Easy Grammar Plus

Easy Grammar: Plus
By Wanda C. Phillips
Published at Easy Grammar Systems

My oldest son has been working on his English grammar in our homeschool since he was in grade 3.   Back then we had selected Easy Grammar 3 because of the way it was presented and how it brought confidence in me when I was checking it out.    We have not stopped using their products even adding the grade 2 book when our second son started that level.   So far, I have three kids using Easy Grammar and I  even learn a few tips and tricks while teaching them the lessons in the books.   My youngest, who is five and starting grade 1, wants to do her own Easy Grammar but she is a bit young still to understand what needs to be done and such. 

But earlier this year, it dawned on me that I needed to figure out what Alex, my oldest who was to enter grade 7, would be doing for his English grammar.   So I emailed back and forth in order to understand better the higher levels of Easy Grammar.  I knew there was a Plus book but for which grade was it?    Turns out that Easy Grammar Plus is considered a non-grade level.   It could be used for seventh grade (which is ideal by the way)  but can also be used for other middle levels, high school levels and even college levels.   I have been told that if Alex had done the grade 3 to 6 books, then chances are he could probably skip Plus and jump immediately at a grade 8 or 9 level.   Really?  I even got a small test for him to do to determine which level he could do.

Nevertheless, I wanted to check it out.  So I requested the possibility of reviewing it.    Turns out that after going through the table of content, I have decided that Alex will go through this book after all because we discovered some of the lessons inside the book he had never seen before.   Actually, he has decided himself that he wanted to do it.   On his own will…   That tells a lot of him.   He has done the pre assessment test and got almost 88% – before starting the lessons!

Easy Grammar Plus has been written to give students a solid understanding of grammar.   Though written at a fourth-grade level, the book will allow the student to focus on concepts and mastering them as he advance in the book.   The book uses the same prepositional approach presented in previous titles and the student continues to strip the sentence to the basics in order to identify the subject and verb. 

Here’s the table of contents for you to examine:

• Prepositions: game, prepositional phrases, compound subject, helping verbs, infinitives, subject of imperative sentences, prepositions vs. adverbs, review, test, direct objects, compound direct objects.
• Verbs: Action or linking, contractions, auxiliary (helping) verb, verb phrases, regular verbs, irregular verbs, direct objects, sit/set, lie/lay, rise/raise, to be, linking verbs, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, action or linking verbs, subject/verb agreement, verb tenses (present, pas, future, perfect, progressive), transitive and intransitive verbs, indirect objects, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Nouns: concrete and abstract, defined, noun determiners, common and proper nouns, singular and plural nouns, possessive nouns, predicate nominatives, appositives, gerunds, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Interjections
• Conjunctions
• Adjectives: limiting adjectives, function, descriptive adjectives, proper adjectives, degrees of adjectives, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Types of sentences
• Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
• Phrases and clauses
• Adverbs: defined, adverbs that tell how, good or well, adverbs that tell where, adverbs that tell when, adverbs that tell to what extent, adverb or preposition, degrees of adverbs, double negatives, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test
• Pronouns: personal pronouns (nominative, objective and possessive cases), antecedents, reflexive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Punctuation: periods, apostrophe, comma, semicolon and colon, question mark, exclamation point, hyphen, underlining, quotations marks, test.
• Capitalization: First words, titles, outlines, direct quotations, titles, organizations, business names, government bodies, departments, institutions, geographic locations, historical items, days, months, holidays, special days, proper adjectives, titles, brand names, religions, languages, races, ethnic groups, regions, structures, names, initials, political parties, hyphenated words, greeting and closing of a letter, presidents, well-known areas, events, when not to capitalize, test.
• Letters: Friendly letter, business letter, envelope.
• Pre/Post Assessment Test and Answers included in the book.

Alexandre is having some facilities in his English grammar this year because he had a strong based with four years of working with the Easy Grammar books.   But I also know that he will learn new things in this book that will make the upper levels easier in the end.    As I said, he chose himself to go through this particular book this year.  I think it was a wise decision and it will bring him more confidence when dealing with English grammar.    As I correct his exercises pages, I am seriously pondering the fact that I, myself, should go through this specific book in order to better comprehend the English grammar.  You see, English is not my mother tongue – I was born and raised as a French Canadian and even though I had English classes in high school (and did Kindergarten in English), I still struggle with the grammar when I write.  

If your child has never done concrete English grammar during the primary years and you want him/her to expand on this particular level, the Easy Grammar Plus is definitively the book to go through.     I know that these books works because I have three kids doing them now.   It’s a thorough curriculum that is easy to deal with and to learn.  It will also give your child more confidence because of the ways it deals with the sentences.    In the end, your child will remember the rules and apply them in other places.

The book Easy Grammar Plus Teacher Edition is available for purchase at Easy Grammar Systems for the price of 32.95$ US.   An e-book edition is also available for the same price.   You can also purchase the Student workbook for the price of 13.95$ and the Student test booklet for the price of 4.95$.   However, be aware that if you purchase the Teacher Edition, you will have the student exercises and tests included in it as well and have the authorization to reproduce within your own family.  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Easy Grammar Systems for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Back to School with DK Canada Part 7–Ideas That Changed The World

To celebrate the Back to School event in our lives, DK Canada is having a special limited time offer (30% off) on selected titles in their Back to School Boutique.  Consequently, to celebrate the Back to School time of the year, I will present you some of the titles found in the DK Canada Boutique in the week to come. 

