Let's Talk About...Foreign Languages

Welcome back to our Let's Talk About ...Series.

You can find an updated lists of the previous posts at the end of this one.   So far we have tackled History, Science, Math and recently Grammar and Writing.  Let's look at Foreign Languages real quick and next week we will chat literature.

If you have hung around Family, Faith and Fridays for long enough, you know that we are Spanish enthusiasts.  Notice I did NOT say perfectionists.  We love the Spanish language, but we do not speak the Spanish language.  Yet.  We are working on it.  Our fourth child, after all, was born in Guatemala and we have a love for the Latin American culture and people.  What we lack in skill we make up for in effort.

So while I am mentioning specifically Spanish programs here, many of these do have other languages available.  Make sure to look at your options- did you know you can even learn to speak Klingon?  Just saying!


Song School Spanish- This was one of our first experiences with Spanish and used it when our son was just home from Guatemala.  It is a super fun program with, as the name suggests, lots of singing, and chants and playing.  I highly recommend it if you want simple and easy.

Flip Flop Spanish- This program is one that is great for visual learners as well as kinesthetic learners.  It has lots of colorful flashcards and you do various activities using those cards.  My boys used this program together and had a lot of fun.  We learned a lot of vocabulary with this program and started learning how to put sentences together.

Classic Academic Press Spanish Primer A & B- This program begins to flesh out more of the Grammar side of the Spanish language and helps older kids being to conjugate verbs and understand the mechanics of the Spanish language.  I love that there is a DVD to watch for weekly instruction as well as a CD for language practice, and a student workbook.  I use this for upper level middle school levels.  When we traveled to Guatemala the child who had used this program fared better than those whom had not.

Homeschool Spanish Academy- (obviously Spanish specific) Here is where the rubber meets the road for us.  There is just no better way to learn a language that from a native speaker!  By video skpying with teachers from Guatemala you are sure to learn the accent and learn to converse.  If you are not convinced after reading my review, re-read it!  This program is simply AMAZING and improves continually.  It is a well greased engine!

Duo Lingo- New to us this past year,  we began this program just for fun and to take up some free time during our summer transition and move.  Turns out it is really good and we stuck with it, still using it during free time to brush up on skills.  It is user friendly, has a free online version, and has MANY languages to choose from.  The best thing I can say about it is it strengthens your listening and translating skills, as well as your conversational skills.  I know many people are using it these days and I have not heard one negative comment on it.

Again, we are not getting anything from recommending these products.  They are just some of the many we have used and have risen to the tops of our list to recommend.  In most states you have to graduate with a foreign language and many colleges often require at least two semesters to graduate.  You might as well find one you enjoy and dive in!  You never know where it will take you!

Maybe even to Guatemala to adopt the cutest little guy ever!

Blessings,

Let's Talk about...Science
Let's Talk About...Math
Let's Talk About...History
Let's Talk About...Grammar and Spelling

Hablo Ingles? - Middlebury Interactive Languages: A Schoolhouse Review Crew Review

Stick around this blog long enough and you will get to know me pretty quickly.  I am, after all, pretty much an open book who shares more than she should sometimes.  And there are some things I am pretty passionate about.  Big things like my family and my faith, down to little things like organization and well, let's just get it out there- the Spanish language.

So yes, when I had the opportunity to review High School Spanish 1 for grades 9th-12th from  Middlebury Interactive Languages program, I jumped in quickly.  Might as well add another Spanish program to my list of obsessions, I mean passions, right?

We have actually done Middlebury before, but at the time concentrated on the younger age program. But this time around I really needed a workable high school program.  You know, one that fulfills a high school foreign language requirement, while actually teaching your high schooler something. Oh, and throw in the need for it to allow the child to be pretty independent and not reliant on a mom who is not bi-lingual by any stretch of the imagination.  Just saying.

Middlebury does offer multiple levels of Spanish instruction, including several levels for high schoolers.  You can choose Spanish 1. Spanish 2, Spanish 3 or High School Spanish 1 Fluency or High School Spanish 2 Fluency.  By completing a full year of each level you can count it as a full foreign language credit on those high school transcripts.  (And yes, most colleges require two years of a foreign language).  Additional languages offered are French, Chinese, and German.

The program is fairly easy to use.  You just log into your child's account and go!  There is a left sidebar that shows your progression through each level so you can see what you still have to do for that session.  Each time a lesson is completed it is checked off to allow you to quickly find where you are at.  I know that when you are accessing a teacher led course things are a bit different and even have a lesson assigned to each day on a calendar, but for our use, we proceeded at our own pace. That usually equates to about four lessons a week for are high school freshman.  There are 90 lessons per semester.

As you click through slides you will work through a myriad of different activities.  One one slide you may hear a Spanish conversation and then be asked to fill in the blanks, while on another you may hear sentences and then repeat what you have heard,  recording yourself.   Some slides are fill in the blanks with vocabulary, while others have you answer questions in Spanish.  There are even sections that teach geography and culture of Spanish speaking areas.  If you make a mistake on any of the activities, you will have the opportunity to go back and try again.  Tests are scattered throughout the lessons for you to be able to record your child's progress.

What do we think?
Elementary and middle school foreign language programs are easy to find.  High School levels, not so much. So I am thrilled to have access to a program that is available to all ages and levels of learning.

I also love that the activities cover the spectrum of learning styles.  My auditory learner just does better when he can hear things being said out loud.  By using reading, speaking, listening, and writing, your child WILL pick up something, no matter their learning style!

I do love that the program forces you to repeat things out loud and record your own voice.  My son, however, does not.  He feels silly.  I keep reminding him that if he was in school he would have to participate out loud in a class so it could be worse.

One part of the course we have struggled with is the writing portion.  We struggled with this at the lower level as well.  For a child who struggles with spelling in English, spelling correctly in Spanish is a challenge. There is no credit for getting close. If you misspell something, including accents and other Spanish marks used in writing, it will be counted wrong.  This can often be frustrating when you have to use special keys to place those accent marks in the correct places.  It is something we are just trying to push through.

On a whole, Middlebury Interactive Languages is a good fit for our family.  I love that it allows us some flexibility while maintaining a high standard level that allows us to count it as a high school level foreign language credit.  That's what we need!

Speekee Accelerate Review- He's back!

Yes, Speekee is back!  Well, he has not really been gone, but now he is back with a new program called Speekee Accelerate.  If you follow our homeschool journey, you know that we love learning Spanish.  Colby was born in Guatemala, after all, and we really desire for him to be bi-lingual. You may also remember that we reviewed Speekee several years ago and Colby LOVED it.  As a matter of fact, he eventually found Speekee Play online and still plays on that site often.

Now that he is older, his needs have changed.  Thankfully there is a new program for ages 8 and up,  using Speekee Accelerate!

Here's how it works-

Each week we receive an email with the weeks' videos and lessons attached.

You can also access all 40 weeks from your Speekee Accelerate homepage, if you desire to repeat days.  I have a child who would work ahead and do several weeks in one day, so we really prefer the weekly email.  I have him access the videos through the email which slows him down a bit. In his free time after school he is always welcome to go back to the homepage and re-watch any videos he likes.  He finds the kids in the videos pretty entertaining so he re-watches a lot of videos!

I also like the email because it tells you what will be shown on each video and often will give extension activities to do.  Think of it as a mini lesson plan.  If you are a record kind of person, you could print out each week's lesson and date them to have a record of what your child has done.

Four days a week Colby clicks on that day's link and watches the video clip.  If there is a worksheet attached, we simply download it and print it out for him to work on after wards.  Some days there are also sound clips attached for your child to hear specific words or sounds that are being worked on.  He listens to each word being pronounced and then repeats the word for practice.

The worksheets do require a decent level of reading and writing, but Colby has been able to do them at age 9.  If more writing is involved, I will allow him to dictate to me instead.

We love that each week is themed and the videos are short in length, anywhere from just a few minutes to about 15 minutes long. So far, Colby has learned basic conversation, numbers, family members, directions, names, colors, and feelings. One thing to keep in mind is that this program is geared for a slightly older child, so the puppet Speekee does not make an appearance,  Instead, all the videos are live action with children of various ages interacting with the world around them and occasional graphics.  If you have a younger child who would enjoy the puppet, check out Speekee TV.

Also unique to the program is a feature you can choose that will put the English or Spanish subtitles on the screeen, or both, for you to read.  We use this feature the first time Colby watches the video clips, and then any addtional times they are watched we turn it off so we do not become dependant on them, but instead learn to lsiten to the native speakers for meaning.

If you desire the same format as Speekee Accelerate, but for younger students, Speekee FastTrack is geared for ages 4-7, and also has a 40 week curriculum that is emailed to you.

I highly recommend Speekee Accelerate!  Because of the combination of videos, worksheets, and audio clips, it is a great fit for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, making it a winner in my book! 

