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Sonlight Pre-K Homeschool Curriculum Review

Sonlight is a homeschool curriculum provider that offers a wide range of programs for children of different ages and grades. In this review blog post, we’ll focus specifically on their Pre-K Program. We chose to add the Level K readers to our Pre-K package as well!

We were gifted the Sonlight Pre-K Kit from Sonlight in exchange for our honest review.

The Sonlight Pre-K homeschool curriculum is designed for children aged 4-5 and focuses on developing foundational reading, math, science, and social studies skills. The curriculum comes in a comprehensive package that includes everything you need to teach your child at home, including books, instructor guides, and activity sheets.

Fully Planned Out Pre-K Curriculum

Using the fully planned out Instructor guide, you can plan to spend anywhere between 20 mins to 1.5 hours per day, 4x a week. Using the Sonlight Instructor Guide- you can rest assure everything is planned out and nothing is getting missed, just open and go!

Literature Based Pre-K Curriculum

One of the standout features of the Sonlight PreK homeschool curriculum is the emphasis on literature-based learning. The curriculum includes a large selection of classic children’s books that are used as the basis for many of the lessons. This approach to learning is not only engaging for young children but also helps to develop important skills such as listening comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

The curriculum also includes hands-on activities and projects that help to reinforce the concepts being taught. These activities are designed to be fun and interactive, making learning an enjoyable experience for both parent and child.

Want to see everything that’s included? Check out this unboxing:

Sonlight Pre-K Covers all Subjects

In terms of the subjects covered, the Sonlight PreK curriculum covers all the basics such as math, science, and social studies. The math lessons focus on developing basic counting and number recognition skills, while the science lessons cover topics such as the human body, animals, and the environment. The social studies lessons introduce children to different cultures and traditions from around the world.

Sonlight Teaches Practical Life Skills

As much as we love the traditional school subjects covered in our Sonlight Pre-K program, one of my favorite things is the weekly life skills included. Throughout the year, your child will practice practical life skills like washing dishes, pouring and measuring, watering plants, and much more!

These life sills help build basic foundations for numerous things and are both mine and my sons favorite activities during our weeks.

My Final Thoughts on Sonlight’s Pre-K Program

Overall, the Sonlight Pre-K homeschool curriculum is a well-designed and comprehensive program that provides a great foundation for early learning. The literature-based approach, hands-on activities, and flexibility make it an excellent choice for parents looking to homeschool their young children.

If you are new to homeschooling and have no idea where to start- this is a wonderful option, because it is everything you need.

We are very excited to be adding this curriculum into our homeschool days! We upgraded our program and added the Kindergarten readers and Language arts doing that, we plan to use this both both our Pre-K and Kindergarten year.

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The Newest Online Learning System: Homeschool+ Review

Homeschool+ is a new online learning system that aims to make learning fun and engaging for children aged 4-8. Designed by a team of educators, the platform features a range of interactive games and activities that cover topics such as reading, math, science, and social studies.

I was given complimentary and early access to the Homeschool+ beta version to review and share my honest thoughts.

Fun Fact: The creators of Homeschool+ are the same creators from ABCmouse and Adventure Academy!

Overview of Homeschool+ Online Learning System

We were so excited to try out the beta version of Homeschool+! My son, who is 4, loves learning games and took to this right away! I was able to plan a “schedule” with daily lessons for him to complete. After he completed a lesson I was able to review his progress and see the lessons adapt to his needs.

Some of the subjects you will see on Homeschool+ are:

  • Math
  • Reading
  • Art
  • Science
  • Grammar
  • Geography
  • Spanish
  • Community

We can’t wait to see all Homeschool+ has to offer once this learning system is fully released!

Homeschool+ Unique Adaptive Learning Model

One of the strengths of Homeschool+ is its adaptability. The platform adjusts to the child’s individual skill level, providing appropriate challenges and rewards as they progress. This ensures that each child can learn at their own pace and stay motivated throughout the learning process.

Homeschool+ Daily Lessons

When your child first logs on they will see any lessons you planned out prior, or they will be shown free play options. I love the adaptive Match and Ready Academy sections! Once your child is in a lesson they will interact with the lessons by selecting responses and playing games.

