TOS Crew Review: Spelling City

Sep 2nd, 2010
by blitz.
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I grew up a natural speller. My oldest daughter took after me and despite my never using a spelling curriculum with her, she consistently tested above grade level in spelling. So  I was a little dismayed to find that none of my other kids had this aptitude and in fact, had learning disabilities that made teaching, learning and retaining spelling words a miserable experience.

My younger daughter attended a charter school last year and that is how we found out about SpellingCity. She was actually enjoying spelling practice! Now that she is homeschooling again, we are continuing to use it alongside our unit study.

Spelling City is an online spelling program available in a free or premium version. I’ve found the site to be extremely easy to navigate. You can create your own spelling lists based on what you are studying or just use of one their ready made lists which include sight words, geography names and places,

There are over 42,000 spelling words and customizable sentences. Saving lists is easy with the free home pages that Spelling City provides. There are free printable handwriting worksheets for handwriting practice, and free teaching free resources. Support is easy to access with a FAQ page, forum and newsletters.

For each spelling list, students can chose to be tested, to play their choice of 12 games (14 if the user is using a SpellingCity Resource List) or teaching mode, which displays and spells the word. This multisensory approach is a huge help for students with learning differences. My daughter has really enjoyed playing these games and actually asks to go on Spelling City!

The free version offers plenty of spelling practice and resources, but some families and teachers will want to purchase a Premium Membership.  This membership includes automatic test grading and student grade book, complete activity tracking, telephone support and access to an additional two games, SpeedySpeller and Letterfall. The cost for a family with up to 5 students is $24.99.

I highly recommend Spelling City to any family, no matter how they are educating their children!

Posted in: TOS Reviews.

My Favorite Way to Make S’Mores

Jul 22nd, 2010
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Disclaimer: This is a shameless attempt to win a contest for a S’Mores prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club!

The very best way to enjoy S’Mores, of course is over a campout so that you can get the marshmallows toasted just right now. I even have a kit with a little burner to do it indoors, but haven’t used it much. In a real pinch, the microwave will suffice!

Kraft has a promotional website called S’Mores Smiles where you can enter to win over 1,000 prizes!

Posted in: Uncategorized.

Travel Kits

Jul 22nd, 2010
by blitz.
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Are we there yet? Is there any way to take the stress and boredom out of long family road trips? I was excited to have an opportunity to review Travel Kits, A Simple Way to Bless Others. This e-book was written by Donna Rees, the managing editor of The Old Schoolhouse magazine and is available through TOS Magazine’s Schoolhouse Store.

This e-book provides loads of creative inspiration to families who would like to take the doldrums out of long road trips. It really is possible to have fun and make memories while on the road! There are ideas for crafts, games, audio recordings, and things to collect and look for as you are traveling through states or countries. There are even practical ideas for easy meals, preparing your vehicle for the trip, book lists and helpful ideas from other families.

Admittedly, my initial thoughts as I read this book were that at this time of my life, it would be hard for me to get items like this together before a trip. Traveling with older kids and a younger one with special needs, we’ve been more of an iPod/DVD family. But what I loved about it was that the ideas in this e-book could also be used to bless other families who are traveling, or experiencing times of sickness or stress. There are even ideas to bless grandparents who are traveling, and for blessing a loved one going overseas on a mission trip.

These ideas would also be great for homeschooling families who are frequently in the car for doctor appointments or therapy visits and feel guilty about missing school. The ideas in this book could also be a wonderful ministry for grandparents or those who are homebound and like to work with their hands.

This e-book can be purchased at the Schoolhouse Store for just $12.45. It’s a terrific value for the amount of creative ideas that it holds!

If you’d like to read other reviews of Travel Kits, A Simple Way To Bless Others visit the TOS Crew blog.

Disclaimer:  As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are those of myself and/or my children.

Posted in: Homeschool Reviews, TOS Crew.

Two kids on a merry-go-round…

Jul 10th, 2010
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Posted in: Down Syndrome.

