TOS Review- Classical Academic Press

This week, I am posting my review of "God's Great Covenant: A Bible Course for Children" Old Testament 1- Genesis to Ruth.

I had never heard of Classical Academic Press before being asked to review their product.  I found out that they also sell material in the areas of Logic, Latin, Spanish, Greek, French and Poetry.

Upon receiving the products, I was interested to see how the Old Testament could be presented to children in a way that was interesting and relevant to them.

From CAP's literature: "God has a big story to tell.  From beginning to end His Word is action-packed and suspense filled while, at the same time, it's the greatest love story ever written.  The aim of the God's Great Covenant Bible curriculum is to relate the Biblical narrative to elementary-aged children in a simple, unified way that emphasizes God's faithfulness through the ages."

The program is a four-year series for students beginning as early as second grade.  There are two texts teaching the Old Testament and two teaching the New Testament.

I received the God's Great Covenant Old Testament 1 Bundle, which included a Student Edition, Teacher's Edition and an audio download of Bible stories being read aloud.

These items can all be previewed and purchased from their website:

God's Great Covenant, OT 1: A Bible Course for Children $22.95
God's Great Covenant, OT 1: Teacher's Edition $24.95
God's Great Covenant, OT 1: Audio Files $9.95

All of the above bundled together (in additon to a OT timeline and map set) $79.95

We liked that the stories were written in a format that was interesting, suspenseful and using vocabulary/ideas that the children would be able to understand.  Through these chapters and activities, the people in the Bible became real for my kids, along with their struggles, faith, and relationship with God.

The activities/worksheets offered a variety of activities including crossword puzzles and word finds, which are always popular in my house.  :-)  We were very pleased with these materials and look forward to delving further into them.

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Review Crew, I received this product at no cost to me in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- February 12

It is time for another great week of recipes!  :-)  I have so much enjoyed all of the recipes that have been shared.  I'm sorry if I haven't had a chance to comment on each and every submission (I am trying!)

This week, my daughter wanted to bake some cookies.  She found an old cookbook (Sesame Street Yummy Cookies) she had from when she was little and we adapted a recipe from it.

Cocoa Crackles
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (one stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 350.  Lightly grease cookie sheets.
Stir together the all-purpose flour, the whole wheat flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.  Beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl.  Add the eggs and vanilla; beat until well blended.  Add the flour mixture, beat just until blended.

Place the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.  roll heaping teaspoonfuls of the dough into balls or spheres.  Roll the balls in the powdered sugar until they are coated.  Place two inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake for about 11 minutes or until they are set and no longer shiny.  Cool the cookies on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes and then remove to racks to cool completely.

These are SO good!  I hope you will enjoy them as much as my family did!  :-)

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up February 8

This is a bit late (actually, really late) getting written/posted.

In my life/homeschool this week:

On Monday, Kiddo #4 finished yet another sewing project.  She made herself a polar bear.  The skills and eye for detail and creativity she has at her age really astonish me.

Kiddo #1 also did a pretty neat science experiment.  You can see photos of it here.  I also posted about our weekend in my Memoir Monday post, which you can see here.

The highlight of the day on Tuesday was bowling with some friends.  Our league hasn't started back up yet, but the kids enjoy trying to keep up their skills in between.  :-)

Since it was Tuesday, I also posted my "Try a New Recipe Tuesday" linkup, which is growing in popularity.  :-)  You can see my recipe for homemade bouillon and onion soup mix in addition to all of the other recipes shared here.

Wednesday was a get down to the books day, with much getting done.  Kiddos #3 and 4 have completely mastered 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication.  On to 3 x 3 next week!  Wow!  It is amazing how Kiddo #4, when exposed to her brother's work (which is 2 years above her), is learning it, too.  That has to be one of the biggest benefits of homeschooling-- you are not limited to an age label or forced to sit through the presentation of material that you already know because of the limitations of "teaching to the middle of the class."  There is no limit and no labels in homeschool.  They go at their own pace, however "advanced" or "not" it may be.  :-)

Another wonderful benefit is teaching what is applicable on that day.  For example, on Thursday, Kiddo #4 was writing in her journal (which she does faithfully multiple times a day) and asked about the spelling of a word.  Thus, a lesson ensued with the differences between "there, their and they're."  When it is relevant and applicable to them and their needs, they will *want* to learn and remember it.  :-)

Kiddos 1 and 2 had their online class, which they are enjoying. (and there's nothing like lounging and learning simultaneously! lol)

We also had our afternoon classes at church.  With my 5th graders, I spoke about the true meaning of St. Valentine's Day, we made a John 3:16 Valentine craft

and we discussed Lent, as it starts next week.  Yegads!  :-)  Kiddos 1 and 2 volunteered as helpers, as they do every week, assisting with attendance and other tasks.

