Category: Reviews

reviews of curriculum, books, resources, field trips

Review and Giveaway — Jeremy Riddle

Need a lift? September has been a grueling month in our household.

Soccer in full swing, co-op and classes finding their place on the schedule, and evenings full more than empty for this fall season. I find myself dragging a bit as the days fill up.

My faith in Christ is a huge part of why I homeschool, and it needs to be a priority in my personal life if it is going to keep spilling over into the kids as well and strengthening our home.  Music is an easy way for me to stay energized and making my life one of worship. The refrain running through my head now is, “Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.” That’s the constancy that I need to be reminded of in this crazy season. And, it’s what I want my kids to see in my each day. Love poured out on them.

Do you need this reminder, too? Jeremy Riddle’s new CD is the perfect fit to offer encouragement. Pop it in the CD player in the car when you are glad you are finally in the car, even if it is 15 minutes late. Play it in the background when you are cleaning that school room that always seems like a disaster by 9:00 am no matter how clean it started. The words are contagious and will breathe new life into your day.

I would definitely encourage you to purchase this great CD, but one reader has the opportunity to win a copy of this CD! Just leave your name with an email address that I can reach you at in the comments and I will draw a winner at the end of the day on Sunday. I look forward to getting this great new release into one of your hands!

Check out more about this great CD here:

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 — Ginny Owens

Get in I'm Driving
The CD starts with the familiar ding of the key in the ignition. The engine roars to life and we are off.
Get in, I’m driving . . .
Soulful, bluesy, hard to nail down. Ginny Owens.
A beautiful voice, great to pop in when you need to unwind. She has some more upbeat songs, but I loved the soothing sound of her music. Of course, if my kids had to pick, they would say they loved the songs with the drums calling out as they danced around the room. Something for everyone, I suppose. Many of the songs draw on the sound of the keyboard and her voice. Highlighting the words and the music, not the rhythm and background instruments.
Lovely, pure music. Eleven songs, each unique and enjoyable.
A little bit about Ginny:
A three-time Dove Award winner, including the Gospel Music Association’s 2000 New Artist of the Year recipient, and multiple ASCAP Award winner, Ginny Owens has sold nearly one million albums. A top performer on the Christian radio charts with hits like “If You Want Me To,” “Free” and “I Wanna Be Moved,” among others, Owens’ music has impacted mainstream audiences at Lilith Fair, the Sundance Film Festival and the White House. Her music has received widespread film and television placement, including songs on the popular WB series’ “Roswell” and “Felicity.” Owens was featured on national television, including NBC’s “Today” and CNN, for her contribution to help rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Born and raised in Jackson, Miss., Owens was discovering melodies on the piano almost before she could complete a sentence. Songs began to emerge from her fingers as the vision began to leave her eyes and by the age of three.  A degenerative eye condition left Owens completely blind.  Despite her physical challenge, Owens pursued a music career.  Songs provide a window into a world Owens can’t see and an outlet for her to express her thoughts and dreams. Owens’ unique musical style and inspirational lyrics continue to appeal to Christian and mainstream audiences alike.

In 2005 Owens launched The Fingerprint Initiative, a hands-on, non-profit organization designed to “bring hope to the world, one project and one touch at a time.” The organization has partnered with  and raised money for groups such as Compassion International, International Justice Mission and Habitat for Humanity.
You can find hes brand-spankin’ new CD in stores and online starting today and it would be a great addition to any CD collection.
Lots of ways to check out Ginny and her new album:
And, a GIVEAWAY!!! If you would like to win a copy of the CD for your very own, please leave a comment with you name and email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.
You can get additional entries by following this site, or sharing about this contest elsewhere (blog, facebook, twitter, etc.) Just come back and comment for each of those items that you do.
Contest will run through this week and close on Saturday in the evening. Can’t wait to get this into your hands.

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 — The Grace Card

The Grace Card
Now available, just released yesterday!
Everything can change in an instant … and take a lifetime to unravel. When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, the ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God … and just about everyone else. Mac’s rage stonewalls his career in the police department and makes for a combustible situation when he’s partnered with Sam Wright, a rising star on the force—who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man.
Can they somehow join forces to help one another when it’s impossible for either of them to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one? Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace. Offer THE GRACE CARD … and never underestimate the power of God’s love.
Some nights I enjoy choosing a movie that my husband and I can watch together without kids and at the same time will encourage our faith and our commitment to family. Grace Card offers that. Because of its rating, PG-13, we would of course not watch this with the kids. It does contain a number of intense scenes due to the police work involved. Unlike other movies of this intensity though it does not contain any profanity.
The Grace Card will remind you of what is important in life and make you want to hold your precious family relationships a little closer. I don’t think we can give enough to keep communication open and strong between our kids and spouses.
You’ll cry, you’ll think, you’ll re-prioritize, and you’ll give your kids an extra hug goodnight.
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 — I’m All In

Don’t know where I’ve been, but when I was given an opportunity to review a brand new CD from Robert Pierre, I thought, “Who?”

No, he’s not homeschooled, but I am always looking for great music to listen to while I read my great books, so . . .

Then I started looking at his bio. Oh, he’s only 18. That’s why I haven’t heard of him. Just some brand new, trying-to-make-it kid, right? Heh. Well, I looked a little further.

His first album was released almost 5 years ago. No newcomer here. He leads worship at the church his parents helped start in Florida. He knows how to lead a crowd, knows how to perform, but most importantly he knows how to worship on a grand scale.

When most young people are just trying focusing on narrowing down college choices he is penning lyrics that show the depth of his faith, that he’s all in.

While I think the songs will appeal to young people, I personally enjoyed just about every single one of them. I would love to hear these added to our Sunday morning line up.

These are great songs to have in the background as you surf the net, in the car while you are running errands, or crank them up when you or your kids need a dance break (what? you don’t take those now and then?) All of my kids enjoyed these tunes. So, I guess they are suitable from 1 year old on up.

Take a little look for yourself (9 minute video about the album and Robert Pierre himself):

The CD is just now coming out. July 26th. You can pick it up online or at your local Christian book store.

Check out more at these links:

But that’s not all. One reader will get a free copy of the CD to enjoy in their home, car, backyard, etc. Yep, giveaway time! Here’s what you have to do:
– Leave a comment to enter yourself in the drawing.
More entries? I’d be happy to . . . You can get additional entries for each of the following:
– Share about this giveaway somewhere else (email, twitter, facebook, etc.) and leave another comment here saying you did so.
– Follow this site on our facebook fan page or google friend connect (both in the right sidebar) or RSS/email and leave another comment.
The contest is only open to US residents and will close on Thursday at 5:00 central time and I will choose a random winner at that time from the comments on this post. Can’t wait to get this CD into your hands!

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 — Fitness 4 Homeschool

Mom, what are we doing for PE today?

Ummm, oh yeah, that.

It’s on the schedule, but sometimes turns into unplanned active time rather than a formal teaching time. We do calisthenics, practice basketball skills, or run around the walking trails at the park by our house. So, while we don’t generally miss PE (it is required), we don’t always have a good plan for it either.

Until now. I got a new follower on Twitter one day and had to check out this Family Time Fitness company. They offer a PE curriculum geared toward homeschoolers. It comes complete with warm ups, cool downs, and fun activities to go in the middle. Each class took us about a half hour to complete, but your family might take slightly longer or shorter than that depending on the age and focus of your kids. It was just right for our school day.

Product: Fitness 4 Homeschool

Details: A complete PE curriculum especially for kids in K-8. This one year program will give you activities for 5 days a week for 52 weeks.

Price: $77 (not much more than you would pay for one child’s PE class for the year at many co-ops!)

What I loved . . .

  • Beyond a PE class. More than just filling a class requirement, this program is about being healthy and active. That’s why it doesn’t fit in a neat 180 day school year. Fitness is for life and this program helps you toward that end.
  • Builds on basics. Arm circles, leg lifts, calf raises. Fitness isn’t really complicated, but coming up with a plan can be time consuming. They have done that for you. Took lots of familiar activities and exercises and added in some fresh ideas to make it sparkle, and packaged it up in an easy to use format for everyone to follow along with. PE planning with this product takes a few seconds of clicking each day rather than a half hour or more to plan the week.
  • Made for in house. While you could definitely enjoy these activities with another family they are designed to be done in house. We have our own little one room school house, but even if you homeschool one child, most of these activities could be done together without a larger group.
  • Video demos. We all hear those instructors saying to make sure you do it the right way so you don’t strain anything. With short and to the point videos that you access online, you can all see what it should look like. The demonstrations have an adult and children performing the various actions.
  • Great for an age mix. We used this with a kindergartener, an 8th grader and a few sprinkled in between. They all were able to participate at their levels and really enjoyed the activities. In watching it I was thinking it was geared a little young for my 8th grader, but he did not complain one bit and especially appreciated that we actually had a more planned PE everyday rather than getting pushed off or made more informal because it was unplanned.
  • Can be reused, or stretched over a couple years. In the summer we tend to be more active, so our formal PE tapers off a bit. If that is the case in your house you could easily stretch this over two years. And, many of the lessons could be repeated without boredom for even longer. You have permanent access to the videos so this is a great one time purchase that can establish your PE plans until high school!
  • Excellent exercise. I love these classes. I work up a light sweat while doing the activities along with my kids.  Again, nothing complicated, but just some simple activities that require me to get up out of the “teacher’s chair” and get moving with them. It is definitely helping me get and stay in shape in this season where homeschooling consumes my days.

Some considerations . . .

  • Do need some room. We run out of room in our school room for these, so it is really better to head outside if the weather is tolerable. Allow yourself plenty of room to swing those arms without smacking file cabinets or children. You can watch the videos inside and then head outside to actually perform them.
  • Might want to supplement with team sports or other group activities. What this program does not do is teach your kids basketball skills or soccer drills. I think this is also an important part of the PE program, so we try to balance our time and make room for team sports here and there throughout the year.  And, they say they have something in the works to do that type of thing at home as well. Definitely keep your eye out for more products from this homeschool friendly company.

We definitely needed this product right here, right now. My PE was getting a bit dull and needed more direction. I was so thankful for the videos and planning that were packed in there to keep all of us moving. I definitely believe that a good PE class helps the rest of the day go  better as well. In our house anyway, they’ve got to move before they sit.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Family Time Fitness For the purpose of reviewing it. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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Movie night!

Maybe you are celebrating the end of your official school year, or making it through another week of crazy Chicago weather, or maybe you have a new graduate, or another sport season winding down. Whatever your reason for a special moment with your family, there is a great movie that can help create the backdrop for your family time to do so.

So, throw in the pizza, pop the popcorn, or top those sundaes. However you like watching movies as a family there is a great one for you tomorrow night, Saturday, June 11 starting at 7:00 CT. (Chicago time, right?)

Field of Vision will provide your family with an opportunity to enjoy a film together as a family, something that is not too easy in today’s movie making climate. We got a little sneak peak at the film and it was safe for my little guys to watch, and enjoyable for my 14 year old to watch. Sports, family, bullying, integrity, and making a stand are all key themes that make this movie a crowd pleaser. As homeschoolers our kids might not face struggles from the peers in the locker room, but they more than likely know how it feels to be the brunt of a joke or to be left out or ridiculed. Field of Vision addresses some serious topics in a way that can open conversation and encourage those that may have been on one side or the other of this situation. As one of the main characters takes on the rest of the football team viewers are encouraged to leave a legacy that will not ignore wrongdoing, but will stand up for those that don’t have the courage to stand up for themselves.

Each family will need to determine what is appropriate viewing in their house, but this clean, wholesome film that shows families working together, adults standing behind those that choose to make the right choice (even when it is hard), and kids that go out of their way to show kindness scores a touchdown in our book.

For more info check out these links:

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.

TOS Crew Review — Read for the Heart

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Reading is an integral part of learning, and more so it is an irremovable part of our family life. Because of this, I am constantly on the lookout for good books. You know the ones. The ones that have withstood the test of time. The ones that both boys and girls can’t wait to hear more of. The ones during which you would never fall asleep. The ones that spark meaningful conversation even after you have closed the cover for the last time.

Sarah Clarkson wrote Read for the Heart to do more than just recommend some good books. She wrote it to help cast a vision for giving reading a place of prominence in your home. By the time you get to the book list you can’t help but be fingering your library card debating which book to put on hold or check out first. I know reading is important, but this book helped reignite my desire to pass my love of reading on to my kids.

Product: Read for the Heart

Details: A 384 page book with encouragement to make family reading and individual reading time a priority. Over 300 of the pages are lists of books that include summaries and background information to help you choose the best reads for your family and your kids.

Price: $17

What I loved . . .

  • Inspiring. I can find oodles of book lists all over the internet. While I appreciate getting a good book recommendation now and then, I really appreciated Sarah’s casting of a vision for reading. I love to read, and yet it is one of the first things I drop from my schedule when time gets tight. She reminded me with a passion how important time spent reading is in our home and school.
  • Personally and statistically supported. Creating beautiful word pictures, the author shares what crafted this love for reading in her heart. And, she shares statistics, quotes, and other encouragement as to the importance of reading. We owe it to the development of our kids’ minds to read early and read often, and this book can be a great catalyst to encourage you in the endeavor and give you the tools (great books!) to enjoy doing so.
  • Lists and more lists. Not just an alphabetical listing of books (although the index does provide that), this book breaks down the lists by popular genres (historical literature, fairy tales, picture books, etc.) Beyond that, each entry includes the author, other books by the author, illustrator, copyright date, and a brief summary of the book. A few quick lists also reference Caldecott winners, Newberry winners, and books especially for boys, girls, and families reading together.
  • Reading tips. Aside from rich motivation and abundant lists, she also gives some tips to making reading time special. From locations to treats she will stir your own imagination in this area.
  • A must have book. This book offers an incredible resource when doing your book shopping. I am always looking at books at a used book sale and trying to figure out by reading a sentence here and there if I or my kids will like the particular book. I will definitely bring this guide along with me now to see what it has to say when purchasing unfamiliar books. Obviously it won’t have all the good books listed either, but it does have many, and many that I am not familiar with as well. I look forward to bringing Sarah with me to all the book sales now and ask her advice before  I buy. 🙂

Some considerations . . .

  • One person’s opinion. You might feel differently. Her glowing opinion will not guarantee that you will like it. For example, she loved Across Five Aprils (which I have also heard many other people rave about), and I had to force myself to trudge through this book with my kids a few years ago. I was not impressed. But, we are all entitled to our own opinions and will love what others didn’t and vice versa.  You will still need to determine what books are a good fit for your family’s interests, values, attention span, academic subject, and personalities.

This book stirred up an incredible amount of enthusiasm within me. I cannot wait to finalize plans for the coming school year and include some of the great books recommended in this resource. I would strongly recommend this book to any homeschooling mom needing encouragement and ideas for making reading come to life in your home. You can check out the table of contents as well as a sample chapter if you would like to see a bit of the book for yourself and accept Sarah Clarkson’s invitation to more than just a “reading list, but to a reading life.”

For more TOS Crew reviews on this product, check out the TOS Crew blog.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Apologia as part of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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TOS Crew Review — Eagle’s Wings

Eagle's Wings

Science often strikes fear into the hearts of homeschool moms. It is the topic that many feel unable to teach when they first begin, but with the right tools we can all succeed and enjoy our science experience. Many homeschool moms actually say that science is their favorite subject to teach after a few years under their belts. Eagle’s Wings’ Considering God’s Creation can be a great tool for the new mom that needs some help figuring out how to bring science easily in their home, or for the veteran mom that loves teaching science and is looking for a quality, affordable product.

The book has 36 lessons which covers topics such as: Creation, The Universe, Weather, Kingdoms, Anatomy, and more. The authors present the lessons from a solid Biblical worldview in this easy to use and easily adaptable science book.

Product: Considering God’s Creation

Details: A science curriculum covering natural science and adaptable for second to seventh Grade.  272-pages plus Teacher’s Manual with audio CD. The authors, Sue Mortimer and Betty Smith, are sisters that grew up as homeschooled missionary kids in Mexico. They initially wrote this curriculum to use in homeschooling their own kids.

Price: $29.95

What we loved . . .

  • Science for almost the whole family. Made to easily work with 2-7 graders, but my K and 1 are easily following along with it all. They suggest even having an older child teach this to the younger ones as their own science. We didn’t try that, but I am considering seeing how it goes. You always learn so much more when you dig in to material to actually teach it. This might be perfect for my 7th grader to actually teach to the younger ones and all their science would be taken care of for me. I really like the sound of that.
  • Created by homeschoolers for homeschoolers. There is a lot to be said for curriculum written by someone who has been there and knows what homeschoolers need in a curriculum. We want easy to use, all in one, multi-age, accurate info, hands on supplements, and I especially want Biblical grounding. These homeschool veterans had all that in mind when creating this science course. It’s not the flashiest, most beautiful book on your shelf, but it has everything you need to teach your kids science well.
  • Lots of learning styles. They use music, experiments, discussion, crafts, projects, observations, listening, and reading to get their lessons across. My kids enjoyed the simple activities, the catchy tunes, and the suggested studies. This program was definitely a good fit for us. I look forward to finishing it in the year ahead.
  • Can be reused. We didn’t tap into these, but at the end of each lesson they offer “Digging Deeper” resources for use on your second run through the material a couple years later.
  • Biblically grounded. If you have read me for any length of time you know this is of utmost importance to me. Each lesson is tied in to Scripture. You could easily use that portion as your Bible lesson for the day as well.
  • Student book may be copied for your kids. You only need to purchase the one set that comes with the student book which you are free to copy for your own children. This is wonderful for kids that love to redo favorite crafts and it is helpful on the budget since you don’t need a workbook for everyone.
  • Focus on Creationism — This kind of goes with the Biblical grounding, but it bears repeating because they repeat it so often. They often present “evolution stumpers” that focus on truths that validate Creationism and weaknesses in the evolutionary theory. This is a huge part of why I want my kids to learn science at home, so I really appreciate their intentional emphasis on this area of teaching and learning.

