Category: Reviews

reviews of curriculum, books, resources, field trips

Review and Giveaway: The Woodcarver

Teenage conflict, a marriage that needs work, God blurring out of focus. These create the backdrop for a family ripe for renewal.

Nothing brings a family together like manual labor in stressful situations. Working side by side, the individuals in this fractured family begin to remember what they liked about each other and what they lost sight of in the pressures of everyday life.

Ernest Otto challenges Matthew to just ask himself one question before acting, “What would Jesus do?” And, Matthew finds that the answer sometimes surprises him, and his change of heart surprises everyone else in the process. He continues to learn from Ernest as his family is pieced back together along with the wood he had destroyed in an act of vandalism.

I appreciate that the film does not make it out that trusting God will make your life hunky-dorey. Otto lost his wife to cancer in the past, but did not lose his confidence in the power of prayer.  The story kept the attention of our whole family and had enough ups and downs and unexpected challenges to keep us on our toes.

The only disappointment to me was the ending. Poor Otto sitting by his wife’s grave crying over how much he misses her. I would have preferred him expressing his sorrow but remembering that he doesn’t mourn as those that have no hope. But, I guess they were just keeping it real.

Overall, a great film that might make you reconsider some of your own priorities and brush the dust of that well worn question, “What would Jesus do?”

The Woodcarver - DVD
The Woodcarver DVD
(releases Tuesday, March 13th)


About the Movie:
Matthew Stevenson is a troubled kid from a broken home. When he vandalizes the local church to get back at his parents, Matthew has to repair the damage to the church to avoid criminal charges. While working at the church, he meets Ernest (John Ratzenberger), an accomplished wood carver who created the intricate woodwork decoration that Matthew destroyed. Ernest has become something of a hermit, but reluctantly comes out of reclusion to help repair the church. Now Ernest and Matthew must work together to preserve the church’s beautiful antiquity, and along the way, they also manage to restore their faith in God and in life.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of this movie please leave a comment on this post. You can earn a second entry by sharing about this giveaway on facebook, twitter, etc. and leaving a second comment. The drawing will be open until Friday March 16th in the evening. Make sure to leave an email address that I can reach you at when you win!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Review and Giveaway

If you enjoy checking these reviews of “hot off the presses” items, this movie will sound a bit familiar.

When this first hit the screens we had the opportunity to give out tickets to the screening, but now we have the actual DVD to giveaway!

Same great story, just the in-home version. We absolutely love finding family friendly films that we can enjoy together and re-enjoy together, so I was thrilled to add this to our movie collection.

This story line appealed to each member of our family and stayed clean enough to earn a “G” rating. Love that!

The triumphant underdog is a story that simply doesn’t get old. Seeing people come together as a team despite the odds stacked against them is an inspiring conversation starter and an encouragement on a personal level as well. The Mighty Macs does that and will easily draw your family together to cheer on this team of determined athletes.

About the Movie:

It’s 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time … and she’s about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women’s basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women’s Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she’s willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she’s just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school’s Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don’t have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing’s for certain: there’s never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

Of course, with the DVD you get some bonus features that were interesting as well including a clip from ESPN about the movie. I definitely would recommend this film for a family movie night soon.
If you would like to enter into the giveaway to win a free copy of this movie, please leave a comment on this post with an email so I can reach you if your name is drawn. You are welcome to a second entry as well by simply sharing about this giveaway somewhere else (facebook,  twitter, etc.) and returning here to leave a second comment.
The giveaway will wrap up on Sunday night, March 4th in the evening.
Giveaway closed. Winner is commenter #4 — Melissa
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Review and giveaway — Cooper and Me and the Military

Many kids struggle with the separation of a parent or other family member due to active military duty. Monique and Alexa Peters brought Cooper and his friend Trooper to the rescue in wading through this difficult time.
The story helps open up conversation for kids who might be hurting and gives them some ideas to put their worries to work. The story is cute, but my favorite part comes after the story. The authors broaden the application to include dealing with any type of separation. Talking points can give you the springboard you need to encourage your child in this area. The end of the book also includes some questions to recap the story and the lessons taught through it.
Kids will also find a fill in the blank letter they can use to begin their own letter of thanks to service men or women along with a website to look for more information on encouraging our troops.
**Please note this copy for review DOES NOT have the FINAL cover, but the winner giveaway copy will.
Their summary of the book:

