I have been missing in action a bit lately and have only done the reviews that I had due for blog posts.
Because.....
My laptop that is barely 8 months old, crashed.
Like, seriously....crashed.....nothing that can be saved from the hard drive...kind of crash.
It wouldn't be so bad if I had a back up of my computer....however, my almost new computer never let me complete a backup. It was annoying and I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't let me actually do one, but, since it was new, I figured I had time to ask my computer guru friend, John, to help me figure it out.
And then, one day....it just crashed......
John has been working and trying all sorts of things to be able to save whatever he can from the hard drive and finally just sent me the...."I hate to deliver this kind of news...." message.
Blech.....so, now he is installing a new hard drive and, hopefully, returning my computer to the original factory settings and I will start over....again.
When I need to type stuff....like blog posts....I have been kicking the kids and Rainman off the desktop computer. It is annoying.
I am so used to cuddling up somewhere with my laptop and getting things done, that I hate being confined to an actual desk again to pour out my feelings....or even accomplish any work.
It is annoying.
So, bear with me. I have some interesting blog posts coming up....kitchen updates.....soul bearing confessions.....pictures.....but, I am waiting until I get my "real" computer back from guru, John.
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Friday, August 29, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
UberSmart Software - Review
Who wouldn't want to be considered "uber" smart? You will have a better chance at that if you use some UberSmart software.
We got a chance to use of their products, called UberSmart Math Facts.
This is a simple little product. It is a downloadable program that simply helps you work on your basic math facts. You can use it for up to 8 people/students....so, for most of us, our whole family can have their own account and practice at their own level and speed. The UberSmart program is built with grades K-6 in mind, but, it definitely can extend well beyond the 6th grade.
So, your younger ones can use the Dot Cards - which basically look like dominoes. Then, the older students can use the number/flash cards.
The addition and subtraction cards go up through the 9s and the multiplication and division can even go up through the 20s.
UberSmart is a basic math facts program. No bells. No whistles. No games. No colorful characters. Although there is applause thrown in after tests, when you do a good job.
Just good, old fashioned math fact practice....with the goal of mastery.
I like that no nonsense approach.....although I realize that probably isn't everyone's favorite way to deal with math facts.
Honestly, I even used Uber Smart myself to challenge myself. Because, (and I hate to admit it) some of my multiplication facts have gotten a little rusty.....and I have to stop and think a bit before blurting the answers out.....sometimes. I enjoyed challenging myself to work faster.
Dot Cards (like adding domino faces)
Keyboard Entry (Ten-Key Numbers)
Flash Cards (add, subtract, multiplication, division)
For beginners, they can use the dot cards that look like dominoes. You can use them with just dots, or have the numbers also showing through....sort of like a watermark....in the background.
There are different "modes" that you can use. The Learning Mode is where you don't type in your answer...you can think it in your head or say it aloud and the screen will show you the correct answer.
In Practice Mode, you put in the answers....you can choose to be timed or not. Honestly, using this mode brought me back to Mrs. Toll's 4th grade class and her sitting there in front of the class with her flashcards and all of us repeating the answers outloud.....but secretly trying to beat everyone else in the class by saying the correct answer a millisecond before they did.
Yes, it was a little boring, but it was effective. That is how I feel about UberSmart Software. It is a little boring, but it is effective.
No, the kids were never too excited about spending time working on their basic math facts, but did their speed and accuracy with those math facts improve? Yes.
I do strive to have a pretty fun and relaxed homeschool environment. However, school....and life....are not always fun. Somethings you just have to do. Somethings you just need to know. Math facts are one of those things that you just have to know.
UberSmart Software gives you a chance to work on those facts without an impatient parent awaiting the correct answer. Like their website says, computers are infinitely patient if your child gets the same answer wrong over and over again. I, unfortunately, am not infinitely patient....and I do tend to get a little "snappy" if we have just covered this material and they get it wrong....again.
I will say that even though this is a plain, simple, straightforward way to practice math facts, I didn't see a tutorial or how to use this section. I figured things out through trial and error and just clicking on things to see what happened. It was effective. I figured it out. Honestly, the hardest area for me to figure out was the "Dot Cards" areas.
But, I would have preferred a "start here" page to run through those kinds of little details with me.
If you want your kids to step away from the computer and do some real old fashioned worksheets, UberSmart has those available for free on their site also.
