It’s no secret to anyone who knows her that Rach is all about all things German. My husband went on a business trip a couple of years ago and it nearly killed her because she couldn’t go. She really loves the German language. We’ve used one or two foreign language programs, but never really stuck with them, so I was so glad to be given 6 months of access to the German Courses from Middlebury Interactive Languages. Since Rach is a freshman I decided to go with High School Year 1, that way she could have the potential to review what she may have already learned and move on to earn credit toward her high school diploma.
Archives for September 2015
USAopoly ~ A Schoolhouse Crew Review
My family is a huge fan of board games, especially the kids and I (my husband works all the time and rarely has the extra time for fun), and I love to find new and unique games for us to play. It’s so much fun to sit around the table playing and taking a break from the real world. I was so excited when our family was given the opportunity to review 2 new-to-us games! USAopoly was gracious enough to send us Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game and Tapple: Fast Word Fun for Everyone. USAopoly has been manufacturing and designing games for over 20 years, oftentimes recreating popular games and making them even more unique and fun!
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Minecraft Deals
My children have been playing Minecraft on both the Xbox 360 and PC for a couple of years now. How much they use it tends to change from time to time. Sometimes they’ll play it often for weeks at a time, and then they may go for weeks without playing it any. It’s fun to watch them play except for when they destroy each other’s things. Minecraft can be a great tool to incorporate into your school day. Sometimes if I’m feeling cruddy, I’ll tell the kids to get on Minecraft and build something specific, like a functional town or something.
Nothing encourages fun learning more than connecting games to educational lessons. Here are a few opportunities for Minecraft kids to learn new skills using a game they already love:
Youth Digital’s Server Design: Learn to Code with Minecraft – Don’t just play, create! Kids ages 8 to 14 will learn the basics of one of the most popular coding languages in the world as they modify real Java code to build their own Minecraft server. Youth Digital’s Mod Design: Learn to Code with Minecraft – This is a Java class for Minecraft kids ages 8 to 14. Youth Digital’s online tech courses provide a safe, engaging learning environment for kids to master new technology skills.
Minecraft Coding Camp – In 4 weeks of this online afterschool camp, students in 3rd to 9th grade will learn the basics of coding through their favorite game.
Learn to Mod Minecraft – LearnToMod is a browser-based software that teaches students how to mod the PC-version of Minecraft®. Great for kids ages 6 and up!!
All of these programs are offered on Educents at a discount.
Click HERE to start shopping for your Minecraft kid. Offer valid through 10/1/15
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Educational Gifts That Should Be On Your 2015 Holiday Shopping List
I don’t know about you, but I like to start my Christmas shopping early. With 4 kids, it’s hard to go and buy everything at one time. I do like to get my kids a few educational gifts, especially if they are fun at the same time. Check out these great ideas from Educents.
Tegu Blocks – Give your kiddos the opportunity to defy gravity! These wooden blocks are embedded with magnets so that kids can build structures they have only dreamed of! Magformers Challenger Set – With this 112-Piece magnetic building set, kids ages 6 to 12 imaginations are guaranteed to run wild! This is a great gift to give to siblings to share. It can also be a generous addition to a classroom or after-school program! Frozen Puzzle Pack – Winter is the time of year to celebrate the very popular Disney movie, Frozen! Keep the Frozen fun going after the movie is over with these four Frozen puzzles. Veggie Tales Floor Puzzle – Little ones can put together this fun floor puzzle with their favorite Veggie Tales characters! This 3-foot puzzle will keep your little learners thinking and laughing as the faces of Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber begin to appear piece by piece. 
Coloring Books for Everyone – Coloring is not just for kids anymore, it’s for everyone – making this a great gift for an entire family! These six coloring books are filled with mesmerizing designs. Gift these coloring books to a family, classroom, or split up the books to give to six artists who you love! Frozen Etch a Sketch Jr. – The classic and creative tool we all grew up with has been updated with your child’s favorite characters from Disney’s Frozen. Elsa and Olaf can watch your little one draw on the Etch a Sketch as they are inspired by their favorite Disney movie. Then Elsa’s magical snow will wipe the canvas clean, ready for another masterpiece. Holiday Coloring Book Freebie – If you’re looking for a low-cost way to say “thinking of you,” this coloring book is as easy to give as 1-2-3. Just download it for free, print it, and add a nice card to your envelope. 
Slimy Squishy Polymer Set – Give the gift of science exploration! This fun, hands-on experiment only requires water, adult supervision, and creativity! What a fun way for kids and parents or older siblings to learn together! Science Experiment Subscription – Science experiments require a lot of planning. Let the scientific FUN come to you with a 1-year subscription to the award-winning Young Scientist Club! Human Body Puzzle – This classic puzzle from Melissa & Doug stretches four feet long after your little one assembles it!
Encourage critical thinking and study the skeletal and circulatory systems. 
Life of Fred Beginning Reader Set – Children who are learning to read will love listening to mom, dad, grandma, older brother, or anyone else read the Life of Fred stories aloud! Read these silly stories together and learn basic concepts about math, the English language, colors, and science! Berenstain Bears Books – Read these books over the holidays to encourage family values like cleaning up, the joy of giving, saying “I’m sorry,” and more! The book bundle includes Thanksgiving and Christmas stories too! A set of The Velveteen Rabbit, Corduroy, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and other classic books! Add these classic titles to your little one’s library, or distribute the books to a handful of little ones who love to read! What are you shopping for this holiday season? The gift of learning a new language? Picking up a new talent like playing a musical instrument or stargazing? Discover amazing gift ideas that promote education on Educents! ~Offer valid through 10/1/15
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Fascinating Chemistry ~ A Schoolhouse Crew Review
I’m a little ashamed to admit that I failed Chemistry the first year that I took it in high school. I had to retake it and pass so that I could even graduate. In addition to teaching Math, I’ve also been apprehensive about teaching high school Science. I’ve mentioned this in the past, but I love finding homeschool curriculum that does most of the work for me and I think I’ve found just the thing for high school science. We were given a year’s access to Fascinating Chemistry from Fascinating Education. Since this is for high schoolers and Rachelle is a freshman, she’s the lucky student for this review.
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Super Teacher Worksheets ~ A Schoolhouse Crew Review
Worksheets can be valuable tools for both homeschoolers and public schoolers alike. I can remember using many worksheets during my elementary and middle school years and in fact, I’ve used many during my homeschooling my own children. I mean, worksheets can be so valuable! They can be used alone or as a supplement. Our family was given a year-long subscription of an Individual Membership from Super Teacher Worksheets. Membership is regularly $19.95 at the time of posting.