Review of College Common Sense

Given that I was told from a very young age (elementary school) that if I expected to go to college (and, of course, I was expected to go to college), I would have to earn a scholarship.  You do school differently when you know that the only way you can go to college is if you find a way to pay for it! Well, I got a full ride through two BAs, an MA, and a PhD.  Clearly, I took my parents' word to heart.  Needless to say, I let my four children (all of whom will be in college at the same time) know that they will be getting through college on scholarship money.

Having said that, I never would have guessed that you can start finding scholarships as young as elementary aged! I, like most students I suspect, started thinking about scholarships sophomore or junior year of high school.  Fortunately for parents today, Denise Ames of College Common Sense knows a whole lot more about scholarships than most of the rest of us.  Even more fortunately, for a very modest fee, she is willing to share every bit of her knowledge in College Common Sense Online Video and Workbook.

What is College Common Sense?

Available as either a DVD or a one-year online subscription, each complete with a PDF workbook, College Common Sense is a series of six videos (with the six accompanying PDFs):

1. The Big Picture
2. How Financial Aid Works
3. All About the Free Money
4. The System That Works
5. You In the Process
6. Put it All Together

The videos themselves are not long and the PDFs provide summary notes of what is covered in the videos.  At the end, each provides students with directions for what to do based on what was learned in the section.  For example, at the end of Video/PDF 3, students are directed to brainstorm a list of possible scholarship sources (the "low-hanging fruit" as it were).  The exercises students are given depend on their ages.  While the program can be used by elementary aged children, it is high school aged children who do the most in-depth work researching and collecting grants, scholarships, and other aid.

Therese, College Common Sense, and Me

Given that Therese is only (officially) in 6th grade, I didn't expect that we would be applying for any scholarships or making any college visits at this time, and we didn't.  I did, however, have her watch some of the videos that I thought would be most useful for her.  As Ms. Ames says, it is never too soon to start thinking about how financial aid works! Again, though, Therese is not to this point in her college explorations yet, and I have been talking to her about scholarships since before she could understand what I meant.  To that end, much of the specifics of the information given (Pell Grants, FAFSAs, etc.) was too specific for her at this time, and that which was more general was that which she already knew.  She did, however, start keeping a spiral notebook as Ms. Ames suggests, and I anticipate that she will continue to write down scholarship sources as they occur to her.  While I had her do all of the upper elementary/lower middle school spiral notebook assignments suggested by Ms. Ames, this is the one that seems to have "stuck" with her.  It is the one to which she returns most often.

Although I didn't think she was ready to price colleges yet, I did have Therese fill out a worksheet on the cost of attending school.  Currently she is most interested in private, Catholic colleges which are not cheap.  She filled out a sheet for a private school here in Houston (my alma mater) as well as one for the University of Houston.  While U of H is definitely far more affordable, the University of St. Thomas has more scholarship money available, especially merit-based tuition scholarships, such as the one I received.  It is helpful for Therese to know at this young age that she can begin to aim for such a scholarship right now.  I think that Ms. Ames is very smart to have parents *and* their children begin to think about the cost of school and their various options for paying for it as early as possible.

This product is a really great one and one that is so necessary for homeschoolers who don't have access to those great fonts of information - the high school counselors.  As to whom College Common Sense would benefit most, though, I think high schoolers and their parents are the obvious answer.  Even more specifically, I would say that parents who have not themselves gone to college (and gone through some aspect of the financial aid process) can't afford not to pay the minimal fee to gain the knowledge that Ms. Ames has spent her career acquiring.  Because I spent the better part of 12 years in school on scholarship and grant money following high school, there really wasn't much in these videos that was new information (apart from the fact that there is a scholarship for six year-olds! That was a new one to me!).  However, I personally know plenty of parents who worry *a lot* about how they are going to pay for college, and this video/workbook series should go a long way toward allaying their fears.  It is hard to come away from Ms. Ames' series without feeling optimistic that college is affordable and that you will be able to pay for it.  That alone is worth the price of admission.

So What is the Price of Admission?

