{TOS Review} Kinderbach

What is it?

Kinderbach offers online piano instruction designed to provide an introduction to music using the keyboard or piano. Their use of kid-friendly tunes and fun characters makes learning the fundamentals of music engaging for children ages 3-7. Children will learn music vocabulary, note reading, rhythm, and more.

This program costs $19.99/ month if you choose to pay by the money.  Or, you can make a one-time payment of $95.88 which breaks down to $7.99 per month (a 60"% savings). 

Kinderbach offers a free online trial which you can check out by clicking HERE.  You can also purchase a day-pass for only $5.95.  This offers unlimited access (for 24 hours) to all 240 Kinderbach lessons.

Most lessons have a corresponding printable worksheet.  You can also download each book (in PDF form) in its entirety from the Kinderbach website.

 

My thoughts: I like that this program can teach music more thoroughly than I could ever do.  I’ve tried to teach this before, but I’m just not learned enough to do it justice. I do think the program is overpriced, but it’s definitely more affordable than private lessons.  Although it was below her ‘level’ age-wise, Emma enjoyed this program.  She liked the videos, but opted out of the worksheets. We’re looking forward to finishing our trial subscription and then exploring our options for music instruction at home.

Discount:

Click here to receive 40% off your Kinderbach Subscription.

To see what my fellow Crewmates think about Kinderbach, click the banner below.  

I received a free three month trial in exchange for my honest review. 

{Wordless Wednesday} A Day at the Park

It was almost 80 degrees here in TX last Friday.  So, we ditched the school books and headed to the park for some nature study.  I’ll post some of my nature pictures next week.

{Science} Human Anatomy

Emma and I are taking a break from our animal studies to learn about the human body.  She’s not too excited about the change in topic, but I’m a bit burnt out on animals.  We have done some level of extended animal studies every year since kindergarten.  It’s definitely her passion, but she needs a bit of knowledge about other things, as well.  So, anatomy it is for now.  (We will revisit animals again in a few weeks before studying plants this spring.) 

What we’re using:

• Elemental Science: Biology for the Logic Stage -  This is our spine.  While I really like this book, I did not realize it was geared toward first grade.  So, I have really been beefing it up for Emma this year.  I <3 homeschooling for this reason!
• Human Body Unit from Homeschool Share – I love the layout of this unit, and I am fitting it into the schedule from Elemental Science. Emma loves to lapbook so we are using these components almost daily.
• Otter Science: The Human Body – This site offers great links to printables and videos. 

Over the past two weeks, Emma learned about cells, skin, and hair. Here is peek at what she has done so far:

 Skeleton Model

Cell Mobile

Lapbooking

Other Resources:

Up next:  BONES…

{Dance} Dress Rehearsal

Our dance studio is gearing op for their first dance competition of the season.  This is Emma’s third year on the competitive dance team, and her first year to do a solo. 

Each year, on the Saturday before the first competition, we have an all-day dress rehearsal. This is an opportunity for the teams and dancers to run through all of their routines before hitting the big stage.  For most, this is the first time to have full costume, hair, and makeup for their routines.

This past weekend was our all-day rehearsal.  (Seriously! It’s ALL.DAY.  It started at noon, and we got home about 7-ish.)  But, it really is so much fun. 

Here are some pictures of Emma as she ran through her team’s Austin Powers (jazz) routine.  Her team is made up of third and fourth grade dancers.

She is doing a jazz solo to a song called I Like to Fuss by Patti Lupone.  If you haven’t heard it, you should Google it. It’s pretty cute.  After you’ve Googled it, please accept my sincere apologies, because that song will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day! Here are just a few pics of her in action…

{TOS Review} We Choose Virtues

 

 

As a member of the TOS Crew, I recently received Virtue Clue Cards from We Choose Virtues to review. These cards, which retail for $7.95, come in a handy little carrying pouch. 

 

Heather McMillan, a preschool teacher and children’s pastor, created We Choose Virtues “out of her love for children and her desire to see them reach their personal potential.”

The Virtue Clue Cards teach children about twelve virtues:  attentive, content, diligent, gentle, forgiving, helpful, honest, kind, obedient, patient, perseverant, and self-controlled. While the Virtue Clue Cards are aimed at younger children, We Choose Virtues has products available for youth up to age 18.

We also received a downloadable copy of the Teacher’s Handbook which retails for $4.99.  A hardbound copy is also available for $19.99.

 

The Kids of Virtueville coloring book, which retails for $3, was a great addition to our review allowing us to reinforce what we had learned.  My youngest loves to color a picture for any assignment that she can. So, this was perfect for her.

 

You can check out We Choose Virtues on Facebook.  Here, they offer tips on parenting, leadership and inspiring lasting Virtue.

Check out their CLEARANCE SALE while supplies last!

and for their JANUARY/FEBRUARY deal

YOU get the 100 Days of Virtue Chart FREE in your Homeschool Kit purchase!

To read other Crew reviews, visit our blog.

 

I received this product as a member of the TOS Review Crew in exchange for an honest review.

{TOS Review} Maestro Classics

Name of Product: Swan Lake

Price of Product: CD = 16.98; MP3 Download = 9.98 Company:Maestro Classics

 From the Web:

The Story of Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky’s greatest ballet score, is the tale of a prince who falls in love with a beautiful princess. The princess, however, has been turned into a swan by an evil magician, and only the prince’s love can break the spell. This narrated version of the classic tale for children is sure to delight all who love ballet and enchanting storytelling.

A 24-page activity book included with the CD contains a biography of Tchaikovsky, information on acoustic and electric guitars, sheet music and words for a sing-along song, explanation of major and minor keys, puzzles and more.

Our thoughts:

I really wanted the opportunity to review this product with my budding ballerina.  We all (even my boys ages 13 & 17) enjoyed this product. The story narration set to music was fabulous.  The activities were interesting and easy to do.Their favorite part was the Speed Metal Swan selection which is a heavy metal version of Swan Lake.  You can listen to samples of each track to see if this is something your family will enjoy.

You can also purchase titles which include Peter and the Wolf, Casey at the Bat, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and more. You can find Maestro Classics on the internet, on Facebook, and Twitter.  To see what other Crew members are saying about Swan Lake, visit the TOS Crew blog

I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

{TOS Review} Zeezok Publishing

  I love to incorporate movies into my homeschool studies.  Sometimes,  I use the movies to enhance what we’ve studied. Sometimes, we compare/contrast fiction/fact.  Either way, the movies help us dig a little deeper into whatever it is we are studying.

Z-Guides published by Zeezok are great tools to help homeschoolers dig a little deeper into the movies they are using in their studies.  Each guide starts with an overview and a movie synopsis.  From there, the students have 10 activities to complete after watching the movies.  These activities include (but aren’t limited to) review questions, art projects, critical thinking questions, worldview studies, reading comprehension, and family discussion questions. 

From the Web:

Our movie guides are a great way to incorporate media (a powerful teaching tool in our increasingly electronic society) into any curriculum.

What we thought:

Before signing up for this review, I had the children go through the list with me and choose which one they were most interested in. (This is not, however, how we normally move through our homeschool topics.)  While we haven’t yet completed this unit, we are LOVING it.  The movie was fantastic! The synopsis was great for my 3rd grader who hasn’t studied much American History yet.  The activities provided in the Z-Guide are fabulous.  My son is anxious to determine the average distance of a paper airplane! I’m looking forward to an afternoon of fun bringing history to life once again.

I received the Z-Guide in exchange for an honest review.

{Wordless Wednesday} All the Grandkids!

For Christmas, I gave my mom a certificate for a photo shoot with the grandkids.  Then, we chose one to have printed on a canvas.  Here is the photo she chose…

Isaac–13, Allie–13, Logan–18, Kiersten-11

Emma Grace –8, Isaiah-1, Abbi-8

Tender Tennessee Christmas!!

We drove to Tennessee to spend Christmas with my family.  We had such a lovely – albeit short – visit.

Here are some highlights from our trip:

Grandma finished the race car blanket she started for Logan 15 years ago!!

Game time

My sweet nephew, Isaiah!!

Christmas Eve pajamas – a family tradition

Snuggling with Grandpa

Homemade Perry the Platypus from Emma

Laptops to make homeschooling a tad bit easier

Lots of love and giggles and silliness!

More loving on Isaiah!

L.O.V.E!!