If you are a Mac user, you are out of luck on this one though, because UberSmart Math Facts only works on Windows systems....specifically, 7, 8, Vista or XP.
You can get access to UberSmart Math facts for $24.95. And, the good news is that this isn't a subscription price. It is yours for life....or as long as you want to use it.
Still not sure? You can get a 30 day trial version to see what you think and if it will be a good fit for you and your family. In my opinion, this is a great supplement to any math curriculum.....whether homeschooled or not.
Take a look and see what other TOS Reviewers thought of their time with UberSmart math.
We got a chance to use of their products, called UberSmart Math Facts.
This is a simple little product. It is a downloadable program that simply helps you work on your basic math facts. You can use it for up to 8 people/students....so, for most of us, our whole family can have their own account and practice at their own level and speed. The UberSmart program is built with grades K-6 in mind, but, it definitely can extend well beyond the 6th grade.
So, your younger ones can use the Dot Cards - which basically look like dominoes. Then, the older students can use the number/flash cards.
The addition and subtraction cards go up through the 9s and the multiplication and division can even go up through the 20s.
UberSmart is a basic math facts program. No bells. No whistles. No games. No colorful characters. Although there is applause thrown in after tests, when you do a good job.
Just good, old fashioned math fact practice....with the goal of mastery.
I like that no nonsense approach.....although I realize that probably isn't everyone's favorite way to deal with math facts.
Honestly, I even used Uber Smart myself to challenge myself. Because, (and I hate to admit it) some of my multiplication facts have gotten a little rusty.....and I have to stop and think a bit before blurting the answers out.....sometimes. I enjoyed challenging myself to work faster.
Dot Cards (like adding domino faces)
Keyboard Entry (Ten-Key Numbers)
Flash Cards (add, subtract, multiplication, division)
For beginners, they can use the dot cards that look like dominoes. You can use them with just dots, or have the numbers also showing through....sort of like a watermark....in the background.
There are different "modes" that you can use. The Learning Mode is where you don't type in your answer...you can think it in your head or say it aloud and the screen will show you the correct answer.
In Practice Mode, you put in the answers....you can choose to be timed or not. Honestly, using this mode brought me back to Mrs. Toll's 4th grade class and her sitting there in front of the class with her flashcards and all of us repeating the answers outloud.....but secretly trying to beat everyone else in the class by saying the correct answer a millisecond before they did.
Yes, it was a little boring, but it was effective. That is how I feel about UberSmart Software. It is a little boring, but it is effective.
No, the kids were never too excited about spending time working on their basic math facts, but did their speed and accuracy with those math facts improve? Yes.
I do strive to have a pretty fun and relaxed homeschool environment. However, school....and life....are not always fun. Somethings you just have to do. Somethings you just need to know. Math facts are one of those things that you just have to know.
UberSmart Software gives you a chance to work on those facts without an impatient parent awaiting the correct answer. Like their website says, computers are infinitely patient if your child gets the same answer wrong over and over again. I, unfortunately, am not infinitely patient....and I do tend to get a little "snappy" if we have just covered this material and they get it wrong....again.
I will say that even though this is a plain, simple, straightforward way to practice math facts, I didn't see a tutorial or how to use this section. I figured things out through trial and error and just clicking on things to see what happened. It was effective. I figured it out. Honestly, the hardest area for me to figure out was the "Dot Cards" areas.
But, I would have preferred a "start here" page to run through those kinds of little details with me. If you want your kids to step away from the computer and do some real old fashioned worksheets, UberSmart has those available for free on their site also.
If you are a Mac user, you are out of luck on this one though, because UberSmart Math Facts only works on Windows systems....specifically, 7, 8, Vista or XP.
The
software has software requirements and will only work on Windows 7, 8,
Vista or XP. - See more at:
http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/ubersmart-math-facts-review/#sthash.VNHmQXme.dpuf
The
software has software requirements and will only work on Windows 7, 8,
Vista or XP. - See more at:
http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/ubersmart-math-facts-review/#sthash.VNHmQXme.dpuf
You can get access to UberSmart Math facts for $24.95. And, the good news is that this isn't a subscription price. It is yours for life....or as long as you want to use it.
Still not sure? You can get a 30 day trial version to see what you think and if it will be a good fit for you and your family. In my opinion, this is a great supplement to any math curriculum.....whether homeschooled or not.
Take a look and see what other TOS Reviewers thought of their time with UberSmart math.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Happy Kids Songs - Review
Happy Kids Songs is exactly what you think it is.......happy kid songs!
