3 College Credits + 1 High School Credit= Professor in a Box Accounting Course!

In the interest of multitasking (in which I have a Masters Degree), there’s nothing like taking a high school course that can also give you college credit! This is a popular concept among homeschoolers these days and I’d love to introduce you to another course that you can add to your repertoire: one that may not have crossed your radar but is yet so practical!

Let me introduce you to Financial Accounting by Michael P. Licata, Ph. D. (aka: Professor in a Box). An accounting course is a practical life application of math skills that all high schoolers can benefit from exploring. This particular course is created especially for homeschoolers by a homeschooling dad that is also a college professor.

Dr. Licata has created a very user-friendly experience with Financial Accounting that does not involve big, bulky text books. All course materials are on four CD’s comprised of 12 chapters. Each chapter has a narrated lecture, printable lecture slides, key concepts and terms, homework problems/solutions, quizzes and Microsoft Excel templates for use with all problems. There is also an Instructor’s CD that gives course syllabus, detailed lesson plans and more.

Students have the option of taking Financial Accounting by Professor in a Box in a one semester sitting, which is how it would be taught in college (finishing two lessons per week for 14 weeks), or spreading the course out over the school year (I’ll let you do the math on that one). Basic algebra is the only level of math needed to get through the material so even the math-reluctant should be ready to take this class by their senior year. When finished with the course the student will be ready to take the CLEP Financial Accounting exam and earn 3 college level credits! Hurrah!

For each chapter students watch the narrated lecture on the computer, work the homework problems, check the solutions and take the exam. Simple, straightforward and easy to digest: what’s not to like? I watched many different lessons on each of the CD’s and was impressed with the conversational style that Dr. Licata uses with the students. He has an easy-going manner and uses real-life applications making the situations seem relevant; offering small enough portions of new information so that the student is not overwhelmed. I really got a lot out of the lessons and I have absolutely no math persona…if there could be such a thing. I truly look forward to using this course next year for my soon-to-be Sophmore. She will benefit from understanding the business application that math has in the real world while also familiarizing herself with QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

A quick note on a previously mentioned pet-peeve of mine: cheesiness. If you have read any of my reviews on other DVD’s/CD’s this subject inevitably will come up. I am happy to report that this entire course can be enjoyed sans cheesiness! Even the short video on the Instructor’s CD, though obviously no-frills, doesn’t come across as a lame attempt to be funny or drama savvy. Being rather low-budget, it does come across sounding like Dr. Licata (the Professor) is talking from a box…but I thought that was only fitting since Professor in a Box is the name of his company (though that was likely coincidental).

I should mention that my Instructor’s CD had some elements that would not function for me. Some of the learning objectives and lesson plans wouldn’t open and gave me an “error” message. Unfortunately, with all of the busyness during this time of year, I haven’t had a chance to contact Professor in a Box to get things ironed out. However, it has always been my experience with mom-and-pop curriculum companies to find outstanding “what-can-we-do-to-fix-this?” attitudes. I am sure it will be resolved but felt the need to mention it in case you run into the same issue.

In order to check out Financial Accounting for yourself, please go to the Professor in a Box website by clicking here. You can invest in your child’s business future and college career by purchasing this course for $134.99 and get free USPS Priority Mail delivery.

Movement + Math= Gymathtics

Exploracise Gymathtics from Exploramania is a 30 minute, low-impact workout that also teaches some basic math concepts in conjunction with the exercises being performed. Many kids learn better through the use of movement and the aid of a video and all kids need to get moving and exercise more (especially in the homeschooling community, where PE is not necessarily a part of a daily routine!).


Divided into four parts, Gymathtics uses basic steps, and uncomplicated movement that little ones can easily follow and moms can keep up with as well! Using arms to make parallel lines, rays and circles-- as well as stretches that bend bodies into triangles, trapazoids and more—warm-ups help to reinforce basic geometric concepts in the “Shape Stretches Warm Up” section. Diagrams of concepts are shown on the screen along with the action. The second section is “Counting Calisthenics”, where your student can count forward and back, and skip count by odds, evens and more. There is a “follow the ball” count along display on the screen as well as other math tidbits, such as explanations of integers and place value. The third section, called “Pattern Power” performs a variety of lunges and squat style sequences in various repeating patterns. Finally, “Well Being Wind Down” helps to slow down the heart rate and stretch the muscles further.


“Ms. Carrie”, the instructor in the video, leads a group of four children from approximately age 4 to 17 through the series of exercises. I personally cannot imagine a child much older than 8 or 9 enjoying the workout too many times through. I think very small children will really think it is fun and rather clever to learn math concepts in such a way. The DVD cover says that it is for kids of “all ages” and that the math concepts “target 2nd-5th grade levels” (the latter description does seem to fit). Kids that are nearing the double digit mark will find it a bit low key and probably learn the concepts (if indeed they are new to them) rather quickly; lending the DVD to be passed over in favor of something more exciting after several perusals. Kids older than 10 years old will, like my own, find it very cheesy (my youngest is in 6th grade).


