Do you have a great product (or represent a company that does) that you’d like to see on our 2011 Christmas Lineup this year?

We’d love to hear from you!

We are currently accepting submissions geared towards both children and adults!

For more information, please email me at bosssanders (at) gmail (dot) com .

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Science is Simple

Why, yes it can be!

With two little ones – a Kindergartner and a toddler, science needs to STAY simple.  Both of my girls are hands-on learners, so that makes science REALLY fun in our house!

Because my girls are young, and because I believe exploration and hands-on activities (especially science!) is best, Science Is Simple is a great book for us!

Written by Peggy Ashbrook and having won the Learning Magazine’s Teachers’ Choice Award, Science Is Simple divides its experiments into lessons.

What Kinds Of Lessons Will My Child Learn From This Book?

Of course, just like with any tools or curriculum, it really depends on how you present the material and their curiosity, but here are a few of the great “lessons” listed in the Table of Contents:

Magnets and Testing Hypotheses
Year-Round Gardening
What Do Seeds Need To Grow
Why Do Some Tree Leaves Change Color?
Stretch Your Senses on a Walk To A Nearby Park
Compost Critters
Spring-Flowering Bulbs…Are Planted In The Fall
Corn and an Introduction to the Globe
Winter Birds
What is Melting
What Can the Wind Do?

Why Is This Book Different From Other Science Textbooks?

Well, first off, it isn’t a textbook!  Second, it’s written for Preschoolers and Kindergartners (although the activities can definitely be altered for older kids if you have siblings involved).

Science is Simple contains over 250 Activities and each Lesson is divided into different sections that give you tips for presenting the material to your child.  And, if you struggle with what to say or the questions to ask, this book covers that too!  Also included in each lesson is a section on other activity ideas and book ideas beyond the experiments to help supplement what they just learned.

Would I Recommend This Book?

Definitely!  This is one of those resources that we’ll continue to use with all of our children.  Whether you are a home-educator or you teach in a classroom, it’s great!

Where Can I Get It?

You can find it on Amazon.com HERE.  Currently, it’s $13.57 (list price is $19.95).

PS – Want to see one of our experiments from the book?  Check out our mantis babies!

The Internet isnt working … Again.

Call to comcast:

C: …to upgrade your service, press 2.

A: (presses 2)

C: Hi and welcome to comcast, how may I help you?

A: Hi, I was wanting to upgrade my Internet account to one that works…

C: Okay, we can definitely help you with that… (she takes my information down should we get disconnected. I want to remind her that my phone service isnt comcast, so it shouldnt be a problem. But I dont.)

It shows here that you already have an existing Internet account with us…

A: Precisely.

C: We dont have any upgrades at this time for Internet, would you like to upgrade your TV service?

A: Oh really? I was starting to wonder if maybe I accidentally bought the works half the time package.

C: (in all seriousness, she says…). No, we actually dont offer any packages like that. Currently, we dont offer anything for just half the month. According to your account, you have unlimited Internet usage. You can get on any time you want for however long you want.

A: Exactly.

C: What?

A: So… I should be able to get online whenever and however long I want? Then, why does comcast keep turning it off?

C: Maybe I should transfer you to technical support instead of upgrades. They could probably help you better.

A: (I wonder about the accuracy of that statement and stifle another giggle.)

C: …..But, before I let you go, let me tell you about this great offer (speed talking starts) ifyousignuptodayforblahblahblah…

A: Im not really interested. Id really just like my Internet to work…

C: Yeah, but…

A: Transfer me.

C: Okay, well you are also eligible for our special service where we cover all technical equipment and it gives you 24/7 access to a technician in case you have more problems… Its only $9.99 a month.

A: No thanks.

C: Well, I thought you might be interested since youre having so much trouble. The technician could login to your computer remotely and help you get back online. And, itd all be free.

A: You mean… After the $9.99 a month, itd be free?

C: Thats correct.

A: So, let me get this straight: You want me to double-pay for Internet service I should be getting anyway but Comcast keeps screwing up. And then, you want your goofy technicians to have access to remote-in to my private computer from wherever to do absolutely nothing because lets face it… My Internet problems? Its not me, its you people.

C: Er…um…but…Well, okay. You are also eligible for a free home security system, but I will just have someone call you back about that so I can go ahead and transfer you to technical support to get your Internet back up.

What Is Time 4 Learning?

Time 4 Learning is an online curriculum for PreK – 8th Graders.  It can be used to complement their current curriculum or as an entire curriculum in itself to cover language arts, math, science, and social studies.

My Thoughts:

The Positive –

• Age appropriate “cartoons” teach the lessons.  Lorelei (age 4) and I tested out several different grade levels to see the differences in each.  As the grade level goes up, so does the appropriateness of the “cartoons.”
• The lessons were fun for Lorelei.  She generally enjoys school and learning anyhow, but these were easily presented as games for the most part.
• The ability to move at your own pace within grade levels and even beyond.
• Easy enough for a 3.5 year old to know how to move to the next lesson and within lessons (easy navigation)
• Slow and repetitive (great for younger or slower learners)
• Parents are able to see progress reports for their child’s work and set time limits for child to be on the program.
• Enhances computer skills
• Provides lessons plans and extra printable worksheets
  

The negative -

• Parents can’t select certain lessons to show or not show on a child’s page – would be a helpful option so the parent can let child do “assignments” instead of possibly wandering.  Also, would be helpful to not repeat lessons already learned.
• Repetitive and slow – great for slower learners, not so great for those who catch on more quickly.
• Not what I would consider a complete curriculum – except maybe the Pre-K could possibly stand alone.  Time 4 Learning lesson plans are correlated to the learning standards for all 50 states, however I believe there are some things that need to be hands-on and covered in more depth.
• Not enough reaction time before the lesson will begin repeating itself.  Lorelei would sometimes get very frustrated because she didn’t have enough time to make her decision and click.
• Price – Their prices are always available to change, so please check to see what their current pricing is set at.  Currently (at time of posting), their program cost about $20 per month for the first child ($14.95 for second child).  So, for us, that would be $240 for one year.

My Final Thoughts:

While Lorelei did enjoy the program, it wasn’t right for our family after we considered the yearly cost and the completeness of this particular program compared to what we needed for her.  However, if it was less expensive, we might consider it as a “fun activity” to complement her learning.  Also, I’m not very comfortable with her being on the computer for a large amount of time – whether it’s schoolwork or not.

Is it for you and your family? You decide.  Check out Time 4 Learning and their lesson demos for free!

Disclaimer:  I received Time 4 Learning as part of a review.  Like always, my thoughts and opinions are my own and are not swayed in any way.

If you watch much of the Food Network, it’s easy to get caught up in how *easy* things seem:  Pre-measured containers of food, a finished version of the dish already in the oven, and a crew to clean up your mess (and do your shopping for next episode!).

Often, we hear about the rags to riches stories, but really…those are few and far in between.  Rarely do we hear about the countless folks who apply their dreams and struggle through countless obstacles, sometimes never being able to fully realize their goals.

The story of Rick Tramonto, is laced with heartbreak, hardships, and inspiration.  Rick began as a dropout working at Wendy’s and slowly worked his way up to culinary stardom, encountering rough times in the process.  From the outside-in, it looked like Tramonto had all of the makings of a meaningful life.  But on the inside, his marriage and life were falling apart.  He had finally reached the point of giving up hope when things changed.

Rick Tramonto’s story is a wonderful one that attests to our need for God in our life in order to truly find meaning in our life.  –That it doesn’t matter if we reach every dream and attain the luxuries we think we need if God isn’t front and center in our life.

I’m not going to ruin the rest of the story (which is great by the way, and packed full of some of his original recipes), but this story is a hopeful one – one that speaks to those of us who have met more than our fair share of obstacles on the way to our dreams.  But, more than that…it gives hope that happiness and meaningfulness can be found regardless of where you are in life as long as you have your key ingredient:  God.

*DISCLAIMER:  I received this book to be reviewed.  As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own and can never be bought.

A little over a year ago, my husband took our girls and I to Disney World for the very first time (for us).  As magical as Disney World is, Jeff Dixon’s book The Key To The Kingdom takes it up yet another notch.  Dixon’s book is based on the popular theme park as he carefully unfolds a great mystery where characters scramble through the parks to uncover clues and missing pieces of one giant puzzle.

I soaked this book up in one weekend, so I consider this an easy, fun read.  I loved flipping through the pages and being able to mentally picture myself exactly where the characters were standing.  It’s one thing to build a scenario from scratch in your imagination as you read, but completely different when you’ve actually been to the place that the story unfolds.  The characters were easy to relate to and definitely kept me going.

My ONLY complaint would be that the many clues (trivia points) listed in the book weren’t neatly printed in the back for me to re-visit.  However, he did list his sources, so with a little work, I could easily educate myself on all Disney trivia (also, there are a few on his website).

Would I recommend this book? Definitely.  –Especially if you appreciate anything Disney (whether it’s theme parks, characters, or movies).

Book Price: $12.44 to $16, depending on where you buy it.  Available at BAMM, Borders, Amazon, and more.

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Bring It On Communications for this review.  All comments and opinions, however, are mine.

I’m reading this wonderful book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp, and don’t want to put it down.

We all have those moments, days, and even years where our life seems to have crumbled to shambles beneath our very feet.  This book is about the dare to live fully right where you are.

Join the author, myself and many others as we come together to discuss this wonderful life-changing book (HERE).

(This is a guest post by my friend Katie, who is an excellent mother and educator – both in the public and private sector.  I value her opinions and trust her insights.)

Word Play Cafe
Written and Illustrated by Michael Kline

Cost: $10.95

Recommended Age Range: 3rd grade +

Word Play Café is a book filled with activities such as “cool codes, pricless punzles® & phantastic phonetic phun”.  Kline, a self-proposed “word freak”, has created activities to teach kids all the neat things that they can do with words.    Over all, this book would be a great resource to have in a Writer’s Workshop in a classroom or used as enrichment activities for students about mid-third grade and higher; any younger and Kline’s humor would be wasted.

Positive Points
It was an interesting read from an adult’s point of view.
The activities looked fun for large and small numbers alike.
It is filled with interesting facts and fun plays on words
Great for enrichment activities for older elementary kids (older than 10)
Negative Nellies
The lessons, while interesting, would not be able not be able to stand alone
Younger kids (or less mature kids) would have a hard time with some of the activities and understanding the humor

Would we recommend it? Yes!  It’s a great resource.

Are you an educator?  Click HERE for a free version of this book.

I’m continuously searching for the “best” curriculum for our needs, which are ever-changing.  Unfortunately, my small town leaves a lot desired when it comes to curriculum availability.  And, because I’m an incredibly visual and hands-on person, it’s hard for me to commit to buying things that I can’t thumb through.

I was recently given the chance to take a sneak peak at the Epi Kardia curriculum.  It, along with a few others, had been bookmarked in my “check out later” file – so when the chance came along, I was giddy.  No lie.

Epi Kardia is a literature based Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling.  What does that mean?  Well, Epi Kardia uses the Bible to take your student through history.  But, wait.  If you think your student is just going to be memorizing passages, you are so wrong.  The folks at Epi Kardia have broken down a structured learning plan for each grade.  For example, if you choose the first set in the 1st Grade plan, you’re child will be learning about:  The Ancients, Middle Ages, Renaissance & Reformation.

With each topic, the Bible along with a variety of other christian and non-christian (but approved by Epi Kardia) books are used to help teach your child more about the subject he or she is supposed to be learning.  Because of it’s Charlotte Mason approach, Epi Kardia also includes a lot of copy-work and handwriting exercises.  Because it’s so impressive to see how they’ve really brought a myriad of important subjects (Bible, History/Reading, Science, English/Phonics, Arts) together in a wonderful education plan, I thought you should have a look for yourself.

Sample

Also, if you’re curious to know more, I urge you to check out their Scope and Sequence for first grade.