My son really loves the Reading Academy and when familiar stories are read to him like “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe”.

Homeschool+ Lesson Planner

I really enjoy the lesson planner option. I am able to add or delete lessons and plan out our homeschool week easily. It’s extremely responsive and flexible- which is a must in our homeschool.

Homeschool+ Progress Tracker

Parents will also appreciate the platform’s tracking and reporting tools, which allow them to monitor their child’s progress and identify areas where additional support may be needed.

This progress tracker is perfect to track learning milestones and if you are required to meet certain standards.

Daily Printable Lesson Plans

Homeschool+ not only offers engaging video lessons and online learning games, but they also offer printable lesson plans and activities you can use with your little ones!

I absolutely loved this option to take a break from the screentime but still have educational resources!

This is an example of a Human Body lesson you would download and print to complete:

Our Favorite Things About Homeschool+

Another noteworthy feature of Homeschool+ is its emphasis on learning through play. The platform is designed to be both educational and enjoyable, with games and activities that encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Children can earn virtual rewards and badges as they complete challenges, adding an extra layer of fun to the learning experience.

My son doesn’t even call this “school-work” he totally views it as fun games he gets to play!

Overall, Homeschool+ is a fantastic online learning game that provides a fun and effective way for young children to learn and grow. Its adaptability, emphasis on play, and tracking tools make it an ideal choice for homeschooling families or anyone looking to supplement their child’s education.

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2022/2023 Homeschool Curriculum Picks

Better late than never, right? I am sharing the curriculum choices we have been using for the 2022/2023 school. I figured you might be interested to see what we have been using before I share our picks for next school year.

During the 2022/2023 school year I have a preschooler, 2nd grader, and 4th grader.

We made ALOT of changes this year, pretty much all the curriculum we started the year with was changed by mid-year. The good news is we absolutely love everything we changed to, and you will see a lot of that carried into our next school year.

Just to avoid any confusion our 2022/2023 school year is July 2022- June 2023.

Most of the curriculum we use, I have also made YouTube Videos on it, I will make sure to link those below !

2022/2023 Family Subject Homeschool Picks

One of the big changes we made this year was moving some of our subjects from individual to family subjects- at least for my 2nd and 4th grader.

Language Arts

IEW Structure & Style Level A Year 1

After doing the 3-weel FREE trial from IEW, we decided that their structure and style writing program was a perfect fit for both my daughters. The recommended grade level is 3rd – 5th, since we started this mid-year, we will continue working on this next school year.

Guest Hollow Beowulf Grammar

This program is designed for grades 2nd – 6th and was that perfect addition to our homeschool. We needed a more in-depth curriculum on basic grammar principles and this has been the perfect fit.

Unit Studies – Science / History / Social Studies

2022/2023 4th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks

Math

Saxon 5/4 with Nicole the Math Lady Video Lessons

Foreign Language

American Sign Language with Mr.D – Check out my Review Here: Learning American Sign Language: Mr.D’s ASL Course for Homeschool

Handwriting

Cursive – The Good and Beautiful Level 4 Handwriting

2022/2023 2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks

Math

The Good & Beautiful Math 2

Times Tales

Saxon 3

Foreign Language

Song School Spanish

Handwriting

Cursive – Handwriting Without Tears Kick Start Cursive

2022/2023 Preschool Homeschool Curriculum Picks

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Learning American Sign Language: Mr.D’s ASL Course for Homeschool

Learning American Sign Language (ASL) in homeschool is an invaluable skill that can open the door to a world of opportunities. As a parent of a homeschool student who has an interest in learning ASL, and has tried various programs, I was thrilled to discover the Mr.D ASL course for homeschooled students.

I did receive access to this ASL course in exchange for my honest review.

Not only does this course provide my daughter with the opportunity to learn ASL, it also allows her to do so in a convenient and enjoyable way. The course is designed to be both informative and engaging. The materials are accessible and easy to follow, and the instruction is clear and thorough.

My daughter particularly enjoys the interactive activities that help to reinforce the concepts she is learning. Additionally, the instructor, is friendly and engaging, she has a vast knowledge of ASL and sign language. She has been able to answer all of my daughter’s questions and has been extremely helpful in guiding her through the course.

The Benefits of Learning American Sign Language

The benefits of learning ASL are numerous. For starters, it allows people to communicate with those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It also introduces students to a whole new language and culture, one which is rich in history and full of interesting people. Learning ASL can also help to improve communication skills and enhance problem solving skills, and can even help to improve literacy.

  • Increased Cognition
    • Studies have shown that learning American Sign Language (ASL) increases cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, memory, and spatial recognition.
  • Increased Empathy
    • Those who learn ASL gain a greater understanding of the deaf community and develop more empathy for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
  • Improved Communication Skills
    • Learning ASL helps improve communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal, which can be beneficial in any profession.
  • Improved Academic Performance
    • Learning ASL has been linked to improved academic performance in areas such as reading and writing.
  • Enhanced Job Opportunities
    • Those who know ASL may have access to jobs in fields such as teaching, healthcare, social work, and interpreting.

Mr. D’s American Sign Language Courses

We have tried various ASL programs, and by far Mr.D’s ASL courses have been our favorite. The self-paced courses, amazing teacher, and quick feedback will keep us continuing to use these courses.

We are currently using the ASL 1 course designed for grades 6th-12th. This is a middle school/ high school level course. They offer ASL 1, 2, &3 at this level. If you have a highschool student and your state requires and accepts ASL as a foreign language, these can be used to complete high school credits.

My daughter has been learning ASL for over 2 years, so we decided to choose this higher level course. If you have an elementary student who is just starting out learning ASL, I would recommend starting with Mr.D’s ASL Elementary course. This course is designed for grades K-5 and is great for beginners.

These courses are self-paced. The student logs onto the portal and works through the course and lessons at their own pace. Each lesson has videos, activities, printables, quizzes, and homework.

In my daughters course at then end of each lesson she has to submit a video as her homework. ASL is something that needs to be visually seen, submitting videos is a perfect way to ensure she understands. I am able to help her take a video on my phone and I just log in to her course to upload the video.

My favorite thing about this course is the feedback she receives after submitting her video assignment. Her teacher is fluent in ASL and gives her quick feedback about hand placement and any tips to work on.

Check out my Youtube Video Review on Mr.D’s ASL Course:

Would I Recommend Mr.D’s American Sign Language Courses?

Overall, I highly recommend the Mr.D ASL course for homeschooled students. Not only does it provide a convenient and enjoyable way for students to learn ASL, but also offers numerous benefits. My daughter has been taking the course for a few months now and has already seen an improvement in her ability to understand and communicate using ASL. I’m confident that with continued practice, she will be able to become proficient in this amazing language.

We plan on continuing to use Mr.D’s American Sign Language courses throughout our homeschool journey and as our foreign language credits in highschool.

The courses cost around $6 per lesson, and $197 for the entire course. These are very well priced, I haven’t seen any lessons on ASL for less than $6. If you need to budget monthly for cost, factor in about $16.50/month for this course. The online program we previously used was $39 per month!

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Why We Stopped Using The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum- The Pros and Cons

Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular as parents take control of their children’s education. As with any educational choice, there are pros and cons to each and every curriculum. One of the most popular homeschool curriculum is The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum, which is designed to be an easy-to-use, open-and-go type of curriculum. We used this curriculum for multiple years and multiple levels and made the decision to stop using the Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum.

We used The Good and Beautiful homeschool curriculum for multiple subjects over multiple years.

Our Experience with The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum

We had been using The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum for multiple levels with multiple children, covering multiple levels and subjects such as math, language arts, history, and science. It helped us get in a good rhythm and routine in our homeschool, but the actual content was lacking. I didn’t feel like my kids were learning and growing their knowledge.

For new homeschool families, this curriculum is an excellent choice because of its ease of use and its straightforward approach. However, after years of use, we found that this curriculum began to lack in-depth teaching of topics and review of subjects.

I will state that the art and geography lessons were truly enjoyable, however, we needed a solid Language Arts curriculum. These extra lessons took away from the normal day to day Language arts lesson. This was another reason we decided to stop using The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum.