Blessings,

Summer Spanish

We are big fans of foreign language in our house.  Well, I am, and the kids try to adjust.

Just for the record, no, we are not fluent in foreign languages.  But we try to be familiar at least.  In our case, with Spanish, as our youngest child was born in Guatemala.  Not only do I feel strongly that he should at least be familiar with his native language, I feel even more strongly that we should ALL be well versed in another language.  It builds brain cells and it can build bonds with people in other places.  Not to mention that it is a required credit for most high school diplomas and college entrance.

Foreign language instruction is not for the faint at heart in my opinion.  Unless you are a fluent in a second language, it can be tricky and at the very least, intimidating to teach.  But it can be done.

By starting at an early age, you can ease into a new language together with your child.  Playing games, reading books, and listening to recordings in your chosen language is a great way to immerse yourself. There are many curriculums available that will provide flash cards or even stickers to help you label your surroundings.  You can pick up books on tape from the library in many different languages and often be able to follow along with a corresponding book.  Let's face it, the more you surround yourself with a new language, the more you and your child will pick up.

That is one reason I love concentrating on Spanish in the summer.  For us, it is a time that we ease off  of many of our other subjects and have more flexibility in our schedule.  Here are some things for you to try-

Have a themed meal.  Try to make food from the country of origin of the language you are teaching and then try to use only that language while you eat!

Label your home.  Many kids are visual and love seeing brightly colored labels on the things they use most often.

Learn a few new songs.  YouTube has lots of fun kids' songs in different languages you can learn.

Play a game.  Games like charades, pictionary, and even hide and seek can be more fun if played using only the language you are learning.

Visit a museum.  In our town we have a Hispanic museum.  It is a great place to learn about the Hispanic culture and even pick up a few new vocabulary words.

Make a friend.  If you can find someone from a different culture than you, you will find you have lots to offer each other.  Not only can you practice speaking with someone in their native tongue, you can learn about their family and culture as well.

Above all, make learning a family affair.  When you all work together and have a little fun, you will be well on your way to learning a new language!

Linking up-

Blessings,

The Fun Spanish- Schoolhouse Crew Review

Hola!

We love Spanish here.  And we have used a lot of Spanish programs to help us learn.  But The Fun Spanish by Brookdale House is now at the top of our list for fun ways to learn Spanish.  Seriously, fun!

The Fun Spanish  is a Spanish program for elementary ages that is, you guessed it,  fun and simple to use.  

Whether printed book or the e-book form we reviewed, this Charlotte Mason style Spanish program teaches the conjugation of 11 verbs in addition to numerous nouns, prepositions, and adjectives.  By combining those words, The Fun Spanish teaches kids how to create and speak simple Spanish sentences, one sentence at a time.

How? By being silly!  Isn't that what fun is all about?

At the beginning of each weeks lesson your child is introduced to a new verb and shown how to conjugate it. They are then given 6-10 new words each day to learn as well.  Next they practice using those words by writing a simple sentence given in Spanish.

Then the fun begins.  The next sentence given is in Spanish and your child has to read it and use his words for the day to decide what it says.  The fun part?  The sentences are silly.  Really silly!

Like-
I am a big, green cat with long legs.
He is an orange rat with 8 hairs.
This is a pink fish with 9 black wings.
We are yellow monkeys.  We eat pasta.

Finally your child has a space to draw a picture of the sentence. The following four days after, the child writes the same verb and its' conjugations, but adds a few new vocabulary words.  There is another sentence to write each day and another sentence to translate and illustrate, each one equally as silly.  On day five, there is a review page.  On that day you review each of the four silly sentences, translating them in your book. You also conjugate the verb with no help, and review the weeks' vocabulary,  By doing one lesson, which is comprised of 5 days, every two weeks, The Fun Spanish is year long program.  You can use the second week to review the words learned.

Verbs covered-
ser (to be)
estar (to be)
tener (to have)
vivir (to live)
comer (to eat)
jugar (to play)
saltar (to jump)
ver (to see)
oir (to hear)
dormir (to sleep)
querer (to want)

How we have used this program and what we think-

We have been using The Fun Spanish with my 8 year old for about 6 weeks now.  I originally  printed out the first three weeks and keep them loose leafed, but quickly realized they were getting so much use it was better to print it all out at once and bind it.  So yes, I printed out all 203 pages and put my binder to work.  Because Colby has a pretty solid foundation with Spanish vocabulary we have done one lesson a week with good success.  Each day he conjugates the verb, his least favorite part, translates the sentence, his favorite part, and draws the picture.  Sometimes he has me draw with him, but regardless we always end up giggling.

