Sellars Farm Nature Hike

Moving mid-semester is hard... yes, even for homeschoolers!!!  Classes and co-ops have already formed and had meetings, and everyone is in a groove.  Therefore, in an attempt to "break-in" to the homeschooling community in our area, I've joined several yahoo groups.  I even posted an introduction of our family and asked for ways we could get connected.  Thankfully, several people responded, and thus, begins our quest to make some new homeschooling friends.

Our first venture led us to join the An Atmosphere of Learning group for their October outing.  This group meets together once a month for nature study and a hike.  The usual meeting spot is the Sellars Farm State Archaeological Area.  It is home to a preserved and protected Native American mound.  There is a walking trail that leads through an open field, wooded areas, and along a creek. 

Ranger Tyler began our time together sharing some of his recent finds...  a walking stick insect, a chipping sparrow nest, and the feet and wings of a great blue heron.  Afterwards, we set out on our trek.  Thankfully for this Momma, the hike was quite leisurely due to our very frequent stops to discover and discuss the flora and fauna.  Ranger Tyler was very knowledgeable and absolutely wonderful with the kids.  My three took an immediate liking to him.  Inquisitive Caleb bombarded him with questions... most on topic, but a few Star Wars tidbits slid in there :-)  All three gave him hugs when he left and look forward to seeing him again.

 

 

 

Following our hike, we enjoyed a picnic and got to know some of the group a little better.  The kids interacted with the other kids and started making friends.  It really was great to be out and about with others and to enjoy some educational/social time. 

KinderBach (review)

KinderBach uses a group of charming characters, The Piano Pals, to introduce young children to the piano keyboard.  In the process, kids ages 3-7 gain a basic knowledge of note reading, rhythm, singing, technique, and composition.  Even better, it all takes place in the non-threatening environment and comfort of your own home!



Karri Gregory, author and founder of KinderBach, and the endearing Piano Pals teach piano pedagogy through online videos.  Currently, in the online program there are 6 levels each offering 10 weeks of lessons.  Each week is broken into 4 sessions for a total of 240 lesson segments. 

The 6 levels total almost 22 hours of video.  On average the lessons are approximately 5 minutes in length.  This is perfect for the limited attention spans of young children.  It is also manageable to repeat the video a second or third time to reinforce the information, or view more than one video in a sitting if the lessons are easily completed by your child.  Being able to move at your own pace is one of the positives of this online video program. 

As expected, the lessons begin with very basic information.  Kids are familiarized with the piano keyboard, taught to distinguish between high and low pitches, and experience steady beat.  Lesson continually progress to the point that children are reading simple scores and understand basic music theory. 

 

To compliment the videos, each level has a printable PDF activity book.  You could download the entire book or choose to print out individual pages as needed.  Appealing to the young audience, it is not necessary for the children to be able to read in order to complete the worksheet.  Karri explains the activities during the sessions. 

Online memberships are available to purchase and include:

* Access to all web lessons by computer, iPad, Android Tablet, Kindle Fire or Nook.
* Accompanying downloaded PDF activity pages

Purchase options include:

$7.99 a month - Billed in a one time annual payment of $95.88
(Great Value! Save 60%)or
$19.99 monthly subscription - Billed monthly for a year
(12 separate payments)

  
However, before buying, you may want to check out a few sample lessons.  You are also able to access the first 2 weeks of the program free AND there is a 30 day money back guarantee!  A new option is the KinderBack app.  The first 2 lessons and 1 game are offered free. Lessons can be purchased individually through the app afterwards, or you can purchase the "Classroom KinderBach: School Version" for just $26.99.  Kinderbach is also sold in DVD form. Finally, Songbooks, Activity Packages and Value Packages are available for purchase.     
Having reviewed this product before, my 7 year old boys had little interest in participating.  So my newly 6 year old daughter was the one to use KinderBach.  Because I'm a firm believer in having children only work with true-to-size keyboards or pianos, we set up the laptop on our digital piano to view the lessons.  When completing the worksheets, she either used a clipboard or moved to the kitchen table.   I appreciate that KinderBach does not color, sticker, or number the piano keys.  Instead, one of the very first things a child learns is the groupings of either 2 or 3 black keys.  Then, they are taught to identify where the individual notes live on the keyboard through cute, clever stories featuring The Piano Pals.  Rachel found this memory aid extremely helpful as well as the available placement cards. 
Having a degree in Music Education and having taught private piano students, my personal belief in regards to the optimal time to begin piano lessons occurs simultaneously with beginning reading.  For most children, this usually occurs at or near 6-7 years of age.  I also believe there is no substitute for a one-on-one, in-person lesson taught by an enthusiastic, knowledgeable teacher.  That being said... prior to individualized private study, I'm definitely in favor of exploratory, foundational group music classes.  I also would endorse the KinderBach online program as a solid introduction to the piano keyboard for young students.  While not a substitute for lessons, in my opinion, it would make a wonderful precursor to formal piano lessons.  It's perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners!

