Mango Languages Review

Our family has had the opportunity to use the beta version of Mango Languages Homeschool Edition.  It had always been my plan to learn Spanish with Avery.  We've done little things over the years using board books and using some phrases that I've managed to hold onto over the years.  It’s been a slow dipping of the toes into the shallow end of the language pool for us.

Now that the girls are here, and we've plunged head first back into the deep end of homeschooling, our approach of learning Spanish as part of our homeschooling journey has taken a little consideration on my part.  Mango Languages has been a great tool in helping me explore how we will implement foreign language into our homeschool.  I still haven’t fully decided exactly how we’ll go about it over the long haul, but we have been enjoying our sampling of the beta version of Mango Languages Homeschool Edition.

Accessing the Mango Languages online is a breeze.  Once we selected Mango Passport Spanish (Latin America) it took its rightful place in Harmony’s personalized profile page under her membership spaces.  She loves seeing her picture there!  All she has to do is click the link, and she’s off learning Spanish.  She easily picks up where she left off during the previous session.  It’s fun to hear her come out and say, “I know how to say good night in Spanish!”  She then proceeds in telling me, “Buenos noches!”  Every time she uses the program she practices what she's learned on us or asks us if we know how to say a certain word.  Through her exploration of Spanish we are all increasing our knowledge of the language.  It definitely has given her a little confidence boost and something to be proud of.  We’re not carrying on conversations yet or anything, but she is being introduced to another language in a very comfortable, easy to learn, non-threatening way.

Just for fun, I took the pre-test before having Harmony begin the journey of learning Spanish.  I absolutely love the way it’s set up.  The fact that you actually hear the word being spoken, and you can repeat it as many times as you like, makes it really easy to learn to speak the language properly.  There is even a feature that would allow you to speak into the computer and have your pronunciation analyzed, but unfortunately we do not have a microphone for my laptop.  This feature is very appealing to Harmony, and I may try to figure that out on our end for future use.

Mango Languages Homeschool Edition in beta form has many fun and useful features available.  We primarily stuck to just using the actual language curriculum due to the age of the children in my home, but there is much more to offer the more experienced and/or older learner.  Mango Languages is designed for use by individuals age six through adult.  There are over 60 languages available to choose from with learning features that include things like progress assessments, built in journals, discussions, and wikis, collaborative learning spaces, eNote messaging, and chat rooms, and so much more.  In the future there will be the added features of enhanced tracking and progress monitoring, including seat time for students and parents, goals and personal lesson plans, and a resume and portfolio builder.

Mango Languages Homeschool Edition is offering the following introductory pricing:

1 subscription is $18/month or $125/year total
2 subscriptions is $28/month or $175 /year total                   
3 subscriptions is $38/month or $225/year total                   
4 subscriptions is $48/month or $275/year total               
5 subscriptions is $58/month or $325/year total

6 or more subscriptions receives a special group rate

More information on pricing and group rates is available on the website.

You can also learn more about Mango Languages via:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MangoLanguages
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mangolanguages/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MangoLanguages

Motivated Moms Review

Motivated Moms is a chore planning system developed by moms with a desire to dedicate their daily lives to more than just cleaning the house.  It has evolved over time and is now available in several formats.  I chose to use the 2014 Full Size Motivated Moms Chore Planner in Color.  It has been very useful in helping me maintain what little of my sanity remains with all of this shuffling around of our space we have done over the past couple of years.  
Recently, I found myself VERY overwhelmed by the amount of tasks needing my attention in my home.  Due to children moving in and out, and the dynamics of our family changing, we have seen rooms moved more than I can remember in the short two-and-a-half years we have been in our new home.  This has caused my brain to scramble in regard to remembering where things are and being able to set things up efficiently and in a logical, "makes sense to me" fashion.  Add to that our head first plunge into homeschooling, and my brain was about set to short-circuit.
The Motivated Moms eBook is SUPER SIMPLE to use.  It is easy to keep things that need my attention sorted out in logical and non-stressful manner.  I use the eBook by printing out two weeks at a time, the current week and the following week.  Each week is contained on a single page.  That's about all the advanced planning I am capable of at the moment.  I review the chores and tasks laid out on the page.  I cross off ones that don't apply to me, add what might be unique to my week or family, and designate by initial any chores or tasks that belong to someone else.

