DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

Science has never been my strong suit. It probably has something to do with the person teaching it and my brain not loving it. So as a homeschool parent, there is a lot of hesitation in me when it comes to science. I’m always open to reviewing science curriculum because I need the extra support and optimistic that I can find a great resource. Today, I’m happy to share with you just such a resource that not only teaches chemistry, but throughout reminds students of God’s hand in it all! We are talking about Young Scientist Chemistry from Greg Landry's Homeschool Science.

What We Received:

we received access to Young Scientist Chemistry, a self-paced one semester class for 4th-7th grade from Greg Landry's Homeschool Science. This includes PDF study guides and 14 class video recordings.

How It Works:

Young Scientist Chemistry is set up like many online classes with video instruction and printable study guides. There is an initial introductory video for students and parents where Mr. Landry explains his intention for the class, the value of note taking and the flexibility parents have in using his class in their homeschool. Each of the following classes are labeled for easy navigation. As you can see in the screenshots above and below, Mr. Landry splits the screen between himself talking and the appropriate slides. The study guide includes a lot of worksheets, space for note taking and sketches, and a variety of visual aids. Through the worksheets and content, there is plenty that a parent can quiz students on for comprehension.

What We Thought:

After printing off the study guide and getting logged in appropriately, I let my 10 year old take off. After a couple of lessons, I noticed he hadn’t done anything but listen to the video. After talking to him about it all, it was clear that he needed to take Mr. Landry’s advice and start a practice of notetaking. The subject matter was largely new to him and note taking is a more self-motivated habit that he was resistant to on his own. So, after determining I was a little too optimistic about his independence in this course, I decided to restart and walk him through it more closely. Just as Mr. Landry had described in the introduction video, understanding and retaining the information hinges upon good note taking and content interaction. My son was opting out of that, but showing he really needed that aspect to properly comprehend everything.

Despite that hiccup, I have no complaints about Mr. Landry or this class! Like he claims, the course can be used in whatever way a parent needs and is very flexible. His instruction and explanations are beautifully woven between scripture and a Biblical worldview that makes me want to sit down and learn from him. The world around us is a testament to a brilliant creator and science just doesn’t do Him justice most of the time. I’m so grateful to find this great resource that teaches and enriches simultaneously.

Greg Landry offers a variety of courses for grades 3-7 and the Homeschool Review Crew tried out many of them. Click below to read what families thought of the other courses!

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

Like never before, online resources have become a vital part of our life. Even though the necessity level might change, the value and usefulness is sticking with us. Creating a Masterpiece is a great example of an online program that gives families what they need to educate their children well, regardless of the circumstances. For my review today, we are talking about their Art History Program that is designed to compliment other art history programs.

What We Received:

We received access to the Art History Program from Creating a Masterpiece through the end of 2021. The Art History Program includes:

• Styles of Art in History: Ages 5 and up

• Historically Themed Projects: Ages 6 and up.

• Exploring the Art of Yesterday: Age 13 and up.

• Paint like Vermeer: Girl with the Pearl Earring: Masterpiece level of difficulty. .

How It Works:

Since the Art History Program is designed to compliment other art history programs, there is no designated order of instruction. Each section and project has a specific context and suggested age level but which project and when is something the parent/student is free to determine for themselves. Each individual project consists of instructional videos by owner, Sharon Hofer and a supply list. The number of videos varies with each lesson. Also, having the correct supplies is very important to the Creating a Masterpiece approach so they even offer a place where you can order exact supplies when necessary. Since the videos are prerecorded, students can go at their own pace and families can all participate multiple times with any/all projects.

What We Thought:

Since my children are ages 8 and 10 years old, we narrowed our choices by choosing from the Styles of Art in History and Historically Themed Projects. This fall we are focusing on Old Testament stories and ancient civilizations so I thought the Egyptian projects would compliment their education best right now. The first one we tried out was Egyptian Period: The Royal Hunt (Colored Marker) followed by the Ancient Egypt: Egyptian Nomads. Both of them required the same materials and supplies, which simplified things for us. Once they had their supplies and space set up, the video gave them everything they needed. Not once did they ask for help or have any concern. A few times they would stop while one of them caught up. On one of them, my 10 year old finished the video, but my 8 year old couldn’t go that fast so she restarted where she needed it.

After looking around at all of the possible projects, it was clear to me that Creating a Masterpiece is an awesome resource! With a wide variety of mediums to choose from, there is so much to gain from using this program in your homeschool.

