Principles of Mathematics by Katherine Loop (Review)

If you have been with me for a while, you already know that I'm a fan of Katherine Loop.  I reviewed her previous two books Revealing Arithmetic and Beyond Numbers, and absolutely loved her presentation of math not being a neutral subject.  After finishing up a study on Plato and his ideas about mathematics continually being discovered and not invented by man, my thoughts of God being at the core of math, are further cemented and the desire to see children grasp that concept as Christians is so important in today's "neutral" society.  Have you tried to find a truly Biblical math curriculum?  The best I've seen until now, is math presented as a neutral subject, with a Bible Verse thrown somewhere on the page.  Introducing Book 1, Principles of MATHematics, Biblical Worldview Curriculum by Katherine Loop!  Here are my thoughts on this new math curriculum…

Teaching from Rest - A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace (Review)

I was so blessed to have reviewed Sarah Mackenzie's first edition e-book, Teaching from Rest , back in August 2014.  She just recently published a second edition, that is expanded and revised (35% new content), with the assistance of Classical Academic Press.  This is a terrific book for learning how to enjoy the journey of homeschooling, without sacrificing the diligence of an excellent education for your children! A must read for mom's who would like to enjoy their relationships with their children, while they are homeschooling and keep it all in perspective!  I don't think you can read this book too many times or ever tire of hearing it's timeless truths.  It can be used as a devotion book, a group discussion book, a philosophy book and a practical, how-to book.  It's one you won't want to miss.  You also won't want to miss this discount and giveaway, so you can make this bundle your very own...

BiblioPlan Review and GIVEAWAY!

I love finding curriculum that I can share with my viewers that is worth their investment and time to consider.  You also know, I love to find curriculum that is homeschool parent created.  BiblioPlan is one of those such curriculums.  I reviewed the BiblioPlan Companion Year One Ancient History, along with their corresponding Family Guide and Craft Book for the same time period.  This history curriculum is literature based and comprehensive, yet not overwhelming.  Let me walk you through this curriculum and then you can enter to win your own FREE e-book version of the BiblioPlan Companion Year One for Ancient History, at the end of this post - so don't miss it!

Teaching the Classics - Review & GIVEAWAY!!

Teaching the Classics from Center for Lit, is a fantastic seminar course and a must for any homeschool parent who wants to cultivate a love and appreciation for literature in their children.  I can't begin to tell you how valuable this resource is.  To summarize quickly, Teaching the Classics: A Socratic Method for Literary Education is a teaching tool that will equip homeschool parents to understand and analyze literature, using socratic questioning and discussion.  Taught as a seminar, it comes with a 97 -page syllabus and a four DVD set, at a cost of $89 -and is well worth every cent.  As a bonus to my viewers, you won't want to miss out on getting a free copy of another terrific resource Center for Lit puts out, called Reading Roadmaps.  You can enter the giveaway below...

Tea for Tuesday

I have been weeding out my life and creating more time, to just have time.  Time for great books, and conversation and creating some rhythms in our day.  We like alliteration at our house.  This past year we would frequent a local cafe' for what we called Fresca Friday's - it was a motivator for my daughter to work hard during the week so she could go to Fresca Friday and do school work together over a chai tea latte (Mom's favorite) and an italian ice (her favorite).  Then I discovered a great little tool for creating my own chai tea latte's at home using this little inexpensive Ikea Milk Frother and we've moved it to Tea on Tuesdays to read together and talk, making our own latte's together!  It's lots of fun as I steep the tea and she gets to froth the milk.  We still go to Fresca on some Fridays, but now we can snuggle up on the screen porch on a pretty day or the couch, and read together over a cup of tea!

Understanding the Classical Model - Giveaway & Discount Code!

This is the next post in my series on how I am pursuing the traditional classical model through becoming a pilot Schole' group with Classical Academic Press.  The best part is that this post is paired with a fantastic book bundle giveaway for two lucky winners, and a 20% off coupon code for my viewers, on almost everything Classical Academic Press offers!

