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By Shawna, on May 19th, 2013 
Review: High School Prep Genius
With my high school junior, we’re obviously working our way down the final road or two on the trip to college. He [believes he] has made up his mind in regard to school choice, desirable careers, and we’re taking stock and seeing what “holes” we might have missed that it would be a good idea to fill. Of course, we’re doing all this in mid-stream, adjusting the course as we go. While he’s content to be flexible and adapt as . . . → Read More: Review: College Prep Genius
By Shawna, on April 30th, 2013 
Despite my love of reading, my memories of [public] high school English are not all that… memorable. We spent a great deal more time talking about what other people had written – and what it “meant” – than we ever did writing… and writing fiction wasn’t even on the schedule unless you had time to fit an extra English class in your schedule. (Bor-ing!) If I’d had access to a book like the one we’re using now, Writing Fiction [in High School], I’m certain I’d be much more confident in my fiction writing . . . → Read More: Review: Writing Fiction [in High School]
By Shawna, on April 18th, 2013 
Every history program can be enhanced with products from Knowledge Quest; to go along with our American history lessons, we’ve been reading Sacagawea (Brave Explorers Every Child Should Know) complete e-book. Originally released as a serial novel in four parts, Sacagawea is now available in its complete form.
Written for children ages 10 and up, Sacagawea is the second volume in the Brave Explorers Every Child Should Know series. (Jacques Cartier is the first title.) Historical fiction for the modern era, . . . → Read More: Review: a Sacagawea story
By Shawna, on April 7th, 2013 
Kids who want to make video games? Check. More questions than answers? Check. Now, where to turn? Umm… Computer Science for Kids is here to help, with their Beginning Microsoft Small Basic curriculum.
Small Basic, what’s that?
Beginning Microsoft Small Basic has eleven chapters. The first explains the purpose and history of Small Basic and compares it with predecessors and contemporary programming languages. Later chapters lead the student through the components of Small Basic and creating your first program, along with obtaining random numbers, decision-making instructions, looping and subroutines, working with graphics and animation, and even . . . → Read More: Review – Computer Science For Kids: Beginning Microsoft Small Basic
By Shawna, on March 24th, 2013 
What did we review?
We reviewed The Art of Poetry, from Classical Academic Press. Created by Christine Perrin, an experienced literature and creative writing instructor, The Art of Poetry is a classically-influenced curriculum designed to enhance understanding of and appreciation for poetry.
What’s included with The Art of Poetry?
Two books, the Student Text and the Teacher’s Edition, are necessary for instruction. An optional DVD set is also available. It contains more than fifteen hours of instruction and discussion, following Ms. Perrin and a small group of eighth-grade students as they work . . . → Read More: Review: The Art of Poetry
By Shawna, on September 11th, 2012 
With almost 50 years of experience of teaching math, Professor Martin Weissman knows what he’s doing. For many students, the greatest struggle isn’t the math itself, it’s fear – especially once they’ve reached the unknown realms of “Algebra”.
Professor Weissman crafted a tool for just those students – Math911 – to rescue them from their fears and save the day. Math911 includes instruction in Introductory Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and Statistics. (The Statistics course is in the process of being upgraded, and all upgrades are free.)
We were . . . → Read More: High school math emergency? Call Math911!
By Shawna, on July 29th, 2012 
It was perfect timing for us when we recently received the new No-Nonsense Algebra from Math Essentials to try out. Tyler, my now-9th grader, has been wishing for a textbook-focused math for the last few months, and honestly, I’d been reluctant to provide it. He might *think* it was what he wanted, but longer, more tedious lessons would not be a positive for this active kid. And into this gulf of disparity came No-Nonsense Algebra.
No-Nonsense Algebra doesn’t waste your time With short, concise, self-contained lessons, No-Nonsense Algebra is written in . . . → Read More: Simply essential math
By Shawna, on April 18th, 2012 
It’s apparently science week here at casa crazy. The birds are singing, the deer are hanging out across the street, and the spring flowers are out in full bloom. I’m ready to jump into gardening… but first, a different kind of science.
Generally when we think of physics, we think high school science. But it doesn’t have to be, and in fact, usually isn’t – it’s just usually hidden under more generic terms like general science. So don’t let the scary “physics” term scare you – it *can* be something that you – and your . . . → Read More: Exploring Physics
By Shawna, on May 13th, 2011 
I think of myself as a writer. I do NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, consider myself capable and confident to teach it.
As I sit here and ponder, and try to figure out how to start this review, I’m realizing a few things about myself that I’ve never before condensed into works.
Though I appreciate an outline, and find it easy to write when I have a plan to follow, I’m not very good at creating that plan.
I spent 13 years in public school, and I can’t say that anyone, anywhere along . . . → Read More: Learn how to REALLY write. And teach writing. Really.
By Shawna, on September 8th, 2010 
We’ve had the opportunity this month to review two DVD sets from MathTutor DVD.com, Pre-Algebra Volume 1 and Texas Instruments TI-84 Calculator Tutor. There are many more courses available, and I’d expect similar style and quality from each. With a surprisingly low cost, they’d make an affordable, yet valuable, math reference library.
Everything you ever wanted to know about your calculator… and then some.
Way back in the early 90s, my algebra 2 class was one of the first ones in our high school to use graphing calculators. We . . . → Read More: Math Tutor: Your personal 24/7 guide to really understanding math
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