Certainly this video is produced as a labor of love and by a spark of vision to fill a need for very kinesthetic learners. I realize these sorts of projects are pricey to produce and not made by professionals; so I hesitate to disparage the efforts of a mom-and-pop type of creation. However, with the video savvy culture causing us to be used to cutting-edge effects, I think it is only fair to warn of cheesy-ness…it may not work for many kids out there and would be a waste of money for some.


If our family had not been given a copy to review, I would have been sorely disappointed in the overall campy tone. Throughout the video there is syrup-y high fives, as well as cheers from the participants that seemed forced and fake. The final phase, the cool down, is full of odd ball (though helpful) advice. For instance, while sitting cross legged and stretching one arm overhead and to the side, students are told to make a “nice wave.” Then a voice-over says things like, “use nice words and nice actions,” and “use nice ears for listening, all the time.”


However, I would like to reiterate that really young children would probably find Gymathtics to be cheery and fun (think Barney, the early episodes), and will learn some concepts that will likely make them ahead of the game with their math skills.


Furthermore, there has been much acclaim given-- neigh-- lavished upon this DVD over this past year, so maybe I don't know nuthin'! Eight awards in eight months is not something to sneeze at--so there are obviously people out there that like what the folks at Exploramania are doing. Decide for yourself by visiting their website by clicking here where you can buy Gymathtics for $24.99 and check out their other products as well.

Free and Fabulous! American Heritage Education Foundation

Getting free material to review has certainly been a nice perk of being part of the TOS Review Crew! But I have some great news to share in this review...the product being discussed is free for you too! "Free" can be a realitive term, depending on the item. There are times that something is worth it, only because it is free, but that is not the case here. The American Heritage Education Foundation has put together such a fabulous (and--did I mention-- "FREE"?) CD to share with all educators everywhere, that I would have told you to run and get one even if there was a charge involved.

The American Heritage Education Foundation's mission statement is, "AHEF is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation dedicated to the understanding and teaching of America's factual and philosophical heritage to promote constructive citizenship and Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens." They certainly have done a tremendous job in preserving our "factual and philosophical" heritage and maintained---not glossed over or made more politically correct---the Christian, faith-based roots that have made our country great. The amazing part is that they have partnered with Houston Public Schools in developing this software to share with educators nation wide. If the schools in Houston are using this curriculum, there is hope for our citizens and nation yet! I am truly impressed with the wonderful wealth of truth and accuracy presented for grades K-12 on this one, terrific CD!


The CD loads easily on your computer, offering a full year of study (possibly more if you did everything suggested) for Elementary, Middle School and High School levels of study and also a Spanish Elementary version, in a PDF format. You can save it to your computer or just use the CD when you want to access the material. I believe you could go through it once at each level and still not grow weary of the wealth of information it has, although each level follows a similar time span and emphasis. This is a fully developed curriculum with text, questions, projects etc. Just print out what you need.


The curriculum is written with intended classroom use so many of the projects are written with a larger group in mind. However, as most homeschoolers have figured out, you can tailor most suggestions to work within the size of your family.


Emphasizing the character traits of Freedom, Unity, Progress and Responsibility (of a nation collectively and citizens individually), the curriculum begins with a discussion on forms of government worldwide (old and new) and even delves into the first representative form of governement that is a basis for our own: the Israelites in the desert, under Moses, dividing into groups and subgroups that were represented by individuals within each group.


There is a Forward that is titled, "The Miracle of America, A Revolutionary Idea." Here is an excerpt: "In only a little more than 200 years, our ancestors transformed this country from a wilderness into a great nation. This nation demonstrates what can be accomplished by free people who create a government limited to serving the people rather than being their master.The moral and ethical basis of good conduct was derived from the faith that built America.That faith grew from the common belief that each individual is endowed with basic rights and responsibilities by our Creator. That is the foundation of our democratic republic expressed in the Declaration of Independence." The whole tone of this curriculum is unapologetically patriotic. How refreshing!


The curriculum, even at the elementary level, delves into the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the men behind it, the reasons for certain inclusions of rights and more. What is a free market and why does it make our country thrive? What is honor and responsibility as citizens? There is also ample descriptions of the Founding Fathers as well as all of the documents that are the backbone of our country. Furthermore, there is indepth explanations of our National Anthem, our Flag, our official Seal, the symbols on our money and more. Well written and straightforward, you will find this curriculum invaluable for citizenship as well as American History. I cannot say enough about how beautifully written this program is!


So! Enough talk! I know you are just dying to get your hands on your own American Heritage Education Foundation CD, right? How can you do this? By clicking this link, here. Though the CD is free (the info contained is valued at $150), if you prefer your own hard copy of the curriculum, you can also order that via the website for a price of $19.50 per grade level.


I know you will enjoy this wonderful resource. Please feel free to pass this info on and share the blessing of this free and fabulous curriculum with others!

Free Holiday Idea eBook! Click Here for 180 pages of Ideas!

