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Families Again
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Families Again
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Join us on the Blog Cruise!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Homeschool Helps

The TOS Homeschool Crew has embarked on a new endeavor. We have begun something called "The Blog Cruise". It actually began a few weeks ago but this is the first time I've posted about it. The Blog Cruise focuses on a homeschool question of the week. These questions are typical questions that new or even experienced homeschoolers often ask. TOS decided to tap in to the expertise of the members of the TOS Homeschool Crew for answers to these questions. That's very humbling to me, as I don't think I'm very experienced. Thankfully, answering the questions is voluntary. We don't have to submit an answer ~ in the form of a post ~ unless we would like to. So far the questions have been:

What about socialization?

How do I know what to teach?

AND

How do you know if your children are keeping up with their peers? 

If you want to know what the Crew Members said about each, just click on the individual question above to go to the Blog Cruise page for the answers.

This weeks question is:

How do you handle multiple ages?/How do you homeschool with a baby or toddler? 

Now that's one that I can answer. We certainly do have a wide range of ages in our family, and I have homeschooled for the past few years with Jacob crawling under our feet. Be looking for a post in the next couple of days answering that question. I'll put the link up to the other crew members answers as soon as I get it. In the meantime, why don't you click on one of the questions above and check out the great answers that have been given so far. Happy Homeschooling!


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Posted by tink38570 at 9:19 PM CST
Updated: Tuesday, 9 February 2010 9:22 PM CST
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Men's Monday Meme - Question 9
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Men's Monday Meme

 

It has been a jam packed past couple of days. I haven't been able to write my answers to last weeks questions yet, but I will do so and link them tomorrow. Since I can't have two Mr. Linky's going on at one time, then I won't be able to put the new one up until my posts are linked. So the new Linky won't be up until tomorrow anyway. Until then, read the question, ponder it, and write your post if you would like. Then just link up when you can.

Ok men. Perhaps this should be a Hot Topic question but I won't lable it as such. If it turns out to be one, then all the better! Here's the new one: 

Would you ever vote for a woman president?

Of course you all know where I'm going with this. Sarah Palin has been in the news of late, and last go around, Hillary Clinton was in almost till the end. I'm interested in hearing your take. Do you think it's OK? Do you think a women in authority is unBiblical? Or, are you just a male chauvinist and would never vote for a female president Undecided? Have fun thinking about this one and discussing it with your wife Laughing.

Let me remind you of the rules:

  1. This is a man's meme, so the answers must be the answers from a man. Either the man can answer on his blog, or a wife can interview her husband for her blog. However, if the wife puts it on her blog, she must stay true to what her husband said.
  2. You are encouraged to put one of the Men's Monday Meme buttons found to the left on your blog. Just copy the code below the button of your choice. The more folks who link, the more readers you may have to visit your blog.
  3. You may answer the question any time during the week up through next Monday. After you answer the question, add the address to your post to the Mr.Linky below. If you could, please only add the direct link to the post to make it easier for readers to find the entry.
  4. My answer along with a new question will be posted next Monday. The new Mr. Linky will be added at midnight Monday night.

OK folks. I haven't posted my responses to last week's questions yet, but I'm not going to wait any longer to put the Mr. Linky up. When I post (and I will post) my answers,  I will put a comment with the links up. So, here's the new Mr. Linky.

 


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Posted by tink38570 at 12:15 AM CST
Updated: Tuesday, 9 February 2010 5:56 PM CST
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Monday, 8 February 2010
Kinderbach - Play Like Bach!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Homeschool Product Review

Photobucket 

This year on the TOS Homeschool Crew has been amazing. It has not only introduced me to many homeschool products that I have heard of but never tried, but it has also informed me of many, many things that I never knew about. Kinderbach is one of those products.

You can probably figure out how Kinderbach's name came to be. Bach is the name of a famous composer, and the program is geared toward ages 3-7 ~ right before, during and after Kindergarten. Some people may think that the name is a bit deceiving to suggest that a kindergartner could actually play a keyboard like Bach. I'm here to tell you, however, that if you follow the Kinderbach program, your child will be well on his way to playing like Bach!

Remember, I was a music major in high school and college, and can play close to a dozen different instruments (unfortunately none quite so well anymore Undecided). I began teaching myself to play the piano at around five years of age. I have been through or seen tons of methods and curricula over the years. I have never, however, seen anything like Kinderbach. Boy would I have loved to have this when I was younger. 

