Mood:  a-ok

I finally updated our "what have we been reading" list on my Amazon.com widget in the left hand column. Please don't feel like you have to click on anything and buy it. It's just a way to update everyone...and this update is long overdue.

So! What have we been reading?

Well, I, Tim, have been on a classics binge lately in my reading. It all started when I read Sally Clarkson's "Read for the Heart" last spring. I found out how many classic children's books I had missed in my childhood.

I began my "binge" by reading "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame and continued with "Just So Stories" by Rudyard Kipling. I then continued by reading "Freckles" and "A Girl of the Limberlost" by Gene Stratton Porter. Recently I've fed my habit by reading "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson and Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations". Now, I'm going to tell you, I've LOVED reading the classics. They have been great. I've even reviewed a couple of them on Amazon.

But, listen to this! Do you know the neatest part about it? If you have a Kindle, Nook or some type of tablet reading device, THEY'RE FREE! Even if you just have a computer - and I'm assuming that if you are reading this, you at least have access to one - you can download them for free to read off of your laptop or desktop. I've downloaded most of them for my tablet. And...shhhh...some of them I didn't download from Amazon.

I haven't feasted strictly on classics, however. I've read a few other things. Namely books for homeschooling or for personal Christian study. I love reading Andrew Murray and "The Deeper Christian Life" was fantastic. I've also read and reviewed "How to Have a H.E.A.R.T For Your Kids" by Sally Clarkson.

So, what am I reading right now?

Well, to ease the hunger for homeschooling books I'm reading another great book from Apologia called "Educating the WholeHearted Child" (I'll be reviewing that one soon). To satisfy my ever craving need for good Christian books, I'm reading "Radical" by David Platt. Finally, to continue my habit of reading classics, I'm reading "Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne.

What has John Allen been reading?

This year John Allen is reading some great American History books for Sonlight's intensive one year American History course. So far he's read "Peace Child" by Don Richardson and "Cameron Townsend" by Geoff and Janet Benge. Right now he's reading "Down Ryton Water" by E. R. Gaggin and he's enjoying some short stories for the literature curriculum that we are reviewing. Soon he'll be joining me in reading "Around the World in Eighty Days"! I cant wait.

Joshua? Well, I'm trying to get him to read more chapter books and he is presently reading "Silver" by Gloria Whelan. Hopefully, soon, he'll be ready to slowly tackle some of the books in Sonlight's two year American History course that designed for third and fourth graders. I'm sure that he'll need a lot of help and it will probably take more than two year, but, that's one of the advantages of homeschooling!

Sarah? Well, you know Sarah. She's always reading her own stuff. Lately, I think, she's been reading a lot of Christian romance novels. She can read those in a day or less, so goes through quite a few of them.

Jacob? Jacob is beginning to learn his letters and sounds, so, hopefully someday soon he will be reading on his own. Until then, we'll continue to read great children's books like "Jessie Bear What Will You Wear", "Corduroy" and "The Snowy Day" to him.

Well, that's what we're reading. What are you reading? Leave a comment and let us know. Maybe you'll introduce us to something great that we would have never thought of! 

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Mood:  celebratory

Something exciting is about to happen! I can't tell you what it is yet, but it has something to do with what is below. I'll announce more in the coming weeks! 

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Mood:  happy

It's a breath mint!

It's a candy mint!

It's a breath mint!

It's a candy mint!

It's two...two...two mints in one!

Do you remember those old Certs commercials? I'd post one, but I'm afraid that it would age me ! Besides, this post isn't about Certs, but it's about something that really is two things in one!

How about this new commercial:

I just saw that commercial on television. Weren't the actors fantastic?!?

Actually we really enjoyed making that video, but we have enjoyed playing with the Scruble Cube even more.

And, what we said in the video really is true. It's fun, challenging, and actually can be used in homeschool. The Scruble Cube website, which you can access by clicking here, has lesson plans for using the Scruble Cube for language, math...even science!

