I is for Ichabod's Mother (Women of the Bible)

I is for Ichabod's Mother.

Scripture Reference:

1 Samuel 4:19-22

Name Unknown:

Scripture does not give us her name.

Family Connections:

The wife of Phinehas and the mother of their child, Ichabod. Daughter-in-law of Eli.

Interesting Facts About Ichabod's Mother:

• Her husband, Phinehas, died at the hand of the Lord.
• She was heartbroken at the news of the deaths of her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law and of the taking of the ark of God.
• She did not give her son a family name, but called him Ichabod which means "The glory is departed."
• She realized that with the taking of the ark of God that the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel. 
• She knew that the actions of her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law had profaned the holiness and honor of God.
• She knew that the divine judgement they received in their deaths was just.
• She spoke no unkind words against her husband.
• She spoke no unkind words against God concerning his judgement against her husband and in-laws.
• She died in childbirth.

What We Can Learn From Ichabod's Mother:

• We can continue to honor and serve the Lord even if those we love do not.
• Do not speak unkind words against our husband.
• Do not speak unkind words against the Lord God for his just judgements.
• Walk closely with God to be able to recognize His presence in your life.
• Pray for those we love who have not surrendered their lives to God.

I'm joining Marcy at Ben and Me for Blogging Through the Alphabet. Click on the image below to read more #abcblogging posts. Thanks, Marcy, for hosting this fun series!

Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie

Go Science DVDs Review

I love trying new things in our homeschool science studies! Library and Educational Services offers all of their products 30% - 70% off, and I recently had the opportunity to review two of their Go Science DVDs in our homeschool.

Go Science DVDs are seven in total and contain 80 science demonstrations by Ben Roy. Ben is the former director of a science program that was televised, and he teaches science methods at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Each of the demonstrations points to our Creator God with a spiritual application to apply to our lives. These DVDs are recommended for ages 4-12. The price for each DVD is $8.97 - 40% off the list price of $14.95! You can get all 7 Go Science DVDs for $59.82 - 40% off the list price of $99.70. To view these DVDs you will need a T.V., a DVD player or a computer that has the capacity to play DVDs. If you want to do the science demonstrations with your kids (and trust me, you will!), there are certain supplies you'll need for each one, and Ben lets you know at the beginning of the demonstration what those supplies are. Teacher prep is minimal, but I do recommend that you view the science demonstration beforehand so that you can get a list of supplies you'll need and an idea of what you and your kids will be doing.

The two science volumes we received for this review of Go Science DVDs were:

• Volume 6: Chemistry (Run time: 59 minutes)

• Volume 7: Engineering, Design, Flight (Run time: 56 minutes)

Other volumes included in these science demonstration videos are:

• Volume 1: Sound, Gravity, Space (Run time: 78 minutes)
• Volume 2: Life Science, Weather (Run time: 60 minutes)
• Volume 3: Air (Run time: 55 minutes)
• Volume 4: Motion, Friction, Electricity, Light (Run time: 55 minutes)
• Volume 5: States of Matter, Water (Run time: 60 minutes)

Our Experience with Library and Educational Services and Go Science DVDs

I am so pleased to have discovered Library and Educational Services! I love their discount prices on homeschool curriculum! We have had so much fun with the Go Science DVDs. I love how Ben engages the live audience of children for his science demonstrations. He always uses three of the children as helpers for the demonstrations. Maxwell the dog is such a cute mascot that you'll see with the kids in the audience. He looks like our own dog! At the beginning of each demonstration Ben presents a science question that is answered by performing the science activity. I love how Ben always has a spiritual connection to God as our Creator at the end of every science demonstration and a life application that we can also discuss afterwards.

Here is a picture of our Leaning Tower of Lyra that we made in one of our science demonstrations. In their demonstration, Ben used eleven pieces of wood. We used VHS tapes. This science demonstration had the goal of finding the center of gravity. Ben talked about balance and gravity beforehand giving life examples of needing balance to ride a bike and to stand on one foot. In order to do that we have to find the center of gravity.

We were able to find the center of gravity and have these videos lean over our desk without falling!

 
You and your kids are going to love the science demonstrations Ben Roy has presented in these Go Science DVDs. I cannot wait to get them all! Ben makes learning science fun with Go Science DVDs. Are your kids on summer break and need something to beat the boredom blues? Get the Go Science DVDs and let them have fun with the demonstrations. They'll be having so much fun that they'll forget that their learning too!

Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie




Read more reviews on Go Science DVDs from the TOS Crew by clicking on the image below.

H is for Hannah (Women of the Bible)

H is for Hannah.

Scripture Reference:

1 Samuel 1; 2:1, 21

Meaning of Name:

Gracious; Graciousness; Favor

Family Connections:

Hannah was the favorite wife of Elkanah and the mother of Samuel who became a prophet and was the last judge of Israel. She also had 3 other sons and 2 daughters who are not named in the Bible.

Interesting Facts About Hannah:

• Hannah was unable to have children because the Lord in His sovereignty had closed her womb.
• Her sorrow was inconsolable.
• She poured out her soul in prayer to the Lord for a son.
• Hannah made a vow to God to dedicate her son to Him if He would answer her prayer.
• Hannah prayed so passionately to God in the tabernacle that Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk.
• She was blessed by Eli after humbly explaining that she was not drunk, but praying to God. 
• Hannah left the tabernacle after praying with her countenance changed.
• Hannah's womb was opened by the Lord in answer to her prayers.
• Hannah's husband, Elkanah, stood with her in the vow she had made when he could have voided it (See Numbers 30:6-8).
• Hannah fulfilled her vow to God when she, along with her husband, took Samuel to the tabernacle after he was weaned.
• Hannah visited her son at the tabernacle every year.

What We Can Learn from Hannah:

• As hard as it may be, we can come to the place in our lives where we are willing to surrender to God what is most important to us.
• Peace can be experienced in our acts of surrender.
• When we surrender our heart's desire to God, He doesn't leave us feeling empty, but fills us with His joy.
• Only God can satisfy our deepest desires.
• Take refuge in the Lord through prayer concerning our sorrows.
• Leave our burdens at the foot of the cross; do not pick them back up. 
• Praise God for prayers that He has answered.
• Keep the promises you make to God.
• Teach our children to love and serve God.
• Respond in humility to false accusations made against us.

Source: Wikipedia Public Domain, Gerbrand van den Eeckhout: Hannah presenting her son Samuel to the priest Eli, ca. 1665

Thanks to Marcy at Ben and Me for hosting this #abcblogging event! Click on the image below to see how others are Blogging through the Alphabet!

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

G is for Gomer (Women of the Bible)

G is for Gomer.

Scripture Reference:

Hosea 1:1-11; 2; 3:1-5

Meaning of Name:

Completion

Family Connections:

The daughter of Diblaim; wife of the prophet Hosea; mother to Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, and Lo-Ammi

Interesting Facts About Gomer:

• Gomer was a harlot whom God commanded the prophet Hosea to marry.
• Gomer's marriage to Hosea was used by God as an analogy of Israel's relationship with God.
• Gomer was the mother of three children whose names where prophetic and given by God. 
• She was deeply loved by her husband, Hosea.
• Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea as she continued to live the life of a harlot.
• It is believed that chapter 2 of Hosea records both the acts of the house of Israel's wickedness as well as Gomer's unfaithfulness to Hosea.
• Gomer eventually hits rock bottom when she is deserted by her latest lover and is put up for auction to be sold as a slave.
• Gomer is bought by Hosea who was commanded by God to buy her and love her even though she was an adulteress.

What We Can Learn From Gomer: 

• God desires to be first in our lives.
• God never forgets us and never stops loving us.
• God's love reaches down into the depths of a sinful life to redeem the vilest of sinners.
• Do not throw away the love of God or the love of others.
• Sin will take you where you never thought you'd go and make you do what you never thought you'd be capable of.
• There are consequences in a life of sin - one of which may be the loss of your family.
• We can always come home to God and leave a life of sin behind us - a repentant heart is all that is needed.
• We need to recognize the blessings in our lives such as a loving husband and loving children.
• God continues to love and care for us even when we mess up.
• When we fail God, we must ask His forgiveness, and He will be faithful to forgive.
• Once enslaved to sin, Jesus has paid the price for our freedom and redeemed us by His sacrifice on the cross.
• Is there a Gomer in your life who has sinned against you and who is in need of your forgiveness and love?
• Do you need the love and forgiveness of God to wash over you as Gomer experienced with Hosea? Pray to God now and ask Him to forgive you and fill you with His love. He is faithful to meet you wherever you are at this moment, forgive you of your sins, and welcome you into His loving arms.

What a powerful testimony of God's love we find in the story of Hosea and Gomer! We all are some type of Gomer at one time in our lives...seeking our own sinful and self-centered desires instead of surrendering to God Who longs for us to leave our life of sin behind us in exchange for His faithful, eternal love. He is ever patient with us though, loving us while we are yet sinners, sending His own Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins so that we can be redeemed. Love has found us, He reaches out His hand to us, with a promise to take us Home and care for us for all of eternity. Praise God!

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

I'm #abcblogging with Marcy at Ben and Me (thanks, Marcy for hosting!). Click on the image below to read other posts from bloggers who are Blogging Through the Alphabet.

Online Learning Palette Review

What began as a 4th grade teacher's desire to help her students quickly learn their multiplication math facts, has blossomed into a full website of Learning Wrap-ups resources. Marion Stuart, the original creator of Learning Wrap-ups continues to closely supervise the addition of new products, such as the Learning Palette which originated in Germany, and has been adapted to fulfill the needs of young students here in America.

I was very interested when the opportunity arose to review Learning Wrap-ups. I was selected to review the full online family subscription to LearningPalette.com, an online product of Learning Wrap-ups.

What You Need to Know about LearningPalette.com

• Fully online educational program (You'll need an internet connection and computer.)
• 35 math titles
• 20 reading titles
• These titles provide a total of 7,920 questions.
• Correlated to the Common Core for Math and Reading (This factor is unfortunate to those of us who do not agree with Common Core standards.)

The following price options are available for a one year subscription:

• One user is $25.00.
• Up to five users is $60.00.

See the price list and order form for more information about signing up for your family. The company is offering a 20% discount for homeschooling families through May 31, 2015. Just use the coupon code HOMESCHOOL to get your discount! Nice!

Learning Palette has a free online demo that you can use to experience for yourself what it has to offer your child.

The recommended grade levels for use of the online Learning Palette are grades K-5.

Screenshot of the demo.

You can connect with Learning Wrap-ups on the following social media outlets:

• Facebook
• Twitter

How We Used the Online Learning Palette

It was so easy to use the Online Learning Palette alongside our homeschool reading and math lessons. I thought it was a fun way for my son to test his knowledge of reading and math concepts we had been working on. We logged in to our online learning palette 3-4 times a week to get a break from our regular reading and math lessons.

The reading palette grade levels ranged from basic to level 3 palette options that we could freely move through. We also could move through the different grade levels on the math palette which ranged from basic to level 5. There are progress reports available for the parent that show the average score per card, the average time it took to complete the card, and the total cards completed. This was helpful information to me that assisted me in preparing review lessons where needed. Immediate results on the actual card showed my son's correct/incorrect answers with the opportunity for my son to fix any incorrect answers. I love that we could go through the cards as many times as we needed to.

On each grade level of reading and math, you can click on the "Common Core" link that will bring up a PDF file containing all the concepts that will be covered on each card for the palette. We don't align ourselves with the common core, but this information was helpful to me in choosing what cards I would have my son work on. Some of the concepts, especially in math, we haven't covered yet so I didn't make him use those cards.

My Opinion of the Online Learning Palette

My son and I enjoy using the online learning palette. It fits fine with our current curriculum and in my opinion would work alongside any curriculum you are using. The online learning palette is a great addition to our homeschool that helps me see my son's progress in our reading and math lessons. It's a nice change for him that is visually stimulating and keeps his attention better than pencil and paper exercises that I normally use to test his knowledge of material that's been covered in our lessons.

The online learning palette would be a great option to use in order to keep your child's reading and math skills sharp over the summer too. It's non-threatening, gaming feel will help capture your child's attention on skills that matter and that you don't want them to lose over the summer break.

Click on the image below to read over reviews from the TOS Review Crew.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

 

F is for Female Water Drawers (Women of the Bible)

We're thinking outside the box today with the letter F in my Blogging Through the Alphabet series on Women of the Bible!

F is for Female Water Drawers.

Scripture Reference:

1 Samuel 9:11-14 (NIV)

¹¹ As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”
¹² “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. ¹³ As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”
¹⁴ They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

Names Unknown:

These female water drawers are unnamed.

Interesting Facts about these Female Water Drawers:

• These female water drawers knew about the prophet Samuel's comings and goings.
• They knew the festival days.
• They helped direct young Saul who was looking for Samuel in hopes that he would be able to help Saul find his father's lost donkeys.
• These female water drawers were a part of God's plan to fulfill a vision he had given to Samuel about Saul.

What We Can Learn from the Female Water Drawers:

• What might seem insignificant to me can actually be part of a bigger plan of God's.
• God is in the small details of our lives.
• God can use whoever He wants to fulfill His plans.

This is very encouraging to me! Can you see that God can use any situation or anybody to fulfill His will and purpose? I wonder if these women ever discovered that they had a part in fulfilling God's plan for young Saul's life.

Who in your life are you directing toward the heart of God? Be encouraged to know that even the little things you are doing can add up to eternal value!

Thanks for joining me in #abcblogging! Find out what other bloggers are writing about in their Blogging Through the Alphabet series by clicking on the image below.


Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie

Summer Reading Coupon Book

We are now on summer break in our homeschool! I think I'm looking forward to our summer break as much, if not more, than my son! Can anyone else relate?

I'm looking forward to catching up on my reading list which you will find on the post My Reading List for 2014.

More importantly, I want to keep my son excited about reading through the summer. My son's primary love language is gifts, so I have created a Summer Reading Coupon Book filled with incentives to keep him reading throughout the summer. 

I'm happy to share my Summer Reading Coupon Book with you today! This printable is my gift to you. If you choose to share it, please do so by directing others to this blog post where they can download it for their own personal use. Thank you!

How do you keep your kids excited about reading through their summer break? I'd love to hear, so please feel free to leave your ideas in the comments below!

*Update 6/4/14: You asked for it - here it is! The Winter Reading Coupon Book. Enjoy!

Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie

K5 Learning Review

I am excited to bring this review to you today for K5 Learning! I received an invitation from K5 Learning to use their online learning program for free during a 6-week period in exchange for an honest review. We used the K5 Learning website as part of our homeschool day and enjoyed our experience which I'd like to share with you now!

Introducing K5 Learning

Developed in 2011, K5 Learning is an online reading and math program with over 3,000 online tutorials and activities for children in grades K-5.

K5 Learning is an online learning option for:

• After-school study
• Summer study
• Homeschoolers
• Special Needs
• Gifted

These are the four areas your student will work on in the K5 Learning online program: 

1. K5 Math: Covers numbers and operations, geometry, measurement, time, money, algebraic thinking and data analysis.
2. K5 Math Facts: Basic math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are learned for mastery. A progress chart is maintained displaying your child's progress of math facts that have been mastered and those that need review for mastery.
3. K5 Reading: Phonemic awareness, phonics, site words, vocabulary and reading comprehension are all the skills your child will use to become strong readers in this online learning program.
4. K5 Spelling: This advanced vocabulary program features adaptive instruction, automatic word generation, and a database of 150,000+ words.

You will need a computer and internet connection to use K5 Learning in your home.

There is a log-in area for the parent where you will find the parent dashboard that has links to view reports on your child's work, assign reading and math lessons, add spelling words to the lists provided by K5 Learning, and change the spelling settings. There is a separate log-in area for your child to use to complete their lessons.

