Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #74: November 19, 2015

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 November 19th, 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.

I have reviewed some great products in the past (and continue to do so). I thought it would be a neat idea to choose review posts this year and highlight some of these great products again.

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.)

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:

Originally posted November 17th, 2014
Jammin' Fun Workouts with the Magic Moves Jammin' Gym

Here is this week's randomly selected

Featured Throwback Thursday:

Gypsy Road shared:

A Lego Thanksgiving

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.

If you would like to help spread the news:

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Happy Throwback Thursday!

An InLinkz Link-up

Wordless Wednesday: November 18, 2015 (w/linky) - Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Looking forward to seeing your Wordless (or not so wordless) Wednesday posts this week.

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An InLinkz Link-up

FREE One Year Math Curriculum Offer From A+ Interactive Math

A couple of months ago I shared about a wonderful offer from A+ Interactive Math. Their new program was being offered for only $12 per month and you could even get 3 months for free. I was even allowed to bring you a giveaway for a full year of this curriculum.

Well, things have gotten even better. They are now offering a whole year of math for FREE! Not only that, this new program includes Video Lessons with the Automatically Graded Worksheets and Tests.

I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to find time to sit down and explain math to my older children while trying to keep the younger children occupied. The video lessons would be such a blessing. Also, being a one-income family we are on quite a tight budget and anytime I can find quality resources for free, I admit, I jump at the chance.

If you are anything like me I have a feeling you will appreciate this offer from A+ Interactive Math. This program can do most of the work for you, from the teaching of the lessons to the grading and tracking of your child's lessons. There are video lessons with step-by-step lessons, plus the worksheets and tests have step-by-step solutions. I'm sort of assuming here, but if these video lessons are the same as the ones I have reviewed in the past, they have great animations that help to keep the children focused. They are eye-catching, colorful, and engaging. The Interactive Review helps to identify and close learning gaps. If you would like to learn more about A+ Interactive Math, I invite you to check out my review from earlier in the year. This is not the same program that is being offered for free; however, it will give you an idea of how the video lessons and other features work.

Did I mention they are offering this for FREE!!!! A whole year for FREE!!!!

This includes Video Lessons and Interactive Review, Curriculum eBook (lessons in PDF 

format) and Worksheets & Tests that are Graded and Tracked by the program automatically.

A Quick NOTE from A+ Interactive Math:

The FREE offer is for those who have NOT had a chance to use this wonderful math program 

for your homeschool journey. If you have already used this math curriculum (or one of our 

similar programs), you may not qualify for this free offer, however, we will be happy to offer 

you 60% discount if you would like to purchase one.

This is a Limited Time Offer 

NO Credit Card Needed!

You get a lot with this Math program – ALL FREE:

* Video Lessons with Interactive Review
* Curriculum eBook
* Worksheets & Tests - Already generated for you (online or print PDF)
* Parent can generate and assign worksheets & tests (optional)
* Students complete worksheets online or offline (printed PDF)
* Step-by-Step Solution to each problem
* Automatic Grading & Tracking (HUGE Time SAVER)
* Easy to read reports
* Plenty of practice to master math concepts

Why this new program and what’s so GREAT about it?

Most homeschool moms spend a minimum of 2 to 3 hours for each child homeschooling Math. 

This program can give you most of that time back with Video Lessons, Interactive Review, 

Worksheets, Tests, Step-by-step solutions and automatic Grading & Tracking. 

ALL this makes this a complete and ONLY math curriculum you will need – 

ALL this for FREE!

To find out more about this great FREE OFFER, stop by their blog.

You can also click here to go directly to the page to claim your free offer. 

Please let them know that Tots and Me...Growing Up Together sent you. 

(There is a spot on the sign up form to note the referring site.)

Disclaimer: I did not receive anything from A+ Interactive Math in exchange for this blog post. I just wanted to 

share this wonderful offer with fellow homeschool families who may be looking for a way to make ends meet. 

Littles Learning Link Up: November 17, 2015 Thankful Turkey Placemats

 Each month you will find:

• A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
• A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
• Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children.

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.

What have we been up to?

A couple of weeks ago we made Thankful Turkey Placemats in our homeschool co-op preschool class. I had remembered that the children had made something similar a while back when we still went to Story Time. I have seen lots of different versions of Thanksgiving Placemats and I thought it would be fun for the children to make one on our last day of co-op for the fall session. This is my take, meshing together different ideas I have seen. I loved the idea of adding a Bible verse.

Thankful Turkey Placemats

I traced each child's hand on brown paper and cut out two for each child.

Then they glued their hands on a piece of construction paper. They used markers to decorate their turkeys. They were to color the fingers as tail feathers, and then add an eye, beak, wattle, wing, and legs.

They were also able to decorate the placemat background. Then I added the Bible verse, Psalm 7:17, adding their name in the beginning. 

