TOS Crew Review: See the Light Art Series-Vol. I

Volume 1 DVD info page

Art is something we are very familiar with in our homeschool, when the option came up to review this product, we jumped at the chance.


The See The Light Art Series provides 4 lessons with Pat Knepley [master artist] as the instructor, a bit of art history and a Bible verse/tie in, along with just enough "how to" steps, so one can  learn how to draw.  Best yet, each lesson is about 15 or so minutes, keeping the student's mind focused at the task at hand..


We were able to view the first of the nine part series.  It begins with very basic instruction on beginning drawing/art skills. Each DVD advances the student through a series of steps to help build their technique repertoire, and of course so they can create their own masterpieces there after. I particularly liked the fourth lesson focusing on the issue of how the student should draw what they see, not what they know.  I find that to be one of the more challenging hurdles for the children (mine and the ones I teach in our co-op) to get over.  I  was pleased when the lesson brought to focus the reasoning behind such a statement, then quickly showed them how to do just that. Because my kids have had a lot of basic instruction regarding drawing, the first few lessons only served as refreshers for them, but we all walked away with some snippets of useful info, and that deserves to be noted.  I found this to be a fun, gentle approach for elementary-aged students which, for a limited time, you can get the first DVD for free as well.

[I also was able to view the clips DVD, showing snippets from many of the other lessons-and from the look of things, it appears they follow the same layout and general instruction plan as the first DVD.  Because I was only able to see one ninth of the program, I can only make an educated guess about the over all program itself-so please keep that in mind here.]
  

Pros:

I really like the short lessons.  Kids usually are mentally checked out (OK, adults too) after about 10-20 minutes, so this fits that attention span issue nicely.

The instruction only touches on the focused technique for that lesson.

Bible verse or subject matter from Bible brought into each lesson.

Instruction actually teaches something useful (this is important, since I have come across way too many programs that leave you scratching your head, and your art skills no better than when you started it).

Cheerful and engaging art instructor-way to go Mrs. Pat.

Supplies are readily available in most folks' homes, or are inexpensive to purchase.

Cons:

Was only able to view one part of it-so I cannot give a complete review on the entire program, only the first DVD.

Cannot purchase the DVDs individually (now yes, it is an entire program that is sequential but due to my older child having had lots of experience in art, there were only a couple she would like to view-so being able to purchase those, would have been nice).  [**I noticed that I can search for individual ones and add them to the cart, but we were told that they will no longer offer the ability to buy as such. So if you see a  DVD that you'd really like, I suggest you purchase now, while you still can.  I truly hope the option to purchase individually will remain-if you cannot search and find it-then assume it is no longer available.]

Overall cost would prohibit me from buying the entire program-as I honestly do not budget that much for the art in our home [that sounds like I don't think art is important-au contraire! Actually it is very important-we simply must find our materials and supplies for a lot less due to our meager curriculum budget].

[**Now if you consider that it is an entire year's worth of art instruction, the price doesn't seem quite so bad. And you have the option of doing the monthly online classes, so it is doable. I prefer the DVD version myself, so this is something you will have to consider for your own family and your curriculum budget.]

I feel that this could be a great program for those who have little or no art ability in them, or are timid when it comes to teaching it to their children (since Mrs. Pat does the work for you and you just learn along with your children); and for those who are looking for a program to enhance and further their children's current art skills and techniques.  Being Bible based is always a good thing, as the Lord is the ultimate artist in the universe with a lot to say about it in his Word-thankfully, See the Light continually brings that into focus as well.  So if art is "not your thing"  or you want sequential lessons that teach (for real) then this program could be a blessing indeed.

You will need to collect a few goodies to do these lessons-therefore, the lady on the run is noted.
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See the Light Homepage
($14.99 value for the DVD I reviewed)
$99.99 for the one year set
Monthly online instruction for $10 per month

Ages:  First thru about 6th but those with no previous art lessons could also benefit

You can request a  free DVD of the Vol. I  for a limited time-check it out for yourself! 

*Don't forget to read up on what my TOS mates had to say about this and many other fine homeschool products, over on our TOS Review Crew homepage.

***Legacy for God Publishing/See the Light provided me with a free copy of the See the Light Art Series-Vol. I, so that I could view and use it with my children. I did not receive any financial compensation for this or for my honest opinion of this product.

TOS Crew Review: Science Weekly

In today's cyber world technology it is still nice to receive a fun packet in the mail (obviously not bills) and this product is no exception.  Science Weekly is a bit like those magazines we used to get as kids, but focused on all things relating to earth/life/physical science, technology or mathematical in nature.  Two issues arrive in one's post box during the school year (Sept-April), to be used to further their child(ren)'s knowledge and add some fun back into their studies.  Originally geared toward the typical classroom environment, this series is another way to add some sparkle to one's homeschool curricula as well.  

We received the Fractions issue [Vol. 27, no. 5] to explore [they included one handout per level] along with the teaching notes [with answers to student's worksheet questions and additional ideas].  Each "packet" is approximately 4 pages worth of info-which includes a description of the topic at hand, then a practical demonstration highlighting it (so for the fractions one-the level B has the student looking at an apple and grapes which have been divided into equal parts), a vocabulary section, a weekly lab (fun idea for highlighting the concept), a math section, a small writing opportunity, a challenge that asks for the child to practice what the concept they have been learning about, and finally a "Bringing it Home" section to wrap up the study. Some of the higher levels dropped a couple of the last ones, added a puzzle challenge and/or even a "Further Your Interests" and "Meet the Scientist" section; whilst the lower levels kept it more simple by not offering more than a typical child that age would want to cover. 

My son and I worked through the C-E levels and found the "Weekly Lab" to be our favorite part of the series.  Most of what they ask the student to do is easily obtainable through every day items found in your home. So it isn't difficult to carry out the experiments at all.  It is charming and a fun way to incorporate a few subjects which usually produce moans and groans from frustrated students and teachers alike.  For about $1.33 per issue/per student, it really isn't that bad of a deal actually.   What's more, they now have an interactive program online [this is a great test to see if you like the product], along with printable coloring pages to explore.

This as a supplementary item to one's regular studies, and for those with children who love to do paperwork and science experiments-then this is a wonderful way to go about reinforcing their interests.  It is definitely a traditional approach to learning. So depending on your teaching method, it may or may not be a good choice.   Oh, and for those who use the workbox method, this would be a good item to tuck into a box for an occasional "fun" activity.  As for us, it was interesting to try but not something we would normally seek to acquire for our homeschool. Now I am not implying that the Science Weekly publication is terrible or not worthy of further investigation/subscribing to.  Actually it is a nice complementary tool for some to use in their studies, and could certainly bless many homeschoolers.  For us,  it just is not our regular "cup of tea".   

the younger set will need your assistance and some experiments will also need supervision

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Science Weekly Homepage

$19.95 for 15 issues (per child) [2 issues per month September through April]

works out to about $1.33 per issue/teacher guide

ages K-5/6 grade

Classroom rate:  $4.95 per student/ 20 student min.

*Don't forget to read what my TOS mates had to say about this, and many other fine homeschooling products on our TOS Review Crew homepage.

**Science Weekly provided me with one free packet on Fractions for ages K-5/6, so that I could use it with my family and write this review.  I did not receive any financial compensation for my penning of this review, nor for my honest opinion of this product.

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

 The Ultimate blog party has begun! If you haven't joined yet-do so!  You will meet many new bloggers, and you can enter to win some awesome prizes!

If you are linking here from my main blog-Homeschooling on a Wing and a Prayer-then I thought I would briefly describe the purpose of this blog.

I have been honored to be a part of a unique viral marketing program called, The Old Schoolhouse (TOS) Review Crew.  I have served faithfully for 3 years now, and have received oodles of wonderful homeschool (and some just for fun) products.  The project required my using and then blogging about (reviewing) those items so that you, the reader, could learn how real life folks use (or don't) and enjoy (or don't) a wide variety of products that you yourself may have been pondering.  I have a huge amount of reviews that are there for the reading, along with the link (noted above) to our Crew homepage, so that you can read many, many more reviews (and even some I didn't receive) to help you make an informed purchase for your family.

I will be disembarking from the crew once this cruise is over-but that doesn't mean I will stop penning my take on curricula (just will be on what I already own and perhaps I will see if some vendors would allow for me to review independently) or that I will take down this blog-no ma'am!  The 1 of 100 (Plus 25) TOS Crew Review blog is here to stay!

Enjoy reading up on some great products and look for some new ones down the road!

TOS Crew Review: Z-Guide to the Movies by ZeeZok Publishing-The Hiding Place

The power of the pen is mighty indeed, but the ability to watch the story unfold before one's eyes is a far better tool for grasping the very essence of the emotions, and life of the characters one is studying. While not all stories are worth having a movie made about it, there are those that are excellent enough to deserve some screen time. Using this medium will help stretch your student, and cause them to truly analyse the material at hand.  Including visual resources in your studies offers the unique ability to put the situation "in their face" so that they can (as a bystander removed by time, and at the mercy of Hollywood's take on things) experience the reality of the material,  have the plight or victories of the characters highlighted in a more personal way, and also be drawn into the lesson where print on paper can often times come up flat, or lifeless. 

Being a passive observer is not something I would encourage, especially when the story is deserving of critical thinking and debate.  It is truly a valuable tool to instruct our children to consider the content of the movie, instead of always being fixated on how hot the main character is, how good the animation is, or how exciting the action scenes are.  Another reason to incorporate a "picture film" [getting all old timey in my description of the motion picture genre] into one's curriculum,  is that it can bring to "life" the characters and story our students have been covering in their studies-making them almost real to the viewer. Finding movies that closely resemble the written story (just try locating a Robinson Crusoe movie that is actually in sync with the DeFoe one, it simply is not possible), or are "on spot" with the main plot can be daunting and difficult.  Being able to come up with the study material to present to the student can also engulf the teacher's time and energy...so what is one to do?  Where can one go for a thought provoking study of such things? 

Thankfully, ZeeZok has created a nice eBook [CDs are also available] series called the Z-Guide to the Movies, to address the need.  This series allows for discussion and instruction in Q and A form, along with map work, internet research, thought provoking pondering concerning the story of the events, and more.  The program allows for the teacher and student to pick and choose those activities which best suit their needs, which is always appreciated.

you can purchase the movie through ZeeZok too

We chose to study the Hiding Place, which depicts the final weeks prior to Corrie ten Boom's internment in prison, the subsequent nightmare of the Nazi concentration camp, Ravensbruck; to her release and life afterward.  The guide contains not only a listing of the topics [for this study it highlights WWII, life in a German concentration camp, forgiveness and civil disobedience] covered in the movie (which is great when you need to tie in certain elements to your curriculum), but also 10 student activity sections, a Family Discussion section, answers to the material (plus you can score this as well-great for figuring out grades), and a listing of additional resources for further study.

Although we are not worksheet lovers or usually promote the use of such things, we did find this to be most useful in gaining knowledge of the story.  I chose to revamp it a bit by having my daughter narrate the story to me (Charlotte Mason style) after watching the movie, but for the most part did require her to work through the pages of questions. I am glad they chose to tie in some map work, as it is very important that my daughter understand where exactly in the world this occurred.  This study can be completed in one week's time-but due to illnesses in our home, we stretched it to two.  The only change I would suggest is that the student watch the movie first, without trying to find answers to the questions as it unfolds.  I found this to be a bit disruptive, and wondered if my daughter was missing the overall experience by doing so.  I am thinking that watching it first just for the sake of capturing the overall message of the story-then viewing it again a few days later to glean the answers to the questions-will increase the retention and enjoyment of the movie.  All in all, the guide was a very nice way to add to my daughter's understanding of this grave period in our history.

The Z-Guide to the Movies collection offers plenty of titles to match your current studies.  I have no problem recommending this product to those who enjoy a more in depth view to behind the scenes of the movie and the story itself.  I will say, that the Hiding Place guide was benign in that it addressed the material and what it would be like to have been in that position-there was not an overly Christian tone contained within the questions, that I could find.  Although Corrie was indeed a Christian, and the movie highlights this: the actual guide itself remains neutral.  Therefore, it has received the world icon.





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ZeeZok Publishing homepage

$12.99 eBook download or CD (great for those with slow internet)
High School
Movie is also available to purchase for $15.98 (check your local library, Netflex, or other movie rental places as this is a fairly easy movie to acquire)

*Don't forget to find out what my TOS mates had to say about this, and many other fine homeschool products, over on our TOS Review Crew homepage.

**ZeeZok Publishing provided me with a free download of The Hiding Place Z-Guide to Movies eBook, so that I could use and enjoy it with my family.  I did not receive any financial compensation for writing this, nor for my honest opinion of the product.