Awakening Faith - a Review

Awakening Faith is a book of devotions to last the entire year. It is drawn from the writings of our early church fathers, sharing timeless messages for our lives today.

I chose the book to give as a gift, but now I'm going to need a new copy. This beautiful book is an excellent start to each day."Awakening Faith, Daily Devotions from the Early Church" was compiled by James Stuart Bell, and it contains 366 devotional readings. 

Each day's reading is one page long and centers on a singular theme. A bible verse is shared and a relevant selection from the writings of a church father. The back of the book contains a section with more details about these heroes of the faith, as well as a scripture index. Much of the writing came from a time of persecution and controversies, a time when theology mattered. As the book's introduction points out: "the objectivity and certainy of Christian truths, particularly truths about Jesus Christ, are a unifying feature in this volume." Each entry is brief, but powerful. This book is a treasure, sharing nourishing words from 68 pillars of the faith, including Augustine, Origen, Boniface, Polycarp, and so many more.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Humility by David Bobb - a book review

"Humility" combines history and character into an excellent lesson for all of us. Though the title alludes to the influence in American history, the book itself goes deeper, describing the influences on early American founders. Socrates, Homer, Machievelli, and many more are all discussed regarding both positive and negative lessons in humility and right thinking.

I chose this book for my 13 year old son. We are studying American history this year and humility is a good lesson for any teen boy to study. The writing is a bit lofty for a 13 year old, but he has worked his way through it slowly and drawn wisdom from it.

Part I focuses on the concept of humble thinking and the complications surrounding it.

Part II primarily shares character sketches, with details of the following individuals:

• George Washington
• James Madison
• Abigail Adams
• Abraham Lincoln
• Fredrick Douglass

Part III turns the focus to our modern age, the Age of Arrogance.

I found it challenging and helpful. Though only 209 pages, it is not a quick read, demanding that you stop and ponder and challenging you to apply the lessons taught.

Humility

An Unlikely Biography of America's Greatest Virtue

By David Bobb 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Peace on Earth by Mary Englebreit -a book review

While we are preparing for Thanksgiving as a family, I’m also making plans for Advent. I recently found a new book to add to our stack of treasured books. It is a Christmas Collection by Mary Engelbreit called Peace on Earth. This hardcover book is filled sweet and vibrant illustrations. It captivates from the moment you pick it up, with glitter on the polka-dot cover.

Within the 40-pages Engelbreit intimately shares her favorite poems, hymns, and stories of Christmas. These include hymns such as the First Noel, Silent Night, and Angels We Have Heard on High. There are poems by Rossetti, William Blake, Herrick, and more. There are short stories such as the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke and Another Boy by Bruce Barton.

It is a completely Christ-Centered Christmas book and does not include stories of Santa. It consists mostly of poems and I am looking forward to sharing them with my children this Advent season. My daughters love to listen to a short poem before bed each night and these are perfect!

The pictures are precious in the adorable, unique style of Engelbreit. We don't usually allow any Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving, but my girls saw the book when I opened the package and they were enthralled for an hour before I packed it away for Christmas.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

God's World News - A Review

I have heard of God's World News as a Christian Worldview magazine, but had never looked into it. Until they approached The Review Crew, I didn't realize they publish multiple magazines for all age groups. It was hard to decide which publication we'd most like to receive. In the end, I chose News Flash, a publication for children in 3rd and 4th grade. Since then, we've decided we all want our own copies. It's really that good!

We've never subscribed to a children's magazine before and the girls were thrilled to have mail showing up just for them. Each month (except December and May) a new magazine arrives and they hunker down in a corner, reading non-stop. Again and again they run over to share something they've found amazing. Robots, dinosaurs, pandas, Amelia Earhart, Monkeys, Border Control. Giraffes, Tour de France..."Mama, did you know...?!?" has been a frequently heard phrase since the magazine began arriving.

Our September issue also arrived with a large, colorful map which we've placed in the bathroom. The bathroom walls have their undivided attention while they're brushing their teeth and we make good use of that time.

Each issue includes activities, puzzles, and cartoons along with short and interesting articles that discuss economics, geography, civics, worldview, and more. Everything is discussed from a Christian perspective and emphasizes God's sovereignty and mercy.

News Flash recommends websites for further reading and activities. We discovered the Panda Cam while reading about the twin pandas born in the Atlanta zoo. Subscribers also get access to a special website just for them. Parents receive an optional weekly newsletter via email. Other bonuses include Biographies and PDF lessons (a sample).

