Crew Review: Web Design for Kids

Two years ago my son, then age 8, invested $2.50 in a large box of popsicles. By setting up a table in our yard adjacent to our neighbor's garage sale, he sold all his popsicles and doubled his money, even after paying some of his buddies to "watch" the popsicles when he had to run inside. His entreprenuerial spirit soared when he realized the potential profits to be made in working for himself. Ever since that time, he's been creating business scenarios and running them by his dad and I. Unfortunately, most are impractical or unavailable to him at this time. In order to prepare him for a time when he will be able to take these ideas and run with them, we have been looking at computer classes, since he could do freelance work long before he might find outside employment. We were thrilled to see Web Design for Kids, from Click Drag Solutions, on the list for the Schoolhouse Crew products.

Due to other scheduled activities, we weren't able to view the DVD for about a week, but a day didn't go by that he didn't ask to watch it. Finally, on a Friday, I told him he could watch the DVD as soon as his chores were completed. His chores were well completed in record time. With laptop at the ready, he popped in the DVD and began. After a brief introduction, Brian Richardson jumped right in with html code to type in Notepad. Within minutes, my son had created a header, inserted text, and changed the background color of his first webpage. He then learned how to change the font color, size, and appearance, as well as instruct the browser to move the text right to left, left to right, or even up and down. Despite my obvious bias toward my offspring, I was impressed with the results after just 45 minutes of watching the DVD.

Web Design for Kids (and curious grownups too) is a DVD course in basic HTML programming. The goal is to "demystif[y] the process of creating a web page." Rather than spend a lot of time introducing html, giving the history of web pages, and expecting the students to learn the code, he provides "hand on the keyboard" practice in using html code. My son immediately began thinking about the code and interpreting it, saying "BG must mean background" and similar comments. Mr. Richardson draws the student’s attention to concepts when necessary but keeps the lectures short and to the point. When he interrupts the process to explain something in greater detail, the DVD jumps to a different backdrop, with the instructor in a different outfit, so you are aware this is an interruption. The DVD, which runs a total of 1 hour and 22 minutes, contains seven sections with the following topics:

• The 10 Basic Lines of Code
• Coloring the Background and Letters
• Making Letters Move Across the Screen
• Designer Backgrounds
• Changing Fonts
• Adding Pictures

Some others have commented that some of the training is outdated, with older standards (using all caps rather than lower-case, for example). This isn’t a problem for us, as our son is so fascinated by what he has learned that he has already checked out every book on html from our library and is continuing his education himself!

Other things I like:

• The instructor moves a pace that doesn't put you to sleep but allows you to follow along.
• Even my 7 year old daughter, who isn't into computers, wants to give it a try.
• Students see immediate, impressive results.
• The company donates portions of the proceeds to various charities.

While the positives far outweigh the negatives, I would change several things:

• The package design shouts at me and is hard to read because it is in all caps.
• Include time signatures for the DVD so I know how long to allow in my plans for each lesson. It would be helpful to have a study guide with the session times and topics listed.
• Include a list of suggested resources would help kids who want to go on in their html training.

For the summer, the DVD is available for $19.99, which is half of the original price of $40.00. You can't find an introductory computer class for anything close to even the regular price!

The rest of the story…One of my son's friends is starting a betta (fish) breeding business. Nat has been hired as the webmaster, with the understanding that he will continue his education in html. On the following Monday he began asking immediately after breakfast if he could watch the DVD again and work on his code. I said yes, but that he had to earn computer time by weeding the flower beds (somewhat akin to torture around here). He grabbed a portable CD player, some Odyssey CDs, and his stop watch. An hour later he had completely cleaned up one bed and was working through another.

Anything that provides this kind of motivation, as well as practical, hands-on knowledge, is a winner in our home. We are already planning to purchase the 2nd DVD in this series, hopefully available in late 2009. Web Design for Kids has answered a need in our home and provided an excellent addition to our curriculum.

Crew Review: Quarter Mile Math

My kids are begging to do math.  My kids are looking for chores or other ways to earn computer time so they can do math.  My 3 year old is sad because he can’t do math yet.  Am I dreaming?  No, it’s just the effect Quarter Mile Math has on our kids.