Need more information?  Click the button below to read other Schoolhouse Review Crew members experiences with both the online program and the app.  The crew always shares such valuable and pertinent information in their reviews to help you make the best choices for your family.


   Disclaimer:  I received a free 6-month subscription to KinderBach in exhcange for an honest review.

A ZOO-per Birthday

Having celebrated his 7th birthday early with two family parties, I still wanted Caleb to have something "special" for his big day.  Not a shock at all that when given a choice, he chose a zoo trip.  We packed a picnic lunch, grabbed the leftover Star Wars plates and napkins, and headed out for the day.



 

 

 

 

The morning was a little chilly and overcast, but it didn't seem to bother the kiddos or the animals. We took a leisurely stroll through the zoo seeing some of our favorites. Then, bigger belly, prego Momma needed a break. A long break :-) The sun came out, the kids shed their jackets, and they enjoyed 45 minutes of playtime in the Jungle Gym. Thus, the birthday boy said, "I'm the coolest Mom ever!"  He's a cutie!  Blessed to be his Momma :-)

 

Zoo Whiz (review)

Did somebody say ZOO?  That's all it takes with my kiddos!  Nothing motivates them more than something animal related...  a sticker, a book, a farm, trip to the zoo, etc.  Learning that there was an online educational website that uses the acquisition of animals as an incentive, this Momma knew without a shadow of a doubt that it would receive my children's highest praise.

ZooWhiz is an online learning website for children ages 5-15.  The students practice reading, math, grammar, vocabulary, and word skills while earning coins.  The coins can be used to collect animals thus allowing the child to truly become a ZooWhiz.  

In setting up a Keeper account, a child is able to choose an avatar.  I appreciate that they come in all shapes and sizes with varied hair and skin colors.  A child may choose an avatar that represents himself or one he just finds fun.  Even better, the avatar is never locked in.  The ability to change always exists.  Simply click on the avatar head located on the bar at the bottom of the screen to select a new character.  

The LEARN & EARN section begins by choosing the educational content to work on in math, words, and reading.  Parents are able to customize and set the courses so that the students can work only at their age level or above.  This keeps kids interested because they are not wasting time on material that is too easy.  I've posted some screenshots of some of Caleb's questions below, but you can also browse sample activities for each age group/content.

 

 

 

After learning and earning, children can choose to spend their coins in the ARCADE playing games or in the BIODOME purchasing animals for their zoos.  There are currently 7 timed games from which to choose.  My kids tried the arcade once, but after their first animals shopping frenzy in the biodome, they were hooked.  It's been BIODOME ever since.   

 

Animals range in price from 100 to 5000 coins.  I found it interesting the strategies my kids used in building their zoos.  Rachel went for the animals she was familiar with and thought were cute.  Caleb sought out the most unique and exotic animals.  Jeremiah wanted a large number of animals in his zoo, so he spent all his coins buying the animals in the 100-300 range.  Isn't it funny how different they can be?!    

When shopping for animals, the child can view them all or by the individual habitats including:  grassland, ocean, tundra/polar, desert mountain, river/lake, domestic, dinosaur, rainforest, mythical, forest/woodland, marsh/swap, forest and extinct animals.  Once an animal has been purchased, the child can view a profile of the animal.  There are 5 tabs to read:  basic info, habitat, details, diet, and threat.  This Momma spent quite a bit of time reading these profiles aloud to the kids... mainly Caleb.

 

Finally, the MILESTONES section is somewhat self-explanatory.  This is where you are able to measure progress.  The premium account includes:

Basic bar graphs giving feedback on overall progress

Smiley face reports giving instant feedback on all aspects of work

Use the Smiley face reports to see where your child needs help or if the work is too easy

Review results by cell, category and step

Review actual activities answered and the number of times they have been answered correctly or incorrectly

 

The kids really enjoyed ZooWhiz.  I would not consider it a stand alone curriculum by any means, but it was definitely full of fun educational games.  It not only benefitted the kids but kept them entertained, and I appreciate the use of science as a motivator and reward. 

There were a few things that I would change if given the opportunity.  1) The reading portion is the only section that includes auditory directions.  Therefore, the kids were unable to play the math and word sections independently.  2)  For Caleb especially, the British accent made spelling words difficult at times.  The vowel sounds would throw him off.  3) There are ads that pop up after so many questions.  These ads are from EdAlive which offers FREE educational games.  However, I'm just not comfortable with advertising in a premium account and having the kids leave the approved site.  (They may then think it acceptable to open all pop-ups... oh no!!!! Not a habit I intend for them to instill!)  Therefore, my kids were taught to hit continue everytime as opposed to opening the new window.  Overall, I suppose my issues aren't really problems but are moreso irritants, and the value of the program far outweighs them. 

 

From the ZooWhiz website:  ZooWhiz is developing rapidly and can now be used in both FREE and PREMIUM modes. We've recently implemented many PREMIUM features with more to be released in the coming months. You can start using ZooWhiz for FREE today. If you'd like to take advantage of introductory Half Price offer you can upgrade your child's FREE Keeper Account to a PREMIUM Zoologist Subscription.

