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SchoolhouseTeachers.com Review

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Disclosure: I received this product free through the Homeschool Review Crew. Please understand that affiliate links are used in this post. 

Welcome all!  It’s a brand new year with the homeschool review crew, and like always, it’s time to tell you all about the SchoolhouseTeachers.com site.  It’s a fantastic resource for homeschoolers with loads of courses for all ages.  I can’t wait to tell you all about their Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership..  For this review, we focused on public speaking courses for highschool.   

SchoolhouseTeachers.com Review

SchoolhouseTeachers.com, details

So first off I wanted to share with you some of the details about what makes SchoolhouseTeachers.com special.

  1.  They have over 475 courses for you to peruse, allowing you to tailor your education to your specific student.   Many of these courses are interactive. This online curriculum continues to change.  New courses are always be added, and older courses are being updated. 
  2. School Boxes.  This something new this year.  Within SchoolhouseTeachers.com you can find boxed curriculum.  An excellent place to start if you need a starting place. 
  3. Each course comes with lesson plans tailored to that particular course, I’ll talk more about this later. 🙂 
  4. There is an extensive video library. 
  5. World Book online.  So basically you have an interactive encyclopedia right in your home!
  6. Categories to make searching for things easier.  Like highschool courses, electives, science, math etc. 
  7. Resources such as the Focused Learning Centers, the Literacy Centre, and helps for Special Needs. 

SchoolhouseTeachers.com continues to work hard to make sure their online teaching resources are helpful to a variety of homeschoolers.  They want to meet the needs that you have with your students. 

How We Used It

One of the things I love to do is to walk my son through the courses that he’ll take.  He’s learning to figure out how much work he needs to do if he wants to get his work done in a certain time. So it’s nice when looking at a course to be able to show him the weeks and workload involved and how much credit he’ll get upon completion.

My son has a fairly busy school year so I made a point of picking something it would be fairly easy for him to work in around his other studies.  Since he was unable to take Drama at the local highschool this year, I thought taking the public speaking course would suit him well.   

I went to grade 10 course selections, and then to the drama and speech electives.  

I looked at two courses on SchoolhouseTeachers.com for public speaking, and since I can, I thought I’d combine them for my lad.  Isn’t that part of the joy of homeschooling?  You can use materials in a way that suit you best. 

Public Speaking SchoolhouseTeachers

I mashed these two courses to make a full credit course for him.   I added some speech analysis for him from different sources around the web, and from an older review.  It will take him the balance of the year to completely finish as he’s doing it as an add in around his other courses. 

Lessons come as PDF’s to download.  They were also easy to view online.  Printing them off was completely optional.  My lad likes to jot notes down.  I found the downloads were handled differently for each course.  In the Introduction to public speaking the lessons were one complete download, in advanced the downloads were divided up.  My son preferred the separate downloads. 

Each course delineates what to expect each week.  If desired, you can print this sheet off to facilitate completion. 

What we liked

I liked how the advanced public speaking course encouraged critical thinking.  Looking through a number of ways to evaluate speeches, and then coming up with a system that worked for that student.

A fun assignment was to pretend you were on Shark Tank.  We’re Canadian so we used the Canadian version called Dragon’s Den for our inspiration.  My son has a love of ants, so decided to talk about selling a formicarium for ants.  This gave him something to demonstrate as he talked about why his product was better than the competition. 

It was good to see him take something he loved (ants) and be able to use that in honing new skills (public speaking).   With their all in one curriculum, SchoolhouseTeachers.com has allowed to use some of his passion in developing skills for the future. 

schoolhouseTeachers.com logo

I have reviewed this digital curriculum several times in the past. Every time I have focused on different aspects of this tremendous resource. 

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SchoolhouseTeachers/ and https://www.facebook.com/SchoolhouseTeachers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOSMag/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tosmagazine/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tosmag/   
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7i0BRyoTPYT3chTcj52UmA

Read SchoolhouseTeachers.com Reviews!

One of the amazing things about the crew is that everyone uses SchoolhouseTeachers.com differently.  Need proof?   Read the reviews from all members of the crew.  Our review types are varies: Video, social media, and blog posts.   Click the image below to read them!

click to read

Reading Goals for the New Year

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Reading Goals for the New Year?   What type of easy blog challenge is this?   AH… SUPER EASY!!!!   Let’s have fun eh?   Where applicable I’ll link to reviews of books, or affiliate links through Amazon.  

I’ll cover books I plan to read with the lad, show you the piles of books I have to go through, and show you my current reads.   Books are fun no?

reading Goals for the New year

Reading with My Lad

One of my joys is daily reading with my lad.  We’ve been continuing our exploration into the World Wars. We had planned to read the Diary of Anne Frank next, but somehow we had a kids version and that was annoying, so we’ve moved onto Memories of Anne Frank and we are going to do Life behind the Wall when we are finished it. 

We have this whole section of books to choose from.  Will we get through them all?  Most definitely not!  But it’s good to have books to choose from and decide if we’ll read through on our own or together or decide we’d rather not.  🙂   Options!

Books to Answer Questions

My 15-year-old is struggling with issues of faith, questioning even the existence of God.  It’s hard sometimes to make sense of God.  So last year I picked up a number of books to help me in answering his questions. 

Why Trust the Bible I am enjoying going through.  I’ll have to re-read it to help solidify ideas.  I like how he sees Christ as central to the bible and works in trusting the bible from that angle.   Unearthing the bible we picked up to go with Drive Through History. 

I’ll be starting Core 52 with him most likely next week, give him, hopefully, more opportunities to ask questions.  That’s all I’m aiming for, opportunities to ask questions as together we learn. 

My Book Options

At my bedside I find these books.  I have to admit, some have been sitting here for more than a year!   But eventually I’ll get through them!

I won 2/3’s of these books that sit beside my comfy chair, not sure if I’ll ever read them, a couple of them intrigue though: Five little Indians and The back of the turtle. 

Audible Reads

I often find myself listening to books as I work around the house.  Right now in fact (since this is an easy post to write) I am listening to a book on Audible called Mad Ship. Membership is easy and gives you a book per month to read/listen to, for generally less than half the price of a new book. 

Review Books

My love of reading also spills out in telling others about the books that I read, or books that can be discovered.  Below… books waiting my review!

Reading Goals for the New Year

As you can see, I’ve lots of books I can choose from this year to read from.  Books of faith, fiction, non-fiction and books to review.  All sorts of interesting, alarming, learn-fromable, and sometimes fun reads. 

Do you have books you choose to read or do you just read from what you have available?  Buy, borrow, be gifted with, new or used, books are meant to be enjoyed!  Have fun in your discoveries this year!   If you have a mind to, tell me what your reading goals are for the new year.

Amazon Links

January 2021
reading goals for the new year

My Hope is in the Lord

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I was trying to figure out a song to go with the beginning of the New Year. I was still thinking about the two sides of God which help us to focus on the hope we have as we face the New Year.  The song My Hope is in the Lord came to mind. 

Lyrics

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Him-self for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Cal-va-ry.

CHORUS:
For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He free-ly gives.

VERSE 2:
No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus’ righteousness

(REPEAT CHORUS)

VERSE 3:
And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own

(REPEAT CHORUS)

VERSE 4:
His grace has planned it all
‘Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive

Author and History

American Norman J. Clayton, was a church organist since age 12.  He worked as a builder in New York. Mr. Clayton also started his own publishing house called Gospel Songs. This was his focus in music, to write Gospel songs of which he wrote a good number.  Hymntime maintains a list of the songs he created.   It was important to him that his music be biblically based and to that end, he memorized large quantities of scripture. 

Pondering This Song

I like to write poetry, and I try to make them biblically based for the most part.  Not always, some are just for fun.  I have written songs in the past but I haven’t memorized huge quantities of scripture.   I tend to look up the verses that I want.

When I consider his dedication to making sure that all his songs were biblical, it humbles me.  It is so easy for me to just look up what I want when perhaps I should be working harder at not having to look them up. To… not depend on technology so much but rather to hide God’s word more firmly inside of my heart. 