Epi Kardia has done a marvelous job of pulling everything together in an easy to understand format.  Their lesson plans are affordable, and very easy to use.

Quick Breakdown

Pros -

• Teaches Bible, History/Reading, Science, English/Phonics, Arts (some programs similar to this one do not teach science)
• Included is a book list, complete with ISBN numbers
• The plans leave plenty of time for “projects”
• Costs about the same as its competitors’ programs ($250 for printed, $200 for CD)
• Requires little planning as it’s all done for you!

Cons -

• It’s a Charlotte Mason approach, so if your child doesn’t learn well with this method, it may not be right for them.  (Although, if you’ve never tried it, I’d recommend it!)
• It didn’t have quite as many projects as I’d like – I’m VERY hands on and project-oriented, as is my oldest.  But, this is easily remedied, and extra project or two can be added to our schedule.  However, for those of you who aren’t insane about crafting and projects the way I am, they have the perfect amount.  Enough to teach a point without being overbearing for your schedule.
• You’re actually going to have to go to the library or amazon.com to get the books.  Everything you need is not included in these plans (meaning, you’ll have to buy or borrow books from their book-lists).

Would I use it?

Yes, yes I would.

**Sign up for their mailing list for 2 free poetry ebooks AND an incredible discount code (that will come in a second email).

Disclaimer:   As always, all opinions and thoughts on this material and product are mine and mine alone.  As a part of the review process, I did receive the product being reviewed in order to give my honest thoughts on it.  I was not (and will never be) paid for a review with a certain outcome.

I actually wrote these posts in 2010…I’m just getting around to sharing the last of them

The books in this list were read by me in 2010 – not necessarily written in 2010.  I read probably triple what’s on this list, but these were my favorites…

52 Fantastic Dates For You And Your Mate by Claudia and David Arp – EXCELLENT book, filled with fun date ideas (many of them can be frugal AND expensive, depending on how you choose to embellish.)

Life Lines by Dave Meyer (Joyce Meyer’s husband) – Great book if you’re looking for some short devotionals to carry you through your day.  Not too preachy, not super in depth.  Short and sweet and lovely!

The Descent by Jeff Long – (also, Deeper by Jeff Long.  These are both a little spooky, but wonderfully gripping.  Occasional graphic-ness, but definitely two of my favorites!)

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay – a chilling Holocaust story, wonderfully written.

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan – If you ever doubt or wonder how much God truly loves you (I mean, truly…), check this one out.  It’s written so its reader doesn’t need a doctorate in theology or english to understand it and enjoy it.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream by David Platt – Super good.  A must read.  –Especially if your name is Joel Osteen.  By the way, prepare to be a little uncomfortable as you read this book…but, it’s worth it!

Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children by Ginger Carlson – You have kids?  Great, you need this book.

Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search For The American Dream by Adam Shepard – Have you read Nickel and Dimed?  Great, because this is nothing like that.  Adam took the clothes on his back, $25, and only a few other items and gave up everything else…trying to see if he could make it back.  He lived in shelters and worse.  His story is one of courage and honesty…but most of all…inspiring.

Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti – It’s Christian fiction, and it’s really good.  Ever wonder what it’d be like to have angels and demons fighting over you?  After reading this book, you’ll discover it’s much like the life you already know…

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of  a Woman’s Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge – You’ll learn more about yourself than you ever knew in this one.

How To Hear From God by Joyce Meyer – Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to actually hear from God?  Wonder no more as Joyce takes you through this topic, step-by-step.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman – Whether you’re married, single, a parent, or whatever…you need this book.  Unless of course, you’re a hermit, then…nevermind.

The Last Oracle by James Rollins – Great piece of fiction.

Same Kind Of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore – I’m not even sure if you can read this and not be changed.  I’m just not even sure it’s possible.

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson – an interesting smattering of characters combined with a plot that keeps you on your toes…what’s not to love?

Sundays At Tiffany’s by James Patterson – A love story between a child and her best friend, who happens to be imaginary.

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen – Gruen did an excellent job of researching for her story.  This book will definitely leave you wanting for more!

What are some of your favorites?