Learn Basic HTML with Web Design for Kids (....and Curious Grownups!)

I'll join the ranks of the other TOS Crew members who admitted the idea of learning html, not to mention learning it in front of our students and children, seemed more than a little bit intimidating. But, like the others, my apprehension in taking the plastic off Web Design for Kids (...and Curious Grownups!) was totally unfounded. In just a few minutes, I was able to create a very basic web page following the instructions presented in the DVD.

Brian Richardson, the middle school computer teacher who facilitates this process, does so at a pace that is not difficult to follow and with the intuition to stop and explain terms and procedures that may be unfamiliar to his students. For example, before even beginning the lessons in writing HTML, he took the time to explain how to create a folder for my new web design files. I had never created a folder on purpose that I remember. And, then, taking baby steps, he led his audience through typing ten lines of HTML code.

This is where I got stuck for a minute or two. I knew I had typed everything just as he had and had rechecked my work to be sure, but I couldn't bring up the same boldly-colored page as the middle school kids on the dvd. As teachers, don't we remind our students to follow ALL the directions? Therein lay my problem...I had missed a direction. Even though I had gone off on my own rabbit trail trying to figure out what I'd done, I was still able to pick right up with the dvd.

Brian guides his students through the following steps in the dvd program (from the dvd cover):

• basic HTML code for titles, headers, and body of web pages


• making text move across the screen


• adding pictures


• coloring letters and backgrounds

In each section of the dvd, he emphasizes attention to detail and reviews the main points of the previous lessons. With the entire dvd running about an hour and twenty minutes, it can easily be divided into shorter lessons for younger students.

So, who can benefit from Web Design for Kids (...and Curious Grownups!)? I would say anyone with basic keyboarding proficiency, since you really need to be able to type to keep up with him, unless you don't mind pausing the dvd whenever he displays the screen. (And that really isn't too far-fetched if you want to try this at a slower pace for younger students.) His instructions are clear and simple enough for young elementary level students, I think. In the FAQ section of his site, Brian suggests ages 8+. He uses terms that are catchy and visual for kids. Since it's not a curriculum with specified goals, that frees you up to determine your own, or to just see how much you and your students can learn. In utilizing this with my own first and second graders, I plan to just focus on learning the first ten lines of HTML code that he introduces to begin with, and then see how far they can go. As for us parents and teachers, don't be intimidated by the idea of unraveling all those >, <, and abbreviations--you can do it, and even if you don't plan to create your own web pages from scratch, knowledge of basic HTML code will enhance and expand what you can do with blogs, too.

I consider this product an excellent springboard for further computer and technology studies and projects. While there are web sites with similar information available, what makes Web Design for Kids (....and Curious Grownups!) special is the format. Like I said above, Brian Richardson knows how to teach this stuff in a way that regular people can understand. It's a lot like having a computer tech teacher in the living room.

Go over to their website at http://www.webdesignforkids.net/ and check out the sample they offer as well as the testimonials. Right now, Web Design for Kids (....and Curious Grownups!) is on sale, too, marked down to $19.99, from $40. Y'all, here we are at the beginning of another school year, and for many, $19.99 is not easy, even if it is a great deal. As I write these reviews, I am always very aware of the fact that we all are trying to use our dollars in the most productive ways. How about this--if you like what you see on the site, but money is tight, what about going together with a friend to purchase this dvd? Okay, I'm going to throw this out--most of our homeschool coops and resource groups have curriculum and resource libraries--this should be in it. The website also contains information about why he created this dvd, FAQ's, his hopes for helping others through his business, and a page with info about ordering. After checking out Brian's site, whether or not you decide to purchase the dvd, be blessed and motivated by the proof of Brian's pledge to be a blessing with the profits of his business. You can actually see scans of the first checks he made out to five charities. I personally love that that particular page of his site begins with scripture. This guy has got the right idea in his business mission plan.

Whether just curious or wanting to provide quality computer instruction that your students will actually use, Web Design for Kids (....and Curious Grownups!) is truly worth checking out!

--all images in this post taken from http://www.webdesignforkids.net/ .

Quarter Mile Math Update--new prices in effect!

I received an email concerning some news over at The Quarter Mile Math--here you go!
They now have some options for subscribing to the Deluxe version:

$2.95 per family per month
$19.95 per family for one year (save $15.45 over one year)
$34.95 per family for two years (save $35.85 over two years).