This morning, I want to present you a book that is definitively out of the ordinary when you thing about history and science together– the Ideas That Changed The World - Incredible Inventions and the Stories Behind Them. 

About the book

From bicycles to umbrellas, the Walkman to bar codes, innovative ideas can mold the world in unexpected, fantastical ways. Ideas that Changed The World takes some of the most important ideas in history and displays them using stunning photography and detailed information. This VOYA Nonfiction Honor List and IRA Young Adult Choice 2011 winner brings the stories of great ideas to life in their historical context, sharing how they were inspired and then implemented. Readers will be in awe as they learn about satellites, antibiotics, microscopes, film animation, surfboards, submarines, TV, and more. Ideas That Changed the World takes the stories of the most insightful advancements in history and shows how these innovations affect us all.

My Thoughts

As soon as I saw this new title in the DK Canada Fall catalogue, I knew that it will be of interest for some people in my family.   Believe it or not, as I was readying myself to write this review, I couldn’t put my hand on it.  Where did it disappeared?   I couldn’t figure it out.  I was sure I had left it in the living room… so where was it now?   Obviously I couldn’t write the review that day but when I went to see my oldest son to say good night that evening I found the book on the floor next to his bed.   He had took it in order to read it.  I was really glad to see that the book has caught his interest.    The next morning, as I came downstairs to eat breakfast, I caught him sitting on the sofa reading the book.    That’s how good the book is because he can’t stop himself reading it…

What is the book about?   Well, essentially the book will present you all the inventions that literally changed our world.   

The book is divided into six sections:

• Genius: This section presents inventions that has been made and helped us in various ways.  You will read about the light bulb, penicillin, x-ray, tin can, telegraph and many other inventions.
• Great Gizmos: How can things make our life easier?   Well explore this section in order to learn more about things we could not live without nowadays – like elevators, refrigerator, flushing toilets, batteries and more.
• Handy Gadgets: Gadgets are always fun to have.  But where do they come from?   Microwave, digital camera, credit card, bar code, post-its, zipper are only a few of the ideas presented in this section.
• On the Move: In this section you will read about things that take us to places like submarine, helicopter, bicycle, and more.   
• Explore: Throughout history, people love to explore new places like the oceans and space.  This section will present you ideas that allowed us to do so like the spacesuit, the submersible, and more.
• Culture: Finally, our life is marked with products that we could not live without in our culture.  What are they you wonder?   Well here’s some ideas you will find in this section: umbrella, skateboard, jeans, sunglasses, Lego bricks, and sport shoes.

As you can see you can learn quite a bit from the pages of this book.  Also included in the book, you will be able to visualize how the ideas were developed by looking at pictures and photos as well as illustrations that will explain how a product works.  At the end of the book you will get a timeline of inventions as well as a glossary which will provide definitions of certain words found in the book.

Whether you like old inventions or are intrigued by the new ideas that are being explore today, this book will definitively expand your personal knowledge on how things and ideas have changed the world through the years.   It’s a great book to encourage a reluctant reader interested in discovering how something came to be.   It’s also a great gift idea for a young person in your life for birthday or Christmas.   I personally believe that it is important to give books to my kids at Christmas in order to encourage them to expand their reading as well as knowledge.  This book fits in the category of Christmas idea.

If you want to find these titles and many more that could be interesting to supplement school works/studies as well as inform your kids on specific themes, I would suggest that you check out the Back to School Boutique at DK Canada.  Don’t forget that they offer 30% off on titles listed in this specific promotion. Click on the image below to discover the various titles found in the Back To School Boutique at DK Canada!

The title presented in this review are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

   

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

OXY Emergency Acne Vanishing Treatment Wipes

I recently was offered to review a new product from OXY called the OXY Emergency Wipes. 

This is the first medicated wipe on the market that will allow you to deal with your acne problem.   It is filled with an ingredient known as Benzoyl Peroxide which has been clinically proven to kill acne bacteria on contact and help heal the acne blemishes rapidly.

So I asked my son to product test the wipes for me.   His acne is mainly located on his nose.    The wipes will help to clear the face of pimples by removing dirt, oil, and dead skin and kill bacteria.  It will also allow your skin to breathe more easily.   Essentially, it will relieve the redness and will try to reduce the size of pimples when you have some.    It also controls the oil around the areas that are more subjects to acne in order to help you fight possible breakouts through the day. 

The packaging is interesting making an easy-to-use on-the-go package.  It’s small enough that it can be inserted in a backpack or a purse without worrying about the added weight.    A pack contains 30 wipes which is the perfect quantity for a month-long supply.   

Using the wipes is easy as saying 1-2-3.   First you will need to wash you hands and then use the wipe in order to cleanse the area affected with acne.  Allow to dry.   To not rinse when you are done.  You can apply twice daily if needed (keep in mind you won’t have as many wipes though).

From what I can see, my son’s nose is a bit better.  But he has been using sporadically over the past week or so.   I will request that he continues to use it for the remainder of the package.

