Homeschooling Helps for All Homeschool Styles (Joyce Herzog Review)
Dr. Joyce Herzog is an author of many educational products and a gifted teacher. She taught for over 25 years in classrooms of learning disabled students and has been working with homeschooling families for over 20 years. She is a sought after speaker, author, and consultant conducting workshops all across the United States and Canada.
Besides counseling, Dr. Joyce Herzog has developed a variety of learning products. These products are designed to provide a unique and appropriate education focusing on the talents and skills of each individual. Her products fit well with most homeschooling approaches including: Charlotte Mason, relaxed homeschooling, the “real book” method and more. Those families with special needs will find that her philosophy and materials serve them well.
The Schoolhouse Review Crew Reviewed twelve different products from Joyce Herzog.
Scaredy Cat Reading System Levels 1 ($75), 2 ($75), & 3 ($100) and Scaredy Cat Reading System Express ($30). This is a mastery based phonics reading system. This system teaches students to think and works where others fail. This system works with normal, gifted, learning disabled and dyslexic learners of all ages. Spelling is also taught as a part of this program. The Reading Express system consists of teacher training with activities and suggestions as well as board games, all the stories, all the word lists and sentence lists for Levels 1, 2, & 3.
Learning in Spite of Labels ($15) This is a book about practical teaching tips and a Christian perspective of education.In 22 chapters this book looks at various teaching strategies for all sorts of learners. The book is full of tips and strategies for working with all types of learning disabled learners.
Timeless Teaching Tips ($15) This book is the culmination of Joyce Herzog’s decades of learning through teaching. It shows how to interject fun and personality into your teaching.
Choosing and Using Curriculum Set ($15) (one physical book, one e-book) This book and resource e-book is a home educators guide to choosing curriculum. Curriculum types are discussed as well as homeschool styles, avoiding over-spending, grade levels, your child’s progress and much more.
Luke’s Life List ($30) and Luke’s School List ($30) Based upon Luke 2:22 Luke’s Life List is a list of Christian Knowledge and skills in Early Childhood, Wisdom, Structure, Favor with God, Favor with man and Adult life skills. We should never get so “busy” covering curriculum that we forget important lessons needed for living a Christian life. Luke’s School List is a K-8 checklist of school skills. Use this book to decide what needs to be learned and what is not important.
Stepping Stones to Praise and Worship ($15) and Stepping Stones to Bigger Faith for Little People Book and Audio ($12) These two books are devotions based on Scripture. The Praise and Worship book has 52 devotions written at a 4th grade reading level. This devotion book is designed to minister to all ages in a family. The Little People Book and Audio is 37 devotions based on Scripture. These are written at a 2nd grade reading level, but designed to appeal to all ages.
Budding Authors ($10-$15) (five book set) and 6 Weeks to Understanding Grammar ($12) Help your budding author discover his /her talent. This series develops writing skill step by step from simple sentences to research. The Grammar book teaches parts of speech, kinds of words and sentences, verbs and a variety of other grammatical terms.
Bible Quotes ($12) These are Bible verses that go along with each rule in the Scaredy Cat Reading System. This book gives practice with reading, spelling, handwriting and works with any phonics program.
Educational Dice Bag ($23) This is three different bags of dice and one Math Operations die. One bag is an Alphabet Dice Delight which includes an alphabet die, a vowel die and instructions. One bag is a Rolling Dice Games which includes one number word die, one numeral die and two colored dot dice. The third bag is Deca Dice Fun. This includes one deca numeral die, one deca number word die, one deca dotted die, and one double deca die.
One-Minute Science Mysteries! (Science Naturally Book Review)
Science, Naturally! wants to “bridge the gap between the blackboard and the blacktop.” As an independent press, they do this by publishing fun and interesting science and math resources that kids enjoy. They strive to make these topics “intriguing and accessible” to students of all ages.
The Crew had the opportunity to review their book One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! ($9.95) It was written by the father-daughter team of Eric and Natalie Yoder, who have been featured guests on NPR. Their books have won multiple awards and accolades from the education and publishing communities.
Designed for kids 8-12, these fun brain teasers get kids thinking about science to solve these quick mystery stories. This is the second book in this series. They’ve also written a book of one-minute math mysteries, too. You can read a mystery sample here.
Preparing Your Homeschool High School Student for College (College Prep Genius Review)
For parents and students who have questions about how to prepare for college, High School Prep Genius provides information, explanations, and guidance packed into eighteen chapters in a high quality glossy trade paperback.
Published by College Prep Genius, this 440-page book introduces how to use the book with instructions for creating a college and career notebook following student timelines from 9th to 12th grades. Then it outlines Foundations For Personal Success that include guidance for personal development, being physically healthy, building a support system, and encouraging financial independence.
The section titled Foundation For Academic Success has chapters on academic development, effective studying, taking tests, being organized, and going beyond the basics.
Chapters under Foundation For Future Success cover future development, choosing a school, preparing for standardized tests, completing college applications, paying for school, and college essentials.
Supplemental information includes building a homeschool transcript, tips about talent searches, recommended high school reading, how to relax and reduce test anxiety, and definitions of common terms used in college admissions.
A valuable resource for homeschoolers who want the inside scoop on how to navigate from high school to college and beyond, High School Prep Genius is available for $29.95.
Papa’s Pearls Book Review
Making History Come Alive! (Knowledge Quest Review)
History is filled with interesting events and fascinating people, and Knowledge Quest offers unique ways to help students learn about and connect with history.
Sacagawea is a historical novel with a twist. It is an interactive ebook for kids ages 10 and up, with embedded links that readers can click in order to gain a deeper understanding of the life and times of one of America’s most honored women.
