Adventures in Odyssey A.C.T.S.

Disclaimer: I received a free Adventures In Odyssey Album in exchange for promoting their Act of Service Challenge & Contest. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.  

You are invited to join kids across the country to serve your family, your community, or even the world. Adventures in Odyssey presents A.C.T.S.~ A Call To Service!

Summer of Service Launch Party

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 3:30 (MT) 

Odyssey cast members Katie Leigh & Chris Anthony 

There are 3 ways to participate: Serve, Share, & Win!

Adventures in Odyssey has encouraged kids for 25 years, and my family has enjoyed it for 18 of those 25. Our favorite is the audio drama and the AIO books. We love to listen in the car or when we are cleaning the house. If you love AIO like we do or if you have never listened to any of them I have a FREE AIO MP3 episode Business of Busyness for you to download.

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. There are service opportunities every where, no matter how big or small. We serve our own family every day, we can bake cookies for a neighbor, send care packages overseas to missionaries or the military. If you need service ideas for your family I have a free Service Idea PDF to help you out.

How the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:

Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org. At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

• 100 Winners will get the new Adventures in Odyssey Album.
• 2 Grand Prize Winners (one boy & one girl) will travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Adventure to another country with a parent. The destination will be announced on May 22.You don’t want to miss it!

Why serve?

Our culture puts an extravagant amount of energy into raising kids who will grow up to feel good about themselves. In schools, clubs, homes, and even at church, adults have made a decided effort to bolster children’s “self-esteem” –not by actually encouraging kids do something that’s worthwhile, but by simply telling them they are important and valuable.

At the turn of the century, researchers predicted that the next generation would respond to these efforts of raising self-esteem by being filled with optimism and civic duty. Unfortunately, recent research shows the opposite. Kids coming of age today are more self-centered, disrespectful of authority, and depressed than ever before.

In a very real way, then, the best path toward building selfless, confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving faith in God. And that includes obedience to what God teaches—not because it makes kids feel good, although it often does—but because they’re following God’s instructions to love Him and serve others. That builds a faith they can count on and carry with them into adulthood—which is the greatest gift any parent can bestow on their child.

Adventures in Odyssey FREE episode Business of Busyness.

Graduation Cakes

Last weekend was graduation for some of our area schools. I had a few of the typical graduation cake & a few different ones.

This graduation cake was fun, Maria didn't want to go with the school colors she wanted blue & orange. I used buttercream icing with fondant swirls, bow, diploma, and mortar board.



Jacob must really like his John Deere tractor, he had an edible image & one of his favorite tractors.




Dakota had two cakes. His main cake was cappuccino flavor with an extra white sheet cake.




Seth had his graduation sheet cake and a surprise cake too. He is going into the Air Force and is going into EOD.


Zachary is a swimmer & his aunt wanted him to have a fun cake. This is a 6", 8", & 14" cake with swimmers.


I made my swimmers out of fondant and here a few closeups.



This one is a 8" & 10" square. The top tier is turned a little and there are diamonds on the sides and back.


Caleb will be attending Creighton University and wanted the mascot on his cake.

This one was for a ultrasound graduate and high school graduate that volunteers in the radiology department at the hospital.




I had a few birthday cakes over the weekend too. 2 year old Makenna likes Doc McStuffins & her mom wanted it on her cake.

How about a fishing cake? John must like to fish, because that's what he had for his birthday.

I is for Icing, so I will be linking up to Marcy's Blogging Through the Alphabet.

Spanish For You! SchoolHouse Crew Review

We have been using Spanish for You!, a Spanish curriculum for children in grades 3-8. This Spanish curriculum lasts a full school year & the students learn Spanish by studying the same theme all year. We have been learning Spanish using Fiestas (celebrations), and other crew members are using Estaciones (seasons).
 
