All About Spelling's Beehive Reader - I'm Mad!
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Homeschool Product Review

I'm mad, and it's all Joshua's fault! Again! What did he do this time? He lost the new Beehive Reader 1 that we recieved to review from All About Spelling. We have looked and looked for it and can't find it anywhere!

I guess I shouldn't be that mad. I guess I should be rather happy. After all, this was one the first books that Joshua has ever shown an interest in reading on his own. In fact, when our Beehive Reader 1 first arrived, he whisked it away with me barely having a chance to look at it. I think he read most if not all of it. There were a couple of chapters that he read to me before losing it, but the rest was by himself.

I should be glad that he liked the beautiful pictures. Pictures like the following:

I'm sure the very well written stories that go along with the All About Spelling program that we've been using helped him to love The Beehive Reader 1. The stories (at least the ones that I recall before the book was whisked away) were very entertaining and very meaningful. None of this globble-di-gook that you get from some children's books written these days. Although they were written for children in the first grade, these stories had substance. 

And, this was no small book. This phonics based book has 10 stories in its 160 pages. Here is a copy of it's table of contents:

I should be thrilled that when we find the book ~ and I'm sure we will after cleaning his room ~ that our Beehive Reader 1 will be in great condition. After all, it is very well bound, hard cover book with very durable pages. Here is a picture of it's beautiful cover.

I am happy that when I do finally find the book and can write a review about it that I will be able to tell all of you that the Beehive Reader 1 supplements the All About Spelling program and is very reasonably priced. The list price is only $19.95. I am also glad that Marie Rippel, the author of the All About Spelling Program and the Beehive Reader 1 is already in the process of adding more Beehive Reader's to the series.

Oh well, enough of my woes. I have to stop crying over spilled milk and write the Beehive Reader 1 review. Wait a minute...I guess my ramblings above was my review. You see, if you have a positive attitude good things will happen !

Now I can tell you that if you want to find out more about the Beehive Reader 1 you can click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above. And I can mention that you can click here to find out what the other TOS Crew Members think about the Beehive Reader 1. And, finally, I can tell you that since this reader is also perfect for public/private school kids as well as homeschool students, that instead of saying "Happy Homeschooling", I can say "Happy Home Educating".

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent a free copy of The Beehive Reader 1 in order to use and review on my blog.

 

 

 

 

 

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Memories of a Dear Friend and Coworker.
Mood:  sad
Topic: General

Recently I got word that a dear friend of mine was retiring from the private school that she's worked at for nearly 25 years. We worked together at The Master's Academy in central FL for eleven of those years. I can't express what she meant to me during that time. Ann Hayden was actually my boss. She was the head of the Discovery department that included NILD (National Institute for Learning Differences) and the PAL (Program of Alternative Learning) classes. She also taught the Special Education classes at the college that I graduated from.

We didn't always have a smooth relationship. I can remember getting aggravated when she would leave notes telling me to do this or to do that or fussing at me for something. What I realize now, but didn't realize then, was that she was just pushing a greenhorn therapist to do his best. She was almost like more of a mother to me than a boss. I'm sure that fact made it a doubly difficult job for her. It's hard enough to be just a boss let alone a mother and a boss. Looking back, I understand how much she put up with from me. Even though she had to get onto me quite a bit, she always did it in a very loving and patient manner. I'm also sure there were many times that she defended me when others were ready to give up on me.

She also taught me compassion for those who had a disability. She was a tireless worker for those who had learning disabilities or were physically disabled. Her love for the children that she defended showed in her work and the way that she treated those who are defenseless.

Although she was a task master, working with Ann was not always work. There was plenty of fun as well. Even physical labor could be a blast with Ann. I remember carrying a heavy filing cabinet up steep fire escape steps at the original elementary campus. I think we laughed as much as we toiled. Eating out was always an adventure with Anne as well. There was always a lively discussion about the students we had, or the happenings going on. There was never a dull moment.

I certainly miss those days with Ann Hayden. I miss the love that she taught me to have, and the love that she had for me. Ann will always be more than just a boss to me. She will forever be a good friend. Even though we don't talk much or see each other much anymore, she will always be dear to me and my family.

I know that she will be greatly missed not only at The Master's Academy, but also in the learning disability community of Central Florida and the NILD world as well. I know that she will stay busy in her life of retirement and I wish her well.

Mrs. Hayden, know that I will always be praying for you and please know that the impact and blessing you have been on my life is immeasurable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Tim

This was originally written for a retirement book that The Master's Academy was putting together for Anne's retirement. I thought I would include it on my blog. What I have said here, I've said from the bottom of my heart.

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Joshua's done it again
Mood:  d'oh
Topic: General
What has he done? Find out soon!

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Update on BCM International's Haiti Efforts
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: BCM International

 

Just received another email from Marty Windle, BCM (Bible Centered Ministry) International's President, regarding BCM's Haiti recovery effort. Here it is in full:

Greetings from the President’s Desk.

