TOS Review: Math Essentials

Math is a strong suit for some of my kids, not so much for the others. That doesn’t mean that we don’t like to have extra help with Math. Math Essentials is a program that is designed as a drill. This is also designed not to have to take a huge about of time from your schooling.

We decided to start with Mastering Essentials Book two Middle Grades/High School. There are 8 chapters with 126 pgs with a final review, and answers. The chapters include the following areas:

• Whole Numbers
• Fractions
• Decimals
• Percentages
• Integers
• Geometry
• Charts and Graphs
• Problem Solving

Monkey Man had no problem settling right in with this book. The area’s he did struggle in they gave helpful hints. We are decided to use this one day a week. We only do math every other day.. this doesn’t make Monkey Man very happy, cause he hates having to do it everyday. LOL!

The reason they made these drills so short, is because they don’t want the student to have time to get bored, or discouraged. Plus there is constant review built into the lessons to reinforce their skills. As they see their progress, it helps build self-esteem. Each lesson contains five key points, Speed Drills, review exercises, helpful hints section, new material, and daily word problem. They are easy to correct and the parents guide has step-by-step solutions if you need help.

Cost:
You can purchase Mastering Essentials Math Skills Book Two for $33.95. This includes the book and the Dvd.  Or you can purchase all three Books/DVDs for $89.95.

There are also smaller books to purchase. You can get Decimals and Percent's, Fractions, Geometry, Pre-Algebra Concepts, Problem Solving, and Whole Numbers and Integers for $11.95.

Along with the other book we received we also got Geometry. Monkey Man is getting ready to go into Geometry so we thought this would be a good start. Sometimes its hard to know where to put him in math, since he is ahead of most kids his age.

The Geometry book offers lots of great stuff. It covers a wide range for any child that needs a bit of help in mastering geometry.

• Points, Lines, and Planes
• Parallel and Intersecting Lines, Angles
• Types of Angles
• Measuring Angles
• Drawing Angles with a Protractor
• Polygons
• Classification of Triangles
• Perimeter of Polygons
• Circles
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Estimating Area
• and so much more!!!!

Check out what the rest of the TOS Crew is saying about this product!


*Disclaimer: I was given these books as part of the TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% mine or my monkey’s.

TOS Review: Knowledge Quest

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever heard of Knowledge Quest? If not, you truly do not know what you are missing out on. I love there maps! They are such a great resource when teaching History!

 

Knowledge Quest was started in 2001 by the Johnson Family. They are a homeschooling family with six children. They started with black and white maps for children to be able to label and color. So they could study American History.. Just this past year in 2011 they got to take their

 

 

Recently I was offered to try one of their products. I had already used Map Trek Outline Maps, which I really liked. So this time I decided to try out their TimeMaps.  This product is amazing! We are such a History loving family to begin with. This just topped our love for History! This program is made to take you through time in History. There are  seven different times through History that you can learn about.

• Ancient China
• The Rise of the Roman Empire
• The Fall of the Roman Empire
• The Rise of Islam
• The Black Death
• European Exploration
• Atlantic Slave Trade
  
  

We had been studying “The Rise of the Roman Empire” so that is the one we started with. It went along great with what we were already studying.

 

 

 

 

My Monkey’s Thoughts:

 

My Middle Monkey, was not a huge fan of it. However, she isn’t a huge fan of most History things. My other two really liked it, and was happy to help read the information given. Monkey Man is a huge fan of History and he really enjoyed this. He was even able to tell me some stuff before it was listed.

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

I really like the way this program is put together. That you can read the info as the time period goes. I think this is a fabulous addition to our History program. It helps to get the facts across.

 

 

This program is like a power point presentation. They are a series of slides, with bullet points of information. So it can be a bit hard to follow if you only use this program with nothing else. I would defiantly think this is a fabulous resource.

 

 

 

Cost:

You can purchase one map at a time for $9.95! Or you can purchase the whole set of 7 for $44.95. They also come with Teacher Notes, map commentaries, timeline pages, ad maps for the students to label and color. You can download to either Windows or Mac, or you can get get the collection of CD-ROM’s.

 

 

 

 

See what the rest of the TOS Crew is saying about Knowledge Quest products!

