Review: UnLock Math

Do you have a child needing a good grounding in math facts? Are they acting like they are ready to take an Algebra course but you aren't certain, or you want to make sure they have all their facts before they embark on a full Algebra course?   If so UnLock Math's UnLock Pre-Algebra is just the course you need! 

Unlock Math is a online computer program designed to take incremental steps to solidly teach your children the math they need to know.   Step by step, day by day, using a set method to teach.

Working from the warm up through to the challenge section.  My lad has been known to ask "why do they sometimes have harder questions in the warm up section than they do in the practice section?"   And honestly.. I don't know.  I do like that it makes him think without giving him a time pressure to deal with. 

He likes that it has a set method for each lesson, knowing what to expect and about how long it takes for him to complete it. 

It took us a bit of time to understand how to start, you see those rockets next to the name of the chapter?   Click on that!   We kept thinking we needed to click on the chapter title, but it's the rocket that launches the lesson.

 The rocket will lead you to a new section which shows the scope of the chapter. This section will show which lesson has been completed, and which lessons yet to be completed.   I liked how the quizzes and tests were in one column and how they lined up with the lessons completed.   Made it very easy to follow and once my son understood the system I could just let him fly with it.   Often times he completed his lesson without any input from me.  Nice to have that eh?

He told me the videos were very easy to understand.

One section I want to mention that my lad told me he never used "cause I didn't ever need to mom" was the reference notes section.   This section opens up a PDF which are basically the notes of the lesson in written form.  A practical help for those students needing to see things written down.

 It's a well put together, logical math program, designed to encourage your students to do well at math.  The grading is automatic, and you can watch their progress as the teacher.

With the students being able to watch their progress as well.  For the overall course

 as well as for the individual course.

 My Thoughts:

So son, what do you think of Unlock Math?
"It teaches me new things in a way that makes sense."

Which you do like better?  Your favourite ever math program or Unlock?
"I don't know mom, I like them both."

You get to choose what math you want to do today, which one will you do?
"I think I will do...Unlock Math. is that okay?"

I have to admit, I'm surprised.  My son has a math program that he loves, to the point that he'll argue with me over it's merits versus any other program.   He started Unlock Math with a great deal of trepidation.  Would it be as good as his favourite math program or not?   What happened if he hated it?   Would he be forced to endure another math program that he hated?

About the second lesson in he came to me with a great deal of surprise "Mom, Unlock taught me something I didn't know!!!"   I smiled.  My lad was hooked.  This.. this is a good math program.  A program that can cause my lad to forego the "best ever math" for it.   It's left me surprised as I listen to my lad explain what an integer is, and how I missed teaching him one of the greater than, less than signs, and (on and on).  It's good to have a boy talking math and what he's learning.  Very good indeed.

Vendor: UnLock Math
Product received: Unlock Pre-Algebra
Type: Math Program, On-line.
Do you want to use UnLock Math? If you follow this link you will save $50 off on an annual purchase of UnLock Pre-Algebra, UnLock Algebra1, or UnLock Algebra2.

Other programs reviewed are:
UnLock Pre-Algebra
UnLock Algebra1
UnLock Algebra2
UnLock Geometry 

To see what all 65 reviewers thought, please click here or on the image below.
Social Media Links:

• Facebook:  https://facebook.com/UnLockMath    Tag:   @UnLockMath   
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/UnLockMath    Tag:   @UnLockMath   
• Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/UnLockMath            Tag:   @UnLockMath 
  
    

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time .

Hymn Study: Jesus, I Come

 This past Sunday we sang this hymn and I wanted to share it with you.

Jesus I come was written by William T. Sleeper in 1887. Mr. Sleeper was a home missionary serving with the Congregational Church in Massachusetts for over 30 years.   The tune I am familiar with was written by George Stebbins.  Mr. Sleeper also wrote the hymn Ye Must be Born Again.   Beyond that, little is known about this evangelist and part-time hymn writer.

Lyrics:

1. Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come; Jesus I come.
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my wanting and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

2. Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress into jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

3. Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward forever on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

4. Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the joy and light of Thy home,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

I'll leave you with a tune by Thompson.  It's a rather different tune to me, but it might be one you are more familiar with.

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This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time .

Review: Kids NIV Visual Study Bible

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get tired of the variety of kids bible out there.  Brick bibles, fairy bibles, Storybook bibles and more.... Sometimes I wonder why they can't make a bible that is just a helpful aid to a child, truly geared toward them without compromising the integrity of the scriptures.  

Zonderkidz has come out with a Visual study bible geared toward youth age 8-12, and I think it's rather well done.   

So what do you get?
The full bible, in the NIV translation,  which admittedly is not my favourite translation, but one can find something to not like in many translations.  :)  It is is a translation and not a paraphrase!   :)

Since it is a study bible it has the features you would expect in a study bible.

Each chapter starts off with a book synopsis.
Stating such things as who wrote the book, what the major themes are, why it was written and more.

Written in easily understood language without overwhelming the youth with all the details found in adult study bibles.   There is just enough information to help youth learn to appreciate how a study bible can help them learn more about the grace and grandeur of God.



The way the bible is designed is the biblical text is printed on white paper with the sidebars in a yellowish-beige colour.   In the sidebar you will find images, notes and questions to ponder. 

You might from a picture of Jezebel, or a censor, or a grape vine.

 You might also find a break out for a Character study.

Or a highlight of important lessons to consider.

Lots of visual ways to increase interest in what a person is reading. Over 700 images, with full colour maps throughout, numerous infographics and more.  I especially liked when I would find questions in the sidebar relating to a particular verse on the page. All these little features to draw young readers into the text.

 
My Thoughts:
I have to admit, I LIKE this bible.   If I didn't make use of an online version I'd be tempted to make this my bible.  :)   Ergo I think it will be a good bible for my lad to use.  :)

NIV Kids Visual Study Bible
Zonderkidz
Hardcover
Glossary sections on cover.
Version: NIV

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca: NIV Kids' Visual Study Bible, Hardcover, Full Color Interior: Explore the Story of the Bible---People, Places, and History

Amazon.com: NIV Kids' Visual Study Bible, Hardcover, Full Color Interior: Explore the Story of the Bible---People, Places, and History

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Garden, What about the bushy one?

Garden, The Bushy One

Come see my Love

Come see won't you?

See...how much progress has been made?

This patch, you used to not see the spinach, 

Remember that my love?

Ah, yes, I can see it.

The weeds were knee high.

Good job hun, 

but 

Can you tell me.

What is the bushy thing in with the lettuce?

Oh shush hun

The weed grew while I was...

See hun...See that garden there?

See how you can see the tomatoes again?

Ah yes, I see hun.

So when is the bushy thing getting out of the lettuce?

Argh, 

I sigh.

I shake my head.

I don't get annoyed.

Because he is who he is.

A perfectionist who 

Can only see the bushy thing in the lettuce.

My boy is the same.

Good thing I've learned from his dad eh?

Helps me show more grace to a lad.

Who...

Only sees "the bushy thing".

This garden of a lad I grow as well.

Pleased I am when I see sin falling away.

Sorrowful I am when sometimes a lad only sees 

"the one thing" and

Doesn't see his own growth in the Lord.

Prayer and patience.

That's the way to get any kind

Of Garden to Grow.

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This post is in response to a word prompt the crew does for Instagram fun.

I find it relaxing and fun to do them as random word posts for myself and you.  :)

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time .

Perspective in Worthiness

I am struggling lately with perspective.

You see I'm reading a book lately called Parenting by David Tripp, and I recently finished a book called The Imperfect Disciple.   Both make me think.

Imperfect Disciple reminding me to stop and behold the Lord, to REALLY see him, and to keep walking forward in my faith even though I stumble and fall, but that God's great love for me holds me and comforts me and reminds me of whose I truly am (despite my frailties).

The parenting book is CONSTANTLY reminding of a truth I hold close.  I am a fallen person.  God has given me the job of raising a fallen person, to help him see his need for Christ and to turn out to be a man of Character for God.

These are truths I hold in my heart.  They are right there lately every time I turn around.

And yet.

I have this other perspective of

I'M TIRED.
WHY does this lad have to push my buttons today?
WHY do I want to grump at the world?
WHY do I have to have a stubborn young rabbit, due to have babies any moment now, want to not use her nestbox?
WHY does my hubby have to struggle so to fix the truck when it should have been an easy fix!!!

All these whys work hard to crowd out what I know is my worth in Christ.
Why does that perspective of my worth change?

I feel so worthless.  So beaten.   So full of struggle to remember truths I hold in my heart.
But God has, so some strange reason, chosen to call me worthy in Christ?!

Why can't I just hold God's perspective of my worth before my face even in all my struggles?

My worth in God is set.
And yet my worth in my own eyes falters so.

It's perspective right?   I don't have the answers, not today, today... today I just feel a tad weary.
My worth feels shattered.

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This is a five minute Friday post. the word prompt is brought to us by Miss Kate over at Five Minute Friday.  What is Five Minute Friday?  Well it's a party of a group of like minded folks who gather on Friday to do a five minute free write around a singular word.  AND THEN (and this is the most important part) we take the time to offer up encouragement to each other on this writing journey.  It's fun, though it's not always easy, but it is always good.   Come join us won't you?  You are always welcome.
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This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time .

Review: Outdoor Leadership

 I remember going away to camp for a week in the summer, doing things outside, bring kept busy by counsellors, crafts, hikes and so much more.  I remember the lack of fairness, the hurt when I was put in charge of a foster kid, and not allowed to just be a kid a camp having fun.  Being held responsible for that child's poor decision making skills.   I also remember one counsellor and his love of the outdoors, his willingness to point out animal tracks and cool insects.     Therefore when I offered a chance to review "Outdoor Leadership" I took them up on the offer, I wanted to see what type of training one should look at if wanting to be a leader for outdoor activities.

This book is nothing if not thorough, and I freely admit I did not read all 384 pages of smaller then average typeface.    Printed in black and white throughout, Outdoor leadership is divided into four sections, 18 chapters in total.

1. Foundations of outdoor leadership
    1. The Journey Begins
    2.  History of Outdoor Leadership
    3. Outdoor Leadership as Professional Practice
    4. Cultural and Social Justice Competency
2. Outdoor Leadership Theory
    1. Theories of Leadership
    2. Leadership in Practice
    3. Decision-making and Judgement
3. Teaching and Facilitation
    1. Understanding Facilitation
    2. Facilitating Personal Development
    3. Facilitating Interpersonal Development
    4. Challenge Course Leadership
    5. Teaching Strategies
4. Natural Resource and Program Management
    1. Parks and Protected Areas Management
    2. Environmental Stewardship
    3. Program Management
    4. Safety and Risk Management
    5. Expedition Planning
    6. Assessment and Evaluation
As you can see from the photo, each chapter has several subsets.

Each chapter contains a variety of exercises to work though, all with the end purpose of making you a better leader and manager. 

with inspirational quotes to guide your way

I really liked it how each chapter lays out the goals of the chapter and breaks down how they plan to do that.

Book Synopsis:
Outdoor Leadership, Second Edition, is the definitive text for developing student leadership in outdoor and adventure settings throughout the world. Crafted by an author team internationally recognized for their research, teaching, and experience in outdoor and adventure leadership, this new edition provides students with the foundational knowledge they need to develop as competent professionals in the field.

My Thoughts: 
I think this is a great technical book that has plenty of exercises and thought provoking work for those who want to be an outdoor leader. It covers basically every aspect needed to be successful.  If running an outdoor program is a goal that you have, Outdoor Leadership will help you reach it!

Outdoor Leadership: theory and practice, 2nd edition
Bruce Martin, Mary Breuning, Mark Wagstaff and Marni Goldenberg.
HumanKinetics.com
Pages: 384
Type: Softcover, technical manuscript

Reviewed for: HumanKinetics.com

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time .

Parenting Series: Process

I don't know about you, but ah.. sometimes I just want my child to be different, to change their behaviour right now.  To have the light at the end of the tunnel be right there with me.  

To not have to punish, "have long talks with",  shake my head in frustration (or bang it against the wall).... I want that change and I want it now.

But one thing I've learned...change isn't like that.  It's a whole process.  That is what David Tripp wants to talk to us about in this chapter.  How change is a process not this instantaneous event.

Mr. Tripp reminds us to look to our own life.  Does God make sudden changes in our life for the most part?   Or is the change in our behaviour a more gradual one?  Generally the latter right?  

I know it's true in my own life.  I don't suddenly start realizing all the time, the depth of God's love for me.  I forget and need to be reminded, and at times it hits me hard about how much he cares for me and ergo, how hard should it be for me to change something I do in response to that great love?   How hard is it really to behold his glory and to be changed by it?   

Seeing that level of forgetfulness in myself helps me have compassion for my lad who struggles as well...and doesn't have the experience under his belt that I do.   It helps me to stop and take a breath and explain to him yet again that I will ALWAYS forgive him if he's sorry for his actions.  To ask him again, how will he turn from his wrong ways to seek to do what is right?   

Having that in mind, Mr. Tripp reminds us of three tenets of parenting
1. You need to parent with a process mentality.  Don't look for sudden change but long-term change.  Parenting is a day by day, bit by bit method of caring for those in your care.
2. You need to see parenting as one unending conversation.  God put your child in your family for a reason.  So you don't have that pressure of wanting instantaneous change.  Therefore you know that every conversation, every disciplinary action, every moment you spend with your children is just another link in the chain of change.
3. You need to parent with a project mentality.  Change is always a process, this gives you a chance to look for points of influence instead of just reacting to what's in front of you.  Be the point of change. 

I have to admit, it's SO easy to ignore all that and just react to what's going on in the family.  It is!   But seriously... is it for the long-term good of those we parent?  We need to exemplify God in our actions... living by the gifts he has given us, showing the fruits of the spirit in our actions and words. 

It's a process of grace.  God's grace bestowed upon us his beloved children, let us then show that grace to our young. 

For the rest of the series go here.   

If you want to join in, amazon affiliate links below.

Amazon.ca:  Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family

Amazon.com:  Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family


This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Art Book: My Name is Georgia

YAY!!!   One of my favourite people is doing a guest post for me today.   Lori is going to tell you about a neat book and interesting person.

One of my favorite artists is Georgia O'Keefe. Partly because she is New Mexican, partly because her artwork is just stunning, partly because she is just an interesting person. Whatever way you look at it, Georgia O'Keefe is worth learning a bit about. That is why, when I was able to visit the Georgia O'Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, NM, I picked up a children's biography about her to share with the girls.

My Name Is Georgia a portrait by Jeanette Winter

This is a lovely children's book that takes us from Georgia's childhood through to her old age. She moved from her Wisconsin childhood home to Chicago, New York, Texas, and New Mexico. She was always searching for inspiration and she found it in nature.

This is not a difficult book to read but it is an inspiring one. Reach for your desires - this is the inspiration from Georgia O'Keefe. And if it encourages you to read more about her and all that she did for the art movement and community, well, that's all the better.

This book is published by Voyager Books and was purchased at the Georgia O'Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, NM.

If you were inspired to learn more about Georgia O'Keefe perhaps this video might help.

You can find Lori blogging at At Home where life happens.  You need to visit her seriously, she writes well and has a good heart. :)

Where can you find this delightful book?

Amazon.ca - My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter

Amazon.com - My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter


This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Review: Smartick Math

Imagine if you would, a daily math program, that after assessing the student, teaches them math every day, in short sessions, that the not keen on math student actually enjoys doing?  An intelligent math program called the Smartick Method (or Smartick for short).

What is Smartick?
Smartick is an on-line math learning system that teaches your children math through exercises and math problems.  

Problem solving skills is a big part of the program, my son has learned that you need to carefully read the questions before answering them.  Sometimes the obvious answer is not really the question being asked.

When you start with Smartick, first you get to set up your avatar.

The next thing you is spend the first few sessions being evaluated.  It's been a while since the lad did it, but I think it took him three days to complete the assessment as I didn't make him do it all at once.  The program takes into account your speed at answering questions as well as correctness to help place you accordingly.

As you start and close each days sessions it asks you how you are feeling.

Each session is divided into two sections.   A section with lot of math questions.  No problem solving in this section, just math questions.    The second section is shorter and focuses just on word problems. 

A math question:

A word problem

A correct answer earns you a green checkmark.

Whereas an incorrect question will get you a red "x" with the correct answer popping up immediately.

To the side of each question is a graph bar.  This feels up with red if you answer questions too slowly, and green as you answer questions quickly and accurately.  The more accurate your answers, and the quicker you answer them the faster the bar fills up and the more ticks you get.

An number keyboard is provided, but if you don't like it there is a settings board you can use to use your keyboard number pad. 

At the end of each lesson, just before you close it, you are given the opportunity to earn an extra tick by correcting all your mistakes.   

When you finish your lesson for the day you can spend your ticks earned in the shop and set up interesting things in your room.  My son spends all his "money" on feeding his cat!  :)

As each days lesson ends I am sent a report on how he has done.

If I go to the report it brings up a page showing all the questions.  It will then show the question and answer so that I can talk with him about why he got it wrong.   The first few times it was problems he got wrong simply from not reading the question through.   It does have a bit of a learning curve as sometimes you not only have to type in the answer, but you need to toggle the multiple choice to get the right topic.  (I don't know how else to explain that part as I can't get a screen image).

As you can see here...one of his wrong answers he did in 13 seconds, I asked him what happened.  His response was "I didn't understand it mom, the answer was asking for something not in the question so I just guessed".   This was one of the toggle the answer to get the correct subject questions and he (at that time) didn't understand what he was to do.

Once he understood the system, he found it quite easy to do.  The first section he would regularly get in the 90%, the word problems would be in the 80% range.   As he is learning to read the questions thoroughly his marks with this section is also improving.

 
Our thoughts
Both my son and I love the immediacy of the reports.   It seems the very minute he's done I get an email telling me about the session he just completed. 

He loves that it is quick.   When he first started the program they kept telling me he was too quick, but the program has since adjusted and simply says "fast" for speed in answering.   The quicker you answer, the more coins you get so the incentive is there.

For the main questions he will frequently say "they should ask me harder questions" but for the second level of questions "Mom, these take longer."  From the sounds he makes I can tell that they are making him think and take his time, and he'd rather know it, answer it and then move on.  This boy LOVES to do his math quickly!  :)

My son dislikes the "how are you feeling today" section.  He cannot figure out why a computer would want to know that information.
 
Is he learning? Yes.  It's good to see the progress.  This is an excellent tutoring program, designed to help students excel in school.   It improves their speed and mental math abilities. It increases their logic, starts them working with algebra, and gives a decent reward at the end.   

We only found one error in the program, which was corrected very quickly.  I have found their customer service to be outstanding.

The Smartick Method.  
Received One Year Membership
 Age 4-14 years
Works on PC, Android or Tablet.

Currently on sale!   Try it for the summer and see if you like it.  Keep math fresh with an program designed to keep your children interested.

 Over the summer my lad will be using this program off and on.  He has two other math programs that he uses as well and at the time of this writing isn't sure which one he likes the most.  It's a quick and easy program to use that will keep his math skills sharp.

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time .