We enjoyed the extra art and geography lessons that were included, they were very engaging but took away from our dedicated Language Arts time.

The Issues We Faced Using The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum

The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum is designed for a broad range of learners, from preschoolers to high schoolers. As such, the material is designed to be accessible to all learners. However, because of this, the curriculum lacks the depth and complexity of higher-level learning.

This became problematic for us as our children began to outgrow the basic material. In addition, the curriculum does not provide enough review of the subject material. Without sufficient review, our children struggled to retain the information they were learning. We found that they needed more comprehensive instruction and more opportunities to practice and review the material in order to truly understand the concepts they were learning.

Even after the revisions that the good and beautiful made to their curriculum, we still noticed the lack of depth in the lessons
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The Pros and Cons of Using The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum

Cons

  • Lacks in-depth teaching of topics
  • Does not provide enough review of the subject material
  • Lacks complexity for higher-level learners

Pros

  • Easy to use and open and go type of curriculum
  • Accessible to a broad range of learners
  • Great for new homeschool families

For these reasons, we stopped using The Good and Beautiful Homeschool Curriculum after four years. Although it is a great curriculum for new homeschool families, it is not well-suited for tenured homeschool families who need more depth and complexity in their lessons. We found that as our children advanced, we needed a more comprehensive curriculum that provided more detailed instruction and more opportunities for review.

Want to hear more about our decision to change homeschool curriculums? Check out these videos:

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Teaching a Preschooler to Write Letters – ABC Writing Lesson Review

This past August we “officially” started preschool with my son who was 3 when we started. I say this very lightly as we have no official preschool schedule. We have lots of different resources that we sit down and use whenever we have time and my son is in a school mood. Mostly we focus on things like playing- that’s really all a preschooler needs!

My son actually likes doing school, so that is why it’s more led by him when we ask when we will do some lessons. He has been extremely interested in learning to write his name- which is pretty exciting! I remembered that Timberdoodle gifted me with ABC Writing Lessons and it was the perfect resource to pull out for my preschooler learning to write.

I work with Timberdoodle to test out a product they include in their curriculum for kids. They gift me products at no cost to share my honest review.

From Timberdoodle Website:

ABC Writing Lesson

Because legible handwriting remains an essential skill, necessary for communication, give your pre-K student a valuable edge with the new colorful ABC Writing Lesson. This uncomplicated handwriting method is based on repetition in the form of tracing. There are multiple practice pages devoted to each letter, both uppercase and lowercase. Then, after working to develop muscle memory for that letter, the last letter page is for practicing the letter without tracing. 

An instructional example starts each line, so there is no guessing as to how to form the letter. The ABC Writing Lesson pages are nice and thick and easy to erase if necessary. The spaces are very generous and wide. Also included is practice for numbers 1-9. 

When Should My Child Learn To Write?

Honestly, I don’t know if there is a perfect time. I don’t think preschool is the traditional age- this is more commonly started in PreK – and kindergarten which is why this book is included in Timberdoodle’s PreK Kit.

The only reason we have been focusing on writing is that my son wants to we love taking an interest-led approach in our homeschool so if he wants to learn to write his name, then that’s what we are going to focus on, plus seeing him write out is name is ADORABLE!

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How Do We Use ABC Writing Lessons in Preschool?

Using the ABC Writing Lesson book as been a huge help! Some letters like “O” my son can just look and copy with no issue, but the letter “C” he was having a hard time grasping where to start and stop which is where this workbook came in perfectly!

This work book took out the guess work for me as far as proper letter formation and gave my son colorful practice pages!

In the workbook you get about 4 pages total of each letter practice which includes both capital and lowercase letters. I do wish there were more practice pages, however, inside the front cover it does say you can get a PDF version from the website ReadingLessons.com and print multiple copies of the pages for extra practice.

Our Final Thoughts on ABC Writing Lessons

Overall I think this is a great tool to have in your resource pile for preschool up to Kindergarten. It really helps me as a teacher show proper letter formation and gives us a good path to practice letter writing! Its colorful and great quality- my son is able to follow the instructions and learn his letter formation.

