Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #280: October 31, 2019

Welcome back to... 

I know, I know, Throwback Thursday seems to be all about sharing pictures from the past, great memories that mean something to you, that you would like to share with others. At least that is how it appears to me. Throwback Thursday wasn't something I was participating in, and then I came up with an idea.

I thought it would be great fun and a help to my blog to share old content, but not just any old content. Each week I will share an old blog post from a previous year, any year, BUT it has to be from the current week (for example, something I've posted around October 24th, from any previous year)  I will go in, edit the post if needed, add a pinnable image if I don't already have one, and share it on Facebook.

Would you like to join in? You do not need to edit your past post in any way, you don't need to create a pinnable image, though it couldn't hurt, in fact it will help your blog traffic to add quality pinnable images to your posts.

Just go into your archives, choose a favorite post from this current week from any previous year, and link it up below. (If you don't have anything from this current week, it is still okay to link up with a post from a previous year around this time. And if you haven't been blogging for a full year, feel free to share any earlier post.)

Please make sure to share from the past as instructed above.  The spirit of Throwback Thursday Blog-Style is to share posts from the past. Please follow the guidelines. I would hate to have to delete your link.
Thank you

I will be pinning posts to my appropriate Pinterest boards and will be randomly selecting a Featured Throwback Thursday post to share next week. Just a note, I will be sharing a picture from your post if you are selected as the featured post, but I will link back to your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. By linking up you are giving me permission to use your picture in the post. 

Here is my Throwback Thursday post
(This year I am going to focus on looking back at past reviews):

Originally posted October 31st, 2018
Improving Math Skills with Math-Whizz {A TOS Review}

Here is this week's randomly selected

Featured Throwback Thursday post:

Gale from Texifornia shared:

Wildflower Wednesday - Goldenrod

To participate, link up below. It would be great if you could visit several of the other posts that have linked up. Stop by, comment, and pin images so we can help each other.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Throwback Thursday Blog-Style permalink please.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Improving Multiplication Skills with Channie's {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

I decided it was time for Hannah to start working on multiplication a bit more consistently this year. She's been working on learning her multiplication facts, but I figured she was up for the challenge of learning how to do two-digit multiplication as well. I honestly don't know if I would have thought of pushing her ahead yet if we hadn't been given the opportunity to review the One Page a Day 2 Digit Multiplication Practice workbook from Channie's Visual Handwriting & Math workbooks. As the workbook is designed for children in 3rd through 5th grade, I decided Hannah (my 4th grader) would be the one working through this review product we received thanks to the Homeschool Review Crew. 

We received this 50-page 2 Digit Multiplication Practice workbook.

This soft cover book has pages that are 8.5" x 11" in dimension, like a normal sheet of printer paper. It is one of eleven different math workbooks Channie's has available for elementary aged students. This is in addition to Teacher Reams and the Dry Erase chart. Plus there are also 27 different products available for handwriting. In fact, it was the handwriting pads that started it all. Channie's was born four years ago when Chan Bohacheff realized her son required something to help him practice his handwriting. Two years ago, we had the privilege of reviewing the Easy Peasy Cursive Workbook. Hannah was again the recipient of that review product. If you would like to see what we thought of that workbook, I invite you to check out my review. 

Like the handwriting workbooks, Chan Bohacheff has incorporated different colors to help visually guide the student in the math workbooks. There are actually three different kinds of pages.

The first 14 pages have only a one-digit multiplier.  The area where the student is to work out the problem is white, then green, then white again.

As you can see, each section is actually broken up into little squares with plenty of space for a child to write the number. The columns are divided by double lines instead of single lines. The tens and ones columns are labeled at the top of the page. The book follows a logical order in that on the first page the child is multiplying every problem by 1, on the second page the child is multiplying by 2, and so on for the first nine pages. Each of these nine pages also follows the pattern of the multiplicand (the first number) increasing by tens from 10 to 90, then back to 10, and from there increasing by 1's from 10 though 19. The page finishes up by having the child repeat several of the same problems from earlier on the page. 

Pages 10-14 give a child practice with random numbers, though I did just notice that pages 10 and 11 are identical.

