The Story of Swan Lake - TOS Review

Many of you know that prior to homeschooling, I was an elementary music teacher.  I'm always on the lookout for great, high quality music products to share with my kids, and Maestro Classics is nothing less.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review The Story of Swan Lake featuring the London Philharmonic Symphony, and the timing couldn't have been better! 

With our Galloping-The-Globe co-op, we were studying Russia.  In my opinion, that can't take place without some time devoted to Tchaikovsky.  While we talked about the ballet in general and The Nutcracker, The Story of Swan Lake was our focus.  The activity book included with the CD was a wealth of information.  The 24 pages contained Tchaikovsky's biography, information on acoustic and electric guitars, sheet music and words for a sing-along song, explanation of major and minor keys, puzzles and more.  Also on the website, there is a More Fun With Music section that links to sites that are both entertaining and educational for children.

My kiddos thoughts on the CD:

Rachel is ALL girl!  She just loved the story of the Prince falling in love with the Swan Princess and breaking the magician's evil spell.  She put her tutu on and whirled and twirled to the music.  The boys were most impressed by the Speed Metal Swan - there may have even been some head banging.  Oh my... this Momma isn't sure she can handle metal-heads in the house!  (Seriously - it's not that bad.)

Mom's thoughts:

I love storytelling paired with music, and I believe Maestro Classics married the two beautifully.  The music was high caliber yet great efforts were made to make it especially appealing and inviting to children who otherwise would not be interested in the ballet.  I enjoyed all the historical/biographical information that was provided, and I LOVED the inclusion of a sing-along song.  I could definitely foresee incorporating this in the music classes I teach at our homeschool co-op.  I'm excited to try some of the other titles.  Peter and the Wolf  is on my to-buy list for sure, as I love the story and have used it to teach children about orchestral instruments for many years.

Contact Info:

Maestro Classics

P.O. Box 688

Falmouth, MA 02541
508-548-2811
toll free: 888-540-2811
fax: 508-548-2833

http://www.maestroclassics.com/

info@maestroclassics.com

Available Products:
Nine CD's are available for purchase including:  Peter and the Wolf, The Story of Swan Lake, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, My Name is Handel, Casey at the Bat, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Tortoise and the Hare, Juanita the Spanish Lobster, and The Soldier's Tale.  Visit the product page to listen to samples from each recording.

Cost:
Each of the available selections from Maestro Classics are offered on CD ($16.98) or as downloadable MP3s ($9.98). There is also a 4 CD Story Pack or a 4 CD Classic Pack each offered for $65.  Finally, the entire 9 CD collection is available for $128.

***JANUARY SPECIAL: Order a Swan Lake CD or MP3 download, and Maestro Classics will automatically send you an additional free MP3 Swan Lake orchestral version!***

Click HERE to read what other TOS Crewmates are saying about Maestro Classics.

Disclaimer:  I was provided a CD at no charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Oh.So.Neglected Blog

No, I didn't fall off a cliff.
Yes, I'm still breathing.
Obviously, I've been a total slacker and lousy blogger.

With all that out of the way, for any of the readers who actually are still around after my lengthy absence from the blogosphere, I'm ready to get back in the swing of things.

By the way, HAPPY 2012 :-)

My blogging hiatus is attributed to a number of factors...

• Celebrating our Savior's birth through various activities & family get-togethers
• A break from homeschooling & the terrible readjustment of school again  (Yes, there were tears, gnashing of teeth, etc. - not pretty!  Thankful to have that behind us.)
• I've not felt 100% - exhausted and run down, but I think I feel a burst of energy coming on :-)

So... what's in store for the New Year on the blog?