Thanksgiving and Christmas Ideas abound! Download for free and make some memories!

Here's a link, in case the banner isn't cooperating:

http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Digital-Supplement/Thanksgiving&Christmas.html

Review: My Access! Writing Help for all Ages!

My Access! online writing program recently sent me a free subscription for review (are the perks great with this job, or what?). As a writer, I am always interested in programs that may help me write better. So, besides signing up my girls, I signed myself up as a student as well.


Because My Access! is internet based, you can use it anytime you have a computer with a connection to the World Wide Web. There’s several demo videos you can watch before you get started that walk you through different aspects of the program. One nice feature is that you can use the many writing prompts given by the software or you (the parent) can assign your students specific prompts for them to work on. This can compliment other curriculum, if there are essays needed in different subjects. I guess you could say that is a weakness of the program too, it is strictly dealing with writing good essays. However, the need to proficiently write essays could not be overstated. It is also one that takes a lot of practice to perfect.


The software graphics are nice and up-to-date and I like the choice to do assignments on your own or as part of the "Daily Access Newspaper". I chose the latter and was walked through the ins and outs of the paper by a very chic editor that gave me a sample essay to read and activities involving that essay to complete. By looking at the strengths and weaknesses of other’s writing it does help to improve your own. You do not just look at the final product of a good essay but you see it progress from one that is not so great, looking at all that was added, and why, to help it become stellar. From there you get to begin working on your own with an option of “publishing” it in the "Daily Access Newspaper" for friends and family to read.

I found the navigation a bit frustrating at times. For instance, during one activity I had a question on something from the previous screen and wanted to go back to look at it. There is a “back” button and a “submit” button, but when you push the back button a warning pops up that you are still submitting your work, before you go back, and you will be scored accordingly. Having just opened this screen and then wanting to double check something I realized I missed, it was troubling that I could not go back and clarify without being graded (with a big fat “0”). Also, the artificial intelligence that My Access! uses is a bit persnickety about spelling. Any unusual name is deducted as a spelling error.


There’s really a lot to look at and learn from in the My Access! program. It is easy to click on terms that are being taught and see in-depth explanations and examples. There are many writing models and a writing Rubric that will assist the student in accessing his or her own work as well. Each essay is given instant feedback at various stages of progress, enabling the best possible final draft.



There are a plethora of icons to choose from, on most pages, and at times this was confusing for me. Not everything, from what I recall, was explained in the demo…and even if it was, it is too much to remember. There were times I would click on something and end up in an activity which wasn’t necessarily what I was looking for. When I tried to go back, I had the same box pop up telling me I was turning in incomplete work (or something to that effect). Kids are so intuitive about much of the computer programs, it wouldn’t take long for them to have it all figured out, no doubt!

The parental feature allows you to set rewards for points earned and also to track what your students have worked on. What you see, however, is the final product and not a peek of how it looked along the way. The process of correcting and revising is completely handled between your student and My Access! so, if you want to keep tabs you can do that from over your student’s shoulder. This is most certainly a blessing for some, who just don’t know how or do not like to teach writing.


My girls are in a pretty involved writing program already (too bad I didn’t get this at the beginning of the year!), but I will be putting My Access! to use during the holiday break!


Read what other’s have to say about My Access! by checking out the TOS Crew blog on this link: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/721291/

You can explore all that My Access! has to offer by visiting their website by clicking here where you can also subscribe for one year, for up to three students for $99.95, or, from four to six students the price is just $129.95.

Scrub A Dub, Dub! Virginia Soaps and Scents Review

Since I am reviewing soap products, I feel I must "come clean" and admit that some things are just more enjoyable to review than others. Getting to try luxiurious, homemade soap products falls into the "more enjoyable" catagory!

When the box from Virginia Soaps and Scents arrived, it was a welcome change to see products to review that involved lather, bubbles and clean scents, rather than computer monitors and paper. Well, I realize we wouldn't get much school accomplished if it wasn't for the latter; but bathtub phonics and shower stall fractions could catch on, you never know!

We received four sample size bars as well as a sample size Laundry Soap Kit. Everything just smelled so clean and fresh! Along with the soaps there was a letter from the Spargur family that explained who they were and how they came to be in the soap making business.

When tragedy struck this homeschooling family three years ago, through the death of their youngest granddaughter, grief and exhaustion seemed to overwhelm the Spurger's school routine. But, by God's grace the family began to find comfort in the familiar as they determined to  delve into a unit study of Colonial Life in Virginia. One of the projects in the unit study was learning to make soap!

The "one time" endeavor was so enjoyable (probably theraputic) that the Spurgers didn't want to stop. Through experiments and research and hard work, Virginia Soaps and Scents was born. Talk about turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones! This family of 9 children, 5 of whom have graduated, all work to run this new entrepreneurial business. From printing labels and designing a website to making the soap and taking care of taxes, everything is done "in house."