• One, it is fun and engaging.  There is little stress and it flows easily. 
• Secondly, I love that while it teaches vocabulary, the primary focus is on sentence structure.  Most programs we have used in the past teach a lot of vocabulary and nothing else.  While vocabulary is important, I know from experience that knowing all the vocabulary in the world is not helpful if you cannot speak a sentence.  Don't worry if you cannot do this on our own, the answers and translations are provided at the end of each lessons.
• Because Colby is so excited to see what the next silly sentence was going to be, he quickly reads the sentences in Spanish with no hesitation and little thought.  After just a few weeks in a row, he became more and more comfortable and I noticed his speech became more clear and smooth.  Let's face it, the more you practice, the better you become at something and the more comfortable you become.  Silly sentences are not threatening to a child, they are just fun!
• In addition, I noticed that his reading comprehension became better by about week three.  He had to look back at the vocabulary lists less and less which was so encouraging.  

Now The Fun Spanish is one of the first things he wants to do in the morning.  While it may not make him bilingual in a year (what program will?), I have no doubt that it will teach him a lot and make him more comfortable with the Spanish language.  All in all, a great goal for elementary age curriculum!

Spanish Anyone?

It is no secret that we love the Spanish language in this house.  It should also come as no surprise that I love Spanish curriculum, hence my continual reviews of different ones.  Yes, I have reviewed a lot!  Yes, I love many of them!  But a few stand out to me more than others, as is the case for Spanish For You! I had the opportunity to review Spanish For You! about two years ago through the Schoolhouse Review Crew, so I was thrilled when creator Debbie Annett asked me to look over one of her newest themes - Mi Vida! (My Life)

 Also available are Estaciones (Seasons), Fiestas (Celebrations), and Viejes (Travels).  Each unit stands alone and be used in any order.

Spanish For You! was written by Debbie, a veteran Spanish teacher of many years, and is intended to teach Spanish in a simple and affordable manner to children grades 3-8.  With additional themes added since I last reviewed this program, you can gear your child's learning to a subject you think they will enjoy!  The fun themes help catch the child's attention, teach everyday vocabulary, and provide some fun along the way.

Spanish For You! is intended to be taught four days a week and will typically cover a year, depending on the grade you are teaching and the rate you go. Each themed unit provides downloadable lesson plans and worksheets for grades 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th and then 7th through 8th.  All levels are provided to you so you can choose which one(s) you need to use.  If you are teaching multiple age levels, I would recommend you use the 3rd-4th grade lesson plans and then add extra activities to challenge your older children.  Downloads also include flashcards for you to cut out and use for each of the 5 lessons.  

Mi Vida lessons include-

• Mi Casa (My house)
• Mi Cuarto (My room)
• Mi Familia y mis amigos (My family and friends)
• Mi Actividades (My activities)
• Mis Clases (My classes)

Once you have printed out the lesson plans you are ready to learn!  Debbie has specific instructions for each day, including reading lessons, learning new vocabulary, reviewing vocabulary, and even playing games.  She also often directs you to listen to audio files that you will receive the downloadable files for when you buy the program.  These audios (a complete audio of the textbook recorded by Debbie herself) provide your child with clear examples of pronunciation and help encourage them to practice actually speaking the language.  A bonus downlaod that has a native speaker reading is also included.

One of the things I love about this program is the wealth of basic information that Debbie provides for you at the beginning for each of her workbooks.  There is an alphabet pronunciation guide, a list of basic commands, great ideas for games to use for additional practice, and basic vocabulary to get you started.  Debbie recommends that you go at your own pace and repeat any days that you feel like your child needs to review.  

The other element that stands out in this program is that it is a great mixture of fun and hard work. Oftentimes, Spanish programs at the younger age levels teach a lot of vocabulary, but fail to teach basic grammar.  Debbie provides both!  Grammar rules are provided in each lesson as well as verb conjugation.  I know, it may take you back to your 5th grade grammar class, but I can assure you, it is invaluable information to know.  Our trips to Guatemala when adopting our son showed us quickly that vocabulary alone will not get you far.  Plus, using the wrong tense of a verb can get you some funny looks!

Will I ever teach my kids to be bi-lingual?  Hmmm, the jury is still out there on that one.  But I do know with Debbie's Spanish For You program we are at least on the right path!

Free mini units and worksheets are available on Debbie's site to give you a preview of her teaching style!

