A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Review

Art Series: 642 Things about Me.

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You know how art is about more than drawing, painting, cutting, gluing and making.  How art is also about words and how to use them beautifully?   Here is a book to encourage beauty in both of those formats for your young artists and writers.    642 things about me.

Chronicle Books has come out with another 642 things book!    This one is geared for the 8-12 year old writer and artist.    

As you can see there is plenty of space to write and to draw, sometimes to do both for the same topic.

Some of the things you might be asked to write about are:

  • something you collect
  • a cheer you could chant
  • describe what thunder sounds like
  • the music at the dentist office

Things to write and draw

  • an historical figure image, quote, question to ask
  • an artist that inspires, art work, a project you could do

Things you can draw:

  • treasure chest at the bottom of the ocean
  • colossal bike ramp
  • flag of your country
  • a valentine 
  • a merit badge for bravery

So many things to write, to draw.
So many things to see and to listen for.  Thoughts to consider, quotes that inspire.

Get this book into the hands of your young artist and watch them get busy being inspired to learn, draw, grow, and develop.  A good thing yes?

You can find my reviews on 
642 Big Things to Draw
642 Places to Draw.

If looking for the complete series of the 642 books visit Chronicle books.

642 Things About Me: Young Writer’s & Artist’s Edition
Chronicle Books
7.5 x 8.95 
304 pages
Ages 8-12

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

 

Review: Armstrong & Charlie

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This
middle school book was simply a good read. A white boy and a black
boy… learning they really weren’t so different after all.   A good
book for middle schoolers (and their older siblings or parents too!). 
🙂 

Book Synopsis:
 Charlie isn’t looking forward to sixth grade. If he starts sixth grade,
chances are he’ll finish it. And when he does, he’ll grow older than the
brother he recently lost. 

Armstrong isn’t looking forward to sixth
grade, either. His parents have signed him up for Opportunity Busing to a
white school in the Hollywood Hill.

So from September to June, arms will wrestle, fists will fly,
and bottles will spin. There’ll be Ho Hos spiked with hot sauce,
sleepovers, boy talk about girls, and a little guidance from the stars.

Set in Los Angeles in the 1970s, Armstrong and Charlie is the
hilarious, heartwarming tale of two boys from opposite worlds,
Different, yet the same.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, it took me a while to cotton to the fact that the story jumped back and forth between Charlie and Armstrong’s stories.   But once I did it worked.

Seeing the thoughts of two sixth grade boys as they work through not only sixth grade and all that means, but through integration of blacks and whites in the same school.  Armstrong being one of the children bused into a predominately white school.  Charlie having to deal with his school friends abandoning his integrated school for the security of all white schools.

It’s a neat book where two boys had to work through a variety of challenges… involving fights and ho ho’s and misunderstandings, and then… a sleepover in which they discovered… they are both boys and aren’t as different as they thought they might be.

That doesn’t mean the challenges stopped, it just means they changed.  Through it all, lessons are learned and friendships are forged and change happened. 

My suggestion: This is a good, enjoyable read.  Could easily make the type of book to do a report on and be good for conversation starters.  NOTE: there is some astrology in this book for parents who would rather avoid that, but it’s not a huge part.

 Armstrong & Charlie. 
By Steven B. Frank
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Size: 6.1 x 8.56
304 pages
Ages 10-12 years
Received: Softcover book

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

 Amazon.ca: Armstrong and Charlie

 Amazon.com: Armstrong and Charlie

Review: Math Mammoth International Light Blue

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My lad has been working through the International Series (Light Blue Version) Grade 6 curriculum from Math Mammoth for the past several weeks.  Let me tell you how well this program is working for us.

Do you ever battle with your children over math?  Well, my son is GOOD at math, but that doesn’t mean he likes being TAUGHT math.  We have over the years started various math programs to the delight of my lad until he runs into a part of the teaching that he doesn’t like and it will quickly fall apart of from there…usually takes about 1-2 months to kick in.  Imagine now, my delight to have a program that is working well for my lad.  Oh.. it’s amazing!!!!   🙂  

Math Mammoth…I LOVE YOU!!!   (so does my lad).  🙂

What is Math Mammoth, International Grade 6 you ask?
 It is a complete
maths program for sixth grade. It
consists of two student worktexts (A and B), a separate answer key for
each, tests, mixed revisions, and in the download version, an additional
worksheet maker (Internet access required) to make extra practice
worksheets when needed.

Now I will admit there was a bit of a learning curve and a needing to figure out how we would do the program.   See Math Mammoth doesn’t set out and say “Day one do this, day two do that”.. WHICH I admit I love. I have a strong aversion to being told what to do and when to do it.  I like figuring things out on my own.  Ergo I printed off what I thought my lad could reasonably be expected to complete in a week.  10 pages, means 2 pages a day.

Uh..rebellion.  “Way too much work mom!   I can’t do ALL THIS”.  This was his shocked response to being handed that reef of papers. 

I broke it down for him… just two pages a day AND asked him this: What do we do when we run into a snag?   “We stop and figure it out mom”.   

To which I responded “Do you think just because we are starting a new math program that will change?”   No.