Of course, they wouldn't have gone through such a shift in school and career if the soaps hadn't been such a hit with all who tried them! They have been especially popular with those that have sensitive skin and find themselves allergic to most soap. With an olive oil base and "no added chemicals for hardening and lathering properties" these soaps leave your skin feeling supple and not stripped. They lather up wonderfully and smell heavenly too. I would also add that they last a long, long time. We are only half way through the sample size bars we received about 2 months ago.

We actually had three small bars of soap to try and one sample Shampoo Bar (each 1.75 oz). Though all their soap is free of irritants, the Shampoo bar, in particular, is great for sensitive skin and for shaving and can actually be used head to toe. One of my daugters has very sensitive skin and so I had her use it when she showered. She has very long hair and didn't care for how it felt when she washed her hair with it. "Too squeaky clean" is how she described it. However, she did like using it for regular soap and she hasn't had any sort of skin problems with it. The Shampoo bar comes in a 5.5oz size (that's huge!) and sells for $5.50 or 2 for $10.

I have enjoyed using one of the regular bars (coconut, lemongrass scent...mmmm) for shaving. Leaves my skin feeling soft and moist! We have one bar in our mud room bathroom and it is hard to believe how long it has lasted, still a decent size after many uses. A regular size bar is four times the size (4.5 oz) of these sample bars that we received. Full sized bars sell for $4.50 per bar, or 3 bars for $12 (and if you buy 4 bars, you'll get one free!).

The Laundry Soap Kit was fun and easy to make, and the "sample" size still made a half gallon (whereas the full size makes 2 gallons).  The Spurgers recommend using a 1/2 cup per load for top loaders, and 1/4 cup for front loaders. Because water hardness varies, you may need to experiment with the amount. However, at a final cost of 4 to 7 cents per load (depending on how much you need), this is a very economical way to wash clothes! Unfortunately, for us, we did not fair so well with the laundry detergent.

Our hot water heater that runs to the washing machine is broken so I have to wash everything in cold water. Once you make the detergent from the kit, it becomes very Jell-o like in consistancy. I just can't get it to dissolve in the cold water. I have tried filling the machine part way with water, before I place any clothes inside, and stirring the detergent around but it still just floats in blobs. I have had to rewash the clothes to get soap spots out, so I have decided to discontinue using the detergent until our water heater gets fixed. Bummer! If your hot water is working, however, you can purchase the full size Laundry Soap Kit for just $4.95. Comes with everything you need (except the pot and water for heating it up!) to make 2 gallons of soap, or approximately 64-72 loads. What a deal!

I really hope you will take a look at the website of Virginia Soaps and Scents by clicking here. (Oh, I am so excited I finally figured out how to embed a link in my blog!!!). Besides their wonderful soap, you can also find lip balms, linen spray, shaving soaps and special holiday fragranced soaps that will make unique Christmas gifts!  If you can't decide, check out their Bed and Breakfast Sampler where you will receive 12 of the same size bars that I received (1.75 oz) for $18-- each with a differing scent. Try them all or split them up for gifts or stocking stuffers! There's a lot of other neat gift ideas on their website too, and it sure is more personal and useful than a gift card or a fruitcake.

Thank you, Virginia Soaps and Scents, for letting me try and review your wonderful, yummy soap! What a testimony you all are of God's faithfulness and mercy!

Hello... McFly!

Just wondering how my son can sleep through his alarm, while the rest of the house is laying there silently cursing the sound that has managed to wake us all from the recesses of his room? He is a mere two feet from the screaming banshee, at the most. (I bought the loudest, most annoying alarm I could find; seems he has made peace with it. We are the ones annoyed!). 



Interestingly, my husband finally hollars his name and he instantly shuts the alarm off. However, my son has no recollection of his dad doing this. He is a horrible liar and so I can see he really doesn't know what I am talking about when I mention the incident.



I think that says that Dad's voice carries a little weight in the subconscious mind of my teenage boy. This is a good thing...

Review: My Access! Writing Help for all Ages!

My Access! online writing program recently sent me a free subscription for review (are the perks great with this job, or what?). As a writer, I am always interested in programs that may help me write better. So, besides signing up my girls, I signed myself up as a student as well.

Because My Access! is internet based, you can use it anytime you have a computer with a connection to the World Wide Web. There’s several demo videos you can watch before you get started that walk you through different aspects of the program. One nice feature is that you can use the many writing prompts given by the software or you (the parent) can assign your students specific prompts for them to work on. This can compliment other curriculum, if there are essays needed in different subjects. I guess you could say that is a weakness of the program too, it is strictly dealing with writing good essays. However, the need to proficiently write essays could not be overstated. It is also one that takes a lot of practice to perfect.

The software graphics are nice and up-to-date and I like the choice to do assignments on your own or as part of the "Daily Access Newspaper". I chose the latter and was walked through the ins and outs of the paper by a very chic editor that gave me a sample essay to read and activities involving that essay to complete. By looking at the strengths and weaknesses of other’s writing it does help to improve your own. You do not just look at the final product of a good essay but you see it progress from one that is not so great, looking at all that was added, and why, to help it become stellar. From there you get to begin working on your own with an option of “publishing” it in the "Daily Access Newspaper" for friends and family to read.