There is also a new section, “For Homeschoolers”, which you can access from the homepage. This section will have all sorts of helps for homeschoolers using The Quarter Mile Math, including a forum to see how others are using the program and setup help for getting started. You can also sign up to receive email updates. Y'all, it really has a lot you need to check out if you're using or thinking about purchasing The Quarter Mile Math program.

Like I said in my original review of this product, you'll see more about as the year progresses!

More from Grapevine Studies, the Level 1 New Testament Overview

In addition to reviewing the Level 1 Old Testament Overview, I have also been very fortunate to have the opportunity to review the Level 1 New Testament Overview from Grapevine Studies. And after spending time with this curriculum, I am looking forward to using it in our homeschool as part of our Bible program for our kids. Before digging into my review, I want to state this:

There is absolutely no part of your homeschool curriculum that warrants the examination, prayer, and dedication that the Bible component does. It is the core of not only the homeschool, but the home, and should spill over into all the other subjects in one way or another. Having said that, I encourage you to carefully and prayerfully choose and implement your Bible curriculum, testing each lesson against God's Word. There is no perfect manmade curriculum, but the Word of God is.

The Level 1 New Testament Overview begins with a general review of the events of the Old Testament that lead up to the birth of Christ, with the students using simple symbols and stick figures to illustrate the highlights. The curriculum then takes the students from this point through the years of His ministry, His death, burial, and resurrection, the early years of the church, to the final judgment.

As with the Old Testament Overview, users are encouraged to go through the New Testament Overview at the pace of one lesson per week. Each lesson includes these components:

• illustration of the main events/points through simple symbols and stick figures


• lesson review


• creation of character/event summary card


• scripture memorization and review of scriptures from previous lessons


• placement of each lesson within the overall timeline of the New Testament

The teacher's version includes background readings for each lesson, as well as helps in leading the lessons. However, the writer of this curriculum, Dianna Wiebe, encourages the teacher to also customize each lesson. I really appreciate that because that our Bible curriculum should be dynamic and should be fit to the students we see before us. Oh, before I forget, the teacher's version of this actually includes both Level 1 and Level 2, which is a real plus, I think, especially if you're like me and have different ages sitting around the table. You can check out sample pages from the teacher version here.

As the students move through the lessons, the components of each lesson--the art, the color choices, the visualization of the chronology of Bible events, the scripture memorization, and review questions--all work together to reinforce real learning. The art is uncluttered by detail, consisting of simple symbols and stick figures, so the students can focus on the meat of the lessons, rather than on their own artistic abilities. In each lesson, the events of the preceding lessons are reviewed, as well as the scriptures the students have memorized. I love this aspect of this curriculum--that as we move forward, we hold tightly to what has already been learned. I think it's great how the format of this program stresses knowledge in context as the students are repeatedly drawing events in their correct spots in the chronology of the New Testament.

Okay, now I want to address a common and extremely valid point when it comes to Bible curriculum. Those of us who fall under the category of Christian homeschoolers do not agree on every subject--no big surprise there, I know. When I go to choose material for our Bible curriculum, I want resources which do not conflict with my core beliefs. How does this one stack up to that? First, I want to share that the creators state within the curriculum in their statement of faith the following:

"Grapevine Studies is please to be able to provide Bible curriculum to a variety of
denominations. Our unique teacher-directed doctrinal approach provides a platform for each teacher/parent to explain their specific doctrines as they come up with in each lesson."

I am very impressed with their obvious dedication to this. At this point, I have found only two issues which I will be modifying our teaching of. I mention this for two reasons, one being my conscience and the other to demonstrate how this curriculum is adaptible and stresses the teacher's own Bible study. One issue is baptism, which, after my own personal study of the New Testament I believe to be more closely linked to salvation than is expressed in the curriculum. The other is the millenium. Again, our family has different beliefs regarding the chronology of the final times. Is this a criticism of the program? Not at all--partly, my conscience demanded I share that, and also, I want to stress that this curriculum is geared to encourage and take into account the teacher's own Bible study. The authors encourage parents to be in the Word and to customize the curriculum. Isn't that one of the privileges of homeschooling? To be able to share with our children what we find in the Word of God, to guide them to know Him and His Word.

The Level 1 New Testament Overview is a 50-lesson curriculum, and, as stated above, the lessons can be paced to about one per week. Who is this appropriate for? The Grapevine Studies site places this curriculum in the 6-8 year old age range, but I think you can go a little younger or a little older depending on the student. I have found it is easily adaptible to both my 5-year-old emerging reader and my 6-year-old independent reader. Both really get excited about the drawing involved in the Grapevine Studies products, and the material is age-appropriate.