I love that there are no advertisements within the magazine. The only ads to be found are on the outside mailing cover that protects the magazine during mailing. These ads include Christian bookstores, homeschool curriculum, and other Christian magazines. 

As I said, there are magazines for every age group and they actually discuss the same topics in each magazine, but at a different age-appropriate level. We plan to subscribe to Trak, a high school publication, since the girls have us all talking about the articles already.

A full-year subscription to News Flash (10 issues) costs $28.00.  There are 32 pages in each issue and they are CRAMMED FULL of fascinating material.

Click to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew

Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson - A Review

Last year, I read an amazing series by author N.D. Wilson. It was a youth fiction series that I was previewing for my children. I was instantly hooked and loved every minute of the books.  I was thrilled to see his non-fiction book, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl, come up as a review opportunity.

Nate Wilson has a way with words. He uses them well, certainly, but his unique perspective combined with his creative wording manage to bring home truth in a tangible way. He somehow simplifies complex concepts while also revealing the untapped depth of mystery in those same concepts.

The book can be read at face value, which yields complete randomness and is entertaining. It can be chewed carefully, which still provides random entertainment, but a whole lot more. Nate can come across as a crazy person, but instead, I think he is one of those unique individuals who managed to make it to adulthood with childlike wonder still intact. His ability to still see the world around him made it to adulthood unscathed. When describing this world in the book, he says,

"Bats really do exist. Caterpillars really turn into butterflies - it's not just a lie for children. Coal squishes into diamonds. Apple trees turn flowers into apples using sunlight and air.  

I've seen a baby born. And, ahem, I know what made it. But I'm not telling. You'd never believe me. 

There are various theories as to how and why this all happened, attempts at explaining the sheer number of creeping things int he world, the stars, the life cycle of frogs, the social behavior of fish, the meaning of love, life and a really good hamburger. But in order to know why this is all here, a simple how is a prerequisite. How did this place happen? I live here, so it shouldn't be too hard to figure it out."

No, it isn't an apologetic book. It is, as the subtitle states, a book about the "Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World." It is a book of philosophy. It is a book of  perspective. Good. Evil. Morality. Creation. Rhythm. Chaos. And the point? "The book attempts to find unity in cacophony." The book engages the mind and the senses, and in the end, harmony and purpose.

I laughed throughout the book, but not because it is comical. I laughed because I couldn't help it. My brain was doing flip-flops and it felt like a ride. It is a wild ride and an amazing read, but rather indescribable. You really just have to try it for yourself.

 I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

High School Chemistry - A Review

While exploring college options for my oldest, I found that all of the colleges on our list required at least one lab science. This gave me a brief moment of panic because our science has mostly been book-work with small household experiments. I wasn't sure what counted as a "lab". I looked into taking a science through our local high school, but it didn't feel right. I jumped when an opportunity to review a Chemistry course came up. Science for High School has produced a chemistry course that contains labs and fits the requirements for our college applications.

Maya Mystery - A Review

We've had fun sampling out a new app from Dig-It Games. My children all have a sick fascination with the ancient Mayans, so they've enjoyed playing with the Mayan Mysteries iPad App. 

This game was designed for children ages 9 and older. If you are considering it for younger students, keep in mind that the themes do include some fearful concepts. You can't learn about Mayans without a little human sacrifice entering the equation. Also, younger children would find the questions sections rather difficult, I think.

My 13 was impressed with the game, but felt it was intended for a younger audience. He liked it as an educational game because it requires paying attention to the history details in order to proceed in the games. Some educational games have fun activities with facts tossed in around the fun, with the hope that some of those facts will stick. This game makes you answer questions to continue with your fun. But he only liked it as a concerned older brother. He says it's fine for the girls, but he doubts anyone over 5th grade will enjoy it. This somewhat limits your audience, but for that limited age range, it is a great game. That said, when I played it to get a feel for it, I really felt that it was more of a fun educational assignment than a game. If assigned to my 13 year old as a history assignment, I am quite sure he would think it was a fun way to learn history. 

The game begins with several pages of a comic strip story introduction. To proceed in the game, you help a group of characters follow clues to find an undiscovered Mayan city, and hopefully get there before looters can destroy artifacts. These characters share blurbs of information through boxes you click on to read. These boxes contain clipart and excellent photographs alongside reading sections. These reading sections contain embedded links to more and more information. The data is fascinating and given in small enough portions to not be overwhelming for readers.

