Something To Pamper Myself

The latest review for the TOS Review Crew had absolutely nothing to do with my children.   It had everything to do with me - and I LIKED THAT!!  I know that sounds a bit selfish, but every now and then it's just nice to have something for MYSELF that pampers me just a little bit!   


When the review package came in the mail the kids anxiously watched me open it -- my daughter thought it was for HER and I quickly scurried the items into my bathroom and declared them MINE!  (very mature, huh?)


Beeyoutiful's goal is to help you "bridge the nutritional gap between our modern diet and our bodies' nutritional need".    All of the products on their site are all natural - and range from skin and hair products to nutritional supplements.  If you have a specific health concern, chances are there is something there to help you.  

I received two products from Beeyoutiful - and I love each of them!  

The All-Natural Orange Lip Balm is the only lip balm that has worked on my chapped lips.  Right now I have a terrible cold, and I have kept the lip balm in my pocket so I can have it with me at all times.   It lasts for a long time and smells REALLY good.   At a price of $3.00 (or if you buy more than 3 you get them for $2.70 each) that is much cheaper than another popular brand I buy.   I also notice they have Peppermint Lip Balm, too!  

The second product is the Milk and Honey Facial Bar.   This gentle cleansing bar smells so nice and fresh and keeps my skin smooth and not too dry in the winter months.  The facial bar combines bee products and goat's milk.   This bar costs $10 - which I would pay in a heart beat for such a quality product.  

The entire Beeyoutiful website has lots of wonderful things for you to check out - I know you won't be disappointed in their complete line of skin and health supplements.  

To read more reviews from my crew mates, please visit the crew blog!  

Disclaimer:I received the above named product from TOS Crew in return for my honest review. I have not been compensated in any other form. 

What Exactly is ALEKS?

The latest review for The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew is ALEKS:  Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces.   

I had always heard a lot about ALEKS... through reviews and other things out there in the blog-land.  I never, however, quite understood what it was about.  According to ALEKS:

Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. A student who shows a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course she is taking.

To put it in much more simple terms - ALEKS assesses your child's knowledge and adjusts the instruct accordingly.  In this way it is supposed to target your child's exact needs.


ALEKS offers many different instructional options, but for this review we just looked at the homeschool portion.  If you want to learn more about ALEKS, click here.  


The basics of the homeschool program:

  

ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) can provide you with the instruction and support you need to homeschool your children in mathematics for grades 3-12.  ALEKS is accessible from virtually any computer with Internet access, making it a flexible and mobile educational solution for your children. 

ALEKS is a Research-Based Online Math Program:

• Complete Curriculum Solution for Math with Access to Full Course Library
• No Textbook Required
• Artificial Intelligence Targets Gaps in Student Knowledge
• Assessment and Individualized Learning for Grades 3-12
• Master Account - Monitor and Direct Learning Progress
• Unlimited Online Access - PC & Mac Compatible

An additional feature is the QuickTables, which is basically a math facts drill for grades 3 and up.




As you can see, once a student completes an assessment, it gives them a pie -- clearly outlining what they already know and what needs work.  In this way, the instruction is incredibly focused and accurate.

Here is an example of what a typical screen would look like... everything must be read by the student.  I think my little guy might have liked some of it read to him, even though he is a fluent reader.   I didn't see anywhere that there was an option to have the lesson read to you.

As a parent you will be able to see EXACTLY what your child has completed.  Here is a view from QuickTables:

Pricing:



* $19.95 per student/month OR
*$99.95/6 months or
*$179.95/12 months


You can sign up for a free 2 MONTH trial here.  


Our opinion:


 From the get-go (which was an initial assessment for each child), the interface was difficult for them.  It is very "academic" - and by that I mean no bells and whistles for kids.  


I found myself needing to sit with them and instruct along with the computer, which in some ways defeats the purpose of computer instruction.  


I can see where this would be good for older children, but for my elementary aged students it just didn't cut it.


The focused instruction and intelligent design of each lesson is appealing... everything is very well done... just not for my little ones at this point. 


If you are looking for serious math instruction with no "extras" this might be for you.  There are many features that make it appealing for parents - accurate record keeping being the biggest plus.   


You can see what other crew members are saying here.

* I received this product via The TOS Review Crew in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.

Teaching Musical Classics to Children

How do you teach musical classics to your children?   

Being a music teacher by degree and part time piano teacher now, I'm very picky about what kind of music is taught to my children.  I've always had the thought (as I do about literature): "Why let my children be exposed to JUNK when there are so many BEAUTIFUL things out there?"   In our home we listen to all the great classical composers frequently.  I want my children to know about them, know about their compositions, and learn to play instruments.  

Enter Maestro Classics - which are great stories in music.    

I've been a huge fan of Maestro Classics for a while now... when given the chance to review one of their CDs for the TOS Crew I was so excited!!   If you are looking for QUALITY MUSIC, COMPREHENSIVE LESSONS, and ENGAGING CONTENT, I suggest you give Maestro Classics a try. Bonnie Ward Simon and Stephen Simon have done a superb job of making classical music accessible and enjoyable for our children.    


The Story of Swan Lake is a Story in Music, one in a series Maestro Classics offers.   The music is performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Stephen Simon.  

This is what you will find on the CD:

1. The Story of Swan Lake (music with narration)
2. Tchaikovsky's Life (a short track about Tchaikovsky)
3. Speed Metal Swan (modernized version of Swan Lake with electric guitar - very cool!)
4. About The Music
5. "Tchaikovsky Wrote a Great Ballet" - a familiar theme from Swan Lake that has been given words to help your children remember The Theme from Swan Lake.
6. Want to Have Some Fun?  Prepare to Perform
7. "Tchaikovsky Wrote a Great Ballet" sing-along

Included with the CD is a very well done booklet with information about the composer, the story, and elements of music theory such as MAJOR and MINOR modes.    

We listen to The Story of Swan Lake in the car to and from our co-op... it's a great way for me to make good use of our time and for the kids to really LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT MUSIC. 


I could tell you a lot more, but Bonnie Simon (the executive producer of the CD) sums it up very well:

We give this a hearty recommendation - my children love this CD, as do I.   


More information: 


The Story of Swan lake is available from Maestro Classics for the price of $16.98 for the CD and activity booklet, or for $9.98 as an .mp3 download. 


You can see all of the products available from Maestro Classics here.  You can even listen to samples of some of the recordings.   


Find out more from the crew blog, where a lot of my fellow crew mates have been reviewing The Story of Swan Lake as well.