A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Highschool

World’s Coolest Jobs

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raincoast FTC

I’m going to be doing a careers course with my son too, I think I will have him read World’s Coolest Jobs before we begin.  It will be a great way to get his brain working about the 40 careers found within the pages of this excellent read by Anna Brett.  It is my pleasure to review this Lonely Planet Kids book for Raincoast Books. 

world's coolest Jobs

What’s inside World’s Coolest Jobs

Lonely Planet Kits introduces us to 40 interesting and different jobs, ones that many people wouldn’t even think exist.  You’ll find jobs such as a ravenmaster, professional sleeper, and a sand sculptor.  More familiar jobs would be volcanologist, airline pilot, or an acrobat. 

You’ll be able to follow along in the lives of six different positions.  A Legoland model maker, a children’s book illustrator, a volcanologist, an astornaut, a ravenmaster and an acrobat.  

world's coolest jobs

Most of the job descriptions take place over a two-page spread.  Each of the Day in the Life has a four-page spread.  They detail where the job takes place, the type of things you do in each position over the first two pages.  The second spread details the events over the course of the day. 

The copious use of full-colour images and bright colours fill this 96 page soft-cover book. I just love the images, you get a great feel for what some of these different positions entail.  

Should you get it?

Even though it’s geared for children 6-9 years old, the World’s Coolest Jobs would do a great job of helping students struggling with future careers.  It won’t give the answers but it will open their eyes to the wide range of possibilities.  It might even lead them to see that one career path might lead to a different path not even previously considered.   For instance… who thinks about being a ravenmaster, train pusher or a professional sleeper?  They are jobs I have never heard of before… and somedays… being a professional sleeper seems like a WONDERFUL idea, don’t you agree?

My Goal

I’m planning on using World’s Coolest Jobs with my lad to get him thinking about different career options before I take the Career Explorations class on SchoolhouseTeachers.com.   You could also take this course!  It’s part of the ultimate membership package which is currently on Sale (pretty cool eh?). 

SchoolhouseTeachers.com career exploration
TOS bogo july

Experience Biology – Journey Homeschool Academy

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DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW. I WAS NOT REQUIRED TO WRITE A POSITIVE REVIEW NOR WAS I COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY.

I need to tell you about Journey Homeschool Academy and their Highschool biology course.  Wow… what a tremendously well done course!  Experience Biology: Upper Level is a video based, online biology course, complete with labs, tests, quizzes, papers etc, to make a good highschool biology course.   I can’t wait to tell you all about it in my review. 

Experience Biology

How I used it

I do need to tell that I took this course as an adult, wanting to see how it compared to another biology course that I grade. I didn’t do the labs, I didn’t the course work, but I read the textbook, watched videos and took the quizzes. 

Journey Homeschool Academy’s biology course CAN be done without the textbook but adding the book to the course makes it more complete. You cannot, if you live in Canada, order the book through their program. I ordered mine off Amazon.ca.

logo for Journey Homeschool Academy

What I am reviewing

I am reviewing an online biology course called Experience Biology: Upper Level.  Experience Biology is the brainchild of Luke and Trish Gilkerson.   You’ll find it a rigorous and thorough look at biology, preparing it’s students well for college.  Journey Homeschool Academy currently has five programs: Elementary and Upper-Level Biology, Elementary and Upper-Level Astronomy and an Upper-Level bible survey class.  Seeing the quality of their biology class has me planning to have my lad take their bible survey class as well!  🙂 

As part of this course you will cover 35 lessons which will include quarter exams, hands-on labs with options to do video labs, quizzes, engaging videos and research questions. 

Experience Biology

How Is a Lesson Laid Out?

After printing off your lesson notes, watch the videos, taking care to actually fill in your lesson notes.   đź™‚  If you have the textbook read the assigned lesson, otherwise take the quiz.  The quizzes are all multiple choice and you can see where you went wrong afterwards.   Complete the research questions and submit your lab report.  You can easily complete one lesson per week, and potentially two lessons per week. 

Videos

Each video lasts about half-an-hour.  They are interesting to watch and occasionally pose interesting questions.

Highlights of videos

  • overview
  • notes to write are highlighted/put up in text
  • connections to real-life
  • review

One of the things I really, really liked about these videos is they fit them perfectly to their workbooks.  SOMETIME I was so engaged in the video lesson that I actually forgot to take notes.  BUT going back through the video so that I could fill in the blanks was SUPER easy.   You see, if you need to write it down, you’ll find it highlighted in the video.  How super helpful is that eh?  🙂

This is a faith-based program, and you’ll find scripture and references to God interwoven throughout. 

