Crew Review: The Easy French!

The Easy French was inspired by The Writing Road to Reading, according to author of the program, Marie Filion. A variety of activities are used through the program ensuring a method that will reach many students with a range of learning abilities. The program can be used by younger students at a slower pace or at a normal pace for junior high and high school students.

What's included: Level IA is the first level in the reformatted version of this program. It contains 18 lessons, over 226 pages of material, along with 2 cds (one containing audio material and another for solutions to the lesson material). Each lesson includes the following:

• Story
• Vocabulary
• Student helps
• Scripture memory work
• Cultural note
• Trivia
• Everyday vocabulary
• Activity

The storyline in each lesson uses the French weave technique - primarily French with some English words interwoven so a student can learn the vocabulary in context of the whole story. Each lesson also includes a lesson planner for the student, enabling them to do much of the program independently. The included material will ensure that the student is learning all aspects of the language - grammar, vocabulary, and reading. Such a well-rounded format ensures a thorough understanding of the language, and, by using the program daily, the immersion in the language will help reinforce French vocabulary. Each level also includes a test booklet and answer key so parents can show that their children are learning the material. My favorite part of the program? The French phonograms. Once a person has memorized the 68 phonograms they will be able to sound out any French word.

Our thoughts: TJ and I have used the Junior level of The Easy French and enjoyed it very much so I was excited to try out this next program. Right now it's a bit above her level as far as the amount of writing involved but it would be very simple to modify. The recommendation for the Junior level is to do the program over three years - the first year is spent doing a lesson a week, listening to the vocabulary, and doing a few activities. Over the next two years you divide the lessons, doing half each year. I think a similar approach might work with this program, though it probably wouldn't take three years!

One of my favorite aspects of the approach used in this program is the way the French is integrated into each story. It's slowly integrated into each lesson's conversation making it easy to infer the meaning of the words from the English responses. Children can easily figure out the meaning of the phrases and sentences, giving them the confidence needed to really learn another language.

If you are looking for a program that schedules out exactly what you should do each day, this isn't the program for you. Each lesson provides a variety of activities and some guidelines for weekly work as well as a simple template outlining what should be done each day. If you prefer programs that give you more leeway in your teaching (and a program that has a good amount of independent work for older students) this program would fit your needs.

The Easy French level IA is available for $84.95 and the phonogram cards, test booklets, and answer keys are $10 each.  The Crew reviewed a variety of materials from Great Commission Languages. Be sure to check out the Crew blog to read those reviews!


Now for the fine print… I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

Week in Review

In our homeschool this week…we had a three-day school week, taking off Thursday and Friday. So, we fit in three math lessons, most of a week's lessons in writing (we'll have to finish that up next week!), a step in spelling, a page in handwriting, two grammar lessons, a French lesson, and a bit of Greek. We didn't get to science this week.

History co-op was lots of fun - we learned about the Vikings and the kids made viking boats. I had some other things planned but they wanted to play so we let them play instead.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…shopping week for us - and we finished up all our Christmas shopping yesterday. It feels great to have that out of the way! Now I can relax and enjoy the season.

What’s working/not working for us…Right now our subjects are going very well. I need to add in a bit more time for Greek but otherwise we are getting to everything I'd like to do.

Questions/thoughts I have…I'm trying to decide if I want to add Heart of Dakota's Bigger to our existing schedule. Right now we finish all of our basic "skill" subjects (math, grammar, languages, etc.) in an hour and half in the morning. One afternoon a week we have a history/art co-op with friends. Another afternoon we spend studying earth science. I'd like to do Bigger three days a week and take a year and a half to go through the book.

I’m reading…Jane Eyre. I'm really enjoying this book. TJ and I haven't gotten much read aloud time in this week - we're still working on Pippi Goes on Board. She's read some princess-type books this week.

I’m cooking…Christmas cookies! I'm getting the cookie dough ready and in the freezer. I'll be in Maine over Christmas and I'll be seeing lots of relatives so there is a lot of baking to do!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…time for snow tires up here in Canada.

Week in Review

In my life this week…I've spent a TON of time on the Heart of Dakota website. I'm trying to decide if I want to use Bigger Hearts for His Glory with TJ over the next year and a half (doing three days a week instead of five). Decisions.... decisions ....

In our homeschool this week…another week successfully accomplished! We focused on subtracting 15s, 10s, and 5s in math. TJ had no problem with the concept. It feels like we're just coasting right along through math this year! In language arts we finished another week's lessons in writing, a step in spelling, two pages of handwriting, and two grammar lessons. TJ also did another French lesson with Nick and we also worked on her French lapbook. I just read through chapter 4 of A Child's Geography today, while TJ did some notebooking and coloring. We skipped Greek this week. It was a very productive workweek for us (except for skipping Greek - I really need to get my butt in gear with that!)

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…we met our friends for our history and art co-op again this week. We skipped art this time since we had two projects for history. We learned about Charlemagne - for some reason it struck everyone very funny that his defeated enemies had the choice to become Christians or die. One mom remarked, "Nice way to win them to the kingdom." ;-)

The kids had fun - they made elaborate crowns that took awhile. First we had to get the crowns made, then they painted them gold and then they added lots of jewels (well, beads and stuff!). They also made some popsicle stick puppets.