As always, I encourage you to start out with the free option.  Allow your children ample time to explore and play before deciding if a financial investment is best for your family.  If you find ZooWhiz to be beneficial and enjoyable for your kiddos, then I recommend you upgrade your FREE Keeper Accounts to PREMIUM Zoologist Subscriptions for:

• More fun (learning motivation)
• More detailed info on their progress
• More options for targeting their learning
• Rare and endangered animals
• More cool Arcade games
• Full access 24 hours-a-day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

The one year membership is currently $14.95.  Wow - in the grand scheme of things, this is very inexpensive for an online subscription.  As the site develops, I assume the introductory offer will disappear, so I'd suggest taking advantage of it now.  Still unsure?  Click the button below to read reviews by other Schoolhouse Crew Members.

Disclaimer:  I was provided a year of Premium Zoologist subscriptions for all of my children in exchange for my honest review. 

Creatures of the Night

We're still newbies in town.  However, with Jon gone and having been couped up inside unpacking boxes, we were ready to venture out.  Yes, it was mid-morning, but the kiddos and I headed to the local library to fraternize with some "Creatures of the Night."

 

 

The nocturnal animals program was put on by NHECM.  The presenter walked throughout the audience and allowed the kiddos a very close view of the critters.  We saw a 3-toed amphiuma, straw-colored fruit bat, raccoon, bobcat, armadillo, and opossum.  As expected, the program left quite an impression on my crew and Daddy got the play-by-play recount on the phone that night. 

   

It was a gorgeous day, so we continued exploring our new town and found the park.  After sitting for awhile, the kids were all too happy to rip and roar.  Since the playground had a castle appearance, they each claimed a portion as their personal fortress and ran back and forth visiting one another.  All in all, the activities helped to pass one of the days while Daddy is away. 

Now Taking Applications! - Schoolhouse Review Crew

 

I have been so blessed to be a member of the Schoolhouse Crew Review.  I have had the opportunity to use some amazing curriculum, games, and computer programs with my children.  Even better, I have found an incredible community of friends.  My crew mates have been such an encouragement to me and have specifically prayed for me several times throughout the year.  We laugh together, cry together, vent, and have some hysterical laughs... all through a computer screen :-)  While we may be separated by miles, states, and even countries, we have been brought together through our love of homeschooling, love of curriculum, and a strong Christian bond. 

 

Seriously... you don't want to miss out on this!  Good news - you don't have to!  It's that time of year again and the Schoolhouse Review Crew is taking applications.  You ask...

 

What does it take to be a Schoolhouse Crew Review team member?

1. Do you have an active blog?

2. Do you have at least 22 public followers?

3. Do you homeschool?

4. Do you like homeschool curriculum?

5. Do you want to use new curriculum with your own children and share about your
experiences on your blog?

 

If you answered YES, then the Schoolhouse Review Crew might be for you! Take the time to fill out the application.  You'll be so glad you did!

 

2013 Schoolhouse Review Crew Application

Just an FYI - one of my reviews is being featured today on The Old Schoolhouse Homeschooling With Heart Blog.  Got a few minutes???  Click this link and check it out. 

Alligator Adventure

Factually speaking, I'm no camper, girl scout, nature nut, etc., yet my kids LOVE the outdoors!  Oh, I definitely appreciate God's creation, beautiful sights, and social gatherings outside.  However, I'm quite content indoors with my A/C or heat.  In regards to my children, their preference will always lean towards the backyard, a hike in the woods, playing at the park, a stroll through the zoo, and the list goes on.  Combine the great outdoors with animals, and the kids have found their utopia!  For this reason, it was no shock that one of the attractions on our recent vacation was a hit! 

While in North Myrtle Beach, SC, we visited Alligator Adventure.  This site hosts over 800 alligators.  There were itty bitty babies and sleeping giants.  Well, that was until feeding time.  Then, we saw these mammoth creatures jump out of the water their chompers ready to devour. 

Alligator Adventure is not just home to the gators.  You will actually find tortoises, turtles, snakes, frogs, lizards, exotic birds, bats, lemurs, marmosets, bobcats, tigers, servals, and caracals.  There are also a number of crocodiles including UTAN - King of the Crocs, the largest crocodile in the United States, measuring over 20 feet long!

The great UTAN!

The weather was gorgeous, and we enjoyed our time in nature.  We even managed to squeeze in some educational entertainment as well.  There were three animal shows we were able to catch. The first was a talk about the tigers, and we were able to see them fed.  Likewise, we saw an impressive alligator feeding.  By far, our favorite show involved three animals.  A warthog was brought out first and even did a few tricks.  Then, a snake and alligator were featured.  The kids were excited to pet these two critters.  I love the pic of them cheesing with the lil' gator. 

Whether at home or on the road, it's great to make family memories.  For my littles, they are best outside with animals close by.  If you are ever in the North Myrtle Beach area, I would recommend a stop at Alligator Adventure.  I believe your family will enjoy it!


Read about other Schoolhouse Review Crew Members and their experiences Exploring the Great Outdoors.