As part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew I received a download of Family Time Fitness Homeschool Core 1 for ages 4-13 to review. Family Time Fitness is an award winning program that allows parents to teach physical fitness regardless of their training, or lack thereof. Fitness for Homeschools is designed by experts in body movement, kinesiology, training and nutrition.

Family Time Fitness is structured physical activity to help you teach and manage your students physical fitness. Fitness for Homeschools Core 1 includes 260 planned lessons.  They recommend a minimum of 3 lessons per week, with 5 lessons a week strongly recommended. Each lessons takes 30-45 minutes. We tried for 3 lessons a week, although there was a week or two where we only got in 2 lessons. Health professionals recommend exercising 3 times per week, and Family Time Fitness’s recommendation agrees with that.

The Fitness 4 Homeschool Curriculum includes a startup guide, PDF lesson plans, video demonstrations, assessment tools, reminder emails, lifetime curriculum and video updates, access to online webinars and certificates of completion.

You can view the Scope and Sequence online.

Here’s a short video by  Body Movement Expert Dr. peter Minke talking about Family Fitness and family exercise what it is, what it isn’t and why you need it.

The curriculum comes as a download in PDF form. The directions are written clearly and simply. Sometimes though, you really need to see an exercise or activity done to be able to do it properly. I loved that for each exercise there is a link that when clicked opens up a video showing how to do it correctly. We watched most of them. The kids wanted to watch even when we could figure out what to do by reading the lesson.

There are only a few pieces of equipment required for the curriculum. Playground balls, hula hoops, jump ropes, cones, bean bags, and the like. No big purchases are required. You may have many of these already. We did. It is recommended to have at least one of each for every two students. It does make it nice though, for each student to have their own. That way they can all do it at the same time. Taking turns does work out well, too, though.

I used this with my 12,14, and 16 year old kids. I had the 16 year old do it with us to help her get ready for volleyball season. This curriculum is great not only for regular physical activity but also for getting kids ready to play sports. There was a lot of complaining the first week or so, as they were all sore. For health reasons, I was unable to participate in the exercising, but I was there for all the sessions, telling the kids what to do and showing them the videos. And sometimes laughing with them. They had fun doing all the exercises and activities. Well, ok, they didn’t have fun doing all the exercises. None of them liked the frog squats. I can’t say I blame them. lol I plan on  continuing with this curriculum for the rest of the school year. It will be really good this winter when they are unable to do any outside activities.

I asked my kids if I could take pictures or videos of them doing some of the exercises and activities. I was given a resounding “No!” lol Thankfully, Family Time Fitness provided a few pictures. So these are not my kids, and that is not my house.

Bean Bag Shuffle Race

Red Light Green Light – I used to love to play that! lol

Don’t think your students need regularly scheduled physical fitness time? Take a look at this  Brain Scan comparing student after sitting and exercising.

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A composite of 20 students brains while taking the same test, after sitting quietly and after a 20 minute walk. Clearly, the students were able to think better after exercise. I know I’ve always used physical activity to tame my boys so they could sit and study. It’s nice to see the science behind the theory. It really emphasizes the need for physical activity. So not only is physical activity necessary for good physical health, it’s also necessary for good mental health.

One Family Time Fitness curriculum purchase can be used for all your children, there are no subscription fees or annual renewal fees. There are levels for ages 4-13 and 14-18. The entire Fitness 4 Homeschool package with lifetime access to all program updates or revisions is available to your entire homeschool family for just one payment of $57.  Online schools, Co-op pricing and licensing programs are also available, visit the website for more information.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this curriculum in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

As part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received Marshall Publishing‘s Oregon Trail & Pony Express DVD to review.

Marshall Publishing’s goal is to provide lots of fun for everyone through award-winning DVDs, Books, CDs, CD-roms, and other media that will amaze, amuse, entertain, and educate.

I reviewed Marshall Publishing’s George Washington Carver DVD last year, and we loved it. So I was glad to receive another one of their DVDs to review.

The History of The Oregon Trail & The Pony Express is two DVDs in one. With live re-enactments, illustrated maps, awesome photography, including rare photographs, this DVD brings history to life. This DVD is very well done. It not only entertains, but it educates young and old alike.

The Oregon Trail is approximately 35 minutes long. This section not only shows the beautiful landscape of The Oregon Trail but also covers why people traveled this way. I loved the parts that showed the view from inside the wagon. Using immigrants diaries and detail accounts, this DVD covers the joys and hardships of the trip.

The Pony Express is approximately 16 minutes long. Most people, including me, don’t realize that the Pony Express only lasted 19 months. I don’t remember learning that. With this DVD you’ll also learn what happened to the men that started the Pony Express, and what it was like to be a rider traveling from the Northern states to California during the Civil War.

I watched the Oregon Trail & Pony Express with my 6th grade, 12 year old son. He sat still the entire time while watching this DVD. That’s quite a feat. lol He was fascinated with the stories. I foresee us watching this DVD again, a few times most likely.

There is a study guide on the page linked below. The DVD and study guide are recommended for 4th grade through adult. The study guide includes a Brief Summary, Discussion Questions, Suggestions for Enrichment Before Viewing and After viewing, Research Questions.

The History of The Oregon Trail and The Pony Express sells for $24.95 and is on sale as of this writing for $19.95. Right now you can use coupon code  TOS27   for free shipping on your order.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

As part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a free download of Math911 to review.

Math911 is for students who believe that Algebra must be a struggle, difficult and complicated. Math911 is the easiest and most economical solution for Algebra students. The Math911 approach is what learning Algebra should be: quick, fun, and easy. Math911 will let you absorb Algebra effortlessly.