Written and released as 4 episodes, the complete Sacagawea story is now available in this ebook, beginning with Stolen!, and followed by Passage, Survival and Equal. Read a sample chapter, then the Complete Sacagawea Saga, now available on Amazon.com for $4.97.
KQ TimelineBuilder is an incredibly flexible and feature-packed iPad app for creating custom timelines. Child friendly (ages 10+), TimelineBuilder encourages learning about important events in science, history, art, and literature. You can choose beginning and ending dates, then add, edit, and delete events on your timeline. Use the Wiki button for convenient fact gathering. Make your timeline unique by manipulating the size and placement of images, and choosing different backgrounds. Not just for history buffs, TimelineBuilder can also be used to illustrate family trees or organize the steps of a project. Timelines are saved automatically. You can also share with your family and friends via your image library, email or iTunes.
You can see screenshots and a video tutorial on the KQ TimelineBuilder page, then purchase it from the iTunes app store for $6.99.
Church, World, and American History from the 18th Century (Salem Ridge Press Review)
Salem Ridge Press is a homeschooling family-owned company committed to re-printing quality literature from the 1800s and early 1900s so that it may be enjoyed and appreciated by today’s generation. They specialize in historical fiction covering Church History, World History, and American History. Through engaging stories and brave characters, these books bring history to life for readers age 8 and up. The Crew had the opportunity to review a selection from the following list of titles:
Margarethe is one of the books in Emma Leslie’s Church History series for the 12 and up age group. This book covers the time period of Martin Luther and Zwingli in Germany during the Reformation (1517-1522). Soft cover, $14.95, hard cover, $24.95. 280 pages. You can read the first chapter here.
Hilda the Briton is one of the titles in the 5 part Junior Church History series by Emma Leslie, intended for readers age 8 and up. Set in ancient Rome, it covers the time period of 63 A.D. and features the Apostle Paul. It is available for $12.95 in soft cover or $22.95 hard cover. 145 pages. Read the first chapter here.
Another title from the Emma Leslie Church History series, Sowing Beside All Waters, covers the time period of 313-363 A.D. during the rule of Emperor Constantine in Rome. It is 264 pages, intended for ages 12 and up. Soft cover, $14.95. Hard cover, $24.95. The first chapter is available on the website.
The Magic Runes by Emma Leslie is yet another in the Junior Church History series for readers 10 and up. It covers the time of Charlemagne in the years 782-785 A.D. 188 pages. Soft cover, $10.95. Hard cover, $20.95. Read the first chapter at the Salem Ridge Press website.
Danish England in 879-883 A.D. is the setting for The Martyr’s Victory in the Emma Leslie Church History series. 266 pages. $14.95, soft cover. $24.95, hard cover. You may read the first chapter here.
A Sea Queen’s Sailing by Charles W. Whistler is an adventure that takes place in Scotland, Ireland and Norway in 935 A.D. It involves Vikings and danger on the high seas. 310 pages. $14.95, soft cover. $24.95, hard cover. The first chapter is available online.
Leofwine the Monk is the story of a young monk during the time of the Norman conquest of England in 1052-1066. It is part of the Emma Leslie Church History series for ages 12 and up. 264 pages. $14.95, soft cover. $24.95 hard cover. Read the first chapter here.
Elfreda the Saxon is the sequel to Leofwine the Monk. It takes place during the 1189-1215 time period. It covers the time of King Richard and the Crusades after Jerusalem has been taken over by the Muslims. 265 pages. $14.95 soft cover, $24.95 hard cover. The first chapter is available here.
The 100 Years War in England, circa 1357-1360, is the setting in For Merrie England by Emma Leslie in the Junior Church History series. 133 pages for readers 8 and up. $10.95 soft cover. $20.95 hard cover. You may read the first chapter on the Salem Ridge Press website.
John Wycliffe’s “heresy” is the topic of Before the Dawn by Emma Leslie. It is part of the Church History series for readers ages 12 and up. The time period is 1382-1453. Read more from the first chapter here. $14.95 soft cover. $24.95 hard cover.
Spreading the Gospel through France during the French Reformation is the topic of Faithful, but Not Famous by Emma Leslie. It’s part of the Church History series and takes place during 1510-1522. 196 pages. You may purchase the soft cover for $12.95 or hard cover for $22.95. Read the first chapter here.
Through Stress and Strain covers the persecution of the Huguenots as they are pressured to join the “King’s religion” in France from 1666-1685. It is another book in the Emma Leslie Junior Church History series for readers 8 and up. 149 pages. Soft cover, $12.95. Hard cover, $22.95. The first chapter is available online.
Be sure to visit each Crew blog for reviews on the individual titles and how they used these books in their homeschool lessons!
Teaching Values, Principles, and Virtues (Abraham’s Journey Review)
In a day and age where it appears the concepts of hard work, perseverance, determination, ingenuity, and hope are all but lost, one can be encouraged by Inspiring the American Dream. It is dedicated to the preservation of the American ideal. Through the website and a recent children’s book, Kathleen and Robert Basmadjian desire to inspire today’s youth “by instilling in them the values, principles and virtues necessary to achieve the American dream.”
Members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew had the opportunity to review the book, Abraham’s Journey: A Celebration of the American Dream. It is the story of a young boy, Abraham, who finds himself journeying into the past through his smart phone, and his tour guide is none other than Abraham Lincoln. In his time travels, he encounters many American greats including preachers, artists, aviators, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists. In becoming acquainted with these historical figures, Abraham is introduced to and develops an understanding of the American dream. He is then able to creatively apply what he has learned to his current situation, and he makes a difference for others.
Abraham’s Journey: A Celebration of the American Dream retails for $14.99. The book is recommended for children ages 7-12. The boys and girls will easily relate to the main character’s vivid imagination, entrepreneurial spirit, and bold faith.
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