Some Thoughts For Today

After reading several articles condemning Christians who dress up and ask for candy on October 31st, and after some prayer, I feel like I need to share my thoughts on the topic. 

Satanic rituals occur on Halloween, probably more on this day than any other.  But just because these horrific activities take place on halloween, does not mean that they don't happen throughout the rest of the year.  Regardless of what I am doing on October 31st, whether I am sitting at home or shopping at the mall, these things will still happen, probably more than any of us are aware of.

Halloween is the one day of the year I can fellowship with neighbors I never see.  People actually come outside and talk with one another.  It's wonderful!

Should I stay inside with the lights off in protest?  I could. 

Instead, my child dresses up and we walk door to door talking with friends and having a good time.  

I don't celebrate "All Hallows Eve" and I certainly don't partake in any kind of rituals.   

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. ~ Deuteronomy 18:10-12

I do not do these things!  I am a Christian, a Christ follower!  Having my child dress up and walk door to door asking for candy does not mean we are engaging in any of the above activities, and if you, my brother or sister in Christ, are assuming it does, or saying that I am less of a Christian because of it, I am hurt and saddened. 

If you make the choice to not participate, I will not judge you.  As a matter of fact, I'm called by God to love you...Christian or non-Christian, trick or treater or not.

I hope I can use this day to shine a light on a dark world.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~ John 1:5

I pray you and your family have a wonderful night, no matter what you plan to do.  ♥

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ~ Matthew 28:19-20

 

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©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

VocabularySpellingCity Review

We seem to tackle spelling a little different each year.  In the past we have used leveled spelling lists and this year we are mainly using dictation, but for the past couple years we have also used VocabularySpellingCity.  

VocabularySpellingCity is an award winning website for K-12 that focuses on Vocabulary, Spelling, Writing, and Language Arts.  We received their Premium Membership for this review.

Features Include: 

* Over 50,000 words and 60,000 customizable sentences and definitions
* A real person who says each word and sentence
* Home pages for teachers and parents to save lists
* Teacher Training Videos
* Printable handwriting worksheets
* Teaching resources with lists and lesson plans
* Games to play online or to print
* A forum and newsletters

The BEST part about VocabularySpellingCity is that you can use the basic features of their site for FREE!! You simply start by entering your words.

Of course, becoming a premium member has its benefits, which you can see below.

I received a one-year Premium Membership and here is how we have been using it.

Funny Bunny is an excellent speller, so instead of using a spelling and vocabulary list for her grade {which I knew she would have no trouble with} I have made my own lists using her science and history vocabulary words. I cannot begin to tell you how this has helped her, and it is so much more fun for her than writing definitions or using flash cards.

Once I have added a student, I can either find a pre-made list or create my own. There are thousands of ready-to-use word lists by subject and/or grade level. Here is just a peek at what you can find.

The Premium Membership lets me keep track of her progress and I can even organize all of her word lists by type. For instance, I have all science word lists in the science folder.

Below you can see that I can view her grades and assignments that she has completed and not yet done. I can also print off all her grades for my records.

My Thoughts: We are loving VocabularySpellingCity! I like that I can use it how I want. I can use their lists, make my own, make short lists, long lists, and add as few or as many activities to each assignment. It is really up to me. It's great that it keeps track of everything and as a reward Funny Bunny can play spelling or vocabulary games. 

Edited on 3-11-14:  VocabularySpellingCity is still our favorite spelling and vocabulary program!

Thoughts of a 10-Year Old: I like VocabularySpellingCity and all of its activities.  The activities are all split into sections based on what their purpose is. 

1. Teach. The teach category consists of two activities: Spelling TeachMe and FlashCards. (FlashCards is for premium members only, so if you aren't a premium member, you cannot use this activity.)

2. Spelling. There are a lot of games in the Spelling category, like HangMouse, Missing Letter, and Test-N-Teach. These are to go over the spelling before the a test.

3. Writing. The only activities in writing are premium - Sentence Writing Practice and Paragraph Writing Practice. These are very similar, and I usually use them as games. The object is to write sentences or paragraphs with all of the vocabulary words. 

4. Vocabulary. Once again, none of these activities can be used without premium membership. The Vocabulary activities include: MatchIt Definitions, WhichWord Sentences, and my favorite of the WHOLE game, Word-o-Rama!! This funny penguin with the toupee talks you through the game show as you answer questions. If you get the answer correct, the penguin says quirky things like, "Thaaaaaat's right!" or "Points for you!"

5. Language Arts. This interesting category has a few activities like Read-A-Word and Alphabetize, and some premium activities are Parts of Speech and Crossword. These help children with their language arts skills.

6. Tests. It's what all of the fun stuff leads up to...the dreaded...spelling and vocabulary tests! Actually, these tests aren't so bad. There's no pressure or time limit, and SpellingTestMe and VocabularyTestMe are not so bad.

And the best part?  The games, of course!  After you've completed an assignment, you can play a game!

I really enjoy VocabularySpelling City and hope you will, too!     

