Join the Instagram InCourage Community Photo Project!

1. Playing trains, 2. Mo's Anime... She's got mad skillz., 3. Father to mankind..., 4. New feet, 5. My son's strange orange bird., 6. Momentary lapse of reason..., 7. Starry eyes ..., 8. Being 'sensitized' with Hello Kitty and pink. #sissyboy, 9. Aunt Lolly, 10. A boy and his fish., 11. Good Fortune, 12. Busy Kitchen

What encourages you?

If you have an iPhone and love Instagram, you can SHOW us all the things that you are "(In)Couraged" by! Just download the free Instagram app on your iPhone and start capturing the things that make your heart happy -- and use the hashtag #incourage so we can search them out!

Dayspring and (In)Courage are going to make a huge collage of printed Instagram photos for display at The Relevant Conference. I can't WAIT to see it!!!

Read more about it here!

I'm (in)couraged to be part of the Dayspring team at The Relevant 2011 Conference in PA!




Disclosure: I wasn't compensated for this post in any way. However, I won the contest to be Dayspring and (In)Courage's photographer at Relevant in October.



P.S. This post was my Tuesday night edition of last week's Camera Phone Friday. I'm always late.


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Winners of IEW's "Teaching Boys" and Doorposts' "For Instructions in Righteousness"

WARNING: YOUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP FASTER THAN THEY APPEAR TO.

Ok, I'm stepping down off my soap box now.

I have two winners from my review week. Yay!

Melaiii of Melaiii's Blog ... contact me to get your copy of Teaching Boys!

Amber of Classic Housewife... contact me to get your copy of For Instructions in Righteousness!

Now back to the pile of bills on my desk (which is much less fun than blogging)...

A Texas Summer Garage Sale

Ten years ago, I said I would never have another garage sale. Today, I'm saying it again.

But I mean it this time. R e a l l y.


Last weekend our family and two others decided to brave the 104 degree heat here in Austin and sell our junk out on the driveway. The one big ticket item I had sold in the first hour (and I should have packed up then). However, I did make a bit more than I spent in gas, groceries (the kids had a drink and cookie stand which made nearly nothing), masking tape, permanent markers, rope, breakfast tacos, ice, and other miscellaneous items. Still... it's no fun melting at 104 degree heat most of the day with a nursing baby stuck to my body... nor is it fun staying up until 3 sorting and pricing in the hot garage - or waking up before the sun comes out to load the truck and take things further in to town to be sold.

Everyone should experience hosting a garage sale once in their lives, though -- and my daughter was really excited to sell her cookies and clothes, so I am glad we did it. Not sure I would be saying that if I hadn't at least broke even, though. It was a nice time to visit with friends between 'customers', too - so it wasn't a total loss.



I'm not running for political office, but I have a great idea to pass on to whomever is in charge of our penal institutions. If everyone 'shady' knew they would be manning Texas garage sales all summer while the heat index is over 112 degrees, I doubt we would have much crime in America. Just sayin'.

What is your take on garage sales? Hate 'em? Love 'em? Why do you think that people don't show up after 12? Or maybe it's just that most people aren't as dumb as me - to have them in JUNE in TEXAS? Ya think?!

I hate to think what this July and August might be like. :::shudders:::

Doorposts: Parenting and Homeschooling Biblical Guidebook

If you are one of the many homeschoolers out there who have chosen to homeschool because you felt that public school was lacking in moral instruction for your kids, this review is for you. Doorposts is a Christian company that provides Bible and Character-based materials for students, parents, and homeschoolers, so it is assumed that anyone looking in to purchasing something from them already has a Christian faith. With that being said, I wanted to share a little about their spiral bound book called "For Instructions in Righteousness". This review was for the newly released (May 2011) version ..."Third Edition of For Instruction in Righteousness" which was originally put out in 1993 and revised in 1995. It now has over 60,000 copies sold.


I don't know about you, but I am always on the look out for good devotionals to do with my kids. We read through our Bible a few chapters every day for school, but I like to add a devotional reading as well. Over the years we have read some great books during this time - and I have listed many of them in my Homeschool Series Curriculum pages. A while back we added "For Instructions in Righteousness" to our devo book list.