Math911 is intended for students who are convinced they can’t do Algebra. As student concerned educators, you and I have to deal with the challenge of reaching ‘at risk’ students who have experienced many years of failure with Algebra. You’re also faced with the challenge of finding effective, affordable tutorial software. That’s why I developed Math911. Since 1989, Math911, nee Algebrax, has been helping educators like you. As a member of NCSM, NCTM and NASSP, and a teacher of Mathematics since 1963, my experience ensures getting a proven partner with trusted service.

Check these features:

With a Mastery Learning approach your students are never graded for wrong answers, only correct responses; they work at problems until they ‘get it.’

Topics are arranged by chapter, section and levels. Within each level are all the types of problems that identify the concepts that your students must know in order to be successful in Algebra including Graphs and Word Problems.

All problems are algorithmically generated.

10 minute learning curve.
Step by Step solutions.
Only Free-form answers.
Dynamic Grade reports on all screens.
Needs no internet connection.
Can be networked.
Free Home Use For Teachers
Free Upgrades
Free Install on New PCs

From Hannah, who is currently taking Algebra 1.- “It’s ok. The program was a little confusing at first. It was about the same level as my regular algebra 1 course.”

I also had my 17 year old son use it. He finished Algebra 1 this past school year. He is a tech geek, so he couldn’t get past the retro look of the program. Those were his words, “retro look”. I do think that regardless of how he feels about the look of Math911, that the program would have helped him with algebra. Algebra has been his least favorite subject, and thinking back over last year, Math911 would have really helped him. And I think the program is just fine without any flashy graphics. 🙂

I did a few levels myself. This old girl, who barely passed algebra in high school, did pretty good. I guess having to learn it to help my students has helped me. Now, if I had had this program in high school, I would have gotten a better grade. While there is no teaching of a lesson, when the student gets a problem wrong, the program tells them how to solve the problem by showing them. Then the student can practice those style problems some more until they have mastered them.

It takes a while to get used to using the program. I was confused at first. As the problems appear on the screen with what appears to be no directions. The directions are at the bottom of the screen, however. You just have to remember to look to the bottom of the screen for what to do. Once you get used to it, it’s not a big deal. It’s just an adjustment from how one usually reads a math problem.

You can view sample screen shots on the website.

Because the program can only be downloaded onto one computer, you have to use the same computer every time. Not a problem for us, as we have one school computer and the kids take turns with it. It your student normally grabs whatever computer is available to work on, that might be a problem for you. However, Math911 has a solution. You can get Math911 on a flash drive. Very convenient.

The Standard Version of Math911 can be downloaded from the website. This Standard Version is a free complete Algebra One Course. There is an option to upgrade to the Premier Version for $49.95, this is the version on the flash drive I was talking about earlier.  With the Premier Version users will have free lifetime updates, free technical support as well as access to additional Mathematics Courses with separate grade reports for all family members (including Mom and Dad !) The courses included are: Intro Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Statistics, Trigonometry, College Algebra, and Pre-Calculus.

And if you scroll all the way down on the website, there is a Homeschool Special.  There is a code to use at google checkout and it makes the cost $9.95.

As a mom of 6, I really appreciate that with the Premier Version you get free lifetime updates, the additional courses, and free technical support. I can’t tell you how many programs I purchased for my older two, who are now in there twenties, to use for high school, only to be unable to use it with my current high school students. This is a great money saver for families.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this download in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

As part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a deck of Notable Novelists cards to review.

Notable Novelists is a card game for book lovers, ages 12 and up.  The cards feature 18 novelists of the 20th century.

James Baldwin
Flannery O’Connor
James Joyce
Virginia Woolf
Ernest Hemingway
Vladimir Nabokov
Zora Neale Hurston
Kurt Vonnegut
Willa Cather
Edith Wharton
D.H. Lawrence
Richard Wright
Roberto Bolaño
John Cheever
Saul Bellow
William Faulkner
E.M. Forster
F. Scott Fitzgerald

As you can see by the picture below, each author has three cards:

The Author Card includes the author’s name, portrait and birth/death date.
The Library Card includes 3 important books by the author.
The Bio Card includes a piece of biographical information about the author.

-The rules to play Notable Novelists are very similar to go fish, I think. After dealing four cards to each player, 2 or more players, the remaining cards are placed in a pile face down. The youngest player goes first by asking any player for one of the three cards for a specific author For example, the would ask for “James Baldwin author card”. If the player being asked has the card, they have to give it to the person asking. If the card completes a set of three, the player lays them on the table, and asks another player for another card.

-If the player asked doesn’t have the requested card, you pick the top card from the pile. If the card is the one requested, you show the group and place your Literary Set on the table.

-If the card picked doesn’t  complete a set, but is the card you requested, you show the other players, place the card in your hand, and request another card from any player. If you do not pick the card you requested, place the card in your hand, and your turn is over.

-Play moves to the right, and the game ends when all the Literary Sets have been made. The player with the most sets wins.

The instructions include an alternate way to play, also. One player lays out three Author Cards face up for all the players to see. They then read aloud information from the Bio Card or the Library Card. The first player to identify which author the information is about gets to keep the Author Card. Another Author Card is then placed face up on the table with the remaining cards, and play continues until all the Author Cards have been won. We haven’t played this way yet. As we learn more about the authors while playing the first set of directions, we will move on the playing this alternate way.

We really liked playing Notable Novelists. Because I’m a book lover, I played along with my kids. It’s an easy, fun game for the whole family. It’s a fun game, and at the same time, an educational game. This card game is a great way to introduce these authors and their works to kids. The instructions say for ages 12 and up. I think ,however, if you have a book lover who is 10 or 11 they would love and benefit from playing this game.

Notable Novelists is a great game for book lovers, game lovers, parents, and educators. It would also make a great gift.

The Notable Novelists card game sells for $10.95 on The Notable Novelists website.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this deck of cards in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”