REVIEW: TOS When I Grow Up, I Wanna Be .... a Firefighter!

We all have dreams as a child about what we want to be when we grow up. My youngest son changes his mind weekly, sometimes daily. Most days, however, it is between two things, one being considered most often is a firefighter.

When I was asked to review this ebook, I was thrilled. I had seen this series soon after I visited the The Old Schoolhouse Store last summer, and I had looked with interest at the different titles, 11 in all.

I received this ebook as part of my try-out process for the TOS Homeschool Crew. As I peeked through the curriculum, I wondered how I was going to implement it. There are word searches, color sheets, a lot of interesting (to me, anyway) history and end-of-the-unit party ideas. Unfortunately, I did not find a lot to use for my kindergartners. Their eyes glazed over as I tried reading the history and background to them. They colored the coloring sheets and we talked about visiting a fire station but we did not fully delve into the topic as I had hoped. The age range states it is appropriate for ages 4-10, however, neither of my kindergartners could understand the vocabulary words or questions I asked them from what I had read to them.

I think this is a great series, but I think that the age spectrum is too broad. I think older elementary kids would love it, though I still do not know how to implement the history and background information. Maybe that was just for me? Several pages of single-space information is not something I could just read to my kindergartners. And I did not see instructions anywhere in the ebook about how I was supposed use that information.

The end-of-unit party ideas included games and an adorable fire engine cake, but I decided not to try them out since we really did not make this a unit study.

Part two of the ebook featured Robotics. Again, there was a lot of background and history information here and it was extremely interesting - to me. However, for kindergarten aged kids, trying to explain the terminology was a challenge. There was a pretty cool looking project with instructions on how to make your own robotic hand out of Styrofoam.

Other things included in the ebook were vocabulary words, review questions, a math lesson, crossword and word search puzzles, prompts for creative writing and storytelling, handwriting and copywork. 

When I put together a lesson from scratch, I expect to have to work harder in making sure my kids understand it and I have covered all aspects of the lesson. But it also gives me the flexibility to tailor it to their needs. When I purchase a ready-made lesson, I expect to be able to sit down and work through it without a whole lot of complication and hassle. I personally prefer a curriculum to be designed specifically for a more narrow range of ages rather than a larger gap age range. If it is one that can be used for several ages, I think it needs to be stated in the description how to use it for different age groups. 

If you are looking for a great study for older elementary age kids, look no further. But if your children are young, like mine, I suggest you look for other great products available from The Old Schoolhouse Store.

TOS WannaBe Series

TOS WannaBe Series  So You Wanna Be ... a Firefighter!

$8.95

Ages 4-10 (though I would say it is more appropriate for 8-10)

Homestead Academy: Dolch Kit

On last week's Fun Friday, I posted about the Dolch Word Bingo Cards from this website. It is a great FREE resource created by a first grade teacher in California who is now retired. She not only made cute bingo cards, but also a complete Dolch Kit. There is even a booklet of the words split up into lists! I printed one out for Farm Boy to use in the car.

Homestead Academy Fun Friday: Dolch Word Bingo Cards

It's FUN Friday at the Homestead Academy!  This week we played Dolch Word B-I-N-G-O!

Bingo Cards

Money, Money!

This week's math lessons have focused on money. We dumped our big change jar out and I let the boys each have their own piles. They sorted the coins (using the pincher grasp for Music Man) and picked out anything that didn't belong in there (such as screws or foreign money.) Then we talked about what the different coins were and who was on them. The boys are fascinated by the Presidents this month since we just have the holiday and the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington. So we talked about the Presidents a bit as well. Then they were instructed to make $5 out of the coins. Farm Boy decided on two dollars worth of dimes, one of nickles, one from quarters and one from pennies. I showed him how to organize and stack the pennies so he could easier count my tens. Music Man struggled a bit with the difference between nickles, dimes and quarters. I abandoned him creating the dollars and just let him sort. We talked about the different shapes. We'll pick up money again at another time for him.

Two Months - Really??

It has been a while since I took so long to blog. The weather has been frightful the last few months and our computer was in a room that we don't heat up often. I came in today and realized there was much to blog on. However, I will just have to play catch up at another time.

There isn't a whole lot I can just begin blogging about because so much has happened since November!! I will attempt in the next few weeks to get you all caught up on our life since November.

The biggest news is that Farm Boy did not return to public school after the break. We are enjoying having him home with us and it has been good for Music Man and they learn from one another.

CURRENT CURRICULUMS
Explode the Code 1
Handwriting Without Tears
basic math - time, calendar, money, memorizing math facts
Bob Books
Exploring Creation with Zoology 1
Unit Study on Georgia

We are also taking some extra-curricular classes (PE, dance therapy class for Music Man and taekwondo for Farm Boy.) Several of the moms from the PE class are also talking about an American Sign Language class. We stay busy and it is tiring but I wouldn't have it any other way!!

Music Man still attends physical, occupational and speech therapies. So that's what we are up to at the moment.

A New Year and a New Student

(Note: When we moved to GA last year, we continually hyped to the boys that they would be "farm boys" once they moved to GA. We explained that they would be living in the country full time, something they had only done for a week at a time on visits to see their grandparents. My youngest son quickly adopted the name "Farm Boy" once I began using anonymous names for them online.)

Around Farm Boy's birthday, we gave him the choice between going back to "school-school" or staying home with us. He overwhelmingly chose to homeschool. We continued our regular homeschool plan through the Christmas break taking the week between Christmas and New Year's off, but getting in our regular three days with him during his break. We hit a few snags since he is a rule follower, lol! He kept wanting to tell me how to do things and that I was making a "sad /l/." His teacher at school-school apparently used this term as they were beginning to form their letters. I finally had to tell Farm Boy that Music Man and I wrote differently than he was taught and that he was going to have to choose which way he wanted to write. We'll see.

As we hit the mid-year slump that always visits in January, I am exploring new curriculums. Both boys are on the same level for many things (math, science and social studies.) I am planning to go back to Explode the Code 1 to teach them both all the way through. Farm Boy loves workbooks and worksheets. Music Man does not care for them.

So here we go! Two students! I am so glad to have us all together again and to be embarking fully on this adventure called homeschooling!