You can either buy the DVD's or subscribe online to the lessons. As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I was given a free three month subscription to try out and review on my blog. Even though the age suggestion is for 3-7 year olds, I chose to try it with my 9 year old son Joshua. I thought that since he has asperger's syndrome, it may be a good fit. I was not disappointed.

Photobucket 

Miss Karri is the host for the easy 5-10 min. lessons. She has a cast of characters ranging from a boy named Frisco, to Dodi the Donkey and Mr. Bach himself. The lesson's are designed to be done one a day, but you could easily do two or more per day. What I really liked about the lessons is that Miss Karri talked to the kids on their level, not over their heads. There character's were simple animated characters, nothing fancy, but enough to creatively add to the lessons and help keep the kid's attention. The lessons aren't just sit and watch lessons. There are plenty of opportunities to touch the keyboard or piano, but you may also find yourself clapping or moving about to reinforce the music theory lesson that is being taught. For hands on learners they also have worksheet pages that you print out to go with the lesson. When you aren't moving about or touching the keyboard, you may be coloring in the worksheet as you are watching the lesson. There is nothing that Kinderbach left out. Visual, auditory, kinesthetic, hands on ~ no learner will be disappointed. All learning styles are included. Joshua loved the fact that one minute he might be moving about, and the next minute he may be doing something in a workbook page. Everything is included in the subscription or CD purchase. Did you miss something or not understand some aspect? Watch the lesson again. Dog eat your workbook page? Print another (PDF).

Photobucket 

Kinderbach is divided into six levels with 10 weeks of lessons in each level. There are four lessons a week, so you can work it around your schedule easily. It is perfect for those who want to introduce their children to music at a young age, or to supplement a schools music program. In fact, if any of you are classroom teachers or administrators, Kinderbach has a series for classroom instruction as well!

There are two ways to purchase. As I mentioned, you can subscribe for $95.88 a year (averages to $7.99 a month) or for $19.99 a month. The prices are comparable to 30 years ago when I took piano lessons at $5.00 a lesson. I can only imagine what the cost of private lessons would be now. And, it doesn't matter how many children you have. If you have 5 kids, it's the same price! If you would rather buy the CD's they start at $40.55 for one level of lessons. They also have discount packages for multiple levels. 

Still not sure? If you go to their webpage and sign up for their newsletter, Kinderbach gives you the first two weeks free to try out. Or you can get a day pass for $5.95. Or, if you want to take the plunge and purchase now, they have a 30 day money back guarantee. Trust me, however, you won't ask for your money back. To find out more about Kinderbach, just click here or on any of the hi-lighted links above. Click here to find out what the other TOS Homeschool Crew members have to say about Kinderbach. Happy home educating!

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I was given a free three month subscription to Kinderbach's online music program try out and review on my blog.


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Posted by tink38570 at 11:12 PM CST
Updated: Monday, 8 February 2010 11:14 PM CST
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TOS is looking for more Crew Mates!
Mood:  happy
Topic: General

 

I'm sure that as this year's TOS Homeschool Crew year comes to an end, I will be posting what it has meant to me to be on the Crew, and what I have learned from the Crew. Thankfully, we still have a few more months before this year's term ends. I've been having too much fun.

This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of something like this and I have completely enjoyed it. It hasn't been without it's challenges, however. I have had to meet deadlines ~ I have one tonight Surprised. I have worked on my writing skills, improved my editing, learned how to build a blog. It hasn't always been easy, but it has always been rewarding. I have made some great friends, learned many things, and that's all on top of the great homeschool products that we got for free in order to review them.

I have enjoyed it so much that I want to encourage you all to try out for the 2010 - 2011 TOS Homeschool Crew. If you homeschool and have a blog, then why don't you give it a try. Here is the link with the information. Let me know if you try out. I'll be praying for you and cheering you on!


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Posted by tink38570 at 7:13 PM CST
Updated: Monday, 8 February 2010 8:53 PM CST
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Sunday, 7 February 2010
Sunday Puzzler - Courtesy of the Graphics Toolbox
Mood:  silly
Topic: General

Yes, I know that I'm having way too much fun with Graphics Toolbox, but it is a lot of fun to play with! Here is something I created this evening. I could have done a little better with it, but I was just playing around. It's one of those "Can you spot the six changes from the first picture to the second picture" puzzles. So can you spot them? Some are a little easier than others. If you can find all six, leave a comment. No peaking at what the others answer until you've found all of them Wink!


 

 

 

 


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Posted by tink38570 at 12:51 AM CST
Updated: Sunday, 7 February 2010 9:22 AM CST
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