Little House of the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

 To say that our family is a Little House on the Prairie fan is an understatement.  So when I got an opportunity to review Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder DVD from Legacy Documentaries I jumped at the chance. We own several seasons of Little House on DVD and borrow others from family members who own the series as well.  We know the stories well as depicted by the TV show but to know the story behind the story is icing on the cake.
There were many aha moments as we viewed the life story of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Understanding her upbringing, family relationships, hardships and victories makes you appreciate her books so much more.

As the DVD mentions, the stories written by Mrs. Wilder tell of a simpler time where family, courage, hope and love were important.  Little House stories are heartwarming and inspiring.  I dare say they offer many lessons we can use today in teaching our children.  Lessons based on truth and love and where church and community played a central role in people's lives.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the DVD:

"If you have no one raising the children you have no transfer of culture." - Tanya Hart, Asst. Professor of History, University of Kansas.  Professor Hart was speaking of the role pioneer women played on the American frontier alongside their husbands.  Mrs. Wilder brought this character to life in her books.

The DVD is approximately 75 minutes in length and takes you through:

• the beginning of Mrs. Wilder's life with her husband, Almanzo Wilder, which was marked by struggle & hardship as they attempted to live as farmers
• their eventual success at farming in Mansfield, Missouri 
• her success as a newspaper columnist about agriculture and farm life in Mansfield
• her up and down relationship with her daughter Rose who edited her writing
• the motivation and influence of each book written in the Little House series
 

After writing the final book in the Little House series, Mrs. Wilder spent her latter years traveling with Almanzo and entertaining guests at Rocky Ridge farm.  Her books were translated for readers around the world and adapted for TV and stage.  What I find most remarkable is the US government used her final book to help foreigners understand American values.  What a testament to Mrs. Wilder's ability to capture the American spirit in her novels.

Although we enjoy the TV series, the DVD motivates me to read every book in the series.  It is highly recommended for fans of all ages.  It is $24.95 and can be purchased at Legacy Documentary.

Click to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew.

Homemade Birthday

So who says you can't plan a birthday party in an hour?

After fostering a sibling group of 3 for 11.5 months we had about a two week break before they were back in our care again.  They've been back for one week, the week of one of the kid's birthdays.  I'm a big believer in celebrating birthdays so we had to do something.

NuNu made two posters, a homemade game, and blew up balloons.  Pumpkin made cupcakes while I surveyed the pantry to see what I could throw together for a birthday party.  I made hotdogs, tuna sandwiches, angel eggs, and put out a bowl of grapes and sweet peppers

No kids party is a party without cheese puffs so I ran out to Walmart.  I got cheese puffs and party hats.  Viola!  It's a party complete with the music channel and dancing.

Who knew I was such a party planner on a dime and no time?

Picaboo

Picaboo Yearbooks is a fun product to review.  I received an opportunity to use their online web-based program to create a 20 page softcover yearbook for review.  I worked on my yearbook for 2-3 hours the first time I logged into their program.  There is a 3 minute tutorial to show you how to get started.  Additionally, other tutorials are available to walk you through other aspects of creating a yearbook.

I used what I learned  in the 3 minute tutorial to get started.  Thereafter, I opted for the trial and error method to create my yearbook pages.  Initially 20 pages didn’t seem like a lot but it was a challenge for me to find pictures to cover one academic year.  Instead, I created a book that covered our entire homeschooling journey from the beginning of 2010 until the present.  I was quite pleased with the outcome.  My favorite part was choosing backgrounds for my pages.

The product included page layout suggestions or you could create your own.  I primarily created my own custom pages but used one or two of their designs.  All of my changes were saved with ease.  I could log in and out of the program at my leisure to complete my project.   I just started off where I left off from my last log in.  Once I was sure I was finished with a page I could "lock it" and when all pages were reviewed and locked my yearbook was ready to submit for printing.  It really is that easy. 

Picaboo Yearbooks asks for a three week turnaround for the product to be delivered but I received my product in a few days after submitting it.  I received a great quality product.  The kids and I were all pleased with the finished product.

Picaboo Yearbooks are sold in hard cover starting at $18.49 for 20 pages; softcover starting at $8.99 for 20 pages; and eYearbooks which are free to schools.  Shipping on your order is $8.99.  There are many additional features that are beneficial to schools when creating yearbooks like having multiple people working on the yearbook at the same time for collaboration within one yearbook project.

If you take quality photos (which I do not) and have a good sense of spacing (with words and texts) you can really create a high quality project.  Even though I was pleased with what I created, with a little more time I could have improved my project more.