I found the navigation a bit frustrating at times. For instance, during one activity I had a question on something from the previous screen and wanted to go back to look at it. There is a “back” button and a “submit” button, but when you push the back button a warning pops up that you are still submitting your work, before you go back, and you will be scored accordingly. Having just opened this screen and then wanting to double check something I realized I missed, it was troubling that I could not go back and clarify without being graded (with a big fat “0”). Also, the artificial intelligence that My Access! uses is a bit persnickety about spelling. Any unusual name is deducted as a spelling error.

There’s really a lot to look at and learn from in the My Access! program. It is easy to click on terms that are being taught and see in-depth explanations and examples. There are many writing models and a writing Rubric that will assist the student in accessing his or her own work as well. Each essay is given instant feedback at various stages of progress, enabling the best possible final draft.

There are a plethora of icons to choose from, on most pages, and at times this was confusing for me. Not everything, from what I recall, was explained in the demo…and even if it was, it is too much to remember. There were times I would click on something and end up in an activity which wasn’t necessarily what I was looking for. When I tried to go back, I had the same box pop up telling me I was turning in incomplete work (or something to that effect). Kids are so intuitive about much of the computer programs, it wouldn’t take long for them to have it all figured out, no doubt!

The parental feature allows you to set rewards for points earned and also to track what your students have worked on. What you see, however, is the final product and not a peek of how it looked along the way. The process of correcting and revising is completely handled between your student and My Access! so, if you want to keep tabs you can do that from over your student’s shoulder. This is most certainly a blessing for some, who just don’t know how or do not like to teach writing.

My girls are in a pretty involved writing program already (too bad I didn’t get this at the beginning of the year!), but I will be putting My Access! to use during the holiday break!
Read what other’s have to say about My Access! by checking out the TOS Crew blog on this link: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/721291/

You can explore all that My Access! has to offer by visiting their website at www.myaccess.com rel="nofollow" where you can also subscribe for one year, for up to three students for $99.95, or, from four to six students the price is just $129.95.

Review: The Amazing Bible Timeline

Before I begin this review I would like to vent and whine and complain a moment. I already wrote this review once, on my laptop. While doing some last minute double checking on the internet, a virus demon literally seized my computer and possessed it. I suddenly had all of these warnings and fake Microsoft pages coming up, using Microsoft icons and broken English, telling me I needed to enter my credit card number to be protected…yada-yada-yada. It even changed my background picture to this huge warning with further poor grammar, telling me all my personal data is invaded with spyware. Our firewall protection won’t run and it is all froze up. I am not a happy camper! Why do people set out to infest our lives with such malicious technology? Argh! I realize that this is completely unrelated to the subject at hand, but, “it’s my [blog] and I can cry if I want to!” It isn't as if I just have loads of free time, you know!

Ok, now that I have that out of my system, let me try (AGAIN!) to do this product justice…

I was very pleased when I opened the long skinny box that came in the mail revealing The Amazing Bible Timeline. A chronological history of mankind from Adam until the present-- it is amazingly compact (37”x45”) for all the information it contains. We own a similar book with a pull out chronology, a good 12 feet in length, that for years I have wanted to mount so we could refer to it. Never could quite find a good place for a 12’x2’ poster…wallpaper boarder, perhaps? Well, The Amazing Bible Timeline fit perfectly on one of those cardboard, tri-fold project display boards. Just needed to trim the edges a bit and staple it and ~voila! ~ Easy to see but also easy to store by folding (or sliding behind our piano :) ).

My first impression was admiration for the clever design, enabling the amount of information to be easily seen and comparatively viewed. Using a circular pattern of spokes, the timeline color-codes the various lineages that went on to become various civilizations. This enormous project began in 1931 and, since 1975, has been carried on by the Agard family.

This is certainly a good tool for studying history in its total context. There have been some concerns pointed out, however, that cause me to take pause in recommending The Amazing Bible Timeline to others. A few weeks after the timeline arrived, I received an email from the Agards (addressed to all of the TOS Crew), that attends to some concerns pointed out by other reviewers. Apparently, the Agard family also offers an LDS version of the timeline for Mormons, and there was also some Mormon info on the non-LDS version that we were given.

Upon closer inspection of my timeline, I did notice the inclusion of an important date for Mormon history around the year 400 AD, using the Book of Mormon references. They also note when Joseph Smith led his followers to Utah. This begs the question: What is information from the Book of Mormon doing on a BIBLE timeline in the first place? I suppose if it was titled The Amazing History Timeline, there may be some justification for it. But the two books are certainly not one and the same. (I have since read, in another reviewer's blog, that she was told the inclusion of such dates was a "nine year old error" that would be removed...).