You can find out more about ordering and the different print and ebook formats available to purchase by going to the Grapevine Studies website. Click here to go directly to a list of New Testament Overview options, including Level 1. They offer several levels, so you can choose what best fits your group of students. Since I've been reviewing the Level 1 version, let me share that it's on sale for $20.75 (print, dent and ding version), as you'll see when you click on the link above. By the way, Dianna was very helpful and offered me some useful advice in choosing which level to get for our kids. I really appreciate is that the teacher book contains both Levels 1 and 2, and it's on sale right now, too, for $28.75 for the print dent and ding version. The ebook version is what I have, and it's only $22.95. It's nice to have options! Here's a link to the teacher versions right here. The website has a contact page which you can access here if you have questions about the curriculum or which level to purchase.

You can head on over to the Grapevine Studies website here to check out what they offer and over to the TOS Crew Blog here to find out what others have to say about this and other Grapevine Studies products.

One more thing! Grapevine Studies has very graciously and generously shared this offer with the TOS Crew and our blog readers. You can use the code CREWS to get 30% off all their books until September 15!

A tool in building the most important foundation....the Grapevine Studies Old Testament overview

As a family, we take on a multi-faceted group identity comprised of the varied interests and experiences of five people. While those interests and experiences will vary and intensify and wane and bring us together and pull us apart in our cycles of involvement, there is one constant that is our foundation and our destination, our peace and our hope. Of course, I'm referring to our faith in God, our hope of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Even our journey in homeschooling is centered in this. This is the core of our identity and what matters most. So I am very pleased to share our experience and thoughts concerning both the Level 1 Old Testament and New Testament Overviews from Grapevine Studies. These are two distinct studies and, as such, warrant two reviews. In this one I will focus on the Old Testament overview.

Bible study has been part of our children's lives from the beginning. We have read and prayed together and tried to point to the presence and work of God in our lives from those infant days. However, in the past few months, I have begun to realize that they're ready to dig deeper in our studies. So, how excited I was to receive the word that the TOS Crew would have an opportunity to review the curricula offered through Grapevine studies. As I have spent time with the Level 1 Old Testament Overview curriculum, I can see that our use of this as part of our Bible curriculum will lead to more retention of the specifics and the ability to take the stories and comprehend them in their correct place in the chronology of God's Word.

The creator of this series, Dianna Wiebe, begins with the "inspiration", two scriptures which remind parents of their role in teaching their children about God.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command
you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall
talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and
when you rise up.

Psalm 78:4b-7

…Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His
wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed
a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to
their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be
born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in
God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.

As the Old Testament Overview curriculum moves forward, then, the admonition within those scriptures is the motivation.

In a nutshell, this curriculum is summed up by the way Dianna's own catch phrase, "Serving Him through stick figures". The first several days are spent building a timeline of the highlights of the Old Testament, using simple symbols and stick figures. From that point, the students back up and study each event in greater detail. Once again, for the most part, they are using simple picture symbols and stick figures to illustrate the main points within each event. When words are needed, they are to be kept as concise as possible. Before moving on, each lesson is reviewed and done so in the context of its place in the timeline. Each lesson also includes scripture memorization. You can check out a sample of this curriculum and how it's set up here.

Teachers are encouraged not to rush through the material, but rather to take one lesson per week, allowing plenty of time to really focus on each part. Within each lesson, students will create a timeline of main events, work on scripture memorization, review the lesson in terms of its place in the overall Old Testament time line, and spend time in review of previous lessons and other scriptures memorized.

What do I think about the Level 1 Old Testament Overview from Grapevine Studies? Understanding the Old Testament is a key to appreciating and understanding and reverencing the God who spans both Testaments. I truly can say I love how this curriculum is set up, constantly reviewing as it moves forward, constantly reinforcing real learning of the material. As the kids participate in each lesson, they do so in a multisensory manner, with their eyes, ears, and hands involved. The use of words, lines, symbols, and color all together enhance retention in each lesson. The slower pace encouraged in this curriculum is great, and I think it allows time to really focus on each component of the lessons, maximizing learning potential. And teachers are encouraged and admonished to be diligent in their own study and preparation and prayer, and to customize each lesson to the ages, abilities, and needs are their individual students.

