HearBuilder Following Directions Software

HearBuilder® Following Directions Software Program by Super Duper Publications is our latest review item and it has been a big hit around here. HearBuilder is an interactive software program that gives children a systematic way to improve their auditory and following directions skills. Webber HearBuilder Following Directions is for children in preschool up to third grade (or older for children with special needs).

While earning their own toy factories and becoming "Master Toy Makers", children will learn to follow :

Basic directions (click on the small blue dog)
Sequential directions (first, set the color to red, second set the size to small, and then press "start"
Quantitative directions (choose all of the blue dogs)
Temporal directions (before you put a robot in the box, put a dog in the box)
Conditional directions (If a dog is in the box, put the box on the large truck)

Each activity has multiple levels of difficulty.  A child masters the task at one level before progressing to the next level.  Parents can choose the level of play for each child.  The levels include Play All, Beginner, Advanced and Expert.  The program provides data tracking for up to 4 children and the option to print progress reports.  In the expert level, there is an option for adding background noise to give children practice listening in noise.

Getting started is as easy as popping the CD-ROM into your computer.  The game saves data onto your hard drive.  Children will need to use HearBuilder on the same computer in order for tracking to work.

The main screen where students sign in.  You can also obtain progress reports here.

This is where students can choose which section they would like to work on.
They can choose any of the 5 doors.

In level 2 students build up to completing 3 tasks.  They have to listen to the entire list before
 they can start clicking on the shape size and temperature.

If the student answers correctly a toy comes out of the machine.

If the student answers incorrectly they get a toy that isn't a real toy and get to try again.

This is one activity from level 3 where students need to choose the object between the houses.

If the student chooses correctly a large tube vacuums up the object.

Students can check their own progress.

This is a sample of the parental progress reports available.  You can choose the level you wish to
see progress on or see them all as shown here.  You can print these reports as well.

Watch this video for a demonstration of HearBuilder:

Ellie (4) loves this the most, she asks to play it frequently.  This is was also fun for my 11 year old with Down syndrome, and my 6 year old. My 9 year old also has spent some time playing this but she's really just a bit too old for it I think.  I like how this program helps the child to build their listening skills. Though I couldn't actually see myself spending this much on this program, I think it is a valuable program and definitely something I am glad we have.

In addition to getting this program, I also received the Super Duper Publications catalog which is filled with a lot of fun and educational games and programs especially for children with special needs.  I hadn't ever heard of Super Duper Publications until this review and I'm glad to know about them.  The catalog is 280 pages and divided into sections such as articulation, phonology, auditory processing, augmentative communication, autism, sequencing skills and much more.  They even have apps. View the catalog here or request a print catalog.

You can purchase Webber HearBuilder Following Directions home edition for $69.95.  Use coupon code: BLGFD30 to save 30% on HearBuilder Following Directions Home Edition before 8/31/12. Free shipping is included for every order over $20.

See what others are saying about Webber HearBuilder and other Super Duper Publications on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog. Crew members are also reviewing a game, Jeepers Peepers and another software program, HearBuilder Auditory Memory.  Coupon codes for these products will be found in the reviews.





disclaimer: I received a free copy Webber HearBuilder software in exchange for an honest review.

Map Trek

Map Trek by Knowledge Quest and Bramley Books is an atlas plus historical outline maps that allows you to teach geography alongside history. I have been using Knowledge Quest products for many years and can attest that they are very high quality, wonderful products.  I was SO excited to get the entire 6 volume set of Map Trek maps and lessons to download (pdf). These maps are designed for kids in 1st-12th grades. So, if you homeschool, this means you.

Map Trek can be purchased as individual e-books,  CD-ROMs or as a Complete Collection hardcover book with CD-ROM. There are 6 different editions of Map Trek. The full set includes 350 world maps and 265 US maps. (click on each title for more information)

Ancient World

Medieval World

New World

Modern World

US Edition 1- Historical Maps

US Edition 2- State Maps

Map Trek maps provide:

Historical maps that will help you navigate through history studies.
Accurate maps that show what the world was like THEN and NOW.
Maps that are easily downloadable yet inexpensive to print.
Attractive maps that you and your children will be proud to display.
Lesson plans that will show you what to do with them each week.

The student map.  I love that they don't use much ink to print.

