Blog - Meredith Ludwig Curtis

Review of Reach for the Stars: Young Author's Fiction Workbook

5/30/2017

Some of our children have vivid imaginations and want to create stories to share with their family and friends. Crafting a good story isn't as easy as they think it is. Author Susan Marlow to the rescue with her creative writing curriculum for middle school and upper elementary students.

Reach for the Stars by Susan Marlow, a creative writing curriculum, covers all the bases like "Show; Don't Tell us about Your Characters" or "Hook Your Reader." Students learn to plot stories, create scenes, and bring characters to life.

Younger children who love to write will love this book. It is easy to work through the lessons and fun to put together your own story.

You can purchase Reach for the Stars at Media Angels (E-book) and at Amazon.

Happy Writing!
Meredith Curtis

Review of Ancient Egypt Mini Quiz Pack

5/29/2017

"What is a Quiz Pack?" I wondered aloud.

I clicked on the E-book and scanned quickly through the contents. I was interested.

"Wow! It covers a lot of information...in great detail." I had just finished teaching Ancient History and came across things I hadn't covered.

This is a set of quizzes and puzzles to test your middle and high school children's knowledge of Ancient Egypt. Information tested includes famous pharaohs, dynasties, daily life, family life, and geography of Egypt.

There is another way to use this quiz book. I would like to use it to get ideas of what to study when I am beginning a unit study of Ancient Egypt. It give me all of the major things I need to make sure we learn. I like that!

I took some of the tests myself and checked them with the answer key. Oh dear, it's time to do more studying of Ancient Egypt.

When A Loved One Dies

5/29/2017

Yesterday my mother would have celebrated her 80th birthday. I lost her ten years ago and I still miss her.

Four days ago, I lost a close friend who had been battling chronic debilitating disease. Even though we knew he was sick, his death came as a shock. It was so sudden.

As I comforted his widow, who is a dear friend, I was reminded once again how horrible death is. You are never truly ready to lose someone you love, never ready to say goodbye.

If you are hurting now, my heart goes out to you.

Review: Famous Birthdays Online Unit Study

5/27/2017

An online unit study? I felt scared.

And the unit study is written by Techie Mom? Oh no. I can barely turn on my computer.

Wow! Was I in for a big surprise. This online unit study was the coolest thing ever!

Famous Birthdays by Beth Napoli is a unit study, just like other units, that starts with a topic and integrates multiple subjects to make learning easier and more fun.

Now, here is the twist: EVERYTHING in this unit study is done online!

Getting started is easy. You follow "Techie Homeschool Mom" on Pinterest and create your own "Online Unit Studies Project" Pinboard on Pinterest. Next, you join "Techin' Your Homeschool" Facebook Group.

Students make a fabulous online timeline with Prezi, adding all the birthday men and women as they meet them in each lesson. They are also encouraged to use Grammarly for proofing and VidAngel for streaming videos.

After you finish each lesson, you press the "Complete and Continue" bar to go to the next lesson. Are you ready to talk about the Birthday Men and Women?

Review of Apples to Zebras, an ABC Workbook

5/26/2017

I am so excited to tell you about this curriculum!

If you have a preschooler, you are probably teaching him letters and/or letter sounds. Annette Breedlove has created a 689-page letter workbook, Apples to Zebras, just for you to teach letters and sounds to your little ones.

With bright, cheery illustrations and easy-to-understand instructions for Mom, Apples to Zebras is divided into nine sections with three letters each. Children learn letters F, B, and M first. In the next sections, students learn K, T, R; followed by P, S, N; J, H, D; C, L, G; W, Y, V; Z, Q, X. Finally, at the end of the book, after learning all the consonants, it’s time to learn the vowels. A, E, and I are first, followed by O and U.

Take a look at each of the letter combinations. Do you notice how different each letter in the triplet sounds from the other two? This makes it easy to tell the difference between them so children can tell the letters and their sounds apart. When they review, it’s easy to tell them apart.

I love how kid-friendly the pictures are! In fact, each page has kid appeal. The pictures throughout the entire workbook are adorable.

I kid-tested them on my grandson who loved the bright happy colors and pictures.

Review of Writing & Publishing

5/24/2017

Have you ever thought about writing a book? Is there a novel inside of you waiting to get out?

If so, once you get through the hard work of writing, what do you do?

Don't worry, this book has the answers you need about writing and publishing. Short and easy-to-understand, this book takes you through the complex maze of getting your book out into the public arena.

Felice has taken her book from idea to her reader's hands. She understands the process thoroughly as the author of numerous books.

Best of all, she wants others to succeed and enjoy the fruit of their own book ideas. Felice is a born coach and this book is like sitting down for a cup of tea with her and listening to her good counsel.

Review of Restoring America's Biblical Foundations

5/23/2017

Restoring America's Biblical Foundations by Pilgrim Institute is a DVD course for high school students and adults on a topic that is dear to my heart: Truth.

Over the years, history has been taken out. Godly men are glossed over or their faith is hidden. Many people have only heard revisionist history--they know nothing of the truth of our Christian heritage and biblical foundation.

I applaud the Pilgrim Institute for speaking out!

This course covers the biblical view of government and a Providential view of history. God gives a plan for government in His Word which the founders respected and tried to follow. The Lord intervenes in the affairs of men. Our Founding Fathers believed both.

As Christians, I believe it's time to teach the truth to the next generation, starting in our home schools. Restoring America's Biblical Foundations is a great start!

Let me tell you about the kit.

Benefits of Writing a Who-Dun-It

5/23/2017

"I know! Let's write a murder mystery for fiction writing next year!" I was so excited that I clasped my hands together in delight.

"I love it!" Jenny Rose replied.

"We'll read Agatha Christies and Dorothy Sayers..." I began.

"Wait, Mom. Do you know how to write a murder mystery?" Jenny Rose looked a little worried. All of children take one year in high school to write a novel.

That is how our journey began. It seemed like a fun idea. And, hey! We're homeschoolers--we can do anything!

Little did I realize how challenging and educational (in more ways than writing) this new adventure would be.

Review of Reading & Comprehension with Aesop's Fables

5/22/2017

Reading Comprehension with Aesop's Fables by Bonnie Rose Hudson includes ten of the fables of Aesop. Popular for centuries, the timeless tales have been retold so that a first-grader will enjoy them.

Mom reads a fable aloud followed by fun comprehension activities. These include tracing, vocabulary practice, sequencing, coloring pages, and sight word puzzle.

I love the coloring pages. They are adorable and fit in perfectly with each story, while being kid-friendly.

Often Moms wonder if children understand the stories they read aloud to them. These comprehension activities will help Moms to discover how much little ones understand.

Though this was created for first graders, I think older children would benefit from Reading and Comprehension with Aesop's Fables. They might even read and do the work on their own.

Aesop's stories have been enjoyed by all ages, so everyone will love listening in, including teenagers. A timeless story never grows old.

You can purchase Reading Comprehension with Aesop's Fables at Currclick.

Happy Homeschooling,
Meredith Curtis

Review of Battle Cry: Write A Soldier Adventure

5/22/2017

When my son was younger, he dreaded writing. I wish we could have had this curriculum back then. Jimmy would have loved it! He enjoys battle and adventure.

What fun for a boy to learn to write about soldiers! In this creative writing curriculum, Battle Cry: Write A Soldier Adventure by Jan May, boys will write a soldier adventure.

Boys will complete thirteen lessons. Each lesson has writing time, hands-on learning activities, and battle role-playing assignments.

Writing assignments start with creating your main character and his buddies. Every lesson that follows covers all the important lessons of story writing including showing, not telling about characters, dialogue, setting, plot, using humor, editing, and putting it all together.

Hands-on fun includes crafts or battle activities. Students make a tank, build a fort, drawing a map of their story’s battlefield, creating a clay diorama of battlefield, and creating top secret military files.

The role-playing is great for inspiring your young writers ages 8-12 to get their mind on the subject and write with enthusiasm. Interested?

What is a "Build Your Bundle" Sale?

5/19/2017

The Build Your Bundle Sale is a crazy, once a year sale where digital curriculum sells for ridiculously low prices. You save up to 96% on quality products for your home school.

Vendors such as Bright Ideas Press, Media Angels, Mystery of History, Tapestry of Grace, Visual Manna, GeoMatters, Knowledge Quest, Maestro Classics, Trivium Pursuit, and so many more have offered their products at miraculous savings. This is the time for you to get a bargain!

I want to tell you all about every product, but I have to keep it secret until Monday, May 22, 2017 when the sale starts.

However, you can enter a huge giveaway to receive ALL 20 Bundles. Wow! What a blessing that would be!

In addition, everyone who enters the giveaway gets a coupon to use during the sale.