The product is available in the acne section at major drug stores and mass & grocery retailers for the price of 7.99$.

GREAT NEWS! 

My contact has offered a great giveaway for my readers.  You can win  1 OXY Emergency Cleanser, 1 OXY Emergency Spot Gel, 1 OXY Emergency Wipes, 1 pHisodern pH up, 1 pHisoderm pHdown, and 1 gift card of 25$ at WalMart (not shown in the image below).  Value of 75.95$ (based on retail value of the products). 

Click on the image to access the giveaway!

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Mentholatum for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes and offering the giveaway for my readers. I also received a gift card from WalMart in exchange of this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Back to School with DK Canada–Part 6: Smithsonian History Year by Year

To celebrate the Back to School event in our lives, DK Canada is having a special limited time offer (30% off) on selected titles in their Back to School Boutique.  Consequently, to celebrate the Back to School time of the year, I will present you some of the titles found in the DK Canada Boutique in the week to come. 

Today, I want to highlights a special book that will give a bird’s eye view on the event that happened in history – the Smithsonian History Year By Year. 

About the book

History Year by Year presents the world through a detailed timeline, letting children follow the influences, patterns, and connections between historical events.

Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution and featuring more than 1,500 images, this illustrated book brings the story of the past to life. Beginning with prehistory and running up to the Arab Spring, budding historians will learn about the history of humans across the world. Spreads highlight major historical eras including the Renaissance and the French Revolution, while quotations from primary and secondary sources alongside insight from experts give proper historical context. Children will love the "child of the time" feature, telling the experience of children at important historical periods including Ancient Egypt, Viking England, the Industrial Revolution, and World War II.

History Year by Year is a visual journey throughout time and an invaluable reference for kids looking to connect the dots of history across the world.

My Thoughts

This new title from DK Canada will provide you not only an illustrated timeline through history but will also highlights the main events that happened during a specific period of time.   The book is packed photos, paintings, artifacts, graphs,  illustrations, maps, close-ups of items from that era as well as numerous archeological finds.     Specific historical events are highlighted in the book by being expanded in a two pages presentation.  For example if you want to know more about children’s lives during the Industrial Revolution you can read about how they worked in cotton mills in Europe and the USA.   I can’t imagine sending my kids to work in such places nowadays!

There are eight sections in this book:

• 3.5 MYA – 3000 BCE: Before history began – This is all about how civilization came to be (according to evolution).
• 3000  - 700 BCE: Really ancient history – Gods and temples, first writing, metal ages, and much more will be covered in this section.
• 700 BCE – 500 CE: Much more civilized – Sparta, Greek-Persian wars, Celtic warriors, Roman Empire, Pompeii and more will be highlighting your historical knowledge in this section.
• 500 – 1450: The marvelous Middles Ages – The Maya, Islam, The Crusades, Aztecs and Incas are only a few of the subjects touched in this section.
• 1450 – 1750: Exploring and reforming – This section will introduce you to the Renaissance, the age of exploration, the Ottoman Empire, the trial of Galileo, and other fascinating events during that time period.
• 1750 – 1850: Time for change – Explore the Industrial Revolution, the American Revolution, the French revolution, the slave trade, and much more.
• 1850 – 1945: Empires and World Wars – American Civil War, World War I, Great Depression, and World War II are some of the subject touched in this section.
• 1945 – present: Fast forward – In this section you will be exposed to the Cold War, the division of Berlin, the Civil Rights, exploring the moon, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Fall of Communism, apartheid, and much more.

At the present time, we are studying Greece and we are learning quite a bit about the wars during that time.   This book can provide visual images which will allow us to have a better understanding of the events during that time.   For example, in one of our readings we learned about the war elephants used in India when Alexandre the Great tried to conquer the area.    It’s interesting to see a terracotta statue of a mauryan war elephant which represent these war elephants. 

No matter what era you are studying with your children (or they are studying at school), I serious think that this book is a great reference to own at home.  Not only it is great for history but you can get more knowledgeable in history when you take the time to read the pages of this book.  There are literally numerous things we can learn in this book.     This book would be a great gift for whoever loves history in your life as well.  

If you want to find these titles and many more that could be interesting to supplement school works/studies as well as inform your kids on specific themes, I would suggest that you check out the Back to School Boutique at DK Canada.  Don’t forget that they offer 30% off on titles listed in this specific promotion. Click on the image below to discover the various titles found in the Back To School Boutique at DK Canada!

The title presented in this review are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Back to School with DK Canada Part 5–Where on Earth?

To celebrate the Back to School event in our lives, DK Canada is having a special limited time offer (30% off) on selected titles in their Back to School Boutique.  Consequently, to celebrate the Back to School time of the year, I will present you some of the titles found in the DK Canada Boutique in the week to come. 

Where on Earth? is a great book to explore with your kids when you want to know something specific about things found around the world.  The pages inside this book will take you on a geographical tour around the world with special maps that will illustrated a specific thing like power stations, nature, history, technology and so on.     You will definitively see the world with a whole new perspective while flipping through these pages.