• Playing catch-up... I've got tons of Dec. pics & posts to write-up (field trips, service projects, Christmas fun, reading recaps, book reviews, etc.)  Slowly but surely, they will find their way here, and because I'm a total nerd they will be backdated.  I have issues I know, but I insist things are chronological. 
• I'll be participating in a few memes/linkys for the shear purpose of holding myself accountable in several areas:  goal setting/completion, read-alouds with the kids, and personal reading.  I plan to return to weekly Homeschool Mother's Journal posts & Multitude Mondays as well.
• Since I've become a foreigner to scrapbooking, it's really important to me to preserve memories for the kiddos through the blog.  I need to take more pics of them and document all their cuteness!
• TOS Homeschool Crew Reviews will continue.  I've got a couple in the next two months that I'm really excited about.
• I'll be blogging a lot more about adoption/orphan care ministry....  including ways to get involved, local & national events, books, resources, etc.  This is such a passion of mine, and while I've shared off and on intermittently, I really feel the need to get more information out to the masses.  (Haha - delusions of grandeur - like this little blog reaches the masses, but a few!) 

Finally, for several years, I've listened on the radio, read, and heard of people choosing a single word to be their focus for the year.  I've never really given much thought to it, but this year, very clearly, God gave me a word.  For 2012, I am to be....

OPEN!

I'm not sure exactly what that means or entails, but I believe that God is asking me to be OPEN to all HE has in store... the good, the bad, the ugly, the extraordinary.  Possibly, I'm to be open to what God has to teach me, new ideas, new relationships, new challenges, new opportunities...  only the days of 2012 will tell!

The World's Greatest Stories - TOS Review

Listening to stories on CD has only been a recent addition to our days.  This summer my three little ones gave up naps.  Very excitedly on their part, but not so much on mine.  Granted, they are 5 and 6 now, so I suppose it is time.  However, there have been days where they have become crabby mid-day or it is quite obvious that their little brains and bodies have done all they can do.  I can't exactly announce nap time or there will surely be mutiny, so I've introduced "quiet time."  It's not an everyday activity, but it is great at putting the kabosh on silly sibling squabbles or rejuvenating the weary.  (This Momma appreciates the bonus down time as well!)  Our protocol?  The kids lay down on their beds, but no sleeping.  There is no talking, no getting up, and no toys.  I put a CD in and they usually listen 15-20 minutes... sometimes longer if it is a story they are really engaged in. 

Upon learning that I was selected to review The World's Greatest Stories, I was very excited.  While some of the CD's the kids have listened to were Christian stories, none had been specifically from the Bible.  Not only was this a Bible CD, in fact, it was word for word Scripture text.  I so long for my children to hide these words in their hearts and abide in them always, so I support products that aid in that endeavor. 

George W. Sarris is the man and voice behind The World's Greatest Stories .  He truly brought to life the sacred words from the Bible's pages through the use of unique voicing, thoughtful inflection and intonation, a myriad of expressed emotions, appropriate sounds effects, and complimentary music.  Mr. Sarris is an extraordinary storyteller.  From an adult point of view, he's possibly over-the-top in some instances and I stifled some giggles and muttered a few "oh-my's", but my three little ones were absolutely enthralled and thoroughly entertained by his exuberance and enthusiasm.  I believe, his recommendation for listeners ages 4-12 is on target. 

While there are 6 volumes available, we specifically reviewed and enjoyed Volume 1: The Prophets (NIV).  Included were the Biblical accounts of:  

The Blazing Furnace

The Handwriting on the Wall

Daniel in the Lion's Den

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

The Prophecy of Jonah

(Yes, I've read all my Ken Ham, so I prefer the word ACCOUNTS over STORIES.  We need to be mindful of how we present the Bible to our children.  Historical/Factual vs. Fairytale/Fantasy...  now stepping off my soapbox ;)

The remaining 5 volumes include:

• The Life of Christ
• Beginnings
• Joshua and Esther
• Joseph and His Brothers
• Defeating Giants

Each of the 6 volumes retail for $7.95 and are available in your preference of either KJV or NIV.  If you purchase 6 or more items, all shipping fees are waived.  There is also one other product available:  The Real Story of Easter.  This dramatic reading of John 18:1 - 20:31 transports the listener to the crucifixion and resurrection for Christ.  It is available only in the NIV translation and retails for $9.95. 

On the products page, audio clips from each CD are available to sample.  Give them a listen and also be sure to read what other TOS Crewmates are saying on the crew blog about The World's Greatest Stories. 


Disclosure:  In exchange for my unbiased opinion, I was provided a complimentary product to review.  