Luke Gilkerson teaches the classes.  He has a light-hearted yet serious approach to science.  You can tell how much he loves his field and teaching others about it.  He does as all good teachers do.  A brief overview, followed by specific details, followed by a wrap up. 

I mentioned earlier about the workbooks.   You get two with the course. The student Guidebook which you use to take notes.  The Lab book spells out the assignments and what you’ll need to accomplish them. 

Experience Biology

Lots of room is given for taking notes.  Important for a person like me with messy handwriting, and for a student like my son who likes to take extra notes.  Even if you don’t need it, it’s lovely that the space is available don’t you think?

Quizzes, Assignments and Grading

I love the immediacy in grading.   Quizzes require 70% to pass.   All multiple choice.   I haven’t reached the point of needing to take a quarterly exam, but I would assume in an online format that would be a similar system.

Don’t you just love the light-hearted options for some of the answers?   I laughed when I saw them!  🙂  This online high school biology course is a pleasure to work through. 

The Riot and the Dance

the riot and the dance

Although you can complete Experience Biology without this textbook, and complete it well, you will find that having the textbook adds a deeper layer of understanding.   It’s a more complete program with the additional reading.  Could you source out the various chapters?  Yes, for instance in the space that it took for the book to arrive I had already sussed out learning about a bit of starter chemistry and about biomolecules.  Having the textbook just makes it easier.  🙂 

I found the text to be technical but an easily understood conversation.  Written by Gordon Wilson who includes his faith in his understanding of science.   Most of the illustrations within the text are done in grayscale, the photos are included in full colour.  This textbook would be helpful in any high school biology course.

Research Assignments

Don’t you just love it when the research questions help advance your learning?  Not just a “do this” but a “do this and you’ll understand your next lesson better”. 

Should you Get Experience Biology?

Whether you want a faith-based Biology course, or prefer to avoid issues of faith, Experience Biology is a SOLID homeschool biology program.  It’s extremely well done and worthy of a second look.  High-quality videos that are easy to understand and well-laid out along with great research questions, and good labs.  This is a well-rounded biology program that is academically rigorous.  I do advise getting the textbook if you plan to go on in biology/science as it makes for a more in-depth course.  

You can also find Journey Homeschool Academy on Facebook and Instagram.

Luke and Trish Gilkerson

Besides this homeschool biology course, other courses were reviewed by other Homeschool Review Crew families. These include Experience Biology: Elementary and Experience Astronomy: Elementary.

Please visit the Homeschool Review Crew to read some of these other reviews about the courses offered by Journey Homeschool Academy.

homeschool biology,  homeschool science, high school biology online

Boredom Busters for Teens

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So, we have a lad living with us who normally doesn’t.  He’s a lad who very much NEEDS to be kept busy so his mama has been looking for ways to meet that need.   Some boredom busters she’s come up with for teens are in today’s post. 

Boredom busters for Teens

Continuing Education

My son continues with his homeschooling, and her lad is in need of finishing his high school diploma… so learning will be at hand for two lads in this quiet household. 

I told mama about SchoolhouseTeachers.com so hopefully she’ll use my subscription to help her lad as it’s a cost-effective way for her to do so. 

schoolhouseteachers.com

This message from The Old Schoolhouse: We are again teaming up with over a dozen homeschooling and family-friendly companies to provide NEW SchoolhouseTeachers.com members with 19 gifts (available while supplies last) when they purchase the Ultimate (PreK–12) Annual Membership this May with code: 19GIFTS to lock in the annual price of only $139 (reg. $224.97). (This is a non-refundable rate and available in the US only.)

Seems a pretty good deal eh?

Helping the Missus

One of the things she has added to the list is “helping the missus”… that being me.  A lot of people have a hard time pronouncing my last name and her son is one of them.  To him, I’m the missus.   And he’s been relegated as a personal servant.  If I have a project to do, guess who gets to help me?  🙂

It’s rather odd actually.  I’m used to telling my son “I need you for this task, should take x amount of time”.  My son happily helps me complete whatever task, but I’m reluctant to pull him away from his studies.   This young man though… he does exactly what I ask without asking questions about how long, and offers opinions on how to do the job better, or differently etc.  I think it’s a difference in age and boredom levels.  🙂   

Our most recent project was making an isolation cage for a new to me rabbit.  It’s very nice to have an extra pair of hands when I need them. 

Isolation cage for rabbits

Games

What young person doesn’t like playing games, whether on-line or a table game.   My son loves playing a variety of card games and board games.  It’s a great way to kill 15 minutes to an hour, provides time for laughter and connection, and sometimes you can even squeeze in some learning. 