From volcanoes to the Seven Wonders of the World, you will be in awe with some of the results of your world map on a specific subject.   You want to know where the world’s tallest buildings are located?  No problem.   I was very surprised by some of the heights of these buildings.    Do you know where earthquakes are most likely to occur?  Or where to find animals that glow?  This book will give you the answer you are looking for.  In all, there are seventy-five 3-D maps that will highlight something specific from around the world.

 

The book is divided into six chapters:

• Land, sea, and air: Earth’s crust, earthquakes, mountains, volcanoes, ocean floor, ocean in motion, rivers, craters and meteorites, hot and cold, rain and snow, hurricanes, biomes, forests, deserts, ice and time zones.
• Living world: Dinosaur fossils, predators, deadly creatures, alien invasion, bird migrations, whales, sharks, river monsters, insects, world of plants, biodiversity, unique wildlife, endangered animals, and extinct animals.
• People and planet: Where people live, nomads, young and old, health, pandemics, poverty, world’s gold billionaires, food production, food intake, literacy, pollution, garbage and waste, clean water, fossil fuels, alternative energy, climate change and wilderness.
• Engineering and technology: Air traffic, shipping, railroads, roads, tallest buildings, internet connections, satellites and space junk, and armed forces.
• History: Fossil humans, prehistoric culture, Ancient empires, Ancient wonders, mummies, Medieval wonders, Medieval empires, castles, battlegrounds, last empires, revolutions, shipwrecks, and industrial wonders.
• Culture: Languages, holy places, tourism, art, statues, festivals, television, stadium, car racing, roller coasters, and national flags.

You will get instantaneous information on all these subjects.  From physical geography, habitats of big cats, the Seven Wonders of the World, Olympic cities, shipwreck sites, and more, every map contains fact panels that provide additional information and useful statistics, while focus features pull out and explain the most interesting facets for an even richer experience.  It is definitively a great resource to have when studying geography with your kids.   I consider this book as a reference book that will help them to understand better the different between the countries around the world.

If you want to find these titles and many more that could be interesting to supplement school works/studies as well as inform your kids on specific themes, I would suggest that you check out the Back to School Boutique at DK Canada.  Don’t forget that they offer 30% off on titles listed in this specific promotion. Click on the image below to discover the various titles found in the Back To School Boutique at DK Canada!

The titles presented in this review are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Back to School with DK Canada–Part 4: Children’s Book of Music

To celebrate the Back to School event in our lives, DK Canada is having a special limited time offer (30% off) on selected titles in their Back to School Boutique.  Consequently, to celebrate the Back to School time of the year, I will present you some of the titles found in the DK Canada Boutique in the week to come. 

To continue this Back to School theme, I present you today the title How to Be a Children’s Book of Music. 

About the book

Music has always been an amazing way for people to connect with each other and to express their ideas and emotions. In this clear and lively introduction to music history, readers take a chronological journey around the world, exploring the sounds and rhythms of different cultures, the development of instruments, and the progression of musical styles. From the beginnings of music for ritual or magical purposes to the technological developments that have taken modern music in new directions, children will discover the fascinating history of music and how it has become an international exchange of ideas. The book also includes a bonus CD, featuring a selection of music from around the world.

My Thoughts

This book is interesting because it will introduce your kids to the world of music through history via text, images and tracks from the CD. 

The book is divided in three major sections:

• Early Music (50,000 BCE – 1600 CE): In this specific section you will discover the world of music at the beginning of time – with the ancient world music, the didgeridoo, the world of wind and strings as well as some other interesting instruments.
• Classical  Music (1600 – 1900): In this section you will get exposed to the Baroque, Classical and Romantic period of music.  You will also learn major composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Berlioz, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, and others.   You will also have the opportunity to discover operas, national music, and great conductors.
• Modern Music (1900 – )": In this section, you now explore the new styles of music since the 1900 – blues, musicals, Reggae, Hip-Hop and more as well as popular artists like Sinatra, Elvis, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin.

The CD contains tracks on various style of music from the different sections mentioned above.  Throughout the book,  you will see an icon of a Cd with headset on it which will inform you of which track you will need to listen after reading a specific part of the book.   In total there are 35 tracks on the CD for your to listen.   I would use the CD only with the book because there isn’t any explanation on it to tell you which era the music sample is from.   Consequently, it is essential that the CD be used with the reading of the book.   I really enjoyed listening to the Gregorian chant on the CD which is sang in Latin as well as the Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah by Handel.

Each section of the book will also be illustrated with images, drawings and musical instruments in order to give you an introduction to the world of music through the ages.    This book is the prefect tool to introduce your kids to music and expose them to a variety of styles at the same time.    I am very pleased to have this book in my hands so we can explore the world of music this year.      What I also find interesting in this book is that the kids will have an idea of the different instruments that can be used to make music.   They will also be introduced to the orchestra and learn the various families of instruments that can be played.    Recently, we watched a DVD title Pulse: a Stomp Odyssey which explore how Stomp got some of the ideas for their show throughout the world.  My kids were fascinated with it.  Reading this book and listening to the tracks on the CD will give them a better perspective of the world of music.

If you want to find these titles and many more that could be interesting to supplement school works/studies as well as inform your kids on specific themes, I would suggest that you check out the Back to School Boutique at DK Canada.  Don’t forget that they offer 30% off on titles listed in this specific promotion. Click on the image below to discover the various titles found in the Back To School Boutique at DK Canada!