I began my quest to gain a deeper understanding of the classical model this past year, prior to my conversation with Dr. Perrin.  Even though I had read The Core, A Classical Education Made Approachable, Echo's in Celebration, The Question, The Foundations Curriculum Guide and taught for five years as a Tutor in Foundations, I still felt like something was missing for me with understanding a truly classical education.  I was reading on blogs such as Amongst Lovely Things, Simply Convivial, and Ed Snapshots to name a few, and I would come across concepts I rarely heard of or read about in other sources.  That made me curious to go deeper.  Then I began reading a life changing book for me, called The Liberal Arts Tradition, A Philosophy Of Christian Classical Education.  Let me share with you why it changed my course and how it can change your life as a classically educating parent too...

Berean Builders - Review

I was looking for a science curriculum to use as a source text for our new schole' group, when I had a friend send me a link to this particular curriculum.  The Berean Builders Series is an elementary series (K-6) that boasts seeing science through the lens of history.   The idea intrigued me to take a closer look and see what it was all about.  If you are an history loving family that really struggles to get into science as deeply, then I would definitely recommend this curriculum and here's why...

Character Concepts - Review

I mentioned in my previous post that I was going to be sharing a few things that I really have enjoyed and are helping me move in a more virtue seeking, restful state of classically educating.  This is one of those such things.

Maestro Classics (Review)

In searching for some fun summer activities that will continue to reinforce the fine arts, I came across Maestro Classics.  I LOVE this program!  What a fantastic opportunity for families who want to enrich their child's experiences with classical music, and build a love for the symphony.

Writing & Rhetoric Review, Giveaway and Discount!!!!

Happy New Year!  I have a terrific welcome to the New Year for you all!

A giveaway from Classical Academic Press for one free copy of their Writing & Rhetoric curriculum!  The giveaway includes the Teachers Edition, Student Edition and the Audio Files!

20% Discount Until January 11th!

If that isn't enough of a welcome to the new year, then there is also a hard to find discount of 20% on ANY Classical Academic Press Curriculum you purchase, from now until January 11th, when you use the code:  SGM20 -just for being a viewer of Solagratiamom™!  The discount is even good on their already discounted bundles!

(Want to buy, but afraid you would do so and then win, ending up with two copies?  No problem!  Just go ahead and purchase now at the discount, then you will get your purchase of Writing & Rhetoric reimbursed if you happen to win the giveaway!)  

Review - Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book

I'm always on the look out for creative people who can take something that is not thought of as fun or not traditionally geared towards younger kids, and then make it fun and gear it toward younger kids!  That takes talent and creativity, which I love. A subject like chemistry is definitely not something you think of introducing to a 2nd or 3rd grader, or would consider it fun -is it?  Let me share with you something that will totally change your mind!

Patriotic Copywork- "4 Pack" Giveaway!

I'm excited to tell you about a neat new offering from that sharp young lady, Amy Maze, who you may recognize from either Living and Learning at Home or Classical Copywork!  Amy has designed a Patriotic Copywork Pack and she is offering two (2) free "4 Pack" copies to giveaway, here at Solagratiamom™!  This is great copywork for Classical Conversations' curriculum users especially, as it lines up with Cycle 3 beautifully!  

Song School Latin Review!!

If you are tempted to hit delete on this post, because you aren't interested in Latin for your kids, then read on!  If you are thinking they are too young or you aren't able to teach it, then definitely read on!!  Your kids as young as 1st grade can learn it easily and you as the Teacher, do NOT need to have any previous Latin experience, or even know the first thing about Latin, in order to teach it!  How does that sound?  What if I also told you that you can begin to help your child in advanced studies in multiple subjects just by learning some Latin! Well it's true, and Song School Latin from Classical Academic Press makes it so easy, that even a young child and an old Mommy can learn it (at least old in my case -ahem!).

Teaching From Rest (Review)

An e-book from Sarah Mackenzie entitled "Teaching From Rest -A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace", is a very worthwhile read for homeschooling Moms.  I purposely don't do many reviews because I covet my time and yours - so it has to be pretty good for me to agree to do a review.  This was definitely a book worth my time.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a confirmation of many of the things God has been showing me about my very own homeschool, this past few months.

LAPBOOK GIVEAWAY! Plus Secret Bonus Entry!