Several of you have been praying for the Haiti situation. Our missionary Tommy Gambrill has safely returned. We are currently reviewing our findings, and will be deciding the best course of action and strategy in the next short while. We have been able to connect with several local churches and pastors, as well as the director of the Seminary in Port au Prince. Our efforts will most likely focus on helping the local church as they rebuild in the coming days. 

I will keep you updated as to our plans, and hopefully will have some pictures for you in the near future.

Blessings,

Marty Windle

BCM President

 

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Math Mammoth - A Behemoth of a Curriculum
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Homeschool Product Review

I have really appreciated all of the math products that I have received to test this year. They have really helped my boys in many ways. The only problem is, that they were all supplemental programs. Either a game or a video to assist in the learning of math concepts. What I have really struggled with this year is a regular math curriculum for each of my boys. I have tried this and tried that but have not found anything that I really liked...until now!

I was excited just be getting a full curriculum to try, but now that I've tried it, I know that this is where we belong. Before I talk about what I really like like about Math Mammoth, let me tell you about my past experiences with homeschool math curriculum.

When I first took John  Allen out of school I searched and searched for a quality math program that would get John Allen ready for upper level math. I read about a program that didn't believe in spiraling. Spiraling is when you continue to review concepts year after year. You may begin addition in 1st grade, but you continue to review and build on it the next year and every year after that. The folks who like it, like the idea of reviewing things often. It keeps things fresh in their minds.

The folks that don't like it as well feel that there is too much fragmentation. They feel that a student never has enough time with one math topic. They are always moving on to something new. And, when it is finally time for them to get back to a math element, they have to spend so much time reviewing that they only have enough time to advance a small amount before they have to move on to something new again. They think that you should stick with one topic and learn it thoroughly before moving on to something else.

After doing a lot of reading on the latter approach, I was really intrigued, and thought that it might be perfect for John Allen. I was not disappointed. He really enjoyed the approach and seemed to excel. Until, the year that we couldn't afford the curriculum that we had been using. When we tried to find another cheaper curriculum, all we could find was the spiral approach. We had to pick and choose things from several Goodwill and Thrift shop purchases in order for him to get the information that he needed. There had to be a better way.

Enter Maria Miller's Math Mammoth Curriculum. Boy do I wish we would have found this sooner. She see's the value of both approaches and has found a way to combine the two. What she does is use the spiral approach, but doesn't include so many things in each years texts. For example, she chooses to include the basics in her first grade curriculum, but chooses to wait until a later grade to begin other. That allows for her to cover the things included in grade one more thoroughly without having to move quickly through each topic in order to get to something new. In fact, the Math Mammoth website states:

"I often introduce somewhat difficult topics in two grades. A few topics are "introductory" in one grade and "in focus" in the next."

This has been just what we needed for John Allen and the perfect curriculum for Joshua. Things are laid out very nicely in both the younger and older. The explanations for new things are done very well, with a lot of examples and with a lot of problems to practice on. Also, because Maria Miller doesn't have to move quickly to a new topic, she can go a little slower and be a little more thorough in her teachings. There pages are also not cluttered with a lot of cutesy visuals that I know would distract my children. It has been a win - win situation for both kids. 

OK. Are you still not convinced. Do you still like the single topic approach better? Is your student still struggling in a specific area and you need help on that topic? Here is a secret that I have been hiding from you. Maria Miller's Math Mammoth has something for all of the above. She actually has many different "series" of texts that you can buy depending on your needs. If you like the modified spiral approach, you can choose the grade leveled "Light Blue" series. If you would rather study using the single topic approach, look at the "Blue Series" which is very similar to spiral books but with a single topic in each. If you need more work on a specific topic, use the "Green Series"  (worksheets by topic) or the "Gold Series" (worksheets by grade). The worksheets contain many of the same problems as the Blue and Light Blue curriculum but with out all of the explanation. Depending on the series, Math Mammoth is available for grades 1-5 (full curriculum) and subjects from grades 1 - algebra one for the subject series. More grades are expected to be added in the near future. Those would be perfect for public or private school kids that just need some extra help.

Still not convinced? Don't worry, Math Mammoth has you covered with that as well. There are two ways that you can receive 280 worksheets ! Yes, I said 280 free worksheets! Just click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above to go to the Math Mammoth website to check it out. There prices are very reasonable and range in price depending on what you get. For example, there first grade curriculum is divided into two halves. The first half is priced at $11.90 + shipping for a printed copy to $15.50 for the downloadable version. I like the downloadable ones because you can just print out what you need and you are also allowed to use them with multiple kids in multiple years if you would like. They also have package deals that give you a discount if you are buying more than one grade level. Did I mention that they even have a downloadable worksheet maker for you to make your own worksheets if you want? This company has everything. Don't take my word for it only though, check out the reviews of the other TOS Crew Members by clicking here. Happy Home Educating. 

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I was sent free downloads of Math Mammoth's Light Blue Grade One and Light Blue Grade Five in order to try out and review on my blog.

 

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