Scruble Cube retails for $24.95 and is available at many popular retail stores. Or, you can buy it online at www.scrublecube.com.

As usual, many of the other reviewers on the TOS Homeschool Crew reviewed Scruble Cube and you can find their reviews by clicking here. Happy Homeschooling!

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent a free Scruble Cube to use with my family and give my honest review on this blog.

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Mood:  crushed out

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Mood:  happy

Now, I don't know about you, but when one of my kids says something like "This is really cool" to me, I stand up and take notice.

Especially if it is something educational!

ESPECIALLY if it is my teenage son saying this about something educational!

That's what my teen son, John Allen, said about Aletheia Writing Magazine, a new quarterly Christian magazine that features the artwork and writing of teenagers. Aletheia (pronounced - Ah-LAY-thei-uh) is so new that it has only published three editions so far. Some members of the TOS Homeschool Crew received the fall edition and we were also given the code to read the summer edition online as well. Also, the premier, spring edition is available for all to sample on the Aletheia website. So, we got to look at all three!

I must say that I am very impressed with this magazine. Each copy is chock full of poems, short stories, artwork, photography and even book reviews - John Allen really liked the book reviews! All written by teen-agers. I really like the fact that Aletheia is a magazine where a Christian teen can write about their beliefs.

Don't get me wrong, however. Writings sent in by contributors don't have to be syrupy Christian writing. In fact, the publishers don't want sentimentalism, apologetics or preachiness in the things that they publish. But, stories and poems sent in have to "convey a message of hope".; After all, they say, "This is what differentiates Christians from the rest of the world- they have hope."

And, that is exactly what I saw. Messages of hope that were done very well. This is no classroom newspaper where everyone has something published whether it's good or not. Everything about this magazine is well done - from the poems to the photography to the pictures done for the stories to the stories themselves. And, as I said, it's all done by teens.

Pictures and stories...that may make someones heart beat a little quickly. It would mine. After all, if I had to have pictures for stories I'd be doomed. I can't draw and I don't know anyone that has the time to illustrate a story for me. Well, with Aletheia, you don't have to be a  good illustrator to submit a story, and you don't have to have a story to submit drawings. They will match up good drawings that have been sent in with submitted stories and poems. If you're the type of artist that they think would match up well with a story, they may even contact you to completely illustrate that story!

And, don't forget the photography. They have two categories for budding picture takers. They have a fun contest called "Photo Write". A black and white photograph is printed (taken by a teen of course) and readers are challenged to write a poem about the picture. There is also a ""Glory to God for the Beauty of Nature", feature where you can submit a colored photograph.

Has your teen read good book lately? Why don't they write a book review and send it in? Who knows? Their review may be published. That was one of John Allen's favorite parts. Remember, I mentioned a few months ago that he was asked to be a teen book reviewer for a company? Well, that hasn't come to fruition yet because of his computer problems. But, the book review section in Aletheia has inspired him once again. He's going to send in a book review. I'll let you know what happens.

Here's a few other things that John Allen said about this great magazine:

• "The artwork is amazing."
• "The poetry is really cool."
• "I like that it is a Christian based magazine where kids can send there stories, art and poetry and actually have it published."

If you want to know more about how to submit something to Aletheia, just click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above. Don't think that you have to be a creative writer, artist or photographer to enjoy this, though. It's one of those magazine that is just plain fun to read. And, although it is published for teens and everything in it is done by teens (have I mentioned that before?), adults would enjoy it as well. Aletheia is very reasonably priced at $26 a year (prices include shipping and handling). Let me know if any of your kids are published and wish them "Happy Writing" for me!

As usual, a bunch of the TOS Homeschool Crew members reviewed this product and you can find out what they had to say by clicking here.

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent two free copies (one physical and one online) of Aletheia magazine to use with my teen and give my honest review on my blog.

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