You have two options when it comes to purchasing this product.  Which you choose depends, I would think, on the age of your kids and how far away you are from college.  The Crew reviewed the online videos and PDFs. These are available as a one-year subscription for $25.  If you have several kids to put through college, though, or if college is still far off but you want access to this great information now, you might want to consider the DVD, which contains the same information as the online videos, but is yours permanently.  The DVD, with PDF workbook, is available for $50 +$5 shipping.  College Common Sense can be used with children of all ages in all grades.  You can decide which of your children could benefit from it most.

No matter what, in life information is power.  When you're talking about money, that's even more true.  Give yourself the informational advantage that will enable you to put all of your kids through college without bankrupting either your future or theirs.  My daughter wasn't old enough for us to put Ms. Ames information to the test yet, but there were plenty of Crew members with high schoolers who reviewed College Common Sense, so be sure to read all of the Crew reviews.

Disclaimer: I received a subscription to College Common Sense through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are mine and I received no other compensation.  I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

Don't Get Discouraged!

Sometimes life seems dark.  Then you realize that you have the very best sister in the world and that the things of the moment really are just of the moment.

Sometimes you wonder if your ridiculously gifted daughter will ever show the initiative for school that she did when she was little.  Then you find her lugging the laptop to her brothers' TKD class so that she can continue working on her first computer programming class because it just too fun to stop.

Sometimes you worry because unusual things are happening in your Church and you don't like unusual things.  Then you remember that your church is 2,000 years old and it can take it.

Always remember that a bad week (and even a bad month and, yes, even a bad year) is temporary.  The important things in life are the eternal things.  That doesn't mean that what you are going through doesn't hurt - that it doesn't matter! It does hurt.  It does matter.  Just try to remember that it will pass.  It will pass.  For some people, it may not pass in this world.  For those who love and serve Christ, though, it will pass, and if a day of suffering seems to last forever here, just imagine a day of participating in the Beatific Vision!

My week sucked.  There are amazing and inspirational writers out there who can write gorgeous blog posts about suffering and the redemptive power of God's love.  I'm here to be real about the fact that you don't always feel it.  Religion isn't about feelings.  It's about a relationship with God.  To me, it's like marriage.  Marriage isn't about feelings.  It's about a relationship that you build over time.  Sometimes it *feels* great and sometimes it *feels* really sucky.  If we relied solely on our feelings, I'm betting there would be even more divorces.  We rely on a relationship build on faith, hope, and love.  Sometimes I think God is really onto something with His whole marriage/church analogy.

In any case, like I tell my kids.  Tomorrow (next week, next month, next year) will be better.  Never forget that and never lose hope.  Our Blessed Mother promised that her Immaculate Heart would triumph and we know ...the rest of the story (Paul Harvey fans? You with me?).  Here's a hint for my atheist and agnostic friends: God wins.  What a tremendous comfort for those of us who like to read the last page of a book first.  You can endure all of the junk in the middle as long as you know that the good guys come out ahead in the end.

Review of A+ TutorSoft, Inc.

As part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, my 3rd grade twins and I were given the opportunity to review A+ TutorSoft, Inc.'s A+ Interactive MATH 3rd Grade Premium CD software.  This software constitutes a complete 3rd grade math curriculum and it is simply loaded with features.  Best of all, both of my very different twins like it, and for completely different reasons.

A+ TutorSoft, Inc.: The Product

Unlike many traditional math programs, A+ TutorSoft, Inc. gives children a completely multi-sensory experience.  Lessons are presented visually with just enough graphics to teach the concept (i.e., single color pie charts) without creating an unnecessary distraction.  Text accompanies the graphics and the text is narrated by a very pleasant female narrator.  In the past, narrators with accents have sometimes thrown my children when we are experiencing a new product.  Accent is not a problem with this narrator.  Her voice is perfect for presenting a math lesson - lively without being irritating.

