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Meal Plan Monday

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It’s Monday again!  Where did that weekend go?  We are wrapping up end of the year stuff!  After this week, most of our kids’ activities will be completed until fall.  This past week, I had the privilege of watching my new nephew be born!  There are now 10 cousins on that side of the family now.  I have 5 and my brother now has 5!  Boys are winning, 6 to 4 🙂

I’ve fallen off the Trim Healthy Mama planTrim Healthy Mama plan so I’m going to work hard to get back on track this week.  Sometimes life happens and you have to just roll with it!  That’s why this plan is such a great one!

Monday: Skillet kielbasa and brussels with mustard butter sauce

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Pizza

Thursday: Black bean burritos

Friday: Tacos

Saturday: Cajun cream chicken

Sunday: BBQ pork, Chips, beans

What are you making this week?

Review: Drive Thru History®

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Drive Thru History
I love finding products that we can work into our homeschool for days that might need a little slowing down, but still keeping the kids learning.  With the Homeschool Review Crew, we had the wonderful opportunity of checking out a product by Drive Thru History®, a wonderful DVD series called Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels“.

 

About the Product:

Drive Thru History The Gospels

Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels“ is a fun way to learn about the story of Jesus and visit places that Jesus went without even leaving your living room.  50 ancient sites in Israel talked about  in Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John are visited by Dave Stott in this new 18-episode series.  There are a total of 9 hours of video content and a 118 page study guide to go along with each episode.  Each episode is approximately 30 minutes.  These episodes include:

  • Episode 1: The Historical Landscape
  • Episode 2: The Announcements
  • Episode 3: Jesus is Born
  • Episode 4: Jesus Grows Up
  • Episode 5: Jesus Starts His Ministry
  • Episode 6: Jesus Returns to Galilee
  • Episode 7: Jesus Begins His Miracles
  • Episode 8: Jesus Teaches with Authority
  • Episode 9: The Sermon on the Mount
  • Episode 10: Jesus Travels the Sea of Galilee
  • Episode 11: Jesus Travels North
  • Episode 12: A Final Trip to Jerusalem
  • Episode 13: Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem
  • Episode 14: The Last Supper
  • Episode 15: The Trial of Jesus
  • Episode 16: The Crucifixion of Jesus
  • Episode 17: The Resurrection of Jesus
  • Episode 18: Who is Jesus?

Dave Stott uses his adventures to show evidence that what the Bible says is true!  He also encourages listeners to read their Bible and get excited about scripture again.  Through these 18 episodes, listeners can learn more about the history, archaeology, geography, and art surrounding the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  The episodes are all family friendly and something you can sit down together and watch.

If you wish, you can head on over to Drive Thru History® to watch a sample video of what to expect in this series.  The retail price for this DVD set is $89.95.

Drive Thru History The Gospels

Our Thoughts:

We have had a wonderful time over the past few weeks watching the Drive Thru History® dvds.  These are perfect for days when you need a little bit of a break from doing bookwork in homeschool or even to work through with Sunday Schools.  We typically watched two or three episodes during each week.  I found that my older kids were especially intrigued with this video series, although the littles enjoyed it as well.  There was nothing scary to frighten the littles.  My husband and I also enjoyed watching and then using the study guide to check and see what the kids remembered and to reinforce what was seen.

Each adventure left us wanting to know more about what the Bible says happened and we found ourselves turning to scripture to read more.  My kids are wanting to travel and see these places one day, too!

After watching this series and doing the study, we definitely are wanting to check out the other DVD sets offered by Drive Thru History and are thankful that we were given the opportunity to review this product.

For More Information:

For more information, please visit Drive Thru History on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.  Besides “The Gospels, Drive Thru History® also has DVD sets on the Holy Land, American History, and Ancient History.

You can click the banner below to read more reviews on this product and other products by the Homeschool Review Crew.

The Gospels {Drive Thru History® Reviews}
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4 Ways to Encourage Summer Learning with Your Kids

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Many kids may benefit from summer learning.  I know here in Georgia, many summer days are far too hot to hang outside for long, but I don’t want my kids just watching tv.  Oftentimes, I purchase summer workbooks for kids or we go on adventures and explore the areas near where we live.  There are several summer learning activities for kids that are worth sharing.

Adventure:

Take your kids on an adventure to a state park or somewhere that they haven’t been.  Museums, zoos, and nature centers are all great ideas.  You could set up a scavenger hunt for the kids to find certain nature items.  Look up your local state park and mark your calendar for upcoming activities and then go!  Learning by going and doing is a great way to stay active and learn this summer.  Georgia residents, be sure to check your look library for the zoo pass.  That brings me to the next point.

Library:

The Library is always a wonderful place to be during the summer.  The books are endless, many have puzzles and games that can be borrowed, computer games, and of course – AIR CONDITIONING!  During the summer, some will have special reading programs where your child can win prizes as they read and learn.  Many may also have activities and special plays or other programs.  Be sure to stop by and get their latest calendar of events.

Workbooks:

The workbooks that I have had experience with during summer are the Summer Bridge workbooks.  These books are designed to “bridge” the gap between one grade to the next grade.  The activities are typically more fun than you’d find in a normal school book.

A program just released that we have not tried out yet is the new Summer Brain Quest.  As of this post, there aren’t any reviews on Amazon for them, however some should be up soon.  There is a huge preview you can see for examples of what is in this book.  I’m pretty impressed!

If you know your child needs a little help with a specific subject, you can also try the Kumon workbooks or Spectrum workbooks.

Websites:

There are many websites that offer fun activities for kids that are perfect for summertime. Some are free and some are paid.  We will start with the free ones first.

Free:

We love Xtramath.org.  This is a great way to help reinforce math facts during the summer.

My kids really like to play on Multiplication.com.  Don’t let the name fool you.  Addition, subtraction, and division are all covered on this website through fun interactive games.

ABCYa.com is also a favorite.  You can pick grade level and then venture on to math games, reading games, phonics, coloring, and more!

Paid:

ABCMouse.com is a good one that my kids enjoy.  It holds their progress so they don’t have to start over each time they visit the site.  That’s one benefit to this paid website.

ExplodeTheCode.com can help with phonics issues.  It is a little pricey.  We have the workbooks but haven’t tried the website yet.

Starfall.com offers a few free games and activities, but many are part of the subscription.

My kids have greatly benefited from ReadingEggs.com.  Definitely recommend checking out this program.

 

Do you have other ways that you use to encourage summer learning activities with your kids?  Please leave a comment and share!  

Also check out our other summertime articles below:

Meal Plan Monday

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I don’t know where the weekend went!  It was pretty good in that the kids had a ton of activities and I was able to get some down time to refresh and plan for the week ahead.  I also had time to read.  I’m currently reading a book called Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst.  If you haven’t heard of it, this is a life-changer book.  Definitely recommended for anyone going through a time where you just aren’t quite feeling loved.  Even if you do, this book can help you understand your role with God.  The line behind the book is simply, Live Loved.

This week we are winding down some of our through-the-year activities and trying to get everything in gear to end the school year right.  I’m working up a storm to try and finish my paperwork and get things ordered for next year.  Never ending task around here!  Here’s what I plan to make this week:

Monday: Meatball Parm Casserole, salad

Tuesday: Trim Mac Salad

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Nachos for kids, nacho salad for adults

Friday: Oven baked whole chicken, sweet potatoes, steamed carrots

Saturday: Skillet kielbasa and brussels with mustard butter sauce

Sunday: Lasagna, salad

What are you making this week?

Review: Apologia’s Readers in Residence Volume 1

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Apologia Educational Ministries
 

We had the opportunity a while back to review Apologia’s Writers in Residence, so I was thrilled when we were offered the chance to review Apologia Educational Ministries‘ Readers in Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth) by Debra Bell.  I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this set and it did not disappoint!

Apologia Educational Ministries Readers in Residence

About the Product:

Geared toward students 4th grade and up, Readers in Residence helps students with what they are reading through various activities.  This program is also appropriate for older students that need a little assistance in comprehension.  Throughout the book, students will cover vocabulary, reading comprehension, and literature.  It’s the perfect complement to the Writers in Residence set as well.  Readers in Residence covers some books that you might have already on your book shelves such as Sarah, Plain and tall, Charlotte’s Web, and Because of Winn-Dixie.  The suggested schedule included provides plans for 32-four day weeks plus 5 book club days.  6 units are included and divided into 14 modules.

 

 

Apologia Educational Ministries Readers in Residence
 

My Thoughts:

I am always a huge fan of book that are spiral bound.  They are so much easier for students to write in!  This one has a nice big spiral for the student book.  I’m also a huge fan of a program that gives me a suggested schedule to stick to throughout.  With 5 kids of various ages, I’m to the point where I NEED to have more guidelines so that I can make sure each school age child is on the right timeline for finishing their year’s worth of work.  We used Readers in Residence with my 4th grade son, but I think it could be easily tailored for younger or older readers.

The Answer Key was very helpful to me in suggesting possible answers and how to teach various subjects.  I really like how Readers in Residence takes a book bit by bit and enhances it so children can comprehend more about what is happening in the book.  We worked on Sarah, Plain and Tall.  Before you even start reading the book together, Readers in Residence covers guessing what the book is about, discovering the author and publisher, reading the back of the book, and using the cover illustration to find out clues to the book.  There was a “Meet the Author” page, where we could learn more about Patricia MacLachlan and her book.  Of course there are comprehension questions in each section as well.

Vocabulary blended right in with the study by taking words from the book and guessing what they mean by the context.  One example is the word “homely”.  It shows the book except and then walks students through guessing on what “homely” means through a thinking process.  We even went over capitalization and why certain words in the book and on the cover are capitalized.