Even a bonus, it starts teaching number 1-9 towards the end. This is an extremely affordable resource you will want to try! Check it out here: ABC Writing Lesson

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5 Ways to Keep Homeschool Kids Engaged in Learning Over Summer – For FREE

If you are like us, we chose to take a nice long break over summer! We had some trips planned as well as, my girls were attending camp multiple weeks throughout summer. Even though we were keeping pretty busy, when we weren’t busy, we were itching to have some educational time. Yes you read that correctly, my kids were actually asking to do school. That’s one joy to homeschool, kids don’t dread it (most of the time).

I didn’t want to break into our curriculum for our upcoming school year, so I came up with 5 ways to keep my kids engaged in learning over summer.

5 Ways to Keep your Kids Engaged in Learning Over Summer:

1. Summer Reading Challenge

This one was so simple, but so fun! Each of my kids found 5 books around the house that they haven’t already read, and added it to their summer reading list. We set a start date and some basic rules and my kids competed against each other to read through their books. Oddly enough my girls finished reading the exact same day. This was a simple and free way to keep them reading over summer.

2. Free Homeschool Curriculum Trials

After we quickly completed the reading challenge, I was looking for something else to keep their attention. I was so pleased to stumble across the Home School Buyers Club! Early in summer I started seeing a lot of chatter about this company and it peaked my interest. I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to work with this company and share some great things with you guys!

Homeschool Buyers Club provided Smart Points to use their product to share my honest review, as always any opinions expressed are my own. 
Summer is here, and what better way to get a jump-start on homeschooling than with free trials on top of curriculum. Explore new programs and tools that will help your child succeed this upcoming year and beyond.
  1. Thinkwell Free Trial
  2. Reading Skills Assessment Ongoing
  3. HomeSchoolPiano Trial
  4. Code Avengers Free Trial
  5. Monarch
  6. Kids Guitar Academy Trial
  7. Mr Henry’s Music World Freebie
  8. Nessy.com Free Trial
  9. Mark Kistler Art Lessons
  10. Creta Class 7 Day Trial
  11. Math Mammoth PDFs
  12. Brilliant.org
  13. Reading Eggs
  14. Doodlemaths
  15. Smile and Learn
  16. History Alive Grades 6-12
  17. History Alive Grades 1-6
  18. Vocabulary Quest
  19. Dynamic Earth Learning (Aquaponics Course)

3. Free Gifts from Homeschool Buyers Club

Any order you place from Homeschool Buyers Club you can also access 3 free gifts that are great learning tools over summer! These free gifts include items on staying safe online, Craft & hobby ideas, plus a whole month access to eSpried Library!

Enjoy up to 3 exclusive free gifts (a $38 value) with any purchase! Simply head to their website place your order, and upon checkout, select your free gift(s).

4. Try a Unit Study over Summer

Unit Studies can be a great way to expand learning through summer! They can be interest led topics that your child chooses, and a fun way to keep busy over summer. If you are interested in a FREE unit study– check out my Human Body Unit Study– this would be perfect for summer!

5. Take those Homeschool Field Trips

I know as a homeschool mom, you planned the most perfect year, with lots of great field trip ideas…..but also as a homeschool mom I know life can get in the way. Take the summer break to catch up on those missed field trips- your kids will love them!

Remember, you are taking a summer break for a reason, refresh and recharge. Don’t over you do it- save that for the new school year! Use these great FREE ideas and get your kids signed up for these amazing free trials…..that way when someone asks what you did over summer, you can replay, we took piano lessons and did an art study– with never learning the house!

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Engaging Homeschool Learning Program – BrainPOP Homeschool Curriculum Review

As a busy mom who works full-time, homeschools multiple children, and somehow keeps our house from falling apart, I need all the help I can get when it comes to providing fun and engaging educational resources for my kids. I’ve been hearing about BrainPOP for a while in the homeschool community but didn’t quite understand how I could fit it into our homeschool. This summer I got the opportunity to work with BrainPOP and I am so excited to share my thoughts on their BrainPOP Homeschool Online Learning Curriculum!

BrainPOP provided me free access to use their product to share my honest review, as always any opinions expressed are my own. 

BrainPOP’s Mission:
BrainPOP’s mission is to empower kids to shape the world around them and within them. BrainPOP Homeschool brings high-quality, teacher-approved education tools and content home, to help every kind of learner connect deeply to what they’re exploring.

What I love about BrainPOP for Homeschool

As soon as I started introducing learning videos to my kids from BrainPOP, it grabbed their attention. The fun, educational videos kept my kids intrigued. BrainPOP creates an active learning experience that keep kids highly engaged, rather than passive and inattentive. My oldest daughter, who can be hard to please with online curriculum, LOVED playing the challenging games after watching a lesson.

The variety of topics to learn from and the variety of activities that go along with each topic will guarantee years of educational fun! The hardest thing for me was choosing where to start, there are so many great topics to choose from! They are also always adding new and exciting topics!

As soon as I started introducing learning videos to my kids from BrainPOP, it grabbed their attention. The fun, educational videos kept my kids intrigued. BrainPOP creates an active learning experience that keep kids highly engaged, rather than passive and inattentive. 

The variety of topics to learn from and the variety of activities that go along with each topic will guarantee years of educational fun!  The hardest thing for me was choosing where to start, there are so many great topics to choose from! They are also always adding new and exciting topics!

What Curriculum does BrainPOP offer?

Well, let me just say BrainPOP offers ALOT. I was a little overwhelmed with all the topic choices they have, I don’t think I have ever used an online homeschool curriculum that had such a vast array of topics. Of course they have basics like Math and Language Arts but what really got my attention were topics like STEAM and Computer Science! Check them out here! Also they offer topics for grades K-8, which covers all 3 of my kids for years to come!

As soon as I started introducing learning videos to my kids from BrainPOP, it grabbed their attention. The fun, educational videos kept my kids intrigued. BrainPOP creates an active learning experience that keep kids highly engaged, rather than passive and inattentive. 

The variety of topics to learn from and the variety of activities that go along with each topic will guarantee years of educational fun!  The hardest thing for me was choosing where to start, there are so many great topics to choose from! They are also always adding new and exciting topics!

There are main units and then a variety of Topics in each unit. Once you select a topic, you will find educational videos, games, writing practice, even coding practice and many more activities.

As soon as I started introducing learning videos to my kids from BrainPOP, it grabbed their attention. The fun, educational videos kept my kids intrigued. BrainPOP creates an active learning experience that keep kids highly engaged, rather than passive and inattentive. 

The variety of topics to learn from and the variety of activities that go along with each topic will guarantee years of educational fun!  The hardest thing for me was choosing where to start, there are so many great topics to choose from! They are also always adding new and exciting topics!

How I use BrainPOP in Our Homeschool

I use the BrainPOP Homeschool Combo which is for grades K – 8. This subscription made the most sense to me since I have multiple kids across various grades. I get access to all the learning materials in BrainPOP Jr (K-3) and traditional BrainPOP (3-8).

In our day to day, BrainPOP is easy enough to log in, and just search for a topic- this is a quick and great tool we use when we want to take a deeper dive in a topic that comes up during our homeschool. They have a super easy search, that populates any topics or lessons related to your search.

As soon as I started introducing learning videos to my kids from BrainPOP, it grabbed their attention. The fun, educational videos kept my kids intrigued. BrainPOP creates an active learning experience that keep kids highly engaged, rather than passive and inattentive. 

The variety of topics to learn from and the variety of activities that go along with each topic will guarantee years of educational fun!  The hardest thing for me was choosing where to start, there are so many great topics to choose from! They are also always adding new and exciting topics!

Not only do I have access to the entire learning library, I get teacher tools that allow me to create classes for my different children and assign lessons to them. This way I can assign something to my 2nd grader, and something different for my 4th grader. This is a great too to pre-plan some lessons if I know I might be a little busier and need some extra teaching help!

As soon as I started introducing learning videos to my kids from BrainPOP, it grabbed their attention. The fun, educational videos kept my kids intrigued. BrainPOP creates an active learning experience that keep kids highly engaged, rather than passive and inattentive. 

