Fun-Schooling Journal ages 3 to 7

By  Sarah Janisse Brown

My five year old was very excited when I bought him his own journal. He started it right away. This journal is geared toward children ages 3 to 7 but my 8 year old daughter also enjoys doing it. I often find her doing it in her spare time. Over the next couple months I plan to do several reviews of different books from this same author. 

First, I came across Dyslexia Games (The Thinking Tree) a couple years back, when my 12 year old daughter was having  a difficult time learning to read and even recognizing numbers. Her younger sister was getting ahead of her. I began to research Dyslexia and found out that I myself have some form of it. I ordered the Dyslexia Games Series A and B in e-book format. I used those with her and her sister for a few months. It seemed to be working. She was able to recognize differences she couldn't before. She was able to concentrate. I was very excited. She began reading and gaining confidence.

Well, to be honest, we sat the Dyslexia games aside for a while and went about homeschooling. I then decided we needed so changes in our home school. Things were feeling out of wack. So, I started praying and talking to God about what I would like for our home school. I have a love for books and I really would like to share that love with my children. All they want to do is play video games. So anyways, I buy books as I come across them load my shelves until they are overflowing and all they do is sit there and collect dust. While we go about follow curriculum X. Curriculum X is great, it's just not what I am looking for. So, some how I find my way back to Dyslexia Games face book page and low and behold they are asking for moms to review their new journals. I am thrilled to say I was chosen as one. 

Now, my five year old is just now learning his sounds for letters, he is still in the pre-reading stage. I am taking a very gentle approach with him. After the nightmare I went through with my darling 12 year old, I have learned to follow their lead. They let me know when they are ready. 

Back to the journal, sorry! This Fun Journal is just that...FUN! Ans best of all we get to use all those books I had been buying and collecting the past few years. You start off by letting your child draw four things they want to learn about. Then you get books on those topics and go from there. 

My little guy said he wanted to learn about:

1. Coloring in the lines

2. The Moon

3. Spaceships

4. Spelling

What is great about #1 is the journal is full of awesome pictures to color and he now uses his "special markers" to color in the lines. Before it was I hate coloring, I don't want to do this, this is boring. Now though, since he decided he wanted to learn this he takes his time and does a great job.

We went to the library and found loads of books on the moon and spaceships and read them together. It sparked interesting discussions. Spelling we haven't worked on much but the door is there. 

So, yes these journals may seem like basic bare bones to some. But they are meant to be used as a starting point. You add the books, activities and discussions. For my family it has been an answer to prayer. The children get to learn more about things that interest them and we are finally reading the books I have so longed to read with them.  We are having fun while learning and creating awesome memories together. 

Keep a look out for more reviews on these great books. 

Here are some links:

Dyslexia Games Page

Dyslexia Games Face Book Page

Sarah's Amazon Page

Biography

Sarah Janisse Brown is an pen & ink artist, dyslexia specialist, world traveler, pancake flipper, potty trainer, happy wife and a homeschooling mother of ten. The Brown family started The Thinking Tree Publishing Company in 2009 and they publish outside-the-box curriculum and dyslexia therapy books. They focus on the needs of active and creative children who learn differently.

Sarah began creating unique activity books in 2008 to help her own dyslexic children to learn to read, write and spell. Her goal is to encourage creativity and help each child to develop their talents, skills and abilities. Learn more about her unique homeschooling methods in her small book "How to Homeschool".

Sarah's most popular activity books are her beautiful "Homeschooling Curriculum Journals". Moms love the books because they help the children to become more independent in their learning while using FREE library books as the core of their curriculum. Kids love the books because they are fun and interesting. The books use the Open Dyslexic font, so they are easy for all children to read, even dyslexics. The books include many right-brain activities to help children to remember without memorizing. Most activities are based on the concepts of "Delight Directed Learning" and "Organized Unschooling" - Sarah calls it Fun-Schooling. Sarah has also been able to assist over 10,000 children in overcoming reading problems through her Dyslexia Games Therapy.

As a writer, Sarah's stories have appeared in Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Above Rubies Magazine, Countryside Magazine, Mother Earth News, as well as several small newspapers. Sarah and her husband Joshua met at Calvary Chapel in Cincinnati, Ohio when they were young teens and were married under a bright blue Indiana sky seven years later. The first baby was born ten months later. He was so cute they decided to have nine more. After several years of competing in the rat race, and adding a new baby to the family every year or two, the couple decided to pack up the kids and follow their childhood dreams. So in 2012 the family opted out of the American Dream, sold everything (or gave it away, because most of it was junk that came from yard sales and thrift shops) and moved to Europe. Josh sold his computer service business and Sarah resigned from her seat on the Fortville Town Council, where she had been serving as vice president. To survive they started selling
workbooks for Dyslexic children online. You can read more about Sarah's family in the book "Windows to Our World".