Social Media Links: Creating a Masterpiece

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createamasterpiece

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDU-6301Pwj_1Dez9YkumQ

Since there are so many different projects to choose from, read about the projects other families tried out through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

One of the biggest issues parents face when deciding if they should homeschool is FEAR. Fear of missing something, fear of not knowing enough, or just fear of being able to handle it all. And I absolutely get it. Every age and stage of parenting brings new things to face and handle. Doing a new thing can be really scary. One of the things I’m learning, about homeschooling and life too, is to use the tools you need and not feel bad about that. Sometimes that is admitting when you don’t know and asking for help. When it comes to curriculum, there are times when we have to be honest about what we can handle and what we can’t. I really value unplugged curriculum as much as possible, but I’m learning I’m only one person and can’t always focus on each child and each subject the way I would like to. Finding resources and curriculum that can cover bases that you might miss is really important. For today’s review, we’re talking about an all-star curriculum, CTCMath, that has proved to offer just about whatever we need in the math department.

What We Received:

We were given a 12 month subscription to CTCMath, an online math curriculum with accounts for as many students as we need for our immediate family.

How It Works:

For each student, the parent/teacher sets up an account that will then log all of their activity, scores and assignments. From the parent dashboard, I can assign any tasks to all students, individually or all together. Since my 10 and (almost) 8 year old already had accounts from previous use, this time around all I did was set up a new account for my 4 year old. He’s still young, but we decided to try him out from the very beginning to see how it worked. Once each child has an account, they can then start watching videos and answering questions on any topic they choose, or simply start at the beginning of their grade level. The really great part of CTCMath is that each student has access to all levels of work, regardless of their input age and grade level. That means if your child needs to revisit a concept from the past or is ready to speed forward, that’s no problem! Another nice perk is that it saves the students activity and reports indefinitely. We have used CTCMath off and on through our years through the Homeschool Review Crew. Even though our account has lapsed at times, their information (going back several years) is always available. While this is an online program, there are printable worksheets available for every lesson, as well as weekly revision tasks and diagnostic tests that makes it a complete curriculum.

What We Thought:

The voice giving instructions in the videos has always been an Australian man. One time I heard a family say they couldn’t use this program because the accent threw them off so much. Our experience is the exact opposite. An otherwise unexciting math concept is made interesting simply by the speakers voice. We love the accent!

The two older kids are used to the program and have continued as they have in the past. My 4 year old had never used it before but things went well, all things considered. He is 4 and not reading yet, though his letter recognition is coming right along. The videos contain bright pictures and the questions all have an audio button to play the question. He needed some assistance in maneuvering the mouse and submit button at first, but started to get the hang of it. Even though he is young and not quite at full kindergarten level, I felt like all the math concepts and questions were things he could grasp with a parent close by when he needed help. He enjoyed it and I felt confident in the educational value. Win/win!

Our experience with CTCMath has consistently been a positive one! We’ve used grades K-4 now at one point or another and have no complaints. With so much flexibility, it really can work for most situations and large families! If you are in the market for a complete math curriculum, CTCMath is certainly one to consider.

Follow CTCMath on Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctcmath
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctcmathofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctcmath
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/ctcmath/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWn5e6974bpIEAe46VnovZw

Do you have middle or high school students? If you’re interested in how CTCMath does with higher level math, check out the reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

One of the hallmarks of homeschooling is creating things yourself, whether that is a schedule, priorities or curriculum. A great tool to have is a company who understands how important do-it -yourself hands-on activities are to educating your child at home. We were introduced to such a company, Home School in the Woods several years ago and have reviewed their Artists Activity Pak and Make-A-State products in the past. Today, we’re talking about the Individual Timeline Set (Grades K-12) from Home School in the Woods. While they have several, the one we chose is Timeline Set: Creation to Christ (Beginning - 100 AD) to go along with our studies this fall.