Quarter Mile Math, developed by Barnum Software, provides drill activities in keyboarding, math facts, estimation, and a whole host of other topics.  Racing dragsters or wild, riderless horses, the students compete against themselves to better their times and master the facts.

The multiple formats appeal to both the horse lovers and the speedsters in our home, and not necessarily boys and girls respectively!

I brought it with us when we visited my husband’s family for a week long vacation, hoping I’d have time to install it on our laptop and play with it for this review.  Well, it’s installed, but the only time I had was setting it up for the kids.  They begged to do math while on vacation.  Now, I know it is partly the novelty of a computer game, any computer game.  As I’ve mentioned before, we tend to keep things as simple as possible when it comes to technology.  However, I’m impressed with anything that will provide motivation for my kids to learn their math facts and do them quickly.

How it works:

1. Players log in, choose topic (over 300 to choose from)
2. The screen shows either five cars or five horses (can switch between types of race)
3. The race starts and continues for a quarter mile or until no answer is entered for 14 seconds
4. The students score/time is saved in order to compare results later on.

How we are using it:

Since we received this several days before vacation, it hasn’t been consistently used in our homeschool.  Because we only have one operating computer, I’ve limited the amount of time to 20 minutes per day.  However, that’s about double the amount of time they used to spend, very reluctantly, practicing their math facts. They have very willingly read to younger siblings, played with younger siblings, or taken on other responsibilities as a means to earn computer time.  By limiting the time they spend, we are keeping it a novelty as long as possible.  Even our almost Kindergartener is practicing counting forward and “what letter comes next” with this program.  She often feels left out in some of the older kids’ activities, so I’m thankful this fits her needs as well.

It will not replace our flashcards or flashmaster, because I actually enjoy quizzing my kids with the flashcards.   As I am planning our school year, however, I will be scheduling Quarter Mile time as a part of each student’s math or computer time.   I’ll also continue to use it as an incentive when extra responsibilities are cheerfully accepted.

I’ve not made use of the student tracking features or paid much attention to the increase or decrease in time.  I hope their progress will show up in their regular math lessons.

One note:  I have an almost pathologic mistrust of computer games, knowing how much time they can waste with little results.  I’ve seen this with my kids whenever we visit my in-laws where they are allowed to play Risk and Monopoly on “their” computer that Grandpa has set up for them.  This is the primary reason we have not purchased any in five years of homeschooling. 

The secondary reason is that I’ve heard nothing but crashed computers and worn out keyboards from computer game use.  Until we are able to purchase a computer we can use for schoolwork, their time will continue to be limited to protect our laptop.

Cost:

Deluxe: downloadable, receive all 3 levels, giving topics from simple keyboarding for kindergarten to pre-algebra equation type problems for students in 6-9th grades. Also available on a CD, but must have the subscription for the program to work

Standard: CD version, one time purchase, from 39.95 for one level to $89.95 for all three levels

special homeschool subscriptions

--- $2.95 per family per month

--- $19.95 per family for one year (save $15.45 over one year) and

--- $34.95 per family for two years (save $35.85 over two years).

If you are curious, you can download a Demo version of the program here.

An E-book about E-books?

On a recent trip to the Creation Museum we listened to a lecture from Vision Forum's History of the World Mega-Conference. The speaker called himself a "techno-peasant" and we laughed, realizing that we probably fall into that category as well. We only have a cell phone because my husband has one for work, we don't have an iPod, and we still use a film camera. Now, to be completely truthful, some of this is due to financial necessity. I would love a digital SLR. But most of this is due to personal preference. I will always love to hold my books in their paper form. As I've mentioned in previous reviews of e-books, I am somewhat skeptical of converting to e-books. However, I can see more e-books in my future, as more publishers use this format for either their primary product or add-ons. The Institute for Excellence in Writing has begun using e-books for some student materials, while teacher's manuals remain in hard copy. In the Hands of a Child offers most of their lapbooks in e-book format. So what's a non-techno-savvy homeschool mom to do with all these files?

The e-book, E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-book Revolution, provides ideas for organization and storage of e-books, hints on what to print and what to read on-screen, and my favorite, reasons why Gutenberg would not be offended! Most people love e-books for the cost preference. This e-book has the best price tag: it's free. If you are looking to use e-books in your homeschool or have already downloaded some, take a moment to download this from The Old Schoolhouse Store and read through it. With all the ideas for organization, you can pick one system and implement it, without re-inventing the wheel. The thinking has been done for you.

Gutenberg's printing press contributed to the Reformation. What revolution is in our future that will benefit from the e-book? Even those of us who are not on the cutting edge would be wise to become familiar with the new technology and see how God will use this for his kingdom and glory.

Planning to be a Blessing

A planner designed with the homeschool mom in mind? What’s not to love? In the case of The Schoolhouse Planner, there’s not much I don’t love! I considered purchasing it last year, but put it off reluctantly because I don’t really need help planning lessons with most of our materials coming from Sonlight. Why reluctantly? Because, like many moms, I used to be a planner junkie. I loved lists and charts, calendars and planning pages. But over the past few years, I got complacent. I felt like I had keeping house and teaching under control...until this spring, when I missed not one but three close family birthdays and continually forgot to do something my ever-patient husband had requested me to do. I realized that something needed to change. And then along comes this opportunity. From experienced moms who need something to restart their dormant organizational genes to those moms who are just starting out, this planner takes all the guesswork out of a homeschool year.

First, the facts. The planner is a downloadable e-book, 375 information-packed pages. Each month comes with a blank calendar, a featured content area with an article written by experts like Dr. Jay Wile and Steve Demmie, links to additional resources, and easy recipes to fit into your homeschool day. Beyond the monthly pages come the forms for managing your home and managing your school. Most planners look at one or the other, but this one integrates both. Visit The Schoolhouse Planner page at the The Old Schoolhouse Store to see some samples.

Now that we’ve taken care of the objective facts, here come the emotions. I love, love, love the content areas that are included. While most of my curriculum comes in a box, ready to use, I am always feeling the need for some list. We do a lot of memory work, with the decision of what to memorize being somewhat spontaneous, based on something that occurs to me as we are reading our history or science. With the list of American colonies, States and Capitals, Greek Roots, and Periodic table, my kids won’t have to worry about running out of brain food. (not that they usually do) I am also amazed at all the forms, household and education, that are included. As a Michigan homeschooler, I’m not required to keep a lot of records. Because there are days when I wonder what exactly we have accomplished, I have begun keeping records but did not have an exact idea of what I should be recording. These forms have provided some guidance. Although the planner is a PDF file, you can type right in many of the forms and print them for your binder or files. What kinds of forms? How about...

Home Repair checklist

Garden planner

Menu planner

A Bible reading schedule that starts in July (so I can begin again after failing to keep up what I began in January!)

Website login and password information

Shopping lists

Loaned and Borrowed list

Field Trip Log

Extracurricular Activities Log

Nature Journal 1 & 2

Journal Sheets

Science Lab Sheet

Discipleship Recording Sheet

Unit Study Records

Unschooling Records

Website and Vendors Log

Co-op Information

Support Group Information

Outside Classes & Lessons

Continuing Education & Recreation for the Homeschool Parent

Co-op Planning Sheet for Teachers

Weekly Co-op Planning

Co-op Weekly Planning Outline

Library Items

Assignments & Due Dates

Attendance Chart

Community Service Record

General Book Report

Early Elementary Book Report 1 & 2

Homeschool Book Inventory

Preschool Activity Box

Preschool Planner

Educational Activities for Preschoolers

Alphabet Practice

Teaching Supplies and Inventory List

All-Purpose Wish List

These lists remind me of things that I don’t even know I’ve forgotten. The authors have done all the thinking for me. I’ve printed them to bring with me on the planning day I hope to take later in the summer. I do have to remind myself that this planner is like the buffet line. I don't have to take one of everything.

