Crew Review: Fractazmic

The Crew reviewed a game from I See Cards last year and so many of them were having such fun with the game (Pyramath) I knew that when they showed up on the Vendor list again this year I had to give them a try! This year they offered Fractazmic for review.  Fractazmic (if you haven't figured it out from the name!) is a fractions card game.

The 60 cards are brightly colored and sturdy (good for little hands!) with cute graphics that reinforce the learning of fractions. The game is intended for 2-4 players, ages 7+. The cards are divided into three sets, (with different colors, fraction sets, and graphics):

• Blue - twelfths (using an egg carton)
• Red - sixteenths (a ruler and cute little bugs)
• Green - tenths (a water bottle)

The game comes with a set of basic instructions and more instructions and game ideas (along with videos of game-play) can be found here. Basically, for each round of play, you try to make "hands" of cards, with the fractions totaling up to 1. Nick had to make me a cheat sheet because my fractions skills are very rusty! (Sometimes it's nice to have a mathy guy around the house!) The game was difficult for TJ but I found instructions for another game (Fractazmic Trap) and was able to come up with a simplified game to play with her. I think you could also just use those cards your child knows (like 1/4s and 1/2s, etc.) to play a game on their level.

Our thoughts: We struggled a bit when we first received this game - the directions weren't as clear as we would have liked. Thankfully, we found some videos on youtube and the visual helped us figure out how to play. The game is very fun once you know what you are doing! TJ isn't ready for the full version of this game - it's too advanced for her limited understanding of fractions (goodness, I need a cheat sheet for it!) but we played a simplified version of the Fractazmic Trap game using just the blue cards and she could easily play that.

I do like this game (aside from the awkwardly written instructions - I do think that those could have been much clearer) and will certainly be using it much more when TJ is older. I will definitely be using this as a reinforcement when she starts working on fractions.

Fractazmic can be purchased online for $6.95. My Crew Mates had fun with this game - be sure to read their reviews at the Crew blog.


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

Weekly Review

In our homeschool this week…another week accomplished, though a bit light. Two math lessons and a test, a week in writing, two steps in spelling, two grammar lessons, a page of handwriting (and a few Christmas cards for handwriting practice), quite a bit of French, and a review of the Greek alphabet.We finished up chapter 5 in Science and TJ did a few more mini-books for her notebook.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…history co-op was a hit this week. We studied feudalism and learned about castles. The kids had a big project this week - they each made a rice krispie castle. Lots of fun but messy!

What’s not working for us…TJ's morning routine. Ideally I'd like her to have her routine done (dressed, teeth brushed, eat breakfast, etc.) as well as her Bible read (one story in the Beginner's Bible), math drill done (a page of Horizons math), and her recitation done (we use the SCM method) before we start school in the morning. She has an hour to complete everything (with lots of nagging from me). I'm tired of having to nag her to get everything done but I'm not sure what to do. Am I asking her to do too much for her age? Right now, whatever isn't complete is done as homework when school and quiet time are over at 4pm. But she still doesn't get things done in a timely manner. Not sure what I need to change.

I’m reading…The Scarlet Letter. I finished Jane Eyre (great book!) and am ready to move on to the next book recommended in The Well-Educated Mind. TJ read a few Ms. Frizzle adventures books, looked at some weather books, and read some Geronimo Stilton comics. We're still reading through Pippi but have been watching Christmas specials in the evening so haven't had as much bedtime read aloud time.

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

Well-Educated Mind: Jane Eyre & The Scarlet Letter

I just finished reading Jane Eyre last night - what a good book! I've seen various movie adaptations but had never read the book before. I'm so glad that I did - it was very good. I've added a list of Charlotte Bronte's novels to my list of "to be read someday".

I'll be starting The Scarlet Letter shortly. I have a copy coming from the library and I'm hoping to read it over our school break. I vaguely recall reading it in high school and remember the basics of the plot but I'm ready to tackle it again with "older" eyes.

Having a daily 1/2 hour of reading time is working well. TJ and I both sit down for 30 minutes and read our chosen books. Making sure I use that time (most days!) is helping get through this list of books. I am finding it a bit difficult going through the questions in The Well-Educated Mind. I don't have a reading partner to discuss the books with so I'm relying on message boards and Sparks notes. With every book, the question I'm always stuck on is "What is the book's most important event?" I don't know if it's because I'm trying to over-analyze the book or if I'm just taking things too literally and can't see the deeper meanings. All I know is that sometimes it's tough going. I'm hopeful that it will get easier with each book I study.

Goals for December:

1. Complete The Well-Educated Mind list of questions for Jane Eyre.
2. Read The Scarlet Letter.

Week in Review

In my life this week…cookies.... lots of cookies. I'm getting my holiday baking done and frozen before we head out to visit family. TJ and I will be spending a week at my sister's house over the holidays and we are really looking forward to it - especially TJ. My sister has a little farm - chickens, goats, pigs, and a soon-to-be-addition of miniature donkeys. TJ loves to spend time with the animals.

In our homeschool this week…a fairly uneventful week for us. Same old stuff (can you tell I'm ready for a break? I'm looking forward to our two weeks off!) We worked through 3 math lessons, focusing on counting money and making change. TJ is doing well with that, she just keeps forgetting nickels - she remembers how much they are worth but forgets what they are called. Language arts covered during the week - a week of writing lessons, a step and a half in spelling, 2 grammar lessons, and 1 handwriting page.

I'm also trying to be more consistent in our foreign language work, so instead of doing one lesson a week, I'm breaking things up and doing bits every day for French and Greek. That way we are constantly reviewing - and I'm hoping that will help with retention for both and better vocabulary/speaking skills in French. We've also started a French phonics program. I can read quite a bit in French  but I'm working through it as well so I can understand the hows and whys of letter pronunciation.

We also read about half of chapter 5 in A Child's Geography and TJ worked on some mini-books for her notebook. She did a few simple experiments dealing with currents and cold vs warm water currents. Anything to do with playing in the water makes that girl happy!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…we had our weekly history/art co-op again this week. The kids learned about the conquest of England by William the Conqueror. They made their own (small!) "tapestries" - cardstock and markers - telling the story of their life. It was very cute to see what the kids thought should be included in their tapestries. TJ's included her favorite tree being cut down (it was on the border of our property but blocking a street sign so the city took it down).

My favorite thing this week was…I took the plunge. I ordered Bigger Hearts for His Glory from Heart of Dakota. We're going to try a three days a week schedule, adding it in along with our regular work.

I’m reading…Jane Eyre. I have a few more chapters left and I'll be done and ready to start The Scarlet Letter after Christmas break. I'm also reading S. Bauer's The History of the Medieval World. We haven't made much time for evening read alouds so we are still working through Pippi Goes on Board. TJ's been reading a pile of Geronimo Stilton comics and some Tiara Club princess books. She's finally exhausted the library's supply of Rainbow Magic books. I'm trying to find a series that's just a bit harder but still has some pictures - that seems to be her biggest complaint about a lot of the books we bring home. Since her reading skills have improved I'm adding a science/history reading time to her schedule 4 days a week. We have a basket full of picture books (from the library) on the topics we are studying in history and science and she has to choose one book a day from the basket.

I’m cooking…cookies. I'm actually getting very tired of baking cookies. Thankfully I only have one more kind to make and I'll be done. Then I can start on the candy.

I’m grateful for…my wonderful, hard-working husband.

I’m praying for…a good visit with my family. Sometimes there can be strife so I'm just praying that things go smoothly and everyone can get along this Christmas season.

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