There is a lot of money-saving activity in the Schoolhouse Store this weekend!

You can receive up to $1300 in FREE gifts during the TOS Black Friday Sale.

Plus, the one-year, print subscriptions will be available for $7.95 during the sale which runs through Sunday. This is a huge discount off a regular subscription and actually about the cost of one issue!

All those subscribing before December 7 will receive the Winter Issue. (Subscriptions received after that will begin with the Spring Issue.)

As a bonus, you can select 10 gifts of your choice—there are 19 gifts from which to choose. There are only 1500 of these gift packs available. This is a 68% savings! The $7.95 price is gone on December 31 at midnight. On January 1, 2010, the price goes back up to $25! The 19 gifts can be viewed here: (Each subscriber picks 10 of the 19.)http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/TOSSummer19Gifts/libanded/index.html

Remember, the more you spend in the Schoolhouse Store through Sunday, the more free gifts you receive. One of the gifts is a FREE one-year membership to and a free will from Homeschool Legal Advantage. Plus, there are so many other FREE homeschooling resources. Check it out at the following link:

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/2009BlackFridaySale/BF_Level1.htm

It’s so easy to earn the FREE gifts! Select a few items from the literature sale in the Schoolhouse Store or purchase the new Download N Go lapbooking and unit studies series from Amanda Bennett and TOS.

Sorry to just now get this posted--we've been all over this weekend eating turkey with almost anyone and everyone we're kin to! Click here to head on over to all these great deals!

Thanksgiving freebies!

If you're like us and plan to immerse ourselves in Thanksgiving this week in school, here are some sites you will want to check out!

http://www.homeschooled-kids.com/bethankful.html
So many wonderful resources, including a Thanksgiving Bible study!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1185900/thanksgiving_science_activity_for_elementary.html?cat=25
http://www.fapeonline.org/thanksgiving-science-experiment.htm
Both of these contain some Thanksgiving science ideas.

http://www.education.com/seasonal/thanksgiving/
A wealth of Thanksgiving ideas for a range of ages.

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/thanksgiving.html
Superteacherworksheets.com is one of my new go-to sites for fast ideas.

http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/?ESP=Teachers/ib/20091102/awa/t_giving_Thanksgiving09_3_5///thlp/tout///
Scholastic has a great site with virtual tours of the Mayflower and narration of their journey.

An early Christmas present from The Old Schoolhouse!

The Old Schoolhouse has a wonderful gift for us all! It's their digital 175 page Thanksgiving and Christmas supplement, just full of holiday cheer and ideas! To get your free copy, click on the magazine cover to the right.

While you're at the TOS site, check out the other freebies and offers they've got going on these days!

Virginia Soaps and Scents....for your clothes, your family, and a bit of indulgence, too....

Okay, this one fit me to a tee. Our family is very careful about chemicals we put in and on our bodies and what we use in our home. My husband and I have tried to combine common sense with research, and for us, we prefer natural bath and home cleaning products whenever it's possible and affordable. Now, as a member of the TOS Crew, I have had the opportunity over the past several weeks to review the bath soaps, shampoo bar, and laundry soap from Virginia Soaps & Scents. How much fun I have had!

I got three sample size bars of soap--one fresh orange, one coconut lemongrass, and one oatmeal, milk, & honey, plus a sample size of their ginger lime shampoo bar, and enough of their laundry soap to make a half-gallon.

I have used all of the soaps myself. They are all chemical-free and made with natural oils. I was surprised at the generous amount of lather I got with them all. In fact, I had just received a bar of homemade soap from a local farm, and it didn't lather near as well. They all add a light but comforting scent to bath time and a barely discernible wisp of fragrance lingers on the skin afterward. Now, I know some of y'all are like me and deal with sensitive skin issues, so here's what I experienced. While my skin handled the coconut lemongrass and oatmeal, milk, & honey soaps just fine, both my oldest daughter and I experienced very minor and contained hives after using the fresh orange scent. This is not a complaint at all, but just a heads up for others who have to be careful about their skin. I dealt with excema for years from the time I was about 13 until I was in my 20's and still am thankful that small and infrequent outbreaks are all I've had to deal with since. But I do have to be on guard when it comes to scents. Now, I've done fine with the coconut lemongrass and oatmeal, milk, & honey bars and couldn't tell which I like better, because I like them both so much! And the bars last....when they came in the mail, I figured they would melt down pretty quickly, but I was wrong. It doesn't take much to get enough lather, so even the samples last a while.