The title presented in this review are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

    

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Hamilton Beach 6 Slices Toaster Oven Broiler

Let’s go back a few weeks ago.  One beautiful sunny morning, my kids proceeded to make themselves toasts for breakfast.   I was upstairs trying to sort the clothes when one of them came to me to let me know that our four slices toaster was now a two slices toaster.  One side wasn’t working anymore.  We knew that it was slowly dying and that we would have to replace it in a near future.

So that week, I went to Wal-Mart to see what was available on the market.   There was two slices toasters as well as four slices toaster…  I was wondering if there was such a things as a six slices toaster – after with six people in the family it would be nice to have something that would allow us to make toasts a bit faster.   Lo and behold, I saw something on one of the shelves a toaster oven that could make six slices of bread at the same time.  Could it be?   Yes!  Amazing…

My husband and I talked about it and we agreed that we wanted to compare the prices in the US.   The following week, an idea came to my mind.   What if I contact the company making the said toaster oven to see if I could review it?   I quickly got a positive answer to my request and was ecstatic to let my husband knew about it.  However, I didn’t tell my kids right away.   I wanted to see their reaction…   I knew my oldest son would be impressed because he thought it would be neat to have a six slices toaster oven in the house.

They were surprised and excited when they saw what arrived one day.   Could this toaster oven really make 6 slices of toast?    We received an Hamilton Beach 6 slices toaster oven broiler model 31509C.  This small appliance has an oven cavity of 15 liters which could accommodate a whole chicken (small one obviously!).  You have four settings on it – toast, bake, broil and convection.    A bake pan, a broil grid and a removable crumb tray are included in it.  There is also a 30 minutes time with an auto shutoff.  

Okay – we did toasts no problem.  Though we were a bit disappointed with the toasts as we find one side is more toasted than the other side.  Besides, doing toasts in this small appliances was taking more time than a regular toaster.   When you get up in the morning, it was taking a bit too long to be ready.    Besides even though the box claims that you can do six slices of bread at the same time, it is a bit crowded in the toaster oven for six slices.  The slices of bread are extremely tight against each other and they were not all places securely on the grill.    We have decided against making six at a time because of the possibility of a bread to fall on one side.  

But what else can we do with this little appliance?   So we decided to explore other options.

So the first thing we made was hotdog.  We don’t eat hotdog often.  But we chose to do that to see what result we would get.   Time wise, it was reasonable.  But the hotdogs cracked while we cook them.   Personally I don’t mind but other people might not like this.   The hotdogs were thoroughly cooked when we ate them.

Menu number 2 was pizza pockets (again not something we usually buy) and salad.   I found that the middle of the pizza wasn’t warmed enough even with the proper time and level of heat.    I wasn’t impressed with the result that time.

Then we made spaghetti and meatballs.   Anyhow, I had a special bread cooking in the oven and needed to cook the meatballs.  What would I do?  Then it dawned on me that I could use the toaster oven.  So I decided to line the tray with foil paper in order to avoid a bit of mess.  This is an absolute must if you don’t want to spend too much time to clean up your toaster oven.    We also put some at the bottom of the toaster oven to pick up the crumbs of the toasts.   The result was fabulous and all the meal was ready at the same time.  Perfect timing thanks to the toaster oven!

One evening, I decided to make salmon patty shells.   I prepare the salmon and celery soup together on the stove top but I usually do the patty shells in the oven.   For a change I decided to make them in the toaster oven.    It took the same time as when I use the oven to make them but I knew I was saving electricity.    They were warm and golden when it was time to serve the supper.

Chimichangas were another meal we made with the toaster oven.  They were cooked but again I found that the time suggested wasn’t enough so I had to put them a little bit longer to have them warm enough.    

Bottom line, the Hamilton Beach 6 Slices Toaster Oven Broiler is great for on the go food and okay for toasts.    I would recommend it for university students looking for something versatile for their dorm room that can do a multitude of meals.   It also allow the student to use a variety of settings in order to make a healthy meal for breakfast, lunch or supper.   But I wouldn’t suggest this for a family with young children for various reasons: the appliance can become very hot for tiny fingers, when opening the door, the rack doesn’t come out which makes it tricky to take the toasts out (yes you can take the tray out manually but do wear a glove!), and it’s a bit complicated for kids to use compared to a regular toaster.   My kids have the habit to get up early and prepare their own breakfast but since this small appliance has arrived we have not let them use it alone.   Thankfully, they are obedient and didn’t touch it without adult supervision.   But not all children are like this.  So be careful if you purchase this and you have small children at home. 

The Hamilton Beach 6 slices Toaster Oven Broiler is a great little device when you are cooking multiples items that need an oven.  It’s great for lunch time when you don’t want to use the oven when the prices are higher for electricity, and it will provide you with warm food when you adjust the time recommended.   However, we were disappointed with the toast feature of it.   We would prefer having our toast a little bit faster when it comes for breakfast or making toasted sandwiches at lunch.  When you have a family of six people, you want rapidity when it comes to breakfast and lunch time.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hamilton Beach Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Back to School with DK Canada–Part 3: How to Be a Math Genius

To celebrate the Back to School event in our lives, DK Canada is having a special limited time offer (30% off) on selected titles in their Back to School Boutique.  Consequently, to celebrate the Back to School time of the year, I will present you some of the titles found in the DK Canada Boutique in the week to come. 

