La La Logic {Review} - Preschool Brain Exercises (Raise Your Preschooler's IQ by Playing Games)

     Marley and Dylan have been using an online learning program called La La Logic Preschool Curriculum and be prepared to hear me rave about how great it is in this review!  We La La LOVE this program! ;)

     La La Logic has created fun games and activities to help children develop their critical thinking skills.  But in addition to games and activities, the program includes an easy to follow schedule which takes the form of a substantial daily curriculum.  

     This online program is designed for ages 3-6, which worked out perfectly for my girls (ages 2.5 and 5).  I opened up an account for each of them.  You can have accounts for up to 5 children.  Each of my girls were able to choose their own little character icon.  Marley is the Elephant and Dylan is the Bumble Bee.  The program provides 100 weeks of lesson plans and over 500 online games.  The curriculum includes three distinct learning methods: 

     1) Brain Challenges

     2) Worksheets

     3) Extension Activities  

     My 5 year old, Marley really enjoyed the online brain challenges.  She would ask to do higher levels and more games. And Dylan (my 2 year old) struggled a bit with clicking the mouse but the practice has been great for her.  This program has helped her improve her computer skills by leaps and bounds.  The brain challenge portion became easy for me.  I just started the games and both of my girls were able to click right through the games and enjoy them without much help from me.  The brain challenges are very cute and have a variety of games, helpful for visual and audio learning.  The colors, shapes, and characters are very appealing for preschool aged children. 

     I think Marley liked the worksheet portion the best, because she enjoys hands on learning.  The worksheets require printing so a printer is needed.  The worksheets included visual thinking, categorizing, cutting, and gluing.  This was also very easy to prep for my 5 year old.  I would provide her with the worksheet, a pair of scissors, and a glue stick.  I gave her the instructions and she was excited to get started.  She completed the worksheets quickly and would look forward to another.  She would run up to me with a big smile and show me her completed worksheet.  The sound of "I finished mommy!" is such a sweet sound.  This is one where her critical thinking skills surprised me.  

     I asked her which categories the objects were placed in and I had in my mind that the 3rd column was "animals" but when Marley said "They are pets"  I looked again and I realized she was right!  Pets is a more specific category than animals.  She would have received a better score then me on that question. Haha.

   
     Here is another worksheet where I instructed Marley to match the animals to their shadows.  A fun and easy activity for her to do on her own.  

     My favorite part was participating in the extension activities.  Mainly because this portion included me and I was able to interact with my girls and watch them think and see the look in their eyes when they figured something out.  Those moments are priceless!  One of the activities was to lay out objects.  I asked her to look at them and remember what she saw.  I asked her to run to her room and I mixed up the items.  Her job was to place them in the original order. Then I started taking items away and she would ask where it went.  Marley enjoyed that tricky part.  She would laugh and say "Hey, where did you put it?" She LOVED this activity. We played for 20-30 minutes.

     I also appreciate the section where you can add notes to each week assignment.  I was able to record Marley's progress, and things she needs to work on, and if we should repeat the same week.  This makes it so easy to use this program as a self-paced curriculum.  I believe this is key to a successful education with young children.  Fun, variety, and no pressure.

     This online program is so simple and easy to do with your kids and I feel like it covers so many learning styles and thinking skills that are important, as well as prepping children with test taking skills. These activities help exercise the brain, while the children are having fun and feeling independent.  We used it at least 3 times per week and sometimes we used it every day! All of this for a one-time fee of $29 per household! (Your account never expires.)  Totally worth it!  I highly recommend this program for any preschooler or kindergarten student.  And for moms that would like to homeschool, but need some direction in lesson planning, this online program is super helpful.

People Who Inspire Me: Chef Kayla from Parsley & Pepper

     My dear friend Kayla is often told that she is an amazing cook.  When I was pregnant, she was such a sweetheart and brought dinner to my family when I wasn't feeling well.  We were able to get an idea of her skills, and everyone enjoyed it!  We had told her many times that she should start a blog and share her recipes and secrets.  I am excited to share her brand new website/blog! Parsley & Pepper.