Using the Motivated Moms eBook has enabled me to find the time to tackle the tremendous reorganization of my home that is so desperately needed while simply balancing the normal, day to day duties of maintaining my home in a properly functioning fashion.  I don't have to waste my time making my list of chores and tasks that need my attention.  With a quick edit to the weekly page from my 2014 Full Size Motivated Moms Chore Planner in Color I am all set for my week with time to easily complete large organizational projects and small, daily tasks in an efficient and productive manner.
Motivated Moms eBooks, and apps for iPhone/iPod/iPad and Android, are simple to use, easy to download, and affordable.  You can quickly download the eBook for just $8 or use one of the apps for an entire year for just $7.99, or pay a monthly fee of $.99 if you'd like to give it a try before you commit.  When using the app version of the planner you can fully customize your chores and tasks by eliminating items that don't apply to you or adding items that are not listed.  You can even assign tasks to individuals and have them via email.  The iOS version of the app does have a more varied capability than the Android version, but both are extremely flexible and user friendly.

Although the Motivated Moms Chore Planner is specifically designed for moms, it can benefit anyone in the family.  My resident eight-year-old loves the planner.  I keep ours hanging on the refrigerator for quick reference.  We used to list her daily tasks on a small marker board.  Per her request, we have quit using it and rely solely on the Motivated Moms printout.  The younger kids, ages three and four, have even gotten involved with the daily tasks.  I was struggling to incorporate them into our routine and find personal duties that they could be responsible for.  My four-year-old is VERY proud that he is now in charge of refilling the spare toilet paper holders.  The three-year-old is our resident pet feeder.  Both very important tasks.
The Motivated Moms Chore Planner has taken a load off my shoulders.  It is helping us reclaim our space while simply maintaining our home and creating time for larger projects.  This simple and logical approach makes the care and keeping of our home a much more doable and much less stressful task.
Motivated Moms can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Science4Us.com Review

Science has never been my strong point.  I find it fascinating, but I tend to get overwhelmed with the abundance of information on any given subject area within the confines of science.  Our Science4Us.com Online Subscription has eased what once was a heavy burden for me.  The age gap between the children in our home can make some things a bit challenging.  Although this is intended for elementary age children, it totally fascinates my preschoolers.  I give the assignments to the resident eight-year-old, but inevitably it attracts the attention of the three and four-year-old.

I love the ease of integrating this into our homeschool.  Everything is at your fingertips.  I simply access the course material, assign it to the student, and give her time to work.  She logs on to her personal student dashboard, locates the assignments in her lab, and sets to work.  The process is super simple, she gets to work independently, and she has fun learning.  Science4Us.com is Harmony's first choice when given the opportunity what to do first among a group of daily assignments.



The variety of lessons within each subject provides an appeal to all learning types.  The lessons are fun and engaging making learning about science an enjoyable experience.  This is a program that Harmony requests to do, and at her own pace completes an entire group of assignments in one setting.  It easily keeps her attention for an hour or more as she explores the day's subject matter.  She enjoys showing me the things she creates when the lessons involved some free expression and creativity based activity.  I like that I can review her saved work and even comment on it through my own, private log-on.  Also, the fact that it stores all of the completed work makes record keeping a breeze.  Everything I could possibly need is tracked for me with zero effort on my part.  Bonus!

My favorite thing for me personally as a home educator is the ease at which I can assign a day's work and keep track of my student's progress.  Everything is laid out for me including the subject matter covered, the time I need to allot, and any prerequisites that should have been covered before giving the assignment.  I can easily track the progress of each of my students, give support and feedback, and incorporate hands on activities if desired.  There is plenty of teacher support within the site. 

The Science4Us.com Online Subscription is an affordable resource at $7.95 per month, per student, that we are thoroughly enjoying; even those of us outside of the target age group. .  There have been several times that Bella, our resident three-year-old, has climbed on Harmony’s lap to join in the lesson. It is a fun approach to science that provides a comprehensive scientific foundation but allows room for easily expanding on the subject matter.  It is a simple approach for both learning and instructing that gives me the freedom to simply adapt it to what we are currently studying. 