Things I like:

• I was impressed with the graphics. Very well done!
• There is so much learning going on here! It is challenging, sometimes downright hard, but there is no denying the level of learning involved.
• There is an audio option for players who would like the reading portions read aloud for them.

Things I didn't like:

• When you answer a question incorrectly, it does not stop and tell you what the correct answer is. 
• When you get stuck with a geography quiz, you have to start over from the beginning of the tutorial to get a hint. It doesn't matter if you have only 10% left to finish, you must start from the beginning if you need help.
• Only one player can go through the game at a time. It does remember where you left off, but if someone else wants to play, they have to delete the original player's game to start at the beginning.
• The game doesn't end with the reaching of the goal of the game. Players are trying to catch a thief and he doesn't get caught until Mayan Mysteries 2, which is unreleased.

My 9 year old loves the game. History and geography are some of her favorite things to study and they are what this game is all about. I'm not sure how many students would feel quite the same. I honestly thought some portions were quite challenging. The first geography quiz requires students to label a map with 9 country names and then 5 Mayan cities after seeing them only once. They can ask for hints, but this costs them points. I found it challenging for ME! Also,  many of the questions have inferred answers, not direct quotes. Some students can be quite intelligent, but not developmentally ready for that level of logic. 

Mayan Mysteries iPad App is available for $9.99 through iTunes. It is also available as an online game for $21.99. You can view a trailer preview on YouTube to get an idea about what it looks like.

Birdcage Press (a review)

My girls and I have had fun with this review for a company called Birdcage Press. Birdcage Press has a collection of great products to choose from. I chose to try out the Card Game and Book Set called Wild Cards: Backyard Birds.

I was pleasantly surprised at how large these colorful the cards are: perfect for little hands! Children can play any standard card game, such as Memory or Go Fish, while learning about birds. The cards display 6 different categories of birds:

Barron's Test Prep Review

I was invited to review a new site called Barron's Test Prep and the timing couldn't have been better! Ethan is wrapping up his Sophomore year and next year includes PSAT and ACT testing. These scores affect his ability to get into his school of choice and help determine which scholarships he can receive. Much depends on a student's ability to test well.

Barron's Test Prep begins with an evaluation test for students and then provides a personalized study and practice testing based on the student's needs. Students can go in and take quizzes, strengthening their weaker areas. They can also go through mini-lessons created to improve test-taking skills. These lessons include videos, a reading portion, and practice quizzes.

Throughout the entire experience, students (and Mom) can view their skill report to see their progress in all available areas. A history of everything they've done is logged and you can easily see their level of proficiency in each skill.

The site is extremely easy to maneuver.  A 3-minute tutorial gets you started quickly. It is attractive and user-friendly. Barron's Test Prep has a free-version and a paid-version. I was hired to review the free version.

Ethan tried the Evaluation test and it was very revealing. He received 100% in the English portion. I had been second-guessing my decision to not teach grammar in high school and I was worried that he hadn't really had formal writing lessons...ever...but apparently, he's fine. Chalk it up to excellent foundation skills taught by Rod and Staff, reading living books, and having great book discussions.

Math was not nearly as successful. This was interesting because Ethan loves math and excels in it. However, he has not completed Algebra II and has not begun Geometry. These are absolutely necessary classes. We have been trying to decide what to do about grade placement with him, due to his summer birthday. The math situation is making us lean toward calling him a Sophomore next year rather than a Junior.

I'm so glad we took the test!

Now that he's taken the evaluation, we know which areas to work on. Barron's offers sample quizzes and questions, as well as videos and tutorials to help him. For free! Obviously, your options are much greater with the paid version, but it's something you could decide after trying the free version first.

Review of Simplified Pantry

It is not a joke at all when I tell you that the most stressful part about homeschooling is eating lunch. It seems to jump out and surprise me every day. We'll be in a great learning groove and making excellent headway in a subject, and then suddenly, my students start whining about hunger pains. Making lunch requires not teaching while I make lunch. It means massive clean-up after we've eaten lunch. It means I lose my students for up to 2 hours sometimes! The best solution I can imagine is to hire a caterer or order delivery every day. But since that isn't in the budget, another great option is to implement the advice from the book Simplified Dinners by Simplified Pantry. 