The variety of topics to learn from and the variety of activities that go along with each topic will guarantee years of educational fun!  The hardest thing for me was choosing where to start, there are so many great topics to choose from! They are also always adding new and exciting topics!

Get Started with BrainPOP Homeschool Combo K-8 – Free Trial for 2 Weeks!

Using BrainPOP in our Homeschool has really taken our learning to the next level. If you are interested in adding a fun and engaging program with a variety of topics, check out a free trial! All readers can save up to 28% on a Family or Homeschool annual subscription and get 2 weeks free! The free trial starts when you sign up for a subscription. To gain 28 % off, you would have to select the annual plan.

Using BrainPOP in our Homeschool has really taken our learning to the next level. If you are interested in adding a fun and engaging program with a variety of topics, check out a free trial! All readers can save up to 28% on a Family or Homeschool annual subscription and get 2 weeks free! The free trial starts when you sign up for a subscription. To gain 28 % off, you would have to select the annual plan.
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A Beautiful Way to Learn the USA – Homeschool Geography Curriculum Review

This year in our homeschool, our goal is to learn the 50 States! We found the perfect unit study to help us along the way as well as brush up our geography skills. Beautiful Feet Books just released a new Geography Through Literature program and I am so excited to share it with you!

Beautiful Feet Books sent me a free copy to share my honest review, as always any opinions expressed are my own. 
Beautiful Feet Book's Primary Geography study incorporates wonderful resource books that teach basic geography terms and concepts as well as takes you on a journey through USA geography history. Learning through literature is a real winner in our home and I encourage you to try it out!

Overview of Beautiful Feet Book’s Primary Geography

I have a special place in my heart for literature based curriculum. The approach to teaching subjects using a vast variety of books works so well in our home. Beautiful Feet Book’s Primary Geography study incorporates wonderful resource books that teach basic geography terms and concepts as well as takes you on a journey through USA geography history. Learning through literature is a real winner in our home and I encourage you to try it out!

They did such a great job blending geography and learning the USA!

Beautiful Feet Book's Primary Geography study incorporates wonderful resource books that teach basic geography terms and concepts as well as takes you on a journey through USA geography history. Learning through literature is a real winner in our home and I encourage you to try it out!
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What’s included in Beautiful Feet Book’s Primary Geography?

If you are new to Beautiful Feet Books, their programs include a course teacher guide and books going along with the course guide. Here is what you get in the Geography Through Literature K-3 Pack:

If you are new to Beautiful Feet Books, their programs include a course teacher guide and books going along with the course guide.
  • 1 Beautiful Teacher/ Course Guide – 36 Lessons
  • 1 USA Map – It’s Huge and will be Colored during the lessons!
  • 11 Books – From Amazing Geography Resource Books to Beautiful Picture Books

How Much Prep & How Many Lessons are in Beautiful Feet Book’s Primary Geography

The Geography through Literature K-3 is 36 pre-planned lessons. You can do 1 lesson per week, which would last a traditional school year or 2 lessons per week to finish up in half a year. Also you could be like us and work through 3-4 lessons per week, because its that good! As far as prep goes, this unit was pretty open and go. I printed out some of the picture downloads from the website and just had those ready when we got to those lessons.

What I really enjoyed was all the additional books and videos provided to take a deeper dive! If your child was really engaged in a certain topic then these help you keep that eagerness to learn and find more great resources.

 The Geography through Literature K-3 is 36 pre-planned lessons. You can do 1 lesson per week, which would last a traditional school year or 2 lessons per week to finish up in half a year. Also you could be like us and work through 3-4 lessons per week, because its that good!   As far as prep goes, this unit was pretty open and go. I printed out some of the picture downloads from the website and just had those ready when we got to those lessons.
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My Favorite Part about Beautiful Feet Book’s Primary Geography

In this unit study, you are provided some books that are more of a reference guide that you utilize throughout the entire unit. Geography from A to Z and Our 50 States were some of my favorite resources in the entire unit. They are fun and engaging for kids but super educational. These resources will be used for years to come!