Joshua and Sarah are the developers of creative curriculum and therapy for children with Dyslexia, Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD. They have a heart to help children who struggle with schooling, like Sarah once did, as well as their own dyslexic daughters. Their online business - www.DyslexiaGames.com, allows them freedom to live and work anywhere on earth... with an internet connection. Recently the family appeared on the reality show House Hunters International, when they moved from Fortville, Indiana to Veneto, Italy. Back in Indiana the Browns were known for the unruly urban homestead, complete with goats and ducks, that they created in their own backyard on Main Street.

The Browns now enjoy a life full of love, adventure, sailing, serving and learning wherever they may go. The family now travels the globe together and enjoy a life of mission work, fun-schooling, and travel. They have missed many trains, planes and buses, but they never miss out on the things that matter like love and laughter! As of 2015 they are serving in Eastern Europe as missionaries.

In her free time, she fills her journals with poetry and prayers, paints murals and mindlessly says "yes" to every child that asks to keep a stray kitten.

Linking up with Homeschooling 6

The Time Chamber

By Daria Song

This is the second book in series by Daria Song. I enjoyed the first one so much that I asked to review to second one too. I think this is a clever book. You get it all, the imagination and wonder of the story. Plus you get to color it the way you want it. I love art and creating things so this is right up my alley. I plan to gift these to my daughter. I think they will encourage her to read as she colors. She has had a difficult time with reading but has over come obstacles and is excelling now.

Back to the book. It continues where the first one left off. The fairy comes from the clock to seeour world in front of her full of wonder and excitement. I would recommend these books to anyone who likes to color and/ or read fantasy/ fairy tale type books. They would make great gifts.

Thank you blogging for books for my free copy to review.

About the Author

DARIA SONG is an author and artist with a master’s degree in fiber arts from the Ewha Womans University Graduate School of Fine Arts. Winner of the Kyung Hyang Arts Contest, Song has exhibited at numerous galleries and museums in Korea, Singapore, Turkey, and Hong Kong. She is a lecturer at the Kaywon School of Arts and her illustrations can be found in Amore Pacific and SK Planet. She spent five years of her childhood in San Francisco before returning to Korea, and the sense of wonder and mystery that comes from living in a far-off place inspired her internationally best-selling adult coloring book, The Time Garden. 

The Time Garden

By Daria Song

I have never seen anything like this before. I think it is a wonderful idea for children and adults alike. It is a story of a young girl and a coloring book as well. The pictures you get to color are beautiful. I will definitely be getting more of these as they come out. The pages are thick, so you could use felt markers or color pencils. Lots of details in the pictures. Fun to color and the words blend in with the pictures so they do not distract from the beauty of the pictures. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys coloring.
I received my copy of this book free from blogging for books. Thank you!

From the Back Cover:
A dazzlingly beautiful coloring book for all ages, The Time Garden will sweep you away into a whimsical cuckoo clock–inspired world, created in intricate pen and ink by the internationally best-selling Korean artist Daria Song. Then, explore the magical world outside the clock through the eyes of a fairy in the sequel, The Time Chamber: A Magical Story and Coloring Book.
Journey through the doors of a mysterious cuckoo clock into its inky innerworkings to discover a magical land of clock gears, rooftops, starry skies, and giant flying owls—all ready for you to customize with whatever colors you can dream up.

Cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . When the clock strikes midnight, you’ll wonder, was it all a dream?

The Time Garden features extra-thick craft paper, ideal for non bleed-through coloring, and the jacketed cover with flaps is removable and colorable. Special gold-foil stamping on the cover and spine and a To/From page make it perfect for gifting to adults and kids alike.

About the Author

DARIA SONG is an author and artist from Seoul, Korea. Winner of the Kyung Hyang Arts Contest, Song has a master’s degree in fiber arts and has exhibited at numerous galleries and museums in Korea, Singapore, Turkey, and Hong Kong. She spent five years of her childhood in San Francisco, California, before returning to Korea, and the sense of wonder and mystery that comes from living in a far-off place inspired The Time Garden. 