Review of College Prep Genius

Ethan is entering the last few years of school and is beginning to prepare for college, exploring his options. It's a bit scary, in all honesty. I planned out the rest of his school career so carefully, but these last few years terrify me more than teaching him to read ever did. Multiplication tables? That's nothing. With those basics, you always have a reassurance that at some point, they will get it. They will potty train before they go to college. But will they be ready for college before they go to college? Will they take the right classes and pass the right tests to get into the college that is the best fit for them? How do we find out which college is the best fit for him? How do we pay for it? These questions aren't as easy to deal with.

I've been blessed this last year with access to some great vendors, who understand this pressure and have helped me navigate my way through the many options. Recently, I've had the opportunity to review the book "High School Prep Genius" It is an "Academic Guide to Excellence" provided by College Prep Genius. 

The book is designed to be read by a parent and student, working through it together. It is written toward students with a section written to parents at the end of each chapter. But it's helpful to just read it all. There are homework assignments for both parents and students. The reading portions and the activities include everything from preparing a transcript to essay writing techniques and study tips. It is an excellent resource for fully preparing for those last years of high school.

There are 18 chapters in the book, plus a very necessary introduction section. It is a good fit to work through a chapter per week, which takes about an hour per week, reading and discussing together. Another option might be to double up on that schedule and work through it during the summer months.

I wish I had heard of this book before we hit the high school years. It is still extremely helpful, but it would have been a natural and easy process had I started when my son was in the 7th grade. Thankfully, I will be able to start it with his younger siblings and will be ahead of the game.

The 18 chapters and the intro are are divided into 4 sections. Section I is the introduction, which is imperative and sets the foundation for the rest of the process. The other sections are:

II. Foundation for Personal Success
This section equips students very personally, from financial decisions to healthy eating to healthy friendships. I love that the book emphasizes that the goal is not just to get into college, but it is to develop into an effective member of society. This section helps students stand back and examine their own personal development and integrity and to see how their choices affect what kind of person they become and how they live.

III. Foundation for Academic Success
This section prepares the student for effective study skills and test taking. It helps them find an organization routine that can see them through to the end. This helps them map out the high school years and, as the title of chapter 12 says, helps them excel in "Going Beyond the Basics". \

IV. Foundation for Future Success
This section gets into the nitty gritty of college choices. It walks students through choosing a school, preparing for ACT/SAT, maneuvering through college applications, and how to pay for school. Chapter 18 walks them through college, beginning with the summer before and choosing housing and classes, living with a roommate, handling homesickness. It covers internships, professors, what to pack...everything.

The Appendix includes detailed information how to build a transcript, with sample forms. I also includes lots of information on talent searches, which was completely new to me. It has an excellent "Great Books" list for planning literature courses, relaxation techniques for students that get anxious about tests (or parents who get anxious about students....), and an admissions terminology list to help you translate the lingo.

The book has been a weight off of my shoulders. Working through it with your child will have you well-armed and ready to tackle the high school to college path.  The book can be purchased for $29.95. For other reviews and thoughts from other crew members, be sure to visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew linked below:

Logic Review

This time last year, I reviewed a course called Art of Argument from one of my favorite vendors, Classical Academic Press. It was an excellent course in Informal logic. This year, we've started studying Formal logic with another CAP installment: The Discovery of Deduction: An Introduction to Formal Logic

Informal logic, also known as inductive logic, studies the content and relevance of evidence in an argument. In other words, informal logic challenges ideas and examines the truth behind statements or premises of an argument. Formal logic, also known as deductive logic, studies the structure of an argument. In other words, formal logic explores thoughts further, beginning with ideas that are accepted as true and building upon them. This is the form of logic most often used. Consider:

"Jenn loves chocolate. Jenn loves gifts. Therefore, Jenn would love to receive a Hershey bar." 
This use of formal (and everyday) logic, comes to a conclusion based on two assumed truths. The propositions are correct, but for the record, Jenn loves DARK chocolate and  would only give you a polite "thank you" for the Hershey bar. 

Zoology 3 Review

The girls and I were happily working through chemistry last semester and had planned to continue...but then came an opportunity to review Apologia's Zoology 3, and I couldn't resist jumping on it. My family has LOVED the Apologia Exploring Creation series and the girls were excited to read another. We've reviewed Apologia products before and we have never been disappointed. This time was no exception.