For further information and support please explore Science4Us.com via:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Science4UsSays
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/science4us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Science4Us
G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/112259351657747584252/

KinderBach Review

We have really been enjoying The KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner in our homeschool.  The lessons are enjoyable and engaging for the whole family.  Harmony, our resident eight-year-old, has been the primary student learning through the KinderBach Online Piano Lessons.  It is simple enough for her that she actually does an entire week's lesson plan in one sitting.  Then, throughout the week she practices what she learned in the lesson.



The fact that the lessons are broken down into such manageable pieces makes it a perfect fit for Avery and Bella, my resident three and four-year-old.  They eagerly join in the lessons with Harmony and even enjoy the worksheets.  They love learning about Dodi and her house.  It is such a simple and understandable concept for them to begin the process of getting familiar with the piano keyboard.  The simple concepts, fun approach, and short segments within each weekly lesson plan make this an enjoyable and engaging program for the whole family.

As a home educator I appreciate having the corresponding books in PDF format.  I easily download the current workbook which makes it accessible to me without having to access the website or even go online.  This makes planning and preparing for the week's lesson a breeze.  I print out the sheets all at once for the week, and we're ready to go.



I love having this resource for my family.  It has always been part of the plan to introduce music by first using the piano.  When we moved I was very sad that we were unable to bring our piano to our new home.  It was difficult to leave behind.  Getting the kids a keyboard for Christmas this year was made even more exciting by having The KinderBach Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner available to us, and with the learning curve it is nice to be able to plug in headphones. (Of course this program works with a piano or a keyboard, but I am learning to love the portability and flexibility of a keyboard.  I think I'll get over the loss of our piano.)  Actually learning how to play the piano as opposed to just having the keyboard available for playing around has really increased the enjoyment level for my family.


KinderBach Online Piano Lessons are an economical option.  With the 30 Day Money Back Guarantee there is nothing to loose.  There is even a Free Online Trial.  Lesson packages start at just $7.99 per month with options for all family sizes.  We've done music lessons in our home before.  The price of the online lessons is substantially more affordable, plus there is no need to leave home which involves more expense, inconvenience, and limits the ability of the student to progress at their own pace.


I do have a basic education in regard to the piano, and I do know how to read music.  However, none of that matters with KinderBach.  There is no previous knowledge necessary on the part of the educator.  In fact it is the perfect way for anyone to learn.  Isn't that one of the perks of homeschooling?  To learn right along with your child is such a pleasure.  KinderBach is not only a great tool for music lessons, it is also a great tool for family bonding.  Learning to play the piano is a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy together.  It also provides opportunity for the older children to teach the younger children which is excellent for their own mastery as well as building confidence in their ability.  Thanks to KinderBach, playing the piano is a fun activity that family we all are enjoying at our own pace and learning level.

Additional support and information can be found at:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/kinderbach
Facebook for Teachers:  www.facebook.com/classroomkinderbach
Twitter: @KinderBach
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/KinderBach/
YouTube: KinderBach Preschool Piano

Travel Kits - A Simple Way to Bless Others

If I had only thought of this when all of my children were young! Could it be that our family camping trips could have been even more enjoyable? (Not to mention our L-O-N-G trip to Maine with three teenagers!) I sure do think so. What a wonderful idea this is! Check it out…

Donna Reese has come up with such a simple way to bring joy to anyone, young or old, embarking on a trip, be it long or short. However, I think those traveling the longest distances have the most to gain from this brilliant idea. There is so much potential here.

What is a Travel Kit you ask? Well, let me tell you. Travel kits are brilliant little packages that you custom design for that someone special that is embarking on a trip no matter the mode of transportation. Kits can be made for anyone traveling by vehicle, bus, airplane, train, boat…I’d venture to say even donkey! The ideas are limited only by the extent of you imagination.

The basic low-down of exactly what a travel kit is can best be said by the author herself, “A travel kit is a collection of items that will entertain and/or delight the passengers (especially the younger passengers), thus making the trip more pleasant for everyone. The items should be chosen, purchased (or baked, rented, checked out of the library, or crafted), and then wrapped individually. The components of your travel kit should be assembled in an appealing, creative, hardy “container” that will easily fit in your vehicle, within easy reach of the passengers (or mom’s reach if you have very young children).”