Dyslexia Games ( The Thinking Tree)

The wait is over! I was very excited to receive my box of homeschool books to review. The company generously sent me 7 books. I have children ages 16, 12, 8 and 5. There was something for everyone. They even sent me a The Busy Mom's Homeschooling Handbook.  

The children were excited to start using these. I gave each of the older three there own journal to try. My youngest kind of tags along side them. He is holding the DIY Field Trip Journal.

So the first two books you see here are DIY Field Trip Journal and The Busy Mom's Homeschooling Handbook

Let's first talk about the  DIY Field Trip Journal. It is a small paper back book with black and white pages in it. There are places for photos or drawings and lined spaces for writing. Beautiful borders that could be colored. Just like the title states it is a DIY (do it yourself). I think it will be a great addition to our homeschool. An easy and beautiful way to record field trips. I have provided links to all the books I am reviewing. You can purchase directly from Amazon.

Next, The Busy Mom's Homeschooling Handbook. I really love this. I like to doodle and color anyway, so this is right up my alley. I have a book addiction and I have some many TBR (to be read) books it's unreal. What this journal does is gives you a place to brainstorm and organize. Often I put my own needs and wants aside this will help me make time for myself. Again very beautiful pictures for you to color. Places for you to write prayer needs, recipes and even a spot to evaluate your mood. I enjoy it's simplicity. All I need to do is grab a stack of books I have been wanting to read and some markers or colored pencils and I am ready to go. I really love this book. As it states on the front cover over 180 delightful activities to help organize your day and inspire a passion for learning in your children.

We were sent three different DIY Homeschool Journals as you can see in the photo above. 

1. Do-It-Yourself Homeschool Journal Delight Directed Learning Handbook

2. Do-It-Yourself Homeschool Journal for Eclectic Learners

3. Do-It-Yourself Homeschool Journal For the Creative Student

They are all the same as in your child picks out 9 books that interests them. Your child will use those books to complete their journal. They do about 10 pages of the journal a day. Also supply them with markers, colored pencils/ pens or crayons. There are opportunities for them to color, doodle and be creative. It's fun and many children prefer this method over regular text books. They are still learning and having fun doing it! It's a win, win in my book. In my opinion this is a great back bone for homeschooling. It allows you to have a record of all you are doing each day and it's all in one place. The company allows you to photo copy the pages for use in your own family, which I think is great. I think I would prefer my children to each have their own journal because it would make a great keepsake later for them to enjoy. 

See we have lots of books to read!

The last two books we got were Teach Your Child to Read,Write and Spell 100 Easy Bible Verses and Spelling Time Master the Top 150 misspelled words.

I am always excited to find new ways of hiding the word in my heart as well as my children. So I was happy to get the 100 Easy Bible verses. It combines Bible, Reading, Writing and Spelling. It is great for quick lesson. I think elementary to middle school would benefit the most from this book, but we do together as a family. As with all these books beautiful doodles and pictures to color if your child wants to. 

The Spelling time is great for those who know the basics but need to master commonly misspelled words. I think middle and high school would be the best. A wonderful mix of activities to help you master the 150 most commonly misspelled words with out memorizing. So it is different from the regular memorize and take a spelling test method. 

I have not been disappointed by this company. Everything I have gotten has been fun and has helped my children learn new things. I like how it gets them thinking outside of the box. How it allows them to be creative and learn things that would normally bore them. This handbooks have so much potential. The could be used for any grade level. For the child to be more independent, they would need to be reading already. But I see that I could even use this with my youngest and help him with it. So head on over to Amazon and see what all they have to offer. 

I still have several books of theirs I want to try. They have multiplication and drawing books too.

Here is a direct link to  their FAQs Page

Thank you for stopping by. Happy homeschooling!

Dyslexia Games (The Thinking Tree)

So Dyslexia Games is letting a few mom bloggers review some of their products. This is wonderful for me. I have bought and used some of their workbooks for my children. They were a God send. I saw a vast improvement in my child's learning skills. She was able to concentrate and learn her reading and math easier. It has been a hard road for her. When I saw the new items Dyslexia Games had to offer I was excited to try, but it hadn't fit in our budget this year. So I am more than excited to review for this awesome company.  So many great books to choose from. I home school four children ages 16, 12, 8 & 5.  Here are my top choices for review:

1.Do-it-yourself Homeschool Journal 

2. Teach your Child to Read Write and Spell

3. Multiplication Games

These are Christian books but they do offer a secular option as well. So hop on over to their Facebook page or their website. They have lots to offer. Also, they have treated me nice as a customer on more than one occasion. Look for my review of their products soon. 