We got to instantly download three sets of songs meant for ages 3 to 8, for a total of 15 songs.
Friends & Sharing
Sailing on the Seven C's
Everybody Wants To Find a Friend
Sharing Friends
Happy As Happy Can Be
Together
Happiness and Attitude
Shake It Out and Dance
Who Knows What's a Kudo
I Don't Understand
Be Good to Yourself
Better Together
Manners and Character
H-o-n-e-s-t-y
The Magic Word
Quirks
The Golden Rule
Six Little Kids
We also got the Happy Kids Songs Workbook, but we didn't use it too much. I mostly used it to clarify some of the lyrics we heard, but weren't quite sure what they were saying. It is 125 pages and covers all 40 Happy Kids Songs. It has lyrics and coloring activities in the front section and more hands on activities and ideas in the back of the book that go along with each song though, so in another setting this would be a really handy workbook to have.
The songs are by Dr. Mac (also known as Don R McMannis, Ph.D). He is a child psychologist, teacher, author, clinician, school consultant and, if that isn't enough important sounding stuff....he is also an award winning songwriter. You may even recognize his name from his work on PBS' Jay Jay the Jet Plane.
The songs themselves were very eclectic in style. Some sounded country. Others sounded like folk music. Others sounded more traditionally pop-like. Some sounded like "kids" music. I liked the variety. But, most of all, I liked the messages.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to burn these onto a CD so we could travel with them....but, I couldn't figure out how to do it on my laptop....so, we just listened to them from my computer when we were hanging out in the living room. Sometimes, we listened to them as background music when we were doing other things, like drawing or doing puzzles. Sometimes, we would listen intentionally, so we could talk about the words and the message in the song.
Most of us know how powerful music can be in relation to memory making. Give me a good, old 80's power ballad, and I am back on the cafeteria dance floor in high school, awkwardly swaying with a classmate.....or pretending I had to go to the bathroom, so I wasn't awkwardly standing on the sidelines watching everyone else dance, but me. Notice the frequency of the word "awkward"?
I still remember the Old Testament books of the Bible, by singing a song (inside my head, of course) and, I still sing the abc's, in my head, when I am trying to alphabetize something.
Okay, let's be really honest here and talk about Barney's "Clean Up" song.....you all have that one stored away in there...whether you like it or not, don't you?
Music definitely helps solidify stuff in your head. Happy Kids Songs helps solidify things like character, attitude, kindness, understanding, and how to actually be a friend. Yes, there are some songs/tunes that I wish weren't stuck in my head, (but, I can also say that about the fact that I still know the words to Like A Virgin, Mickey, The Safety Dance, and The Final Countdown to just name a few).....but the kids are having fun with them. And, we can remind each other of some of the messages if we are having a hard time.
Some of our favorite songs were:
Shake It Out and Dance - This is one of the up beat, fun songs that talks about getting bad thoughts of "I can't" out of your head. Catchy and really has a good message....even for grown-ups. This one gets bandied about when we hear each other start to talk negatively. "Just shake it out and dance!"
Quirks - This one had the message that everyone has little quirks that might seem weird to us, but they are just quirks.....and we should accept them, as they are.....because EVERYONE has them.
Six Little Kids - Honestly, my kids liked this one because we have 6 kids in our family. I liked it because it has the message of 6 people touching an elephant and describing it in completely different ways, but nobody was wrong. They just had different perspectives.
Be Good To Yourself - This pick was for me. This one talks about being good to yourself and that "you and everybody else, need kindness". Sometimes I need a reminder from a Happy Kids Song, that I need to be kind to myself and not just others.
We just got access to 15 of the songs, but there are other albums/themes available too.
Social Skills and Bullying
Feelings and Fears
Practice and Success
Talking and Listening
Respect and Responsibility
I can see these being great to have in a homeschool or public school setting for elementary and preschool aged kids. My niece is a school counselor, and I am going to tell her about these songs/resources. I think this is something that is totally up her alley and will give her another way to teach some of these concepts to her kids. There are just lots of good messages portrayed in these happy little songs.
You can get these happy little songs for your household for $4.95 for each 5 song set. This also gives you downloadable lyrics and activity sheets. Or, you can go ahead and get the Happy Kids Songs Workbook for $12.56, and have all the lyrics and activities in one handy place.
