Sunday, January 22, 2012

Learn our History DVDs - The Birth of a Revolution - A Review

Product:  The Birth of a Revolution DVD

Price:  $9.95  plus $3.95 S&H (including 4 free gifts)

This is a monthly subscription program.  The following videos are $11.95 plus $3.95 S&H.  For full details see the below insert from their website.

"You will receive the The Birth Of A Revolution DVD for only $9.95, plus $3.95 shipping & handling, along with 4 Free Gifts. You'll also receive free streaming access, allowing you to watch your episode on the Learn Our History web site. All charges will be conveniently billed to the credit card you provide. If you are not 100% satisfied, you may return the DVD within 30 days for a full refund of the purchase price, with no questions asked. The free gifts are yours to keep, no matter what you decide.

Then, about once a month, we will send you an email letting you know when the next DVD in the series is scheduled to ship. If you want it, there's nothing for you to do. You'll receive a new TimeCycle Academy DVD for just $11.95 plus $3.95 s&h billed conveniently to your credit card. If you don't want it, you'll have at least 10 days to respond by calling (877) US HISTORY to let us know that you do not want the selection offered. You are under no obligation to purchase an additional DVD, and you understand that refusing a selection is not a cancellation. You may cancel at any time simply by calling Learn Our History, and you understand that unless you call Learn Our History to cancel, you will continue to receive a new Learn Our History DVD, complete with FREE streaming, about once a month."

Age Range:  6 and up

Other products available:  5 more videos available now.  9 more planned to be released this year. 

Co-Founders:  Brad Saft and Mike Huckabee 


About the movie: from the website

Although the shots fired at Lexington and Concord marked the first battle of the war, the path to the Revolution did not start there. The American colonies had made great progress operating under individual legislatures, which could levy taxes, muster troops, and pass certain laws that regulated each colony, but the colonists were still subjects of King George III of England.
By the 1750s, the colonists had come to believe that governing themselves was their right. When Great Britain began to directly tax the colonists to raise funds after the costly French and Indian War, the colonists were outraged. They believed they had all the same rights as Englishmen, who could elect members of Parliament to represent them—especially on such subjects as taxes.
In England, however, the attitude was different: The British government believed the colonies were created to be used in whatever way the King and Parliament believed was best, and the stage was set for conflict.
In this outstanding film, young viewers will journey back to the American colonies during the period leading to that first fateful battle. They’ll experience the events that led the colonists to break with England, forming a new, democratic republic unlike any before in history. Viewers will join the TimeCycle Academy as they come to understand and appreciate the efforts the colonists made to pursue their freedom and forever separate from Great Britain.

Our Thoughts:
I think this is a great concept.  Explanations of some of the most significant events in US History, geared to a level that elementary children can understand. 



Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge to review, as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.

ALEKS - A math review

Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces

 

What is ALEKS? (from the website)


Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. A student who shows a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course she is taking.
ALEKS also provides the advantages of one-on-one instruction, 24/7, from virtually any Web-based computer for a fraction of the cost of a human tutor.

How much does it cost:
Free Trial
$19.95/month . . . $99.95/6 months . . . $179.95/12 months
Family discounts chart

Age Ranges:
K-12 and Continuing Education
 Course Choices


Brief Intro Video

Our Thoughts:

We have tried many math items on the TOS Crew - both in workbook and online formats.  A few my girls have liked; most they have not liked.  Neither daughter cares for math, so it takes a lot to impress them.  :)

So what did they think of Aleks?  Well, like so many of the other math programs we have tried, they weren't thrilled with it.  They used the program with less fuss than some of the ones in the past, but they didn't particularly enjoy using it. 

But here is the thing.  It worked! Maybe they didn't love it.  Maybe they would groan when I said it was time for math.  But it worked.  They took their assessment and then started to fill their "Pies" one concept at a time.  They would choose any topic, their choice.  Then they would answer the questions.  If they got it right they moved on to more practice.  If they got it wrong, they could ask for an explanation and try again.  After a certain number of correct responses, ALEKS considers the topic mastered and adds it to the "Pie".  Then the student picks another topic of the "Pie". 

My girls have reviewed things that they have learned in the past, practiced up on some important skills, and tackled some new topics.  They have gained confidence, working mostly independently, watching their "Pie" grow and grow.

I have been happy with the program and happy with the results.  I am pleased to see their confidence, skill, and recollection grow.


 Read more reviews.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge to review, as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.

 











Saturday, January 21, 2012

A Mile in His Shoes - A DVD review and a giveaway

Thomas Kinkade presents "A Mile in His Shoes", from the director of Angels in the Outfield.

Rated PG and run time is 89 minutes.  Special features include 'The making of A Mile in His Shoes', Trailer, and the Thomas Kinkade painting gallery.

From the director of "Angels in the Outfield" comes an inspiring story about a special boy with an amazing gift, and the coach who believed.  Dean Cain and Luke Schroder star in the gmc movie based on the book "The Legend of Mickey Tussler". - Propeller

 Our thoughts -
     Our entire family sat down to enjoy a movie night.  I told our girls, 13 and 9, that if they weren't enjoying the movie to let us know.  We could turn it off and my husband and I would watch it later.  But that point never came.  They sat through the entire movie and enjoyed it as much as we did.

An inspiring movie about a young man with Aspergers and his journey to the baseball leagues.  This is a family friendly, feel good movie.  It stresses great Christian values: Make your wrongs right.  Believe in yourself.  Believe in others.  Forgive others.

A great movie.  I hope you will make an effort to watch it.

Disclaimer:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 Giveaway:
The kind folks at Propeller are giving away a copy of this great movie to one of my lucky readers.  Good luck.

One winner will be selected at random on January 28th.  Just leave a comment letting me know you would like to win, and make sure I have a way to contact you.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Hannah Smith - Endangered Runaway Alert

Hannah Mary Rejoice Smith
A 16 year old endangered runaway missing since January 1, 2012 from East Greenbush, NY.  Hannah mentioned going to New Jersey, NYC, or Chicago.

This link has more information.

Please pray that she will return safely and soon.  Please pray for her family.