This curriculum is available in either an e-book format ($24.95) or good old fashioned paper format, and right now the paper version is on sale for $20.95, both the 3-hole and softbound versions. Click here to check out all versions. Click here to check out the deals on the teacher book, the paper version of which is also on sale right now for $28.95, with the e-book listed for $22.95.

You can also learn more about the products offered by Grapevine Studies at the TOS Crew blog.

One more thing! Grapevine Studies has very graciously and generously shared this offer with the TOS Crew and our blog readers. You can use the code CREWS to get 30% off all their books until September 15!

While I can only offer reviews of the Old and New Testament Overviews, I do encourage you to spend some time on the Grapevine Studies website. There is no more important subject in the education of our children than instruction in God's Word, and I encourage you above all else to seek His guidance and wisdom every day in this.

Chomping at the bit....Racing With The Quarter Mile Math program...

Before I get started here, I want to say there will more reviews to follow of this one as our school year progresses and we use this product on a daily basis.

When I was teaching in the public and private school sectors, for most of those years I was in the fourth grade. I saw first hand the struggles of my students who did not already have a strong foundation in the basics, such as their addition and subtraction facts. While our curriculum's schedule indicated it was time to move on to more advanced skills, their progress was stunted by a shaky base. We spent a whole lot of time in review and remediation. And I still supplemented our core curriculum with plenty of practice in the basics for those who were on track, too. Those years impressed upon me the need for consistent, heaping-sized amounts of practice in the core math concepts for all students. We don't stop giving our kids milk and juice just because they progress to table foods. They need it all. It's the same with math. It goes back to a saying I used to post in my classroom, "In order to do great things, one must do small things well."

Now, as a homeschooling teacher with lower elementary students, one of my primary goals in our math program is to build that solid foundation, to provide and insist upon lots and lots of practice in the basics. We have used a mix of worksheets, flashcards, and computer games and drills. The drawback to those computer games, which I've found on the internet, though, is that unless I sit right beside each one and keep score, I don't have a printable record of their progress. Until now.

The TOS Crew has been asked to review Barnum Software's The Quarter Mile Math program. While there are several versions available, our family is now using the Deluxe, Levels 1, 2, and 3 bundle. Before I go into detail, here's the gist of it. As the teacher, I add students and indicate their grade levels. When it's time for a student to race, while older students can follow directions to click on the appropriate subject and topic, the teacher would need to do so for pre- or beginning reading students. Once they get to the race, though, even my three-year-old can click on the green "start race" button. The races are simply very straightforward drills in a number of math, alphabetic, and keyboarding skills. The faster the student answers correctly, the faster their horse or car will go to finish the race. In the beginning, they race against the fictional Fast Eddy until they accumulate their own scores to compete against. There is also a mode for racing against other students. As they complete races, their five highest scores are saved and averaged.

The Quarter Mile Math was very simple to install on our computer, which has Windows XP. I did catch my breath momentarily when my desktop suddenly changed to a higher resolution when I started the program for the first time. That is harmless, however, just the monitor and the program getting on the same page, so to speak. It works fine, and the user's guide explains an alternate method of installation for those who do have display issues concerning their monitor and the program's resolution. A representative for The Quarter Mile Math informed me that this has only occurred three times to their knowledge, but they still included the information regarding the glitch and the fix in the user's guide just in case. If you've read my pattern review below, you already know I like to be able to get things done as quickly as possible, which means I often jump ahead before reading things like user's guides. I actually did read a paragraph that was circled on the installation notes. In this case, though, the program itself was self-explanatory as far as getting all my students added and ready to race. (By the way, I did go back and spend a big chunk of time with the user's guide.)

Over the past few days, the kids and I have explored several subjects and topics within the program. While the problems differ, the format and procedure is the same. In our case, I added my 3, 5, and 6-year olds, as well as myself, as students. Upon starting the program, a student signs in with a password, which can be changed, they choose a subject and topic, and have the option to choose either a riderless horse or dragster race before they click "start race". There are 323 topics in all, and they are organized by subject and level. The Deluxe Version contains all the topics in the The Quarter Mile Math levels 1, 2, and 3, and over 70,000 problems within these topics. The extensive list of subjects include:

• Numbers and letters
• Whole numbers
• Introduction to fractions
• Fractions
• Decimals
• Percents
• Math Strategies
• Estimation
• Integers
• Equations