Blessings, 

Do YOU Have Time For Extracurriculars?

Welcome to week four - our final week of the Virtual Curriculum Fair! I hope you have had lots of fun exploring some "new-to-you" blogs and learning about some new curriculum.  This week our hosts are Susan at Homeschooling Hearts & Minds and Lisa at Golden Grasses.

This week is a fun one for me- Seeking Beauty: the Arts and Everything that Brings Beauty to Our World.  For us, that equals extracurricular activities.

Unfortunately for my kiddos, I am not an arts-and-crafts kind of gal.  If something calls for scissors and glue, I tend to pass it by. Sad, but true.  We used to do fun stuff like that when I was schooling just one, but I am older and wiser, or maybe just more tired now.

Luckily, I do like Artistic Pursuits curriculum and so every once in a while my kiddos get to explore art.  In high school I also require that they do a half a semester of art appreciation and music appreciation with a program I put together.  I am also currently reviewing a program called Our Homeschool Art Studio which is exceptional.  You choose the grade your child is in, pop the DVD in and go!

The biggest extracurricular activity for our kids is a foreign language.  We begin early and just try to have fun, so by the time they reach highschool it should be a breeze. (In theory, of course!)  We have tried many out there and I have several I love, so be patient with me.  As I have said often, find out what your child's learning style is and cater to that!  You will benefit in the end!

Elementary- Song School Spanish
Upper Elementary- Flip Flop Spanish
Middle School- Spanish For You and Excellerate Spanish
High School- Rosetta Stone - I am going to be honest with you here, Rosetta Stone is not my favorite, BUT it is widely accepted by colleges as a complete high school course, so I use it.

Above all I would recommend Homeschool Spanish Academy!  We have taken off this past semester due to the craziness of our lives and have missed it immensely.  There is no better way to learn a language than to speak it with a native speaker.  Skyping with Mrs. Rosa in Guatemala was way out of my comfort level at first, but we loved her immediately and more importantly CJ loved her and learned so much.  The pages we printed out each week are added to our Spanish notebook and give us a guide to study until the next lesson. We are eager to begin again in the spring!


One more word about extracurricular-type activities.  If you have a homeschool co-op in your town, I would suggest you check them out.  Not all are created equal, and I understand the need to pick and choose, but if you find a good one- go!  It is a great way to make friends, learn new things, and socialize! (You, not the kids! haha!)  My kids have done classes this year in art, speech, history and more!

As a matter of fact, next week I want to tell you about two great classes- Men Mentoring Minors and Growing Godly Girls and how I snuck an etiquette class in for fun!

Here are some fellow bloggers talking about what makes their homeschool days beautiful-

The Art of Organization…or How Clutter Almost Ruined My Homeschool by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
The Shadow of Divine Perfection by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
Relaxed Homeschooling: Fine Arts in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
Fine Arts {Art Appreciation, Art, Composer Study Hymn Study} for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Adding Sparkle to Home Education by Sarah @ Delivering Grace
And All the Extras by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
Teaching Art Using the Bible by Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker
Art In Every Subject by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
Letting Art Just Happen in Homeschool by Amy @ One Blessed Mamma
Missing Art? by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
Fine Arts in Our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm
The Science of Beauty for a Delight-Directed Daughter by Susan @ The Every Day of Education
Seeking Beauty: How we Tackle the Arts in our Homeschool by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Learning To Appreciate Beauty With Fine Arts Resources@ As We Walk Along the Road by Leah@ As We Walk Along the Road

Until then,
Blessings,

Words and More Words!

Welcome to the first of four posts, each on a Monday, of the 2015 Virtual Curriculum Fair! This week is hosted by creator of the VCF, Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds, and homeschooling mommy blogger Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses.  Make sure you pop by their blogs and say hello!

We had so much fun with the Virtual Curriculum Fair (VCF) last year that I could not wait for it to roll around again.  Since this busy mom doesn't get to curriculum fairs often, ok, like not in the past 10 years, I love being able to see what things are out there via the web.  Plus, when things are recommended by a fellow mom not just a vendor trying to sell you their product, I know I can trust in their experience.

So that is what I am going to share with you over the next four Mondays- our experiences.

First week up is Playing With Words: the Language Arts! We are going to explore Language Arts and the many things that fall under that broad title!


Ok, here goes, try not to think I am a nut!