The shampoo I was little nervous about trying because I'm picky about my hair stuff. But, again, just like the label explained, it lathered up really well even on my thick hair. And it rinsed quickly and cleanly. Here's a plus I really didn't expect--I don't need an additional conditioner every time. Now, I have hair that drinks moisture up, so I was pretty impressed by how well the shampoo bar alone conditions. And, again, I haven't noticed any skin issues from this either.

I procrastinated trying the laundry soap for a while because I saw it involved a little bit of stove time. However, when I just decided to do it, the whole prep time was less than 10 minutes and incredibly simple. I was a little skeptical when I didn't see the suds that normally signal my clothes are actually being cleaned, but everything came out of the wash smelling and looking clean. Stains? You'll still need your go-to products there, but our laundry came out as clean with the Virginia Soaps & Scents laundry soap kit as it does with our normal detergent. Here's what goes into it: cleaning soap, borax, and washing soda. Okay, will you really save money this way? Y'all, I normally get mid-range laundry detergents, and I'm going to buy the Virginia Soaps & Scents laundry soap instead. I have figured that I normally spend 8-15 cents a load, and the Spargur family can do it for less than 7 cents a load with their homemade laundry soap. The bargain hunter in me is up to the challenge. I used to make our own laundry soap but got out of the habit. We're going to get back into it.

Okay, now that I've shared my experiences with these products, what about cost? The soaps first....

for a 4.5 oz bar

$4.50 per bar 3 bars for $12.00 buy 4, get 1 free 10 bars for $35

Scents include the ones I mentioned above, plus a number of others including violets & lace, country clothesline, and baby powder.

They also have a selection of gourmet soaps. Click here to learn more and see the prices.

for the 5.5 oz shampoo bar

$5.50 per bar 2 bars for $10

They have several scents and an oily hair clarifying formula as well. To learn more about what they offer and how they even got into shampoo making, click here.

for the laundry soap

There are options here, too. You can buy the all inclusive kit (just provide the water yourself), enough to make two gallons of laundry soap, for $4.95. Or you can get just the 9 oz. cleaning bar for $3.95 and buy your own borax and washing soda. The Spargurs very graciously have provided the whole recipe on their site. Click here to learn more about their laundry soap, order, and to see the recipe.

That's not all! You've got to go to their site at www.virginiasoapsandscents.com/ to learn more about all the other products they offer. They even have children's products and soaps inspired by the Christmas season! They also have a soap sampler and other gift packs, too. You can see them here.

As the frugal homemaker and homeschooler that I am, I want to get the most bang for my buck. I think that the Spargurs are right on target in that area. I have been buying natural and organic bath and cosmetic products for a few years now, and their prices beat most of the others I see. A big plus is that they are willing to share what goes into their products.

However, the biggest plus is their example of how a family works together toward a common goal! See what other TOS Crew members have to say here.

Strengthen your students' bodies and .... math skills? Yeah, with Gymathtics!

A kids' exercise video that promotes healthy lifestyle choices, positive behavior, and strong math skills? Perhaps a little too much for a 30 minute dvd? No! Y'all, Gymathtics from Exploracise is all that! Ms. Carrie along with her exercise team guide kids through an exercise routine that reinforces math skills such as counting, skip counting, patterns, place value, and shapes.

It all begins with a "Shape Stretchers" stretching/warmup routine followed by "Counting Calisthenics", "Pattern Power", and "Well-being Wind Down". As the kids exercise, part of the screen contains a little more information and visual aids for whatever skill is being reinforced. When I first put in this dvd, I was extremely skeptical, but that changed. No, this isn't a math program, but it really does get the whole body involved in reinforcing basic math skills in a way that elementary aged kids will get into.

How intense it is? That depends on your physical condition. For most active kids, I'd say it's going to get their heart pumping and challenge them to push themselves a little, but it's a very realistic routine for kids and for active adults. The whole thing actually lasts about 26 minutes. Like with any exercise program, there's the admonition to talk to your doctor about a new exercise plan. What age kids can perform the exercises in this program? I'd say the target audience is K-5th. Younger than that, I can see frustration setting in and the mathematical part would be over their heads, and older than that, they may be embarrassed and beyond that mathematically.

Throughout the video, Ms. Carrie uses positive language to motivate kids to participate. She uses repetition to reinforce each skill, as well as visual aids and additional commentary on part of the screen when needed. And, during the wind down, she uses easy-to-remember phrases to encourage positive, kind behavior, goal-setting, and perseverance, in language kids can understand and latch onto.

One thing I thought about was this--you can also do the routine in parts, stopping to add your own explanations as needed. And, you know, younger kids may not understand every concept they are hearing, but I think they still will pick up quite a bit and be more ready for these concepts. I am thinking specifically of my first grader. We haven't gotten to prime numbers yet, but as we do this routine, she will repeatedly be exposed to that group of numbers. Even if she doesn't totally get what that concept means, she is learning that those numbers go together for some reason, and that's a start.

Okay, here's the deal on price. Through their site, it's $24.95, but on Amazon it's $16.99. I did a Google shopping search and found several prices between those two, as well, but I can't vouch for the reliability of all the sites. I hesitate to say whether or not products are worth their price because I am exceptionally frugal, but I can say that this is one that will get a lot of use in our home and that I am impressed with the way the creators successfully intertwined a really good exercise program with real math skills reinforcement, all the while promoting healthy and wise choices and positive behavior. I know I say this about other products, but check to see if the other families in your homeschool group would like to pitch in and get a copy or two for your resource library. And while you're at it, check to see if your public library would order a copy.

To learn more about Exploramania and Gymathtics, go to http://www.exploramania.com/ . I You can actually watch a segment of this product on their YouTube video by clicking here . Plus, I saw they now have a second one, too. And I found the story of how this video even came to be so encouraging and motivating. So, check it all out and see what you think!

Examine the foundations and symbols of our freedom with help from the American Heritage Education Foundation....

First, this is free! Yes, you can request this cd, America's Heritage, at no cost. The print version is $19.95. What exactly is this? Well, it's a supplementary curriculum that focuses on the core symbols and pillars of our nation. Some of the lesson topics include:

• Colonial America


• the Declaration of Independence


• the Statue of Liberty


• the national motto


• the national anthem


• the Presidential Seal


• the national flag

And much more!

Is this a stand alone social studies or history curriculum? After examining the lesson plans, I see this as more of a resource or supplementary study than a stand alone curriculum. The lesson plans did not all align to the same grade levels, so teachers would need to make adjustments to fit the age of their students if they wanted to use the product in it entirety.

What age is it for? It's definitely for upper elementary or middle school. The activities are geared toward a group of students with strong reading and critical thinking skills.

What does it include?

• lesson plans for 14 topics


• printable worksheets, learning activities, and games that coordinate with the lesson plans


• an appendix of resources pertaining to the law and religious freedom in schools


• a list of sources for information presented in the lessons

Is it biased? Okay, this was a concern I had when I put the cd in the computer. And I was very relieved at the straightforward nature of this study. Yes, it definitely is an expression of thankfulness for the core pillars of our nation and concern over the lack of personal commitment to those pillars today, but it's really more history and activities that encourage students to apply that history to now than anything else. I know in our home, while we are Christian homeschoolers, I really don't like my curriculum to get preachy or take on much commentary. I would rather have quality, well-researched materials and information we can use to develop and strengthen and even challenge our own viewpoints. This cd does fit that bill.

Okay, I did find a couple of typo's. However, overall, this is well written, very informative, and provides a variety of thought-provoking activities for students. I will say this--one page of the KWL master copy would have sufficed rather than taking up several pages of the study for the very same original that's used in several lessons.

Can you get this and plan to use it exclusively for your social studies program next year? No, that's not what it's intended for. If you're like me and love to develop curriculum that is customized for your students, this can be your foundation, and you can add to it. This would be an excellent program to do outside of school proper with, say, the upper elem./middle school aged students in your homeschool groups.

At this point, I speak only from the point of view of a former upper elem./middle school teacher. My kids aren't quite old enough for this program yet, but I can see it has substance and is meant to inspire through information about and examination of the foundational issues of our nation. And, y'all, how can you go wrong with a resouce like this that is free? There's absolutely no reason not to check it out.

To find out more and to order a copy, go to www.americanheritage.org/ . You can also simply download the level you need from that site. There's no catch I can find. On their site, you can also learn more about what the American Heritage Education Foundation is and is about. If you'd like to read what other TOS Crew members have to say, click here.

Another bright idea from Bright Ideas Press....A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers

As our year began, I wanted our music program to go deeper and be more consistent. I wanted to expose the kids to exceptional music and to be able to learn about the composers. How neat that one of the products I was asked to review for the TOS Crew was A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers from Bright Ideas Press! This is a study of composers over the last several hundred years, but what makes it different is that it's written from a Christian point of view.

