Personal Finance Program REVIEW

 Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Finances, they affect all of us.  In my adult life, I have learned that the earlier you can get a grasp on your finances and how things work, the better off you will be.  I was so happy to have a chance to review the Personal Finance Illustrated® Homeschool Edition from PEM LIFE.  My high schooler is a junior this year and I felt it was time for him to take a plunge into this.  It is an online program so you will need internet access.  The course was originally designed to qualify for 3 credit hours at the collegiate level but it is easily adaptable to the high school level.  It is written for a semester course and I received free access to this program for 6 months.

Course Menu

My initial response to this program was a little overwhelming.  When I first logged on I felt that the opening dashboard was quite confusing. I wasn't quite sure where to go.  After I fiddled around a little I was able to get into the course and view some videos.  I was still unsure after that how to proceed.  There are "next" buttons when you view screens and videos, but that is not necessarily the "next" thing you need to do. Once I clicked on the course the menu became a little clearer. I set up a 3-ring binder for him to put the printed copy of the text and all his assignments into.

Resource Library

You move around using the menu on the left and proceed through the course.  You can have your student do this independently or you can view the instructor videos available to help guide and direct your student. I have been letting my son work on his own because I have been overwhelmed with other work but it became apparent that I needed to step in and help guide him a little.  The game changer: the instructor section and videos.  Oh my goodness!  We were really missing out by not taking advantage of this part of the course.  The Instructor Guides for each unit gives you, the teacher, prep helps, class timeline, and most importantly student assignments!  The student assignments consist of fill in the blank worksheets for them to fill out as they complete their reading assignments and watch the videos.  They completely help your student prepare for the quizzes and writing assignments.

Sample Instructor Notes

Sample Student Handout

The ancillary lessons from the teacher section are key and help you to work through some of the available resources in the resource library.  I can't imagine trying to work through this without the Instructor Guide.  Your student is taken through the process of how and why to create a resume in the very first unit using the ancillary lesson from the Instructor Guide section.

Sample Ancillary lesson

The general flow of the program is:

• Read the assigned text
• Fill out the worksheet
• Watch any videos
• Fill out the worksheet
• Work on any ancillary assignments, videos, worksheets, etc.
• Prepare and take quizzes as assigned
• Participate in forum discussions (discussion board)
• Complete any writing assignments including the Reflection Posts

As you can see there are several opportunities for writing.  The system grades the quizzes in real-time and provides you with a grade.  There are rubrics provided for the written assignments.  You also submit these in the program but since my son has not completed any yet I am unsure of the outcome.

The takeaway on this program is, Wow!  There is so much here to glean from.  The resources in the Interactive Resource Library are great (they are interactive online!!).  We are doing daily lessons now and working our way through the program.  There are writing assignments and discussion boards that he has not yet participated in but hope to soon.  It looks like more people are entering the discussion boards so hopefully, that will continue.  I think the content provided is phenomenal and the wisdom learned is indispensable.  The icing on the top when in the final Unit 18 the topic covered is The Danger of Riches.  It is taught from a biblical standpoint and this is key for me.  It hit a home run in my book.

Sample Interactive Library

Table of Contents

I give the Personal Finance Illustrated® Homeschool Edition two thumbs up!!  You might need to take the time to get familiar with navigating the program but it is so worth it!  You can connect with PEM LIFE on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE.

Please take the time to check out the reviews from my fellow Crew members by clicking on the graphic link below, thanks!!

Dolly's Debut

 

Dolly, my parrot chicken is always coming and perching on my shoulder to tell me about her night, day, or just to chatter about something.  Her debut on a recent segment from one of our church devotionals is going to be a springboard to something new.  Now she will have a platform to visit with others. I'm not sure if she will join me, but be watching soon for something new we are currently working on.  Hopefully, it will unfold within the next few days!  May your day be blessed.

Smart Kidz On-Demand Radio Library REVIEW

 Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Do you remember those old radio show programs (oh dear, my age is showing!)? Meet the modern version with an educational flair mixed in along with a kids version of online streaming radio! I was excited to be able to try Smart Kidz Radio: Member's On-Demand Radio Program Library from Smart Kidz Radio.  I received a free 6-month subscription to this educational and inspirational radio station for kids. It's not your average music streaming service. You do need wifi to access the service. 

A sampling of program groups available (there are MANY more!!)

There is so much more to this Radio Program Library than just streaming music.  Smart Kidz has a heart to not only help educate your child, but to help with character building, social skills, and positive values. The management team of the company has over 30 years of experience in the home educational market. There are over 3,000 children and family songs in the digital library.  With a paid subscription, you receive 1 new resource added to your library each week.

Christian Music and Bible Songs

Setting up an account is simple and easy and you log in quickly with your email and password.  Access to the streaming is completely free but the content is changing all the time.  To have access to all of the content all of the time including new content each week it is beneficial to have a paid membership.  If your child has a favorite story or song it may not be accessible for long without a paid membership since content changes all the time on the site.  Paid members have access to ALL of the content ALL of the time.

Story Time Programs

Once we logged on we were able to stream from the library right away and Little Bug was so excited to explore.  There is so much content!!  There is something for age groups from birth to age 10 and beyond.  It is geared more for the little ones but older kids and adults can also enjoy the classical music and some of the American Heritage songs.  Her current favorite is the Smart Kidz Storytime Programs.

Classical Music

The content easily plays in the background while you work on other things such as crafts or puzzles (which Little Bug adores!).  As a mom, I like that there are character-building content and other educational programs including Spanish, Music History, Science, Math, and Reading to name a few! Little Bug can easily navigate the dashboard to find what she wants to listen to (she is in 2nd grade).  There are even some options for downtime in the Bedtime, Affirmations & Relaxations program section.

Spanish

Another very positive aspect of the company is the Smart Kidz Radio Foundation -- "a non-profit foundation that will offer educational scholarships and financially support programs that give opportunities for young people to follow their dreams and make a difference in the world." (from website FAQ).  A portion of your membership fees (20%) goes to support this wonderful foundation.  In our ever changing, crazy world we live in it is nice to know there are still companies out there that want to sow positively into our youth, the future. 

We give Smart Kidz Radio: Member's On-Demand Radio Program Library a thumbs up.  You can't go wrong and can check them out for free.  If you want to see what you get with a paid membership there is a 14-day trial option to sign up for and test it out.  You can connect with Smart Kidz Radio on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST.

Please be sure to also check out what my fellow Crew members have to say about this wonderful educational and inspirational radio station for kids by clicking on the graphic link below.  Happy listening!