Meet Trooper, Cooper’s best friend, and learn how he was adopted by Gracie and Joe and their parents, who both serve in the military. Find out how this family stays close despite being separated.
A must-read during patriotic holidays and for anyone with friends and family in the military, this book helps children know, that even when loved ones aren’t with us, they still love us and think about us. This book, along with all the other books in the Cooper and  Me series, includes these interactive features:
• A Special Memory Creation
• Life Lesson
• Connections
• Learning Together
In addition to a fun adventure, each Cooper and Me story teaches an important Life Lesson and features interactive materials at the back of the book to drive the message home.  Included are activities that help children name and process their own feelings about what they’ve read.
Not just do I get to share a review of this helpful book, I also get to give a copy away to one of my readers. If you would like to enter to win a copy of this book, please leave a comment with this post. Make sure to leave an email that I can reach you at to let you know if you have won! The drawing will go through next Friday night, February 17. You can earn additional entries by sharing about this giveaway on facebook or other online networks and then come back and leave another comment saying you did so.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the 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.

Works for me Wednesday — Homeschool Tracker

This year with the advent of high school for my oldest I really needed a method to keep  better track of, well, everything. Grades, attendance, transcripts, course materials, book lists, etc.

During the summer I got really serious about finding a workable method for record keeping and what I found was exactly what I needed, in Homeschool Tracker.

We first downloaded the free version to make sure that I liked it. Played with that for about 6 weeks of summer school and I knew it was a keeper, so we jumped in and bought the full version, and now I tell everyone I meet about my new brain.

Why I love it so much:

– Does way more than I ever need it to do. This is a good thing. Because, some day I might just get the urge to put all my homeschool books in one list or write out detailed lesson plans or have a weighted grading scale. But, for now, I can pick and choose the features that I choose to use, and the rest just sit there quietly until I decide to use them or not.

– Prepares my assignment sheets for me. At the beginning of the school year and again over Christmas break I put in a bunch of hours logging all their assignments for the months ahead. Yes, that was a monumental task. Think 5 kids times about 7 subjects each times about 200 days of school. Yeah, a little crazy, but the program makes it as easy as possible. Now, all I do is select all the students and print out the sheets two weeks at a time. I could print the whole year, but I like to do a couple at a time because invariably I change something over the course of a week or two and I would hate to have to hand-write all those changes. Each weekend, or Monday morning depending on how things go, I print out everyone’s sheets, punch holes in them and they put them in their binders. Then, as I come around to work with them individually we pull out the binder and know exactly what needs to get done today and all week.

– Easy to reschedule. Life happens, sometimes a little too often. Kids get sick, relatives drop in, an assignment takes longer than anticipated, a concept needs extra teaching, kids fly through what you thought would take a week, books get lost, and sometimes the teacher gets sick. With a few clicks you can reschedule all assignments for all the kids or pick and choose what subjects and what kids need some rescheduling.

– Grades are figured automatically. All I needed to do was each week spend about 20 minutes (for all 5 kids, if you have fewer in school this would be even quicker, it takes me less than 5 minutes per kid) putting in their grades for the week and I have report cards ready made at the end of each quarter to go get their rewards from Chuck E Cheese.

– Not just about grades. As I mentioned this program does way more, and you can use any or all of the following features: track attendance, keep a reading log, record assignments and grades, write lesson plans, track goals, record school info, catalog your home library,  and print reports for any or all of those things.

This program has surpassed my expectations for a record keeping program and made it so painless. Yes, it took a little bit to get the hang of it, but they have an online forum on their site that can answer all of your questions and then some. I also made some silly mistakes while learning and spent extra time fixing said mistakes and getting back on track. But, now it is such a huge time saver and I have all their records in one place, saved and backed up every five days without another thought.

Why you should definitely try the free demo first:

– I will readily admit, there is a huge learning curve with this one. There are so many features, and it is a little old school in its on screen presentation, but it can do anything you want it to, you just need to learn how to work it.

– I’m sure it’s not for everyone. Although for me it was love at first download, it might not float your boat. So, check it out, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. It is amazing!

I can’t say enough about how much I have enjoyed using Homeschool Tracker Plus. I am thrilled to pieces with this program.  You can check out the basic edition for free, and you can try the plus edition for $5 for 30 days. If you do decide to buy, pleas use my referral code: U33EH and I’ll get a little bonus for referring you. 🙂 Hope it is a help to you as much as it was for me.

Check out more wfmw.

Review and Giveaway: A Mile in His Shoes


For kids that struggle with special needs or whose parents find them trying to manage a diagnosis they might sometimes feel trapped into what society “allows” them to do. Now and then someone enters that scene and sees only the potential and can bring hope and opportunity where none had existed before.

When a coach of a struggling farm team stumbles on a teenage boy with an amazing pitching arm, he doesn’t let Asperger’s blind his eye to the potential in this young man. The father unwillingly lets his son go, not ready to release his protection over the unpredictable nature.