Homeschool Speech Therapy Give Away!

Jul 8th, 2010
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If you’re a homeschooler who needs speech therapy for your child (or children) you know that the costs can be daunting. Special Needs Homeschooling is offering a giveaway of the Super Star Speech Therapy ebook by Deborah Lott, (M.Ed. in Speech Language Pathology).

Even if you don’t win the giveaway this product is priced very affordably, less than what you’d pay for one hour of speech therapy!

Posted in: Down Syndrome, Special Needs Homeschooling.

Inspiring

Jul 3rd, 2010
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Inspiring story of a young woman from Ireland. Our kids can accomplish so much if we believe in them. I hope with the advent of social networking and the publication of stories like this that more people would be encouraged to keep their babies with Down Syndrome or try to adopt those who need homes.

Friday Focus on Down Syndrome

Posted in: Down Syndrome.

P.U.R.E. Ministry Project

Jun 30th, 2010
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I’m so encouraged to see more and more ministries rising up to minister to the disabled! As per the Pure Ministry Project , people with disabilities and their families are by far the largest unreached people group in the U.S. This is a large, ambitious website full of information but is a must read for everyone.

Watch their video here! “We believe that all children are a heritage from God and a blessing from His hand. We are therefore accountable to Him for raising, shaping and preparing them for a life of service to His Kingdom and to humanity.

We believe that there are no “disabled” souls – that human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all its dimensions, including the unborn, physically/mentally/developmentally disabled, the aged, the widowed, the unattractive, and every other condition in which humanness is expressed from conception to the grave as created by our loving God.”

Posted in: Disability Ministry, Down Syndrome.

Thoughts about Miley Cyrus

Jun 23rd, 2010
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Having just watched the “Untamed” clip I am very saddened by Miley’s changing persona. She was marketed as a wholesome young girl with Christian values and many parents felt it was safe to allow their daughters to watch Hannah Montana. The video is dark, sexual and disturbing. I am wondering  where her parents are in all of this. They claim to be a Christian family but this is no way a reflection of Christ.

I’m really tired of these Disney stars such as Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan being marketed to our kids as role models only to watch them fall apart when they become adults. Honestly, I don’t allow much of the Disney Channel for that reason. For that matter, I try to stay from the whole teen idol thing, period. So many of them can not handle the fame and money and become train wrecks when they get older.

Posted in: Uncategorized.

Heartschooling

Jun 18th, 2010
by blitz.
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This week I’ve heard about the passing of a young homeschool mom (from breast cancer) on some boards I’ve frequented for years. A few months ago a local mom of six, two with special needs also went Home to her Savior.

So often do I get caught up in the cares of this life, taking for granted that my family will always be here just the way they are now. And sometimes, when the stresses grow wearisome I find myself wishing time away…to some time in the future when I’m not constantly doing laundry, cooking, and driving all over north Tampa. I worry about reading and developmental levels too much. Being a mom of special needs kids sometimes has meant I’ve spent more time trying to fix them than loving them just the way they are.

So just for today…I spent some time with my youngest daughter listening to her idle chatter. And even when I was too tired to tuck her in, I got myself up and did it anyway. I missed blueberry picking because of the end of the year craziness but will try to get to the beach soon…before oil and storm season sets in. I will try to take things one day at a time and look for something beautiful, some memory to make in each day.

Homeschooling really is all about the heart.

Posted in: Homeschooling, Special Needs.

Want to learn to be a better blogger?

Jun 16th, 2010
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Learn how to take WordPress blogging to the next level during the Hot Seminar Series beginning June 16th and ending August 11th!

You’ll learn how to choose a great WordPress theme, how to choose great plugins and hear from guest experts Lynette Chandler, Traci Knoppe, 5MinutesforMom, Alexis Rodrigo, Nicole Dean, Lynn Terry and Suzanne Franco.

Season pass is only $19…don’t miss out  on this great learning opportunity!

Posted in: Blogging.

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