The lessons themselves are very short! For example, the entire chapter on fractions (covering equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions) took one of my twins only two days to complete.  The lessons (as enumerated above) took him about 7-10 minutes each, including watching the lesson, answering the interactive questions and answers and completing the printable worksheet.  Although Michael has never done fractions before, he understood the lessons as presented the first time, and was able to progress through this chapter quickly.  More on how my twins used this program below, but first, here is a summary of exactly what A+ TutorSoft Inc.'s A+ Interactive MATH Premium CD software includes:

• Multi-Sensory Interactive Lessons
• A curriculum book with the lessons in eBook format (in other words, the textbook version of the lessons)
• Printable worksheets and tests
• Printable worksheet and exam solutions guides which allow you not only to print the answers to the worksheets you give your child, but the detail with which the answers are explained actually allows your child to be able to piece through the answer himself, especially as the solutions are presented in a way that mimics the way the concept was originally taught
• Formula reference sheets
• Recommended lesson plans
• Parental controls to lock the solutions guides
• The ability to track student progress
• Weekly certificates of accomplishment

The last three items are included on the Premium CD I received; otherwise the regular CD and the Premium CD are identical.

When you install the software on your computer and run it, you are able to see the chapter headings on the left hand side of your screen, so you know immediately where you need start up, whether that is continuing from where you left off, or re-watching a previous lesson.  At any time you can choose to watch a tutorial for how to use the software.

Michael, Mary-Catherine, and A+ TutorSoft, Inc.

Like a lot of homeschoolers, my 8 year-old twins aren't easily placed in a grade.  Fortunately, in math they both seem to be solidly in 3rd grade.  Thanks to the easy navigability of A+ Interactive MATH 3rd Grade Premium CD software, I was almost immediately able to see where I should start them in their new math program (decimals).  They transitioned to the new program seamlessly and (spoiler alert!) we plan to continue with it through and past 3rd grade.

When I have more than one child using a computer-based learning program, I usually hook my laptop up to the TV in order to avoid jockeying for position in front of a small screen.  In this way, I am also able to turn the sound up nice and loud (no "I didn't hear! He was talking! The guinea pig squeaked!").  Here, Michael and Mary-Catherine learn about fractions.

It is a true delight not only to have someone else teach my twins math (math is not my friend), but for it to be on the TV (via the laptop) and immediately replayable (key for Mary-Catherine who tends to have math meltdowns).

Michael loves doing math this way.  He is perfectly content to sit down, watch the lesson through, do the interactive Q&A and the worksheet and call it a math day.  Often, because he picks up concepts quickly and because the lessons here are concise and well explained, Michael will do multiple lessons in one day.  For example, two days ago, he did adding and subtracting fractions lessons on the same day.  It is essentially the same concept, so it made sense.  I did have him do both worksheets to make sure that he really did "get" it.

Mary-Catherine is a different story.  I always start her with Michael in math....and we always end up going back and doing it again.  She has watched some lessons three or four times.  I honestly don't think it's because she finds the concepts too hard.  I think that she has decided that math is hard and, therefore, math *is* hard.  Regardless, as much as I love this program for Michael (because he gets in, learns, and gets out), I really like it for Mary-Catherine.  It is not visually intimidating.  It teaches in very small bites (short lessons). She can watch the same lesson as many times as she needs to and it will never take more than a few minutes to rewatch it.  Several times, she has started watching a lesson again (especially in decimals), and has told me, "I get it now," even before the lesson is over.  I think that is the whole multi-sensory thing kicking in.  She sees the lesson and then remembers what it was like before -- and then realizes that she actually did learn the concept. Maybe she just needed the trigger.

Because it is multi-sensory, A+ TutorSoft, Inc's program is great for all kinds of learners.  The progress tracking feature of the premium software is nice, especially if you have more than one child doing the same grade level.  I am able to log in my twins separately and track each of their progress separately.  I don't actually need to since I do math with them, but it's great to know I can.  Truly, this math software takes all of the guesswork out of math: lessons, lesson plans, eText, worksheets, and tests.  It's all here.

You can view a demo of this great software on the A+ TutorSoft, Inc. website.  You can purchase the A+ TutorSoft, Inc.'s A+ Interactive MATH 3rd Grade Premium CD software I received for $124.99.  But wait!

You read that right! This generous company is offering 50% off all of their products, CD and online, through the end of March.  4th grade is on my list! I rarely use the same curriculum more than once; I have curriculum ADD.  For me to say that I plan to use the same math curriculum next year is huge, but I really like how A+ TutorSoft, Inc. is working for my twins.  When you combine a great product with an amazing low price, you have a huge winner in my book!

A+ TutorSoft, Inc. has lots of other great math products.  The Crew reviewed both online and CD versions of 1st-4th grade, so you'll definitely want to check out the other reviews.  If you're in the market for a new math program, or even if you're remotely curious about what else is out there, please give this company a look.


                                                                                                                                       
Disclaimer: I received this CD free through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review.  I received no other compensation.  I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Chin up, Chin up...

...everybody likes a smiling face.  Make it! Fake it! Let a little sun shine in! You'll be on the right side if you're on the bright side - up with your chinny-chin! Chin up!

Um, excuse me up there: you're not listening to me.  Which makes you exactly like most of my children (okay, all of my children).  Sigh.  I have been having one of those weeks.  Months.  Years? Okay, yes.  It's only February: years.  I look at one of my children (usual disclaimers apply: I love all of my children dearly, wouldn't trade them, etc.) and think to myself, "You are the child I always begged God not to give me." Brief explanation: growing up, I prayed that God would not make me deal with having a particular kind of child (because I had that sibling and I didn't know how my parents did it).  Understand, I'm not talking about a disability or anything like that.  Call it a personality type.  One that is particularly challenging when confronted with my own personality type.  Let's just say it was difficult to grow up with that child as a sibling.  It is infinitely more difficult to be raising that child (with the ghost of my sibling never far from my mind - I really am a therapist's dream).

Heh.  Therein lies the rub.  Someone has to be the grownup around here.  I have the unfortunate and distinct feeling that I am she.

I also have the unfortunate and distinct feeling that I have not been praying enough.  Or sacrificing enough.  I guess it's back to the drawing boards.  Still a week left in February.  And it's still Lent.  Of course, I'm still a pessimist, so we'll see how things go...

Review of Handwriting without Tears iPad App

 

Handwriting Without Tears is one of the biggest names in handwriting curriculum, not only for homeschoolers, but for all schoolers worldwide. Offering a full range of handwriting products for Kindergarten through 5th grade, Handwriting Without Tears takes the pain out of handwriting for parent/teacher and student alike.  In fact, if you homeschool, it is likely that if you have not tried Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) yourself, you have probably had it recommended to you.

What you may not know, though, is that HWT has joined the world of Apps! If your child is anything like mine, he will be intrigued by the Wet-Dry-Try App! Available for download from the App Store for $4.99, the Wet-Dry-Try App is everything that is wonderful about Handwriting Without Tears, but it is completely and totally portable.  Also, because it is something your child does on the iPad, it won't feel like schoolwork at all, which is ironic, because using the HWT App looks and feels exactly like using the regular Handwriting Without Tears program!

There are two approaches you can choose when using the app.  You can either practice the capital letters (the only letters available in the app) in any order you choose, or you can practice them in "HWT's Winning Order." For those unfamiliar with HWT's program, that order consists of the following: Frog Jump Capitals (F,E,D,P,B,R,N, and M), Starting Corner Capitals (H,K,L,U,V,W,X,Y,Z), and Center Starting Capitals (C,O,Q,G,S,A,I,T, and J).

The student (and with the purchase of the app, you have the opportunity to create separate logins for up to four students) has the opportunity of mastering the letter with either 1,2, or 3 stars, and in this mode, the letters are locked until the user has achieved at least one star (although these options can be customized by the parent, as seen below).

The process for practicing each of the letters, regardless of which mode you choose to follow, is the same.  First, the speaker tells the child to watch as she writes the letter.  Then she describes the process as she writes it.  She then instructs the child to trace over her chalk letter with a sponge.