What We Received:

We received an Individual Timeline Set (Grades K-12) Creation to Christ (Beginning - 100 AD) from Home School in the Woods. This came as a digital file that when unzipped contained 5 files in total:

• Intro and Index: This file includes instructions, suggested uses and and index of all Historical Figures included

• CtoC Notebook-sized images with Name and Date

• CtoC Notebook-sized images with Name, Date and Text Description

• CtoC Wall-sized images with Name and Date

• CtoC Wall-sized images with Name, Date and Text Description

How It Works:

As the title suggests, these files are intended to create a timeline. The images are black and white with great details that work well with colored pencils. Timelines are a great learning tool that gives students a visual perspective of history and time. As any homeschooler can understand, each living space and situation is not created equal which means wall space for a full timeline isn’t always available. That is why Home School in the Woods offers both sizes with or without a full description. A timeline showcased on the wall is always visible and a good reminder to students. However, the smaller images can be useful in a variety of ways. A smaller, notebook timeline can be created that, in an accordion style, is easily put away and stored. There are lots of different timeline styles, even one including lamination and magnets. Another use is simply to create a history notebook where each image is glued or taped to the top and some kind of writing will follow. This could be a research-based writing or a journal prompt about information learned or just about any type of writing/notebook assignment. You could even create a set of timeline cards to test your memory or even create a game to encourage further interaction and recall.

What We Thought:

Coloring is a favorite pastime in our home so any excuse to color, especially something new, is a good excuse. So, I printed off the notebook version with text descriptions for my 10 year old and (almost) 8 year old. We have paused our Bible and History curriculum for a few weeks, but when we pick back up we will be studying Creation to the Greeks, which matches perfectly with this timeline. They have been coloring away mostly with colored pencils, but they have toyed around with some markers too. I told them as long as I could still read the words and the pictures didn’t look messy, I didn’t care what they used. It has been a good exercise in artistic coloring and neatness! My intent is to cut out each image and attach it to a sheet of paper, add some extra pages between for sketching and writing and then comb bind each set into a notebook that they can use all next year with our curriculum. If (when) any image gets messed up or colored illegibly, I can always print another to take its place!

Home School in the Woods knows the needs of homeschool families and does a great job delivering useful products that enrich student’s education from a variety of angles.

Follow Home School in the Woods on Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolinthewoods/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HSintheWoods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolinthewoods/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hsinthewoods/_saved/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrKq6iLty2fpB6R6ZpcUb8A/videos

Home School in the Woods offers a ton of different products. The Homeschool Review Crew also reviewed their Project Passport World History Studies, Time Travelers U.S. History Studies, Maps Combo-Pak (US & World Maps), Lap-Pak: Wonders of the World, Activity-Pak: The Old Testament, and the Activity-Pak: The New Testament. If you are interested in any of those products, click on the link below to check out their reviews.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

When I was little, I remember watching my dad play games on an Intellivision game system. My favorite was Dungeons and Dragons! For today’s review, we’re looking at Baggin' the Dragon Maths Online from EdAlive. We have looked at two of their other games before, Typing Tournament and Maths Invaders. Here is what we thought about those. Baggin’ the Dragon reminded me a bit of the graphics and gameplay from that old Dungeons and Dragons game if you were to base it on math. Certainly nostalgic for me, but that doesn’t count for much when it comes to kids, does it?

What We Received:

We were granted 12 months access to Baggin' the Dragon Maths Online for as many students as we needed. Baggin’ the Dragon is an Austrailian online game that combines automated Adaptive Learning with multi-player board game that seeks to protect your village from a fire breathing dragon.

How It Works:

This online game is designed for students age 5-15 and through various questions, adapts to their current educational level. Each student has their own login and account, which tracks their skill-level. In a board game style where you can play computerized opponents or your friends, students answer math questions and move around the board collecting or losing courage swords. Each question answered correctly counts toward the collection of hero cards as well. Underneath every question, there is a Too Hard option for when the student simply doesn’t know how to answer it. For each account, their questions and answers are collected and compiled to demonstrate where a students skills are and where there is need for improvement. This covers skills from age 5 all the way through 15 to include concepts of algebra, geometry, etc. This data is presented in a very helpful way that allows parents to be informed on each child’s performance. For times when a student needs to focus on a particular area, there is a Questions Only section that allows the user to select a specific area to practice on.

What We Thought:

For this review I had two children use the program, my daughter age 7 (almost 8) and my son age 10 1/2. Both were excited to try it out, but my daughter quickly changed her tune. My 7 year old was frustrated with questions that were too hard for her and took a while to warm up to pushing the Too Hard button. She really didn’t like that at first, but I attribute that mostly to her excellent math skills. She’s used to being good at it and got easily frustrated when things were beyond her. Thankfully, she got used to it and enjoys it just fine now. My son did well from the get go, but he always finds motivation in a game.