Vintage Remedies for Kids - TOS Review

Vintage Remedies is a company dedicated to the promotion of healthy living from the inside out.  On the website, you can meet founder, Jessie Hawkins, and see how she started as a busy homeschool Mom (like most of us) and has now grown Family Herbalist and Master Herbalist programs of study as well as curriculum for children.  Through the TOS Crew, I was able to review Vintage Remedies for Kids. 

My first impression when opening up the package... "Oooh!  What pretty packaging!"  Yes, I'm a sucker for attention to detail.  It was a special treat to see the book wrapped in brown paper and tied with raffia - beats shrink wrap!!!  First, I unwrapped Vintage Remedies for Kids.  Then, there was a bonus item included!  The thoughtful gesture was not lost in this girl.  Although, I admit, the topic is a little more my organic husband's kind of thing, so he'll probably be the reader of The Kitchen Herbal.

Vintage Remedies for Kids is advertised as a workbook for ages 2-6.  However, I feel like workbook isn't the best description.  You won't find any tear out sheets with cute illustrations and simple circle, X, tracing exercises to be completed.  Actually, it is very far from that, so I'm not sure why that description is used on the website.  Although, there is an accompanying coloring book that can be added to your cart free of charge.

In actuality, Vintage Remedies for Kids is an 18 chapter text book divided into 3 sections:  Food & Drink, Health & Wellness, and Healthy Lifestyles.  Each chapter follows the format of a Parents Section to read prior to the lesson, a Read to me section to be read aloud to children, Additional Comments, Thinking it Over questions to discuss, a Featured Project, and Additional Projects.  I found the Read to Me portions to be somewhat lengthy, and often just paraphrased them.  For the 2-4 year old crowd, I'd think that would be an absolute necessity.  It's doubtful they would sit still that long without pictures to look at.

Being that I'm not a huge fan of the kitchen or one to spend anymore time there than I have to, this curriculum was not the best fit for our family.  It did stretch me out of my comfort zone, but I know that I did not use it to its full potential.  If you are a family a bit more adept in the kitchen or one who enjoys cooking together, then the first section especially may be of interest to you.  There are multiple recipes to try.  Instead, my family focused on distinguishing healthy food choices from unhealthy ones.  We colored and created a color wheel of good food choices and taste tested a few. 

Vintage Remedies for Kids retails for $25.  For this Momma, that's a little steep for a small 6"x9", 202 page, spiral-bound, black & white textbook without other supporting materials.  However, for others, I could see where this would fill a gap in curriculum and be an important investment.  I encourage you to read what other TOS Crew Members think of Vintage Remedies HERE.

Disclosure:  I was provided a complimentary copy of this product for review purposes.  All opinions belong to me, and I receive no monetary compensation for this review.

ARTistic Pursuits - TOS Review

ARTistic Pursuits, in my opinion, is an excellent visual art curriculum for any homeschool family.  It is a far cry from the copy-cat art lessons I recall from my youth.  The "I do, We do, You do" model works well for some subjects, but in art, such a pedagogy deprives students the experience of transferring their creativity to a blank page.  Thankfully, ARTistic Pursuits, conversely, serves as a catalyst to spark, rather than stifle, young artists.

There are 10 offerings available to guide students from preschool through high school.  Each title is written directly to a student audience, so the series is 100% child-centered.  In fact, the only preparation required of teacher/mom prior to the lesson is to gather the needed materials.   

Because my three kiddos are early elementary, the best place to start seemed to be the very beginning.  Therefore, I opted to review ARTistic Pursuits, Grades K-3, Book One, An Introduction to Visual Arts.  The book's 88 pages are comprised of 32 lessons tailored to meet the needs of young artists. Each lesson portion can be completed in 5-10 minutes.  Then, typically, 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the child's attention span and level of interest, is spent completing the art project.

This particular book is divided into 3 sections:  What Artists Do, What Artists See, and Where We Find Art.  Likewise, each lesson appears in 3 distinct sections.  First, the child explores what an artist does, what an artist sees, or historical art.  Next, the student observes and dialogues in regards to a masterpiece, and finally, the child creates art.  While both famous artwork and peer artwork are highlighted in the book, I truly appreciate that there is no expectation given for what the child's artwork should look like upon completion.  There is no right or wrong - the child is simply free to create.  Growing up, I equated art with pressure, and never felt "good enough."  To the contrary, my children enjoy creating, thus, believing they are the creators of exquisite, exceptional art.  I love it!!!!