Remember yesterday I presented you the book How to Be a Genius?   Well to continue this brain theme and the special Back to School theme, I present you today the title How to Be a Math Genius – Your Brilliant Brain and How to Train It. 

About the book

In this clever guide, young readers previously daunted by algebra, logic, algorithms, and all things math will discover they are better at it than they thought.

How to be a Math Genius explores the math brain and demonstrates to readers that they use math skills all the time — they just don't know it yet. Packed with math activities and puzzles, compelling stories of math geniuses, math facts and stats, and more, How to be a Math Genius makes the dreaded subject of math both engaging and relevant.

My Thoughts

Mathematics.  Some sincerely love it while others dislike it.   As an homeschool mom I was seriously aware of the issues I had with math and was somewhat uncomfortable in teaching this to my kids until I find the perfect curriculum for us that uses all the senses to teach it.   But this blog post is not about the curriculum we are using.  Instead I am presenting you a book that might help you  better understand the world of mathematics and the way it can stimulate your brain.

The book is divided into five major sections:

• Math Brain – this section will introduce you to math skills,how to resolve problems with numbers, women and math and how to see the solution.
• Inventing Numbers – this specific section covers all the different aspects of numbers in math.  You will also learn about Pythagoras and Archimedes.
• Magic Numbers -  Sequences, Pascal’s triangle, missing numbers and other math puzzles are covered here.  You will also discover who Karl Gauss is and his contribution in math.
• Shapes and Space – We are surrounded with shapes.   What can shapes do with Math?   Learn it in this section.   Learn also who Leonhard Euler is and what he has done in mathematics.
• A World of Math – In this section, you will learn what mapping is, how to use probability, how to break codes, and explore logic and paradoxes.  Also you will learn about Isaac Newton and Alan Turing.

Once again, this book is packed with illustrations for the text, fun puzzles to resolve, and lots of informative text that will allow you to better understand mathematics and how it can be apply in our daily lives.     Through these pages you will be bombarded with fun facts as well that will permit you to stretch your brain and knowledge.  For example, did you know that a flat fish is born symmetrical, but as it develops both eyes move over to the same side of the head and it becomes asymmetrical.   Isn’t that fascinating?   The puzzles in this book will help you think outside the box, stretch your brain, allow you to learn in the process and give you plenty of data to impress your friends if you feel like it. 

Once again, if you are in middle school, high school, college/university or an adult, I think this book will be helpful to better understand mathematics in your life and stretch your brain.   It’s always good to be challenge when the new school year starts, so why not exploring How to Be a Math Genius and train your brain at the same time?

If you want to find these titles and many more that could be interesting to supplement school works/studies as well as inform your kids on specific themes, I would suggest that you check out the Back to School Boutique at DK Canada.  Don’t forget that they offer 30% off on titles listed in this specific promotion. Click on the image below to discover the various titles found in the Back To School Boutique at DK Canada!

The titles presented in this review are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

   

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

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Back to School with DK Canada–Part 2: How to be a Genius

To celebrate the Back to School event in our lives, DK Canada is having a special limited time offer (30% off) on selected titles in their Back to School Boutique.  Consequently, to celebrate the Back to School time of the year, I will present you some of the titles found in the DK Canada Boutique in the week to come. 

To continue the special Back to School theme, today I present you the title How to Be a Genius – Your Brain and How to Train It.

About the book

How to be a Genius reveals the magical and mysterious world of the brain. With facts, puzzles, brain teasers, optical illusions, and other brain training activities, readers will unlock their true intellectual power. How to be a Genius explores the physiology, anatomy, and evolution of the brain and then teaches innovative brain stimulating exercises. Covering all aspects of brain activity, from perception and problem solving, to memory, language, and creativity, readers will learn tips and tricks for getting the most out of the brain. The book also features activities including sports, magic, playing cards, and computer games. Readers will enjoy employing their creativity with this hands-on guide to the mind filled with wonderful knowledge and great activities to boost brainpower.

My Thoughts

In the past few years, you have probably stumbled on news stating the importance of training your brain in order to keep it healthy.   I do believe that doing so will help you in being able to remember better some things.   But what does it means to train your brain?   It means to do actively find puzzles, games and optical illusions that will allow you to stretch the gray matter of your brain.

This book will allow you to do just that and more.  Not only will you be able to read more about the brain itself as well as famous scientists, painters or composers but you will find fun activities to do alone or with other throughout the book.  The book is divided into eight sections:

• Meet Your Brain – this section is presenting you the brain as we know it by showing you the different parts of the brain and explaining the difference between the left side and the right side.   It will also explain nerves, neurons and brain waves.
• Come to Your Senses – Senses are very helpful to allow you to understand better the world around you.  This section will let you discover how your senses can be tricked with exercises and how you can develop your senses in order to better understand how they work.  You will also discover who Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was.
• How Memory Works – What is memory?  This specific section will let you know how to improve your memory, how to pay attention to details and make associations.  You will also learn more about Albert Einstein.
• Problem Solving -   In this section, you can better understand how you learn, discover how to solve mazes and puzzles, explore logic and brainteasers, as well as discover how to resolve math problems.  You will also learn more about George Washington Carver (a personality I am fascinated with lately) and Wernher von Braun.
• A Way With Words – In this section, you will discover the importance of words, how reading words aloud can help you to better understand complicated things and learn who Jean François Champollion was.
• The Creative Mind – Learn how you can boost your creativity by doing simple exercises.  Also discover Leonardo da Vinci.
• Your Brain and You – What makes you special compare to someone else?   Discover how the personality type, the dreams, emotions, and more will make the person you are in life.   Also in this section, you will learn more about Mary Anning and Mahatma Gandhi.
• The Evolving Brain – this section will expands on how the brain grows, what is brain surgery, explore animal intelligence and how machines think.  It will also present you Charles Darwin which is the father of evolution.

The book is packed with fun exercises to test you brain, fun illustrations that accompany the text and interesting information about the brain.   With simply tricks like mnemonics, imagery and pictures, you can improve your memory and be proactive when reading.   I remember taking a fast reading course when I was in university.  This course itself helped me to go through my bachelor and master degrees by giving me tricks to improve my reading skills and the time it takes to read a text.  To this day I find that some of these tricks are still useful.  

Whether you are in middle school, high school, college/university or an adult, I think this book can help you improve your brain functions and train it to remember more.   It’s always good to be challenge when the new school year starts, so why not exploring How to Be a Genius and train your brain at the same time!

If you want to find these titles and many more that could be interesting to supplement school works/studies as well as inform your kids on specific themes, I would suggest that you check out the Back to School Boutique at DK Canada.  Don’t forget that they offer 30% off on titles listed in this specific promotion. Click on the image below to discover the various titles found in the Back To School Boutique at DK Canada!

The titles presented in this review are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Thanks for following Canadianladybug Reviews and More....

Back to School with DK Canada – Part 1: Pocket Genius

To celebrate the Back to School event in our lives, DK Canada is having a special limited time offer (30% off) on selected titles in their Back to School Boutique.  Consequently, to celebrate the Back to School time of the year, I will present you some of the titles found in the DK Canada Boutique in the week to come. 

To start today, I will be presenting four new titles that is part of the Pocket Genius series that they have available in stores.   In the past, I was able to review some the titles in this series: Ancient Egypt, Animals, Bugs, Dinosaurs, Earth, Sharks, Space, Rocks and Minerals.   Today, I want to present you the books on Horses, Human Body, Mammals and Science.

WHAT ARE THE POCKET GENIUS BOOKS?

I find the Pocket Genius books to be perfect for the grab-and-go situation.   For example, you know you will have to drive long distance with the kids in the car.   Who likes a child who complains while driving for an extended period of time.  I remember when I was about seven years old that my mom had packed a special basket for me as we drove to Florida.   When we drove back home, the things in the basket were changed in order to entertain me.    These books are perfect for this kind of situation because they are small, don’t take a lot of space and contains educational information in them.   They can be easily slip into a backpacks and will appeal even kids in middle school.   These book contain facts and information on specific subjects that could be interesting for kids.

HORSES

This specific title features more than 125 individual breeds of horses, ponies and their cousins — zebras, mules and donkeys.   It will present the horse in details base don the color, markings, the horse family and the type of horse.   It will also present ponies, light horses, heavy horses as well as other information like the anatomy and the behavior of horses at work and at play. Stunning images will illustrate what the book is presenting.   At the end of the book, you will be able to read fun facts about horses.  If you have a child who likes horses a lot, this book is definitively something you would want him/her to read on long trips.

HUMAN BODY

Are you planning to study the human body with your kids this year?  There are a multitude of curriculum out there to touch this subject but what about supplement books?  Well DK Canada has numerous titles that I had the opportunity to review on Human Body and their latest book on the subject is found in the convenient size of the Pocket Genius series.   This specific title will present the human body starting from the cell form to all the body parts that compose our body.   It will cover all the various systems in our body as well as specific information like how the fractures heal, how muscles work, what’s in blood, fighting disease, and so on.   Be aware that there is a specific section on reproduction and growth that illustrates the fertilization and growth of a baby.   I am mentioning it because some people don’t like to expose young children to this until a later age.     You will find illustrations, photos as well as close-ups of various parts of the body throughout this book.   I find these fascinating and explain how our body works in a very colorful way.

MAMMALS

Over 200 profiles of individual species as well as informative spreads on anatomy, behavior, and classification will be found in this title.   However, it only covers a small fractions of all the mammals found on earth.   But Pocket Genius: Mammals will look at humans, whales, wallabies, camels and more and their place in the natural world.  It will explain their diet, how they defend themselves, their habitats and much more.   It will present you egg-laying mammals as well as pouched and placental ones.   In the end of the book, your child will be able to discover the record breakers mammals as well as amazing animals  based on their senses, their longevity, if they are found in myths, the ones who went to space and the mammals in movies.   My only issue with this title is that human have been places into the primate section.    Apart from that I think it is a fun book to have while traveling or waiting for an appointment.