See what other TOS Reviewers thought of Happy Kids Songs.
We got to instantly download three sets of songs meant for ages 3 to 8, for a total of 15 songs.
Friends & Sharing
Sailing on the Seven C's
Everybody Wants To Find a Friend
Sharing Friends
Happy As Happy Can Be
Together
Happiness and Attitude
Shake It Out and Dance
Who Knows What's a Kudo
I Don't Understand
Be Good to Yourself
Better Together
Manners and Character
H-o-n-e-s-t-y
The Magic Word
Quirks
The Golden Rule
Six Little Kids
We also got the Happy Kids Songs Workbook, but we didn't use it too much. I mostly used it to clarify some of the lyrics we heard, but weren't quite sure what they were saying. It is 125 pages and covers all 40 Happy Kids Songs. It has lyrics and coloring activities in the front section and more hands on activities and ideas in the back of the book that go along with each song though, so in another setting this would be a really handy workbook to have.
The songs are by Dr. Mac (also known as Don R McMannis, Ph.D). He is a child psychologist, teacher, author, clinician, school consultant and, if that isn't enough important sounding stuff....he is also an award winning songwriter. You may even recognize his name from his work on PBS' Jay Jay the Jet Plane.
The songs themselves were very eclectic in style. Some sounded country. Others sounded like folk music. Others sounded more traditionally pop-like. Some sounded like "kids" music. I liked the variety. But, most of all, I liked the messages.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to burn these onto a CD so we could travel with them....but, I couldn't figure out how to do it on my laptop....so, we just listened to them from my computer when we were hanging out in the living room. Sometimes, we listened to them as background music when we were doing other things, like drawing or doing puzzles. Sometimes, we would listen intentionally, so we could talk about the words and the message in the song.
Most of us know how powerful music can be in relation to memory making. Give me a good, old 80's power ballad, and I am back on the cafeteria dance floor in high school, awkwardly swaying with a classmate.....or pretending I had to go to the bathroom, so I wasn't awkwardly standing on the sidelines watching everyone else dance, but me. Notice the frequency of the word "awkward"?
I still remember the Old Testament books of the Bible, by singing a song (inside my head, of course) and, I still sing the abc's, in my head, when I am trying to alphabetize something.
Okay, let's be really honest here and talk about Barney's "Clean Up" song.....you all have that one stored away in there...whether you like it or not, don't you?
Music definitely helps solidify stuff in your head. Happy Kids Songs helps solidify things like character, attitude, kindness, understanding, and how to actually be a friend. Yes, there are some songs/tunes that I wish weren't stuck in my head, (but, I can also say that about the fact that I still know the words to Like A Virgin, Mickey, The Safety Dance, and The Final Countdown to just name a few).....but the kids are having fun with them. And, we can remind each other of some of the messages if we are having a hard time.
Some of our favorite songs were:
Shake It Out and Dance - This is one of the up beat, fun songs that talks about getting bad thoughts of "I can't" out of your head. Catchy and really has a good message....even for grown-ups. This one gets bandied about when we hear each other start to talk negatively. "Just shake it out and dance!"
Quirks - This one had the message that everyone has little quirks that might seem weird to us, but they are just quirks.....and we should accept them, as they are.....because EVERYONE has them.
Six Little Kids - Honestly, my kids liked this one because we have 6 kids in our family. I liked it because it has the message of 6 people touching an elephant and describing it in completely different ways, but nobody was wrong. They just had different perspectives.
Be Good To Yourself - This pick was for me. This one talks about being good to yourself and that "you and everybody else, need kindness". Sometimes I need a reminder from a Happy Kids Song, that I need to be kind to myself and not just others.
We just got access to 15 of the songs, but there are other albums/themes available too.
Social Skills and Bullying
Feelings and Fears
Practice and Success
Talking and Listening
Respect and Responsibility
I can see these being great to have in a homeschool or public school setting for elementary and preschool aged kids. My niece is a school counselor, and I am going to tell her about these songs/resources. I think this is something that is totally up her alley and will give her another way to teach some of these concepts to her kids. There are just lots of good messages portrayed in these happy little songs.
You can get these happy little songs for your household for $4.95 for each 5 song set. This also gives you downloadable lyrics and activity sheets. Or, you can go ahead and get the Happy Kids Songs Workbook for $12.56, and have all the lyrics and activities in one handy place.
See what other TOS Reviewers thought of Happy Kids Songs.
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