Add Board Games to Your Homeschool Routine

Mr. J loves to play on-line games or on his phone, but like me, his mom wants him off once in a while.  Having a whole shelf of board games is a boon to us all. 

Animal Companions

Sometimes, just sometimes, having an animal around is the best way to break the boredom.   Gregory (pictured below) is the newest rabbit addition to my rabbitry.  He’s used to getting attention from people so I’ve told our new young man (Mr. J) to spend all the time he wants with Gregory.    

animals as boredom busters

Today it was funny.  Gregory came in the house and managed to scare himself badly as he was exploring. He dashed into the safety of Mr. J’s lap.  The biggest smile burst forth!  So cool to see!   Then he promptly peed….the smile disappeared and emergency scooping, laundry etc happened.  It was SO good to share a good laugh, oh my, I chuckle just remembering. 

Household Chores

Did you know that a certain young man has never swept a floor or loaded a dishwasher?  That same young man also happens be an excellent cook, and likes taking the time to craft a well-made meal.  So he’s learning new skills which takes a fair bit of time to do for a highly distractable young man. It’s rather fun to watch. 

The benefit is that with each new skill learned, comes confidence.  His long-term goal…to have his own apartment, and a job he can hold down. Baggage or no baggage, long-term goals will slowly be met!

Side-benefit: As Mr. J learns new skills, my son occasionally steps in to help. Giving the opportunity for both lads to learn.  Learning to work side-by-side and to share the tasks at hand. 

picture of broom, text learning new skills

Physical Exercise

Get outside for a walk morning and afternoon… get out get out get out.  Enjoy the sunshine, pump muscles, walk, run, jump.. I don’t care.  Just get out and get your body moving.  It’s good for your body and your mind to get busy.   Even for just 15 minutes, getting exercise changes what your body is doing.  It helps medications to do their job, reduces headaches from eye strain, and guarantees a better nights sleep. 

I do hope you will join in on our linky.  The homeschool review crew has put together a social media challenge.   This week the topic is Boredom Busters.  What boredom busters for teens, children or even yourself do you have to share?

May 2020

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

My Son, If you Accept My Words

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FTC lavidge

Today I am reviewing a book for you from a mom who wanted to help her boy.  She so badly wanted him to know what God wants for him in his life.  Her original intent was not to share it.  You know though that word gets around, and so we are now able to share her words with you.  The book?  My Son, If You Accept My Words. 

My Son If you Accept my words

What I am Reviewing

My Son, If you Accept my Words is written by Sondra Lee.  Published by Westbow Press, and running at 182 pages.  Black and white photos dot the pages.  The sole purpose is to encourage young men to become the men that God calls them to be.  Learning how to live as a Christian man in a secular society is a challenge.  Helping our young men see scripture clearly and take God’s word to heart is an important step in that process.

The Details

My Son, if you accept my words cover 15 chapters.  The first nine chapters broaching on the lives of key biblical figures.  We’ll discuss Ruth, Isaac and Rebekah, Joseph, Samson, Joseph- Jesus’s Earthly Father, Mary, Hosea, Hannah and Peter.  

The last six chapters are

  • Identity Theft
  • No One Escapes
  • Guard Your Heart
  • Finish Well
  • Weathering the Storms
  • Sometimes the Journey is too Much
My Son, If you accept my words sample page

You will find KJV scripture printed out for ease of reading.  If you prefer to read in the translation of your choice it is easy to do. 

My Son, If you accept my words sample page

You’ll find that each scripture passage is followed up with an explanation.  These readings are directly based on the passage.   Occasionally the explanations were too personal, directed at her son and not a more general audience. 

My Son, If you accept my words sample page

Prayers were often included.  Prayers for God to prepare a young man’s heart, to guide his choices, and lead him throughout his life. 

My Son, If you accept my words sample page

Some of her advice is very practical. Like be discerning in what you believe, protect your reputation, give people no reason to gossip, and so forth.  Good advice for everyone, regardless of gender or age. 

I’m not going to say that I agree with everything she had to say, but there is much wisdom to be found within the pages of My Son, If You Accept My Words.  

My Son, If you accept my words sample page

Should You Get It?

I think so.  There is much that I would find useful as I guide my son toward maturity.  My prayer is that he be a solid man of God. The help that Sondra Lee provides will aid in that journey.   I haven’t read the entire book, I’m about 1/2 way through. 

The included prayers, the qualities to look for in a wife, and the abilities to develop in yourself as a young man make this a good book for a growing young man. 