If you are a lover of detail, Donna set you up, but fret not! If too many details just give you a headache the material is also presented in such a manner that those of us that want to just get down to the brass tacks can do just that. Travel Kits - A Simple Way to Bless Others is presented in such a manner that choosing your project and getting started is super simple. You can soak in as much or as little detail as desired and get started on your project right away.

The only real planning you need to do in advance is a little detective work. It is helpful to know the number of travelers, the length of the trip, and a little about the interests of the recipients. I would also add that if the travel kit were being made as a gift for someone outside of the family, taking a trip that you are not participating in, it would be beneficial to know their destination. After you’ve acquired this information the real fun begins.

Once your planning is complete you will have to make a few decisions. Will these be small gifts to take up little space, or is there room for something a little bigger? What is your budget? How much can you afford to spend on each person, or a group as a whole? Debbie provides many ideas for both large and small budgets.

Plenty of buying tips are included in this e-book as well. This is especially helpful if we are unfamiliar with a certain age group. One useful recommendation is to purchase duplicate gifts if children of similar ages will be traveling together. This provides for an easier shopping trip as well as cuts out the temptation of jealousy between children. Mom will definitely be appreciative of this thoughtful gesture! Travel Kits - A Simple Way to Bless Others is chock full of custom ideas that are sure to make your travel kit a great hit with whoever is the blessed recipient of your thoughtful gift. Your travel kit is sure to be chock full of fun gifts and presented in such an enjoyable fashion that it will bring sure fire enjoyment to your lucky recipient.

Sure, you could come up with some sort of travel kit all on your own. However, the advice, resources and guidance given in Travel Kits - A Simple Way to Bless Others will guarantee the creation of a spectacular gift and quite possibly the beginning of a treasured family tradition. Ever since the first time I read this e-book my gears have been turning. There is so much potential here. I plan to treasure this resource and refer back to it for years to come.

Keep your eyes on The Zoo Crew for pictures of my upcoming creations. I plan to make travel kits for my good friends Bill and Marla who are both in their 60’s. Bless their hearts; they are heading to Georgia with their daughter-in-law and their three grandchildren ages nine, eight, and four via mini-van. This is a 20 hour drive! I am certain that they will be very happy to take along their travel kits.

I also see myself carrying this theme into the holidays with my gift giving. Our grandchildren are still young. We have seven, ages five and under, and we are waiting for number eight who is due in January. Typically, I give them a gift bag full of small gifts. How much more fun would it be for them if I incorporate the travel kit idea of wrapping each gift!

Also, this resource could not have come to me at a better time. With our new little guy life as we knew no longer exists. What a strange phenomenon it will be to travel with just one child. I will definitely be doing this for little Avery as he grows and travels with mom and dad throughout the years.

I highly recommend this e-book. It is certain to fuel your creativity bringing joy to you, your family, and those around you. What potential for fun there is wrapped up in this little electronic storehouse of information!

Travel Kits - A Simple Way to Bless Others is available for $12.95 through The Old Schoolhouse magazine. Look here for a sneak peek of the Table of Contents and a few select pages.

Note: As a review blogger, I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Fun Reviews

I'm trying out a volunteer opportunity to review products as a homeschooling mom for the TOS Homeschool Crew. I hope you find the following information interesting and useful:

Help, Lord, I’m Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler! is an e-book put out by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. The book is a compilation of personal stories written by real home educators. This is a nice, well-rounded collection that encompasses many different styles of homechooling families. Therefore, it has the potential of appealing to a variety of different readers.