At first, it was a little confusing how the game went, simply because we didn’t understand the board game/math question combination. However, it didn’t take long for the kids to explore and figure it out. I really appreciate the adaptive part of the program from an educational perspective. It allows exposure and the reporting communicates clearly what they already know. That is encouraging. Sometimes we simply look at one grade level or one skill, but this allows a bigger picture perspective. And it’s fun! Baggin’ the Dragon is definitely a good choice for fun math games and educational support.

Social Media Links: EdAlive Online Learning

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdAlive
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edalive
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edalive_onlinelearning/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edalive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/EdAliveTube

EdAlive Learning offers a variety of games, not just Baggin’ the Dragon. The Homeschool Review Crew also reviewed Word Rocks and Volcanic Panic. Check out those reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

In case you haven’t noticed, striving for balance is really important to me. That is largely because as humans it is so easy to get drawn to extremes before we even realize what is happening. I think we have seen that plainly with our age of information. Screens, especially with kids, have become a hot button, controversial issue and a source of stress for parents. Our culture pushes us to always do, get and be more which so often leaves us conflicted about what’s best for everyone, especially the children. I’ve always sided with the idea that less screen time is better, but as our family continues to grow in homeschooling, not only are screens a part of our reality, but there are times when they solve problems! There are times when our laps and attentions are just not available and we need something that will enrich our children while keeping them occupied for a time. For today’s review, we are talking about One More Story - an online read aloud library of beautiful picture books that does just that!

What We Received:

We were given a one-year subscription to One More Story. This includes access to all books on the website.

How It Works:

One More Story consists of a single user library of picture books that are read aloud with background music and sound effects and highlighted words on the page as it is read through. Each story has a vocabulary button where students can learn what different words mean through a definition and then the context sentence of the book. Each book has an I Can Read button to turn off the sound and allow the student to turn pages at their own pace. Through the Parent’s Place Dashboard, parents can see what books the child has read and what new words they have been introduced to.. On the main page, there is a Book List option where you can sort the books available by the colored shelf, Accelerated Reader, Lexile, DRA, Fountas and Pinnell or you can filter them through a key word.

What We Thought:

Like I mentioned above, I try to recognize that too much screen time can be detrimental and set boundaries appropriately. It is our custom to put off screens of any form until the rest of (non-screen) school activities have been completed. That being said, aside from not being in my lap, One More Story provides everything else that is valuable about story time! The collection of books is fantastic! I've heard of a lot of them but not all. That alone makes it just like a library visit.

When you raise readers, you find that they will always love a good story. While One More Story is a beautiful blessing for preschool age children, my 7 and 10 year old are happy to sit down with or without their 4 year old brother to listen to One More Story. This is even useful when I’m needed to help the older kids with their school and the 4 year old needs distraction. From both an educational and parenting perspective, this website is a wonderful tool to have for those times when you need an extra set of hands!

Follow One More Story on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifelongReaders
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EarlyReader

Are you interested in how other families may have used One More Story? Check out the other members of the Crew and their reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

From science experiments to art projects, hands-on activities are by far my children’s favorite part of their education! Today’s review combines elements of art and history to create an interactive lesson everyone will enjoy! We’re talking about Figures of the American Revolution from Figures In Motion! These moveable figures are a wonderful compliment to any history curriculum.

What We Received:

We received one book of paper figures to cut out, in some cases color and assemble, a bookmark about Benjamin Franklin, a single hole punch and a box of small two prong brads.

How It Works:

The Famous Figures of the American Revolution book contains 10 different people you can assemble. For each person there are two pages, one is colored and the other is blank, ready to be colored by a student. Both are assembled in the same way - by cutting out the individual pieces, hole punching in the designated spots (noted by letters and back or front designations) and then attaching the pieces with small brads. This product is intended for ages 6-12 and requires cutting skills. Most of it is easy but there are some areas of fine detail. For those areas they have added gray space as a guide to give students an easier option.

Once assembled, they are fun to move around and even pretend to interact. Within the book, each person has a description of their patriotic significance and interesting information about their life. These figures compliment any survey of history or biography study, but the text also includes a reading list specific to the American Revolution figures in the book.

