Fractions.....Blech!

Were you good with fractions?  I really wasn't.  I considered myself pretty smart up until 9th grade and Mr. Anlauf's Algebra class when we were supposed to start doing stuff with fractions.

I received my first, and thankfully, my one and only, "F" on a quiz.

It was shocking and heartbreaking.


I cried.

Mr. Anlauf wasn't very nice to me.

I suppose, looking back now as a grown up who knows the kinds of dramatic situations teenage girls can bemoan about....Maybe I may wouldn't have been so nice either!  

Who I am kidding?  I still would have been nice....but he's a guy!

Anyway, because of that, I am still sort of afraid of fractions.

So, to help my children not have to go through the same trials and tribulations with fractions as I did, it has been my intention since they hit 1st grade or so to start introducing fractions into their lives so by the time they hit algebra....they are not hit in the face with their lack of knowledge and paralyzed with fear like their mother was.

So, anytime we have a chance to review anything related to fractions, I am all over it.

This time is is called  Fabulous Fractions by AIMS Education Foundation.

AIMS (Activities Integrating Math and Science) approach to education is to combine math and science with hands on activities to make the idea hit home.



This book is designed for Grades 3-5, but some could be adapted for younger students and others, I think, would be a fun thing for your older students to do....even if they already have a strong grip on fractions.

I would have loved to have this book....even in 9th grade....because it just helps me "see" the fractions in my head in a different way than just a black and white equation on a sheet of paper.



It is an activity book....not a textbook.  For example, using the cover of the book....to say that three sevenths (3/7)of the kids were facing left.....or one sevenths (1/7) of the students is doing a weird acrobatic move to get to his manipulatives.

We especially liked the Decimal Duel activity (where you "duel" with decimals similar to the card game War) and the hands on stuff of Fair Share.

The one downside for me was that I had to do some prep before we could do the activity and make sure I had all the supplies or copies I needed.  The book does come with a CD that has PDF versions of the worksheets, so that helps if you don't have a copier at home.
We also received the  Fractional Transparencies that come with this book....but you can also get them separately to have a visual tool of fractions that shows  their relationship to each other.

I used this book as an extra "fun" school activity about 2 or 3 times a week.  It might also be a good thing to use on school breaks so they don't forget everything you have taught them!  I am thinking of using them this summer with the whole family....well, maybe V-girl is too young....but everybody else could benefit from a new way to see/remember fractions.

You can order a copy of  Fabulous Fractions for $21.95 or the PDF version for $19.95.  For me, I would spend the extra couple of bucks for the hard copy version because I am still old fashioned and like to hold books and flip through their pages.


See what other TOS crew members thought of the different books they tried, like Earth Rocks or Looking at Lines.


Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of Fabulous Fractions and Fraction Transparencies for free in exchange for an honest review of the products.

Writing Well

I am back with another review.  This time for a writing curriculum called Write With World.




This program is designed for your middle school students.  It is meant to teach writing with confidence, with the professionals from God's World News and WORLD magazine.



From their website:

Write with WORLD exposes students to:

• reading and critical thinking that develop discernment
• contemporary subjects and professional guidance to pique interest
• flexible exercises to build confidence and skill for using today's new media
• a thoughtful and meaningful Christian worldview

For us homeschoolers, I think writing well and being able to communicate through writing is important.  I mean, super important. 

In thinking ahead to college applications or even SAT essays.....I think this is where homeschoolers can and should shine the most because we may not have all the bells and whistles of public school's transcripts.  And, I am pretty sure there is still a skeptical reception to some homeschoolers readiness for college.

So, my kids being really strong communicators/writers will be important.

In the ever increasing world of e-mail instead of phone calls.....text messaging instead of phone calls and so so much being done via e-readers.....the importance of the written word is expanding.  Let me rephrase that......The importance of written word that is clearly understood is expanding.

And, even more important(from Write With World's website):  

Today's students must be discriminating media consumers - able to read, hear, and watch what the world is saying and to recognize the truth.  Today's adults need to be discriminating media consumers too.

To get an idea of what this curriculum is like, click here to see a sample lesson.

D-man and A-girl are both working through the Write With World curriculum.

D-man is in eigth grade and is really liking how the lessons are structured into smaller capsules and some of the things it has him think about.  He said that he likes this program the best of all the writing curriculums we have tried.

A-girl is in sixth grade and does the lessons, but doesn't seem to be enjoying them as much as D-man.  I think he is just used to more of this kind of lesson that asks you to think and doesn't just spoon feed the lesson into you.  She will start more of that next year, in seventh grade.

Overall, in my opinion, this is a really strong writing curriculum that I plan to keep on using with both D-man and A-girl....although I am going to have A-girl start back up with it as part of her seventh and eight grade curriculum.
The Write With World curriculum is designed to be used as a two year curriculum.  The price is $95.00 for the first year....or you can purchase both the first and second year books for $165.00.  These prices include teacher manuals and the student textbooks.

This is a new product and will be available to be shipped in the summer of 2012.  They will also be starting a new website in September of 2012 for the users of the curriculum.  This new website will provide an online publishing opportunity for student writers, and new subjects to supplement what is in the textbooks.

See what other homeschoolers thought of Write With World.


Disclaimer:  I received a copy of the first year curriculum (including the student textbook and the teacher's manual) of Write With World for free in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing Animals By Design

This is a super sweet book that I got to review for TOS (The Old Schoolhouse).


The book is called Amazing Animals By Design by homeschool mom (and fellow TOS reviewer), Debra Haagen.

I don't need to go into a lot of detail about what is in the book, because it is a children's book.   I don't want to give it all away!

But, I mean, look at the illustrations.  Aren't those cute animals?



Through a trip to the zoo, the book talks about how God has designed each and every animal in their own unique and special way.  (Sort of like us people)

It asks questions like:  Why is a giraffe’s neck so tall? Why do zebras have stripes?

It's intended audience is probably pre-school through 3rd grade or so.  But, I even learned some interesting ways that God designed animals.

This really is an adorable book.  You can buy it in an e-book format for $7.99 or a hard copy for $8.99.

See what other TOS reviewers thought of this sweet children's book.


Disclaimer:  I received a pdf/e-book version of Amazing Animals by Design for free in exchange for an honest review.