Some considerations . . .

  • Lessons aren’t broken down by days. Although the lessons are scripted, it is up to you how much you do in a given day. Each of the 36 lessons are meant to fill a week of science classes so the curriculum takes a full school year to complete. But you have the flexibility to determine how much you do in a day, how many days each week you cover science, and how deeply involved to get with each lesson.
  • Black and white. The student book has lots of graphics that it uses for the different notebook activities, but they are all black and white. If you have a kid that loves color they can of course color their own, but be aware that the cover is the only page in color in these books.

Eagle’s Wings has created exactly what I like to find in a curriculum. It offers you a quality product at a reasonable price and creates an easy to use curriculum at the same time. This might not be a good fit for every family, but it has really clicked with us. The activities are easy to pull together and I’m not tempted to skip them because I know they won’t take a lot of time or clean up and the kids will enjoy them. This is exactly what I needed in a science curriculum.

For more TOS Crew reviews on this product, check out the TOS Crew blog.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Eagle’s Wings as part of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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TOS Crew Review — Pearson Education


  • Grade 1

    • Product: Pearson Education enVision MATH 2011

    Details: A full year math program for first grade in a consumable workbook. Each day the student removes a page from this book that measures about 11″ x 17″ and then folds their lesson in half like a booklet. They complete the booklet and can then stick it on their refrigerator or some other location for display. Contains 20 topics each with 4 to 13 lessons, a problem solving lesson, a test, reteaching material, a game, and “home-school” connection sheets.

    Price: $34.47 for the student book

    What we loved . . .

    • Made to display. Each lesson is made to be torn out of the book, folded in half, and put on display. When my son saw that he didn’t hesitate to get to work. As soon as we opened the package and he saw it was for him, he ripped out a page, worked hard at it, and put it right on our fridge. I love that motivation.
    • Fun to use. My son loved using the book. He liked the activities, the fun pictures, the ripping and folding. It is a very kid friendly product.
    • Internet connections. Although this is a paper product, it mentions web based games as well that reinforce the learning done on the page. I had to Google it to find them because the student book did not have the actual web address, but we did find it and were able to play the games that fit the activities online as well as  in hand.
    • Gentle math. If your child is just easing into math at this age this is a fairly gentle introduction. No speed drills, no sheets of adding and subtracting. Games, activities, application of math principles, mostly fun, hands-on learning.

    Some considerations . . .

    • Not a reasonably priced teacher book available. Since this is not really initially designed with the homeschooler in mind, the teacher’s guide is included in a $525 resource pack. Obviously not something you would purchase to help you teach one or two kids for a year. And, without it there were spots in the book that we had to make up as we went along. I don’t think we missed out on too much, but it would have been more beneficial if we had some instruction through certain segments. Even where to jump on the web was not included although I could figure it out with the help of Google.
    • Awkward shape. This book is ginormous. It would not fit on a bookshelf or in a backpack and barely fits in his arms when he carries it around. I assume it is made to fit in a school desk, but it is not a convenient size for at home use.
    • Doesn’t have much built in review. The book covers 20 topics, but doesn’t revisit them as you go. I prefer math programs that review at least every couple weeks to make sure that young minds don’t lose what they have already learned.

    While I did find this a cute book and one my son really enjoyed pulling out the pages and working through, I did not feel it was a good fit for homeschoolers the way it is right now. However, if you have a kids that loves workbooks and is always asking for more pencil and paper work like the big kids do, this would be a helpful book to have on hand. You can tear a page out, keep your child busy for a while, and then show off their work on your wall or fridge.