Find Out More: You can find out more online at VocabularySpellingCity. The cost of their Premium Membership is just $29.99 a year and is for up to five students. Up to 25 students in a classroom or co-op can use it for just $49.99. They also have a free app for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

My Crewmates are also talking about VocabularySpellingCity, so you can check out what they think about it HERE.

©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Homeschool Mother's Journal 10-29-13

In our homeschool last week… 

Funny Bunny completed Unit 10: The Reign of King Saul in Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ.

Below is her watercolor painting for the poem Misgiving by Robert Frost.  She was supposed to outline a leaf and paint it over the background but when we lifted the plastic wrap it ended up looking like a forest of trees so she wanted to keep it like it was.  Neat effect!!

For History she had to make a sling like those used by the ancient Israelites and by David when he killed Goliath.  Hers is made out of yarn and did a pretty good job once we found the perfect object to sling.  Her rubber band ball seemed to work the best!

Since the beginning of October things have been crazy busy!  After we got back from vacation, Funny Bunny performed in our local fall festival for her dance company and sang for church.

I've spent most of my free time updating my blog {hope you like it}, working on reviews, and getting ready for the holidays and upcoming events.




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©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Freebie Friday

Here are the FRIDAY FREEBIE deals today! ENJOY!!

FREE - Homeschool Phonics Program @ Progressive Phonics

FREE - Preschool and Elementary Curriculum @ Brightly Beaming Resources

FREE - Homeschool Math Curriculum @ Math is Fun

FREE - All About Fall Printable Pack @ Frugal Homeschool Family

FREE - Full Color Math Picture Flash Cards @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

FREE - Elementary & Middle School Multiplication Software @ CurrClick

FREE - Hymn Study Series @ Homeschool Giveaways and Freebies

FREE - Ten Commandments in Motions @ Future . Flying . Saucers

FREE - Science Experiment Guide {$25 Value} @ Supercharged Science

FREE - Science Activity Manual and Video Collection {$30 Value} @ Supercharged Science

I hope you enjoy some of these FREEBIES! If you know of any others, please leave a comment below



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©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Barbour Publishing: Diary of a Real Payne Review

Funny Bunny is always excited to get a new book, so when she received Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story from Barbour Publishing she was thrilled!

I read the first several chapters aloud but the book was so good she had to steal it and read it on her own!  She's read it over several times since.

Below is her review: 

Diary of a Real Payne by Annie Tipton is a story about Emma Jean Payne, a fourth-grader who lives in the town of Spooner, Wisconsin.  She daydreams during chores, during recess, and even at the grocery store during back-to-school shopping!  With her dog Bert and her best friend Macy at her side, it’s the best life a fourth-grader could ask for, right?

Nope.

First of all, the teensy, weensy, itsy, bitsy little town of Spooner couldn’t get any more boring.  Nothing exciting to do, no exciting places to visit, and worst of all, no one even knows EJ’s favorite novel EVER, Anne of Green Gables.  Even the people in her neighborhood are sort of on the grouchy side.  Spooner couldn’t be much worse, from EJ’s perspective.

Then there’s that awful little Space Invader, Isaac.  EJ’s annoying little brother does have his uses, but mostly, he’s just plain pesky.  And even worse, he only knows one lame joke that drives EJ absolutely crazy.  Ok, mostly EJ loves her younger brother, but sometimes he gets on her last nerve, especially when he chose Bert’s middle name to be T-Rex.  What kind of kid names a dog T-Rex?! 

And finally, there’s CoraLee McCallister.  The snobbiest girl in school, CoraLee throws insults to EJ like “EJ P-A-I-N” or “Payne-in-my-neck”.  To make matters worse, CoraLee stars in the Christmas pageant as Mary while EJ is stuck as a glittery angel with tinsel, frills, and ruffles – everything EJ does not like.  

Then, in the pageant dress rehearsal, EJ overhears CoraLee telling her sister, Katy, about something that makes EJ so surprised that she loses her balance and nearly falls off of the platform that her angel harness is connected to.  But EJ realizes that, mean or not mean, EJ needs to help CoraLee and her family this Christmas.  To do that, though, it means no Christmas for the Paynes – no Christmas dinner, no presents, and no traditional Christmas.  But EJ is willing to give someone else a Christmas, even if it means losing her own.  She’s ready to carry out Code Christmas!

I really liked Diary of a Real Payne, and thought it was interesting and I was eager to figure out what would come next.  My favorite part was Code Christmas – the plan that the Paynes devise to help the McCallisters.  It was awesome how EJ and Isaac were willing to sacrifice their own Christmas to give the McCallisters a Christmas.  Diary of a Real Payne is a wonderful book that I really enjoyed!   

 * * *

My Thoughts:  I only read a few chapters aloud with Funny Bunny, but during that time we were in stitches!  EJ is a real character with a wild and vivid imagination!  In Chapter Two EJ and her brother Isaac play a game of scrabble with their neighbor, Mrs. Winkle, but no ordinary game of Scrabble - the Winkle way of playing.  You use made up words, which have to follow two rules: The person playing the made-up word must be able to pronounce it and give it a definition.

Guess what we played that week?!  :)  Such a fun book with a good, Christian message!

