Thursday, April 14, 2011

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ Week 10

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

.In my life this week…I have been opening all the boxes of curriculum that have started arriving...it is like Christmas in April for me! :)
In our homeschool this week…we have been getting ready to transition into our next school year. Our portfolios are just about finished and the last of the curriculum has been ordered!
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…we didn't go anywhere but another homeschooling family dropped by on Wednesday. She told us about another homeschooling group that meets on Fridays instead of Tuesdays (Tuesdays just don't work for us) and she dropped off some veggies from the FREE Farmer's Market (I didn't know there was such a thing in our little town). We will be checking that out in the future!
My favorite thing this week was…an email from The Old Schoolhouse (TOS) Review Crew. I made it to the 2nd round! Now, I get to use a homeschool product with my children and then post a review (by April 29th)!
What’s working/not working for us…what's working is having portfolios made before the school year starts so all I have to do is add completed work as we go. What's not working is our routine...yet...I'm still working on that!
Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…Have/Are any of you reviewers for TOS? If yes, please share the BEST part and the CHALLENGES of reviewing. Be honest...I want to make sure this is something my family and I are up to. I know it will take time and we may not like everything we have to review but I think it will be fun and will expose us to new things!
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25 comments:

  1. Jenni RamseyApril 14, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Hi Michelle! I was on the TOS Crew this year. I did not re-apply for the next year. It just wasn't a good fit for our family. Here's a quick pros and cons list: Pros: receiving new curriculum; meeting new "virtual friends"; finding publishing and curriculum companies I didn't know about; growing, stretching and strengthening my reviewing/blogging skills. Cons: trying to fit in all the curriculum and stay on top of reviews was very difficult; There were months were we got behind on our regular curriculum because we were working on 4, 5 or 6 review products all at once; at times, products came and we just simply did not like it or want to use it, but had to anyway. Those were the times when reviewing products were a drudgery. All in all, a good experience, but it's not right for everyone.
    Good luck on your "tryout"!

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  2. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 14, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    Hi Jenni! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience with the TOS Crew! I think your PROS outweigh the CONS. I think we will try it (at least for a year) if I make it through their process! Thanks again for stopping by!

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  3. RenitaApril 15, 2011 at 4:09 AM

    I was really excited to get that email also. We are reviewing a Unit on Blue Diamonds. I just hope the kids are excited as I am:)!!!

    New follower from Homeschool Mother's Journal. Come visit us sometime...
    www.krazykuehnerdays.com
    Have a great week!
    Renita

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  4. RainydayinmayApril 15, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    that sounds like a super cool program! awesome!
    Your portfolio idea is smart! we are doing something somewhat similar...

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  5. Mrs. OApril 15, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    I agree, the portfolio idea sounds great, do you have any posts on it? I need to work on our routine as well, i would like mealtime and bedtime to be more consistent, we are all over the board. I don't review but it sounds awesome. Stopped by from the Hop. :O)

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  6. ElizabethApril 15, 2011 at 6:29 AM

    Congrats on becoming a reviewer! That's exciting. I've thought about doing it, but I just can't add any more to our plates. I too am purchasing curriculum for next school year, and I can't wait for those boxes to start coming..:-)...best time of the year!

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  7. heathertruettApril 15, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    The Review Crew sounds like fun to me. I would love to do it.

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  8. rhenyestheyareallmineApril 15, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    I adore getting in new curriculum!! I enjoy "hunting" for new curriculum almost as much. :)

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  9. April GaineyApril 15, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    I am on the Crew currently, and while it has been an interesting year with all the new products to try, I'm not going to do it again. We loved about a third of the products we tried, but it was disruptive to our routine to have to work these programs/products into our day. My children got frustrated with me constantly introducing something new to them and it just wasn't worth the problems it caused.

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  10. Caroline EstopinalApril 15, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    I like ur portfolios so good.I love getting new curriculum.

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  11. DebbieApril 15, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    Hi Michelle,
    You and I have some things in common! I just wrote a post titled "The Plan" and how this time of the year is like Christmas for me! I also just received the same "2nd round" challenge from the TOS Crew. I will start using the product on Monday.

    Come visit me sometime:)

    Debbie

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  12. Tiffany ManleyApril 16, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    I absolutely love curriculum; it's one of my most favorite times of year! What a coincidence, I just posted asking about portfolio ideas on my THMJ; thanks for the picture!

    Stopping by from THMJ; have a great weekend!

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  13. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Thanks for stopping by Renita! I will visit you soon!

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  14. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Thanks for stopping by and sharing!

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  15. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Hi Mrs. O! Thanks for stopping by. I don't have any posts on the portfolios but I will do one soon! Thanks for the idea! Sounds like if we meshed our routines we would be perfect...the only part of the routine that is good for us are meals and bedtimes! ;)

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  16. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Thanks for stopping by Elizabeth! curriculum boxes are definitely the best! :) Have fun!

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  17. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Hi Heather! I think the Review Crew will be fun too! Fingers crossed that I will be selected! Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    Totally agree! Thanks for stopping by!

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  19. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Hi April! Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts! It helps me make sure I have the right idea of how things will be. My kids get bored with the same thing everyday so I am hoping they will like trying new things (that is assuming that I get chosen)! Thanks again! Have a great week!

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  20. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    Thank you Caroline! Opening those new curriculum boxes is so much fun! Thanks for stopping by!

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  21. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    Hi Debbie! I will be writing about our curriculum choices soon...well after the trial review anyway! Good luck to you and I will stop by your site soon! Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    Hi Tiffany! Thanks for stopping by! I hope to do a post on the portfolios soon! Just as soon as I do the review for TOS! :)

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  23. Katie at Brighton ParkApril 16, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    That's a great idea about the portfolios; I tend to say I'm going to do them at the end of the year but it seems like this never ending process! I will try your idea this coming school year! stopping by from the HMJ linky. blessings to you, katie

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  24. AdventuresinHomeEducatingApril 16, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    Thanks for stopping by Katie! I hope it creating a portfolio as we go works
    for both of us! ;)

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  25. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    I LOVE getting curriculum in the mail! So much fun!!!

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