Once the student (or teacher) chooses a subject followed by one of the topics within that subject, they are ready to race. Each race is executed in the same manner. One problem at a time will appear at the bottom of the screen. Upon clicking "start race", the first problem will appear. As soon as the student answers this one correctly, their horse or car takes off with screeching tires or thundering hooves (volume is easily adjusted, by the way). For each correct answer, their speed increases. And the kids can actually see this as their horse or car pulls away from or lags behind the others in the race. At the end of the race, their time, speed, and rank is displayed. Like I said above, in the first race within a new topic, they race against Fast Eddy, and most likely the student will come in first. As they accumulate scores, these scores become their competitors in subsequent races. This challenges the student to always strive for a faster time, which they can accomplish by getting more answers correct more quickly. I've noticed that the more advanced topics also have longer racing periods, whereas the lower levels have shorter races, which is appropriate when you consider the ages of the students who will most likely be taking each drill.

There is also an option in the program for racing against the times of other students. The students do not race simultaneously but race against each other's times. That way they get the motivation without the intimidation at this point.

The Quarter Mile Math program does not automatically move students from one level to the next, and that is intentional. At any point, any student can take any drill on the program. At first, I thought of this as more of a disadvantage, but not after consideration of the why's behind this. There are times when an upper level students needs to hone basic skills. Some students might be tempted to and capable of manipulating their racing times just enough to stay in a lower level while improving their averages. Teachers can customize the pace of the program and use multiple avenues of assessment outside of the program to determine what skills a students needs to work on, not just how well they are performing within this program.

Okay, about troubleshooting....this program has the potential for some rare glitches with some operating systems, and they acknowledge this and provide alternate methods in the user's guide. In fact, I was informed by a rep for the program that it's only actually happened 3 times to their knowledge, but they are proactive in providing a solution should it occur again. And they have very prompt customer service as well. Yesterday, as my younger daughter was racing, we needed to escape during a race. According to the guide, that's fine--that particular race just won't be saved. Well, for a little bit after that, the program wouldn't let her sign in, saying she already was on another computer. I bypassed this by setting up another student name for her, which wasn't a big deal since we're still just getting to know the progrm. I used the contact email to ask about this issue, and within just a few hours had received an email from a real person addressing my concern and offering an explanation and solution that made sense and resolved the issue! Both thumbs up here!

Now that we've gone over what The Quarter Mile Math program is and how to use it, what do I think about it? I don't usually use pros/cons lists, but I need to for this one.

Pros

• The program is easy to install.
• The racing format provides for straightforward skills practice uncluttered by complicated directions.
• Has races for students of all ages, even preschool. (I know it is marketed for up to grade 9, but I think even upper level math students would benefit from the skills drills. I know this 34-year-old teacher plans to freshen up and speed up my own skills!)
• Scores can be tracked and printed.
• Students get the motivation and satisfaction of competition without the intimidation that sometimes accompanies it.
• My kids beg to race and argue about taking turns.
• The program covers a wide spectrum of crucial math skills, organized by subject, topic, and level.
• The Quarter Mile Math gives permission to purchasers to install the program on multiple computers, even in other locations, so students can race even if they're away from home.
• The customer service is prompt, human, and helpful.
• Barnum Software acknowledges the potential for glitches on certain operating systems and already has solutions in place.
• It is aligned to many state educational standards. Click here to check for your state.
• Barnum Software offers an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons

• The program has the potential for rare glitches with some operating systems. (see end of pros)
• When one student hits "quit", it shuts down the whole program. Not a huge deal, but the next student has to wait for the program to start again, which only takes a few seconds. And the customer service from The Quarter Mile Math informed me that this can be avoided by simply having the next student sign in without the first one hitting "quit".
• This program truly is just a practice program. It is not designed to be used in a way that can really reflect a grade. The Quarter Mile Math provides an average of the best 5 times, along with what drills were taken, how many times, and how many items were answered. Since it only accepts correct answers, keeping a percentage of correct answers isn't possible.

I can't put the cost issue under either of those headings. What is a bargain to one may be a tight stretch to another. And, at this point in our family's use of The Quarter Mile Math Deluxe Version program, I don't feel qualified to suggest someone go out and commit to a purchase of this amount. In favor of the program, I can offer this testimonial at this point:

My older daughter is the dream student of a traditional classroom teacher, with a love for worksheets and an amazing capacity for memorizing bits of data quickly and logically. She also had an incredibly strong desire to succeed. My younger daughter is every bit as smart and perceptive but she learns in a totally different way. She thinks outside the box, and can sythesize the ideas she latches onto into a bigger, often extremely complex concept. But that little girl is very seldom still and her brain functions best with concepts that involve memorization and repetition when she is involved through multiple senses or emotionally. The Quarter Mile Math meets those specifications. She is emotionally tied through the desire to win, and running each race involves more of her senses than a worksheet or flashcard as she experiences the realistic sounds and vibrant colors and sees the numbers on the keyboard as she answers. In just a few days, I have seen improvement in her addition skills.