What We Thought:

We loved this product far more than I expected! I know my kids like hands-on activities, but with as much cutting that's involved, I assumed my 10 year old son would be done with it. My 7 year old daughter lives to craft so I expected her to enjoy it, but they were begging to do more and more. Since there are only so many in the book, it quickly became a question of who gets to do more and which ones. They needed a touch of guidance when assembling the first ones, but after that it was a very independent activity. From an artistic standpoint, it requires precision and cutting skills, which is something we always need to work on. A neat element - that I love about learning anyway - was all the questions that arose simply from cutting out these pictures. I wasn't teaching them directly, but we learned about flag making, types of guns and different types of clothes, just from their questions.

This process was such a positive learning experience that I highly recommend including this product in your next history study!

Follow Figures in Motion on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/figuresinmotionbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiguresInMotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figuresinmotionbooks/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/figuresinmotion/_created/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwr8ROHgSkGmCrutlMg76KQ

The Review Crew were given a varied choice of products so check out the other reviews through the link below to see what other options are available.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW. I WAS NOT REQUIRED TO WRITE A POSITIVE REVIEW NOR WAS I COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY.

In a couple of weeks my baby will be 4 and we've already entered this next phase of homeschooling - Preschool!  After 10 years of a homeschool mindset is, this really is one of my favorite stages!  That doesn't mean I don't have to fight off waves of sadness at the thought of this being the last time I get to teach one of my kids to read.  It is a beautiful privilege and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  And today our review is going to look at an online program designed to support young students in their journey towards literacy, LeapFrog Academy® from LeapFrog®.

What We Received:

We were given a 1 year subscription for multiple students to a LeapFrog Academy®, an online interactive learning program ideally intended for 3-6 year olds.  In addition to the annual, they also offer a monthly and 6 month plan, though the annual subscription offers the greatest discount.

How It Works:

 After setting up the student profile, the program takes the child on an introductory tour of the LeapFrog Academy world. Initially, the student learns how to move around, where the activities are, how to collect marbles for the reward bank, and eventually become familiar with their Learning Adventure. There is a dashboard where everything is directly accessible as well.

Within each student's virtual world there is a highlighted path they can take which brings them to a variety of puzzles and games. However, they can go anywhere they want and at any time head back to a red tent where they can change colors and clothing. As they travel around and complete activities, the student is rewarded with marbles and eventually prizes, like pets. My son has a pet hedgehog! When they do an activity they really like, there is an option to save it to My Favorites, which is then accessible through the dashboard. Also located on the dashboard are areas for certificates the student has earned, a My Learning Lab for activities focused on what they need to learn next, a reading area, and What's New for recently added elements. The concept as a whole is very open ended, but also structured if you choose to follow it.

What We Thought:

My son hasn’t quite mastered the mouse or track pad completely yet, so there were a few activities that he got frustrated on. Luckily, he has an older brother and sister who are more than happy to 'help' him. Other than that, the activities were fun and engaging, all while reinforcing preschool concepts.

As I have mentioned in reviews before, I am not a proponent of exclusive online learning. While I understand the reality and value of computer and internet skills for my children, I also know the importance of non-screem learning for healthy development. So, in our homeschool we have never relied completely on an online program. That being said, LeapFrog Academy® is a delightful program that was always inviting learning and one my son always asked to use. As a company in the business of learning since the 90’s, they have continued to do a great job of supporting early education!

LeapFrog® Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeapFrog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeapFrog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leapfrogofficial
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/leapfroginc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/LeapFrog

Not all preschoolers are the same! Are you interested in another perspective? Read through other families’ reviews of this product to see what they thought.

DISCLOSURE: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Explore the Composers!

Now that we have been doing reviews for the Homeschool Review Crew for a few years, we are starting to really pick out favorites and repeat companies have a chance to truly win us over. Today we’re talking about a favorite company and their fantastic games. Maestro Mastery - Explore the Composers is the latest educational game from Byron's Games and we were very pleased to try it out!

What We Received:

Maestro Mastery includes a set of instructions, 104 cards featuring 52 composers, 1 music timeline card, and 1 fold-out poster. It is intended for ages 5 and up and requires at least 2 players. Game play is about 30 minutes.

How It Works:

Maestro Mastery is essentially a matching game for music composers, but loaded with learning opportunities. Each card includes the composers name, years living, historical period they are from (which is also color-coded) and a short description of what they are known for. Game play starts with all cards (you’re playing with) turned over face-side down. A player turns over two cards and announces both names. If no match is found, the next player continues in the same way. When a match is made, it is placed in front of the player, grouping them by era. There are two ways to win - most matches or most matches in a particular era. With 52 matches possible, you can always use fewer cards for fewer players or for a shorter play time. If played in this way, it is a basic matching game. However, there are a couple ways to play that increases learning and (in my opinion) fun!

