Sibling Comradery

Country life. Homesteading. Homeschooling. Blessed life.  I love it when the kiddos get along and work together as a unit.  Not only are things more pleasant but they have a blast together when they aren't fighting!  Big brother has gotten into knife throwing and he really enjoys it.  He's gotten pretty good when he keeps his practice up.  Little Sis always wants to do what big brother does!  He was working with her on knife throwing after she had helped me collect some eggs.

Pretty cute looking in hen egg apron and camo rain boots.  A comical scene at the least.  Her "knife" was a chunk of wood but she threw it with complete confidence it would "stick" like big brother's throwing knife.  She had pretty good aim and not bad form.  It was a hoot to watch them and she had a blast. It was the highlight after her exciting egg collection.  She had been dying to use her new egg apron.

Glad that spring is finally here and now anxious to get the garden going again. I was going to go pick up some cabbage and broccoli plants today but didn't get to it.  It's almost too late to plant at this point but I will anyway and see what we get. What are your garden plans this year?  Have you already started getting things in the ground yet?  May you have a successful gardening season.

Rhythm & Writing REVIEW

It might seem redundant to some but I am one of those moms who thinks you just can't get enough of writing and penmanship (my son despises this!).  I was happy to review Rhythm & Writing with the Get Write Crew from Rhythm & Writing so Little Bug could get all the handwriting practice she can.  She knows all her letters and how to write them, but she has picked up some bad habits due to her stubbornness to not do it the way Mom says. It might seem odd that we were reviewing two writing programs at the same time, but Little Bug has loved both programs and enjoys working on both of them (score!).

Enjoying her lesson and watching the instructional video

I received a spiral-bound softcover copy of the workbook that also came with two transparency sheets to use over the writing pages.  In addition to the workbook I received a lifetime subscription to their online video lessons that correspond with the handwriting lessons in the workbook.  The idea behind the transparency sheets is to place them over the page (best to secure with a paper clip or two to keep the page from moving) to practice the letters with a transparency or dry erase marker before writing in the book permanently.  Since Little Bug already knows all her letters we skipped this step but I now realize that we need to use it until she actually has complete mastery of the correct way to form the letters and also to have better penmanship.

Completing her pre-assessment

The book has an introduction and a "Steps to Success" page that explain how best to use this handwriting program.  The letters learned are grouped together because of their similarities in letter formation.  Each group of letters has a story to read at the beginning and a corresponding video lesson. The video lessons are not necessary to complete the workbook since the stories tell you how to form the letters, but they sure do help and are really fun for the kids to watch and listen to.  I really believe that memory and retention are helped when there is music involved.  The multi-sensory approach to learning to write is a win in my book.  There is also always a picture to color with each story and throughout the book on the individual letter pages.

Each grouping of letter lessons has a story describing the letter formation

The first thing we did was to have her complete the pre-assessment (can be downloaded for free from their website) at the beginning of the book.  It is used to determine which, if any, letters need to be worked on.  Little Bug really needs to work on her penmanship at this point.  I REALLY like the color coding of the paper.  The top line is green, the middle dotted line is yellow and the bottom line is red.  Like a stop light, go, slow, and stop.  It reminds her to start her letters from the top (when it is correct to do so) and not the bottom like she wants to do for ALL her letters.  We have worked with lined paper but she still doesn't tend to stay within her lines like she needs to.  The colors seem to help, but she still needs plenty of practice.

You can meet the Crew and see their bios online

There is a cute video introducing the characters on the website

I was a little disappointed to find out that the Get Write Crew were not seen in the teaching videos. You hear their voices, but you don't see them (at least not in any that we have seen so far).  However, the videos are brightly colored with various backgrounds and catchy phrases that they sing as the video demonstrates step by step how to properly form the letters in the lesson.  Little Bug really enjoys watching the videos and generally follows instruction pretty well on how to properly form her letters.  When she doesn't focus she slips back to her bad habits.

Practicing lowercase letter v after watching a video lesson

Practicing uppercase letter W after same video lesson

At the back of the book, there are pages for letter review with the instructions for proper formation included, a Post-Assessment to gauge your child's improvement and a "More Than A Handwriting Program" section that has ideas and suggestions on how else you can expand on the topics introduced in the stories.

Letter review

Extra ideas and suggestions for learning

Another wonderful thing is that 20% of each Rhythm & Writing purchase is donated to Dream Makers Youth Foundation, "a non-profit organization that provides community-based educational, recreational, and therapeutic services to children with special needs throughout Metropolitan Atlanta." (last page in the book)

We like Rhythm & Writing with the Get Write Crew and I feel that it will continue to help Little Bug with her penmanship.  We will definitely continue using this handwriting program.  You have many options for purchasing this wonderful program.  You can purchase

• the workbook by itself with softcover or as a PDF download
• the instructional video subscription (one-time fee for access) to supplement the workbook
• individual video lessons for the letter groupings
• the blank color coded lined pages
• the dry erase transparencies.