The Runaway Shirt

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The Runaway Shirt is one of the cutest books I have read in a long time.  You have just GOT to get this book to enjoy with your child.  A mom and child having a hoot doing regular household stuff.  Stuff that you’d see in any home, and that is what makes it the cutest book.  It’s a book that most any mom (or even a dad) could relate to. 

the runaway shirt

The Runaway Shirt, the details

Kathy MacMillan has written an adorable book featuring a mom, a pile of laundry and cute youngster.   It’s a story that hopefully will be played out in thousands of homes everyday around the world.    Julia Castano has done a wonderful job illustrating this fun story. 

Published by Familius, I am reviewing this book on behalf of Raincoast Books.  Meant for preschool and kindergarten children, this book will hopefully inspire laughter!  I received a soft covered edition, but on amazon, it sells as a kindle book or hardcover picture book. 

The Joy of The Runaway Shirt

I love the look and feel of The Runaway Shirt.  Between the colours of the illustrations, and the sweetness of the story, the reader feels drawn into the story.  Running and having fun with a little child while engaging in regular household chores.  Such fun!

The font is great for reading with a group of children. It is dark and well formed to stand off the pages for ease of reading. Always on a light background.

Should you get it?

I remember having fun with my lad while I did the laundry, the giggles and relationship building that occurred.   It was a lovely way to introduce him to helping mom with the chores AND having fun at the same time. 

The Runaway Shirt brought back happy memories, but not only that, it’s a fun, sweet story about the relationship between parent and child.

Enjoy a sweet, fun read with your child today!

 

God Loves God Hates

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I actually started this post for the crew blog as I had a post due for it, but it wasn’t sitting well as suited for that forum.   Ergo, I thought I’d put it up on my blog here for you all!  After all, I normally do poetry on Fridays don’t I?   I chose the title God Loves God Hates as currently as I’m going through Proverbs these two ideas keep being impressed upon me. 

God loves us, he doesn’t want us to have to learn everything the hard way.  He’s given us an instruction manual (the bible), and in particular he’s given us short statements that speak truth. 

God loves God hates

God Loves God Hates

A New Year is around the corner
Waiting
With baited breath.

Will it be a year
the same as the one
Just passed?

Or, will it be
a year of change?
That some pundits predict.

Oh, it’s difficult to
Predict the future
Isn’t it?

But one thing we know
Two things really
Provide hope.

Regardless of
What happens in the world.
God Loves, God hates.

These two things are
Consistent and true
Within that we live.

How does God hates
Provide for hope?
Knowing limits structure provides.

Proverbs says
Six things the Lord Hates,
Seven an abomination.

Structure given
Knowledge gained.
Limits known.

How does God Love
provide for hope?
A son given, a way shown.

For in this way
God showed his love
He gave his only Son.

Born, The Son.
Died, The Son.
Risen, The Son.

Hope fills
the world
with immense light.

Indeed, this is why
A new year is
filled with hope.

Join together
Discover all that God is
Love God, Hate what he hates

Together
As his very own
This New Year be hope!

Scriptural Inspiration

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Can you see it?  Can you see God loves?  God loves specifically and generally.

Can you see that God hates?  He hates specific things, these things are not good for people.  They showcase nothing of benefit to anyone.  

Wonderful December Meals

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It’s the close of a year!  Oh, the meals we’ve made over this past year.  As I sit here pondering our wonderful December meals I am also watching the Xmen movies with my family.  Every year we watch some series together and this is what my guys chose.  In the past we’ve done Lord of the Rings, and Marvel movies.  It’s a good family time!   

Anyways, on with some deliciousness eh!  🙂 

Wonderful December Meals

Meals the Lad Made

So I’ve been wanting my lad to cook at least one meal a week and it’s just been a battle to get him to follow through.   I finally said “You know what, your friends cook meals at home for their families, so you can cook meals for us too.”   He wanted to choose a mid-day to do it but I said “NOPE!  You can cook Sundays.  It’s a day I don’t want to have to fuss in the kitchen so it’s your day.”.   It’s working out really well.  A consistent day, no school to interfere, and I or hubby am around to help should he need it. 

He’s made this month

  • Manwich 
  • Chicken wings with sides
  • Turkey Croquettes.   We used this recipe that hubby found.   

The croquette recipe caused the lad to ask a ton of questions and have to do some problem-solving.  He was quite pleased with himself at the end of it and thoroughly enjoyed them. 

Turkey Croquettes

Baking

It’s Christmas… baking happened.  One needs treats for eating over the holidays even if you don’t have friends and family coming over.  

Most of the cookies we made I’ve already chatted with you all about. 

But we also did homemade turtles, dipped pretzels, and …. oh shoot.. I know I made something else but I can’t recall right now. 

Homemade Turtles, we made some with pecans and others with pretzels as the base. 

Christmas Dinner

Well.. I made the BEST STUFFING EVER!   See I don’t much like stuffing, but this stuffing was good… in the turkey and done on the stove top.  BEST EVER!

So what did I put in it?  Stuffing from a box, half pack hash browns (those diced potatoes), apple, pepper, onion, celery, carrot and various seasonings.  I made have used bouillon/chicken stock instead of water. REALLY GOOD.   I hope I can replicate it next year! 

Best stuffing ever made

Other than stuffing we also had Turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, cauliflower with cheese sauce, beans, plain potatoes, gravy, and cheese buns.  Very tasty indeed!

More Wonderful December Meals

Parmesan Herb-baked Salmon Fillet.  First time ever really cooking with a salmon fillet.  Oh my.. YUMMY!!!!!  Changes I made… I used more salmon so I needed to adapt the recipe and used dry basil instead of fresh. It disappeared too fast to get a picture.

I got inspired after visiting my mom and she had made an apple pudding.  I thought the lad’s would enjoy this meal and I was right!  Taste of home’s recipe was the one I chose to use.

We’ve made a number of hot sandwiches using bagettes.  Manwich, tuna salad, turkey fry with cheese, egg/potato hash, etc. 

Jerky!   We made both rabbit and beef jerky.   The rabbit made using a teriyaki recipe, the beef with basic jerky recipe. It was funny, the lad was threatened by his father…. for going a bit overboard on the jerky eating.  Next time we have jerky apparently the lad will be helping to make it so he knows how much work goes into it!   Tons of apologies.  I think next time sharing will happen a bit more readily eh?  🙂 

beef-jerky

In between Christmas and New Years I have to admit we did a lot of leftovers and junk food.  We did cheese and crackers, and chicken wings, and cookies, lots of cookies.  🙂 

How about you?  Does your meal planning go a bit wonky over the holiday season?  Did you make any wonderful December meals?  Do share them if you’ve a mind to.  I love discovering new recipes to make.

On Account of the Gum

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Silliness, that’s what you get with On Account of the Gum.  Silliness in pink gum and brown hair and laden with cats and aunties.  Adam Rex must have had a hoot writing and illustrating this grade school picture book.  Come on and laugh with me!  Affiliate links will be used. 

On Account of the Gum

About “On Account of the Gum”

Adam Rex wrote a hilariously fun read with On Account of the Gum”.  Written kinda like the books “If you give a mouse a cookie” where one action leads to another.  A fun read where you wonder just what pit-fall will happen next.  Your children will enjoy the unexpected consequences of good intentions. 

Published by Chronicle books, this 56 page picture book will delight children 5-8 years.  The bright colours will draw them in, the silly antics will bring out the laughter.   Can you imagine a rabbit in your hair?

The font is huge!   So great for reading with a group of children.  I can well imagine a circle of children giggling away.   Wouldn’t it be fun to stop at the end of a page and ask “what do you think will happen when they bring in the cat?”  Wouldn’t it be fun to hear all the answers?

Should you get it?

If you are looking for a silly book to enjoy with your children, On account of the Gum will fit the bill marvellously.

The full-colour images fill the pages and just add to the humour found within.  Wacky ideas, improbable solutions, and bizarre mishaps.  You never quite know what might happen next.   It was my pleasure to review this picture book for Raincoast Books.