And there's nothing like playing a game with dad when he comes home from work.

A uneventful day of schoolwork was on Friday.  We wrapped up St. Valentine's Day chocolates for the kids' great-grandmothers. (my husband is blessed to have both of his grandmothers still living) and I went to the post office and got them sent off.  I hope they'll enjoy them.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.  I am so glad that I was able to get this post done, finally!  :-)

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection

TOS Review-Apologia Zoology 1

When the opportunity presented itself that I could review Apologia's Zoology 1: Flying Creatures, I was so excited!  I love Apologia's materials and have used them extensively with my children.

Zoology 1 proved no different than their other subject areas that we have studied.  There is so much activity and variety in this textbook. ($39.00)  It is bright and full of beautiful illustrations and is written with a style that keeps the student interested and engaged.  It reads like a living book, yet has the depth of a textbook.

The experiments and hands-on activity suggestions are easy on the parent/teacher, yet are fun and educational for the student.

Also beneficial are the multiple opportunities for the child to narrate back what they have learned.  We definitely retain what we can put into words and this solidifies the information for the student.

The Junior Notebooking Journal ($24.00) is a wonderful supplement to the text.  Geared toward those who are just mastering cursive handwriting (there is the regular Notebooking Journal for older students), the journal guides the student in having a personal keepsake of their studies with lapbooking activities, writings, drawings and experiments.  My children love pulling out their notebooking journals!

Did you know that a Short-tailed Shearwater flies 5,000 miles without stopping?  I didn't.  :-)  I also didn't know that a Bar-headed goose flies above the "death zone" elevation of 25,000 feet where humans cannot survive.  There is so much more covered in this book, that we are looking forward to continuing with our study.


Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Review Crew, I received this product at no cost to me in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

3 in 30 update

Wow, this accountability stuff really works, lol!  :-)

So, how do I do in my first week of the "3 in 30 challenge?"

For February, my goals are the following:

1) redo 20 blog posts- This week, I have managed to get back to May 28th completed.  Yay!  :-)

2) finish a vacation photo album (5-10 pics printed a day)- I printed 35 pictures and counting so far.  There is nothing like printing beach pictures when it is snowing outside!  :-)

3) finish crocheting blanket- I have finished a few more rows.  Getting there!  :-)

My blogging has suffered a bit the last couple of days (never did get Thursday's or Friday's posts out yet), but I pretty much am keeping up with my 3 in 30 goals so far!

Linking up with Aurie.  Come over and share how you are doing so far this week with your monthly goals.

Wordless Wednesday- February 6

Here are some photos depicting one of Kiddo #1's fun science experiments, Kiddo #3 reading me a book (don't you just love when they do that?), a couple of shots from bowling, Kiddo #4 latest masterpiece from sewing class (the polar bear) and a great online game Kiddo #2 was playing about whale migration.  It's been a productive and fun couple of days!  :-)

Linking up with: Judy H-J's Thoughts, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy, NOBH, Musings from a Stay at Home Mom, Tina's Wordless Wednesday,Judy @ CoffeeJitters and Wordless Wednesday at Wordless and  Living Well Wednesday, Modest Mom,  Homemaking Wednesdays and Crafty Spices, Look What We Did and Do Small Things With Love and Wordless Wednesday Bloggers

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- February 5

Well, necessity perhaps is the mother of invention.

I set out on Friday to make Tater Tot Casserole. (click for the recipe)

I could have bet that I had more dry onion soup mix around.  Wrong.  Ok, I thought.  I'll just make my own from scratch.  Better than having that MSG and whatever else they put in it.  :-)  Now, back to the recipe for the Dry Onion Soup Mix.  First ingredient, bouillon.  Where's the bouillon?  lol.  Guess I'm making that from scratch, too.  So, this post has turned into recipes for both the homemade bouillon and dry onion soup mix.

Lisa's Homemade Bouillon
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. whole celery seeds
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. thyme

Lisa's Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix
4 teaspoons bouillon
8 teaspoons dried onion flakes
1 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. pepper

It was probably the best Tater Tot Casserole we've had.  :-)

And, a special thank you to Addicted to Recipes to featuring my Shipwreck Casserole and to Creative Mondays for featuring My Son's Chocolate Cake last week!  Wow!  :-)

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks