New Review!!! Mad Dog Math!

Well, hello there!!!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  :)  I bet you'd like to get my posts delivered right to your inbox, now wouldn't you?  So why not sign up for Feedburner?  Check it out, it's right there in my sidebar!  Thanks!!  :)

About the product/service: As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free download of Mad Dog Math.  Math Dog Math is a program that is set up to review the basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.  The program is set up so that kids move from level to level as they advance through the worksheets.  The first goal is to get the problems done in two minutes.  Utlimately, the goal is to get it done in less than 30 seconds.  A cute little dog Ruff, helps lead the way!

What are the pros of this product? It's great review for kids and the cute little dog just adds to the fun.  The best part is that kids compete against themselves, so they are motivated to learn their facts!




What's not to like? Nothing really. :)  It is a wee bit confusing at first understanding how it works, but that's probably just me.  :)  My kids seemed to get is just fine. 


The Crazy Mom take:  I mostly had Baber doing this program.  He's always begging to get on the computer, so I would bribe him by saying he could get on to do his Mad Dog Math!  He didn't seem to mind (most days) and he enjoyed being able to try to get the problems done quickly.  It's a nice program, and the dog is really cute, so it's one I'd recommend.  :)

Happy problem solving! 



What's the bottom line? One year license $19.99/Two year license $29.99/Perpetual license $39.99

I am going to give Mad Dog Math 4 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://www.maddogmath.com/about.html



See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @ http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783984/




*The Smiley System:

I can't really recommend this product.

I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!


Disclaimer!!! I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others. Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way. I am in no way obligated to give a positive review. I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal! What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive.

As with all products, you must do the research before buying. Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying. I can't guarantee that a product will work for you. You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s). I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review. I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else. I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath. Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2011 Ramblings from the Crazy House 2

New Review!!! WonderMaps!

Well, hello there!!!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  :)  I bet you'd like to get my posts delivered right to your inbox, now wouldn't you?  So why not sign up for Feedburner?  Check it out, it's right there in my sidebar!  Thanks!!  :)

About the product/service: As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free download of WonderMaps.  Wondermaps is a new product from Bright Ideas Press (The Mystery of History folks!) that includes over 350 maps.  I'm going to be lazy this time, and pull some of the description from the Bright Ideas website.  (There are just some times when it doesn't make sense to re-invent the wheel.)

 

WonderMaps is designed with easy-to-use layers that allow you to enjoy great customizable features with just a click. Select:


• Historical or modern-day maps

• Outline, reference, political, or topographical maps

• Black-and-white or color maps

• Features including: names, borders, rivers, cities, physical features, and graticules


WonderMaps includes:

• 60+ maps of the world

• 60+ maps of the USA

• 125 historical maps, including 25 biblical maps

• The complete map sets from The Mystery of History vols. I–III and All American History vols. I & II

Here's a video!!!

What are the pros of this product? Well, let's just say, if you want a map, you can pretty much be sure they have it!  :)  Oh, and it's very, very cool!



What's not to like? Well, maybe you'll get overwhelmed with all the choices!  :)


The Crazy Mom take: I admit, I was blown away by how cool this product is!  I'm really sorry that I didn't have this a little earlier in the year when we needed some maps for a couple of projects.  I just decided that for review purposes, I'd just let the kids play around with it for fun.  I know this product will come in handy time and time again.  We've been a bit "light" on geography, but now I can easily pull it other subjects like literature, current events, and more!  Very cool, indeed. 


What's the bottom line? $49.95

I am going to give WonderMaps 5 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://brightideaspress.com/




See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783915/





*The Smiley System:

I can't really recommend this product.

I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!


Disclaimer!!! I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others. Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way. I am in no way obligated to give a positive review. I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal! What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive.

As with all products, you must do the research before buying. Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying. I can't guarantee that a product will work for you. You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s). I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review. I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else. I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath. Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2011 Ramblings from the Crazy House 2

New Review!!! Latin's Not so Tough!

Well, hello there!!!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  :)  I bet you'd like to get my posts delivered right to your inbox, now wouldn't you?  So why not sign up for Feedburner?  Check it out, it's right there in my sidebar!  Thanks!!  :)

About the product/service: As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received, free of charge, Latin's Not so Tough Level II from Greek 'n' Stuff.  I recieved not only the book, but also a pronunciation CD.  The book is part of a set of six workbooks designed to teach young children Latin.  (These can actually be ordered as a complete set.) 

The workbook starts out by teaching Latin letters.  (This would be a review if you started with Level 1.)  Now, for the most part, they are the same as English.  However, there are still many differences.  Most of the letters have only one or two sounds they make.  The child is to learn each of these sounds and practice daily.  (There are also dipthongs and special consanants.) Once the letters are learned, individual words are introduced.  This is as far as the book goes as it is meant for young children.  (Note, while very young children will start with Level I, mid-elementary children may start at Level II.)  The are also activities like matching and puzzles to help make it a bit more fun.

What are the pros of this product? Everything is laid out very easily.  The pronounciation CD is a big help so you don't have to guess how the sounds are made. 




What's not to like? Like all languages, it is difficult to learn by simple rote memorization.  However, since you can't really go to a country that speaks Latin, this is pretty much the only way to learn it! 


The Crazy Mom take:  I used this with my son, Baber, 7.  He's in second grade; however, he is not reading fluently yet.  He is still at the stage where he is sounding most words out.  For this reason, the program was a wee bit over his head but we plugged along anyway. 

We probably sat down with this workbook about three times a week.  We only did a page at a time, so we took it very slowly.  We have finished most, but not all of the book.  Right now he knows several words in Latin.  However, as I have noticed in the past, as he tries to learn more and more, I notice he is forgetting what he knew quite well in the beginning.  After the review (after today) we'll set this aside and pick it up again next year.  I have noticed much improvement in his reading lately, and by next school year, I think he'll be a lot more ready for this.  In his case, the Level I would have been more appropriate.  (Funny thing, about halfway through the book I found I actually have a Level I!  I had gotten it as a free product at one point, but at the time didn't have a reason to use it.  I'll probably start with that next year.)

Not being a Classical educator, I never really considered teaching Latin.  However, I do love words and all things word related, and I can see how learning Latin can really help with English.  I do admit I have enjoyed doing this program with Baber.  I don't wanna brag, but I think I learned more than he did.  LOL 

I do think this is a good program if you want to teach your child Latin.  However, I would wait until your child can read well before you start.  But that's just my humble opinion as always.  You can check it out yourself!




What's the bottom line? The workbook is $18.95 and the CD is $10.00.

I am going to give Latin's Not so Tough Level II 3 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://www.greeknstuff.com/info/infoLA-02-WB.html



See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/





*The Smiley System:

I can't really recommend this product.

I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!


Disclaimer!!! I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others. Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way. I am in no way obligated to give a positive review. I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal! What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive.

As with all products, you must do the research before buying. Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying. I can't guarantee that a product will work for you. You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s). I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review. I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else. I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath. Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2011 Ramblings from the Crazy House 2