Off we set.

Admittedly there was some worries… do I have use their paper?   Do I have to write it all down there?  (Math Mammoth uses a grid to help learn long division).  No…but you might find it useful to write on something.   “Is my tablet okay?”  Sure.

You see, I don’t care what he write it on, his tablet, in the air, on paper, with a grid, without a grid…doesn’t matter.  What matters to me is this: Is he learning the material, does he understand it, AND can he explain to me how he got there?   That later is important to me because my lad often approaches math in a different direction than what I would do … so as long as he can explain his process and gets the correct answer using the process multiple times…it works for me.   This HAS been a problem for us.

Why do I tell you all this?

Math Mammoth links to a variety of sources to help children learn to do math.  Not all those math systems use the same way to do the math.   So when my son gets stuck, I just keep showing him how different people solve the problem until a method clicks with him and bam…. math is learned.   It means we don’t get stuck knocking heads over methodology when all we want is math learned and used.

Here he’s playing a game to remind him of how numbers make sense regardless of which way the math is done.

Doing math while mulling over why long division was so tough that particular day.

I was surprised that such a simple game made him think.   In the process of playing, he figured out what that problem with long division was (word usage and concern over bigger numbers).

Math Mammoth has shown us areas of weakness (like truly understanding how long division works and multiplication with really big numbers).   It’s also shown us areas of unknown strength like the ease of learning exponents when he’s never seen them before.

Now that we have gotten into a routine of 2 pages completely done everyday, my lad looks forward to doing his math.  To learning new math and being able to do it in a way that makes sense. He loves knowing that he can work on his math at his own speed, taking time where needed, and speeding through when he understands the concept. 

Math Mammoth has given us a logical way of doing homeschool math that is working for my lad without a lot of needless repetition, access to a variety of methods to learn, and just the right amount of work.   It provides extra worksheets to help with areas of struggle.

Should you get it?
YES!  Especially if you like the things we like:

If you have a child who dislikes images on his math pages.
If you have a child who likes straight-forward math programs.
If your student appreciates different ways of learning the same material.
If your student likes doing mental math.
If your child has an appreciation for working through material at his/her own pace. 
If you love excellent customer service.   We had a query with one question, asked about it, and got an answer within 24 hours.
If you like an affordable homeschool math curriculum. 

If you decide you too would like the Math Mammoth International Series (Light Blue Version)
this is what you get in your affordable downloadable link.

  Two student worktexts A & B along with answer keys for those books.  PDF’s.

A variety of tests, one for each chapters.

Some additional worksheets.

A bonus soft-pak, you can use these to make up additional question sheets as remedial or more difficult as you like.    This is a package that you download onto your computer.  The math maker that I used automatically printed.

The two parts of this program (A and B) sell for $18.75 each for the Worktext and answer key, soft-pak, revisions and tests.  Full Set for $37.50 and can be used with more than one child.  Affordable indeed.

http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/affordable-quality-math-math-mammoth-reviews/
  

Linked up at Hip Homeschoolers.

Review: A Dog’s Purpose

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Out in the theatres now is the movie A Dog’s Purpose.

So I can’t say I was really surprised when I was sent “A Dog’s Purpose” (the book) to review.   Kind makes sense to promote both book and movie at the same time eh?   🙂

I read Ellie’s Story a while back and thoroughly enjoyed that book, once I got into it.  It was a nice story about a dog and her person, a dog with a job to do, a dog with a purpose in life.   It’s a bit unusual reading a book from the dog’s point of view, but once I got past that… a good book.

So when I was given A Dog’s Purpose I was admittedly curious to see if I would like it. I have to admit, it was interesting story.   Would I like a book, meant for adults, written from the dogs’ point of view?

Well.. I have to admit, it was a nice story.   It was.

I struggled though.   I dislike the idea of reincarnation..and having a dog live, die, a dog live, die and so on throughout it’s life just didn’t set well with me.

If I could have separated out the separate stories about the dogs’ and their lives and somehow managed to have them interconnect without the reincarnation bit I more than likely would have enjoyed the book more.

It was very funny in sections… seeing how a dog might interpret what we are saying to them and how disappointed they might be at missing out on a cookie.   It was intriguing to see a dogs perspective to their family being in peril, or hurt, and how they just might see their “job”.   Of course it is also the personification of dogs and the failure to see that dogs are NOT people.  Seeing things through their eyes also helps make that apparent.  Dogs are not people as much as we want to personify them.  

As it was I can say “nice overall story, but not one I would read again”.
Makes me wonder how they’ll end up turning it into a movie.  🙂

Would I recommend it?
If you are able to separate the idea of reincarnation and simply enjoy a story from a dog’s point of view, complete with the humour contained therein, then yes.   If you cannot, then I would recommend giving it a pass. 

Author: W. Bruce Cameron
Publisher: TOR
Pages:: 335
Size:  7.56 x 4.63
Book for adults
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Amazon.ca: A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans

Amazon.com: A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans

Books for Canada: Jack London and the Klondike Gold Rush

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I very much enjoyed this book about Jack London.   

If you don’t know who he is, he is the guy who wrote books such as “The Call of the Wild” and “White Fang”.  Books that inspire us to know more about Canada’s northland and the critters contained therein.

Both of those books were favourites of mine as a youngster.   Calling me into the land of untamed wilderness and the heart of animals that are part of it.  🙂

BUT this book is NOT about those animals, but about the man who wrote the books.   A biography of a great author. His books required and desired reading among Canadian Students, speaking to the allure of the north.

Jack London who got swept up in the Gold Rush of 1897.

Filled with photographs of the day and the daring heroism of the men who set a goal.. GET TO THE GOLD!!!   Climbing over mountains, fording rivers, canoeing across large rivers, dealing with weather, and fording through the untamed wilds of Canada.

The sheer hardship they went through.
The number of men forced to turn back.
The fight against the land and the weather and the animals.

The sheer joy of striking it rich.
The thrill of making it through the rushing water.
The knowledge of the need to return home.  
The sorrow when riches weren’t found.

So many stories and adventures contained within one book.  

What else did I appreciate in this book?

The timeline in the back of the book.
running from 1876 to 1912.

His early life and his love of books. 

His work as a seaman. 
His vagrancy. 
Gold rush days.
Marriage to Bessie May Maddern.
And various books/stories written.

I appreciated that the author explained that he did take some liberties with the story.  Much in the book in included from writing from Mr. London and others who travelled with him.  

 Jack London and the Klondike Gold Rush

188 pages
published by Henry Holt and Company
Written by Peter Lourie
Type: Biography
Written for ages 8-12.
Illustrated by Wendell Minor

Reviewed for Raincoast Books 

 Amazon.ca: Jack London and the Klondike Gold Rush

 Amazon.com: Jack London and the Klondike Gold Rush

Review: Conspiracy of Silence

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Rarely do I list a review for a book that I don’t recommend people get.  BUT I said I would write a review for this company, ergo I shall.

Conspiracy of Silence is the first book in The Tox Files.

Tox is a military man, who fights the battles no one else really wants to take on.   A top-notch battle hardened man.

The book started off with a bible story that had accurate details but then added a twist of added darkness…. that just left me with a really bad feeling of run away don’t touch this book.

I persisted through the first two chapters… way more violence than what I would prefer.  Stopped and put it away for a good while.. then thought let’s see what the end of the book is like.

The darkness rolling off the bad guys was palpable.  The violence steady.  And then a twist of darkness happened and I dropped the book and said “DONE” this book is simply a no go.  

I hate doing this.
I dislike finding books that I can’t find a compelling reason to read.

So I’m searching my mind for people who might like this type of book.
1. The book has a lot of suspense,  I tend to like suspense, but the darkness in this one stopped me.
2. Those who like reading action based Military reads.
3. Those who don’t mind a lot of violence in their books
4. Those who don’t mind palpable evil being portrayed in their reading.  It’s a good writing to be able to give off that sense, but was just WAY too much for me.

So if you are that kind of person, but this book would work for you.  If not.  Steer clear.

 

Art Series: Earth-Space Coloring Book

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 Imagine a book where you could combine a love of learning, with a love of colouring.   Right now my son is big into astronomy…he’s having fun doing experiments, reading and listening, watching youtube videos…and now he can see pictures of what he is learning about in a softcover colouring book AND if he were so inclined…try to replicate what he sees.

Allow me to introduce to you a  new colouring book.   Earth-Space.  This lovely book is put together by Chronicle Books.

This book is beautiful.   The images of space that are photographs taken from the Archives of NASA.  They are breathtakingly beautiful.

Each picture is labelled so we know just what we are looking at.   We see earth from space, corona australis, the orion nebula, stellar snowflake cluster and so much more.

Some of the images are so close you could almost reach out and touch them, while others really point out the grandeur of God to me…that he could make something so interesting to look at, like the Caterpillar of dust and gas.

Each page opens into two page, the first page of the natural phenomena, the second with it broken down into simple lines.   This breaks the natural beauty seem more attainable to colour.  I have to admit though, I felt intimidated by the idea of trying to replicate the variety of colours presented.  BUT since each image is broken down simple lines, it is easier diverge… take for instance the image of rings of Saturn seen below…the colouring page does not depict ALL the rings, so you can use the colours you have at hand, or if desired…you could completely change it up.  It’s a colouring book… do what you want eh?

As you can see, each colouring page is done with simple lines.  Allowing each area to be coloured in sections, or swirls or whatever you wish.   These lines give you connecting points to the real picture so you can build off that.

Just a fascinating colouring book, that at first (to me looked intimidating) but as I continued to look through and think about it, I just found it fascinating as it’s different then other colouring books, it’s more free form with the lines just providing a grounding to base one’s work off of.  Mix colours, don’t be constrained by lines, and just have fun recreating.

I can EASILY see this being used in an astronomy class with students as well.  Even just to look at the pictures to show the beauty that can be found in the galaxy above us.  🙂


Earth Space Coloring book: Photographs from the Archives of NASA.

Published by Chronicle Books.
Pages: 80
Size 8.63 x 11

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books