K5 Learning provides a Free Worksheet Center on their website containing the following free printable worksheets for download:

• Math Worksheets for Grades 1-6
• Preschool and Kindergarten worksheets
• Reading Comprehension worksheets for Grades 1-5
• Grammar Worksheets for Grades 1-3
• Cursive Writing Worksheets
• Math Flashcards 
• Reading flashcards

K5 Learning also has a bookstore where you can buy downloadable workbooks that they recommend for home study.
 

You can connect with K5 Learning on the following social media outlets:

• Facebook
• Google+
• Twitter 

Pricing Options and Free Trial

A monthly subscription to K5 Learning is $25 for the first child, and $15 for additional children. An annual subscription to K5 Learning is $199 for the first child, and $129 for additional children.

K5 Learning has a 14-day free trial offer to try out their online program. You will get 14 days of free lessons and free math and reading assessments. Simply click on the image below to sign up for your 14-day free trial.

Click on this image for your 14-day free trial offer.

How We Used K5 Learning

We were able to use K5 Learning alongside our current curriculum in our homeschool. It was a nice switch for my son on the days where we chose to hop on the K5 Learning website to work in these subject areas offered through their online learning program.

There are reading and math assessments available which I requested from the parent dashboard. There is also the option to change levels within the subject areas. You will find this request as well on the parent dashboard. You have to contact the website in order to request either of these options. Once the assessments have been scored, your child will be placed on the appropriate levels in each area.

In the reading and math section, there were lessons to complete each time my son logged in. Or, I could manually assign lessons from the parent dashboard.

My son practiced his math facts for addition during our review period. Speed and accuracy count in this part of the program, which had a negative impact on my son who would accidentally hit the wrong numeric key on the keyboard since he was trying to go so fast. I finally decided to let him call out the answer and I hit the number on the keypad for him. It was just asking too much for him to process it all so fast. I know already how well he knows his addition math facts, so when I saw that the speed and accuracy requirement was causing a problem for him, I made this simple adjustment.

I had to adjust the level for the spelling section to get him at the level he needed. There is so much to love about K5 Spelling!

Watch this video to learn more about the wonderful Spelling section on K5 Learning:

Our Opinion of K5 Learning

My son and I really enjoyed our time with K5 Learning! The website for K5 Learning is very colorful and user-friendly.

I loved the math facts area most of all because my son needs the practice. Mastery of the math facts is my top goal right now in our homeschool so this area was a welcome addition to our math studies. I love the chart that keeps up with his progress. It's a great visual encouragement for him too!

My son loved the game time that was offered between each lesson. I appreciated this part of the K5 Learning website that allowed my son to relax and have fun while learning. It was a great motivating factor for him to complete his lessons as well!

I would suggest to K5 Learning the idea of giving the parents control of changing the levels within the program and having access to the assessments for their children. I've used other online programs before with these features at my fingertips when I need it.

I highly recommend K5 Learning for any homeschooling parent who wants to add some variety and excitement to their homeschooling schedule! Your kids will thank you for it!

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

Love Like God: Reflections from Day One

Today I began an 8 week journey with the Good Morning Girls in the You Are Loved summer book/Bible study. Already my heart is overflowing with thoughts from this morning's bible passage we studied for today.

Nowhere to Run

There is nowhere I can run from the presence of God where His hand is not there to support me and guide me with His love. The questions in verse 7 are rhetorical in that God's presence is everywhere in His creation. Jonah discovered this fact in the belly of a whale!

I need to remember this, especially when I feel let down or upset with others. I need to show the same love that's represented of God in these verses. I have a tendency to flee (either physically or emotionally, or both) when things go wrong in my relationships. I don't really like confrontation, but these verses are showing me I need to stay put in whatever the situation may be so that healing can take place. I need to take those less than desirable moments, those uncomfortable moments, and embrace them to fully learn how to love like God loves me.

Love Like God

• God loved us while we yet sinners and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us (Romans 5:8). 
• God's love leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). 

Think about how our relationships can change if we start to love like God loves us. I'm up for the challenge - how about you?

Are you taking this 8-week journey with the Good Morning Girls? I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's verses, so feel free to share in the comments below.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

Literature Study Guides from Progeny Press

I love using study guides for books we are reading! With all that a study guide offers, it is really great at helping my son have a richer experience with the book. Progeny Press offers literature study guides for grades K-12. I was excited to be chosen to participate in this review as part of the TOS Review Crew. I selected Little House in the Big Woods to use in our homeschool for my review. The recommended grade levels for the Little House in the Big Woods Study Guide are 3rd-5th.

Meet Progeny Press

Michael and Rebecca Gilleland are the owners of Progeny Press. They, along with others, write the study guides which are available in CD or paper, book-bound format. Their study guides are also available for immediate download after purchasing. This is a great option to cut out shipping costs. The content is the same in whatever format you choose. You'll need access to a computer with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download if you don't already have it) to use the CD, and also a printer to print off your study guide. Internet access, along with Adobe Acrobat Reader  are both needed for the download option. The actual books are not included in your purchase, so you will need to either buy the book or check it out from your local library. You will find a bookstore on the Progeny Press website where you can purchase the book to go along with your study guide.

Our study guide for Little House in the Big Woods was an interactive study guide, meaning my son could type his answers directly into the PDF file. I absolutely LOVE this option because my son does not like to write. This feature has been a blessing to us both and will definitely have us coming back to Progeny Press for future literature guide purchases! All of their study guides for grades 4-12 are interactive in both the CD and download formats. The lower elementary study guides are not available as interactive.

In addition to the already mentioned needed items, you are going to need the following to work through the study guide:

• Dictionary
• Thesaurus
• Bible
• Topical Bible or Concordance (sometimes needed)

Included in the study guide are the following sections:

• Note to Instructor
• Synopsis
• About the Author
• Background Information
• Before You Read Activities
• Vocabulary
• Questions 
• Dig Deeper
• Projects and Activities
• Answer Key (at the end)

The writers recommend taking 8-12 weeks to work through a study guide. Following this suggestion (and depending on your child), you should be able to complete three to four study guides per year. Suggested grade levels and prices appear with each study guide title.

How We Use Our Study Guide

The price for Little House in the Big Woods interactive study guide is $16.99.

There is a very helpful "Note to the Instructor" at the beginning of the study guide that suggests how to use the study guide. I changed a few of the suggestions to fit our needs. For one, we didn't read the whole book in the first week. Instead we read the chapters as they are divided up in the layout of the study guide. After reading time, my son completes his work in the interactive study guide on the computer. As I said earlier, he doesn't like to write, so I love the fact that he can type his answers straight into the PDF file!

We have enjoyed the "Before You Read Activities" and the "Projects and Activities". These really help you get into the story with all of your senses.

Here's one of the projects we did of a soap carving that went along with the part of the story where Pa carved a shelf out of pieces of wood for Ma...

We were trying to make a whale, but ended up with a small fish. The Ivory soap was suggested for use in the study guide because of its softness, but it was actually too soft and easily broke when carved. I would suggest using a soap that wasn't so soft. Adult supervision is absolutely necessary in this project.

My Opinion of Progeny Press

I couldn't be happier to have discovered Progeny Press and all of the study guides that they offer! I love that they are a Christan curriculum provider that encourages children to rely on Scripture for truth and to use it as a lens while enjoying literature.

I love all of the projects and activities from which we can choose to enrich our experience of the reading. The projects and activities delve into various other subjects such as writing, art, science, and cooking. They have done a wonderful job in making sure your child experiences many different aspects within the story.

You already know how much I love that the study guides are interactive (CD and download formats). This feature is a lifesaver for children, like mine, who struggle with writing!


You can connect with Progeny Press on the following social media outlets:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• YouTube

If you are looking to enrich your child's reading time, I highly recommend adding the literature study guides from Progeny Press.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

Read more reviews from the TOS Review Crew on other study guide titles available from Progeny Press. Simply click on the image below.