2017 Homeschool Review Crew Blue Ribbon Awards

Sadly, the Crew year is over for the holidays, but I am super excited to have been invited back for the next year!

I really have missed the Crew, the curriculum, and all of the wonderful ladies. 

I am really looking forward to next year, when I'll have a full year!

I only reviewed four products this Crew year, and they were fantastic! 

The first review I had this year was for Reading Eggs.

I had never heard of it, and was supposed to review it from the toddler perspective. However my niece came to stay with me for this year so I could homeschool her. 

I got to really use the main part of the program and I'm glad I did. 

This has to be one of my all time favorite reading programs. I will be using this with her, and with Brently. 

The next three products I reviewed were all from The Pencil Grip, Inc. 

I reviewed the Ultra Safe Safety Scissors, The Three Step Pencil Grip Training Kit, and Thin Stix. 

We thoroughly enjoyed all three of these products, especially the scissors and the paint markers. 

The last review I did for the Crew this year was Forbrain.  

Now, the rest of the Crew members reviewed MANY more products this year. 

The Crew has something we call Blue Ribbon Awards. At the end of the Crew year we get to vote on what/who we think the best product was, and to be able to say THANK YOU to all of the vendors who so greatly blessed us this year. 

You can check out the 2017 BLUE RIBBON AWARDS HERE!!

I hope you find some great, new products that you wouldn't have found other wise. Good luck!

2011 Gratitude Challenge - November 18th

Today is day 18 of the 2011 Gratitude Challenge, and today I am extra grateful for all the work that my TOS leaders do. I have recently started to understand a little more about what all they do, and all the stresses that their job can bring. 
I am so grateful for you all. I really appreciate everything it takes to put this Crew together. I am still amazed to be part of this team!

Thank you all of my TOS leaders!

2011 Gratitude Challenge - November 5th

Today is day 5 of the 2011 Gratitude Challenge. Today I am grateful for the TOS Crew!

This is my second year on the Crew, and it has been a huge blessing.

If you don't know what the TOS Crew is, it is a review team for the Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

We review homeschool curriculum, games, toys, and more. It has been a blast! I love being part of the Crew.

I have made so many friendships over the last two years. And I love being part of a team like this.

I have received so many things that were perfect for our school. This year I received a reading program for my son that was amazing. He really took off in his reading with this one.

Last year I received the Student Writing Intensive for my daughter. It is the most amazing writing program I have ever seen.

There have been many so many products that have been a huge blessing, too many to list here. But you can find all of my current reviews on the left hand sidebar of my blog. And you can find all of my reviews from last year here. 

I love being able to share all of these products with you. It is always fun to learn of a new homeschool product!

This has truly been one of the biggest blessing in my life, Of course after God and my family.Thank you Heidi and Brenda, and TOS for this incredible blessing.

Join us over at Garden of Learning for this years Gratitude Challenge.

The Old Schoolhouse is Going Digital!

I just wanted to share about TOS Birthday Bash on FB tonight!

"Thursday, September 22^nd – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m (EST): Join us for our Schoolhouse Birthday Bash Facebook Party! 
 
Just stop by the TOS Facebook page during the event for meaningful fellowship with featured columnists, TOS staff, and homeschooling friends. We will have lively chat, homeschooling tips, freebies, and of course some fabulous giveaways!

You can RSVP on our Facebook event page!"

September TOS Blog Hop!

Good morning everyone!

I am excited to be co-hosting the TOS Crew Blog Hop this month.

This month's theme is NOT Back to School!

Join us in linking up about your homeschool. Here are some ideas to get you started:

How you celebrate not going back to school
First day not back to school
What you love about homeschooling
What your kids love about homeschooling

The Guidelines for participating in the TOS Crew blog hop are as follows:

1. Please grab the blog hop button to spread the word.

<a href="http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=106247&type=thumbnail" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft" title="Crew Blog Hop" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/devildogwife97/Blog%20Pics/Design%20Elements/WheelBlogHopButtonVBlue-1-1.png" alt="Crew Blog Hop"/></a>

2. Please follow our wonderful hosts – Families Again, Marine Corps Nomads, Faith, Family, and Fun, and Training Children up for Christ as well as the 2 blogs in front of your link.

3. Please link directly to your blog hop post. Our theme for this month is Not-Back-To-School.

4. Please do not link up your giveaways, blog hops, etc. (These will be deleted.)

Link up your blog, visit and follow the blogs that interest you and have fun getting to know the 2011-2012 TOS Crew as well as the other participating homeschoolers. If you follow our blogs and leave a comment, we will follow you back! (Since we're all homeschoolers, it may take us a few days to follow everyone back. Thanks for your understanding.)

Now, let’s get blog hoppin’ and have some fun!

