Review - TimeMaps Collection by Knowledge Quest

TimeMaps Collection

Knowledge Quest

Web Site:  http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/TimeMaps.html

Cost:  $9.95 for individual maps or $44.95 (download) $49.95 (CD) 7-map set

Age:  All

Have you ever been surfing the internet and one link leads to another that leads to another?  That’s how I manage to waste countless hours sitting in front of the computer following rabbit trail after rabbit trail as I find new and interesting things to read.  In fact, that’s what I love most about the internet, the unlimited ability to seek knowledge.

Knowledge Quest has developed TimeMaps that possess this same quality.  Once you start, there are numerous opportunities to click and investigate.  My children and I are very visual.  We like to see things in action rather than simply reading or hearing about them.  TimeMaps really appealed to that side of our personality.

How does it work, you ask? 

You start with a map of the beginning of the time period you are using.  We enjoyed learning about the Black Death.   When the map opens, you will see a date in the upper right hand corner.  Clicking forward or backward arrows next to this date allows you to see the progression in time.  I was shocked how fast the black death spread!  There are small pictures on each map.  Clicking on them gives you a drop down box with information about what that symbol means and its role in that time period.

As you move through time, the i and Q underneath the date enable additional information.  Clicking the i adds several i’s of information throughout the map.  Clicking on each one allows you to see what was happening in that part of the world during that time period.  The Q drops down questions that can be used for discussion or as part of an assignment for students to respond to.  They would need to go through all the i’s on the map to find the answers to the questions.  We really loved how interactive this was! 

In addition to the interactive aspect of the program, the opening window allows access to “Work Sheets”.  These aren’t so much worksheets as they are suggestions for questions or exercises the students can complete to help further their understanding of the time period .

The Teacher pdf that accompanies each TimeMap includes these “work sheets” as well as handouts like maps, timeline paper, etc.  Each Teacher pdf also includes a summary of the time period being shown that can be used for classroom presentation or as an introduction in the homeschool.  

We really liked TimeMaps.  They make history come alive.  Seeing the spread of the black death or the progression of the Atlantic slave trade in a year by year format really helped us to understand what happened in a step-by-step progression.  I must say, I had many ‘a-ha!’ moments just working through these TimeMaps.  For $9.95 for a single map, it’s a great supplement to your study of history.  If you know World or Ancient History is in your students’ future, then investing in the entire collection saves money, and you have them on hand for when the time comes. 

The collection includes: 

Ancient China

Rise of Rome
Fall of Rome
Rise of Islam
The Black Death
European Exploration
Atlantic Slave Trade

I know my kids get a lot more out of the interactive approach than they do reading a dry textbook alone.   My youngest is studying World History this year – I’m so excited to include each map as we get to that event in time.

Here’s a video of how it all works:

To see what other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew thought of TimeMaps – click here.

*** Disclaimer:  I received this product free of charge as a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review.

Youngest Turns Teen Today! How Can This Be?

It’s hard to believe my baby is becoming a teenager!  How can this be?  Youngest has been such a blessing all the years of his life.  We didn’t know we needed a fourth child, but God knew.

He wasn’t supposed to be born on the 13th.  I did my best to have him born on my birthday – July 7th .  My thinking was – if he’s born on the 7th, I don’t have to celebrate my birthday anymore, so I don’t have to get any older.  lol  Youngest wasn’t playing along.  Hubby and I went to the hospital on the 7th , had IV’s and Pitosin run, and we were ready to have a baby.  Youngest declined.  After not going into labor all day, I opted to head home and try again in a week.  This time he was ready.

Let’s just say – stubborn is one of his most ingrained qualities.  (I have NO idea where that came from – I say with an innocent look on my face.)

Youngest is by far the most creative mind I have ever encountered.  He’s always thinking, planning, creating.  It’s hard to keep up sometimes!  He has an amazing aptitude for all things technology and loves making movies.  I just pray we are able to find ways to help him direct and develop that creativity in a way that gives him lifelong happiness in whatever career he chooses.

Another trait is his love of animals.  He's the tender heart that buried our frog in the backyard in a little casket with a cross on the grave.  He's the young man who keeps his eye on the kitty and rescues unwary woodland creatures.  He's the young boy who has countless pictures on his I-Pod of every pet he encounters and posts a daily picture of our lizard - the Daily Marley.  What a beautiful heart this young man has!

Today, I celebrate my baby!  He’s becoming a young man before my eyes.  My head and my heart scream – “Slow Down!”  I’m so proud and so blessed to be his mama!

Finding Fun instead of Frying...

We’ve been in the upper 90’s and 100’s like much of the country.  Add Southern humidity, and it’s just not pleasant to go outside.  Right now the challenge is to beat the heat with teenagers and not have that mean them spending the entire day staring at video games and computers.  We do do that way too much!

How are we beating the heat?