I think one of the things I most appreciated was how focused Ms. Lee is to her purpose.  She pulled items out of the scripture text that I wouldn’t have previously considered as a point of manhood.  Ms. Lee worked hard to show scriptural reasoning for character traits young men need to develop.  She does the same for the traits to look for in a wife. 

Civilization’s Quotations: Life’s Ideal

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ASCOT media FTC

It is my privilege to share a treat with you today.  I got to review Civilization’s Quotations: Life Ideal.  A really cool book filled with quotes some were funny, others sad, and yet others that were profound.  Saves me time you know, to have a book at hand rather than having to search on-line for a vaguely remembered quote. Imagine this.. I now have 8000 quotes available for me, all organized and ready to for me to read, enjoy and use!

Civilization's Quotations by richard krieger

What I am Reviewing

Richard Alan Krieger put together Civilization’s Quotations: Life’s Ideal.  This is a softcover book, which contains 8000 quotes within 344 pages.  I am reviewing this on behalf of Ascot Media.

This is not an exhaustive compendium of the world’s most original quotations, but more so a collection of observations and maxim’s that caught the authors eye.   These quotes are provided in a “poetic quotation” style. You’ll find it a fun book to go through and it also serves well as a resource when searching for just the right words to use. 

quote by Gandhi

The Details on Civilization’s Quotations

The book opens with an extensive table of contents that outlines each main category with the subcategories listed under.  Some of the main categories are: 

  • Gratitude – thankfulness, praise, pleasing, value, worth
  • Work – labor, employment, occupation, business, trade, proft etc
  • Family – ancestors, home, marriage, parents, mother, father, children
  • Time – the past, the present, now, the moment, today, the future etc.
  • The world – the universe, unity, mystery
civilizations quotations table of contents

You’ll find the font is a bit small … I was happy to have my bifocals.  My 14 year old had no problems though.  

Most quotes run 1-2 lines each, occasionally longer quotes would pop up. 

Civilizations Quotations was filled with quotes were from various time periods from the far past to more recent. Not only that they were from all over the world, different genders, and various people groups. 

Civilization's Quotations sample quotes

The quotes range from funny to serious.  I have a love of old proverbs and I thoroughly enjoy reading good quotes on a wide variety of topics. Most of them are one or two lines long, but I did notice a few that were three-four lines.  Those longer ones were in the minority. 

japanese proverb - luck is like having a rice dumpling fly into your mouth

My Recommendations

One thing I wish the book had was an index of authors. I would love to be able to find all the Japanese proverbs easily, or to find other quotes by Gandhi, Lincoln, or Atwood. 

Overall, I love books like this. I know, I’m out of the normal stream, but seriously… reading quips, lines, proverbs and so forth.. it’s good you know?  

I have a firm appreciation for the variety chosen.  Not all serious, not all just fun, it was an excellent mix. Quotes were taken from all over the world.

The variety in Proverbs makes me think of making a fun workbook of learning old proverbs and what they mean. Kinda like one I did on idioms a few years back. A great tool for teaching international students English.

Science Experiment Fails

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My son has been working through Apologia Biology over this past semester. With his studies he is engaging in a wide variety of experiments. Sometimes he deigns to let me take part and it’s a hoot sharing the wonders of discovery with him. Every once in a while though he runs into an experiment that I simply can’t find the ingredients for or that try as he might, he can’t get to work properly. Highschool science is sometimes a challenge for him. What is a lad to do then?  What does one do with science experiment fails?

Science experiment Fails

Idea Spawned

I was actually a bit stymied by this until I read a blog post where a gal mentioned her son (I think) watching youtube videos for the experiments she didn’t have the ingredients for.   Brain fart… like seriously, why didn’t I think about that???  Don’t you think it’s a fantastic idea though?

The Problem Experiment, Solution One

We ran into this one experiment that my son sent me out shopping for.  He gave me a list for some upcoming experiments, one of which was meat tenderizer.  Well, I searched London for meat tenderizer going to several different stores and calling others.  One store was positive they had some and I had a delightful chat with a young man as we searched the store, but I ended up empty handed with lots of apologies. 🙂  

I had to tell the lad that we needed to figure out an alternative for this experiment.   I had a box DNA package that I had picked up a while back that had a recipe for making DNA so he used that.  This one used a different methodology so we figured it was worth a shot.  It was part of a kit that had a number of DNA related experiments in it. I’ve linked a couple of kits below that aren’t quite the same but close.  

Solution Two

The lad had some success with this kit.  I had wanted him to do a lab report with this experiment but watching his frustration I told him to choose a different experiment.  In the meantine it was most excellent that he could watch this experiment being done by another family. 

Watching this video below I can just imagine the fun my lad will have doing the plastic rock experiment. 