  

All three of my children have always enjoyed crafts, but especially coloring.  They go through color books and drawing pads like crazy and can wield a marker or crayon with great precision. However, ARTistic Pursuits opened up a whole new world of media to Jeremiah, Caleb, and Rachel.  Never before had they used an ebony pencil or water color crayons, and their prior experience with oil pastels had been limited.  I'm impressed with the variety of media utilized in ARTistic Pursuits.  All of the needed materials can be found listed in the front of the book.  They can be purchased at your local arts & crafts store, or you may choose to order art supply packs from the website.      

ARTistic Pursuits combines art appreciation with art instruction and engages even the youngest of students.  I believe, at $42.95, it is a great investment.  Non-consumable - it can be used over and over for years to come to include all the students in your household.  While we have only completed a few lessons in the book, I definitely recommend it.  We will be continuing to use this curriculum throughout the school year, and I'll invest in other titles in the future.  Don't just take my word for it.  I encourage you to read what other TOS Crewmates have to say about their experiences HERE. 

(Disclosure:  I was provided a complimentary copy of this product in exchange for my honest review.)

Is that RANGER I see?

Oh yes, the time of year has come for a visit from our favorite, somewhat creepy looking, little elf!  Ranger's here!  We read the book together, and Ranger has greeted us somewhere different each morning.  So far... he's been on his best behavior (and has been encouraging 3 little ones to be on theirs), but I've heard he can be quite mischievious.  

This week he's been surveying the kitchen from his spot on top of the cabinet.

 He hung out in the living room on a candle holder.  We think he has mistaken the snuffer for a Christmas bell.

 Then, who needs an angel or a star on top of the tree when you have an elf?  Oh wait... he won't be there tomorrow. 

Wonder where we'll find him next?

December Days Begin

It seems like it has snuck up on us, but December is here!  I look forward to snuggling up with my little ones to read Christmas stories or catch the timeless classics on tv.  I enjoy the yummy holiday treats and fun crafts with the kidlets that December days bring.  Most of all, the wonder and awe of the season stems from the remembrance of our Savior's birth.  I never tire of sharing this story with my little ones.

In fact, Monday and Tuesday, I read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to the kiddos in preparation for us to see a performance on Wednesday.  The kids were excited to see their friends Rebecca and Libby on stage, and just couldn't get over the fact that sweet Rebecca was playing Gladys - the meanest Herdman of them all.  I just love this story of the Herdman's and how they embraced the Christmas story and in turn taught others not to become complacent but rather to allow the account of Jesus' birth to penetrate the heart. 

So... Nov. 30th actually set the stage for our first December Day.  It turned out to be a DRASTIC day!  Huh?  Well, our new homeschool co-op, DRASTIC, had it's first get together December 1st.  Rather than beginning classes immediately, the 8 families shared a finger-food, potluck lunch and collected money to shop for Angel Tree kiddos.  The generosity of the families allowed 5 needy children to be selected from the tree and provided with gifts to meet their wants and needs. 

Several of the parents and older kids took care of the shopping while the little ones got to stay and play, but as soon as the shoppers returned, my kiddos became wrapping extraordinaires.  They had such fun cutting paper, wrapping, and taping.  It was a sweet, collective effort, and nothing thrills me more than seeing my little ones excited about serving others.

After our fun times with our homeschool friends off to Lexington we went.  We grabbed a snack, did a little Christmas shopping, and headed to our amazing adoption support group at church.  The kids as usual LOVED playing with their buddies, Mommy got to see her friends, and I had the chance to meet a new couple and answer a lot of their questions about Ethiopian adoption.  Then, the spirit of giving continued because our group is helping to provide Christmas for a couple kids currently in foster care.  The Wells contribution - some nice warm jammies for two of God's precious children.

As far as December days go, I'd say we had a fantastic start!  Tis' the season... stay tuned :0)