Wednesday, October 6, 2010

LanSchool Home - A Review





Product: LanSchool Home Version

Price: $99 / home license (monitor up to 3 computers)

Company: LanSchool Technologies, LLC

To Purchase: LanSchool Home Version

Other Products: LanSchool for Classroom Use

Age Range: Teacher (and his/her students)

Brief Introduction:

LanSchool is a classroom management software solution for parents who wish to monitor their students computer use. Check out the brochure.

In-Depth Look:

Parents want to keep their children safe on the internet. They also want to make sure that their children are doing what they are supposed to be doing while on the computer.

LanSchool helps make this possible. As the teacher, you install the teacher mode on your computer. Then you install the student version on the computers that your children will be using (up to 3 computers).

Once the program is up and running, the options are many. The program can be used to monitor what your children are doing by viewing their screens. Now if they are playing a game instead of doing their research, you will know. You can also take control of their screens, which is handy when they need your assistance.

You can allow your children to view your screen. This is a great way to show everyone in the family the same thing at the same time. Want to show a video about the rain forest, but everyone can't see around the same monitor? Everyone can sit in front of their own screen and watch it at the same time. Want to show everyone how to run the new math program that you bought? Again, everyone can sit at their own monitors and watch.

A really neat feature is the ability to draw on your screen. You can draw circles, arrows, text, etc right on your monitor and the children can see it.

Some of the available features are
- Send message to student. This shows up as a pop-up that your child can close after reading.

- Chat. This allows for back and forth communication between you and your child.

- Block internet access. You can block some sites or the whole internet.

- Snapshots. You can take a "picture" of the student's screen and save it. This could be great for portfolios, using it to take screen shots of online quiz scores and completed activities.

- Survey. Imagine everyone is in a different room of the house. Send a quick question out to the bunch. "Is everyone done with their schoolwork?" "Is anyone ready for lunch?" The results show up on your teacher console.

-Tests. You can make your own tests. True/False or Multiple Choice. The test shows up on their monitor. The results show up on your console. Easy to take. Super easy to grade.

- Blank Screen. This is a neat one. You can blank the screen on all the student monitors. A great way to get everyone's attention.

Below is a snapshot showing a chat box. You and your child can send messages back and forth instantly.














The below snapshot is of "send a message". The box pops-up for your student to read. They can close down the box after they read it.















This snapshot is of the default message "Stop playing games." It shows up in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.














LanSchool Home has many helpful uses for protecting your child on the internet. You can see what they are doing and block certain functions and sites.

It also has many helpful uses for homeschooling. You can assist on your child's computer. Your child can watch you on your computer. Snapshots make for permanent records of work completed and grades achieved. Customizable tests and instant scores are convenient.

So what did I think? When I first heard about this program, I was pessimistic. I thought this was a wonderful idea for classroom use. But I really didn't see how it could be of much use for my family. But once I loaded the program and began trying it out, I was surprised at just how much it had to offer.

Helpful Tip: Make sure you have changed all settings back to where you want them and have exited the teacher console before turning off your computer. I was playing around with the features on my laptop and turned off all access to the internet on the desktop. Then without thinking about it, I shut down my laptop. Well, the setting stayed in effect and no one could access the internet on the desktop. So, I had to turn the laptop back on and go into the teacher's console to "fix it". At least I know now that the feature works, right? Hee-hee.



To read other reviews, click here.

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

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Vocabulary Cartoons - A Review


Product: Vocabulary Cartoons

Price: $12.95

Owner: New Monic Books, Inc.

Age Range: 3rd-6th Grade


Other Products:
SAT Word Power I & II
Picture Speller for Young Writers
Unofficial SAT Word Dictionary
Coffin's Patch
Teacher's Resources

Brief Overview:
"Vocabulary Cartoons are mnemonics designed for learning new words. Memory experts say that memory aids are the best way to remember just about anything" - from the back cover

In-Depth Look:

I am a big fan of mnemonics. Mnemonics assist the memory. They have helped me remember things since my school years. I know that in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. I can recite the planets in order, because 'my very educated mother just showed us nine planets'. Now, my children know that Roy G. Biv is more about the colors of the rainbow than about a man's name.

As soon as I opened up the book, Vocabulary Cartoons, I knew that I would like it. It is adorable and educational. Easy to read. Easy to use.

Here is an idea of the format on each page. (from page 139)


DELECTABLE

(dee LEK tuh bul) adj.

pleasant, delightful, savory, delicious

Sounds like: LICK THE BOWL

(Here you would find a cute cartoon picture of a family sitting at a table, licking their bowls clean.)

"Granny's pudding was so DELECTABLE, the family LICKED THE BOWL."

The guests said the dinner was DELECTABLE.

All the frozen dinners look DELECTABLE in the grocery store, but sometimes the food is not as good as it looks.

There is nothing that smells more DELECTABLE than bacon frying on an open campfire.


The setup is nice and sharp. The pictures are cute and help the definitions sink in, especially for visual learners. I enjoyed flipping through it and reading the funny sentences for each cartoon. I even learned a few new words. Now please, no teasing if you already knew them. But I now know Jocular and Neophyte. A review page is included after every 10 words. Your child can match words to definitions and then fill-in-the-blanks for the missing vocabulary word in each sentence.

My daughters were not as enthusiastic as I was. My oldest said that she would rather just learn the definition, plain and simple. I am surprised at this, because I like it a lot.
It is a resource that I plan to keep and use in our homeschool journey.

Depending on your tolerance, there are some cartoons that you may not enjoy as much . . . a vampire, a UFO, a ghost, a monster under the bed, and cavemen are some of them.

Free sample cartoons.
Complete word list. (221 words)

To read other reviews, click here.


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


Friday, September 24, 2010

Schleich Animal Figures - A Review




Product: Schleich Animal Figures

Price: Prices Vary depending on figurine

Age Range: Ages 3 and up

Other Products Available: Over 500 action figures and accessories are available

Company: Schleich GmbH

Where to Purchase: Store locator

Brief Description:
Schleich figures are "precision engineered by a German master craftsman who works on the finest details for up to six weeks . . . the figurines are all painted by hand - meaning each toy is absolutely unique . . . they are durable and safe while exceeding global safety standards," Mary Ludovico, Marketing Director.

In-Depth Look:
I have always admired the Schleich figures. The quality, the detail, the colors . . .so life-like and accurate. Something about them just makes me want to hold them and admire them. The craftmanship, I guess.

So, how cool is it that Schleich sent me 7 figures for a review? Super cool! These are the ones that I received. Click on each picture for more information.

Okapi








Przewalski's Horse










Dartmoor Pony









Swabian-Hall Piglet









Indian Elephant Calf









Gnu (Wildebeest)









Gnu Calf










I was pleased with the quality of these animal figurines. They feel sturdy and durable, like they are meant to last a long time. The detail is impressive, very life-like and accurate.

My 8yo and 11yo daughters thought they were adorable. And being big animal lovers, they wanted to claim them as their own to keep on their dressers. My 22 month old daughter also immediately wanted to claim them as her own. She loved carrying them around in her little purse. Pulling them out to show everyone and then putting them back into her purse to carry around some more. She had great fun with them.

I did some looking around on the Schleich website. I liked a lot of what they had to say. Their high opinion of the importance of play. Their commitment to safety. Schleich seems like a high-quality company. I was, however, disappointed to see that the toys we received were stamped "Made in China".

I am a big fan of the Schleich toys. They make wonderful gifts. They are fun to collect and to play with.

Disclaimer: I received these animal figures 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.


To read other crew members' reviews, click here.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Think on these things

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things," Philippians 4:8