You only need to add your link to one linky for it to show up on all participating blogs. Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Past Crew Blog Hops:

August 2011 - Getting to Know You

It's Time to Go

It is time for my list of Recently Reviewed products to go.

But don't worry, it will soon be replaced with new products from this year!

You can still find all of my TOS reviews on the left hand side of my blog under 2010/2011 TOS reviews.

I will be starting up my Upcoming Reviews list as well. So be looking for that in a few moments...

Before I go and erase my list, here it is one last time, in order from the most recently reviewed.

Recently Reviewed.

• Wordy Qwerty
• Pearson enVision Math
• Mad Dog Math
• IEW Student Writing Intensive
• GoTrybe
• Circle C Beginnings - Kregal
• Yesterday's Classics
• Nutrition 101: Choose Life!
• Science Weekly
• KinderBach
• Artistic Pursuits
• The Reading Kingdom
• I See Sam Readers
• Math Rider
• Kid Scoop - The Reluctant Reader Solution
• The Curiosity Files - Puffer Fish
• Roman Town - Dig It! Games
• TenMarks
• Illustrated bible Dictionary for Kids
• Speekee
• Maestro Classics - Peter and the Wolf
• See-N-Read
• Math Facts Now
• Tiny Planets
• North Star Games - Wits and Wagers Family
• Apologia - Good Morning, God
• ALEKS
• KBTeachers
• Corps of rediscovery Patchwork Quilt Kit
• Buckets-O-Fun
• Soli Deo Gloria - Young Hearts Longing for God Bible Study
• Talking Fingers - Read, Write and Type
• Vocabulary Cartoons from New Monic
• Schleich Animal Figurines
• Salem Ridge Press
• I See Cards - Pyramath
• Peterson Directed Handwriting
• Travel Kits
• When I grow up, I want to be… A Firefighter!
• Expedition Australia

ENJOY...and look for my upcoming reviews list to start very soon...

2010/2011 Blue Ribbon Awards!

It has been an amazing year with the TOS Hoeschool Crew. We have reviewed some awesome products this year, and some of them have won TOS's Blue Ribbon awards!

I want to share the results with you too!

I reviewed some of these products, and I will place a link to my reviews of a particular product next to the Crew link.

Have fun checking out all of these great homeschool products.


Favorite Language Arts Product => Institute For Excellence in Writing (IEW)  

MY REVIEW 

Favorite Social Studies Product => Bright Ideas Press-Wondermaps

Favorite Science Product => Eagle’s Wings-Considering God’s Creation

Favorite Math Product => I See Cards-Pyramath

MY REVIEW

Favorite Online Math Product => Ten Marks

MY REVIEW

Favorite Writing Product => Writing Tales

Favorite Reading Instruction Product => Talking Fingers

MY REVIEW #1
MY REVIEW #2

Favorite Foreign Language Product => Classical Academic Press

Favorite Fine Arts Product (art, music, etc.) => Artistic Pursuits

MY REVIEW

Favorite Preschool Product => Go Go Kabongo

Favorite Elementary Product => Speekee

MY REVIEW

Favorite Upper Grade Product => Vocab Ahead

Favorite Special Needs Product => See-N-Read

MY REVIEW

Favorite Christian Education Product => Apologia
 
Best Resource I Didn’t Know I Needed => Lanschool Technologies

Best Customer Service => Peterson Directed Handwriting

MY REVIEW

Best Online Resource => Big IQ Kids

Best e-product => Zeezok Publishing-ZGuide to the Movies

Best Technology Resource => Collectorz

Best Homeschool Resource => Yesterday’s Classics

MY REVIEW

Best Book, Novel or Magazine => Zoe & Sozo Publishing-Foundlings

Best Children’s Book => Kregel Publications-Circle C Beginnings

MY REVIEW

Best Hands-On Resource => Corps of Re-Discovery

MY REVIEW

Most Adaptable Resource => The Write Foundation

Most Unique Resource => GoTrybe

MY REVIEW

Most Family-Oriented Product => Growing Healthy Homes-Nutrition 101

MY REVIEW


Kid’s Choice => Schleich Action Figures

MY REVIEW

All Around Crew Favorite => Institute For Excellence in Writing

MY REVIEW, AND ALSO MY FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR!

Each winning vendor has received this wonderful award to display with pride:

Farewell and Looking Ahead

Yesterday I posted my last review of the Crew year. Whew!

We have had a lot of family things going on lately, and I know that my last few reviews have not been the best, but I managed to get them done, and I feel relieved.

This year has been a whirlwind for sure. I have learned so much about myself.

It has been a huge blessing to me to be part of the Crew. I love The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, and I never thought I would have an opportunity to actually review products for part of the Magazine! How awesome is that? lol

I have reviewed some amazing products this year, and I can't wait to see what comes our way next year!