I was blown away by the amount of information in this book... which is a "Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child-Training". It's like a Character Bible -- using the Bible's verses to cover each area of 'sin' or discipline need in a child's life. When I began browsing through it at first use, I started to feel really depressed -- that I didn't have this book when my children were TINY. Junior High is really too late to start being THIS consistent with child training. I'm so glad I have "For Instructions of Righteousness" for my younger set - the 2 year old and 4 month old... and hope that by working hard to undo some lazy parenting habits, I can still get in a lot of good mileage with the big kids before they are gone.

Here are the topics that are covered in this guide:

Sins of a Proud Heart (pride, self-righteousness, hypocrisy, stubbornness, disobedience, defiance, scoffer/scorner, arguing/contention, brawling, vanity/over-concern for beauty, judging others, confidence in riches)

Sins of Discontent (complaining/ingratitude, selfishness/greed, envy/jealousy, covetousness, rules for borrowers, theft)

Sins of Unbelief (easily swayed/double-minded, backsliding, discouragement/giving up, depression, fear, worry/anxiety)

Sins of an Undisciplined Life (laziness, unfaithful employee, haste, impatience/irritability, anger, gluttony/pleasure-seeking, drunkenness/drug-abuse, immorality/sexual sin, sinful thought life, immodesty, wastefulness/extravagance/carelessness)

Sins of the Tongue (lying/deceit/dishonesty, shifting blame/making excuses, false witness, gossip/slander/tattletale, meddling/busybody, foolish/unclean speech, flattery)

Sins of an Unloving Heart (hatred, bitterness, hitting/biting/kicking/harming others, revenge, bullying/cruelty, unkind/unwise speech, insensitivity/lack of compassion)

Sins in Relationships (bad friendships, poor manners, teasing/troublemaking)

Comparisons of the Obedient and the Disobedient (foolishness vs. wisdom, wickedness vs. righteousness, comparison worksheet)

Each disciplinary area covers the following:

• General information and commandments about the particular sin
• What happens, or should happen, to the person that commits the sin according to scripture
• What should the person do if they have a problem or infraction with the sin/behavior
• What the sin is likened to in scripture
• Stories that illustrate the consequences of the sin in scripture
• The blessings of the opposite virtue
• Stories that illustrate the blessings of the opposite virtue
• Verses to memorize

AND -- under each verse in every section throughout the chapters, there is practical advice, object lesson ideas, book suggestions, and parenting tips on how to go about training your child. [This book is a GOLDMINE of Biblical parenting tips - one I wish I had about 14 years ago.]

The back of the book also has a few helpful appendixes:

Helping your child learn scripture
Using this book as a bible study (wow - that would take forever)
Thoughts on rewarding children
Thoughts on paying children for work
Helpful Resource list

My thoughts on using the book for homeschooling are as follows:

1. You could use it for a devotional (which is what we've been doing)
2. You could use it when your child needs correction as a reference (a lot of people do, I am told)
3. You could use it for a bible study (as the back of the book/Appendix B suggests)
4. You could use it for a topical study to go with character-based unit studies (KONOS, anyone?)
5. You could use it for a list of bible memory verses that pertain to your child's area of weakness (or as an assignment to accompany discipline - writing verses)
6. You could use it for a parenting class/to brush up on your own skills (read it for yourself!)
7. You could use it as a GIFT (for another Bible-based homeschool friend/new parent)
8. You could use it for copywork material to practice handwriting or cursive (great material!)
9. You could use it as a family Bible study - to enrich everyone in your family and grow together in God.

What NOT to do with this book:

Let it collect dust!

Don't be like me and flip through the Doorposts materials and put them back down on the conference table, thinking - "Oh, that's nice. I'll have to add that to my list." Nine years later, with children on the razor edge between junior high and high school, you'll be kicking yourself (I know this from experience). I'm so blessed that I have another set of little ones to use this material on - and thankful for the reminder in this moment that parenting may not be easy, but it should always be consistent and Godly.