Schoolhouse Teachers

I've shared it before, but it's worth sharing again: SchoolhouseTeachers.com ROCKS. It is the ultimate source for full lesson plans, mini-unit study plans, supplemental worksheets, videos, forms, and more. They have material for students from Pre-school through high school and for students with special needs. Special lessons are available for classes on:

Vocal Coach

I've been singing since I was little. I remember rocking out with my sister to our parents' records, rambling along with road trip songs, and singing specials in church next to my Aunt Gail and her ventriloquist dummy, Buddy. As much as I loved singing, I never took choir, opting for band instead. Now, I love singing with my church family. Somewhere along the way, mostly thanks to Extreme's More Than Words, I learned how to sing Alto. But since I'm mostly guessing at the harmony parts, I tend to give a good chuckle to anyone I'm singing with. I love singing, but that doesn't mean I know what I'm doing.
Chris and I have raised the kids up, loving music, but not with any more skill than we've accumulated. I am eager for the kids to have some sort of formal instruction in singing, so I was grateful to be chosen to review Vocal Coach Singer, a vocal training program created by Chris and Carole Beatty from Vocal Coach, who have over 40 years experience in coaching singers.

Grace and Truth Books

I found a new supplier for my addictions publisher who carries some incredible Christian book titles. Grace and Truth Books carries many titles I had never heard of, but can't wait to read. It is a family owned business, ran by two parents and their four sons. Recently, they sent me Your Child's Profession of Faith to read and share a review with you. This book was actually written by the publisher!

This was very timely for me, as I have a 7 year old that asks Jesus into her heart every 6 months. I've always been concerned about pushing them into this decision before they are old enough to truly know what they are doing. I've heard beautiful testimonies of people being saved when they were very young and carrying that faith with them for life. And yet, I've also heard many testimonies of people that were "saved" young and then floundered for years before coming to Christ.

I want to be sure my children know, truly know, the decisions they are making and that they can remember those precious decision moments. At the same time, can you really discourage a child who insists they are ready?

Recon

Christian Worldview is a new subject that we've added this year for the boys. It was born of a conviction that, while knowledge and intelligence are noble things, they are useless without God. When I sat and wrote out my list of goals and dreams for each child, the most important desire for each child was that they loved God and lived for Him. My top priority as a teacher is to impart a knowledge of God and prepare them to live their faith out in the real world. Recon is a Christian Worldview curriculum geared toward teen-aged students, and does just that.

Beloved Books

Again and again, The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew introduces me to new favorite companies. My latest discovery is Beloved Books, a wonderful family company that loves sharing their favorite books and audio books with other Christian families.

Beloved Books gave my family the first volume of  the Sugar Creek Gang Audio series. There are 6 volumes available, and we will find a way to add more to our collection. These are wonderful! Each volume contains 6 different stories. Each story is around 2 hours long. With 6 volumes, there are 72 hours worth of incredible family stories!

The Sugar Creek Gang stories were written by Paul Hutchens, who has an amazing life story on his own. He was an evangelist and then a minister who preached 1,777 sermons and witnessed 2,500 conversions before contracting tuberculosis. During his recuperation, he began writing. His first Sugar Creek Gang book was published by Moody Press in 1939. Hutchens had the incredible ability to share adventures through the eyes of a 10-year old boy with an authentic and believable perspective. The stories aren't silly at all and are enjoyed by all ages, from the youngest to the oldest adult in the house. And though the stories are dealing with incredible adventures about everything from bank robbers to killer bears to hidden passages, the stories all seem very relevant. The characters in the story struggle with the same things we struggle, they have the same need of God's rescue and the same capacity for growth in their Christian walk. The stories remind us again and again of the choices before us, the character God calls us to, and His amazing Grace.

Samson's Classroom

Though we generally try to limit screen time, my girls love being able to "do school" on the computer whenever they get the chance. Recently, they've been enjoying Samson's Classroom for extra practice in reading and spelling.  Samson's Classroom  consists of online games that help students learn sight words, develop their reading skills, and practice spelling. My girls beg for turns!

Wealth Quest

My boys have been meeting with friends for an informal finance class twice a month. It's a wonderful class, taught by a dear friend, but I thought it might be helpful for my boys to do some additional studies in between meetings, so I signed them up for an online class called Wealth Quest for Teens. 

Don't you love the logo? "Your Teen's Financial Fitness: Make it Real, Make it Matter, Make it Last."