SCIENCE

One of the latest titles in the Pocket Genius series will cover everything in the subject of science.   From the basic principles of science including matter and materials, to energy and forces, to the living world, this will give your child a junior look at science and its roles in our world.   The book starts defining science and what it means to use today.   It will also present matter, energy, forces and the living world.    Your child will be introduced to atoms, molecules, elements, electricity, magnetism, radioactivity, sound, movement,fungi, plants, cycles, ecosystems, and much more.    Science is a fascinating subject I find and you can always learn from books.     Consequently, this book is great to have in the car so that your kids can dig in it whenever they want to.

In conclusion, I can only say that I really like the Pocket Genius titles for various reasons.  They are easy to grand and go, they are informative, they cover specific subjects that would be interesting for kids, and they will encourage your kids to dig more on a specific subjects when they are done with it.

If you want to find these titles and many more that could be interesting to supplement school works/studies as well as inform your kids on specific themes, I would suggest that you check out the Back to School Boutique at DK Canada.  Don’t forget that they offer 30% off on titles listed in this specific promotion. Click on the image below to discover the various titles found in the Back To School Boutique at DK Canada!

The titles presented in this review are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

 

  

  

KINDLE VERSION

 

 

  

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

NIV Homeschool Mom’s Bible

NIV Homeschool Mom’s Bible
By Janet Tatman
Published at Zondervan

About the Bible

Heartfelt Inspiration to Revive, Encourage, and Strengthen the Homeschooling Mom

If you’re on an airplane, you’re instructed, in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, to put on your own oxygen mask before helping your child. The reason? If you don’t have a supply of oxygen, you won’t be able to help anyone else.

The same is true for the rest of life: you can’t give what you don’t have. And as a homeschooling mom, you pour yourself out every day for the sake of your children. Yet how do you fill yourself up? Where do you get your spiritual oxygen? Now you can be filled and restored by the original Bible for homeschool moms---with a full year’s worth of encouraging daily devotions placed alongside the clear, accessible text of the NIV Bible. These heartfelt, practical readings written by Janet Tatman, a former homeschooling mom, cover topics such as finding strength to keep motivated, avoiding burnout, staying focused and committed, navigating the needs of toddlers while educating siblings, managing schedules, delegating tasks and chores, setting boundaries, and most importantly, maintaining proper soul care while juggling educational and household responsibilities.

The words of these devotions will breathe life into your soul so that you can successfully run the race.

Features:

• 365 daily meditations with prayers written by Janet Tatman, a veteran homeschooling mother with more than 25 years of experience homeschooling
• The full text of the clear, accessible New International Version (NIV) translation
• Foreword from Vickie Farris, author, homeschool mom, and wife of Michael Farris, founder of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association
• Topical index

My Thoughts

I stumbled on this title a couple of months ago.  I knew it was coming and  I was very interested as I am an homeschooler and I find it important to get encourage on my journey.   However, I didn’t think it was a good time for me to get another Bible (because let’s admit it, I think I have plenty of Bibles around the house).   But I was planning to put this title on my wish list for Christmas this year.    That’s when I saw it available for review.    How could I pass this especially with the new school year coming?    I knew that it would be beneficial for me to read the devotions on a daily basis starting right away.   So I requested it…

… and it arrived about a week later – just in time with our homeschool starting!    Since it arrived, I pick it up each day and read the devotions, ponder on how my homeschool journey is similar or different than the author’s and pray the prayer found at the bottom of the page.   So far, I got reminded of the importance to pray for my kids’ future spouses, the importance of sleep so that I am more patient during the days, how to avoid worrying too much about our homeschool, the importance to walk closely with God on a daily basis, and the importance of letting go of my kids in proper time.   I am certain that more words of wisdom will touch me personally as I continue reading these devotions during the rest of the year and in 2014.  

The devotions are found throughout the Bible and each of them has a date at the top of the page.  So it’s easy to start this Bible anytime during the year.   You will also find at the end of the Bible a Topical Index which can help you find devotions on a specific theme – for example on the topic of Discipline you will find nineteen devotions.    So it’s possible to use it on a daily basis or when a specific topic is more interesting for you.  Keep in mind that this Bible is not a study Bible and you won’t have a multitude of notes at the bottom of the pages.   It’s perfect to daily read the Bible and to do the devotions found in it.

My only disappointment is that I wish there would be more color on the devotion pages (date, title, prayer, design around the page) – something in the purple or hot pink.   I find it’s a little bit dry as there isn’t color through the pages.    I find that seeing color would lift my spirit at the same time… Also what I didn’t know before requesting this Bible to review is that Alpha Omega Publications has partner with Zondervan in order to produce it.   The devotions found in this Bible have been taken from the AOP’s Daily Focus devotions sent via emails.  But again, that’s my preference and that doesn’t mean that others would like that.

Having said that, I find it essential as a homeschool mom to have readings that will encourage me, lift me up when I am down, and relate to another mom who also homeschools.    This Bible does all this and it’s a breath of fresh air every time I open it up in the morning.   If you know someone who homeschool – whether a wife, sister, daughter, friend, or acquaintance – please consider blessing her with this Bible.   It will be a great book to revive, encourage, and strengthen this homeschool mom.

The NIV Homeschool Mom’s Bible is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Hardcover Edition

  

Leather Bound Edition

  

Kindle Edition

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Zondervan for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.