I want to thank all of my Crew Mates for the wonderful friendships made this year. I have made some really great friendships that I know will continue.

I want to say goodbye to my friends, and fellow Crew mates who are not returning next year. I know that some of you are leaving by choice, but for those of you who are not, I want to say a special goodbye.

I know how hard it must be, and I will miss you. But I also know that God has a plan for you, and that you will find out soon what it is.

Well, I have posted my last review for TOS this year, but I will be back with more reviews from TOS in June/July.

Until then, I will still be posting other reviews of the great new products we are using this year, and many other things.

We are about to complete The Mystery of History, and I can't wait to show you our timeline!

I will still be here, but I am going to start taking a little more time for my family. I am realizing how important this is, and my family will always come first.

Farewell to everyone that I may not see on board anymore, but let's stay in touch through our blogs, and pages, and I know you have great things coming your way.

My Experience on the TOS Homeschool Crew.

Being on the TOS Homeschool Crew has definitely been an experience. An awesome experience!

Serving on the Crew has been just as fun as I thought it would be, but also harder than I thought it would be.

It is definitely a lot of responsibility, but even more of a blessing.

I have been blessed with some really great friendships this year, as well as some really great curriculum.

I want to thank everyone on the Crew for all of their hard work, and for the amazing products I have received.

Some of the greatest blessings I have received curriculum wise are:

1. IEW's Student Writing Intensive
2. Nutrition 101: Choose Life!
3. Kinderbach
4. Artistic Pursuits
5. I See Sam Readers

There are many more, but these are my top 5. If you haven't read my reviews of these products, I urge you to do so. They are truly wonderful products. 

God really had a hand in the products that came our way. There were very few products that didn't work for us, or that I wanted, but didn't get. 

Curriculum wise, the Crew has been a huge blessing for us this year. I hardly had to buy any extra curriculum this year.

I am so grateful for everything I received this year.

I also want to extend a warm welcome to all of the new Crew members for the upcoming year. WELCOME!

I hope you all will enjoy the Crew just as much as I do!

What I really appreciate about TOS

The Old Schoolhouse magazine is celebrating their 10th anniversary, and they are having a Blog Hop to celebrate!

I thought I would join in and let you know what I most appreciate about TOS.

Many years ago, probably about 8 or so, I was told about TOS magazine. I heard about it from my sister-in-laws mother.

It hasn't been until more recently that I have been able to afford a subscription. Well, I probably could have gotten one a lot sooner if I had known about all of their specials.

I really appreciate their magazine. It is such a great help to homeschoolers, and I love the fact that it is biblical too.

That is what makes it the best magazine for me. You know that what is said in the magazine is going to be backed up with biblical principles.

Anyhow, I have known about TOS for a long time, but it wasn't until recently that I really got to know this company.

I had no idea that TOS had such great products. I have fallen in live with their Curiosity Files, the WannaBe series, and the TOS Planners. 

A few years ago, I had met a few ladies from listening to some of Cindy Rushton's seminars, and my daughter became pen pals with one of these ladies daughters.

They met through doing Felice Gerwitz's Creation Classes. Funny how all this works. lol

Anyhow, this one lady that I had met, and that we keep in touch sometimes, because our daughters had become pen pals, she was on the TOS Crew the year before last, and that is how I heard of the TOS Crew.

Whew, that was windy.

Anyhow, it is funny though because if it weren't for Cindy, then Felice, then my friend, I wouldn't have know about TOS.

God really does put you in the right place at the right time, and has a plan for you, even if you have no clue what it might be.

Because of all of that, I tried out for the Crew last year, and was accepted.  I was thrilled!

I has been great! I have been so blessed by the Crew. Not only in curriculum, but also in friendships.

I think the idea for the Crew was a brilliant idea. I mean, what do we homeschoolers ask most often?

"What curriculum do you use?", Right?

Well, now there is one place that everyone can go to, and get opinions on hundreds of different homeschool products.

I think it is a very helpful resource to the homeschool community. I have been very blessed to be a part of it, and I have been doubly blessed by being allowed to come back next year.

I thank TOS, and everyone involved for the time and effort it takes to put something like this together. It is a lot of hard work, but when God puts something in motion, HE will work it out.

Thanks TOS! 

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TOS Dollar Store

On the 15th of the month, these items get changed out so hurry and get your deals.   Have you purchased your $1 curriculum bargains yet? Don't hit the snooze button on great savings.   This is your last chance to grab this month's eye-popping selection of educational products at super affordable prices.       Check back on the 15th of each month for all the new $1 deals including these . . .

TOS Special Offer

 

Hey guys. I wanted to share some great offers from TOS with you. So read on below to find about about TOS's specials going on right now. 

"Have you heard about all the gifts we're giving away just for subscribing to our magazine?