My family enjoyed the story of this bright boy that just needed a chance to shine. The story is inspiring and engaging, the actors believable, and the ending satisfying.

It could have done without the discussion of the difference between a “player” and a “playah,” although it stayed pretty innocent. And, the father’s protective role was portrayed as anger-filled at times. But, in the end the family is intact and healthy and the good guys win. A good, clean movie that we were able to watch as a family.

For more info check out their links:


And, you to can get a copy of this movie for free! I have the privilege of hosting a giveaway:
To be entered in a giveaway for this family film, please leave a comment on this post. For a second entry, share about this giveaway through some social media outlet and come back and leave a second comment. Contest open to US continental residents only. Make sure I have your email address so I can contact you as well.
The contest will close on January 29th in the evening.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Review: Cooper and Me

Many children know that feeling of getting separated from their parents for even a few seconds and how that panic quickly sets in. They look around frantically hoping to see a familiar face and they feel suddenly LOST!

Monique and Alexa Peters wanted to help kids know what to do in that situation and created a booked that is also a teaching tool to prepare a child in case they ever do find themselves really lost.

Cooper and Bella are two pups that run out into the snow for a great time of playing and sledding, but before they know it they realize that they have wandered away from familiar territory. The story has a safe ending, but allows kids to be an observer in a sometimes scary situation. This opens up the opportunity for talking with our kids about safe practices — know your identifying information and know where and how to find help.

At the close of the book they even have questions to prompt the conversation and go beyond just a simple review of the story (which is a good habit and skill, too).

I love that this book is a cute story for kids to hear, with rhyming that they often enjoy as well (some is a bit forced, but does flow well). And, it goes beyond mere entertainment to teach an important life skill that even a young child can begin to learn.

For more information check out their links:

Cooper & Me Winter Adventure

Also, please note that $1 of every Winter Adventure book sold will go to advance research & treatment of pancreatic cancer, via the Lustgarten Foundation (http://www.lustgarten.org/)

Also, our friends at Cooper & Me will be offering an EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR YOU:
Make any purchase of $25 or more at CooperandMe.com and get FREE SHIPPING now through December 15.
MUST USE THIS CODE @ Check Out:  COOPERBLOG

But that’s not all! 🙂 I am able to give a copy away to one reader, so if you would like to enter to win a copy of this book for a special little child in your life please leave a comment here with an email where I can get a hold of you. You may enter an additional time by sharing about this giveaway on another social media or even email and come back and leave a second comment saying you did so. I will pull from all the entrants on Tuesday night, December 13 and will notify the winner at that time. Please leave a comment and share this great giveaway with your friends!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products orservices mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Review: The Christmas Lodge

Starting in November we begin to rewatch our favorite Christmas movies. We have a new one to add to the mix from now on — Christmas Lodge.

Thomas Kinkade Presents: Christmas Lodge [DVD]

Synopsis:

Thomas Kinkade presents Christmas Lodge: a place where a heart-warming past and loving future meet for one remarkable group of people. During a weekend trip to the mountains, Mary (Erin Karpluk) finds herself at the now- dilapidated lodge where she spent the holidays with her family growing up. She becomes determined to restore the building to its former glory. Inspired by her grandfather and guided by her grandmother in heaven, Mary throws herself into the project, and during the process finds herself drawn to Jack (Michael Shanks), a handsome man who loves the lodge as much as she does. Historically unlucky in love, this chance encounter allows Mary to renew her faith in life and discover her one true love. For an uplifting story about the importance of faith, family and the true holiday spirit, go to the Christmas Lodge.

We enjoyed this film. A heart warming tale that everyone in the family can enjoy together. We all have our own treasured family traditions and this film was a great reminder to hold tight to them and keep their memories alive. A movie with a slightly romantic story line, but not one that would keep my kids from watching. The family talks about their faith in the everyday and takes on the rebuilding of the Christmas Lodge as one that is synonymous with saving the family heritage and even a spiritual calling.In our house we enjoy watching the reality TV shows that show home renovations, so this gave us a little taste of that without the bleeped out profanity or stress of cameras videotaping amateurs.

I appreciated that the PDA did not go beyond hand holding and an occasional hug. They even emphasized that dating couples had separate hotel rooms, a novel idea in this day and age. On the other hand, I did find it a little odd as they seemed to over-spiritualize the construction project of a run down building, but the importance of family and passing on a legacy was a point well made.

The more films we have on our shelf that we can pull out without hesitation the better. And, we have been known to watch Christmas movies in July, so don’t think this is relegated to a seasonal movie only.