I do suggest you go to the website, watch the videos,download the demo version, and take the time to read carefully and really become familiar with what is offered. There are a number of parent and teacher testimonials on the website, also, and I failed to mention until now that the Sylvan Learning Centers have made the Levels 1, 2, and 3 Bundle part of their math curriculum in all 1,100 of their locations.

I also recommend checking out other reviews of this product over at the TOS Crew blog.

Let me offer this rundown of prices before I proceed. You can view prices and make online purchases through their website here. Hey, if you want to order any of the standard versions, click on the standard side of the the page, and you will be taken to a form that lists all the standard versions.

The Quarter Mile Math: Level 1, 2, or 3 bought separately $39.95

The Quarter Mile Math: Levels 1,2 or 2,3 bundles $64.95

The Quarter Mile Math: Levels 1, 2, and 3 bundle (standard version) $89.95

The Deluxe Version of the Levels 1, 2, and 3 bundle is a subscription purchase of $2.95 a month that includes additional features not found in the standard one. To view these features, click here. This is the version I am reviewing.

There you have it....The Quarter Mile Math program from Barnum Software. I need to go--I've got to free up this chair before the next race begins!

Simplicity, innocence, and beauty in Sense & Sensibility Patterns...

When the TOS Crew got the word that we could choose to review the girls' Edwardian apron pattern from Sense & Sensibility, I jumped at the chance. Just this past year I discovered the world of heirloom patterns as I planned the girls' Easter dresses, and I have to admit, I think I'm hooked. In a world that fails to value innocence, even in the fashions of our little girls, it is a blessing to find these patterns that help me dress my daughters in a modest, beautiful manner.

I traveled on over to the Sense & Sensibility website and found a wealth of resources and options and helps, from a well-rounded line of patterns organized by era to sewing classes you can take online to guide through the process of making several of the garments in this line. Jennie Chancey, the creator of Sense & Sensibility, also offers photo instructions which you can access through her website for many of her patterns. And who can resist a link for $1 items? On Fridays, she offers a freebie in that section also!

When I bought the pattern for the girls' Easter dresses, I had chosen one particular one and then scoured the Internet for the best deal on it. I could have saved $5 if I'd known about Sense & Sensibility's girls' patterns and their e-pattern option. And nowadays, with the cost of fabric and notions so high, I appreciate saving a little bit here and there throughout the process.

Anyway, let's talk about this girls' Edwardian apron pattern and the e-class that you can purchase with it. The e-pattern version is $7.95, the paper one is $12.95, the e-class is $19.95, or you can save a little bit and choose the e-pattern/e-class bundle for $24.95. You can find out more about each option and make purchases through any of the apron links throughout this post.

Let's get this out in the open first, though..... I am an impatient seamstress. With time and experience, I'm getting way better, but, oh, the seams I've had to take out, and the half-finished monsters I've had to put out of my sight because of my own need for speed! I blame my mom--truly, we would go to bed the night before Easter with two unopened patterns and two stacks of fabric on the table and would awake for midnight fittings and then find beautiful Easter dresses come morning. I now wonder, how did she do it, year after year? Anyway, I didn't really begin sewing until I was in my late twenties and had someone to sew for of my own. How my appreciation for my mother and grandmother has grown as I've labored and learned and alternately cried or bragged to my husband over mistakes or successes! I'm learning, though, the value and time that can be saved with prudence in my case, so I sat down to watch the e-class before even choosing my fabric. That was three weeks ago. I got sleepy (because moms who live in barns with a herd of children only get to watch e-classes when the herd is bedded down), so I had to stop at twelve minutes into it. Fast forward through the next few weeks of stomach bug attacks followed by respiratory infections among all the inhabitants here, and this week, I'm just getting a chance to get back to my apron class and pattern.


