The TOS Homeschool Crew is getting ready to set sail on it’s third adventure. We have really enjoyed sailing with the Crew this year. Not only was it fun to try out new products (& keep them!), I was able to be a part of a wonderful community as well.

Wondering what a tour on the Crew involves? You must be willing to use whatever products are sent to you and then post an honest review. You need to be flexible – sometimes you have to set aside your main curriculum and try something new.

Try out for the 2010-2011 TOS Homeschool Crew HERE.

I will be glad to answer any questions you have. Leave a comment or send me an email!

I was a little unsure when I found out we would be reviewing Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting. I’ve never liked the italic style of handwriting, or anything that even resembles it. On the other hand, I’ve asked God to send us the products that we need so we decided to give it a fair shot. Guess what? We all really like it!

Beginners’ Handwriting introduces rhythmic movement to pre-writers. It consists of twenty-eight very large sheets and a teacher’s guide. The sheets are reusable, like a dry erase board. My 5 year old loves to trace the patterns and letters. Because of the large size of the line to be traced, she had a very easy time staying on the line with her marker.

Fluent Handwriting comes with a manual & CD-Rom and is for all ages. The manual is a comprehensive reference guide. The Cd-Rom has instructional videos and tons of printable worksheets. Our favorites were the animal worksheets to be used when learning the proper rhythym. 🙂

I am able to teach all of my older kids, ages 7-12, at the same time. I demonstrate on the dry erase board and they follow along on their worksheets.

I used Fix It…Write to tackle my own sloppy handwriting. It is written for an older student or an adult – kind of a remedial course. My handwriting is a jumbled mix of print and cursive. Barchowsky Handwriting lets me write quickly AND neatly. I was surprised at how easy it is to write with this method once I got the hang of the slant & rhythm.  It looks so pretty!

The Nitty Gritty:

• Beginners’ Handwriting w/Teacher’s Guide   $29.95
• Fluent Handwriting  Manual & CD-Rom  $69.95
• Fix It…Write  $19.95

Value: The price might seem a little high, but Barchowsky is very different from the other handwriting programs I’ve seen. It is easy to teach and has so many practice pages from which to choose. Because it is non-consumable, it is a great choice for families with multiple kids.

See what my TOS Crew Mates have to say about Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting!

I received a free set of books for the purpose of writing an honest review. No other compensation was given.

We are in our 8th year of homeschooling, so I wasn’t expecting much from The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling. I picked it up & started reading it just to give you homeschooling newbies an honest review. To my surprise, I was taking notes by page 18!

Debra Bell is a homeschool veteran and actually published this book several years ago. (I wish I would have read it 8 years ago!) This is the revised & updated edition. The book is divided into ten parts:

• 1 – Homeschooling: Is it for you?
• 2 – Choosing a Curriculum
• 3 – Organization & Planning
• 4 – Preventing Burnout
• 5 – What to Teach – When and How
• 6 – HomeschoolingTeens
• 7 – Computers in the Homeschool
• 8 – Creative Solutions
• 9 – Measuring Your Success
• 10 – Resource Guide

You can view the Table of Contents and a Sample Chapter.

Here are a few things you might want to know when considering this book:

~ This book is most definitely from a Christian perspective. There are many wonderful resources & tips included for any type of homeschooler, but it is specifically written for people who rely on God to guide their education decisions.

~ The Bells are what I like to call one of “those” families. You know, the ones who make the rest of us look bad. LOL Her children are very self-motivated, high achievers, world travelers and always looking for a challenge. My kids, on the other hand, would spend all day playing the Wii and eating cheetos if given the choice. Thankfully, Debra does not imply that my kids need to be like hers. She is simply sharing their experience.

~ Co-op played a big role in the Bell’s education. Co-ops can be a wonderful part of homeschool – we’ve been part of one before. Just keep in mind that the co-ops highlighted in the book appear to be comprised of “those” families that I referred to above. A co-op can be much simpler, and cheaper, than depicted in the book. (And I think you can be happy homeschoolers without ever stepping foot into a co-op or group, so don’t feel discouraged if these are not an option for you.)

~ The Choosing a Curriculum section covers many different styles of teaching, but discourages using a boxed curriculum.  She encourages you to work with your child’s strengths and interests, and think outside of the box.This was one of my favorite sections, and I agree with her wholeheartedly.

The Nitty Gritty:

• $20 paperback, 500+ pages

Value: I highly recommend this for every Christian homeschooler, newbies & veterans alike!

See what my TOS Crew Mates have to say about The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling!

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of providing an honest review. No other compensation was given.