Personally, I can often find these types of resources frustrating. It is easy to read books like this and distress over one’s own homeschool not being magically perfect like the ones portrayed in the articles and stories so often published. With the 13 personal stories encompassed in this e-book everyone is sure to find at least one that they can relate to on some level and avoid the intimidation and feelings of inadequacy that can often follow reading about the lives of fellow homeschool families. This collection is effective at avoiding the fairytale feel and invoking more of a shared experience, a sense of been there done that, a passing on of wisdom from one family to another.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to read about so many different approaches to homeschooling high schoolers. Sometimes it can feel as if we’ve already read everything there is to read by the time we reach the part of the process that finds us knee deep in the throws of educating our high school age children. One thing that I did learn from each and every story is that there is certainly room for more prayer in my educational efforts with my children. That is one thing that is a bit different and refreshing is that each and every family highlighted in this collection has a love for the Lord. The stories not only share about homeschooling approaches, learning styles, and challenges. They also share how Christ was incorporated into their educational plan. Sometimes we need a reminder of what is important…on every level.

As a homeschooling mom of four that graduated from public school, one that graduated from homeschool, and two preparing for graduation from our homeschool this year and next, I had thought my homeschooling journey was coming to an end. Well, God had different plans for my life, as he often does for all of us. He has brought another handsome young baby into our family. I now find myself pondering the pros and cons of homeschooling versus a church school education. This old girl is tired, but I find myself looking more to God than ever before for guidance. If it is His will that I homeschool one more child, I know I can surely do just that.

With resources like the ones offered through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine both in print and online and the various e-books available through the magazine, making my final decision may just be a little easier. As homeschoolers one thing we have surely learned is that making an educated decision involves reviewing enough information to be properly informed. There is certainly information a plenty available through The Old Schoolhouse. The end of the book is loaded with helpful links and resources. Most any homeschool family with highschool age children or those that are nearing highschool age could surely gain something useful from this resource, and with the current focus on penny pinching an e-book is a nice bang for the buck. Also, for the environmentally aware and those that prefer digital formatting The Old Schoolhouse Digital Magazine is a steal at $16.95 for an annual subscription. There is surely something that will appeal to all ages.

If I had the time to write a newsletter and publish e-books, this is SO how I would do it. Molly’s Money Saving Digest is awesome. It is chocked full of fun and useful information. If I didn’t have a brand new baby in the home I would have so done everything included in the digest. In my perfect world I did!

I am an absolute organizational freak that lives with a household of family members that are not. This digest speaks directly to my core being. I love the fun cover, the step-by-step pictures, the recipes, the meal planning section with amazing recipes, the financial planning forms, the suggestions, the crafts…it just goes on and on.

Can you believe that I actually want to make a pie from scratch? It really does seem easy with Molly’s In~A~Pinch Pie Crust Recipe. I actually do believe that I am going to have to try her German Chocolate Pie for Father’s Day. That’s right PIE! My husband loves German Chocolate Cake, and I think this might just earn me some brownie points, especially if I am able to pull it off with a newborn in the house. I’ll keep you posted on that one.

As a big time bargain hunter, I really appreciate the shopping tips. In “On Sale This Month” Molly lets you know just what you should think about purchasing that particular month based on what the stores are generally putting on sale and clearancing out at that time. She also provides some useful links, fun dates and information about the month.

The monthly budget forms are well laid out and very useful. However, what I like most in the organizational section is the Family Clothing Inventory forms. Genius! I cannot believe I never thought of it before. What a useful tool! We resale shop for most all of our clothing. Having this form filled out and tucked away in my purse, which is currently a diaper bag, would prove invaluable. I am totally doing this by the end of the summer.

The “interior decorating” crafts are beautiful, fun and super easy. The ideas that she shares can be easily achieved in an afternoon with little financial investment. They would make a great addition to any home as well as wonderful gift ideas.

Being a “foodie”, the menu section is my favorite. The best part? Pictures are included with ALL recipes. That is a BIG plus for me. You eat with your eyes first, right? One thing that is nice about it is that it doesn’t appeal to the typical American diet alone. There are yummy vegetarian and vegan recipes included in the mix. They are not labeled of marketed as such, but they are present none the less. I can’t wait to try some!

The digest goes on to include fun crafts, stories, and resources. This is a wonderful grab bag of fun and information. I’m not one to subscribe to things like this, but I actually find myself considering the $3.95 per month subscription which includes a tremendous selection of FREE e-books. This surely beats the $4.95 price of purchasing the e-books individually, despite their affordable price. In the meantime I did subscribe to the FREE newsletter, A Minute with Molly, and received the FREE Menu Planning E-book. I absolutely love this resource!