For lower Elementary ages, there is a lot out there.  And I have tried most of it I think.  Seriously! And crazy thing is - after 16 years of homeschooling, I have come back around to some old tried and true things.  The problem is there are a few I just do not want to give up. So I do it all.  Yes, I know, it is a problem I have.

This is what it looks like for our 2nd grader-
Week 1- Explode the Code
               Sonlight 2nd grade reading

Week 2- ABeka Language Arts
               Lightening Literature, 2nd grade

Then repeat!  While it sounds manic I know, it does help us keep from getting bored with one thing.

We also use All About Spelling.  This was new to us last year and I was sold on it from the moment I used it!  If you are just starting out or have a kiddo struggling with spelling, start here and do not look back!

For writing we use Write Shop.  I love the simplicity of this program and that there are fun activities woven in with the writing.  It keeps my strong-willed boy busy and engaged.

My 7th grader's language arts looks like this-
Wordly Wise- I have used this for vocabulary for years and swear by it.  This year we switched over to the online version and the boy is singing my praises.  It's the little things, trust me.

Lightning Literature- Again, this started as a review and I love it.  Honestly, we used Sonlight Literature for years but at the higher levels I was disturbed by some of the books they had the kids reading.  I am much happier with Lightening Literature, plus I love how they alternate between a novel and then poetry selections.

Spelling Power- Buy the book once and it lasts from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Basics for Communicating Effectively, Applications of Grammar, Book 1- (Christian Liberty Press)- Again, new to us.  (Can you tell this was a year of change for us!?)  So here's the deal- Grammar is one of the subjects I have struggled to find a perfect program for.  And trust me, I have tried.  What I found was either something so simple it was pitiful, or something that diagrammed enough sentences to drive even a grammar queen crazy. This workbook has found a happy medium.

IEW- Yay, Mr. Peudwa!  I taught this years ago to my girls and was excited to start back with it this year.  Such a solid program for writing.  My daughter who just graduated from college was complemented continually on her writing - I can tell you this was the reason!

And then there is my 11th grader.  Hold on to your hat - I will try not to confuse you.

Wordly Wise- Yes, all the way to 12th grade!  She uses the old-fashioned workbook!
Sonlight Reading- Yes, I stuck with it for her since we had it. We are slowly transitioning completely to Lightning Literature.
She also just completed British Literature and speech online (duel crediting) from Maranatha Baptist University.  I need to write about this sometime but for now let me just say that if you are not duel-crediting classes, you might need to!  Seriously!  It saves time and money and is an easy transition to college level work.

Yes, you might have noticed that she has completed two different literatures this year which eliminates her senior year literature.  Instead she will be devoting next year to duel-crediting classes to get ahead on college core classes.

Since we are talking about words, let me say a quick word about Foreign Languages.

Yes, we do them!
Let me just give you a list of several different ones we have used and the pros of each.  I tell people often, there are MANY good ones out there - you need to find the one that best fits your child's learning style.

SongSchool Spanish- A cute easy-to-start program with songs, games, and puppets!
Flip Flop Spanish- Great for hands on and visual kids.
Spanish For You!- Well organized lessons!
Spanish for Children- Primer A from Classical Academic Press- The best way for kids to get the grammar part of Spanish in.
Homeschool Spanish Academy- Great for auditory learners!  What better way to learn but from a native speaker!

I hope I haven't overwhelmed you thus far.  Remember, I currently school three kiddos at completely different levels and have done so for a while.  This is not my first rodeo, as my daughter says! ;)

I hope you will join us next week as we talk about all things science and math!

Blessings,


Wanna read some other fabulous posts with tons more ideas?  Head on over to these wonderful ladies' blogs and see what they have to say!

Building a Foundation of Words by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Language Arts for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Bible-Based Language Arts Resources by Tauna M @ Proverbial Homemaker
Relaxed Homeschooling: Language Arts in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
Loving Books and Words by Sarah@Delivering Grace
5 Language Arts Resources We Love by Becky @ Milo & Oats
Teaching Reading at Home: A Tale of 5 Readers by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
A More Simplistic Approach to 7th Grade Language Arts by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
Language Arts Reading for Delight-Directed Learning by Susan @ The Every Day of Education
How To: Spelling Dictation by Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity
The World of Words in our Homeschool by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Unschooling and Words, Words, Words by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
Learning With Literature and Language Arts Resources by Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
Language Arts in Our Homeschool (2014 – 2015) by Laura O @ Day by Day in Our World
Our curriculum choices ~ Language Arts by Renata @ Sunnyside Farm Fun
The 2015 Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Language Arts in Our Homeschool by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life
Loaded Pistols: Virtual Curriculum Fair Playing with Words by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
A Renewed Focus on Reading Aloud by Debra @Footprints in the Butter
Language Arts in our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm
Logic of English Foundations: The Grand Prize Winner of Phonics by Chelli @ The Planted Trees
A Sentence a Day Teaches Grammar the Fun Way by Amy A @ One Blessed Mamma
Tackling Language Arts by Jacquelin @ A Stable Beginning
Middle School Monday - Lightning Literature and Composition by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
Day by Day in Our World
Stacie @ Super Mommy to the Rescue
Lisa @ Golden Grasses