     Kayla is sweet, talented, and humble.  She is a devoted wife and mother of three young adorable kids.  She is a supportive and helpful friend.  It is through her encouraging words, that I have started actually cooking for my family.  She has inspired me to improve my homemaking skills without stress.  

     You see...I DON'T cook!  We live off cereal, pb&j, frozen chicken tenders and frozen pizza.  No joke.  My family is lucky if I decide to make spaghetti, using jarred sauce.  I just don't have the patience and all the ingredients intimidate me.  I have often looked at the meals some moms prepare for their families and felt envious and inadequate as a mom.  However, by following Kayla's instagram account @parsleyandpepper and pinning some of her recipes from her new site, I felt empowered to give this cooking thing a try. This is how it went...

Fiesta Lime Pork

     This recipe is so awesome.  Only THREE ingredients! Yay!  Easiest thing I've ever cooked and I felt so fancy watching the spices and meat cook on my stove. ;)  It only took about 15 minutes to cook.  The guacamole is an awesome addition to the Fiesta Lime taste and that was also super easy to whip up.  My husband and I were excited to get some home cooked protein in our meal for a change. And huge bonus...my kids enjoyed it!  They ate every bite I gave them and my little one asked for more.  Victory!  I was even able to use the leftover meat for lunch the next day.  I just sautéed a few tomatoes added the diced up meat and salt & pepper.  I served it over white rice and again, my family liked it!  Definitely will be making this again.

Gruyere Mac & Cheese and Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

     My kids are big fans of macaroni and cheese.  I was excited to try to make it from scratch for the first time.  I had no clue how easy mac and cheese is to cook until I read Kayla's recipe.  I thought, "Hey, I can totally do this!"  And I did.  I wasn't a fan of the smell of Gruyere, so I'll probably use a different kind of cheese next time, but this recipe is incredibly easy and fast.  My family was so impressed that we had a home cooked meal for dinner.  I am a huge fan of the Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts!  This was so easy and delicious.  I love sweet things and bacon...don't even get me started on my love for bacon. ;)  Not a big fan of Brussels Sprouts but somehow Kayla put together a recipe that made me want more. Yay.  Thumbs up!  

Condensed Soup-Free Chicken & Rice Casserole
     This one was my absolute favorite! When Kayla recommended me to try this recipe, she warned that it wasn't her easiest recipe, because there were a lot of steps, but she was confident that I would be happy with it.  For sure! There are a lot of ingredients and prep for this casserole.  I worked hard on this one and I was so proud of myself when I placed the baking dish in the oven.  It looked fabulous when I took it out, to place it in my broiler.  Warning: I never used my broiler before this, so I was not aware that placing glassware in a broiler is a sensitive issue.  This is how unexperienced I am with cooking ;) Haha.  Well, when I was taking the dish out of the broiler, it shattered in my hands and the casserole was everywhere. :(  I should have taken a picture of the mess (it's funny now looking back), but I was so sad.  I apologized to my family and expressed that it broke my heart because of all the work I put into the casserole.  We were able to salvage about 1/4 of the casserole, to taste some of it for dinner.  Let me tell you...it was SO incredibly delicious.  My kids asked for more.  This picture of Marley laughing is because daddy was teasing her about eating all her dinner...she is my picky eater, but she loved this meal.  My husband and I enjoyed it so much that we went back and picked through the broken glass for a few more bites. Hahaha!  This recipe was a lot of work, but this was the most delicious and the healthiest casserole I've ever made.  My husband asked me to make it again in the future.  But obviously, beware the broiler. ;)

     I have been able to provide nutritious meals for my babies and grocery shopping was not random chaos like usual, because I went with a set list for my planned meals. And since I have learned some basic techniques from Kayla's recipes, I am much more confident in trying out my own recipes or throwing in some extra ingredients.
     PARENTAL NOTE: I have also noticed that my children have been behaving much better!  The evening tantrums have diminished, and the crankiness has disappeared.  I am almost certain that the more substantial meals (in place of junk food and processed food) has had a direct affect on their behavior.  We have all been feeling good and more peaceful. Amazing!!  Um, this is awesome! Hopefully I can keep it up. ;)
     I am so impressed with the quality of Kayla's recipes.  She makes an effort to use natural ingredients to cook healthy wholesome meals.  They turn out delicious and beautiful.  I spoke with her several times telling her, "No really, I am not good at cooking."  She kept encouraging me and assuring me that her recipes are very easy and that anyone can be successful at cooking when they keep it simple and practice.  She has helped me take my first steps in improving my cooking and my family has benefited from my efforts in just the past week.  I am lucky enough to be good friends with Kayla, so I can text her with last minute questions.  But if you comment and ask questions on her blog, she responds as soon as she can.  Kayla is very happy to help and she loves to hear success stories.