If you were with me last school year, then you know that Wonderful Wednesday was started each week by lapbooking through that week's memory work.  We are going on our third year of using Karen Gill's lapbooks from Wisdom and Righteousness for Wonderful Wednesdays!  There are other's that are out there but I really appreciate the colorfulness and interactive nature of Karen's lapbooks, specifically.  The option of making your lapbook into a notebook is the style we all preferred.  She gives you the option to do the traditional file folder style lapbook or the notebook style, as seen above.  As a group, the notebook style was preferred to provide enough room for everyone at the table and it also had more of a traditional "notebooking" feel.  If you have active learners, then these lapbooks are a great option.  Your child can flip, turn, pop-up, paste, and write their way through each week's memory work.  

Simply Classical Curriculum Review and Giveaway!

(SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR GIVEAWAY!)

If you have a child with special needs then this post is for you!  If you caught my review series back in February on  Simply Classical - A Beautiful Education for Any Child by Cheryl Swope then you know that I really loved her book.  I especially loved her ability to break down the classical model into a tangible model for parents who were seeking to give this type of education to their special children.  She skillfully made the case that a classical education for children with special needs was not just in spite of their special needs but rather because of them!  Now Cheryl has gone one step further in making this an attainable model for special families by developing a classical curriculum to guide parents in executing it.

GIVEAWAY!! Spelling You See

Have you tried multiple spelling programs and still haven't had any success in producing a good speller?  Then Spelling You See is definitely worth a look!  I was sent the Spelling You See, Level D set for review.  (It peaked my interest when I noticed that levels D&E of this new spelling program neatly corresponded with Cycle 3 of Classical Conversation's® history focus for the coming year.)

Immediately, I noticed that this isn't your typical spelling program.  Spelling You See  approaches spelling from a unique developmental perspective.  They have broken these developmental steps into five sequential stages;  Preliterate, Phonetic, Skill Development, Word Extension, Derivational Constancy.  Spelling You See takes an approach to spelling that has your child look for patterns in the spelling of words.  Looking for patterns should be familiar if you are already using Math U See!  Math U See is consistently showing children patterns to math, which is one of my favorite things about their math program!  You can read about our experiences with finding a math curriculum that worked for us at Finding Your Child's Place In Math.  Math U See and Spelling You See are family companies.  

Year 3 Fun/Educational Resources!

I've pulled together a variety of ideas for how you can explore this year's United States Geography for this year!  It's definitely one of my favorite and more fun topics!

The ideas below, include hands on ways to learn such as; cookbooks, picture books, flashcards, puzzles, board games, electronic games, US coin collecting, brain teasers, scavenger hunts, mazes, drawing, coloring and some whacky, little known trivia!  Many of these items we already have and utilize at home and some are on my own wish list for this coming year!  Oh - and if you have a fun US resource your family enjoys that you want to share, put it in the comments section for everyone to see.  

FIVE Greathall Cycle 3 Relevant GIVEAWAYS!!!

The name Jim Weiss is probably a familiar name to us all.  He has spent 25 years as an award winning storyteller, telling original stories and retelling ancient and modern classic stories to countless children and families throughout the world.  He is most familiar to those of us who use Classical Conversations®, as the voice from the audio recordings of Story of the World.

The Education of Theatre!

My daughter and I love Theatre.  We are blessed to live in an area that has a lot to offer in this realm. Theatre goes beyond fun.  It is an entire education in itself.  We are always hearing about the benefits of sports for children but let's take a look at the educational value of theatre...

Here are some things that theatre will teach your children:

Teamwork           Responsibility           Collaboration       Leadership        Abstract Thinking

Conceptualization           Creative Thinking            Public Speaking in a Fun Way         

Boost Self-Confidence        Learn to Accept Constructive Critique (a key life skill!) 
  
Boosts Literacy /Social and Math Skills       Improves Attention       Develops Empathy  

Studies show students in the arts scored higher on the verbal portion of SAT and higher on the math portion. Students involved in the arts are four times more likely to achieve academic notice, hold school offices, win awards for writing and even enter science fairs. Arts students read  for pleasure more often, and perform community service at a much higher rate than their non-arts friends. Students gain academic life skills through performing!  You can reference the UCLA study and The College Board study for more facts on how the arts improves your child's education.