So is there anything I don’t love? Yes. But I hate to say this, because I feel like I’m being picky. Like when my husband works hard to pick out a sweater as a Christmas gift that isn’t the right color. I feel like I should be thankful that he thought to venture forth into the mall and attempt to find something I would like. Who am I to quibble about small details? But it’s the details that make or break the product. Ok, so what don’t I love? It’s cute, but it's not pretty. I actually purchased a planner about a week before I knew I would be reviewing this one. And I’m going to keep both. My other one has a tapestry binder, with pages that have victorian watermarks and scripture along the bottom of every page. Initially it was going to be just my devotional journal and home-making planner/organizer. Now I’m working to print the pages from The Schoolhouse Planner so they will fit in the pretty one. If The Schoolhouse Planner came in a floral version and a schoolhouse version, I’d be completely hooked. Perhaps it's just me, but I often feel a lack of the pretty and feminine in my busy life.

So, other than forgetting those all-important birthdays, what else convinced me to look into planners? I read "Planning to be Blessing" by Tricia Traxler, the owner of Graceworks Planners, from whom I purchased my "pretty planner." This article showed me why I need a planner. I can run my home so that we have clean clothes, food on the table, and reasonably clutter-free living spaces, without much of a plan, running on autopilot. I became convicted that I need to be more purposeful in planning my days so that what I do is not just the bare minimum, but a blessing to my husband, my children, and my friends.

In The Schoolhouse Planner, the authors have blessed us with their efforts. Now we can plan to be a blessing to others.

Sailing with the Crew

I am so excited! TOS (The Old Schoolhouse) has given me the chance to write reviews as part of their Homeschool Crew product review team. Over the next year, up to 75 companies will be shipping out products to 100 or so homeschool families to review and blog about them. We get to keep (or give away...watch for chances at this) all the products. Viewing the list of vendors, I almost wish I hadn't bought my curriculum for the year already! I'm checking my email daily for the updated lists and ideas on when the UPS man will begin bringing me goodies to write about! The anticipation is growing...

Me—read an e-book?!

Hello, my name is Danielle and I am addicted to books. I love the sight, feel, and even sometimes smell of them. During our recent home purchase, it was the built-in bookcases in the living room that really sold me on our house. When we moved, we had over 150 boxes of books. As I unpacked them, I joyfulled reunited with friends who had been boxed up for the past 10 years while we were bookcase-impaired. Because I enjoy the sensations of reading, I will admit to being a little skeptical about the current e-book trend. I do not own a Kindle or other electronic reading device. It was with some trepidation that I recently downloaded three WeE-books from The Old Schoolhouse magazine. I chose "Writing Essays " by Ruth Beechick, "Just How Important are Communication Skills Anyway?" by JoJo Tabares, and "Missing in Action or Mentoring in Action" by Jeannie Fulbright.

 

Ruth Beechick is a familiar name to most homeschoolers. I appreciate her forthright style-both encouraging and convicting me to do better. As a writing teacher, I am always looking for different ways to approach the essay format. This simply titled "Writing Essays" gives the reasons for developing an essay-writer, describes four common types of essays, and wraps up with instruction on making your writing connected and fluid. While not giving any assignments or models, this little book does a good job explaining essays. I would have appreciated an example or additional instruction in helping a student write an essay.

 

When I entered college as fresh homeschool graduate, one of my first-semester courses was Speech. Looking back, I realize that I probably should have waited a semester before taking that class, allowing me to acclimate to the classroom setting and learn what topics would be of interest to my peers when I gave a speech. I emerged from that class with my lowest college grade and a confirmation that I didn't like speaking in front of groups. I never had a speech class. When I am asked now what homeschool students should take before college, speech and communications classes are at the top of my list. "Just How Important are Communication Skills, Anyway?" a new WEe-book by JoJo Tabares reinforces in my mind the importance of nurturing communicators in our homes. I enjoyed her light, breezy style of writing. Before reading this short book (under 20 pages including title page, credits, and appendix), I had not really considered including a lot of public speaking in my elementary curriculum. I am now considering how I can encourage my children to become competent communicators in our home. Toward the end of the book, she shares information about her curriculum, which is going on my "investigate" list for next year's curriculum. I may even look into it for myself. Why? Haven't I determined that speaking in front of groups is not for me? Interestingly enough, I now speak regularly at homeschool co-ops and conferences and love it! What changed? I discovered that I can speak about passionately and authoritatively when I have a topic that homeschool parents desire to learn and that I desire to share. Now I need someone like JoJo Taberes to show me how to communicate that passion even more effectively.

 

On a recent Sunday, I had the joy of encouraging two prospective homeschool moms at our not-always-homeschool-friendly-church. In the past 10 years of working with high school age homeschoolers, I have benefitted from the wisdom of experienced homeschool moms. I started teaching classes when my son was 2, allowing me three years of picking brains for ideas before I began homeschooling officially. Now that I've successfully brought three children through preschool in homeschool, and taught two of them to read, I'm surprised to find that younger moms are coming to me for advice. Thus, I realized that although I don't feel nearly experienced enough, I have become a mentor. Jeannie Fulbright encourages all of us to remember this role, even if we don't feel like we have much to offer. Her WeE-Book is a great reminder to be a Titus 2 woman. Sometimes being the older woman means older in experience, not only in years. I've actually encouraged women who are older than me in years but younger in homeschool experience. This little book provides guidance for how to help others in their homeschool adventure.

 

While I am not going to go all digital (my husband is too much of a Luddite for that!), I can say that I have enjoyed reading through these and have been encouraged by all of them. I love the short, to the point nature of each. They are longer than a magazine article, allowing each author to more fully develop her subject, but they are short enough to read while sipping my afternoon tea. The pages are formatted nicely, with quotes highlighting specific points. Although I admit I was tempted to click "Print" as soon as each one downloaded, I resisted the urge and realize now I don't have to find a place on my shelves for it. This could become a habit! As a life-long mover (20 times in 34 years), I can see the benefits to having books I don't have to pack! One of my favorite aspects of these particular WeE-books are the appendices, which provide guidance for those just considering the homeschool journey. I appreciate having that kind of information available to me to share with others. I won't forward the file, but I will probably print off a copy or two these sections to give to a couple friends who are considering homeschooling. The list of E-book and WeE-book titles at The Old Schoolhouse store is growing every day. Be careful--you just may become addicted.

HomeWork: a Review

At least once a week someone asks me, "How do you do it all?" As a homeschooling mother of 4 under 10 who also runs a home-based business, my answer is usually, "I don't." How refreshing it was to read about other women in the same position who answer the same thing! I've just finished reading through the e-book from The Old Schoolhouse titled "HomeWork: Juggling Home, Work, and School Without Losing Your Balance." Sixteen women share their stories and their hearts for home and school, along with their passion for their businesses.

While my love of books tends to lean away from electronic versions, I liked the e-book format for several reasons. First, I don't have to find a spot on my shelf for it and, as long as I remember in which folder I saved it, I can access it much faster than scanning my bookcase. Second, it's been nice to have when I am in the midst of working on a project and need a quick break. Rather than browsing my shelf for something, I can pull up this file, read a single chapter, and be encouraged to finish what I've started. Finally, I like the pick-up/put down nature of the e-book. My random side occasionally rebels against my sequential side and likes not having to read this book in order, but rather being encouraged to pick and choose my way through the contents.

As a freelance writer and editor, I expected to enjoy the section on writing businesses, but I've been surprised and found something to enjoy in all the sections. As a homeschooling mom who also works from home, I often have to fight the guilt that comes from saying, "Not now, Mommy is working." From the stories in this book, that seems to be a common feeling, but one that most try to fight. Although they do have to wait sometimes while I finish editing a project, my children need to learn that they are not the center of the universe. Homeschooling can lean toward child-centered homes, simply because much of the daily activity swirls around the children. Through the stories in this book, I was encouraged to continue involving my children in the business as well as training them to care for each other and themselves when I'm "at the office."

If you have ever considered working from home, or are working from home and need a little encouragement, "HomeWork" is ninety-five pages of laughter, tears, and ideas about business, organization, and family life that will inspire you.