Friday, April 29, 2011

Greek and Stuff: Latin's Not So Tough! TOS review

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Greek 'N' Stuff is a Christian curriculum company that sells Greek, Latin, and Bible study curriculum. We received Latin's Not So Tough level 2 to review back in September. Buster was excited about it as soon as I told him it was coming. Latin was something I had considered teaching him in the future, but I had not really looked into any curriculum yet. The package we received contained the LNST short set for level 2. In it we received the student worktext, the answer only answer key, and the pronunciation CD that is used for Levels 1-3. Level 2 starts out by reviewing the Latin alphabet, which is taught in level 1. It then goes on to teach 50
Latin vocabulary words. There is no grammar addressed in the Latin's Not So Tough series until Level 3.
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 According to the Greek and Stuff website Level 2 is appropriate for Mid elementary level. I would say it would work best for grades 2-3. The worktext is easy to use, and is written directly to the child. It can be used independently if your child reads well, or with some teacher guidance. LNST Level 2 contains 36 lessons, and is meant to cover one year of school. Buster is currently on lesson 25. The lessons vary from 2-5 pages, and contain a variety of exercises to help kids memorize the vocab words. In the short set you will find a set of flash cards that can be removed from the back of the worktext. Parents are instructed to remove the flashcard pages, and assemble them by gluing the Latin word on one side of an index card, and the English word on the other. I found the flash card assembly to be quite time consuming, and it might be worth it to spend the extra to get the pre-made flash cards. Student are to review their flashcards at the end of each lesson, and then make a check mark to show that they did. LNST uses a spiral approach to teaching Latin, and has plenty of built in review. It also has large enough writing spaces for the younger elementary crowd.

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Overall I found the program to be an easy to use no frills program, and the price is very decent. I also found the pronunciation CD to be quite helpful, because even after studying the Latin alphabet we couldn't always figure out the exact pronunciation. LNST uses the classical pronunciation. One last plus I have to say about this program is that Buster really enjoyed it, and never once complained about having to do it. If you know him you would know that is saying a lot. Complaining about school work is something that we are working on still. I asked him what he thought about it and he said, "I like how the words in Latin sound, and how some of them are like English words."

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You can purchase all of the parts needed separately or the short set for $36.95, and the full set for $51.40. The full set contains pre-made flash cards, quizzes/exams, and a full text answer key. The only con I can think of for Latin's Not So Tough is that it is not visually appealing, and doesn't contain any frills. Those things may or may not be a con to you. Right now Latin's Not So Tough level 2 is working for Buster, and he even ask to continue with it for next year. If you want to see sample pages you can here.


Latin's Not SO Tough Level 2 Short set was given to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was given.


Pros:
Easy to use.
Straight Forward.
Contains pronunciation CD
Decent Price.

Cons:
No Frills.

Be sure to head over to the Homeschool Crew Blog to read more about this and other Greek 'N' Stuff products.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter 2011!

I hope that you all had a blessed Ressurection Sunday! We were very blessed to be able to spend the weekend with family! 
My husband decorated eggs with the kids on Saturday after our two soccer games!
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Here are the basket Saturday night after I stuffed them!
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The kids were up bright and early to start our day!
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Yummy chocolate cross!
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The size 4 sandals didn't fit, so now I have to find something bigger!
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Fairy barbie!
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Buddy loved his basket!
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All dressed in their Sunday best!
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We had a great Sunday service!
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After church we headed to the park to watch two of my brother in-laws be baptized! We then went to my sisters house and had lunch and an egg hunt with my side of the family.
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After my sisters house we went to my in-laws for more Easter fun!
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All the cousins at my in-laws minus one! We were all excited that my BIL, and SIl came up from Mexico this week!
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Now I'm just looking forward to some warm weather!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Weekly Wrap Up! HOD

Week 36, and 37!
We did it we finished Beyond Little Hearts For His Glory last Friday! Buster also finished reading his Amelia Earhart book, and did his Biography project. Daddy was really happy to see the finished product. This week we have been taking our Spring break, and it has been really nice! I took most of the week off from the Internet, which was a much needed break from. I had been spending far to much time on the Internet getting myself worked up over things that don't even matter in the long run. It is really great to get back to basics and focus in on my own family for a time, and to get back into a daily Bible time. We have had some sunshine this week, so we were able to go to the park a few times and soak it up. On Wednesday we had a great time decorating eggs, and cupcakes at my sister in-laws house unfortunately I forgot the camera. Buddy was so into decorating it was kinda funny. On Thursday the kids had their end of co-op term field trip! We went to a couple of local museums, and had a guided tour at the first. I realized when we were there it was my kids first group field trip, and they had a blast! Next week we will resume our school work for 5 more weeks, and then have a summer break in June. I can't believe summer is that close. I hope you are all having an amazingly blessed Passion week, and that you are taking time to draw closer to the Son!
"Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 62And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." 63And the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further witnesses do we need?" Mark 14:60-63

Buster's book project!
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We started our Resurrection eggs last week! My husband reads one page out of Benjamin's box each day, and then the kids open the egg and color a picture of the item. We are hanging all the pictures on the wall as a countdown.
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Soccer season is in full swing!
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The Co-op field trip! My sister and I both left the littles with my mom, and here are the big kids waiting for the tour.
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Tour guides!
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Telescope!
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Sweetpea in a trappers tent!
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They got to write with a real ink pen!
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and seal their letters with wax!
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Sweetpea carrying water buckets!
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The kids were divided up into three groups so my sister went with our boys, and I went with the girls! She took these pictures of Buster!
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Black Bear!
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His ink pen work!
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Waiting for their seals!
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The whole co-op gang!
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For more weekly wrap ups visit:
Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Friday, April 8, 2011

Weekly Wrap Up! HOD

Week 35:
That's right we are 35 weeks into our school year, and I can hardly believe it! Buster will be finishing Beyond Little Hearts For His Glory next week. We have really enjoyed it and can not wait to start Bigger Hearts. Sweetpea is on Unit 27 of Little Hearts, so she will be continuing with that, and I'm going to be doing some other things with Buster. He is still finishing his Latin, and Spelling for the year. We will also continue with DITHOR, and math. For some extra fun Buster and I will be doing a bit of the Prairie Primer until June. We take the month of June off except for reading, and math games. Our new school year will begin at the beginning of July. The girls and I had a fun fairy tea party on Monday while Buster was at soccer practice. Sweetpea requested it after learning about the Boston Tea Party. Unfortunately she could not comprehend why they would waste all that tea. Tomorrow Soccer games start and we will have one at 10, and 3.

Sweetpea's soccer practice!
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Waiting for sissy!
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You guessed it the girls love Tangled!
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Fairy Tea Party! They had to dance to their flower fairy CD first!
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Yummy tea and cake!
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Play time!
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The kids love playing board games, and we played quite a few this week.
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Buttercup discovered she could draw people!
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For more Weekly Wrap Ups visit Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers