Thrift Schooling

The  James Madison Critical Thinking Course , part of the Timberdoodle Ninth Grade kit  is the homeschool resource that I did not know that needed. This is one of those, "where have you been all my life?" type homeschool finds. After I received this in the kit and looked through it I knew that this was a course that I wanted to use with multiple kids—so I do. In the morning, as part of "table time" with  my middle schooler and high schoolers, we work through a portion of the lessons together. Although this could be used successfully with one child, it works perfectly in a group setting. I do not have many subjects that I combine with my older three, so this gives us more time to bond and connect.  Critical thinking is essential. Not everyone is trustworthy and honest and children need to learn how to read people and how to discern the truth in a practical manner. This course helps students put their emotions aside and look at the facts. What an important skill to ha...

  Timberdoodle Smart Games are perfect for single player play. One example,  Horse Academy  is part of the  Timberdoodle Third Grade Curriculum Kit , and is perfect for children ages seven through adult. I love having these games stacked up for a time when my kids need some alone time away from their siblings. This game in particular has been a huge hit with my daughter.  I remember as a kid loving strategy games and would sit in my room for hours with a cat strategy game that I bought from The Village Toy Shoppe (yes, this place was as cool as its name implies)! After wearing it out, I went and bought another one, and then another one. I enjoyed the different options and challenges, it reminded me of a "choose your own adventure" book, another fond childhood memory. What makes Horse Academy so unique is the creativity it produces. Once your child completes a challenge, she can play with the horse and the course. Your kids are able to learn, use their minds...

Do you have a child into coding? If so, check out the  Java Programming  course by CompuScholar which is part of the  11th Grade Timberdoodle Curriculum Kit . I originally had my eleventh grader start using this program but he quickly realized that coding was not for him. I then remembered that my daughter, even though she is only in middle school, loved a previous coding product that I reviewed and thought that she should probably give this program a go. She has started using it and loves it. It shocks me that my older sons are not into coding. I even had a tutor come over last year who taught coding classes for my older three. My daughter fell in love with it and my boys didn't. So many jobs are available with this skill and since I know my boys want to work from home or run their own business I tried to push them in this direction. They politely declined but their younger sister has been thriving.  This course is completely online and is self-paced. Each lesson ha...

Timberdoodle craft boxes are my new happy place. They keep my kids busy, happy, and the end products are super cute!  Animals and Their Homes  is a kit that my kindergartener and second grader have been working on and is part of the  Timberdoodle Kindergarten kit .  The crafts not only help with hand-eye coordination, but result in designs that kids are proud of. Some crafts are simpler for my youngest. Others are a bit more challenging yet worth every second when my older child sees the result. Check out the adorable dog below! My son made that and was so proud of his creation. He has it displayed for all to see, plus he can play with it whenever he wants to.    When I was in college, I had a formerly homeschooled friend tell me that growing up her parents celebrated her and her brother's creativity. They would allow them to decorate the house with their artwork and they were proud of their endeavors. To be honest. I did not know what she meant. Though I d...

Want to make a world of difference in your kids' lives this upcoming holiday season? If you have kids that like to stay busy, the  World of Dinosaurs  dino box is a must have. This box was a hit for my elementary aged kids and was the perfect rainy day activity. This box is part of the Timberdoodle First Grade Kit . Younger kids are more than capable to work on these crafts and the quality keeps older ones entertained too.   I appreciate that each craft in this box is self-explanatory, does not include a million pieces that could get lost under the couches, and provides fun creations that can be played with or displayed. The three dinosaurs pictured above have provided hours of entertainment for my youngest two boys. Once made, they created a world for them to live in and let their imaginations run wild. The materials are sturdy and durable allowing for play for the long haul.  Some of the other crafts were perfect for my daughter who is slightly older. She was ...

  99 Stories I Could Tell  takes creative writing to a whole new level. If you have a reluctant writer, and are looking for a way to spark a little creativity, this activity book for teens is exactly what you need. Adding this activity daily to my son's ninth grade homeschool routine has helped him tremendously.  Creative writing can be a challenge for literal children. My ninth grader is a hands-on, practical, get-the-job-done type of kid. On several occasions he will write when it is not a school assignment, but writing is not his favorite activity. He will write to his pen pal (through a program available to subscribers of Focus on the Family Clubhouse Magazine), and he enjoys participating in the annual Rainbow Resource Center Summer Writing Contest. Both of these activities have a reward. Writing to his pen pal means he will receive a response in the mail. Creating a story for the summer contest means he will receive a hard copy of his story, and a $5 Dairy Queen gif...

  WriteShop Level 1  is part of the Timberdoodle tenth grade curriculum kit . My son is steadily working through their ninth grade curriculum kit , which is working out well for him and I would not be surprised if we choose to continue his high school years with these kits. From the planner, to the activities, to the high quality math, science, and English materials, this has been his best year so far—and he has been homeschooled from the beginning. What makes Timberdoodle kits worth the investment is the work is done for you. Everything is there. If you have a students that likes checklists, and is eager to get school done so he can have the rest of the day to pursue what he wants, Timberdoodle kits are absolutely for you.  I was excited to see WriteShop as a part of Timberdoodle. I have been a fan of WriteShop for a long time. I have used the lower levels in the past with great success. The level I am reviewing today is for teens, but if you have younger children, check...