Furthermore, the email that went out to the Crew was intended to clear up any misunderstandings about this issue, yet it only made things more perplexing for me. The Agards placed a link within their email to answer several, varied concerns that have been raised by reviewers. In addressing the apprehension that The Amazing Bible Timeline may have an “LDS slant”, the Agard family stated the following: “We don't know how it could. The original Timeline on which ours is based does not have an LDS background. We added dates from 1931 to 2000 so unless you think there's some LDS slant to WWII or the first astronauts on the moon there isn't one.” That seems reasonable.

However, prior to that statement, the Agards also proclaimed the following thought, (which is part of the same response to the question mentioned): “1975 (the year they took over production of the timeline) was a time when Christians were committed to building greater unity or cooperation among Christian faiths, very different from today’s time of Bible bashing and rejection of any Christian whose faith does not exactly match our own. The contention among Christians today is appalling to us and we don't support it. (We were asked to provide primary references that there was such a time and attitude. Fair enough. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/178836/ecumenism).” [italics mine]

I took a look at that article and found it to be a discussion on the cooperative efforts of various mainstream, historically accepted denominations of the Christian faith. Although there are various differences in methods or within the “gray” areas of belief or application, the basics of doctrine, particularly in reference to who Jesus is, are all in agreement. There is mention of the Lutheran, Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, Reformed and Pentecostal churches. No mention of Mormons within this article. Mormons may consider themselves Christians but Christians have never considered Mormons anything but a cult. This statement is NOT “Bible bashing,” as the Agards have asserted, it is historically and doctrinally true. Mormons are sincere, good people (I grew up in a school that was probably 1/3 Mormon and was friends with many) but they are sincerely wrong and deceived. The Book of Mormon is as false as the Koran; both books, incidentally, have been given to their founding “prophet” via angelic visitations.

I stand with the apostle Paul when he states in Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” We do no favors by patronizingly accepting our Mormon friends; rather we should speak the truth to them in love.

I realize that this has become much more than a review of The Amazing Bible Timeline and a bit more of a sermon. This is not a personal attack on the Agards in any way. However, their statements of clarification only served to raise a red flag for me as to their view of history. If they consider the concerns about the possible LDS slant as “rejection of any Christian whose faith does not exactly match our own,” it is now an issue that I feel compelled to respond to.

I cannot imagine the man hours, commitment and research that has gone into The Amazing Bible Timeline and I realize there are many varied sources used, and dates are double checked, triple checked and more. It is a huge body of work and I plan on keeping the copy given to me for review. With the internet at my finger tips it would not be hard to check anything I have a question about. I feel it is a great visual aid for putting history in context. However, I could not recommend this tool to you without disclosing what has been revealed about the viewpoints of those that have entrusted themselves to the project.

To read the full explanation of the various concerns, click this link:
http://bibletimeline.net/theldsquestionandussherstablequestions.html

To take a look at The Amazing Bible Timeline and to possibly purchase one for $29.97, visit their website at http://bibletimeline.net .

Abcteach: Customizing Your Homeschooling Curriculum!

Ever come across an item or idea and wonder, “why didn’t I think of that?” Well, that was exactly my thought when I was asked to review Abcteach, a website that stands at the ready when you want to do just about anything you can imagine along the lines of enhancing your homeschool curriculum.

Need to make your own spelling test (with a word scramble and word search for practice before the big day)? No problem, Abcteach can help you make your own, simply by plugging in your word list on a form. Would you like to make name cards to label each child’s school supply bin? There’s a form for that too! Need clip art? Got it! Need a multiplication table to take in the car (because the chart on the wall really isn’t conducive to travel)? Bingo, you can make one in a snap! What about a coloring page for the toddler that is listening to big brother’s history lesson? Presto! Need…?

Well, I think you get the idea! Abcteach seems to have thought of everything and then some. All in one location, with one goal in mind: making your homeschool YOUR homeschool! No need to scour websites or curriculum books or worry about making ugly stick figures to make a point, Abcteach likely has what you are wishing you had. And they keep adding more and giving you more options all the time. Just perusing their site will cause you to think about all the things you could do that maybe you weren’t even planning on…just seeing what they offer spurs on those creative juices!

I must admit that upon trying out a word scramble form, I sort of froze up when the computer-ese looking box popped up, wanting to know my words, how hard I wanted them to be scrambled, whether or not I wanted their directions printed on top of the page or if I wanted to write my own…very stale and black and white but necessary, you know? That sort of thing just kills my idea for a second because I think in the artsy, flow-y, colorful realm (with the little gnomes…). However, it only took me a second to recover and start playing with the boxes to see how it worked. Within about two minutes I had a decent word scramble page ready to be printed. Most of that time was spent just typing in the words! So, I found it to be really user friendly.

Furthermore, if you are computer illiterate like me, they have short videos that will walk you through the process of filling out the information, or cutting and pasting or whatever the necessary steps involved in customizing your own page for you children. They also have great customer service if you just can’t seem to figure things out. I had problems getting the videos to play and when I emailed their tech support it was addressed very quickly-- resolved in a short time!