After practicing multiplication with problems with a one-digit multiplier, the book moves on to two-digit multipliers. These problems now have three colors. In addition to white and green, there are now blue sections. As a child multiplies, they are aware that when they multiply by the number in the ones column they put the results in the green boxes, and when they multiply by the number in the tens column they put the results in the blue boxes. This helps to keep the child from getting confused, especially with the numbers that have to carry to the top. 

The children start out just multiplying by 10 for a full page, then move onto multiplying by 11 for a full page. Then there is a page that mixes the 10's and the 11's, before the book moves on to a more random selection of multipliers. There are 26 pages that follow this format. 

Then the child gets to practice without the colors for eight pages. 

The book concludes with a two-page answer key.

How did we use this multiplication practice workbook?

Well, at the beginning I had Hannah work on it one page a day for a few days a week. I had her use it independently, but then it came to my attention that she didn't quite understand the correct way to be using it and she was struggling. I admit, I would have noticed sooner if I had checked her work every day, but she hadn't expressed any concern or confusion, so I thought she understood. Once I realized she was having problems, I started guiding her through the problems at the beginning of the page, reminding her that there is a multiplication chart on the inside of the front cover,

then letting her go off on her own, if she so chose, to finish the page. But I made sure to check and have her fix any mistakes right away. 

Obviously, this means we didn't get quite as far through the workbook as we could have. However, I feel confident that she now knows what she is supposed to do. At least with one-digit multipliers. We'll be moving on to two-digit multipliers next.

There are a couple of things I did want to mention.

I was a bit surprised that there is no green box on the top of the tens column for children to carryover the number, if needed, on pages with one-digit multipliers. I think that reminder would have helped Hannah, made her realize she was supposed to do something with that digit that belonged in the tens column.

Also, we have found the best way to use this workbook is to take out the page as we are using it and store it in a folder.

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, the pages seem to fall out quite easily, and I don't want to get them lost. Second, when a child flips up the sheet to get to the page on the back of it, the child either needs to fold the book back or reach over the bottom page to work. Folding it back is probably what causes the pages to fall out now that I think about it. But, obviously it would be a bit uncomfortable to reach over the bottom page to work.

Maybe the book was purposely made so that the pages can be taken out for ease of work and are meant to be stored in a folder. Personally, I do prefer to keep a workbook intact if at all possible. Less chance for my children to lose their work.

Even with those little concerns, I think this is a great workbook for children to work on their multiplication skills, especially if they are struggling. The separate colors help to clarify the steps. And they can focus on perfecting these steps even if they don't have all their multiplication facts memorized, as they can use the multiplication chart to make sure each step has the correct answer. If your child  needs help with their multiplication skills, and more clarity while working out these steps, I would definitely advise looking into the One Page a Day 2 Digit Multiplication Practice Workbook from Channie's.

You can find Channie's on Facebook and Instagram

Don't forget to click on the banner below to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about this and a few other great Channie's products. 

You will find reviews of 

Channie's Dry Erase Flashcard for Alphabet & Number (Better for ages 4-6)

Channie's Dry Erase Flashcard for Sight Words (Ages 5-6) and

Neat Numbers (Ages 3-5)

Littles Learning Link Up: Fall Fire Fighting Craft

Each month you will find:

• A seasonal round-up (usually toward the beginning of the month)
• Posts where I share what I have been up to with my elementary-age children and the preschoolers I work with at our homeschool co-op (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme.  Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up. 

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child(ren).

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

Here's a peek at what we have been up to in our homeschool.

We are trying to get back on track with our homeschool. Which has been difficult when I had three reviews due last week and three due the week before that. Tabitha has been getting her history reading in, but I don't always get to it with the other children. Plus Tabitha is reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I am reading, as a family read aloud, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Though both of these are being used with the LitWits Kits we are reviewing, Tabitha was scheduled to be reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond anyway, as it goes with our time period in history, colonial America. 

Time to share last week's lesson/craft from co-op. 

We started out by going on the field trip to the fire station with the other classes. I love that our co-op takes this field trip almost every year, because it helps get that "fire safety" requirement out of the way. 

The one guy talks to the children about fire safety and then another gets dressed in his gear and crawls around making sure the children learn how to get a firefighter's attention in a burning, smoke filled building. 