Picaboo Yearbooks also has many other products to include photo books, cards, and calendars. 

The challenges I faced while working on my yearbook included the following:

• I would like to flip between pages without going back to the Home page that list each page of the book.

• I would like to move photos around between pages.  I felt locked into my choices because I had to identify section names before I could work within the yearbook.   Ideally, I would like to put all of my photos into one central location then drag and drop them where I want them in the yearbook. In this way, I can decide the theme of my particular page and name the section after I’ve decided on the layout of the page.

• I would like a preview button for each page of the yearbook.  I didn’t like to go back to the home page to preview and look through the whole book instead of one page at a time. 

Making the changes I suggest above would render the product more user friendly.  I could definitely see myself using this product again in the future perhaps creating a senior yearbook for my graduating student.   

Click to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew. 
 

Ad Camp

So Princess had one week's rest between her Art Intensive at Sweet Briar College and AdCamp at Howard University.  I drove her everyday to Ad Camp in traffic and back home again every evening in rush hour traffic.  It was grueling but it was a small sacrifice for what she gained.

Unless we are intentional, homeschoolers don't get the same experience with group projects and oral presentations as that of public/private school students.  Ad Camp allowed Princess to have a valuable experience working with a group of her peers to solve a real world problem for Papermate's pen line InkJoy.  The usual group dynamic was at play - the dominator, the passivist, and the do nothing guy.  But she persevered and her team delivered an outstanding oral presentation to the InkJoy representative present at the final presentation.

I was so impressed with each group's work.  These are high schoolers working under the supervision of a Howard University professor.  Many of these kids had no experience or exposure to the advertising industry.  They visited local advertising agencies and really got a feel for the profession.

I was so fortunate that Princess received a full scholarship to this Camp and was able to gain a wealth of information and experiences.

25 Truths

I had the opportunity to read for review 25 Truths by EdDouglas Publications.  It was a quick read – 149 pages.  I spent a few hours at my hair salon and read the book in one sitting. 

Ed Douglas spent 32 years working as a successful banker in Chillicothe, Missouri.   During this time, he also spent time on community boards, was a tennis coach and a Sunday school teacher.  But it was during his coaching that he began to share truths he learned throughout his career to help his students become successful in life.

These truths are very practical and in most cases rooted in biblical truth.  As a Christian, I am careful to glean truths and take advice that line up with the bible.  No matter how successful a person is, if their methods are contrary to the bible I am generally not interested.

Here are some of my favorite lines from the following truths:

Truth #4:  Be Slow to Judge – “It is important to remember that until you have walked in the other person’s shoes, you cannot presume to know what happened or why.” 

Truth #6:  Don’t Talk Negatively About Others – “Staying away from subjectivity and judgment preserves relationships and keeps you from bringing yourself down by hurting others.”

Truth #7: Don’t Hate-Instead, Forgive – “Forgiveness is first for you, the forgiver, to release you from something that will eat you alive that will destroy your joy and your ability to love fully and openly.”

Truth #8:  Be Quick to Apologize – “It takes maturity and humility to apologize, but nothing goes further to mend relationships, diffuse conflicts, and make life easier for everyone involved.”

Truth #18:  Set Goals and Write Them Down – “People who write down their goals, share them with a friend, and send weekly updates of their progress to their friend are 33% more successful at completing their goals…”

Out of all 25 truths, Truth #18 had the most effect on me.  I immediately jotted down some goals on the back inside cover of the book.  These goals have been on my mind but I committed them to writing after reading this chapter.  Mr. Douglas suggests that many people don’t write down their goals because they fear failure.  I must agree I do feel a bit committed to what I wrote so there is a little intimidation.  However, I am willing to put this truth to the test.  If nothing else I should make some progress on my goals which is a win for me. 

Undoubtedly, this book is great for young people.  This is especially true of the chapter that deals with money.  There are a lot of golden nuggets in this chapter which kids who are just starting out could benefit from.  I am fortunate to have a great money manager in my husband who also gets great advice from his brother who is a Certified Financial Planner.  A lot of the advice my brother-n-law gives sounds like this chapter.     

I highly recommend this book and at $12.50 it is an affordable read for many.   See what other crew mates though of 25 Truths here.
 

Science for High School

 

I had the opportunity to use and review Bridget Ardoin’s Science For High School Biology course.  I received a physical copy of the student text and the parent manual.  The text and manual retail for $79.99.  Everything is included to complete one year of high school biology.  However, if doing labs at home you will need to purchase or rent a microscope, a dissecting kit and other related items.  The author lists resources for obtaining this material at the website. 