To encourage a better understanding of music, composers, and time periods, there is a listening element that Byron’s Games provides. It is played the same except for whenever a match is made, you find that composer at http://www.Byronsgames.com/maestromastery and listen to a piece of their music. Depending on the composers and the length of the music provided, this could extend the playing time as well. For Vivaldi, the entire performance of The Four Seasons is provided, which is about 45 minutes long! Another way to play that increases the challenge, especially after students are more familiar with the music, is to play one of the excerpts and have students guess the composer. A slightly easier version is to lay out 3-5 cards, play an excerpt and have students guess the correct composer.

What We Thought:

My 10 and 7 year old children played this, while my 3 year old witnessed it until they wouldn’t let him touch anything anymore! As a game, they were able to play it by themselves with ease, once I explained it. We always played it with listening to the music along side it. If we hadn’t, I think they might have lost interest much easier. Having the music freely accessible on their website, right under each composers picture (that corresponds to their card) is a great idea and great resource for teaching music history. As matching games goes, it’s easy for any age to play, but the content opens up quite a bit of learning to be done. If your child isn’t reading yet, a parent or reading sibling is helpful because some of the pictures look pretty similar.

From a homeschooling perspective where we often include games as enhancements to what we’re already learning, this fits perfectly. It is the type of thing that we will play several times and receive a different education every time. Especially when a parent plays, there are many teachable moments about all aspects of music and history. The games Byron’s games produces are all great additions to homeschool curriculum.

Follow Byron’s Games on Social Media:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/byronsgames
Instagram: https://instagram.com/byronsgames
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/byronsgames
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqc5skcLby7XPMPubub8CRw

The Crew also reviewed The Family Journal from Byron’s Games. Check out other family’s reviews to find out what it’s all about!

 Mistaking Impatience for Serious Learning Problems

In our diagnosis-heavy culture, a good-hearted mama can convince herself of all kinds of trouble at the slightest hint of a learning challenge.  Normal developmental issues - like turning words around or crying over math that is 'too hard' - suddenly become scary things like dyslexia and failure to thrive in a mathematical world.  I don't know about you, but as a homeschool mom I can overthink and overreact, especially as it pertains to the success or failure of my kids.  One of the lessons I have learned over the last 5 years of homeschooling is that impatience is the cause of way more problems than legitimate learning disorders.  Maybe impatience is a legitimate learning disorder?! Of course, learning problems are everywhere and I don't mean to take away from their reality.  What I have seen, though, is that it is terribly easy to give up and slap on a diagnosis before we have considered the less complicated analysis.  What if your student is just in a hurry to finish their schoolwork and tries to work too quickly to notice all the mistakes?  What if it's easier to cry (in hopes of getting out of it) than to spend 5 extra seconds concentrating on that new math concept? 

My 10 year old son has cried foul a lot, especially when it comes to math.  A couple of years ago I panicked (a complete overreaction) thinking he just wasn't getting it and would always struggle with math.  After a couple of months of beating myself up over it I discovered he wasn't struggling like I thought.  In fact, his struggle wasn't really with math at all. He was an impatient boy who was in a hurry to be done.  When you try to rush new things, they can seem hard when in fact they are simply new and take time.  This applies to all subjects and ages alike.  Too hard is a very relative term and often false.  If we expect something to take a week to master and it realistically will take 3, there is bound to be frustration.  If we go into a new thing with the understanding that it isn't going to click right away, students are more likely to keep steadily at it. 

The next time you start to diagnose a major learning issue, you might try one of these ideas first.

-Accuracy. Reinforce that the goal is for work to be done right, not fast.  Double-checking work will actually save time in the long run.

-Time Commitment. 30 minutes of reading rather than 3 books can encourage students to take more time with their work allowing for fewer mistakes.

-Discuss expectations.  Sometimes we don't realize what we are expecting until we discuss it out loud. Are you expecting too much? Does your child understand what this subject is supposed to look like when done well?

Before you throw in the towel on a new skill or program, determine if someone (maybe even you, mom) is getting impatient rather than truly struggling.  For better or worse, the simplest answer is also the most likely answer.