______________"will give thanks to the Lord." Psalm 7:17

They were laminated by using clear contact paper on the back and front.

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 31 wonderful posts linked up! 

I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on post.  

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.

This week's Randomly Selected Post is: 

Kim from The Resourceful Mama shared Santa Says Game for Christmas Parties {Free Printable}.

Here are the top clicked-on posts:

1- Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared Thanksgiving Decorations to Make With Your Little Turkey.

2- Katie from A Little Pinch of Perfect shared Painted Paper Plate Turkey Craft.

3. Nicole from Mama of Many Blessings shared Light Table Activity.

Don't miss this giveaway!

I recently reviewed 3 of the books in the Ladybug Girl children's book series by David Soman and Jacky Davis.  We received the entire set and just love them.  I was allowed to offer a giveaway for 3 of the books (including the newly released Super Fun Edition of the original Ladybug Girl book). Don't miss your chance to enter for your chance to win. Giveaway ends November 22nd and is open to US residents only. 

You can find the review and giveaway post here.

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.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- November 17, 2015

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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!

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

Featured Giveaways

Set of 3 Ladybug Girl books US only Ends 11/22

VTech Flipsies Sandy's House & Ocean Cruiser Play Set US only Ends 12/1

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

An InLinkz Link-up

Schoolhouse Review Crew Favorites 2015

Last week I posted my last review for the 2015 Crew year. It was a busy week. For some strange reason I chose to sign up for 3 Crew reviews that were due one right after the other. And then to top it off, I had another non-Crew review that needed posted. Yes, I was exhausted.  However, we were so blessed to have received these products, along with all the other products we reviewed this past year. All in all, that comes to 31 wonderful products reviewed for the Schoolhouse Review Crew in 2015.

Besides posting my final review last week, I also had some wonderful news. I have been accepted back for the 2016 Crew Year! From what has been hinted at, it looks like 2016 will be another amazing year.

Before we move on, we had one last Crew responsibility to fulfill before our end-of-year break. It was time to vote for our favorite Crew items, this is known as The Blue Ribbon Awards.  I have to tell you, this was quite the difficult task. We loved SO MANY of the products we received this year. Below you will find the winners in all of the many categories. If we reviewed the product that won, the link will lead to my review. If we didn't review that product, the link will direct you to the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog post.

Favorite Reading Curriculum: Reading Kingdom
Favorite Writing Curriculum: Institute for Excellence in Writing
Favorite Vocabulary Program: Dynamic Literacy
Favorite Spelling Program: Institute for Excellence in Writing: Phonetic Zoo
Favorite Grammar Program: Institute for Excellence in Writing: Fix-It! Grammar
Favorite Penmanship Program: CursiveLogic
Favorite Literature Curriculum: Progeny Press

Out of these Language Arts products, we used 4 of them. Though Reading Kingdom wasn't my favorite, Hannah had voted for it as she loved that it was teaching her to read. Personally, I voted for First Start Reading from Memoria Press. I had voted for Dynamic Literacy (which was used by Tabitha) and CursiveLogic (which was used by Amelia). Tabitha is using Phonetic Zoo; however, I had actually voted for the other spelling program we used this year. Amelia is using Alpha Omega's Horizons Spelling and Vocabulary which I do really did like just a bit more.

Favorite History Curriculum: Home School in the Woods
Favorite History Supplement: Heirloom Audio Productions: In Freedom's Cause
Favorite Science Curriculum: Visual Learning Systems
Favorite Science Supplement: Ann McCallum Books: Eat Your Science Homework
Favorite Math Curriculum: CTC Math
Favorite Math Supplement: SimplyFun

History, Science, and Math wrap up the rest of the "core" curriculum categories. Out of the 6 winners above, we used 2 of them, though I only voted for 1. We have enjoyed all of the Heirloom Audio Productions we have reviewed. This year we reviewed both In Freedom's Cause and With Lee In Virginia. However, my favorite History supplement was not either of these audio dramas. We have really enjoyed the book I just posted my review for: Ann McCallum Books: Eat Your U.S. History Homework. I did vote for SimplyFun though, as we really did enjoy playing Expanders.

Favorite Christian Education Curriculum: Grapevine Studies
Favorite Christian Education Supplement: Brinkman Adventures
Favorite Foreign Language Curriculum: Middlebury Interactive Language
Favorite Fine Arts Product: Maestro Classics
Favorite Elective Curriculum: Apologia Educational Ministries: Field Trip Journal
Favorite Audio Drama: Brinkman Adventures
Favorite  Video: FishFlix.com

Out of all the elective resources above, we reviewed all 6 of them. Most of the above did receive our vote. I did vote for Brinkman Adventures; however, I only did so in the "Favorite Audio Drama" category. And we really enjoyed Do You Believe? from FishFlix. However, it was such a toss up for me for favorite video. I also enjoyed Indoctrination, which we reviewed earlier in the year. I ended up voting for Indoctrination as it was a very powerful documentary that I feel is very important in this day and age. 