The labeled answer map

Each e-book is organized chronologically with a blank map followed by the answer key map.  Complete lesson plans in 3 levels are also included or you can download free Curriculum Integration Guides to go along with many different history curricula including A Child's History of the World, Story of the World, Streams of Civilization, Veritas Press, TruthQuest History, Adventures in MFW, Ambleside Online, Sonlight, A Little History of the World, The History of the Medieval World, Ancient Civilizations and the Bible, Exploring World History and Joy Hakim's History of US. Others are being added over the month of August so be sure to check back if you don't see your program. This is an amazing resource for anyone using these history programs. However, these maps would be suitable for ANY history curriculum you are using.

a sample of a lesson from volume 1

You can download a 47 page sampler here along with a free US edition sampler andou can download their complete catalog. I own many of their products including Expedition Earth, A Child's Geography (both versions), The Star Spangled State Book, and the Wonders of Old Timeline.  All recommended. :)  Knowledge Quest also has a free e-book called Globalmania: Master World Geography in 7 Months or Less that you won't want to miss.

Keep in mind that these are historical maps and not your basic outline maps.  I am very thankful to have these maps at my fingertips.

Purchase Map Trek as a complete set (download) for $47.00.  Individual map sets are $14.95. The CD ROM set is available for $49.95 plus shipping. The Hardcover book with CD-ROM is $55 plus shipping.

Visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to see what others are saying about Map Trek and Time Maps.












disclaimer: I received the complete set of Map Trek maps in exchange for an honest review.

Keyboarding for the Christian School

A-S-D-F-J-K-L-semi.  If you had typing in a school setting like I did, you can probably still hear your teacher saying chanting that over and over again.  Typing is one of the skills that I learned in high school that I use on a daily basis.  Of course, back then, there was no reason to learn to type until you were in high school.  (Am I dating myself? :) )  Nowadays kids need to learn to type when they are young so they don't have to unlearn incorrect typing methods later on. Keyboarding for the Christian School is a great way for your children to learn to type.

Rather than type directly from the screen like most typing programs, students learn to type by looking at the printed pages.  I put ours in a 3-ring binder but you could print as you go or have them bound.  Print versions are also available.  You will need to e-mail the author for information about that.

Why choose a printable e-book versus a web-based program? Think about the things you type. Are they readily available to copy from the screen or are they something that you are looking at on a piece of paper? Usually you are typing something from a rough draft. If the lessons are only available on the computer monitor; your student will not get the needed skill of transferring information from paper to the computer. A printable e-book allows you the preference of binding the whole book or just giving your student one page at a time. A printable e-book is portable and economical. -from the website

The large font edition of Keyboarding for the Christian School uses 20-point Times New Roman font.  The default for most word processors is 12-point.  I really like the large print, as it makes it easy to see and keep your place especially in early lessons when students are typing groups of letters and not actual words.

The lessons are intentionally brief to allow for shorter class time, review or to complete more than on lesson at time.  This course is for a QWERTY keyboard.

My 6 year old learning to type

There are 12 guidelines for how to position yourself when touch typing that are provided in the book.  (such as sit up straight and lean in at the waist).  We have our computers on a table and it's impossible for our children to follow these guidelines since they just aren't tall enough.  We did the best we could without following these rules.

Keyboarding for the Christian School Elementary Version is a 90 page book divided into 32 lessons.

Lessons 1-20 cover Alphabetic Keys
Lessons 21-25 cover Numbers and Symbol Keys
Lessons 26-29 cover the Number Pad
Lesson 30 is on Centering
Lesson 31 covers Enumerated Lists
Lesson 32 has 10 pages of Timed Writings

A partial sample page-I like the cute lady bug ad the colorful keyboard.

One of the things I love about this program is that the typing exercises are scripture. As you can see in the lesson above it begins with a scripture as well.

If you don't want to print your book, you could do a side by side with the lesson or timed writing on the left
and  your word processor on the right. This works great.  You could also use a second computer or tablet.

Keyboarding for the Christian School Elementary Version won
Best Exclusive e-book
from Small Christian Publishers this year.

Also available from the publisher is Keyboarding for the Christian School revised edition which covers everything in the elementary version and much more. It is 106 pages long and has lessons on the tab key, reports, cover page, works cited, bibliography, letters, envelopes and proof readers marks. This version is excellent for your older students. This black and white book uses Times New Roman 12 point font.

Click here for sample lessons. I highly recommend Keyboarding for the Christian School to anyone who wishes to use a traditional approach to teaching typing. I plan to continue using this with my children. I think typing is a valuable (necessary!) skill and what better way to learn than by typing God's word. Thank you Leanne Beitel for creating this wonderful resource and for the opportunity to review it!

Keyboarding for the Christian School Elementary is available in two versions, regular font and large font.  I prefer the large font as mentioned above.

Keyboarding for the Christian School Elementary Version (For grades K-5) is available for $12.95 and Keyboarding for the Christian School (for grades 6 and up) is available for $15.95.  See the website for package deals and other products including lesson plans. I am excited to be able to offer an unpublished 20% discount to my readers. Use promo code SUMMER2012 when you check out. Coupon code will expire on August 29, 2012.