So, I did finally get to sit through the class to the conclusion. I had to open the sound in a separate window, which was no big deal, and then Jennie narrated each of the 57 slides that detail the construction of the garment. Actually, it's a plus that she does the sound separately because I could jump up and back a picture or two as she talked, helping me to better understand what I'd be doing. I started to close those windows before the question session at the end, but I'm glad I didn't--those girls asked some questions that turned out to be very helpful. The class takes about 45 minutes.

Since I'm reviewing the e-pattern version, it was on to printing out the directions and pattern. For me, saving $5 in purchasing the e-version would have more than made up for the time it took to then piece together the pattern. And Jennie provides directions for laying them out. My sweet husband was very accomodating about having to step around my puzzle in the kitchen floor to get to his breakfast before work. For anyone concerned about the accurate sizing of e-pattern pieces, Jennie provides a test page to make sure your printer is printing at 100% of her pieces's sizes.

The directions, to me, were much easier to understand and deal with than the oversized ones that come with McCall's or Simplicity. Jennie is a very intuitive teacher and provides instructions and tips that really are helpful for those of us who still have a lot to learn. She demonstrates in the class and explains in the patterns how to make your own binding, which I intended to do and had started on, but then I found a package of store-bought in my notions box that matched perfectly. While we're talking binding, the pattern has a calculation error about how much binding to have, but she made sure to send an email with the correction and an apology, and I noticed she points it out on the website, too.


Once everything was cut out, I just took the directions a step at a time. I always feel intimidated by a new pattern until I dig into it, and this one honestly just flowed really well. The instructions are accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations which are captioned and easy to understand. With interruptions to continue our daily life around here, I was still able to complete the apron in one day. I was putting together the pattern pieces at dawn and cutting off the last hanging strings about ten last night.

Front and back views of the finished product last night. Both my models were pleased with the result. I do want to add here that I made it by a size 6 and was able to accomodate both girls, which are about 15 lbs. and five inches apart, by adjusting the how much of the straps were pulled through the side loops. The length still worked for both. Hey, y'all, in the back view, it may look like my hem wasn't even--I'm pretty sure it is in real life!

I'll say this, too. It's a forgiving pattern--even with Jennie's email about the binding length error, I had made one too many mistakes and didn't have quite enough of my cute store-bought binding. But I was able to improvise with the same eyelet lace I used along the hem, around the top. Also, with children, even when you measure, there can still be the need to make adjustments. The way this apron is pieced, it would not be difficult to make small alterations in size after the garment was constructed--that's a big plus.

If a beginner has an experienced seamstress to provide guidance, I think this would be a fun, satisfying shared project. I also think that if a beginner wanted to do it alone, they could if they went ahead and purchased the e-class as well and paid very close attention to each step. For anyone with experience in making little girls' clothes, this pattern should not be difficult.

Honestly, I had fun making this apron and went ahead and cut out two at the same time, so I now have the fabric ready to begin the second. This would be a really sweet birthday or Christmas gift for a young girl, and Sense & Sensibility offers an adult and doll version (when you click on this link, scroll down just a little) as well, so mom, daughter, and doll can match!

After successfully constructing the girls' Edwardian apron, I am looking forward to my next Sense & Sensibility project. Jennie actually has some dress patterns that I think would coordinate really well with the apron. I do want to make it clear that while these patterns may initially seem old-fashioned and appropriate for children or reenactment purposes, many of them would make out to be beautiful and stylish garments for modern life with the appropriate fabrics and notions. You can check out what others have done with these patterns here.

You can learn more about Sense & Sensibility here at their website or here in the reviews of other TOS Crew members.

From scratch....nutritious and delicious....Sue Gregg.

Not long after our oldest was born, we began to be concerned about the quality and safety of what we were feeding both her and us. Not that we thought anyone was deliberately poisoning us.... two people who really had never given food more consideration than where and when the next meal was suddenly had a huge reason to care where our food had come from and just exactly how it got into the shape in which we ate it. We began to read up on the subject, and words and phrases like "natural", "organic", and "partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil" began to creep into our dinnertime conversation. In the years since, we've run a pretty wide gamut of shopping and eating practices and have learned through analysis of labels and price tags what works for us as a family. I love how many of our mainstream grocery stores are adding "green" items to their shelves, and I enjoy shopping around to find the best deals on the kind of food I want to feed my family. As we learn and the kids' grow, the items on our shelves and in the refrigerator may change, and we've learned the advantage of keeping compromise and "sometimes-foods" (like cheese enchiladas and hamburgers) in our deck of options.