Geared toward 4-8 graders, this book provides all you need to have your own music appreciation course at home or in your co-op. It's a 32-week curriculum. Each section consists of a biography and notetaking sheet, as well as the materials needed to make a composer info card. In the appendices at the end, there are also printables for mapping where each composer was from and a timeline printable that spans several hundred years, as well as a composer bingo game and a list of listening resources and sites for each composer. While the music is not included in what you buy, they give lists of free listening resources online. The authors provide a guideline for teaching each section over a three-day time frame.

The biographies are thorough but won't bog down older elementary readers. The authors provide information about the composers' personal as well as professional lives. I appreciate that they keep things age-appropriate. In the introduction they explain something of their dilemma in choosing who to include and how to present their lives when many of these men led lifestyles we would not condone.

My kids and I, although they are younger than the recommended age frame, have been using the program in a modified version. We read the biography of a composer and then choose a piece to listen to. As we listen, we try to find certain elements in each piece. We compare elements from different composers' pieces. My older two will be second and third graders next year, and I want to use the program in its entirety then.

Like I said, it's written from a Christian point of view. What this means is that the authors have tried to discover what role faith had in the lives of the composers without trying to play judge. While they do draw some conclusions based on the lifestyles and writings of the composers, they are quick to admit that only God knows what's in a man's heart.

Y'all, this is one that worth every penny, in my opinion! It's 329 pages of useful information and learning resources. This is one you'll want for your homeschool group or co-op library. To learn more about ordering, click here. For the cd version, it's $29.95, but the print version is only $5 more at $34.95. You can check out sample pages here. To find out what other Crew members have to say, click here.

Get those pencils moving with the Writer's Workshop from Bright Ideas Press....

As a public school teacher for several years, one huge positive was that it gave me exposure to examples of quality materials in the area of writing. As a homeschooling mom, now, I realize that there are lots of products to choose from. The TOS Crew was recently given the opportunity to review The Writer's Workshop by Maggie Hogan and J.B. Hogan, which is an ebook writing program offered by Bright Ideas Press. If you've been interested in starting a writer's group for your students or within your homeschool group, this is a resource you'll want to check out.

The Writer's Workshop is all about how to have a meaningful, productive writer's workshop. Many aspects of writing are covered in the lessons. The authors begin by explaining just what a writer's workshop is and how to get one started, basically the nuts and bolts of it for those of us who haven't ever participated in one. And they get specific, too, which is helpful. Outlines of 28 lessons then follow, each one spotlighting one aspect of successful writing. Each lessons contains a short writing assignment as well, to give the students an imediate opportunity to put into practice what they learn. Click here to see the table of contents and a few lesson pages. For anyone who didn't click on that link, here's a partial list of the topics covered in the program's lesson plans.

• Favorite Author


• Caldecott and Newbery Award Winners


• Webbing


• Character Sketches


• Plot


• Synonyms and Antonyms


• Observation


• Commonly Misused Words


• Collecting and Using Interesting Words
  

The Writer's Workshop isn't just lesson plans....the authors give guidelines for how to use the time spent each week in the group, and while the lessons are important, they stress author sharing time as the top priority of the group time. I love that. All the programs and lesson plans in the world don't take the place of just writing and sharing your work. And I appreciate that the authors also provide some very clearcut guidelines for this sharing time, so that the kids get some useful feedback, but in a caring, nonthreatening environment.

The Writer's Workshop is written to be used for a group, and it is designed for homeschooling moms. The authors suggest that the moms of the group take turns teaching the lessons. The focus is on getting the kids writing and sharing what they write, and that is stressed in the program's introduction. For those who are not confident in their own writing skills or the ability to teach competent writing skills to their students, never fear! The authors were very thorough in their lesson plans, even though each one is only meant to take a few minutes. Each lesson plan is well organized and contains what you need to know to be able to teach it to the kids.

What age is The Writer's Workshop for? While parts of it could be used with our preschoolers, I think that really students that can both read and write are the target age. I think the trick is in how you set up your group. The authors express the importance of considering the makeup of your group and how they get along. And, yes, it's okay to have a wide age gap among the participants. As I've gone through the material, I've observed that the lessons focus on topics and skills that would benefit any age writer. They're not too tough for our younger writers, nor too babyish for our older ones.

What's the cost? This ebook is $14.95. It's a 76-page download. And this is a resource you can use again and again. That being said, I know that most of us are really one-income families on a budget. $14.95 might be a stretch in November. But add this to your list of possible resources for next semester or next year and take some time to examine the sample pages. To find out more about ordering, click here to go to the Bright Ideas site. And for those who do order this book, really get into it--the authors have created a really informative, helpful, effective guidebook on how to get kids involved and excited about writing. To find out what other Crew members have to say, click here.