 

 

*Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the TimeMap Set, as part of the TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review. All my opinions are 100% mine or my monkey’s!  

 

 

First day of School 2010

 

 

Wow… I can’t believe that my kids are back to school. Not only are they back to school, but my youngest starts kindergarten this year!

 

Littlest Monkey’s first day of Kindergarten:

 

 

Middle Monkey’s first day of 1st Grade:

 

 

Oldest Monkey’s first day of 3rd Grade:

 

 

Group Shot:

 

Now to go enjoy my peace and quiet… How strange!

Emotions running wild…

 

 

Crazy! Crazy I say! My baby is going to Kindergarten tomorrow morning.. how is that possible??

Yeah, you can say that my emotions are going crazy… while this little girl is excited beyond belief to be starting school.

I love that I have raised good, independent children…but it saddens me a little that she isn’t even the least bit nervous about this new adventure…

Oh the excitement of a mama!!!

An end to a good year…..

 

Can you believe the School year is over?? I can’t! Time has flown by….

I’m very proud of both of them… as they have done so good this year. Both have gotten A’s and B’s all year! I couldn’t be a prouder mom!

For curiosity sake, I wanted to see if they changed since the beginning of the year… Here is a photo from the first day of school.

Here is a photo from the last day of school…

What do you think??

Awards???

 

 

Yesterday was the kids awards ceremony at school… Things are still a bit different down here compared to up north. They don’t have Auditoriums so they get to do all there stuff in their classrooms. Strange I say!

Rachel got her certificate of completion of Kindergarten…

Hunter got a certificate for getting all A’s & B’s all four quarters. (the only one in his whole class)

He also got High Honors in Reading on the SAT 10 (kinda like the MEA for you people in Maine) and got 88th Percentile out of all of FL.
He got Honors for Math on the SAT 10 and was in 70th Percentile out of all of FL.

They make me very proud!

So here are some shots from today!

 

Being good has its rewards:

 

Since our move, Hunter has had issues with being a good boy at school.  He is slowly improving and working hard to get there. He has been focusing on good behavior, and how to handle situations. I’m very proud of how far he has come. We reward him at home once a week, with sometime he enjoys (game, movie, a new toy, etc.) if he has a good week no issues. In order to insure we know how he is in school, his teacher writes me a note everyday. His teacher has been great in working together with us on this issue.

Well , Friday after being well behaved for a few  weeks. He received this from one of his teachers at school. I was impressed!

He was very excited to have earned this! We played it when later that evening. It was a really good game, as we LOVE  Leap Frog products anyway.  He received Leapfrog Alphabet Go Fish and Math Rummy. One of the best features I liked was it came with a card holder, so the little hands didn’t have to try to do it. Great feature!  Plus the Alphabet Go Fish, has three of each letter, so you can increase the skill for older children. We had a blast playing this game. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun way to teach their child letters, or math skills!  For more wonderful Leapfrog products go HERE.

The Verdict is in……

 

Hunter got his report card today! Can we say total PROUD MOMMY MOMENT! Yes, that is right… Hunter got all A’s & B’s! He brought a few of his grades up from last quarter. I’m so proud of him! He is such a delightful smart handsome boy! He does have a few behavioral issues, he is still working on, but slowly improving. 'I’m just excited he loves being at school again!

Frist Day of School Florida Style

As you have probably gathered from most of my posts... getting Hunter into school has been a challenge to say none the least. From sitting for two hours to get his immunization record on the "Blue" card, to having papers notarized. After a week of running around, and getting the necessary paper work together, he was able to start today!
To say he was excited would be an understatement. (That is until we got there) He got up fairly well for having been out of the loop for a couple weeks. Got on his uniform, something he isn't so happy about. Yes, in Florida they are all mandatory uniforms at schools. Which in theory is not a bad idea... I guess. At his school they are a little more laid back. They allow them to wear jeans (which is not allowed at most schools) along with their Khaki pants, and they have to wear either white, or navy blue polo shirts with a collar. If they have belt loops in their pants, they have to wear a belt. The biggest part Hunter hates is having to tuck in his shirt. (poor thing I know) Got his lunch together, and he was ready to go. Of course I was dragging my feet.. but he was anxious to get out that door. I had to take him this morning, so I could give them the rest of his paperwork.
We arrive at the school, he almost runs into the office. (which is in a temporary building right now, cause they are doing a complete overhaul of the school) We give them the rest of his paperwork and assign him a teacher. Andy & I get our visitor passes on. Not allowed on school grounds without it. Then we are shown to his class. This is when Hunter starts to get a bit more nervous. They show us were the cafeteria is, the 2nd grade rooms, art, music, and the big square in the middle for Gym... where the teachers meet their students in the morning. Then we continue on for his classroom. Keep in mind there are 8, first grade classrooms. :) We arrive at it, knock on the door and step in. The kids turn around, stare at us, and Hunter just puts his head down. His teacher comes out, and introduces herself... Her name is Mrs.Smith....(yes the same as last years teacher) She seems very nice... I quickly look at Hunter and ask him if he is going to be ok, cause he looked scared...He says "yes mommy, I'm ok" Not sure if I embrassed him or not. So, we leave him with his teacher and headed back to the office.
So, as you all know... I was sitting here all day, worried about whether he was ok or not. He got home around 3pm, and he looked ok, and says he had a good day. Couldn't remember any of his friends names, but said he made some. :) Told me he had Gym today, and the ran a lot....but that is about the most I could get out of him. Other than, "yes mom, I had fun"...... Another successful first day of school. ***Sigh of Relief***

First Grade here we come!

Today was the first day of school here in Embden. Which meant that Hunter was off to start his first day of FIRST GRADE! Oh my, can you believe it?? Time has just flown by... seems like yesterday he was born.

Needless to say the excitement was just unbearable. Daddy woke him up at 6am, and he jumped out of bed.. (not a normal occurance for that boy) Had his breakfast, and got dressed. By 20 mins of 7... he was anixously awaiting for the bus to pick him up. :) Bad news, he had atleast 25 mins to wait before she would be there. He was so happy..... and must have gave me 10 hugs and kisses. He couldn't wait to be back with his friends. He had missed them so much over summer.

Here he is waiting for the bus...

and here he is getting on the bus....

I'll let you know later how his first day went! Here is to another year! :)

Almost time for school to start again!

Can you believe that the summer has FLOWN by??? I mean really where did it all go? I'm sad that we really didn't get to do to much this summer. Hunter did get to go on his first Boy Scout overnight camping trip. He had a great time! The girls have been just enjoying being little..... I've been busy working at the Town Office, since the end of July... I have one more week left. It has been enjoyable, working with one of my best friends, and we never have a dull moment. :)
Hunter starts school in 4 more days... First grade! Can you believe that?? Seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. Time sure does fly!!! He is excited to be starting back up again, as he has been eagerly awaiting since the begining of July... He has Mrs. Campbell this year for a teacher... but is sad that a few of his friends won't be attending school with him, as they are either being Homeschooled, or have transfered to the Solon school. Although, I have assured him we will keep in contact with them.
Rachel is starting her 3rd year of pre-school. Yes, her 3rd! Due to her birthday she is not able to attend Kindergarten this year... which stinks cause she is very ready academically!! Though, not to worry I am still doing school work with her at home. There is never a non-learning moment in our house. We have fun!
Sage is well sage.... 3 and full of attitude! Sad that she isn't able to go to school like her siblings, but we do stuff at home with her as well. She is a very smart cookie, that is for sure! Hasn't really grown much this summer, maybe a couple inches, and still as small as ever. She is my peanut that is for sure! :) Pic's to come soon.
So, with all that being said! I hope you all have a great rest of the summer, and have a great school year! I know, we are going to try..

Hunter's frist play

Hunter had his frist play the night of his birthday! He was so excited. They particed all week long during school hours, and then presented the play on friday at noon, and again that evening. I was very excited to watch it. He is the middle child in the picture. He was a firefly! He was so cute to say none the least! These children did a wonderful job to say none the least. I video taped the whole thing.... Had to keep that on hand! For the time these children had to partice, learn songs, and remember lines they couldn't have done better. They were taught by a couple in New Hampshire who brings the props and costumes. They do a wonderful job. Every child in the school was able to participate if they wanted too.. They put on the Princess and the Pea. I was very proud of my little man! :)