What it really comes down to for me as the mom, cook, and dishwasher still at this point, is this....I want to find that balance between what is most healthy and nutritious and what these people will actually pick up the fork to eat. So......when I received an email about reviewing a Sue Gregg recipe and cookbook, I was intrigued by what I read. My oldest daughter and I sat down to choose an initial recipe to try out from the ones offered for taste testing on the website, and she took about three seconds to pick out the yogurt pie recipe. We went down the list of ingredients, mentally gauging what items I had and what I'd need to buy and how involved the whole process looked. Totally seemed doable.

Then, the worst cold this side of a northern blizzard hit my bunch. I mean, high nighttime fevers, matted eyes, sore throats, coughing bouts to compete with a hailstorm, and absolutely no appetite. What an eternal two weeks I've had! Those of us with multiple children understand how what would take one child to recover from takes that amount times about two and a half (considering overlapping sick kids) for a family with three to emerge from. The joy I felt when the first began to recover was almost overshadowed by the dark circles and glassy eyes I observed as the third began to wilt. Anyway, none of them have really had much of an appetite for more than crackers and liquids despite my best efforts over the past week.

But today is our first fever-free day for ALL THREE! And these folks are starting to express a little interest in food, so today was the day for our yogurt pie. As I gathered and mixed ingredients, I kept the website up in order to steal glances at the steps and photos. By the way, normally I have plenty of folks wanting to help in the kitchen, and the format of this recipe would provide opportunities for both my second grader, an independent reader, and my first grader, who is almost there, to help me read the recipe. I found the process very simple to understand, and very straightforward.

While I am used to cooking with whole foods and natural ingredients, I had never made a pie like this one. The whole process of getting it ready to pour into the crust took all of ten minutes, just the amount of time called for for the crust to chill in the freezer. Quite convenient. And the ingredients were not difficult to locate. The only one that I was unable to locate in one mainstream grocery store here was the all natural graham crackers, such as the Midel brand, but our discount health food store here carries them. Pause for a shamefaced confession here.....I bought the regular ones simply because with sick people depending on me I needed to consolidate all my shopping into one place this week. I did check to make sure they at least contained some whole grain value.

Anyhow, after letting it chill, it was time to face the judges. I was a little concerned about our youngest's reaction--he's not big on multiple textures in his desserts--but he gobbled it up. Both the girls liked it as well, and they offered more coherent insight into their opinions about it. Both said it was the "lemony" flavor of the pineapple/yogurt combination that they really liked, and the oldest shared that buttery, soft crust was a big plus. Everyone agreed it should make repeat appearances at our table. As for me, the ease of preparation already had me leaning toward liking it, and tasting it confirmed that. This yogurt pie has a lightly rich flavor in a smooth, well-gelled form. The homemade, real butter crust contributes way more to the overall taste than store-bought crust, as the butter makes its presence known in your mouth. After our taste test experience, it was gratifying to put enough back into the frig to cover dessert for two meals for our bunch. The balance between nutrition and cost per serving is always a priority for me when choosing what to serve.

The following suggestion was, I'm sure, inadvertently omitted from the directions on the website, so I will take the liberty of letting you know.

For those of us who believe in taste testing throughout the preparation of desserts, let me assure you this one is one you'll want to be extra sneaky about in order to avoid having to allow others to help you in "licking the bowl". If you have a crew helping you, be sure to have extra spoons ready. And you might want to reduce the amount that goes in the dish by a few spoonfuls, just so you have a little more to spoon out of the bowl.

I'll be honest...sometimes I find myself intimidated by this genre of cooking. While I've learned a lot, I still have a long way to go, but this recipe was practical and realistic for this homeschooling, housecleaning, budgetwatching mom. I hope to try more from the cookbooks of Sue Gregg. And there is a wide variety of resources to choose from, including Introducing Whole Food Cooking, Meals in Minutes, and a cooking curriculum designed for young cooks, Cooking With Children...plus so much more. Mrs. Gregg also has a number of recipes online available for testing, free, to provide the opportunity to see if they work for your family before you purchase a cookbook. So, there's no risk in heading over to check it all out at the Sue Gregg website. In fact, if you head over there, you're bound to be encouraged by her desire to be a witness for Christ even through her cookbooks and cooking resources. You can't beat nourishing to the body and soul all at once.

So many of us today are more aware of what we are actually putting into the mouths of our families and want to make that as wholesome as we can within the the scope of what is available and affordable. The resources available through the Sue Gregg website can help make that desire a reachable daily goal.