Middlebury Interactive Languages- TOS Review

It is no secret that we love foreign languages in our house.  Well, Spanish in particular.  Our youngest was born in Guatemala and came home speaking only Spanish at 21 months.  Since then we have worked to keep him exposed to his native language and to keep his sibling familiar with the language as well.   (They all need at least two years of a foreign language to graduate from high school anyway, right?) When one does not have a bilingual background it can be quite difficult to do so, but hey, I am determined to try.

Which is why I was so excited to get to try and review Middlebury Interactive Languages. We were given a semester's worth of classes from any one of the available courses, so naturally we chose a  Spanish Course.  Because CJ is currently in the middle of a very busy semester we decided to try the middle school program for our 7th grader.  Lucky for you, you can use Middlebury for ages K-12th grade! Here what is available!

This self-paced program is pretty amazing.  The K-2nd grade program consists of 35 lessons for a semester and the 3rd-5th grade program has 45 lessons per semester.  Middlebury recommends that you cover one lesson for 2-3 days per week.  The middle school and high school programs both have 90 lessons per semester, allowing you to cover a lesson a day for 18 weeks.   Since the program is self paced, you can slow down if needed, which is what we had to do several times.  Some days are pretty heavy in vocabulary and I wanted to make sure my son was retaining the information presented rather than just checking off lessons.  After sitting with him for the first week and following along, he was able to continue the program on his own.

One of the things that attracted me to Middlebury Interactive Languages was the audio and visual content.  Since two of my kiddos learn best with those mediums, I knew this would be a good fit for them.  The content is visual pleasing and yet stimulating and the sound is good quality.  I especially appreciate the use of videos to show real life interactions.  After traveling to Guatemala several years ago, we realized that you can know all the vocabulary in the world and still not be able to communicate effectively.  By exposing ourselves to more natural settings and conversations, we hope to better be able to function in a Spanish speaking country.

Some of the things I like about Middlebury-

• The lessons are broken down into sections that are less intimidating chunks of information.  Each lesson follows a similar pattern but with enough variation to not produce monotony and boredom day after day.
• There is a little fun sprinkled in between some more challenging sections.  Let's face it, matching is a lot less intimidating than writing.  I think Middlebury has done a good job of finding that balance.

• There is a recording function!  Phrases were said and then my son could record himself and play it back to see how he sounded compared to the native speaker.  Love it!

• Once a section has been completed, the title gets checked off to indicate it has been done, making it easy to keep up with where you are when accessing from the table of contents.
• There is automatic grading which is then recorded in a gradebook you can access in the sidebar.  Here you can see not only the grades of your student, but go back to view the items graded as well if you desire to see where exactly they are having problems.

Some challenges we encountered.

• Typing in words and sentences.  This just may be my son, but these sections discouraged him.   It is hard enough to type and spell in your native language, but when trying to do so in one you are just learning, it can be frustrating.  Through a necessary evil I guess.
• There is a calendar with assigned lessons listed that put a lot of pressure on my son to keep up.  We eventually stopped using that calendar and accessed the next lesson in a different sidebar area.  Again, there were a few times we felt the need to repeat a lesson and the calendar was making him crazy!

  Hmmm, that really is about it.  Overall, we really are enjoying using Middlebury Interactive Languages and will continue to do so.  By completing a lesson a day, we are well on our way to better comprehension and speaking.  Maybe even a step closer to a trip back to Guatemala!  I am actually eager to add CJ to an account in the spring semester, as after doing some more research on the younger levels, I think he will really enjoy it as well.  It is a user-friendly program that kids should have no problem using.  You can purchase Middlebury Interactive Languages for $119.00 per semester without a teacher (self paced). Connect with Middlebury- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Middlebury-Interactive-Languages/141015515949753 Twitter: http://twitter.com/MiddInteractive Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/middinteractive/ Google +: https://plus.google.com/b/110371351490550861545/110371351490550861545/posts

Excelerate Spanish- Review

Ok, you all know by now that I love Spanish, right?  I mean, I only mention it a lot.  That has not always been the case.  For the record, I did take three years of Spanish in High School and two semesters in college.  Off the record, I did not pay a lot of attention.  My excuse, there was this really cute blond boy in my high school classes.  (I married him, for the record!)