We received Spanish for You! Fiestas as a download that included:

• Spanish for You! Fiestas e-book 
• Spanish for You! Fiestas Audio MP3
• Fiestas Flashcard Pictures
• Fiestas Worksheets
• Fiestas Lesson Guide Grades 3-4
• Fiestas Lesson Guide Grades 5-6
• Fiestas Lesson Guide Grades 7-8

The Spanish for You! Fiesta book contains a reference section that covers the alphabet, common words and phrases, command, colors and numbers, games and activities and information about the fiestas. The five lessons teach vocabulary, verbs, and grammar for each fiesta:

1. Lección 1 ~ La fiesta de cumpleaños (The Birthday Party)
2. Lección 2 ~ El día de los muertos (Day of the Dead)
3. Lección 3 ~ Carnaval (Carnival)
4. Lección 4 ~ La semana santa (Holy Week)
5. Lección 5 ~ La feria de abril (April Fair)

The Audio MP3 files cover the entire book, there is a recording for each lesson and some for the reference material. The flashcards are black & white and are all on 8 pages and can be cut out and laminated. There are separate worksheets for grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8. The answers are included with each lesson on a separate page for easy grading. The lesson plans are separated into grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8. The lesson plans follow a 30 week schedule for grades 3-4 and 24 week schedule for grades 5-8.

I am using this program with all three of my girls ages 8, 10, & 12. I printed the 3-4 grade worksheets for my 8 year old and I printed the 7-8 grade worksheets for my 10 & 12 year old. I decided to put my 10 year old (she will be 11 next week) on the same worksheets with her 12 year old sister because she actually has a larger Spanish vocabulary. We have been following the lesson plans for grades 7-8, I think it has been a good pace for us. It takes my 8 year old a little longer to complete her worksheets than her sisters, but having them there to help and encourage her is a huge help. The pictures on the flashcards and throughout the worksheets are simple drawings but represent the vocabulary well.

This program has been very easy to use. After downloading the program I printed the worksheets for everyone and got started right away. We listened to the MP3 file first and then we would read and answer our worksheets. That way we know how the words should be pronounced and we practiced reading them. The worksheets are easy to understand. The 3-4 grade includes more pictures for the student while the 7-8 grade has more sentence questions with fewer pictures.

Simon Says in Spanish

My girls are really enjoying using this curriculum. Learning vocabulary for one topic at a time has helped them retain more. Amber (12) said having the vocabulary pictures and flashcards has really helped her remember the words. So far their favorite has been lesson 1~The Birthday Party, especially since my 10 year old will turn 11 next week. The only complaint is that there isn't more vocabulary & less grammar. Isn't that typical. For the grammar sections I made each of my girls an index card with the information on it, so they can easily reference it when they are unsure of the correct answer and that has really helped. 

Spanish for You! Fiesta and Esaciones for grade 3-8 can be purchased for $64.95. If you don't need all the grade levels you may purchase 3-4 grade, 5-6 grade, or 7-8 grade separatly for $39.95. The Teacher Lesson Plans are sold seperatly with grades 3-4 being $14.95, grades 5-6 and grades 7-8 are each $12.95.

A trial version of (Travels) is currently available with the full curriculum being available in June. You may also access free curriculum activities and games,  free additional worksheets, and free mini lessons from Spanish for You!

It makes no difference which theme you start with, but it is recommended to do the lessons in order.

Can't Wait Willow! Review & Giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Sometimes it is so hard for kids to say no to things they want. We just finished reading a new book about waiting for what you really want called Can't-Wait Willow!

 

Willow is a young girl who is so excited that the circus has come to town. She couldn't wait to see the elephants, costumes, daring ladies on horseback, and taste the delicious cotton candy. Something happens to Willow on her way to the circus. She just can't say "no" to the ice cream truck, the lemonade stand, the circus games and shows. When she finally gets to the cotton candy.....she has ran out of money. Now she can't taste the sweetness of the cotton candy or see the circus. She is upset when a circus man comes over to comfort her. He teaches her some life lessons and gives her a ticket for the next days show. This time Willow can say "no" to the good things to get to the great things.

 

Can't Wait Willow! is a colorful hardbound book written by Christy Ziglar and illustrated by Luanne Marten. My girls enjoyed reading the book and finding the stars. There are stars to find on every page. If willow makes good choices the star looks happy and bright. If she makes unwise choices the star looks dim and deflated. This book teaches a good lesson to us all about not giving in to our fleshly desires without thinking them through. 

 

Can't Wait Willow! has a page at  Shine Bright Kids where you can print out a poster, print Willow coloring pages, & sing songs. Oh, and there is information for mom & dad to make star charts and how to have teachable moments with the kids.

About Shine Bright Kids:

The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with a relevant framework to help instill solid values and teach the importance of making good choices. The principles that will be explored include: using good judgment, taking responsibility, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.

 

About the Author:  (Recognize the last name Ziglar?!?) Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins and niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar, is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her new Shine Bright Kids picture book series. 

 

About the Illustrator: Thanks to her first grade teacher, who recognized her superior skills in drawing a robin, Luanne Marten has been drawing, painting and sketching ever since.  She is a great experimenter and has a fresh, whimsical approach to bring her characters to life.

 

~~Giveaway~~

 

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Papa's Pearls Review

  Papa's Pearls: A Father's Gift of Love and Wisdom to His Children and Grandchildren

By Diane Flynn Keith

$14.97

"It's all about family. If you don't have family, you got nothin." ~ Papa

 

Papa's Pearls: A Father's Gift of Love and Wisdom to His Children and Grandchildren was written as a tribute by a loving daughter who adored her father. Diane Flynn Keith tells a heartfelt story of her father, Carol Joseph Flynn, who she calls Papa. Papa didn't grow up in the best circumstances and made some wrong decisions in his life that included criminal activity. After experiencing what he thought was the worse thing that could happen to him, he decided to turn his life around. He worked hard and eventually had his own business. He was proud & protective of his family and always put them first. He made sure he passed on to his children and grandchildren the pearls of wisdom and street smarts that he had learned in his lifetime.

It is very evident from the way Diane tells the story of her Papa's life that growing up her family was full of love and adoration for one another. It is very encouraging to see that even when people make the wrong choices in their lives when they are young they can eventually turn themselves around and change the course of their family for generations. Reading through this book a lot of the pearls and street smarts seem to me as common sense but it must not be for everyone, because I know a lot of homes (including mine growing up) that could benefit from making family a high priority in their lives and could use an influence like Carol.  

Diane tells her Papa's life story and his pearls of wisdom while including the idioms he lived by. She explains each one with real examples of them. 

• "I love you. You know that, right?"
• "Get it in writing!"
• "If you ever need anything- You've got it!"
• "Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!"
• "Take a Hike-Just Walk Away from It!"
• "You Gotta Roll with the Punches."
• "Keep a Foxy Pocket."
• "Doodle-le Do It!"

 

I read Papa's Pearls myself and although we already implement some of the shared wisdom in our home, there is always room for improvement. It was very easy to read & I wanted to finish it right away.

 

After I received my book I recognized Diane's name from ClickSchooling. I actually receive her email that contains a web-based curriculum idea for Monday-Saturday.   Diane Flynn Keith was born and raised on the San Francisco Peninsula along with her brother & sister. Together with her husband they have raised two boys and still lives on the Peninsula. Diane is the Editor-In-Chief of Homefires.com and is also an alternative education specialist, and parenting coach. She has also written Carschooling: Over 350 Entertaining Games & Activities To Turn Travel Time Into Learning Time.
Regardless of your family situation there are some pearls in this book that we could all benefit from.

Home School in the Woods Composers Review

I'm guessing if I asked my girls what their favorite subject in school is they would answer music. They are always wanting to play their instruments and they already have some favorite composers that they get excited about when they play their music.

We just completed a  Hands-On History Activity-Pak about Composers from Home School in the Woods and Amber said it is her favorite lap book she has ever completed. I would have to agree with her, it is beautiful when it is finished.

Hands-On History Activity-Pak Composers is recommended for students in the 3rd-8th grades and can be purchased for $18.95 as a download or $19.95 for the CD. We received the download version and it was a very smooth process. Once our files were downloaded there was one file that was titled "Start". Once you click on that it brings up a page that looks like a web browser but is really all your files. You do not need internet access once the files are downloaded onto your computer.


The file was very easy to use. At the top of the page are 4 choices:

• Introduction~Here you will be introduced to what is included in your lap book. For the Composers there are 6 projects included in the lap book and then 2 additional project. 
• References~There are books, audio, and video selections included here to go with the subject.
• Assembly~Step-by-step instructions with actual photos make it easy to fold the file folder and assemble the lap book.
• Photo Gallery~ In this section there are photos of each smaller project so that you can see exactly what you will have when you are finished. 

After the introduction there are files with the Assembling Masters, Individual Project Directions, and Masters, the MP3 recordings, and the two additional project masters. 

I started at the top and went through and printed all the pages we needed to complete the entire lap book at once. The instructions for printing each section were very clear. The supply list for each project lists how many of each page you need, if it needs to be printed on the front & the back of the pages, if you need it printed on card stock, or if it needs to be on colored paper. The assembly instructions are listed in numbered steps with pictures. The Composers Project includes items that are glued directly into the lap book folder, pockets that are glued inside, and small projects and worksheets that are stored inside of the pockets.
 

Some of the projects that we completed are vocabulary words on piano keys with the definitions underneath the key, and little booklet for 42 composers that we filled in with some information about them, a timeline covering 7 Periods of Music from the Middle Ages to 1900s, and little projects that included booklets about patriotic songs, the opera, hymns, and soundtracks. There are 29 audio files of composers throughout history that we listened to & filled in a worksheet about each one and there is a pocket inside our lap book to store all the worksheets. 

The two additional projects that we completed was an orchestra stage, and composer cards. The orchestra floor is glued into our file folder and we glued in little pockets to slide in the instrument card. There are 4 different orchestra cards from different Musical Periods with the seating arrangement on the back, so the student can rearrange their orchestra to fit the era. The composer cards have a picture of the composer on the front with the back telling us when & where they were born, when they died, what music period they were from and some of their compositions. 

I used this Homeschool in the Woods Hands-On History-Pak Composers with all three of my girls ages 8, 10, & 12. We took several days to cut & glue our lap books together and then we went back and learned about each composer. While we were cutting and gluing we listened to some of the audio files & even listened to other composers we found on the Internet as we glued them to our timeline. Once we finished putting everything together we went back to listen to the audio files and fill out the music appreciation worksheets with each one. There are only 29 audio files included in this History-Pak so when we were filling in our composer booklets & gluing our timeline we searched to Internet to hear the other composers or more music from some of our favorites.

We have studied composers in our history studies or when the girls like a composer from their piano music, but we have never studied them all together. I really liked learning about them this way because it was very interesting to hear how music has changed throughout the years. I think learning about each composer while listening to their compositions & placing them in their correct place in the timeline makes it easier to remember them & some of what they composed. We wanted to complete our lap book before our review was due, but you could easily spread this out over a semester or a whole year. We are going to continue learning about the composers until we have studied them all more in depth.

My girls had a good time completing this lap book. They loved listening to the music and were excited when they recognized music they had learned in piano lessons. Once they finished their Orchestra project they changed their seating chart for each Musical Period so many times I lost count. Amber loved learning about the composers so much that she decided she is going to further her study of each one.

Home School in the Woods was started by the Pak family. Amy Pak is the mom and she wanted to really bring history alive for her kids and started using timelines. She had a hard time finding images that she liked, so she decided to create her own. She started giving away some unit studies on her website in 1998 and in 2002 she began creating her timeline figures.

I own the History Through the Ages A Collection of Historical Timeline Figures Creation to 21st Century from Home School in the Woods and we absolutely love all the images that are included on this CD.

"This is by far my favorite lap book I have ever completed and I want to keep it forever to use as a reference in the future."          ~Amber, age 12

As you can tell by the pictures this activity pak is a lot of work, but it is worth it. Your 3rd-8th grade child will end up remembering the composers and have a beautiful book that they will want to keep.

Some of the members of the SchoolHouse Review Crew received Great Empires Activity Study and The 20th Century Hands-On History Lap-Pak. Sail on over to the Crew Blog to read about those.

Soft Scrub Advanced Surface Review & Giveaway

I like when I have a cleaner that I can use on multiple surfaces. I have been using the new Advanced Soft Scrub Surface Cleaner + Polish the last couple of months. This new formula is a rinse-free gel that cleans and polishes granite, marble, glass, cooktops, and stainless steel.

I just have laminate countertop and white appliances, but I have stainless steel small appliances. I like to have an all purpose cleaner, so that I don't have to have to many stored in my kitchen. I have tried cleaners that are meant for my kitchen on my small stainless steel appliances, but they leave them looking dull. Not with this new kitchen cleaner, I worked well on my countertop, stovetop, and left my coffee pot & toaster looking good.

Would you like to try it for yourself? I have a coupon to giveaway to 3 of my lucky readers within the United States.

~~Giveaway~~

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Dislaimer: As a Purex Insider I recieved Soft Scrub Advanced Surface free of charge in exchange for my review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.