Start enjoying a two-year subscription to a high-quality magazine packed full of insights from leading homeschool experts delivered right to your door. You’ll love flipping through nearly 200 PRINT pages of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!

Subscribe Now and receive a plethora of gifts worth over $300!

You’ll receive hard copy books, DVDs, subscriptions to learning sites, CDs and more. CLICK HERE to see what we’ve got for you.

And hey, have you heard about our new subscriber-only benefit called the Teacher's Toolbox? This is ABOVE AND BEYOND the 19 free gifts you'll receive if you are within the first 5,000 two-year subscribers. Teacher's Toolbox is our brand new password-protected site which is FULL of resources for TOS subscribers only! Believe it or not, you'll also get ALL of our digital back-issues on this site! You'll be reading for WEEKS!

PLUS TOS is throwing in a 20th BONUS GIFT => a John Taylor Gatto E-Book entitled Hammering at the Walls of Public Schooling AND MP3 recording of him speaking on the topics of "Open Source Education" and "Everything You Know About Institutional Schooling is Wrong!

Get yours NOW before we sell out!

Don't miss your chance to get these 19 free gifts and access to our password-protected site stuffed full of educational material!

*The 19 Gifts Promo is open to U.S Subscribers only."

So hurry and get yours, so you don't miss out on this special.

Living My Dream

This weeks Blog Cruise question is...If I weren't homeschooling, what would my dream job be?

When I was younger, I always wanted to be a singer. lol (No, I can't sing that well. )

I also really wanted to be a therapist. I really wanted to help other teens through a lot of the stuff I went through as a kid.

Then, even after I was married, I wanted to be a cosmetologist.  Boy, am I  glad I didn't pursue that. I cut my family's hair, and that is enough for me. lol

But, honestly, even as a teenager, I just wanted to have kids. 

I think I wanted to have them for different reasons than most though. I wanted to have a child of my own so badly, so that I would have someone to love, and someone to love me back.

I wanted to prove to my mom, that I could be a good mom, even a better mom than she had been. I wanted to be there for my kids, and have a different kind of relationship with my kids than I had with my mom.

Now, as an adult, I don't hold grudges, but having kids is still my dream. Just for different reasons now.

Now, I want to raise Godly children, and Train them up in the way they should go.

I love homeschooling my children, and I hope to have more in the future.

It really is my biggest joy in life. There is nothing I would rather be doing.

So, I don't have another dream. If I weren't homeschooling, my dream would be homeschooling a family, and training them up for Christ.

I'm living my dream. What could be better than that?

Check out what my fellow Crew mates had to say this week. 

Blog Walk - Week 19

1. Accidentally Homeschooling
2. Live The Adventure
3. Garden of Learning
4. Reviews & Reflections
5. C.H.I.N.A. Chronicles
6. A House Upon The Rock
7. Tumbleweed News
8. Simply at Home
9. Life at Rossmont
10. Abundant Blessings
11. Blue Skies Academy

Blog Walk - Week 18

1. Homedaze
2. Pondering on the Prairie
3. Mrs. D's Homestead
4. Training Children Up for Christ
5. Ahoy Maties!
6. Mountaineer Country
7. Life with the Tribe
8. Tenacity Divine
9. Ramblings of the Blonde Mother Bear
10. Circling Through This Life

Blog Walk - Week 17

1. Homeschool Circus
2. Discover Their Gifts
3. The Joys of Homeschooling
4. Nicki Black A Mosaic in the Making
5. Ever After... My Way
6. Created 2B Creative
7. Wrightsboro Sonrise Center
8. Knee Deep in Grace
9. Indoor Garden Musings
10. Mom of Many Bentzs

Blog Walk - Week 16

1. Our Best Daze
2. The Joy of School
3. Spell Outloud
4. to the sea with me
5. Half Dozen Mama
6. Mission Possible
7. Homeschooling My Miracles
8. Beyond The Silver and The Gold - A Filipino Family's Homeschool Journey
9. My Own Sense and Sensibility
10. Happily Homeschooling

Blog Walk - Week 15

1. Heritage Homestead and Homeschool Academy
2. The McClanahan 7
3. The Happy Homeschool Mom
4. Books \'n Other Stuff
5. The Midlife Housewife
6. Because of Our Children
7. This Day Has Great Potential
8. Ladybug Chronicles
9. Freelance Homeschool Mom
10. Ben & Me

Blog Walk - Week 14

1. Homeschooling In Nova Scotia, Canada
2. Clever Title TBA
3. Until the Day Dawn Weblog
4. RubySlippersSchool.com
5. Smooth Stones Christian
6. Clothesline Musings
7. Four Little Penguins
8. Laurie's School Days
9. Sunshine to Flowers
10. One Big, Healthy Family