Favorite Preschool Product: La La Logic
Favorite Elementary Product: Star Toaster
Favorite Middle School Product: The Critical Thinking Co
Favorite High School Product: Writing with Sharon Watson
Favorite College or College-Prep Product: Freedom Project Education
Favorite Parent Product: Koru Naturals
Favorite Planning Product: Apologia Educational Ministries: The Ultimate Homeschool Planner

Of the above resources, we only reviewed 2 of them. In fact, I was only eligible to vote in 4 of the categories as I only have young children. La La Logic did receive our vote as we feel it is a wonderful resource for young children. Unfortunately, I have such sensitive skin, that I was unable to vote for Koru Naturals, though it received raving reviews from most of my fellow reviewers. 

Best Resource I Didn't Know I Needed: Homeschool Planet
Best Online Resource: Super Teacher Worksheets
Best e-Product: Home School in the Woods
Just for Fun: USAopoly
Kids' Choice: La La Logic
Teens' Choice: YWAM Publishing
All Around Crew Favorite: Institute for Excellence in Writing

In this final grouping of winners, we reviewed 5 of the resources.  Homeschool Planet is a wonderful online planner, and I voted for it in the earlier category of "Favorite Planning Product." I love Super Teacher Worksheets. There are so many amazing worksheets that I have been using with the children. However, remember I said it was hard make choices? Well, it was a bit of a toss up between Super Teacher Worksheets and La La Logic, and La La Logic won out. We all absolutely loved playing Tapple and Wonky from USAopoly, and I was glad to see it had won. I actually had voted for YWAM in the History/Social Studies Curriculum, we just didn't have a vote in the "Teen's Choice" category.

I would like to take a moment to highlight our families all around favorites. 

Harold loves getting on the computer to use La La Logic. 

Hannah surprised me by picking Reading Kingdom as her favorite product. I didn't realize she was enjoying it so much. She loves that it is teaching her to read.

Amelia chose USAopoly. We all did enjoying playing both Tapple and Wonky though. 

Tabitha also surprised me in voting for Middlebury Interactive Languages. I knew she was enjoying learning French, I just didn't realize she enjoyed it that much. I was thrilled to learn that this had blessed her this year. 

My all around favorite from the 2015 Crew year has got to be Indoctrination. I actually voted for it in a few other categories. It is a wonderful resource and I was quite surprised that it didn't win in any category. 

Don't forget to check out the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to see what my fellow Crew Mates have to share about their favorites. 

C is for...Caterpillar Word Family Chart

I began this Blogging Through the Alphabet journey a couple of weeks ago, and I am determined to stay faithful this time around. I might not always post on the same day of the week, but I have every plan to post something each week.

Cristi from Through the Calm and Through the Storm and Meg from Adventures with Jude are hosting this weekly party. All are welcome to join in. You don't have to be a Schoolhouse Review Crew blogger or a homeschooler, but you do have to keep your posts family-friendly.

Here is how I decided my "theme" for this round of Blogging Through the Alphabet. As I was going through old blog posts recently, I noticed I have some neat ideas for activities and crafts that I did with in the past. Unfortunately, I always included them in my weekly wrap up posts or more recently in Poppins Book Nook posts, so they sort of got buried. I can't really share them as individual activities or create pinnable images to promote them and share my ideas, which is why I started this blog in the first place (to share my ideas with others who work with children). So, I am going to make new posts for these ideas.

One of the benefits in doing this is, I am remembering these ideas that I had forgotten, which means I can now do these activities with the younger children. I will be sharing the old pictures and possibly sharing new pictures of the younger children participating.

Several years ago I created a fun way for the girls to work on their word families. We were doing Letter of the Week, and were up to the letter C.  Caterpillars were quite popular while we were doing that unit, which is what led to this activity.

C is for . . . Caterpillar Word Family Chart

First I made the background by taping together some blue and green construction paper. I then made the caterpillars by tracing a circle onto the green grassy area. I made some short and some long as you can see. I then used different colors of construction paper to make the caterpillars heads. I cut out more circles in the same colors as the heads and wrote the words on the circles. Each caterpillar focused on one word family. These were used to word on C-V-C words. Lastly, I attached Velcro to the caterpillars and to the backs of the word circles.

The girls enjoyed building the caterpillars as they read the words on the circles.

Time to go cut out some circles so Hannah and Harold can start building caterpillars.

You could laminate the circles to help them last longer. I usually use clear contact paper for lamination purposes. This is a trick I learned while working at the Montessori. I didn't laminate these as I figured it wasn't that difficult to cut out more circles.