What a great refresher course for an old homeschool mule like me - one that has noticed a bit of laziness lately - due to the tired season I'm in and all the lack of sleep we've been experiencing. Time to get back to the standards of the Word and start building on the Rock that I planned this homeschool to be built on.



Here's how to find out more about Doorposts and "For Instructions in Righteousness": Check out your own copy of this book in person at the homeschool convention in Austin this weekend -- I didn't make it over there today, but plan to be there tomorrow. Or check the Doorposts website to see what conference they will be at near you. Sign up for their user group where you can email with other people who use their products to glean from other homeschoolers and parents with a like purpose. Check out their site and order a free catalog. Find out about the people who publish and sell Doorposts' materials: the Forster Family.

Want to see a sample chapter on arguing and complaining? Click the link and go read for yourself!

Disclosure: Doorposts provided "For Instructions in Righteousness" for this review free of charge, but the opinion expressed here is my own and in no way compensated for.

NOTE: Leave a comment on each of my review posts this week and I'll be picking some winners to any and all of the products that some of these great vendors are offering. One entry per post, per person - enter by Saturday - random winner announced next Sunday the 26th!

Quick Links
Review Week at Sprittibee
Where to Order : Doorposts Website
Doorposts Biblical Parenting Blog
Doorposts Newsletter

Unwound: Brought to U by the Letter U

U is for Undone, Uh-Oh, and unwound. I'm in the middle of a week of reviews and my steam has run out. Too many distractions and URGENT things to attend. I hope you can forgive me...

The week of reviews will continue tonight in the wee hours after babies are sleeping... and Mama has time to focus at the computer again. In the meanwhile the rush of life goes on --> and me with it - in circles, with joy, despite the chaos.

I hear an unhappy wail from the room next door -- must go pick him UP...

More info about this alphabetical photo meme is below...

Join up for the Homeschool Post has A B See Meme (an alphabetical photo meme) for a chance to win a prize each month. Each week they put FIVE of the best alphabet pictures on their blog each week to showcase them and once a month, a random winner is selected from the best photos of the month. All you do is upload your photos to their Flickr Group - so you don't even technically have to be a blogger to join... you just have to have an alphabetical themed photo and a flickr account! By the way, Flickr is free!

The meme is posted on Fridays each week and you don't necessarily have to start on the letter A or go in any particular order or at any particular speed... and you can skip weeks or not - up to you entirely.

Here are the links to the past few 'A B See' posts I have done here:
A is for antique.
B is for bugging big-sis.
C is for computer.
D is for digger.
E is for eat... and Elmers.
F is for fried rice.
G is for goofy girl.
H is for Heather.
I is for insect.
J is for joy.
K is for Kreative Spelling and Killer Homeschool Deals.
L is for live music.
M is for matryoshka.
N is for national cemetery.
O is for Orchids and Opryland.
P is for Pregnant.
Q is for quack.
R is for rocks.
S is for street.
T is for Train and Tunnel of Turmoil

Tip: Use the dictionary to get ideas if you are stumped on a letter. No excuses! Get clicking!

You have until each Saturday morning to load your picture on the Flickr group and be considered for the top five that will be displayed next week. Don't forget: A prize goes out each month to one random participant! This month's prize is from Dayspring! And we are giving it away this Saturday! Woot!

Math U See: Math Minus the Meltdowns

Not many people in the world get a warm fuzzy feeling when you mention the word 'Math'. In fact, I'd say that of the people I know, most of them probably would say that math was their least favorite subject in school. It remains that math must be learned -- and that every homeschooler has to teach it somehow -- even if they do it as organically as possible (without any workbooks - beats me how they would accomplish it that far out of the box... but I have heard it can be done). Because math is so necessary, it might as well be fun - or at least less painful, right? And it might as well be understandable and not full of distractions and busy work, right? Well - that's what my kids thought... and it took me FOR-EVER to get with the program and put down the schoolish textbooks and LISTEN to their pitiful cries for help.

I was just unable to let go of the boxed curriculum. The classroom conventional. The drudgery. My kids would call it the "ball and chain".

We were hitting our heads on brick walls every day. Math was our meltdown subject. For years. I kid you not. It caused all the rest of our homeschooling to be put on the side-burner because one or the other of my kids would get caught drawing on their worksheets, hiding their worksheets (that was creative), writing down random (wrong) answers to get out of doing the work, or just sitting and staring the page down, wasting time. SO MUCH WASTED TIME.

I tried everything (except changing the curriculum - silly me). I tried bribes of free time, video games, candy, etc... I tried threats and grounding. Nothing made math hurt less. Some things might have made their teeth rot out if I had been dumb enough to continue them. [Sugar is not the friend of concentration - in case you were taking notes on the candy comment above.]

It didn't help that math wasn't MY favorite subject in school, either. Give me a book to read or an art project any day. Math, not so much.

Things got worse in Junior High. The dry textbook spiral approach started getting tedious and much more complicated. The kids weren't understanding the instructions on the pages and when I read them, they didn't make sense. It seemed like I had to show the kids how to do each new concept in a different way than the page was explaining it. They were getting more and more confused. Math meltdowns began to 'multiply' and infect our already stressed homeschool days (remember - we've had 2 babies in the past 2.5 years around here - we don't need extra stress, thankyouverymuch).

I knew that our math curriculum problem needed to be addressed -- and it didn't matter if it was half way through the school year and the books weren't finished. We HAD to find something that would work, that the kids at least could tolerate -- even if it didn't make them LOVE math.

I had heard of Math U See and knew them well as a vendor at the Homeschool Post. Each year they join us there giving away curriculum and being one of the first sponsors/vendors to sign on and support the homeschool blogging community... so I got to talking with Ethan Demme and he offered to let me review the program for my teens. In all honesty, he had asked me before, and while I was very honored, I was just too set in my ways (read: thick skull) to let go of what we were doing -- because it was familiar. [They say doing things the same way and expecting different results is insanity - ya think?] This time, I was totally on board.

My kids couldn't believe that mom was releasing them from their math prison. They were so excited when the box got here that they offered to throw a bonfire party in the back yard with their old workbooks. I generously granted them "math page re-do pardon" and told them they could throw away all the pages that I had put in their to-do boxes that needed re-working. We were going to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Finally.

Enter Math U See... and if you don't know anything about their program, the best way to find out is to browse their website or check out their booth at your local homeschool conference. [I'm hoping to see them at the Austin and Houston homeschool conferences this year.] You can view a demonstration video just by clicking over to their site (free). They will mail you a sample as well. They have a ton of answers to questions on their FAQ page, but you can tweet @mathusee or friend them on facebook, too - they have excellent customer service.

It was easy to get set up with Math U See -- it only took a simple online placement test. I was surprised that we had to go back a bit because Ethan suggested that they get a firm foundation by repeating some concepts where they had just missed one problem -- so that I could be sure that they understood the concept concretely (manipulatives are the key to this). I hated to go back -- even a smidgen -- but what is the point of moving forward if you are not comprehending WELL what you are doing? That sounds like what public schools do when they pass kids who aren't up to par. I want my children to understand math - so that they can use it well in real life... and re-teaching a few concepts is totally worth it when the methods used to reteach are building a SOLID understanding that wasn't there before.



I wasn't sure what to expect with manipulatives for fractions (which was one area my daughter needed a bit of help), but WOW -- I am so impressed with the overlays and gear that come with the program.

Before, I couldn't get 12 problems out of my kids without pulling teeth. Now, they pop in their DVD and listen to Mr. Demme give the lesson (watching him work problems on his white board, seeing how he uses the overlays and other manipulatives)... and then they do their easy - non-distracting - math assignments from their books. No busy work. Just enough problems to master the concept and practice it. I grade it as soon as they hand it in, and they put it in the turn-in box with a grade already on it. If they miss a problem - which is a lot more rare now - they go back and see RIGHT THEN what they did wrong. If they need to go over a concept again, Mr. Demme is on DVD and easy to access!

I asked my daughter what her favorite curriculum was this year and expected that she would answer that it was something writing, art or music related (those are usually her favorite type subjects). She told me, "I would say Math U See."

"Wow." I said... not even sure if I believed her. I think she could tell that I was shocked.

"Oh, it's not because I like math or anything," she said. "It's just because it made math easier and now we can get the rest of the fun stuff done each day without having a huge time-suck. I'm not as miserable any more."

Well... if you can't LOVE math, at least you could be tolerable, right? Math U See gave us a light at the end of the tunnel. And believe me, it was a loooong, dark tunnel -- full of boogeymen.

The kids don't cry every time I mention the M-word. The pages are short enough that they actually do two or three sometimes just to get done quicker with their material. THAT would have NEVER happened before.

I'm holding my breath still in hopes that this new quick math-time routine will become a solid habit that won't fall apart as the math gets harder in upper levels. I've only used Math U See for less than half of this school year so far, but I can honestly say that I truly appreciate what it has done for not only our math time -- but in giving me back the rest of my day to get everything else done (or at least try). Peace and pushing forward - "that's what I'm talkin' about!" ANY tiny bit of progress I find this year is a GIFT.

THANK YOU, Math U See! I'm looking forward to a hopeful and long future with you!



Disclosure: Math U See provided me with Epsilon and Zeta and the corresponding manipulatives for this review free of charge, but the opinion expressed here is my own and in no way compensated for.

NOTE: Leave a comment on each of my review posts this week and I'll be picking some winners to any and all of the products that some of these great vendors are offering. One entry per post, per person - enter by Saturday - random winner announced next Sunday the 26th!

Quick Links
Review Week at Sprittibee
Where to Order : Math U See Website
The Math U See Blog
Will the Math U See booth be at a convention near you? Event Listings!
Don't stop here... Read Cathy Duffy's Review of Math U See



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Institute for Excellence in Writing - Turning Writing in to FUN

Andrew Pudewa is "the director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, a homeschooling father of seven, and a grandfather of three." I only had to hear Andrew Pudewa give a convention speech once to know that he "knew his stuff". Mr. Pudewa has mad language and speaking skills - and children adore the way he teaches writing. Not to mention, he's funny... which is an enjoyable trait in a teacher of any sort.

To be completely honest, I fell in love with the writing curriculum put out by Institute for Excellence in Writing long before I had a review copy. I drooled all over my friend Ammie's materials after flipping through them back in 2007 or 8... and she let me watch one of the videos at her house. She is the one who took me to his seminar session at a local conference back before I knew about IEW. After seeing him in person, I wanted Andrew's enthusiasm and expertise in my homeschool so the children could "catch his passion" for writing... and they could get the help they needed to know that there was a METHOD to writing -- and it wasn't "too hard".

As you can imagine, I was delighted at the prospect of reviewing the curriculum this past school year (we're still using it since our school year is year-round by necessity in this 'season' of our lives with tiny distractions in the mix). I can tell you that BOTH of my kids LOVE watching Andrew teach on video and have enjoyed their English / Grammar / Writing more this year than ever before. In fact, when I asked my 12 year old daughter to tell me what she liked, and what she didn't like about IEW, her response was...

"I don't think there's anything I don't like about it, Mama."

Even my fourteen year old BOY loves it. And did I mention? He's a BOY.



We started out with watching a MUST HAVE video entitled: "Teaching Boys... and Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day" [Don't you just love his titles? You can find him at homeschool conferences giving amazing pep talks and mini courses on report writing and such -- and most of his titles are equally as catchy -- which makes sense in his line of work!] Teaching Boys was a huge hit with the kids. They sniggered with me and sat through the entire parent-geared seminar. It set them up for a really great start with IEW's video course materials because they already had the opinion that their teacher (which wasn't MOM for a change) would be FUN. Fun is a huge help when you are teaching a kid to write.