    For more TOS Crew reviews on this product, check out the TOS Crew blog.

    Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Pearson Education as part of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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    TOS Crew Review — Wordy Querty

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    Spelling – You either got it or you don’t.

    As a fairly good speller, I still cringe over mistakes that I find in my own writing, and I’m sure others find ones that I have missed. Spelling is an area in which we never finish learning, and one that you can never start learning too young. My young readers have their basic phonics rules down, so this was the natural next step.

    Wordy Querty will help your child learn and apply these 20 spelling rules:

    1. Silent E
    2. Sounds of C
    3. Sounds of G
    4. J or DGE
    5. W or WH
    6. C or K
    7. CK or K
    8. CKS or X
    9. CH or TCH
    10. LL, SS, FF, ZZ
    11. OI or OY
    12. VE Words
    13. Open Syllables
    14. Double Consonants
    15. Doubling rule
    16. ER, IR, OR, UR, EAR
    17. I Before E
    18. Plurals: Add ES
    19. Plurals: Y to IES
    20. Plurals: F to VES

    Product: Wordy Querty

    Details: We used the online version, but it is available on CD as well. This is a program to help build on basic phonics and begin to help children build their typing skills and their spelling skills. It works through a series of 20 spelling rules and kids follow six steps to learn the rules and when to apply them. They work on the patterns of the spelling rule, sing along with their hosts as they learn the rule put to music, toss out incorrectly spelled words, click on correctly spelled words to complete sentences, and write and read stories. Each of these steps helps to teach and solidify correct spelling habits. Designed for kids 7-9 years old.

    Price: $35 for the CD

    What we loved . . .

    • Teaches spelling without boredom. The games are fun, the songs are cute, the graphics are great, the teaching is clear. Kids naturally want to keep playing this program. The learning happens almost without them realizing. My son begged and begged to play this game. He would race through other school work, chores, and other responsibilities so he could get back on the computer and play more Wordy Querty. He cheered as it loaded. This is an incredibly fun way to learn.
    • Independent. Kids can fairly easily work this program on their own. It walks them through everything they need to do and teaches them the rules.
    • Great for beginning readers. Although the age is 7-9 my 5 year old could easily start this program as well. As long as your child has a solid start to reading they will likely benefit from this program. They might need to move a little more slowly if their reading is still developing, but the program worked well for my young readers as well.
    • Lots of repetition in different formats. The words will come at the student time and again in different angles, games, lists, and stories so the kids can really cement the new rule and words that they are learning.
    • Can go back and redo tough lessons. They automatically have to go back one time, but after that they can continue to return voluntarily (or under parent’s orders . . .) to better the score. The program simply saves the new test score in place of the old one.
    • Parent login gives information on student progress. The chart shows how well the kids are doing at the various levels. This helps you see at a glance which lesson the student is struggling with and succeeding in.

    Some considerations . . .

    • Kids can learn to play the system. My son realized that if he got words wrong the program didn’t care it just kept passing him along (after one do-over). So, after the games were over and he was on the test for each level he just pressed enter or space and flew through the list without really typing any of the words. I didn’t realize that this was possible, I was just thrilled that he got through all 20 levels in 2 days. What a bright little guy I have! Uh, yeah. Well, when I was reviewing his scores I saw that he was getting 0% on each of the levels after the first 4. So, now he is back redoing it the right way with me keeping a closer tab on his progress.
    • Learning through trial and error. It seems to work, but it pulls a lot of words and as the kids are learning it they are really just guessing what is right and what is wrong. They click on random words or columns and sometimes they are right and sometimes they are wrong. They do begin to see the patterns and begin to get more right, but I think most of the rules will need more than a once through the lesson to really grasp and most kids want to just fly through it and have fun.
    • Difficulty of spelling words doesn’t necessarily progress throughout levels. Because they are going according to a list of spelling rules some of the words in later lists are very easy while some in earlier lists were rather challenging.

    Wordy Querty builds beautifully on what Talking Fingers started. My 5 and 7 year olds absolutely love both programs and beg to play them. They have learned so much in the process in the midst of the play. These are great programs to help kids get a secure footing in typing, reading, and now spelling as well.

    For more TOS Crew reviews on this product, check out the TOS Crew blog.

    Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Wordy Querty as part of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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