So, how can you take advantage of all the goodies packed into the Abcteach website? Well, stop by for a visit, of course! Go to www.abcteach.com and just click around and see all the great things waiting for you to enjoy! From handwriting forms to scrapbooking backgrounds and borders, from book report forms to reading comprehension pages, there is something you need, that they have! There are two ways to enjoy their site: they offer about 6,000 documents for FREE at the site above, free is always a great price! However, if you try out all 6,000 documents and realize you need much more, you can become a member and have access to over 30,000 documents. Individual membership is $40 per year or $70 for two years. If you sign up with a homeschooling group, the price can drop to a little as $25 per year, depending on the number of people. I do need to interject that this site is really a great site for anyone working with kids! If you have friends that teach in more traditional school setting, or perhaps even a teen that babysits a lot, or maybe you are in charge of the children’s Sunday school hour…there are so many ways that Abcteach can be of help in all of these situations.

How many times have you thought, “I wish I had (fill in the blank), to go along with this subject”? Well, now you can have THAT, thanks to Abcteach. Then, you’re next thought, after efficiently printing out your needed document will be, “why didn’t I think of that?”!

Historical Fiction Review: Sarah's Wish Delivers!

The best part of homeschooling, personally, has always been reading good books with my kids. They love it too! There’s something about a great story that is the highlight of our day together and also can be the downfall too…at times I just can’t stop reading and other school subjects may suffer just a bit because of it!

So, the chance to read a great story, as part of reviewing for the TOS Crew, was an eager task for us all. Sarah’s Wish, by Jim Baumgardner, is one of those wonderful stories that tend to edge out other schoolwork; it pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading to see what happens next! Sarah’s Wish is the first of three books chronicling Sarah’s life in the dangerous times of North verses South and the Underground Railroad.

Set in the mid 1800’s when the Underground Railroad was in full (but highly secretive) swing, Sarah’s Wish starts off with a bang-- a runaway wagon that leaves Sarah an orphan-- and keeps sweeping the reader quickly along. There’s a certain secret Sarah promises to keep for her mom and a couple of bad dudes that want to uncover that secret: slave catchers. At just 12 years old, Sarah is frightened yet brave as she carries on her mother’s work and eventually has to learn to trust others that are part of the network of people working to help slaves escape too.

More than anything, Sarah wishes and prays for new parents. Through the comfort of her pastor and the help of local characters like “Granny” and “Doc Baum”, Sarah is well loved, protected and taken care of. Finally, she receives word that a family, whom she has never met, wants to adopt her as their own! This is an answer to prayer but met with mixed feelings as she must leave the town that she loves and the work her mother entrusted to her as well. She journeys to meet with the family but finds that her dreams and their reality may not be as compatible as she hoped…

Author Jim Baumgardner is a wonderfully colorful character himself. Hailing from Kansas, Mr. Baumgardner is a living part of history in the Old Cowtown Museum where he tells stories to visitors each day as the “town barber”. His “Sarah” series began as a quest to make great wholesome stories for his grandkids to read. They have become a special treasure that he is sharing with the rest of us as well! I highly encourage you to visit his website www.sarahsbooks.net where you can order all of Sarah’s books and enjoy good, clean and educational fun for the entire family—books worth passing on in your home library or proudly giving as gifts! In fact, you can have your books autographed by the author, just look for the box to write in the name you wish for him to address it to...talk about a personal touch! Sarah’s Wish is just $9.99 on the website, with free shipping. Or, get all three Sarah books for $39.95 (retail would be $47.97) and free shipping too!

One terrific feature is that each book comes with a code from the publisher that allows you to download the audio book for FREE! You can then burn it onto your own CD to listen to in the car or download it onto an MP3 player. Also, if you sign up for Mr. Baumgardner’s email list, you will get a fun and informative newsletter with interesting historical facts about life in Sarah’s time period, herbal remedies (that “Granny” recommends), words of wisdom, contests for the kids and more!

If your family loves to read as much as we do, don’t miss this opportunity to give your kids wholesome and adventurous books that teach history while they entertain. It is a great investment in worthwhile reading!

This just in!!! Mr. Baumgardner is offering a special price for those of you visiting his website thanks to a TOS Crew Blog (yes, this is one!). If you will contact him via his link, and ask for the TOS Crew special order form, he will email it to you and you can save even more! Don't you feel special?!!!

Guardian Angel Publishing has Heavenly Books!

The folks at Guardian Angel Publishing must have overheard Charlotte Mason commenting on the difference between “fluff” and good literature. They have nicely stepped around the fluff and handed over some gems that will teach their readers about character, educating their mind and as well as their soul. It was a pleasure to read the books that they sent for review!

Andy and Spirit Go to the Fair, by Mary Jean Kelso, is a sweet story with a uniquely special main character. Well, make that two. Andy is a young man who is physically challenged and must get around through the use of a wheelchair. However, put him on the back of the other star, Spirit the horse, and you have a powerful combination of freedom and equality. Spirit is different too, as you’ll see in the vibrant pictures illustrated by K.C. Snider. Spirit is an albino horse that attracts some attention due to his unusual eyes. The beautiful moral of the book is captured by Andy, when he leans down and whispers to Spirit, “Don’t worry, Spirit. You can’t help it if your eyes are pink. There’s something wrong with everybody. Just not all of it shows.” What a wonderful reminder to our children, whether they have some challenges or not!