It has been such fun watching other families do some of these apologia experiments, and it’s a great back up for when we have science experiment fails, or simply lack the ingredients to do them properly. 

 I urge you to check out these experiments yourself, if only!  🙂   My son really enjoyed doing this experiment I found below. 

Solution Three: Failed Science Experiments

Our third solution to failed science experiments is simply to try again.  Sometimes you miss a step, or you timed something wrong, or random chance just had it not working. So try it again!  My lad did this with a mould experiment.  The first time he didn’t cut the cheese fine enough, the second time he did but thought he’d add a twist, and the third time he did it perfectly.  His crow of delight was totally worth all the effort.  🙂

There are so many good experiments out there.  Let not the lack of ingredients stymie you. Don’t get caught up in your science experiment fail.  Watch videos, try it an alternative method or simply try it all again.  Just do it, you’ll learn so much!

alphabet

Others in this Series

Two Mistakes to Avoid in Homeschool Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

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This post is sponsored by College Prep Science. Copyright 2020 by Greg Landry

Do you ever struggle with knowing how to teach biology, chemistry and physics to your homeschool children?   Learn more about how to do this in this sponsored post.  Some freebies for homeschool moms are included.

homeschool biology

Homeschool biology, chemistry, and physics curriculum, labs, and classes are the core of high school science and the thrust of middle school science as it prepares homeschooled students for high school level science. As a former college professor who has also taught thousands of homeschooled high school students, I believe that we should be careful at both of those levels to avoid two common mistakes:

  1. High school level homeschooled students who are likely to be college science majors should be taught very differently than students who will likely not be science majors and students who may not be attending college. 
college prep science

We created two separate types of classes to best address the biology, chemistry, and physics needs of each group – “college prep” and “life prep.” The depth, breadth, and pedagogy of many college-prep biology, chemistry and physics classes leave many “non-science” students frustrated, uninterested, and ultimately learning very little. I find that students in this situation often miss the big picture and they don’t have an overall understanding of the subject matter that is so critical in these sciences. They can’t see the forest because they’re lost in the trees. Our “life prep” classes are basic high school level classes, enable students to see the forest, and will allow them to learn science through the lens of their God-given interests and talents.”

  1. Ten years ago I originated the “pre” classes (Pre-Biology, Pre-Anatomy & Physiology, Pre-Chemistry, and Pre-Physics) as a means of minimizing the intimidation of high school level science and preparing middle school age students for specific high school level classes – rather than generalities such as “physical science” etc. This is a significant factor as they prepare for high school level science.
College Prep Science

The thrust of our Christian / creationist worldview homeschool biology, chemistry, and physics online classes (and lab curriculum) is to give homeschooled students access to science that is focused on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, process reasoning, data collection, and the graphical and written representation of research. We want to prepare competent, confident students for their remaining high school years, their college years, and life. 

  •  â€śCollege prep” online classes for students who will likely be college science majors
  • “Life prep” online classes for students who likely won’t be college science majors or likely won’t attend college
College prep science

– Homeschool Biology – College Prep (9th-12th) – Two Semester Class
– Life Prep Homeschool Biology (8th-12th) – Two Semester Class
– Homeschool Chemistry – College Prep (10th-12th) – Two Semester Class
– Life Prep Homeschool Chemistry (9th-12th) – Two Semester Class
– Life Prep Homeschool Physics (9th-12th) – Two Semester Class
– Homeschool Human Anatomy & Physiology (9th-12th) – Two Semester Class

– Homeschool Pre-Anatomy & Physiology (6th-9th) – One Semester Class
– Homeschool Pre-Chemistry (6th-9th) – – One Semester Class
– Homeschool Pre-Biology (6th-9th) – One Semester Class
– Homeschool Pre-Physics (6th-9th) – One Semester Class
– Homeschool ACT Prep Bootcamp (8th-12th)​

College prep science

In the words of a homeschool parent…

“Greg, …what you did for our daughter will have far reaching effects. You showed her that learning can be enjoyable…”
Thankful in Indiana
Jim H.

Note: These online homeschool science classes also include lab experiments and graded lab reports in Professor Landry’s virtual homeschool science laboratory. Students attend class weekly (either live or by recording), turn-in homework, and are tested on a regular basis. These classes are all inclusive and provide students with an enjoyable, comprehensive science experience.

College Prep Science

Homeschool dad, scientist, and former college professor, Greg Landry, offers live, online homeschool science classes, Homeschool ACT Prep Bootcamp, the Homeschool Mom’s Science Podcast, in-person two day science lab intensives nationwide, freebies for homeschool moms, and student-produced homeschool print publications.