Visit the the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to see what others are saying about Keyboarding for the Christian School.






disclaimer: I was given copies of Keyboarding for the Christian School in large font, regular and revised editions in exchange for an honest review.

Stick with It Saturday

It's Saturday and time for a Stick with it Saturday post. I lost .8 at Weight Watchers this week which was a pleasant surprise since I thought I hadn't lost.  Last  week I mentioned that my shin hurt.  After my run last Saturday I was in a lot of pain for a couple of days.  I ended up taking 4 days off from running.  I've done 2 pretty easy runs since and am doing OK.  My leg didn't hurt at all after I ran last night.  I really love using Jeff Galloway's Easy 5 K app. I am able to continue running but lessen the intensity and it just makes it fun.

Sunday- 2.62 miles on my pedometer- surprising since it hurt so much to walk

Monday-4.76 miles on my pedometer

Tuesday-3 miles on my pedometer.

Wednesday- 3.43 miles on my pedometer (including a short run)

Thursday-7.18 miles on my pedometer. We took a 3 mile walk on the beach.  My shin hurt when we got home but after putting ice on it I was fine.

Friday- 7.0 miles on the pedometer.  We went to a historical museum in the morning and I ran at night.  This makes it easy to accumulate lots of steps.

Saturday- No planned exercise.  I hope to accumulate a minimum of 10,000 steps today.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.

Summer Bucket List-Napatree Point (beach)

Last night we took 3 of our kids on a beach walk to Napatree Point.  Napatree Point is the southern and western most point of our state.  You can read more about the history of it on Wikipedia.  Two of the most interesting facts about it are that until 1938 it was heavily wooded and had houses built along it.  The hurricane of '38 changed all of that.  Secondly,  it was the home to Fort Mansfield.  We weren't wearing shoes so we couldn't get to the part that has the remains of the fort.

It was an absolutely gorgeous night for a 3 mile (total) walk on the beach.  I love where we live.  My husband and I got engaged on this beach, but this was the first time I've ever actually walked out to the point which is why I put it on my summer bucket list. :)

Ryan, Jenna and Emma heading toward the beach

At the start of the beach you walk up a steep, sandy hill.
This is looking back toward Little Narragansett Bay.

This was taken just down the hill at the start of the walk.
This is right near the spot where Rob and I got engaged.

My favorite picture of the night.

Lighthouse in the distance

At the Point

Looking back toward where we started out walk....starting to head back.

The kids are sitting on this log...hard to see.

Another picture of the bay

sunset

A last look at the beach before heading home.

My Second Lace Shawl

I just love knitting lace.  I made a shawl earlier in the year while taking the online course, Mastering Lace Shawls at Craftsy.com with instructor Laura Nelkin.  Once I finished, I immediately began a second shawl from the same course.  I just finished it this week and I love it.

I ended up running out of yarn with only a tiny section of binding off left to do.  I had made a gauge swatch and really shouldn't have run out of yarn...but I did.  I went back to the yarn store where I had purchased the yarn hoping that they would still have some of it.  They didn't.  In fact, the shop owner told me that she had sold the last skein the day before I went in.  *sigh*  She told me they would be getting more in but wouldn't be putting an order in until the end of July! So, I ended up ordering online from Jimmy Beans wool and was completely satisfied with my purchase.  It came quickly and, believe it or not it, was the same dye lot.    I think it took me longer to wind the yarn than it did to finish knitting the shawl.

Jenna (6) and Emma (9) were my yarn winding helpers.  Jenna held the yarn the entire time.Emma came over to help unwind it for me when we were almost done so I could just wind it without stopping. 433 yards of winding by hand! One of the advantages of buying yarn in a shop is that they'll wind it for you!

Here it is almost finished. All I had left to bind off was where the orange stitch markers are on the right hand side when I ran out of yarn. 

I only needed to use about half of this tiny bit of yarn to finish. (The rest of the yarn is wound and not pictured.  There was a knot in the yarn near the end and this is how much yarn was after the knot.  Don't you hate that??)

If you don't know, a lace shawl really doesn't look good until it is blocked.  Blocked involves getting the shawl wet and placing or pinning it out so it dries in the shape you want it.  It also makes your finished product much larger than if you didn't block it.

a different view of the blocking-I used wires and pins on a blocking mat

Here it is all finished.

So, what's next?  I am planning to make this same shawl in a lace weight merino wool  in a larger size.  I also plan to start working with beads.  I am signed up for Laura Nelkin's other Craftsy course, Knitting with Beads.  It starts off easy with a beaded pioneer cuff and then graduates to a shawl.  There are directions for knitting beads into the shawl pictured here too and I may end up beading that.  I think it will take me a long time to knit the bigger lace weight shawl but I am excited to do it.  I also have been making some cotton dishcloths and I'm working on a heavier acrylic yarn shawl as well.