      Thank you Thank you Kayla! xoxo

Visit ParsleyAndPepper.com and follow on Instagram @ParsleyAndPepper.

ARTistic Pursuits - An Art Homeschool Curriculum

     When I first received my curriculum handbook from ARTistic Pursuits in the mail, Marley saw it and was excited to get started on it.  I explained to her that we were going to be able to do some more art projects together.  My girl is quite an artist.  She loves drawing, coloring, painting, cutting, gluing, creating, anything where she is visualizing and using her hands.  Ever since she started holding a crayon, I could tell art was going to be a significant part of her education.  She shows passion and focus during all her art projects.  Therefore, I am dedicated to finding quality resources for art study to apply to our homeschool curriculum.


     We received the preschool edition of the series called "The Way They See It."  This book can be purchased for $47.95, which I think is very reasonable for the content that is provided.  It indicates it is targeted to ages 3,4, and 5.  My daughter is almost 5, so it was easy to apply to her activities.  I also have a younger daughter who will be 3 in October, and a baby boy who will be in preschool in a couple years.  So, one great thing about this handbook, is that it can be reused for several years for multiple children.
     This book is the perfect aid in integrating art into your daily homeschool lessons.  I love that the book starts off by giving you a very basic foundation on art study and exploration of art supplies.  You are briefed on the principles of art and conceptual elements of art projects.  The book also lets you know which art supplies you will be needing.  The layout and specific instructions were a dream come true for an organized perfectionist like myself!
     The book contains around 25 lessons or projects.  There are some lessons that ask the child to examine a work of art and point out certain aspects of it.  The children are taught to notice colors, shapes, ideas, and feelings.  I loved this part.  It is very easy to sit down and look at a picture and ask questions about it.  This got Marley using her own imagination to explore the artwork, and we had some pleasant mother daughter conversations in doing so.
    Some other lessons were specific assignments. For example, the book instructed us to go outside and look at the sky and observe it.  Marley was then supposed to go inside and paint a picture of what she saw in the sky.  Again, an easy project and it made me feel like we were experiencing a very artistic part of painting.  I had Marley lay on the grass and look at the sky.  Then I told her to close her eyes and hear the sounds that were happening outside, like the wind and the leaves and the birds.

     After a couple minutes, we went inside and I instructed her to draw what she saw and what she visualized in her mind.  So I was able to modify the directions a little bit to our preferences.

        Marley had a blast doing the art projects provided in the handbook.  I really loved this handbook/curriculum because it allowed me to develop a stronger understanding of art education.  Now I can apply that knowledge as an educator to future art project we do that aren't necessarily outlined in the book.  I also thought the authors of the book and curriculum seemed to be experts in art and art education.  I would definitely invest in higher levels of this curriculum.  It was simple, original, and very knowledgable.

GPALOVEMATH Program by Great Parents Academy (GPA) {Review}

     I'd like to tell you about a math program that Marley has been doing.  It's called GPALOVEMATH by GPA LEARN.  GPA stands for Great Parents Academy, and like the company name implies the program allows parents to supervise their child's math progress.  Marley has loved this program.

     GPALOVEMATH is an online math program that provides math instruction, practice, and quizzes in the form games lead by a fun character.  The animated character talks to the student and teaches them step by step how to use the program and how to play the game and complete the quiz.  The program is broken down to provide tutorials first and then a practice quiz and finally a real quiz.
 Marley can't read the questions on her own yet, so it was nice that she could click on the question and have the character read it to her.  This was nice for me because she was able to operate the lessons on her own.  And because there is so much practice, it was pretty easy for Marley to get all the answers correct.  I felt it made her feel independent and gave her a sense of what test taking would be like.  The kindergarten level is led by a detective character trying to crack a case.  It starts out by covering identification of numbers in numeral form and in word form.  They teach the student how to count using pictures of objects, animals, and manipulatives.  There are also levels to cover colors.  This program also tracks your child's progress.

     Marley's favorite part is that after completing a quiz she is rewarded points to use in the prize store.  The prize store provides many ways to reward your child in your home and you can customize the prizes as well.  For example, they have the option to reward your child by "going to get frozen yogurt" but I know my daughter likes Jamba Juice better, so I customized one of the prizes to be a "trip to Jamba Juice."  Since I felt my daughter was too young to use the points to purchase prizes, I adjusted the "surprise" prize so that every time she completed 2 or 3 quizzes, a prize popped up automatically.  One of her favorite prizes was "stay up after bedtime for 30 more minutes."  Most of the prizes do not cost money and are easy to provide.  
     The prize incentives were great.  Marley was coming up to me daily and asking, "Can I do more homework today?" because she knew she would get another surprise reward.  I also LOVED the prize category called "Bonding Time" because all the prize ideas there are about spending quality time with your student as a reward.  How adorable is that?  Anything that encourages fun family time is a great thing.  I was impressed that the program had those reward and choices.  Very family friendly! :)

     The program creates two separate accounts.  One for the student and one for the parent.  So the student would log into their account to continue the levels.  The parent may log onto their account to see the student's progress and to adjust the prize store.  Another great feature is that you can adjust the settings of the program to send you a notification email every time your child completes a level/quiz.  The child may also "nudge" you (reminder email) to remember to give them a prize if they haven't received it yet.  Haha. I thought that was a cute feature.

     The only thing I would criticize is that the voice of the instructions is computer generated (not a human voice) so sometimes understanding what they are saying was unclear.  But if your child can read the questions, that is not a problem.  Some of the questions on the quizzes were worded in a confusing way.  But I find that is true of all tests throughout life.  

     This online program is $149 per year or $12.99 per month.  

     Overall, we really enjoy the program and I am excited to continue it with Marley.  Before this, I was lacking in math curriculum for her and now I feel I have a better understanding of her level and abilities in mathematics.  It has helped me start thinking about what route to take for that subject, and its been fun for her.        

Alphabet Song Game by The Critical Thinking Co. {Review}

     I had the opportunity to try out The Alphabet Song Game downoad available through The Critical Thinking Co.  This particular game is appropriate for toddlers through First Grade aged children.  Since my daughters are 2 and 4, this educational game was a perfect addition to our daily homeschooling activities.  I was very happy to try it out.  The game is only available to use on a Windows application.  I wish it was available for Mac, because our family prefers it, but we were able to use the game on our laptop which is compatible with either Mac or Windows.  This was nice for my kids, due to the portability of the laptop.  They were able to play the game anywhere.  I liked that The Critical Thinking Company emailed me my receipt and a link to download the game.  It made it very easy for me to install.
     CONTENT
     The game is a method of teaching young kids the chronological order of the alphabet.  I realized that it had been a while since we sang the ABCs.  Even though Marley can identify all the letters, she definitely needed to review the order of the alphabet.  This game was able to give her practice on both skills!  The idea is that the kids hear a letter and determine the letter that comes after.  The game uses the song to help.  I also liked that the game gave my daughter practice on using a mouse.  It goes further levels into lower case letters and random letters for more advanced alphabet exercises.  I like games that advance levels like that; it made me want to play too. Haha!

     OUR EXPERIENCE
     When I first set this game up for Marley, she sat in front of the screen where a voice instructed her to click the green arrow to play.  She got started right away on her own.  I love it when educational games allow the kids to operate the game by themselves.  The independence really helps my children to take control of their progress.  That's a plus!  After she got the hang of how the game was played, she played it several times.  Before I could even try to engage my toddler, I found her walking up to the laptop and she was focused on watching her older sister play.  I think the song is appealing to little ones which helps with involving children of different ages at once.  Again, big plus!
     Every day Marley was able to attempt a level higher.  If she didn't quite master that level, I would have her do that level again the next day.  The game allowed for flexibility in progress.  Self paced education is invaluable when it comes to homeschooling.
     I found her progressing quickly in knowing the alphabet very well.  My toddler, Dylan, was also wanting to attempt the game herself.  I definitely think it helped to see her older sister play the game, because Dylan is always trying to copy Marley.  It was fun to watch her learn how to work a mouse and click on the letters.  So not only was Dylan working on her alphabet and letter recognition, but she was also developing those fine motor skills and computer knowledge!

     OVERALL
     I loved this game!  Back to the basics.  The software is simple and appealing to the eyes and ears.  I felt it didn't over complicate the learning goals.  The consistency of the levels and progression also made it easy for my kids to play the game with confidence.  I highly recommend this game for toddlers and preschoolers...or anyone trying to master the alphabet.

A Thomas Jefferson Education

     I just finished reading the book A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century, by Oliver Demille.  Seriously life changing.  I already had radical ideas on education since I decided to homeschool, but this book has given me so much more to think about.  The best way I can describe the philosophy of education is "back to the basics."  Demille goes through the mistakes that are being made in school today and walks you through why teachers would be better off simplifying the way we educate our children.  He examines the education of our founding fathers and breaks down why they became great leaders and brilliant men with just a mentor and being exposed to classic works.
     It's obvious education has deteriorated over the years.  Way back when.. we had inventors, philosophers, artists, composers,
authors of classics, freedom leaders. These people were driven by the love for learning and motivation to acquire knowledge on their own.  My main goal is to raise my children to be happy, independent thinkers who can create their own path to success instead of relying on the paths of others.  This book reassures me that my goal is simple to achieve.
     One of the most interesting thoughts I got from this book is that education does not require more money.  It requires LESS.  Less curriculums, less supplies, less textbooks.  And get this...the things that we need more of, do not cost anything!  A teacher that is a good example, classic works to examine and read, customized goals for the individual, caring support, motivating words, etc.  Well, maybe you need to purchase a pen and paper. ;)
     I have read some critics of the book and their concerns are that the method does not produce results.  I have taken this into consideration.  However, as a homeschooler, I am well aware that each child is different and there is no one universal answer, teaching method, learning style, or philosophy that will take care of education.  Obviously, the parent must examine their circumstances and their children and their goals, in order to determine what supplemental teaching philosophies they will apply.  There are always curriculum gaps when adopting a certain method.  And in this case, I think TJed offers a philosophy of education rather than a curriculum.  These are ideas that are meant to be applied to other options.  I can see that the TJed philosophy taken at face value would probably not produce a brilliant scholar, but the concepts presented in the book are thought provoking and inspiring.  As a homeschooler, I can never get enough inspiration. :)  Remember, it's more of a pep talk than a curriculum.
     If you are having trouble moving away from conventional styles of educating, this is an amazing book to read.  It redefines our understanding of education.  The methods of teaching are so basic and brilliant.  And I love the concept of entrusting individual students to love learning and progress naturally by providing support, encouragement, and inspiration.  This is truly an inspiring book.  I highly recommend all parents to read it.  If nothing more than to ponder the different options of educating. But I am confident that anyone who reads this book will find valuable ideas and methods of teaching.

Egglo Entertainment: Easter Eggs That GLOW! {Review}

     With Easter coming up, we need to start thinking about our plans and ways to celebrate the holiday.  Our church usually puts together a small and simple Easter egg hunt.  It is always fun.  But I think one of the biggest concerns that most religious people have about Easter is that we celebrate without fully grasping the purpose of the holiday and remembering the meaning of Easter.  Easter is about the atonement of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  It signifies the importance of his crucifixion and resurrection.  We celebrate Easter to pay respect to his suffering for us and our salvation.  These things don't normally come across in a basic Easter egg hunt.  And don't even get me started on the ridiculous tradition of the Easter Bunny. ;)  When I heard about Egglo Easter Eggs, I was so excited to try them out!

PRODUCTS
     These Egglo Easter Eggs are made by Egglo Entertainment, and they actually glow in the dark!  The idea behind these eggs, is that you can provide an Easter Egg Hunt for your kids, but explain to them that part of celebrating Easter is trying to find the "Light of Christ."  I LOVED the concept right away!  Egglo Entertainment also offers many products sold separately that can enhance the experience of these glow-in-the-dark eggs.  They have mini scrolls with scriptures, that can be placed inside the eggs.  They have stickers that can be purchased.  They have an adorable storybook called the Egg-cellent Easter Adventure, which takes some children on an adventure through some bible scenarios.  I really liked the story and the illustrations were great!  Egglo Entertainment also offers a complete curriculum guide to go along with their products.  I thought the curriculum guide was very well done, with specific step by step instructions on how to put together an effective and spiritual Easter Egg Hunt.  All of these products are sold separately for fees ranging from $3 to $15, or they come in a package deal of $50.  I think the price is very reasonable considering it is something that can be used over and over again.

OUR EXPERIENCE
     We have a Family Night every Monday and this was a perfect opportunity to give the Egglo Eggs a try.  I read the Egg-cellent Easter Adventure to my kids.  The characters were cute and had relatable personalities.  In this story the kids go on an adventure looking for a glowing Easter egg.  The story was fun and kept their attention.  I did a brief explanation of why we celebrate Easter and said, "Now we are going to go find the light of Christ."  We turned out the lights and let the kids find their eggs.  They had a blast and were excited to find the glowing eggs hidden throughout the house.  We placed a starburst and a scripture scroll inside each egg.  The girls ate their candy happily and were excited to open up the scrolls and have us read it to them.  It was a great way to integrate scripture study and spiritual remembrance of our Savior.
     My only criticism is that the eggs need to be placed under light for at least a half hour in order for them to glow, but that is the case with any glowing products.  When they are ready to glow the glow is bright enough to see in the dark, but the eggs do not glow super bright by any means.
     One of the best parts about the eggs is that you can use them year after year.  I plan to recommend these eggs to my church for their next Easter activity, since all these products can easily be adapted to fit any Christian church.  But I am thrilled I have the opportunity to use these with my kids for Easter or other fun activities as a family.  They loved the eggs so much, that I had to hide them. Haha! ;)
I really love these glow-in-the-dark-eggs and I am confident it will continue to bring a more spiritual experience to our family Easter tradition.
Thanks Egglo Entertainment! God Bless.

   

   

 

The Learning Journal - A New Method To My Madness

     I've only been homeschooling for a year and a half and its been preschool level.  But even so, I have already changed my curriculum, methods of teaching, teaching styles, etc, many times.  I like the idea of trial and error, because it gives me hope that I will make progress and continue to improve as an educator.  Especially as I begin to take more of an "unschooling" approach, the methods of homeschooling can be surprising.  It leaves flexibility for endless possibilities in terms of education.
     My latest approach is called The Learning Journal.  It is a product I came across on Instagram.  The book provides pages and pages of spaces for kids to document their educational activities.
There is a heading labeled "What I want to learn about" along with sections labeled "What I read" "Where I went" "What I did" and "Conclusions."  I loved the concept right away.  As you can see I tweaked the format a bit to meet the needs of my preschooler.  Instead, I divided the sections to be a place where Marley could dictate to me what she did, and then she could copy my writing.  This gives her a chance to give her thoughts to document like in a real journal and then she can practice her writing/spelling/reading.  I made the third section a spot where she can draw and color a picture of her activity.  I made the "Conclusions" section a place where she will sign her name.  This way each time she does an entry she is practicing how to write out her full name.

    So far the Learning Journal is working out nicely.  Every day Marley is able to choose any activity she wants to do, like visiting a park, doing an art project, doing a science experiment, or (as pictured) celebrate National Pancake Day. ;)  After the activity is over, we sit down at the table to write about it in her Learning Journal.  She gets some academic practice in one short sitting and she is documenting her experiences.  I love that it also gives her practice in regularly using a journal.
     The Learning Journal comes with 210 pages and can be purchased on Amazon.com for $14.  It's simple and adaptable for many purposes.  One small feature I also like is that at the top of each page there is an interesting quote about education or learning.  I may be a bit of a nerd, but I think that is so fun!  I think this is a perfect accessory to homeschooling or educational supplies.