1.  Taekwondo – we love this sport! What’s wonderful about it is that it’s year round and indoors! Yes! The dojang where we go offers several classes every day except Sundays. We can go just about any time we like. While my youngest doesn’t do TKD, he loves to come with us and watch or hang out with the people working there. We’ve been going long enough now that they feel almost like family.

2.  Swimming pool – it feels like a bathtub right now.  Late afternoons a dip in the pool for the boys is a great way to be outside and still cooled off.   Now that they are teens, I can sit on the screened in porch and watch instead of having to melt right next to them.  I’m not much of a pool person.

3.  Baseball - my husband and I love to drag the boys to baseball games.  There's a AAA team nearby along with several other minor leagues and college leagues.  Most weeks we can find a game within an hours drive.  Peanuts, hot dogs, and a cool evening is all it takes to enjoy a night out.  The boys are all in as long as we hit the concessions. 

4.  Movies – Typically, we don't like movies or TV shows, but, when it gets really hot, a trip to the theater for a $5 matinee can be nice.  Spiderman was a big surprise - we really enjoyed it!  Ice Age and Batman are on the list too.  Speaking of movies, I just borrowed the extended version of all three movies of Lord of the Rings from a friend.  I figure, we’ll get a little literary lesson, be prepped for the Hobbit to come out at the movies this year, and kill at least ten hours. 

5.  Activities – who said summer slows you down.?  Not!  My boys constantly have somewhere to be or someone to see.  Some of the clubs the boys are in continue activities through the summer.  My older son has been volunteering to earn leadership hours for his black belt and his resume and is now in driver’s ed.

6.  Travel – this is in theory!  My youngest has been to camp and up to the mountains with his aunt, but the rest of us haven’t found a spare moment to go somewhere.  We’re hoping to take a trip in August.  You know – we typically think tropical beaches, but it’s been so hot, we want to go somewhere cool!

How do you keep your teens busy during the hot summer?

Check out how other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew are staying cool - here.

Old Age, Marriage and Not Sweating the Small Stuff

I turned 42 on Saturday.  They say, “With old age comes wisdom”, so, either I missed the epiphany, or I’m not old yet.

However, one realization I have come to is that you truly have to stop sweating the small stuff.  Especially in marriage.  There are little things that my hubby does that irritate me.  I know there are reciprocal things for him.  At times, they can really get under my skin and make me mad.  This is especially true when other stressors are in play from outside. 

So…  The other day while reading my friend Lisa’s marriage advice that I posted here, I decided I could just stop letting those small things get to me.  Yep, it actually was just that simple.

When he leaves all the medications out on the counter instead of putting them away, I can either spend half a day grumpy or I can simply put them away.  If he doesn’t rinse off the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher and some come out dirty – I can spend half a day grumpy or just wash them again.  You get the idea…

It’s about expending unneeded energy on the little things that don’t really matter.  I often tell my kids – the amount of time you spent arguing about it, you could have had it done.  It’s certainly true here. 

Life has been calmer since I made my resolution.  I think he’s noticed a difference.  We certainly get through the day with a smile instead of being cross, which is SO worth the few extra minutes it takes to not let things get under my skin.

So, maybe I did get a little wiser…  I think wisdom and age must be must less an epiphany and much more a process…  I’ll have plenty of years, God willing, to find out. 

What could you give your spouse a pass on today?  What could you just let go instead of getting angry so that your time with your spouse can be happy?

Homeschool Filmmaking - Doctor Schloctor!

My son is part of a homeschool group who is interested in filmmaking.  I've been so impressed - they've had script writers, camera men, actors, etc.  Now that the filming is done - they are releasing promos and posters.  They aren't hoping to make the big time; they are just enjoying the process of making movies.

Review - Lightning Literature British Lit Early--Mid 19th Century

Lightning Literature & Composition

British Lit: Early -- Mid 19th Century

Hewitt homeschooling

Web site:  https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/ 

Price:  Student Guide - $29.95, Teacher's Guide - $2.95

Age:  High School

Even though I majored in English in college, literature is not my thing.  Sure, my degree allowed me to read a lot of lit, but when it comes to teaching my focus is in the technical writing arena.  So…  That being said…  Teaching literature is a challenge. 

Lightening Literature is a familiar name – our homeschool co-op used Lightening Lit for American Literature a few years ago.  This year, my older son will be taking British Lit.  So, that’s the edition I chose to review.

Student's Guide

First, I love the selections of literature chosen by Hewitt for all of their editions.  For Early to Mid-19th Century British Lit, students read poetry by William Blake, Pride and Prejudice, Ivanhoe, “Essay on Scott” by Carlyle, Romantic poets, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, and short story by Thackeray.  With the exception of the novels, the readings are included in the text.

Second, the format makes sense.  Read, respond, react.  Each unit starts with information about the time period and/or the author.  This information is a good background for starting with the literature.  In addition, each unit addresses different concepts of literature like tone, characterization, etc.  Again, important information that helps the reader understand why the writer used the approach he did.  While I appreciate the information given, I would love to see it provided in a different media like online audio or movie as well as in the text.  This would appeal to the different learning styles out there.

The comprehension questions provided with each work for the students are really intended to help them to engage with the literature and contemplate meaning both superficial and deep.  However, my sons are not likely to put a lot of thought into their responses if they are doing this just for me.  My older son says it feels more like busy work.  That being said, in a group setting where students are bringing their responses and discussing them as well as being evaluated by another teacher, he would be apt to provide more detail.  That’s really the rub with literature and homeschool – getting our students to embrace the process even if it means only mom will be the audience. 

Finally, the Writing Exercises, I felt, were well developed.  The prompts provide a range of approaches to dealing with the readings.  Each set of exercises for the Unit provide several options for writing from narrative to dialogue to report writing.  This allows the student to handle the material and develop a paper in a format he is most comfortable with.  My son doesn’t like creative writing – he avoids narratives like the plague.  However, he did like the opportunity to analyze aspects of the story.   

You can view a sample chapter here to see how the program is laid out. 

Teacher's Guide

The accompanying teacher’s guide provides a wealth of information for helping a parent work through Brit Lit with a student.  Checklists help a parent know what to look for in Nonfiction and Fiction papers as well as poetry.  These checklists help breakdown what aspects of the paper should be assessed like “Is there a reasonable flow to the piece?” Aspects that come natural to an English teacher but not necessarily to a homeschooling parent.  Additional grading tips help the parent have a better understanding of how to evaluate the writing.  Further, grading templates are provided to help distribute points and come to a fair graded evaluation of the student’s effort for each unit.

Hewitt has provided both a Semester and a Year-long schedule for the text.  Each week is elaborated out to show the pace and the expectation depending on the duration selected.  I have to say – this I really appreciate!  Not only does it give a parent the sense of how much should be covered, but it provides a clear way to set expectations for the student.

Next, answers to all of the comprehension questions are provided.  While this does allow the parent to check the student’s work without having read the literature, I would strongly recommend the parent read the literature before or along with the student so that the responses make sense and can be further discussed.  Additionally, if the parent reads at the same pace, he/she can further engage the student and help apply the reading to aspects of learning in other areas like history or art.

Finally, the Writing Exercises along with additional project suggestions are included.  Parent and student should discuss each exercise to ensure that the student selects a broad range of writing approaches to get the most out of both the literature and the exercise of writing.  I find the teaching guide to be an excellent tool!

Overall, I really like Lightening Literature and Composition.  The key will be coming to an understanding with your student(s) that this is a journey where the amount of effort put into it will equate to the value gotten out of it.  If the student will embrace the idea of really answering the comprehension questions to the best of his/her ability and work to fully develop each writing activity, then the learning value will be great.  I really like this approach for a small group or co-op situation where accountability and conversation will enhance the experience.

To see other reviews by the Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew - click here.

*** Disclaimer:  I received the Lightning Literature Student and Teacher Guides free of charge as a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review.

6 Tips for an Amazing Marriage by Lisa Johnson

I have the pleasure and privilege of knowing a wonderful lady!  Lisa Johnson is the homeschooling mother of ten, grandmother of one and an example to all of us of what it takes to make a happy family.  I honestly don’t know how she does it!  Fortunately, she’s willing to share a bit of how she keeps her marriage solid amid all the chaos.  I read her tips on Facebook and asked if I could share with you.  They all reached me personally and helped me to remember how precious and important my marriage is.  Maybe one day she’ll write a book!

Tip 1:  Be the person you'd like to be married to. If you'd like a little more grace for your faults, give a little more grace for theirs. If you need more love and understanding, give more love and understanding to your spouse.

Tip 2: Keep in mind that you too were sexier, funnier, skinnier, more romantic, more fun etc. when you were dating. Take some time to find those two people and reconnect. (Trust me, they're still in there somewhere.)

Tip 3: Nobody is perfect. Don't let the world at large find out about your spouse's imperfections via your mouth. "The heart of her husband trusts in her..." Prov. 31:11 " Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the church..." Eph 5:25.

Tip 4: Make it a point to give your spouse the best of you: the best of your smiles, the best of your touch, the best of your (good) attitude, the best of your laughter, the best of your words, etc. Don't always bring them what's left of you after the world has sucked all the life out of you.

Tip 5: Greet your spouse with a kiss. It's a mood enhancer. Science says that touch releases endorphins, so you begin to associate seeing your spouse with a pleasant feeling. Scripture says "Greet one another with a holy kiss" Rom. 16:16, so its scriptural. Practicality says that you can't say stupid things with your lips otherwise occupied. Voila! Mood enhanced!

Tip 6: Love.." Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Cor.13:7 Choose to believe the best. Listen to who you know your spouse to be, not necessarily the words. Sometimes it is hard to find the right words to express yourself. Some folks find it hard to communicate with words at all. Grace, grace.