In this unit study, you are provided some books that are more of a reference guide that you utilize throughout the entire unit. Geography from A to Z and Our 50 States  were some of my favorite resources in the entire unit. They are fun and engaging for kids but super educational. These resources will be used for years to come!

I highly recommend this unit from Beautiful Feet Books, its a beautiful way to introduce geography and the USA to early elementary students. This is a must add to any homeschool geography curriculum. Check out this entire unit and everything else Beautiful Feet Books has to offer here: Beautiful Feet Books Geography through Literature

I also filmed an in-depth video review and unboxing video here showcasing all the GREAT things that come in this unit study!

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New Homeschool Science Curriculum Review: Blood Circulation Unit by Heron Books

This Circulation of The Blood Study is a must Have Addition to any Human Body Study. especially as an extension for older kids ages 9-12!

This year we are taking a deep dive into the Human Body, I was so exited to get my hands on a copy of the Circulation of the Blood Unit from the Young Scientist Series by Heron Books! We are currently building our own Human Body Unit Study, and this was an amazing addition for my soon to be 4th grader to give her an extra independent, self-paced activity.

If you haven’t heard of Heron Books, that might be because they are just branching out to the homeschool curriculum world. They have over 45 years of curriculum development but had been mainly focused in small private schools. I am so excited they have decided to branch out to homeschool because they are adding so many great resources for homeschoolers.

Heron Books sent me a free copy to share my honest review and compensated me for my time, as always any opinions expressed are my own.

The Circulation of the Blood study is part of Heron Books, Young Scientist Collection, a series of 11 books for curious children aged 9-12 who want look, explore, discover and experiment. They have released the first books, and plan to release the rest this year! They even offer all 5 books in a package! Take a look at all they have to offer here!

What is the Heron Books approach in their curriculum?

  • Hands-On, engaging approach to learning
  • Self-Paced- Students can work through this independently
  • Activity Packed- Fun activities to help students remember the information
  • NO LESSON PLANNING- truly an open and go!

What comes with in your purchase?

This unit came with everything you need besides a few hands-on experiment supplies, but a great supply list is provided. here is everything you get:

  • The Book/ Course Content– This is what you HAVE to have.
  • Student Learning GuideOptional, but a great tool for students to work independently (I’ll share more down below)
  • Teacher Resources Optional, but also a great resource for homeschool parents

Rather Hear and See my Thoughts?

Watch my Review Below…..

My Initial Thoughts

Going in blind, with no previous blogs or YouTube videos to watch about this curriculum, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I normally do lots of research before using a new curriculum in our homeschool. Also, with this specific course only being on blood circulation, I wasn’t sure how an entire course on one subject would keep the attention of my daughter.

I was pleasantly surprised once we received the material, how well organized and planned out it was. This is huge for me, as a working mom, homeschooling multiple kids, I need curriculum that HELPS, not hinders.

They formulate the course with the Student Learning Guide to basically create a self-paced pathway for the student, and just small check in points with the parent. This is recommended for grade 4th – 6th, after reviewing the material, if you are wanting your child to take more of an independent approach, I think starting at a 4th grade level or higher is perfect. I do think the material is written easy enough for a parent to explain to a younger child, maybe 2nd & 3rd grade could also benefit.

My Favorite Part

Besides the amazing self-paced student guide, my FAVORITE thing about this specific course is not only does it take a deep drive into Blood Circulation and the Circulatory system but it ties in other major body functions and organs to really create a bridge to connect them all. We were currently working on our Human Body Family Unit Study, and I was able to assign this to my older daughter to work independently and it as a great review and deeper look at the topics we had been discussing in our Human Body Unit. This is an amazing addition for older elementary and middle school students to take that deeper dive, independently!

This was such a fun unit to use and add on to our Human Body Unit. My daughter enjoyed having an extension and deeper dive from our family unit.

Heron Books is offering my followers 30% off your entire purchase & can be used MULTIPLE times! Use my special code Dash30 when you check out! Shop the Circulation of the Blood Unit Here!

I am excited to check out the other Young Scientist units offered by Heron Books, as well as all the other curriculum choices they offer! Be sure to check out Heron Books here: https://www.heronbooks.com/

Rating: 5 out of 5.