I can't say enough about the Craftsy.com courses.  I have learned so much and if you get them on sale they are extremely reasonable.  Sign up for their newsletter so you can find out what is on sale.

The shawl pictured here is called Clarus. I knit it in Berroco Ultra Fine Alpaca (winter white).

Who is My Neighbor?

Who is My Neighbor? is the third book in the Biblical worldview series, What We Believe. Apologia has teamed up with Summit Ministries to create this wonderful  four book series. An accompanying notebooking journal and coloring book are also available. It has been designed with homeschools and families in mind. The hardcover text is high quality and designed to withstand lots of use in your family.

The third book in the award-winning What We Believe series helps children understand what it means to be salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-14). This study will encourage kids to develop a Christlike servant attitude based on these biblical truths: God created me to be a blessing to the world; God chooses to work through me; I can make a difference at home, in my community, and at church; the church is God's family; the church is one body with many gifts; and I am an important member of Jesus' body.

Who is My Neighbor? is written for 6-14 year olds. Emma (9) has been going through this study with me and she likes it a lot and frequently requests that we read it.  Younger students will need to be read to and assisted while older children should be able to manage it on their own if you choose.

Each book in the series is designed to stand alone, but would best be read in order.  I have not seen any of the other books and we are doing fine without having read books 1 and 2. (though I would like to!) Occasionally references are made to what was taught in previous books, but it hasn't been a problem at all.

There is no teacher prep involved in this at all.  You can just pick up the book and go (or have your student follow the schedule if they are older.)  There are free online teacher helps available (password information is included in the book).

The teacher helps include:




• Overviews of the lesson’s main idea as well as every topic covered in the lesson

• Key themes and lesson objectives

• Vocabulary words and memory verses

• Suggested activities for use with the lesson

• Child-directed discussion questions for each topic covered in the lesson—you simply read them aloud to help you guide the

conversation

• Recommended reading list for deeper study of the themes, people, and places discussed in the text

Pages in the book vary, but as you can see, the text is complemented with color pictures.

another sample page from the book

Scriptures in the book are quoted from a variety of versions.  We use the KJV.  It's very easy to just read from your own Bible if you have a preference.

The spiral bound notebooking journal has a variety of different pages that go along with the lessons.  There are mini-books, crossword puzzles, word searches, questions, writing prompts and more.  The notebooking journal is not necessary but would be an excellent addition if you have the book.  We chose to answer the questions orally but if you wanted a workbook to go along with the book you won't want to miss this.

The coloring book would also be a great addition.  Emma loves it.  I think the coloring book would be great for the younger children (those that enjoy coloring) and the notebooking journal for the older ones.  Emma is at an age where both are appropriate for her.

The book has 8 lessons which should take about 3 weeks to complete on average. A schedule is provided for you in the introduction. (A more detailed schedule is found in the notebooking journal.)  We are not using the schedule at all.  We're just going at our own pace.

Lessons include:


Does Anyone Really Need Me?
How Can I Make a Difference?
Who is My Neighbor?
Why Did God Make Families?
What Can I Do For My Country?
Why Can't We All Just Get Along?
Who is God's Family?
Why Does the Church Need Me?

Each lesson contains several key components:

The Big Idea (introduction to the main topic)
What You Will Do (lesson objectives)
Think About It (questions)
Words you Need to Know (vocabulary)
Hide It In Your Heart (2 memory verses for each lesson)
Integrated Learning (interesting articles related to the main text)
What Should I Do? (highlights godly character traits)
Prayer 
Encounters with Jesus (a Bible story based on the scripture-historical fiction style)
Take a Closer Look (questions)
House of Truth (read more here but note this is not something you need to purchase, students can draw their own or use Legos)


On the website, you can view the table of contents, a sample lesson and read the FAQ's pertaining to the entire series.


We have really enjoyed using this (especially Emma and that is a blessing) and plan to continue. I hope to use the entire series.

Purchase Who is My Neighbor? for $39.00, the notebooking journal for $24.00 and the coloring book for $8.00. The other books in the series are available here at the same prices.  The first two editions also have an audio CD available for $24.00. The fourth and final book is scheduled to be released in 2012.

Apologia is a wonderful Christian company that offers Biblical worldview books, science texts, parenting resources and an online academy.  If you are not already familiar with Apologia I would encourage you to visit their website.  You can find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Read what others are saying about Who is My Neighbor? on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.






disclaimer: I received Who is My Neighbor? hardcover book, notebooking journal, and coloring book in exchange for an honest review.