This biology course is a researched based curriculum unlike many of the popular science choices available for homeschool high school students.  Princess has been using a textbook based curriculum for Biology this year.  The drill includes: read the chapter, outline the text while taking note of bolded words, study, and take test.  Repeat.  Princess is my artsy child so science is just a “get it done” subject in our home but I am always open to a new approach.  Our current Biology text and Science For High School pretty much cover the same material give or take a few topics but it is organized very differently. 

 

Science For High School is organized around two semesters.  Each semester covers different topics broken down into weekly research assignments.  It is the student’s responsibility to do the research using whatever resources he/she chooses – textbooks, living books, internet, etc.   The topics covered in each semester are listed here along with sample pages for you to view. 

Princess actually studied science this way 2 years ago as part of a classical education community.  She had to research a different living organism each week using 2 different sources, prepare a report, illustrate the organism, then orally present her organism to the class discussing 5 different points.  She learned a great deal that year.  Science For High School is very similar to this format but unlike what Princess did before, Science For High School covers a lot of ground as outlined in the syllabus.   It covers all the topics one would expect to cover in a high school course – it is both broad and deep.

I started with the Week 1 research sheet and handed it to my student.  It was my plan to have her spend all day at the library completing a week’s worth of work.  The material is meant to be completed in one week with the student working one hour daily.  Because my high schooler’s schedule is jammed pack this summer, I opted to have her complete a week’s lesson in one day.  I wouldn’t do it this way during a “normal” academic year but for summer it is what works.   

 

I remembered that I had this book on my shelf so I was able to attach worksheets to the back of the week’s assignment sheet to assist my student in completing the work.  I believe the extra sheets worked as reinforcement and yes in some cases it gave my student the answers to some of the questions.  The extra sheets are also a break from the seriousness of research.  The sheets include crossword puzzles, matching exercises, and fill in the blank.  I believe this book is a great add-on to this research based curriculum.

Science For High School includes quizzes that can be given to your student after they’ve completed the week’s work.  A semester 1 exam and a semester 2 exam are provided as

well.   The answers to all quizzes, tests, and each week’s research are included in the parent manual.  As your student discusses with you what they’ve learned, you can follow along in the parent manual to see what type of information they should have found at a minimum.  A dissecting manual is included as a tabbed section in the text and parent manual.  It explains what the student needs to observe from his prepared slides under the microscope and what drawings should be done each week after the student has completed his research.  There isn’t any instruction for actually preparing a formal lab report.  This is a skill I believe is important in a science lab and should be included.

I really like this curriculum.  My 10^th grader is pretty much done with her Biology studies but I would like to put this curriculum on the shelf for my rising 9^th grader.  She will do Biology as a 10th grader.  I won’t abandon the textbook approach but add in the research based approach to supplement her textbook studies.  I will have to sit down and figure out exactly how to do that but I think it will be worth it for overall retention of the material.  

 Click to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew.

Art Enthusiasm pt 2

 So my Princess is back from her 3 week summer art intensive.  I missed her so much.  Last year she was away for 2 weeks, this year 3 weeks, next year maybe 6 weeks.  Perhaps by the time she goes off to college I will be a pro.  Honestly, the 3 weeks was hard on me.  She learned a great deal during her experience and we listened to every word of her experience for 2 hours straight during the drive back home.

I am so very proud of her.  The work she produced while she was there was quite different from her art studies thus far with her current art teacher but it really showed just how creative she is.  The collaboration with her peers gave her an opportunity to shine and I could tell from the feedback she received she has gained in confidence.  Did I already say how proud I am of her?

The following excerpt came directly from the syllabus of the program and nicely sums up the goal of the program:

For many high school students, making and thinking about art is limited by the time constraints of a very loaded school and social schedule. At the busy pace of your lives, it can be very tough to try on the shoes of a college or career artist. When you make the choice to study or pursue art beyond high school, time frames are extended (3 hour or even 6 hour studios are common at the college level) and so is the level of depth at which you are expected to pursue your work. How can you know whether that pacing and level of expectation suits you unless you try it? Allowing you to try on the shoes of a studio artist for fit is an important goal of this summer.

Her schedule was jammed packed - she visited a artist colony, saw a Shakespeare play, and stayed up for long hours working on her projects.  She seemed inspired and enthusiastic.  I would say she is just as determined as ever to pursue her interest in the visual arts.   Here is my favorite piece of work she completed in the 3 weeks.  To me, it looks like an ad for juicy fruit candies.

If you didn't read pt 1 of Art Enthusiasm check it our here.