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at Barbour Publishing.  Diary of a Real Payne Book1: True Story is normally $5.99 but on sale for just $4.49 and recommended for ages 8-12.  Book 2 - Church Camp Chaos is set to come out in March 2014!

My Crewmates are also reviewing God's World News, so you can check out what they think HERE. - See more at: http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/Reviews#sthash.F7BRt2ci.dpuf

My crewmates are also reviewing Diary of a Real Payne, so you can check out what they think HERE.

My Crewmates are also reviewing God's World News, so you can check out what they think HERE.

- See more at: http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/Reviews#sthash.Sxpelro4.dpuf

My Crewmates are also reviewing God's World News, so you can check out what they think HERE.

- See more at: http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/Reviews#sthash.Sxpelro4.dpuf

My Crewmates are also reviewing See the Light, so you can check out what they think HERE.

- See more at: http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/Art#sthash.cOp0zwmz.dpuf

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©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday: Wildlife

Just some of the wildlife we saw on our trip to the mountains.  Look closely at the picture at the bottom with the squirrel.  There are two chipmunks picking up dropped birdseed.  We never see those here at home!  They are so stinkin' cute!!

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It's Maisy's Birthday!!

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God's World News Review

Funny Bunny enjoys reading magazines and has a couple of subscriptions to various titles, so when we had the opportunity to review a Christian World News magazine, I was excited at the thought of introducing current news stories to her.

God's World News provides news and interesting information for children - biblically, appropriately, and vibrantly - so they can grow in their understanding that God has the whole world in His hands.

We received News Current, which is written for students in 5th and 6th grades.

 
God's World News offers several editions, based on your child's grade:

*  God’s Big World: Pre-K - Kindergarten
*  Early Edition: 1st - 2nd
*  Grade News Flash: 3rd - 4th Grade
*  News Current: 5th - 6th Grade
*  Top Story: Middle School
*  Trak: High School

We received the August, September, and October issues of God's World News: News Current, along with a nice 20'x30" world map.

Each issue of News Current {for 5th and 6th grades} includes: 

*  Editorials to help teach critical thinking skills. 
*  Lessons to teach Civics, Geography, Economics, & Worldview. 
*  MAP-IT! Locator maps
*  News graphics that explain complex ideas simply. 
*  WEEDING WORDS that teach word meanings in context. 
*  Quizzes to test reading comprehension. 
*  Web content at kids.wng.org

I'll be honest, when we received these magazines in the mail, Funny Bunny was not interested.  Maybe the words "World News" in the title just didn't seem too exciting to my 10 year old.  I had to make her sit with me as I read the first few stories aloud.

In the August issue we read stories about archery, about the former NSA worker Edward Snowden, and about immigration and the tools used to track those who enter the country illegally.  There are funny stories and serious stories, short and long stories.  There are political cartoons and crosswords.  Each article is written to a 5th and 6th grade level so it is easy to read and understand.

What I like best about many of the articles is that they acknowledge that God has the whole world in His hands.  God is in control...God made the people in His image.  Some articles urge us to pray for our country.  Others reference Bible verses and ask the reader what they think regarding the situation.

She did find some of the articles interesting on her own, but I think I may be reading most of them aloud to her {which of course, I don't mind doing}.  I do not turn on the TV news in our home, so I think this is a great way for her to be introduced to and keep up with world news!

Each subscription includes: 

*  10 full-color, monthly issues for home subscriptions.
*  7 monthly issues for school subscriptions.
*  32 pages per issue, filled with age-appropriate news and activities.
*  Children's website access at kids.wng.org
*  Weekly email newsletter for parents and teachers.
*  Biographies and topical lessons to download and print.

If you have some time, take a peek at the children's website included with the membership!  I LOVE this site!!  You can see below that you select your child's grade and they can read appropriate articles on different topics.  I won't let Funny Bunny go online unsupervised, so this is a safe website for her to browse.  I'm thinking about adding one article a day to her schoolwork.  She seems to prefer reading the articles online vs. in print.

Parents can also log onto the website and read lessons and biographies that were selected for each issue {120 in total}.  You can even access the magazine digitally.

  

Thoughts of a 10-Year Old:  When we first got the magazine, I admit that I felt that it was going to be a little bit boring.  Then my mom read me some articles while on a road trip, and I realized just because the articles are a bit long doesn't mean they're boring.  I actually prefer going on the God's World News site and reading the articles online.  The magazine has really interesting, true stories and news alerts.  It is quite a good magazine and I am now enjoying it very much! 

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at God's World News.  A home subscription of 10 monthly issues is $28.  Subscriptions can also be purchased for homeschool groups and schools, and e-subscriptions are available.  Prices vary for each. 

You can also opt in to receive Teaching God’s World News, which is a weekly email newsletter for parents and teachers. Included are links to the PDF versions of the magazines, answer keys to quizzes and puzzles, and links to additional content.

My Crewmates are also reviewing God's World News, so you can check out what they think HERE.

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©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

New Look!

My blog has a new look today!  If you are reading this in a reader or via email, click on over and take a look.  I hope you like it!  Julie over at LeeLou Blogs worked on it last night. 


 

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©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday: In the Mountains

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©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/