But since God saw fit to bring this other really cute dark haired boy into our lives 5 years ago, I have been on a mission to learn as much Spanish as possible.  I promise I am paying more attention this time.  CJ came home at 21 months old.  He had heard mostly Spanish and probably knew more than we were actually aware of.  You know, toddlers sound like toddlers in any language.   And he picked up English fast!  Like in days!  But, I was determined to do my best to keep him bi-lingual.  Hence, my obsession with Spanish.

And now, I have found another great Spanish program!  Great!  And it has videos and lots of action, which is a perfect fit for my almost 7 year old, always-moving Guatemalan prince.

Let me tell you about it!

Excelerate Spanish is the brain child of Caryn Powell Hommel.  By using the TPR method (Total Physical Response), which is essentially actions paired with fun stories, Caryn introduces vocabulary in a way that kids will learn and REMEMBER.  Each video lesson is a new mini stand-alone session with a new theme.  When Caryn graciously offered to let us try out this program, we might have done a happy dance.  OK, we DID do a happy dance! ;)

First vocabulary is introduced and the actions for that vocabulary are shown.  Then the student practices by putting different series of those words together.  Several groups of words are introduced that way, and your children will see the kids in Caryn's class acting out the words as well.  Then a short story is told while Caryn acts it out.  Afterwards several of her students take turns acting out the same story.   Next, Caryn leads the students in answering questions and identifying words in the student workbook and encourages them to practice after class.  Each lesson averages about 45 minutes and is action packed.  You can watch it all at once, or break it down into smaller chunks if needed.  Included in the teacher's guide is a suggested schedule for a five days a week program.

In addition to the videos, you can also purchase the lesson book and the student workbook.  While you could get by with just the videos, I would not recommend it.  We did the first few lessons without them, and I was so relieved to have them once they came for a little more guidance.  The program does not require the teacher to be fluent in Spanish - Caryn has you covered!

What we thought -
Well, are there many Spanish programs out there we do not like?  Not many!  But this one, well, this one far exceeded my expectations!  The workbook, vocabulary and organization are good.  It covers a lot of territory and could fill your days and weeks with a lot of information.  But what make Excelerate SPANISH stand out are the videos.  While the quality is pretty basic, the information is not!  There is so much in each lesson, that I admit, a few times my head felt like it was going to spin off.  Caryn goes fast sometimes but what I found was that she also repeats herself often.  And with every time she repeated herself, I found the boys and I understood a little more.

From my personal experience, anyone can learn vocabulary.  Understanding a native speaker - now that takes time and practice.  The more you get used to hearing the language, the faster you pick it up.  It is like you stop trying to translate every word and start understanding phrases and concepts.  I saw that happening more and more with each new lesson we did.  In my opinion, that is just not something you are going to get from just a book.  In five weeks, my boys already know more phrases than they have learned in the past year.

In addition, the actions being taught kept my sons' attention, especially our youngest.  He is an in-motion kid. You know, the one that learns by movement.  Most call it kinesthetic.  I call it exhausting.  But, it is how he learns.  So when Mrs. Caryn had kids come to the front of the room to act out the stories, CJ was right there with them.  My oldest was a little more hesitant, chalk that up to being a 12 year old boy, but both learned and retained much more when they actively participated in the stories.  So while the kids on the videos acted things out, we did so too.

Five weeks into the program and all is well.  We watch a video lesson at the beginning of the week, spend one or two days going over the workbook pages and several days just reviewing the vocabulary.  Lesson learned, writing the vocabulary on a whiteboard to have in view all week will help you and keep you from having to go back and look constantly when you cannot remember a word or phrase. Having those in full view also allows you to try to incorporate them into your daily conversations as well.

I highly recommend Excelerate SPANISH if you have a child elementary age and up learning Spanish.  For the price, $139.00 for the complete package, it is a steal; not only in the hours of instruction it provides, but the level of learning as well.  Four videos with 6 lessons each are included, as well as the workbook, answer key and lesson book.

As for us, we will continue to use this program to completion - one step closer to CJ becoming bi-lingual and a visit trip to Guatemala!

Blessings,