You can connect with Rhythm & Writing on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and YOUTUBE.  Also, be sure to check out what other reviewers have to say about this writing program through the link below.

Classical Phonics and First Start Reading REVIEW

I just love curriculum from Memoria Press and their classical education products so when given a chance to review Classical Phonics with the First Start Reading Program I said yes!  Little Bug just loves reading now and she definitely could always use help and reinforcement with her phonics and writing. I received physical copies of the books.  They are geared for kindergarten to first and second grade (kindergarten and first grade but the classical phonics could be used through 2nd grade if necessary).

The First Start Reading Program consists of the main Teacher Guide, Books A-D, Teacher Guide for Book E, and Book E.  Books A-D are for kindergarten and Book E is for 1st grade.  The Classical Phonics book is a stand-alone book but best used in conjunction with any phonics program.  The Phonics book is a recreation of a book from 1913 from author Florence Akin.  It has been reworked to be more organized and flow better with specific word groupings.

Book E and Teacher Guide for Book E (1st grade)

She loves to color

Classical Phonics is a 139-page soft cover book that contains phonetically arranged word lists and includes almost all of the English phonograms and sounds taught through the second grade.  You can use it as a supplement to any phonics program.  We used it in conjunction with Little Bug's lessons in the First Start Reading Book A that we are currently working on.  It is important that you read the "Suggestions to Teachers" in the appendix of the phonics book to learn how to properly use the book to teach your emergent readers.

Sample pages from Phonics book

The general topics of the Classical Phonics book are as follows:

• Part One: Short-Vowel Words
• Unit 1: Alphabet, CVC words, Plurals, and Possessives
• Unit 2: CVCC words with consonant teams
• Unit 3: CVCC words with consonant blends
• Part Two: Long-Vowel Words
• Unit 4: Silent e words, Long i & o in CVCC words, Soft c and g, and Three sounds of y
• Unit 5: Long-vowel teams
• Part Three: Ten More Vowel Sounds
• Unit6: Vowel teams for five special vowel sounds
• Unit 7: Vowel teams for r-controlled vowels
• Part Four: Advanced Phonics
• Unit 8: Phonograms for short vowels, Advanced phonograms, Suffixes and prefixes/spelling rules, Syllables, and Variable endings

Working on blending

I like the flow of the book and think it will be helpful as we progress in her phonics work. I also like the idea that it does not ask or require the children to memorize the rules but rather learn them through repetition and application of the actual rules.  The phonics and spelling rules are listed in the appendix if needed.

Sample lesson from Book A

Little Bug is REALLY enjoying the First Start Reading Program.  I really like that it lays everything out for you.  It is a full year curriculum with Book E geared for the first half of 1st grade (can also be completed at end of kindergarten year or during the summer before 1st grade).  Books A-D cover printing, the alphabet, short and long vowels, silent e, consonant blends, and four h-diagraphs.  Book E covers long-vowel teams, three sounds of y, and soft c/g.  The Teacher's Guide walks you through each lesson and even gives you scripts you can use in teaching the material.  It goes into much more depth than what you see on the workbook pages. You work through phonics recitation, letter name and sounds, tongue training and ear training.  You continue the lessons with letter formation for writing practice.  The Phonics book explains to you about the importance of ear and tongue training and walks you through how to work with your child on both skills.  The writing aspect is an absolute bonus!  Your child will learn proper letter formation and have ample practice with copywork and learning to use lined paper for good penmanship.  Dictation is also practiced in the review lessons.

Tongue and Ear Training

Since she is already working on a reading program and can already read, we are using the Phonics and the First Start Reading as supplements and she completes about 3 lessons per week right now.  I will probably increase to daily over the summer with hopes that we can maybe double up on some lessons and get her ready for Book E when she starts 1st grade next school year.  Even though she knows the material we are working on, it has been a good review for her and she really loves working on it (she's all about workbook pages!!).  Plus I feel that as we progress it will help her to have a more complete foundation in her phonics work.  It is such a good foundation for being a better speller in the future and able to decipher words she doesn't know.  First Start Reading has your child reading their first sentence as soon as lesson 5!  Because of the teaching method, your child will not be overwhelmed and have confidence in reading.  By lesson 23 they read their first short story.

First Short Story with comprehension and critical thinking questions

I am glad we had a chance to review Classical Phonics with the First Start Reading Program from Memoria Press.  I recommend it especially if you have not started a phonics program yet.  Even if you are currently working on a phonics program I urge you to check this one out.  It might be a better fit or even good as a supplement like we are doing right now.

You can connect with Memoria Press on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and YOUTUBE.  Please be sure to also check out the other reviews on this curriculum and others on Latin and Poetry by clicking on the link below.