Another area that I appreciated was the Sowing Seeds section, where it gives ideas to discuss with a parent or teacher based on what has happened in the book.  There are scripture references to apply to the stories and discuss together.

We really enjoyed this review and are hoping that more books are in the future for both older and younger students!

For More Information:

For more information, please visit Apologia’s website.  Also visit Apologia Educational Ministries on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

You can also read reviews from others on Readers in Residence by clicking the banner below.

Readers in Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth) {Apologia Educational Ministries Review}
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Meal Plan Monday!

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I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter weekend.  We went to the mountains for a night and did an Easter egg hunt up there.  On Easter, we went to church and then over to my brother’s house for an egg hunt.

This week, we are going to chug right along with school so we can hopefully get a little break this summer.

Here’s what’s on my meal plan this week:

Monday: Cajun chicken, okra salad

Tuesday: Sour Cream Beef Enchiladas , salad

Wednesday: Chicken and broccoli alfredo

Thursday: Taco Pie

Friday: Black beans and rice

Saturday: Trim Mac Salad

Sunday: Southwest Chicken in the Crockpot, brown rice, salad

What are you making this week?

Athens: Beechwood Chick-fil-A Deals!

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Great news locals!  I just saw this banner on Chick-fil-A at Beechwood’s Facebook page!  Check out the banner above and mark your calendars.

Only at Chick-fil-A Beechwood and Barnett Shoals. One offer per person per day.

Save $5 Off a Smurfs: The Lost Village Movie Ticket with Entenmann’s® (Plus Giveaway!)

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We are planning to take our kids to see Smurfs: The Lost Village in the next few days.  This movie hit the theaters on April 7th.  I loved watching The Smurfs when I was younger and it’s fun to share this show with my kids.

If you’re planning on going to the movie, here’s a way to save a little and enjoy a yummy snack!

With the purchase of two 5 count, one 10 count, or one 20 count specially marked Entenmann’s® Little Bites® Smurf Blueberry Muffins packages, you’ll receive $5.00 off a movie ticket to see the “Smurfs: The Lost Village.”

As you can see below, Simon is a fan of the Entenmann’s® Little Bites® Smurf Blueberry Muffins!  They are the perfect size for his little toddler hands and his little tummy!  At less than 200 calories per pouch, Entenmann’s® Little Bites® are just the right amount of snack to enjoy at home or on-the-go.

For More Information:

For more information about Entenmann’s® Little Bites® Smurf Blueberry Muffins or about this Fandango Movie Promotion,please visit www.littlebites.com.  You will also find games and stories about the Smurfs  on their website.

Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a $25 Fandango gift certificate and three coupons for $5.00 off the purchase of any Entenmann’s® Little Bites®, provided by Entenmann’s® Little Bites®.  Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post and giveaway were sponsored but all opinions and comments are my own.

Meal Plan Monday

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Great weekend here.  We had a spend the night and a first dance.  Lots of fun and were able to enjoy this lovely weather.  The toddler is up to his wild shenanigans and seriously keeps me on my toes!

This week ahead is another busy one filled with homeschooling, cleaning, and hopefully escaping to the mountains at some point.  It’s also Easter weekend!

Be sure and check out some of our Easter posts:

Time to make a meal plan again!

Monday: Steak, broccoli

Tuesday: Meatloaf, okra, salad

Wednesday: Lazy Lasagna

Thursday: Pizza

Friday: Burgers, veggies

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Easter Potluck with friends

What are you making this week?

Review: Once Upon a Time Holy Bible and Storybook Bible

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We had the great opportunity to check out the new Once Upon a Time Holy Bible and Storybook Bible to review for you guys.  Having 3 girls in the house that love fairy tales (and 2 boys that do, too!), we couldn’t wait to check out these books.

About the Books:

The Once Upon a Time Holy Bible has illustrations scattered in between the books of the Bible.  This Bible is in the New International Reader’s Version, which is supposed to be an easier to read version of the Bible.  The Holy Bible is offered in hardcover, and pink leathersoft editions.

The Once Upon a Time Storybook Bible is brightly colored with stories and references to where these stories are in the Bible.  Included are 18 Old Testament stories and 15 New Testament stories, such as Samson’s Strength, Queen Esther’s Bravery, Jesus is Born, and The Darkest Day.  

Our Thoughts:

The Bible is not a Fairy Tale, but every Great Story happened Once Upon a Time…

This is the tagline for the Once Upon a Time Holy Bible and Storybook Bible books and it couldn’t be more true.  The artwork in these books is by Omar Aranda and is absolutely phenomenal!  It definitely brings the stories to life in an attractive way.

My kids have loved thumbing through these books to see the pictures.  I love that it emphasizes that these stories were real and not a fairy tale, despite of the fairy tale appearance of these books.  They are definitely ones that we will continue picking up again and again throughout the years.

More Information:

For more information, you can visit the Zondervan website.  You can find the Bibles available where books are sold and the Storybook Bible available at Sam’s Club or wherever books are sold.

We received these books in exchange for our honest review.

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