Teaching Writing: Structure and Style and the Student Writing Intensive (Combo Pack) was our next step... the teacher and student packs together came with two binders (I heart binders) full of material for both teacher and student(s). You would have to add your own binder or have your kids share a binder if you used the material with more than one kid - like I did. I just have them share the binder and file their work in the tabs together. Also included in Teaching Writing: Structure and Style is a set of 10 DVDs - 9 units on 6 DVDS, Tips and Tricks for Teaching, and 3 levels of the Student Writing Workshop (based on grade level - elementary, junior high or high school).

One thing I love about IEW is that once your child goes through the program, you can take the lessons and add your own subject matter - whatever you are learning about - and continue to get use out of the program. Probably my favorite thing about the program is that Andrew Pudewa is teaching it and not me. [I wish he did housework over here, too.] I can hear the big kids giggle and laugh while learning the skills they need to communicate well - all while watching and listening to someone who LOVES writing teach them on video. That's priceless, in my opinion -- well worth the cost of this writing program (which was more than I could afford when I first decided we really wanted it).

As for how the lessons fit in your homeschooling, here's a snip from the Teacher Instructions Manual:

"Each lesson offers a writing lesson followed by one or more writing assignments. Thus, a lesson is taught each week in one 45-60 minute session, then the student can spend the rest of the week working on the writing assignment and reinforcement exercises independently with help as needed. Depending on the pace of the student, it an take one to two weeks to complete each lesson."

The materials include a scope and sequence chart and suggestions on how to implement the course and supplement with your own topical materials as you are ready for more writing ideas. Composition Checklists (to inform the student of what is required in their finished written work) and handouts are provided to help with the lesson materials. The DVDs are broken down by segments and a list is given as to when to stop the lesson and begin working on your written portion of each session.

The suggested time frame for completing the course is around 30 weeks. It really depends on your child how fast or slow you should spread the lessons out, though -- and the class is so enjoyable, that it could be repeated at every stage of schooling - and finished off with the corresponding Writing Workshop depending on the age level of your child. This would be a super way to reinforce the skills they are learning.



The units for this program include:

Unit 1: Note Making and Outlines
Unit 2: Summarizing from Notes
Unit 3: Summarizing Narrative Stories
Unit 4/6: Summarizing Multiple References & Library Reports
Unit 7: Creative Writing
Unit 8: Essay Writing
Unit 9: Critiques

The program uses what they call "Blended Sound-Sight Written Communication Pathway" philosophy. The tenets of this philosophy are:

1. When children are given structural guidelines and specific requirements, they are more able to develop competency, independence and, as a result, creativity.

(Wow -- I bet I could incorporate that with my entire school assignment and chore list, too?!)

2. The teacher should introduce one concept at a time, model it extensively, and give numerous examples before requiring independence.

(Thank the Lord for video teaching -- and for IEW!)

3. As students become competent at applying one concept, the teacher may introduce another but should continue to require that each student use, in every composition, every technique used so far.

(This sounds reminiscent of the 'spiral concept' in math, no?)

4. For a high level of ability to develop, STUDENTS MUST PRACTICE WRITING DAILY. Shorter assignments given more frequently allow for faster progress through the syllabus.

(As with anything in life worth learning, daily practice will make perfect the skill! I'm so glad we are now implementing this in our homeschool and hope that my children will blossom as they continue to learn how to effectively weave the written word and communicate with the world!)

IEW's Teaching Writing: Structure and Style is an amazing tool - a thorough curriculum - and a helpful dose of enthusiasm which will give your students a LOVE of writing and an understanding of the "HOW" that they need to get those ideas on paper. As it says in the teaching materials:

"This program presents the teaching of writing in the classical sense, full of modeling, examples, techniques, and requirements. The checklist-based grading approach makes it possible for every student to be successful and show visible and significant improvements."

If I could sum up this entire review with just one sentence it would be: "I love IEW." Not just me, but my kids do, too! Don't take our word for it, though... visit some of the links below and do some more research -- listen to Andrew Pudewa speak with the free downloads on the IEW site -- visit the conferences and get up close and personal with the materials at the IEW booth! Remember, you don't have to pay shipping at conferences... and you are likely to get a discount, as well!

Get your homeschool write on!

NOTE: Leave a comment on each of my review posts this week and I'll be picking some winners to any and all of the products that some of these great vendors are offering. One entry per post, per person - enter by Saturday - random winner announced next Sunday the 26th!



Quick Links
Review Week at Sprittibee
Where to Order this Program: Teaching Writing/Student Writing Intensive Combo
FREE DOWNLOADS from IEW (includes hours of audio speeches by Andrew Pudewa; including homeschool encouragement and "Reaching the Reluctant Writer")
Convention Schedule: Where You Can See IEW Speak Next
 Compare and contrast Writing Curriculums with Homeschool Curriculum Advisor

Rosetta Stone - Si, Yes, Oui!

Rosetta Stone is a dream come true review item for a homeschool blogger. Their website states that they are the "#1 preferred choice of homeschool parents for language curriculum..." and we were delighted to find out WHY here at my bee hive. I had wanted to buy a box and teach the kids Spanish long ago when they were little... but the cost was prohibitive for me. I tried lots of low-cost alternatives over the years including me trying to teach the kids from textbooks, workbooks, and even taking them to classes given by a native speaker as charity for me. Finally, I gave up and decided I would pick it back up when I could afford to do it right.

Now days with ever-increasing bilingual jobs popping up in the want-ads, I figured Spanish was a no-brainer for us in Texas. In fact, there are even a lot of churches here in Texas that have services in English and Spanish both - on the same day... like two congregations of Christians and many can't even communicate with each other. How sad to have so much opportunity around me to USE Spanish and let that go to waste.

When I got the chance to review "the yellow box" homeschool edition, I jumped on it and we have been so blessed. It has been like learning a new language from infancy - total and complete "dynamic" immersion - without 'translation'. You learn the same way you did as a baby - and amazingly, it works.

After you install your Rosetta Stone software, enter your product codes for the language and the homeschool version... and plug in the high-quality headset with built in microphone... it's only seconds until you are hearing, seeing, and speaking Spanish. Best of all (for homeschooling moms) is that the program keeps track of your child's progress and you can check it in just a glance while they work independently. I love being able to see how the kids are doing on their lessons at a glance on the Homeschool Dashboard. You can set up multiple students on one software course, too. The whole family can learn together.

The curriculum takes only about 15 minutes a day from start to finish on each lesson, and you can go at your own pace - adding in extra time when you have it to spare. There's also an Audio Companion for each unit (4 units in level 1) -- and you can take it with you via MP3 or CD to listen where ever you have free time and help enrich and speed your learning ability.

My only frustration so far has been that sometimes it takes a few tries to get the audio speech recognition headset to register that you HAVE spoken correctly.Well, my other issue is that I have no time to sit down and do a lesson around here with 4 kids... but that's no fault of Rosetta Stone's.

Each Unit is broken in to lessons, and each lesson is broken in to the following activities:

- Core Lesson
- Pronunciation (you speak in to your microphone)
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Listening and Reading
- Reading
- Writing (you use the keyboard to type)
- Listening
- Speaking
- Review

The entire program takes a little less than a full school year to complete (and we're still plugging away at our school year in June due to distractions -- both of which are under 2.5 years of age)... so we have plenty of Spanish to learn this summer yet!

Speaking of the summer... it's the best time to pick up a copy of Rosetta Stone (which I believe is WORTH every penny you invest in it). Right now you can get single levels of the program for only $159. Or you can get the sets for the following prices:

Level 1-2 Set $259
Level 1-3 Set $359
Level 1-5 Set $459

Not only are the prices low, but you can use promo code: hsfreeship for free ground shipping in the US!

When we finish Level 1, which we were given to review (Praise the Lord)... we'll be continuing on with Levels 2-5 on our own dime. I'm happy that my children and I are learning a skill that will enrich our lives as Texas Citizens and Christians. I can't wait to take part in bilingual church services and BE the translator - rather than NEED one.

While you are reading up on the program to see if it is right for your homeschool curriculum, be sure to check out Rosetta Stone's Facebook Page, too. Tell them Sprittibee sent you! You might just get lucky if they offer promo codes or give-aways there! You never know. We feel really honored to get to review this amazing software.

NOTE: Leave a comment on each of my review posts this week and I'll be picking some winners to any and all of the products that some of these great vendors are offering. One entry per post, per person - enter by Saturday - random winner announced next Sunday the 26th!

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Where Do You Find Summer Learning Ideas for the Kids?

I did a little guest post over at my friend Sami Cone's site this week that I don't want you to miss. Sami is the Frugal Mom on News Channel 5 in Nashville, TN. I spent some time getting to know Sami in Nashville at an event we both attended, and have seen her in person at blog conferences over the past couple of years. She's awesome (and very funny), even though she's not a homeschool mom.

Sami is doing a summer series at her blog and has guest posts once a week. This week was summer learning ideas. So thrilled that she asked me to tackle the topic and I hope you'll stop by and read the post.

Any parent can benefit from having ideas on how to keep the kids' brains from turning to mush while traditional or non-traditional school is not in session. If you are looking for ways to keep the kids busy and not bored during the hot months, join me there!

Hop over to Sami's site and read it there... How to Find Summer Learning Opportunities for Your Kids

Summer Family Photo Session

It's a difficult thing to get a good shot for portraits under a tree like this one in the heat of the day. Dappled shade casts darker shadows and filtered sunlight comes in tiny bursts to overexpose faces. Never-the-less, trees like these make wonderful background material and are lovely. I can totally understand why my photo clients picked this pretty place... even if I had to drive across town to get there.



They were having a renewal of vows ceremony. A mini wedding of sorts.



I love taking photos of people who are dressed to the nines. Whatever the 'nines' are?



I just wish that more people would have weddings in the WINTER. Because taking photos in Texas in the summer is tricky business... by the time you get some good shots off, everyone is melting - tired - hot - sticky - sweaty - and generally in a cranky mood...



The trees made great distractions for the kids, though... so all was well.



In fact, I could hardly get the kids OUT of the trees.



So, we just 'went with it'.



Kind of like a Tarzan theme... only, with church clothes on.



I've never taken photos for an older couple before. I'm not sure why I didn't ask him to take his sunglasses off... but I'm feeling rather silly about it now. And if you blow the photo up, you can see me standing there - inside his glasses - taking the picture.



More tree. I'm seeing a theme here.



I love this shot. A kiss in the sunlight. How romantic.



I wanted to get more photos in this little chapel (the light from the huge window was delicious), but everyone wanted to go outside where the trees were.



I think the arches were my favorite part of this location. I love that white Austin limestone.



It makes for a real pretty background for close up shots, too. I am kicking myself now for not taking one of each kid at the wall.



Aren't they cute? I have a set of 4 just like these. Trouble is, they get to be teenagers eventually...



But I have a sense of humor about it all.



Do you like my photos? I can't help but want to end this post with "FIN" like some soundless vintage international film might have - just before the credits roll.

Summer Blur

Always the drama. Around here, there's never a break.

Between being sick for two weeks, ER trips, 12 year old tweenager episodes and taking care of babies, I have not had time to finish editing my portrait shots for this sweet family.

Speaking of family, we are out the door on our way to a reunion. I guess the photos will have to wait until tonight.

Hope you are enjoying this busy summer yourselves! Amazing how time flies...

Estrogen Stole My Daughter

Once upon a time I had a sweet little baby named Morgan. She loved kittens and let me put her hair up in pony tails and sparkly clips. Then, one day, a mean and evil visitor came to my house named ESTROGEN.



And my eleven year old daughter began transforming in to a twelve year old transformer from planet "What-Ever, Loser."



The transformation is not yet complete, but it is hard to watch. One minute, she's goofy and strange... the next minute she's weepy and hides in her room.



Every now and then, she looks so happy and normal that I forget she's really an alien in my daughter's body. The End. ... Just the beginning, I'm sure...




*Photos - credit to Frankie G. Editing by me.