My favorite thing this week was…seeing the end of it! It was a good week but I'm so very happy for the weekend!

I’m reading…Pippi Goes on Board. We finished Pippi Longstocking and TJ wants to hear the next book. I just found the movie on Netflix - think we'll watch it this weekend. Has anyone seen it?

TJ read a Mercy Watson book, a pile of Geronimo Stilton comics, and Tornado. She's currently reading through Five True Horse Stories. I'm reading Jane Eyre and The History of the Medieval World by Susan W. Bauer.

I’m cooking…cookies! Hopefully I'll be getting some Christmas baking done this weekend.

I'm linking to Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers Weekly Wrap-Up and The Homeschool Chick's Homeschool Mother's Journal

Crew Review: Math Mammoth Blue series

I must confess that math is not one of my favorite subjects but, oddly enough, it is one of my daughter's favorites. She loves math and grasps concepts quickly and easily most of the time. But sometimes she will encounter a topic that takes a bit more work for her to grasp. At times like those, I love to pull out a few pages from Math Mammoth.

Maria Miller, the creator of the Math Mammoth program, has worktexts available in a few different formats:

• Light Blue series – full work-texts for each grade
• Blue series – work-texts by topic
• Golden series – worksheets for grades 3-8
• Green series – worksheets by topic 

Maria kindly sent us a few of the texts in the Blue series - Add & Subtract 2A, Measuring 1, and Canadian Money - a few of the topics that TJ could use some extra practice with. Add & Subtract 2A focuses on addition and subtraction to 18 and fact families along with "simple" (non-borrowing) addition and subtraction to 100, typical second grade material. Measuring 1, appropriate for grades 1-3, focuses on measuring length, weight, volume, and temperature. Canadian Money, covering topics for grades 1-3, teaches counting coins and change and solving money-related math problems - all with pictures of Canadian money, of course.

I love using the Blue series as a change of pace from our normal math program. It's the perfect way to work on a topic that TJ is struggling with or to just change up our routine. If she needs more practice with adding money, I can print a few pages and give her some extra practice. I like the print-and-go format. I can quickly find pages by specific topic and print exactly what I need. I also LOVE that Maria Miller made the money worktexts available with pictures of Canadian money. Those of us north of the border really appreciate that!

Math Mammoth products come in a few different formats and various price points. The Blue series books range in price from $2-7 by topic and they are also available in a few different packages.  My Crew mates had the opportunity to try many different products from Math Mammoth so be sure to check out the Crew blog to read those reviews!


Now for the fine print… I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

Women of Faith

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Women of Faith conference in Rochester, New York. I went with a friend and we made it a getaway weekend. What a wonderful conference! We came home refreshed and renewed and are already discussing next year's conference and how we need to make all our friends come along as well. We laughed and we cried and had an unforgettable weekend. Next year I'll plan to bring a whole box of tissues since my little pack of Puffs didn't last the weekend!

Each year, Women of Faith produces 25-30 two-day weekend events in arenas across North America. Renowned speakers, award-winning musical artists, best-selling authors, drama, and more combine for a hope-filled event like no other. 

Among the memorable speakers we heard, Sheila Walsh and Lisa Harper were two of my favorites. We were also entertained by Ken Davis - that man is so funny! We heard Mary Mary and Natalie Grant and the wonderful Women of Faith worship team (loved them so much I bought the CD). It was a wonderful weekend and I'm looking forward to attending the event again next year.

I received two tickets free of charge in return for blogging about the event.

Week in Review

In my life this week…I'm trying to get back on track after my weekend away at the Women of Faith conference. It's hard getting back to reality! I'm also working on my list of Christmas baking so I can start getting some cookie dough made and stashed in the freezer. We're planning to visit family in Maine this year so I'm trying to get a head start on baking and finish up our shopping.

In our homeschool this week…I found it hard to get back into the swing of things this week since we had a long weekend (Thursday and Friday off) but we still got a few things accomplished. TJ read her Bible and did daily recitation and drill. We did four math lessons - reviewing four-digit addition before tackling subtraction next week. We finished another week of writing lessons, a step in spelling, one grammar lesson, and a page of handwriting. TJ also did a French lesson with Nick. We did a bit of science too.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…It's shopping week so the only place I'm going is the grocery store! ;-)

My favorite thing this week was…reading Pippi Longstocking. TJ just giggles the whole time I read aloud. We're loving this book!

What’s working for us…using a binder for recitation and reviewing it daily. TJ has memorized piles of stuff (using this system). We use it to memorize Scripture, poetry, lists for grammar and history, French. The only change I've made - instead of writing everything on index cards, I type it up and we put it in a binder. Much easier than writing everything out!

Things I’m working on…history plans for next year. We use Story of the World one day a week in our weekly co-op. This year all I'm doing is adding in some extra reading during the week. I'm considering my options for next year. It looks like we'll continue Story of the World with the co-op but I'd like to ramp up what we do at home. Right now I'm looking at using Heart of Dakota's Bigger Hearts for His Glory. Decisions... decisions...

I’m reading…Pippi Longstocking to TJ. We just finished Pollyanna.

I'm linking to Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers Weekly Wrap-Up and The Homeschool Chick's Homeschool Mother's Journal