DIVE Into Your Imagination

Dive Into Diversity DVD
DIVE
805 453 1947
200 W. Mason St. #19
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

This DVD can be ordered on the company’s website. It is approximately 45 minutes in length.


This DVD was made by Annie Crawley, a diving instructor, field biologist and underwater filmmaker and photographer. It is all beautiful footage of life in the ocean. The author’s narrative points out the diversity of life in the ocean and how that diversity is necessary for the survival of the ocean’s inhabitants and draws a parallel with diversity in our world as well. Segments include “The Ocean Song,” Crusty Crustaceans, Night Diving, Coral Reef Living, Be A Submarine Pilot, Swim In A Kelp Forest, Sea Animals With Backbones, Diversity and Invertebrates Of The Sea.


Along with this DVD I received PDFs of lesson plans and reproducible worksheets to coordinate with this DVD. There was one for Pre-K and one for grades 1-3. Each of those segments listed above can be viewed separately with activities from these e-books added on to the lesson along with additional facts that are given in the ebook. The guides are available as a printed version for $299 (for the whole set) or as individual PDFs for $69.95. The DVD that is the subject of this review can be purchased for $19.95 on the website.


My girls were fascinated with this DVD. One of them is an animal lover that wants to do something in the Biology / Zoology field when she is older and loves to gather as many facts as possible about all the earth’s animals. This will be viewed over and over in our home and will be a valuable part of our science library.


I recommend this DVD and all the other wonderful DVDs offered by Dive Into Your Imagination to homeschoolers, grandparents and parents.


To read what others on the TOS Crew had to say, please click here: TOS CREW


Disclaimer: As part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, I was given a DVD free of charge to review. However, I did not receive any compensation. All opinions are my own.

British Middle Ages CD
Heritage History
Heritage History

PO Box 901
Newman Lake, WA 99025
$24.99

This CD can be ordered on the company’s website. I received this product free of charge for review purposes. The CD contains the curriculum with guide and a whole library of e-books (digitized copies of classic works including histories and literature).


Heritage History approaches learning history through reading literature and many, many historical sources. They provide meticulous instructions for using the library on the CD and guiding your child (by age and ability) through the material. It is intended for use throughout the different years of the child’s education and building thus resulting in a thorough knowledge of the subject when the child graduates.


I am especially impressed with the amount of material provided here and all the additional resources such as maps and timelines. The curriculum recommends that the student create a notebook in which he/she can gather facts and information and observations that will be an ongoing resource for the student throughout their years of study.


There is so much here that I cannot imagine needing any other resources for my study of this time / place in history for my homeschool. I would anticipate purchasing additional CDs for other time periods / locations to complete my history library. The instructions are clear and concise and very thorough. I will enjoy using this resource and recommend it to my homeschooling friends.


To read what others on the TOS Crew had to say, please click here: TOS CREW.

Disclaimer: As part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, I was given a CD free of charge to review. However, I did not receive any compensation. All opinions are my own.

CapJaxMathFax / Starboard Training Systems
11729 North Shore Dr.
Reston, VA 20190 USA
Phone: 703.471.6790
CapJax.com
$29.95

This program is available by login on your computer. When you make the purchase the company will send you login information. I received this product free of charge for review purposes.


This program is to help students learn their math facts. The teacher sets the parameters and the student is presented with random problems to solve. The program lets the student know how they did on each problem and also keeps track of progress. It can be set up for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication or Division. There are 9 levels and 10 problems to a level for addition and subtraction. There are 10 levels with 11 problems to a level for multiplication and division. Each questions allow 3 seconds for an answer but you can set that number higher for beginners. You can play for a rating (which saves your scores) or you can play for practice.
Essentially, instead of buying flash cards and spending hours with our child going through them, this handy dandy program does it for you randomly and automatically and then records progress reports for you so you can go back in any time and find out how your child is progressing.


I have a little one just starting out on her math journey and I know she will spend countless happy hours at the computer honing her skills with CapJaxMathFax. A couple of years ago I spend hours tutoring a young girl who was trying to make progress in math. I wish I had this resource back then for her! I recommend this product to homeschoolers as well as those attending public schools who need some extra practice at home.


To read what others on the TOS Crew had to say, please click here: HomeSchool Crew

Disclaimer: As part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, I was given this a download version of this curriculum free of charge to review. However, I did not receive any compensation. All opinions are my own.

www.judahbible.com/
Phone: 217-344-5672
POB 122
Urbana, IL 61803
Online Version is $44 (as described below)
Hard Copy Judah Bible Curriculum Pack $69 +5.00 p/h

This curriculum contains downloadable materials as follows: 8 lectures; 1 JBC Manual and 1 Notebook Ideas publication. I received this product free of charge for review purposes. Lectures are as follows: The Philosophy -- Why and How; How God Changes Nations; Creation – Flood; Abraham – Malachi; Matthew – Revelation; Methods; Pentecost – Present; and Key Individuals – Joseph. These lectures are for teacher training purposes.


The JBC Manual outlines the course of study. This curriculum can be adapted for the entire family from young Elementary aged kids through the parents or other adults in the home. Each person has their own notebook and the entire Bible is studied over the course of each year by topic. Your Bible is your textbook.


The plan is essentially the 1st half of the year is the Old Testament: ½ quarter on creation (Genesis 1-11), followed by 1 full quarter on Genesis 12 through Ruth (The Plan of Redemption Begins). Next is ½ Quarter on 1 Samuel – Malachi (Kingdom of Israel). The 2nd half of the year is the New Testament: 1 Quarter on the Kingdom of God (Matthew – John) and the 2nd full quarter on the Early Church (Acts through Revelation).


As mentioned before, each student has a notebook. It is filled with the student’s own writings on the subject each day, timelines, maps, and other pertinent things the student found interesting. In the early years it may be drawings, coloring pages or scripture copy work. As the child grows it will be journaling and key thoughts and ideas about the text as well as found resources that enhance the understanding of the subject at hand. As each year unfolds, the material from the year before is reviewed and added to by the new keys for the new grade level. Over a period of time, each student will have developed a valuable Bible Study guide that will benefit them throughout their lives as they continue their study of the Bible and the teacher will have created their own valuable resources as well.


I intend to use this curriculum with my children as well as for my own personal Bible Study. I believe the structure provided makes it very doable to take on the task of studying the Bible and finding out what it really says and how it applies to each individual. I would highly recommend this approach to homeschoolers and individuals.


To read what others on the TOS Crew had to say, please click here: http://homeschoolcrew.com/785154/

Disclaimer: As part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, I was given this a download version of this curriculum free of charge to review. However, I did not receive any compensation. All opinions are my own.

Homeschool Library Builder!

www.hslibrarybuilder.com
800-718-7986



Homeschool Library Builder is an online business by a couple of homeschool moms in TX who help others with their curriculum and book needs while having their own home business. They offer incentives for homeschooling families to shop with them as well as providing a thrifty way to shop for homeschool needs.


Homeschool Library Builder offers both new and used literature. They even have $1, $2 etc bargain bins with some nice offerings. They have organized everything by category and age level so their customers can find things easily. If you become a member you can earn points toward future purchases and the company will send you their newsletter to keep you updated on sales and specials. You can also get points for recommending to a friend or promoting the company on your blog or website. They will also advertise for you on their website without charge. They will even search for hard to find books for you free of charge.

For the month of May, Homeschool Library Builder has 25% off all items including sale items. You can use additional coupons or discounts as well. They even has some free apps and ebooks! Take a look.


I was impressed by the variety of offerings when I perused their website and will look back here when I get ready to order for next year in a couple of months.


To read what others on the TOS Crew had to say, please click here. http://homeschoolcrew.com/785086/


Disclaimer: As part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, I was asked to review this free membership, but I did not receive any compensation. All opinions are my own.

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

This is without a doubt my favorite Siri Mitchell book! The only thing I can say against it is that I don't like to read books that are in first person, but I even forgot about that after the first or second page.


This story’s setting is during the Revolutionary War in Philadelphia. Ms. Mitchell’s research into this time and place is stellar as always.
Hannah Sunderland is a Quaker who wants to help her brother who is in jail because he took up arms with the Patriots. The city is under British occupation. Jeremiah Jones, a local tavern owner, has become a spy for the Patriots even though at one time, as a colonist, he was a part of the British army. He realizes that Hannah may be able to get notes into the jail for him and he helps her obtain a pass to visit her brother. The two of them help carry out an elaborate scheme to help the prisoners escape.


This book kept me enthralled to the very end and then I couldn’t get up until I had read all the author’s notes in the back. I would probably not have picked up a novel about the American Revolution at the bookstore but Bethany House gave me a copy of this book to review and I am so glad that they did! This is one of the best books I have read this year. Without a doubt, Siri Mitchell has become an amazing writer and I am anxiously awaiting her next book!