At the end of Andy and Spirit Go to the Fair, you can read some interesting information on wild horses, as well as find out how you can adopt horses too! Furthermore, the reader is introduced to “4-H” in Andy’s story and can learn more about getting involved with the 4-H Club. (Prices vary depending on format: eBook: $5, eBook CD is $9.95 plus shipping, print book $10.95 plus shipping and coming soon is the book on DVD for $9.95 plus shipping).

Teaching your kids about nouns and adjectives has never been so fun and easy, in my opinion, as in the presentation of Hamster Holidays, Noun and Adjective Adventures, by Cynthia Reeg. This amusing poem about various hamster holidays (you know, the usual: Sing a Song Day, Puddle Jumping Day etc.), highlights the use of nouns in blue and adjectives in red. Illustrator Kit Grady has some delightfully silly pictures of these hamsters dressed up and making messes! After twelve months of holidays, the book continues the lesson with a chance for the reader to identify nouns and adjectives in another goofy, short story. Following that, there are various exercises like matching nouns and proper nouns, and adjective word-finds.


Hamster Holidays, Noun and Adjective Adventures, will really help your child identify these two basic grammar words. If you get the eBook, which I would recommend, you can print out the exercises repeatedly as your child works the puzzles and games to improve his or her prior score. (Prices: eBook: $5, eBook CD is $9.95 plus shipping, print book $10.95 plus shipping).

Bright, cartooned illustrations really caught my eye in the story Maybe We Are Flamingos, by Safari Sue Thurman. Tropical colors used by artist Kevin Collier help to tell the story of two flamingo chicks that realize they look different from the rest of the flamingo family. They are not pink! They wonder what they could be and where they really belong until their mother explains that it takes about a year to turn pink and that the change in color will occur through their diet. The flamingo chicks then go on to joke about what they might look like if they were to eat just broccoli, peppermints or other crazy things (with drawings to match!). Maybe We Are Flamingos also has a new iPhone App. that is part of a new way to explore reading from Guardian Angel Publishing ($2.99). Your kids can hear quality stories anywhere with stories that will go along with the App. Cool! (Book prices: eBook: $5, eBook CD is $9.95 plus shipping, print book $10.95 plus shipping).


The next story was just a kick to read! And, you know what? It takes many strong bones to perform a nice kick! The Sum of Our Parts: No Bones about It… by Bill Kirk is a kicky little poem (pun intended) that helps kids learn all of the proper bone names from toes to skull. Along with the poem are amazing factoids with “Did you know” questions and statements. Kids will find out how tall the tallest man was and how many bones we are born with (verses how many we end up with once some of them fuse together), among many other interesting facts.


Illustrator Eugene Ruble has put together realistic bone drawings along with some funny cartoons to help the reader make sense of all the information. The end of the book includes complete skeletal drawings with and without names so that kids can try to name the parts themselves. A neat little addition is a mystery drawing of a bone on each page that the reader can try to identify. The Sum of Our Parts: No Bones about It… is a clever way for kids to enjoy science and learn anatomy! (Prices: eBook: $5, eBook CD is $9.95 plus shipping, print book $10.95 plus shipping).


Finally, much as my kids do when they eat, I have saved my favorite book for last. Rainbow Sheep by Kim Chatel was just very imaginative, sweet, well written and beautifully pictured. I say pictured because, rather than illustrating this book, Ms. Chatel creatively uses colored wool to create pictures to complement her story. They are soft and endearing; very unique!


Genevieve is tending her sheep a hillside one rainy day. Wanting some sunshine instead, this young shepherdess climbs to the top of the hill and tickles the clouds to get them to move. Successfully done (always works for me!), a rainbow comes out but it is weak and gloomy. The optimistic Genevieve points out all the wonderful reasons the rainbow has to be happy and in the end the rainbow brightens and laughs so hard it overflows with happy tears. Well, all that rainbow stuff just gets all over everything…even the sheep!


After the Rainbow Sheep story, the reader is introduced to a short history of felting and is presented with instructions for a project to try with felt: making felted soap. (Ok, I must admit, this sounds kind of gross…fuzz in my soap? However, it looks really colorful and creative! So I probably should try it and blog about it another time!). No doubt, kids would love it…definitely a good Christmas gift project! (Prices: eBook: $5, eBook CD is $9.95 plus shipping, print book $10.95 plus shipping, DVD book $9.95 plus shipping).


Guardian Angel Publishing has many more educational and inspiring books like these waiting to be explored by your child. Their targeted age group is 0-12 years so there is a nice range of things for most kids. Take a look at their website and see for yourself:
www.guardianangelpublishing.com will take you there. Check out their FREE eBooks just for stopping by!