After that, she has the child dry the letter with a towel.  If at any point, he deviates from acceptable limits in tracing, she says, "Whoa! Try that again!" and has him try again from the beginning of that particular screen (sponge, towel, etc.).

 Finally, the child gets to trace over the dry letter with a piece of chalk.

Here is what my son's progress looked like after "playing around" with Wet-Dry-Try App for about 20 minutes.

 The Wet-Dry-Try App is age-appropriate for Pre-K and K, but is considered appropriate for remediation with older children.  My son is 8, but has never had great handwriting.  His pencil grip has always been off, but I can't figure out how to correct it.  I have always wondered if that is because my husband and I are both lefties, but all of our children are right-handed.  We just don't know how to help them with things like pencil holding!

Because Michael has trouble with things like proper letter formation, I was anxious to go back to the beginning.  He reads and comprehends well above grade level, but he hates to write and requests to do most things on the computer.  To that end, I thought this app would be a great fit for him.  I was right...partly.  It turns out that you can't fool an eight year-old into thinking that handwriting practice for five year-olds is tailor made for him.  Still, that is not the fault of the app, and Michael did work completely through the app (progressing all the way through three stars (no visual cues on the letter formation and zero tolerance for deviation from the formation) and all letters).

He worked with the app for about 20 minutes a day each day, four days a week.  For about two weeks, he didn't mind, but then he started to complain.  Because he tended to be sloppy, it took him longer to get through some letters than it probably would a conscientious Kindergartner.  My daughter (now 11) would have LOVED this app when she was learning to write at 3.  It would have made her desire to write so much easier for her not-quite-coordinated fine muscles to carry out. It is just that my son's problems have more to do with lack of patience and impulsivity than with anything else.  Still, I loved the opportunity to have him go through and have proper letter formation emphasized over and over.  What I really, really, wish this app had, though, is LOWERCASE letters! Those formations are the ones that really seem to trip Michael up!

Although the Wet-Dry-Try App was not ideal for my son, he is not really the target market for it. He did benefit from it (whether he would admit it or not), and I would not hesitate to buy this app for my Pre-K or K child if I had one.  In fact, I just might buy it as a gift for my 3 1/2 year-old niece.  I trust the Handwriting Without Tears brand, and this app is 100% worthy of their name.

The Wet-Dry-Try App is available in the App Store for $4.99, and it is worth every penny.  Of course, HWT still sells all of its standard handwriting curriculum!

There were plenty of younger kids of the Crew who tried this app and other HWT products, so be sure to click on the banner below to read their reviews!


Disclaimer: I received this app free as part of my participation with the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my opinion, which is my own and was not purchased.  I received no other compensation, and I am disclosing this is accordance with FTC regulations.

Valentine's Day Gifts

What Valentine's Day looks like when you've been married for 17 years:

Plans Gone Astray

Everyone knows that the worst thing that can happen to a control freak is for plans to go off the rails.  Apparently, 2013 is about me learning to deal with it.  So far, we have spent the majority of the year sick.  I shouldn't complain since we are almost never sick, but right now all six of us are on antibiotics.  Funny aside, when our doctor asked me how my kids tolerated antibiotics, I had to tell him that I don't really know.  I think that among the four of them, there may have been *at most* half a dozen antibiotics in the last 11 years.  Anyway, because we've been so sick, school, dance, and TKD have gone by the wayside.  For so many reasons, that causes me anxiety, but I am trying to get over it!

"Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent." St. John of the Cross

"In the same way that a powerful medicine cures an illness, so illness itself is a medicine to cure passion. And there is much profit of soul in bearing illness quietly and giving thanks to God." St. Amma Syncletice

"When it is all over you will not regret having suffered; rather you will regret having suffered so little, and suffered that little so badly." St. Sebastian Valfre

"Is it not true that your gloominess and bad temper are due to your lack of determination in breaking the subtle snares laid by your own disordered desires? The daily examination of conscience is an indispensible help if we are to follow our Lord with sincerity of heart and integrity of life." St. Josemaria Escriva'

That last one? He's talking to me.