And, of course these fun Fly Propeller reviews often come with a giveaway, and I do get to give one of these DVDs away to one reader. So, if you would like to enter to win your own copy of the Christmas Lodge DVD please leave a comment on this post with an email address at which I can reach you. The contest will close Monday evening and I will draw a random winner at that time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Movie Review: The Mighty Macs

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It’s 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time … and she’s about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women’s basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women’s Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she’s willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she’s just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school’s Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don’t have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing’s for certain: there’s never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

LOVED it!

A movie you can watch with your preschooler  in the room  and your teenager across the couch and all enjoy it, and not have to fast forward any parts. I highly recommend this film for its fast paced story line and family friendliness.

It lays out the importance of family values and keeping faith alive. Even when struggles and obstacles pile up, this team pulls together and works toward their goal from day one: We will be #1.

It is in theaters starting today, and you will want to jump at this chance to see a movie that is rated ‘G’ and isn’t just a light-hearted kids’ movie. This is a true family film that adults will enjoy, will keep kids’ attention, provide a few laughs, and will offer some great talking points on the ride home.

Don’t miss it!

More info on the film:


Disclaimer: I received an opportunity to view this movie prior to its release in exchange for my honest review.

Movie Review: Snowmen

I know you all like to be reminded that winter is just around the corner, right? Well, none the less, those of you with older kids might enjoy this film coming to select theaters this weekend.

Snowmen takes on bullying with the aim of stopping it cold, and helping those bullied to see the needs bullies have for a little acceptance as well. Three boys want to accomplish something unforgettable, even if they do rank among the “losers” of the school. When a disturbing discovery in the snow brings them temporary media hype they begin to crave a permanent name for themselves and seek out ways to land themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records regardless of the risk, and the continual threats of the school bully.

The boys’ parents, including your stereotypical money hungry car salesman and a recent transplant from Jamaica, add an interesting element to the character base in the film, as well as a lot of humor. You will laugh, often.

Definitely deserves the PG rating with a dad’s spelling of a profanity (same as saying it in my book), a couple glimpses of dead people, intense bullying (throwing ice balls, punching, tackling, heckling, threatening to cut/injure with skate blade in hand, etc.), and a suspenseful scene with a boy falling through thin ice).

The movie offers lots to talk about around the value of family, respecting other individuals, bullying, and making a difference in the world. Definitely important themes to discuss with your children.

I’m sure this is just the beginning of the holiday movie season, and this is a decent movie that older kids would be able to relax and enjoy.

a humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age story about three unlikely heroes and the winter that changed their lives forever. After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight, the best friends hatch a plan to be remembered forever by setting a Guinness World Records® title. Along the way, the trio battles schoolyard bullies, unites their community and discovers that – while fame may be fleeting – true friendship lasts forever. The film stars Bobby Coleman (Last Song), Ray Liotta (Wild Hogs), Bobb’e J. Thompson (Role Models), Josh Flitter (Ace Ventura Jr.) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future).

Name:

Email:

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Disclaimer: I received an online sneak peak of this film as a Homeschool.com tester from Mpower Pictures (Bella, The Stoning of Soraya M.)

Review: Math House Games

Math should be fun. Especially with young kids, math should start as a game and always involve an interaction with an adult and the real world. Domenico Marcario designed a math product that would build on that.

Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Math House Games teach real life math concepts through activities that use everyday objects, a parent’s direction, and fun challenges for kids to get excited about.

The 20 steps, with 2 games each, are broken into three stages that lead the child through quantity (comparing groups of objects), numeration (attaching numbers to those groups of objects), and operations (adding, subtracting, etc.)

You do not follow through the steps at a predesignated speed, but rather you evaluate each child and move on once they have mastered the concepts taught in the activity.

The games are fun. The kids get to eat during the process (small items — fruit, cereal, etc.) which is always motivation in my house. 🙂 Perfect for building and early love of math.

You can order these great activity cards — $23.95 including shipping — and use them for your early elementary math student that needs some fun in their math.  These would also be a great start for a preschool curriculum to help introduce math skills in a lighthearted way that they will just soak up. If you have a preschool through 2nd grader you would enjoy this. And, if you are busy teaching older kids, one of your other older kids could easily pick this up and begin teaching math concepts to one of your other young kids.

Each card tells you clearly what you are teaching, why they should learn it, and how to get that point across. Make the most of play time!

It wouldn’t be a great review without a giveaway, and I do get to give one of these adorable sets away to one reader. So, if you would like to enter to win your own copy of these math game cards please leave a comment on this post with an email address where I can reach you at. The contest will close Sunday evening and I will draw a random winner at that time.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the 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.”