Then they got to see the fire engines and ambulance. They even got to go in them!

When we got back to the camp, we had a short lesson. I reviewed what to do when there is a fire and showed them how to dial 9-1-1. Then we sang a song and recited a rhyme I found on the internet. There are a lot of variations of these, so I do not know where they originated to give credit for the original. 

The children loved the first song and wanted to do it multiple times. The rhyme they weren't as fond of.

I’m a Little Firefighter

I’m a little firefighter on the go

here is my helmet

here is my hose

when I see a fire

hear me shout

turn on the water and put it out

Five Little Firefighters

Five little firefighters

sleeping in a row

Ring goes the bell

Down the pole they go

They raced to the fire

and put out all the flames

then the five little firefighters

went back to bed again

THEN it was time for the craft.

Fall Fire Fighting Craft

You will need:

Cardstock

Brown Construction Paper

Black Crayon (or marker)

Red and Orange Leaves

Acrylic Paint (Red, Orange, Yellow, Light Blue (or blue and white))

Glue sticks

White Glue

Tape

Paint brushes (one with wide bristles another with narrow bristles)

Yellow pipe cleaners cut in half

It was very simple to get this craft prepared. All I did was cut out brown squares and brown triangles. Then I drew windows and doors. Again, the same as last week, with older children, more one-on-one time, or just more time, the children could very easily do this step. Both cutting them out and drawing on the windows and doors. If this was a craft I was doing at home with my children, even when they were preschool age, they would have done this step.

Then the children glued the square at the bottom of the cardstock and added the triangle on top. I did draw a smaller triangle on the back, leaving a little edge that is necessary for the next step.  I told the children to glue on the inside of the small triangle. 

Then we went around and put white glue around the outside of the roof so the children could add the red leaves as fire bursting out of the roof.

Then we needed to have the fire coming out of the windows. So, I went around and put a small dab of red, and orange, and yellow paint in each window. The children needed to use the larger paint brush to spread the fire.

We then went around and traced their hands in the corner of the paper. THEY were the firefighters coming to put out the fire.

We made a hole between the thumb and index finger and the children pushed the pipe cleaner in to be the hose.

Then they added blue paint water to put out the fire.

Fall Fire Fighting Craft

 

These are the books we read.

We also sang our fall songs of course.

Leaves are Falling

(To the tune of Running over)

Leaves are falling leaves are falling

Trees are bright and leaves are falling

Leaf piles we’ll make, we will rake and rake

When trees are bright and leaves are falling

Autumn Leaves

(To the tune of London Bridge)

Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down,

Autumn leaves are falling down

Lots of colors

Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down,

Red, and orange, yellow and brown

I love Autumn

Let's take a look at that review schedule real quick:

Last week I posted three reviews. Phew. You will find reviews for Smartick math subscription, the Drawing Program from Creating a Masterpiece, and Excelerate Spanish.

This week I will share my review of a multiplication practice book from Channie's Visual Handwriting & Math Workbooks.

And then in November you will find reviews for new books from Kregel Publications, plus books from Mattie Richardson,  Elephant Learning Math Academy, and LitWits Kits.

Here are some things I would like to share with you:

Focusing on Fire Safety Round Up

Fall Leaves All Around Round Up

Pumpkin Fun Round Up

I'm not sure when I am going to get to that ocean themed round up. Sorry about that. I've been awfully busy with my new venture, being a Pampered Chef consultant.

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there was only 1 wonderful post linked up. 

Please, don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

Here's this week's featured post is:

Hilbert's Mazes shared Subscribe and Receive Free 10 Maze eBook.

.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on one of my relevant boards, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Monday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Littles Learning Link Up permalink please.

I am sharing over at

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- October 29, 2019

Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife.

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on  Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups. 

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

Featured Giveaways

Sesame Street 50 Years and Counting DVD US only Ends 10/28 3 winners!

The Lion King Digital Code US only Ends 11/4 3 Winners!

Featured Reviews

Creating Works of Art with Creating a Masterpiece {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Wonderful Biblical Time Travel Adventures with The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Books {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

If you would  like to follow the  hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Thank you for linking up with Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife .

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter