!  I have gained so much knowledge about the English language and how it works from using Essentials 2nd Edition from Logic of English.  

Essentials 2nd Edition is a complete curriculum teaching phonics, spelling, basic reading skills, grammar, basic composition, punctuation rules, and vocabulary. 

When the box came, it was huge and heavy!  When I opened it, I understood why. 

Essentials 2nd Edition currently sells for $198 and comes with many components including:

• Essentials Teacher's Guide, 2nd ed., Volume 1
• Essentials Student Workbook, 2nd ed., Volume 1
• Spelling Journal
• Basic Phonogram Flash Cards
• Spelling Rule Flash Cards
• Advanced Phonogram Flash Cards
• Grammar Flash Cards
• Morpheme Flash Cards, Set 1
• Phonogram Game Cards - Bookface
• Phonogram Game Cards - Cursive or Manuscript (I chose cursive)
• Phonogram Game Tiles
• Phonogram and Spelling Rule Quick Reference
• Spelling Analysis Card

The complete Essentials curriculum is broken down into two semesters - Volume 1 and Volume 2.  Volume 1 includes Lessons 1-15 and Volume 2 includes Lessons 16-30. Volume 2 is not currently available but scheduled for release in January 2017.

I spent some time familiarizing myself with the components of the curriculum and watching many videos available from Logic of English's YouTube Channel which is a great resource when you are getting started! 
Each volume includes 3 levels of instruction labeled A, B, and C.  The Teacher's Guide is a massive hard bound book full of details for each level. The Student Workbook and Spelling Journal also contain everything you need for all three levels but are consumable and intended for one student.  If you are working with more than one student, you will need an additional Student Workbook and Spelling Journal but only one Teacher's Guide is needed.  Also, a younger student who completes Level A could use the same curriculum to complete the other 2 higher levels. Each student also needs a set of Phonogram Game Tiles and two contrasting Phonogram Game Cards for every four students.
We began with the placement test which sent us to begin with Lesson 1, Level B.  There are some critical PreLessons that you may need to start with but the placement test will help you to know where to begin.
Each lesson is broken down into daily assignments:
Day 1: You will introduce the new phonograms, spelling rules, and explore sounds.
Day 2: You will introduce the new spelling list by level, students place any new words in their spelling journals.  Review games for the phonograms are often added on this day too.  The Spelling Analysis page which contains the new spelling list is phenomenal. It breaks each word up by syllable, gives sample sentences using the word, different parts of speech applicable to the word, how to spell the word breaking each part up using phonograms already learned, and gives the relative spelling rule.  Words are selected based on what is being taught in the lesson rather than just a random list of spelling words.
Day 3: You will use the words in context - review concepts, complete a spelling game, learn new grammar concepts and dictation.  Dictation includes new words as well as words taught from previous lessons.
Day 4: Learn new vocabulary, another dictation, composition, and the optional Essentials Reader.
Day 5: This day includes an assessment where you will check your student's understanding. 

You can certainly slow the program down if needed to fit your child's needs but we found the suggested schedule to be just right for us.  

The Teacher's Guide is very colorful and gives lots of tips and instructions for the teacher.  Each lesson contains an overview of what will be taught during the lesson and which Phonogram Flash Cards, Spelling Rule Flash Cards, Grammar Flash Cards, and vocabulary will be taught.  

Each day in the teacher manual is clearly marked to keep you on track and gives you directions on what to say to your child to teach the new concepts including what to write on the white board, sample words, etc. You are also given the supplies you will need to collect for the day and many teacher tips are found all throughout the lessons. Lessons labeled "All" are taught to all levels.  Fun games are completed throughout the lessons as well as the workbook style pages included. 

Finding a way to store everything so I could have it at arm's length was difficult but I finally came up with a solution that is working for now.  I placed all the components in a plastic box including the student spelling journal and workbook.  The Teachers guide is placed just to the right.  I placed the phonogram cards, spelling rules, and grammar rules cards learned so far in the front with the ones still to be learned in the back to pull from.  Each card is has it's own color ring that also matches the teacher's guide so I simply stacked them rotating each stack - one vertical, one horizontal per category.  It's hard to tell here but that's how they are!  I've also thought of adding labels to stick out for each category.

Here we are playing one of the games.  The loser ends up with the dragon card - guess who lost?

Here Sarah is practicing writing her spelling words with her eyes closed.  She loved this simple technique and we were both impressed with how well we did!

Here is Sarah completing one of the Student Workbook pages.  She is marking the parts of speech for each word.

We also received the optional Optional Essentials Reader Set that can be purchased separately to accompany this curriculum. We received the PDF download of this set which includes The Student Reader, The Teacher Guide, and The Student Activity Book. The wonderful part about the reader is it reviews words and concepts taught in the Essentials lessons. The Optional Essentials Reader can be purchased alone or you can add on the teacher's guide and student activity book designed to enhance the student further by adding in more comprehension, copywork, dictation, note taking skills, key word outlines, tips and strategies for vocabulary, and even extra curricular activities such as research papers on the subjects read about. The goal is to expose the student with the concepts and words learned as much as possible for better comprehension and fluency.
Sarah, age 12 has asked to continue with this program and I can see light bulbs going off for her as a this new approach to letters having sounds and meanings helps her understand the why behind some of the words we use in the English language.  It's not only her though, I have found myself having my own aha moments too!
This is a massive program with loads of detailed information at your fingertips for yourself and your student.  There is so much to learn and to teach with this program that it's hard to put it all in writing for this review! You will definitely want to visit their website, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest to find out more about this wonderful program!  You can also find more sample pages here.  If you have any questions, just let me know and I'll try to answer them or find the answers for you.