Happy homeschooling.

My First Hands-On Bible

New Living Translation

I was so excited to get this Bible in the mail. I began to read it immediately to my five year old. He really seemed to enjoy it. It sparked questions in him and we had great little talks. We have the blue one of these. It is geared at ages 3-6. I think it is the perfect bite size pieces for children in that age. 85 Bible stories are recorded and are very easy to read and understand. Beautiful color illustrations. Each story has a Jesus connection and activity. It makes learning the Bible stories fun and engaging. This would be a great gift. I received my free copy to review from Tyndale. 

War Room: Prayer is a Powerful Weapon

Novelization By Chris Fabry

Based on the Motion Picture By Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick

I am so glad I picked this book for review. I had no idea it was based on a new movie coming out until I received it in the mail. Having God save my marriage personally I could relate to many things in this story.
I just love the character Miss Clara, I wish she was my friend and neighbor. Such an awesome and encouraging woman of God. I was sad for this book to end. I looked forward to sitting down and reading it. I want to see the movie now, but I am so glad I read the book first.
I have a renewed fire in me now. I want to have a closer relationship with the Lord. I want to go back to praying for the needs of my family, friends loved ones and strangers I meet. I feel like I have slacked off in that area of my life. This book has inspired me to try again. To seek the Lord in a new way. It has opened a door for me and I am excited. Now I don't know if this story will do that for you, but I sure am glad I read this book.
It isn't a "self help" or "this is the way to get God to move" book. It is a fictional story as far as I know. It's just such a wonderfully inspiring story. I like how it doesn't portray Christians as "perfect and having it all together". They make it clear it is through a relationship with Jesus that things can change in your life. Grace is shown throughout this story and that is so important.
I got so much enjoyment from this story. I felt a range of emotions and I was able to get lost in the story. I felt like I knew this family. It is such a sweet approach to an important part of Christianity. Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with Jesus.
In the back of the book there are discussion questions. So, if you want to get a small group going, the questions are back there for you already. Also there are color photos in the center of the book from the movie making. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Jesus. Also if you enjoyed Fireproof & Courageous you will probably enjoy this one as well.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. A great big thank you to Tyndale house Publishing for my free copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Laugh Out Loud Pocket Doodles for Girls& Boys
By Rob Elliott

We were so excited to get these little books. My children ages are 16,12,8& 5. Though these are geared toward my younger children, they all enjoyed them. Each took turns reading and telling jokes. The pictures are cute too. You get to finish them yourself. My children haven't grown tired of them either, which happens often when new things come. In fact, they have been inspired to make up their own jokes. It's nice to have a good clean joke book for them to be silly with. Some of the the jokes are pretty lame but not all some are quite clever. Regardless we have had many laughs and fun times with these. I love that they are compact and could easily be tucked in a bag or purse and brought along with you to doctor visits or the like, where you have to wait forever and the children often get bored. We received these two books from Revell publishing for our honest review. Thanks so much these were fun!

Lizzy and Joe enjoying a laugh!

The Unplanner
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong

Tavia of The Unplanned Homeschooler gave me the opportunity to review her new homeschool planner, The Unplanner. She has catered it to fit many family sizes. You have the option for 1 to 6 students. I looked over the planner briefly and then went back through it and read all her notes to homeschoolers. Each section of the planner explains how she uses it in her family as well as, helpful tips. These little nuggets are awesome, especially if you are beginning your homeschool journey. I have been homeschooling for eight years and some of the things she mentions were things I had to learn for myself "the hard way".
The planner is very simple and laid out well. I imagine many different homeschool family types would  be able to use it. The planner is broken into five sections, attendance, things to do, year in review, learning adventures and notes. You should be able to use this in any state.  It is nice having everything in one spot and ready to go. Priced at $6.49 it is hard to beat. I was given a free pdf. copy of the 4 students unplanner for my honest review.

The following information was taken directly from Tavia's page:

THE UNPLANNER is not like other homeschool planners you may have seen. Brought to you by the Unplanned Homeschooler, this organizer will help you record all of your amazing learning adventures without overloading you with pages and blanks you'll never fill in.
I understand that too much planning can lead to stress, anxiety and even feelings of guilt, especially for new homeschoolers. You don't need that!

What does THE UNPLANNER include?

In addition to helpful advice, you'll get attendance sheets for each of your students, Month at a Glance pages to help you track your appointments and upcoming events, Year in Review pages to help you record all the work your kids have done as you go and do a little light planning, and Learning Adventures pages to record the field trips, experiments and other special experiences you won't want to forget.
I designed THE UNPLANNER to cover a full 13 months, from July 2015 all the way through July 2016, because I know how frustrating it is to procrastinate and not get your new organizer in time. And priced at just $6.49, it probably costs less than what you would spend to print your own planner pages and bind them yourself.

THE UNPLANNER is professionally bound in a convenient 6x9 inch paperback, perfectly sized to toss in your bag and carry with you wherever you go. It has all the pages you need, and none of the ones you don't.

You can do this! You'll never feel like you're a failure at planning again. So relax, place your order, get your pencils ready and let's get started.

How to purchase THE UNPLANNER

It's easy! THE UNPLANNER comes in six versions, customized for 1 to 6 students. You can order the version of your choice from Amazon and take advantage of free shipping or order directly from CreateSpace by clicking one of the links below.
The Unplanner on Amazon
Create Space 1 student
Create Space 2 students
Create Space 3 Students
Create Space 4 students
Create Space 5 students
Create Space 6 students

You can also follow her on Facebook The Unplanned Homeschooler

Stay Lessons my dogs taught me about life, loss, and grace 
By Dave Burchett

I was blessed by this book. On my journey with Christ I have been down many roads, some were very wrong teachings. Thankfully in my relationship with Christ I have been able to move from wrong teachings and move toward the true gospel of grace. Dave does a beautiful job of explaining what he has learned in life about God's grace through his dogs. This book is full of emotion. I really enjoyed reading it. Dave writes beautifully and made me feel like I was there looking in on his family from the side lines. I now have my teenager reading it for home school.
There are many nuggets of truth in this book but one that stands out to me is living in the moment. Dogs live for today with no regrets or shame. Dave explains how we should be living remembering who we are in Christ. When trouble comes it isn't God punishing us, (as some would have you believe). We need to look to God and trust in him. I really can't do the book justice trying to explain it. Read it for yourself and let God touch your heart as you read. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book free for review from Tyndale House Publishers. This is my honest opinion of the book, I was not required to write a positive review.
I ordered Dave Burchett's other two books, I will let you know what I think after I read them.

One Sentence Story Books
Written by Nancy Sanders
Illustrated by Hannah Wood
Recommended age 3-5

This is ten mini paperback books.They come in a cardboard case. Each book contains a one sentence story, a Bible truth, a Bible verse and a prayer. It would be great for toddlers to start a Bible devotion. Beginning readers  would also benefit from these books. Book titles are as follows: The Sun and the Moon, Two Mice and the Ark, Moses and the Bush, David and the Giant, The City Wall, The Star and the Kings, Jesus on the water, The Good Shepherd, The Sad Son, The Angel and the Cave. Each book is colorful and beautifully illustrated.
I like how each book has a devotional activity. It is a good place to start with early readers. Younger children would also enjoy looking at the books, my only concern is they are very cheaply made. The paper is very thin as well as the cover. The case is sturdy but, I wish the books themselves were made out of a heavier material. Over all a good beginning Bible devotional for young child. I received this book free from Tyndale for my honest review.

Draw-A-Saurus By Jamie Silvani
Me and my children love to draw. It's a daily thing around our home. I was very excited to get this book and see what it had to offer. It is a fun book. The drawing instructions and diagrams are great and easy to follow. The book covers are attractive, especially for a paperback. They are made of a thicker paper and have a flap that makes the book feel sturdy. I really enjoy how the artist puts the dinosaurs in different poses and suggest silly accessories you can add to your picture. It's over 150 pages and full of dinosaur information. The artist also compares the dinosaur to animals we see today to help you to imagine and draw more accurately. I believe you would be able to use this books for a variety of age ranges. I received this book free from blogging with books. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Come back often for more book reviews. Pick up your copy of Draw-A-Saurus today.

Monday we began homeschooling again. Everyone seems to be happy and excited to start after a great Christmas break. We have switched stuff up a bit. Everything seem to be flowing better. Just like anything in life, you have to be willing to try new things. I am glad my "home school box" has been destroyed. It has been a fun, yet trying at times adventure for us. Wouldn't trade it for anything though.
So as I have mentioned before I have signed up for a couple book review websites. My first book is on it's way. It will be from http://www.BloggingForBooks.org So, if you like to read and then blog about books this maybe something you want to look into. There are several companies out there that offer free books in return for honest reviews. If you already do this feel free to mention who you use in the comments. Hope you have a blessed rest of your week.

http://www.BloggingForBooks.org