The 4th Annual Expanding Your Horizons Conference is coming up on April 15th, 2017! Registration opened February 1st, 2017. This event from the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers free, hands-on, STEM workshops led by Honolulu, Hawai'i's top scientists, engineers, and specialists! This opportunity is for girls in grades 6-8! For more information, visit http://eyhhawaii.org! And you can register here: http://eyhhawaii.org/registration.html You can also check out their Facebook event! There are currently 16 workshops being offered, but more might be added. Participants may choose 5 (five) workshops in order of interest and will be placed in three from among those selected. MARINE BIOLOGY - Under the Microscope: Hidden Life in a Splash of Sea Water BOTANY - Flower to Fruit: How do Plants make our Food? MARINE BIOLOGY - The Puzzle of a Healthy Coral Reef CHEMISTRY - Kinetics: All Things Your Parents Tell You Not To Do MARINE BIOLOGY - The Great Coral Mystery! BIOLOGY (ENTOMOLOGY) - Bug Picnic ZOOLOGY (HERPETOLOGY) - Scaly Scholars: Can Lizards Learn? ZOOLOGY (ORNITHOLOGY) - Birds in my Backyard PHYSICS - Mission to Mars: Space Radiation MARINE BIOLOGY - Journey into the Deep MARINE BIOLOGY - Under Antarctic Ice with Giant Sea Spiders MICROBIOLOGY & NUTRITION - The Amazing Gut Microbiome! NUTRITION SCIENCE - Exploring How to be a Better You! ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE - Wackey Weather BOTANY - Mystery in Manoa EARTH SCIENCE - Make it Rain ZOOLOGY - A Glowing Adventure MATHEMATICS - Geometric Gardening + Workshops for parents and for teachers are also available! For details about these workshops, visit http://eyhhawaii.org/workshops.html! Note: I am NOT affiliated or associated with the above person, company, organization, or event. This is NOT a paid advertisement or sponsored post. I currently have no financial connection with the organization, nor do I receive any remuneration in conjunction with this post or event.
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We recently had the opportunity to try Times Alive, by Times Tables the Fun Way, which offers online lessons with animated songs and stories to learn times tables the fun way. Now that we've had a few weeks to use it, I would like to share our review with you! I believe that it's helpful to provide my kids many different ways of looking at math topics and I'm always seeking a diverse set of tools with which to teach my children. In line with this goal, Times Alive provided a creative way to learn the times tables beyond rote flash card repetition.
About Times Tables the Fun Way & Times Alive
From City Creek Press, Times Tables the Fun Way uses illustrations and stories from Judy Liautaud that create mental imagery, helping to anchor each math fact (zeros through nines) to memory.
Times Alive is one of multiple product offerings from this company. We received access to the online version which requires an internet connection and is not a download, but they also offer a software option as well. Our version included animated stories, silly songs, simple sliding picture games, online coloring pages, basic quizzes (referred to as guessing games), and progress checks. There is also a pretest and post-test at the beginning and end and test results are saved and shown in the student's progress report. There are 18 lessons, each broken down further into 3-5 sections/activities. The quizzes are short and rather quick. In order to get the most out of the program, they recommend having your child use Times Alive for at least 20 minutes a day (or about one session per day), a minimum of twice a week.
Our Experience
I had both Big Sis (9) and Lil' Sis (6) use Times Alive (the online version). Big Sis already knows all the multiplication facts to some degree, but there are some that she is faster at recalling than others and she does have to skip count to answer some of the harder ones, so our goal for her was to improve on the weaker facts and speed of recall on all facts. Lil' Sis had not attempted to memorize any of the times tables prior to using this program, so it was a completely new introduction for her.
We are starting to get into more of a routine with Baby Sis in the picture, enabling us to do less electronic, online, and self-guided work, but I'm still relying a bit on these forms of learning in some subjects, so Times Alive fit right into our school days quite well. Plus, we were able to access it while doing a bit of traveling without having to bring along heavy books or bulky flashcards in our suitcase, so that was a huge plus too! Though the recommendation is to do a lesson about twice a week, my kids usually like to fully immerse themselves in conquering a memorization-based program or challenge such as this, so once they get started they often blast through fairly quickly. Indeed, that's what they did this time. However, in doing so, I noticed that though they were entertained and enjoyed the stories and songs, they didn't always fully focus and thus we needed to restart or redo many of the lessons a few times. In order to get the most, and fastest, benefit, I think it's important that the child not only watches the animated stories, but really attempts to recreate the story in their own mind as they go along.
What my girls think about Times Alive:
Big Sis says: "I liked it. They present the math fact in more than one way. First they make it into a story using pictures where the numbers are turned into characters or objects in the story. Then they help you remember your times tables more when they put it into a song." Lil' Sis says: "It was very fun because they did songs for every one of the lessons. I liked the songs because they were new, they rhymed a little bit, and it went fast but they repeated things to help me remember. I like the pictures too." What I think about Times Alive: Overall, I think it's a great concept that has cute animation. The premise behind it of using visual memory anchors in the form of a silly story is an effective way to memorize in a more enjoyable way. The audio and visual presentation of the program is average quality - nothing fancy or high tech. I particularly liked that the story was presented using more than one learning style - hearing the story read, watching the animated story, and reading it - all at once. I would like to be able to see the specific questions my child got wrong on the online pre- and post-tests and quizzes, rather than just the percentage score at the end. However, a work around for this is to print the blank test (which is an option) and then have the child do it that way versus on the computer so you can see each of their answers. Additionally, the tests and quizzes do not seem to change - they appear to always be the same questions in the same order. So if your child repeats the program (if they don't get it all the first time through), they might start to remember the order of the answers. If this occurs, there are some online math fact quizzes and worksheet generators that could be used instead. The program was most useful for Lil' Sis, who did, indeed learn most of the math facts using it. She did, however, have to repeat the lessons a few times before getting it and it does still take some time for her to recall the answer. Times Alive is, indeed, a fun and creative way to learn and review the times tables. Final Thoughts
Both of my girls enjoyed Times Alive and it's times tables stories. Though there were aspects of the program that were not ideal for my preferences, they were all minor things. I think the program is certainly a supplement option to consider for those seeking a program to introduce or reinforce these important multiplication facts. It was useful and beneficial for us insomuch as it provided another way to cement the facts in the minds of my children, giving them even more exposure (which is always good), and doing so in a manner that was fun for them.
If you'd like to know more about what others think of the Times Alive program, you can check out lots of other reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew (see the banner below). Or for more information direct from the company, you can visit their website or find them on Facebook and YouTube.
The Art Loft is offering "a special GIRL POWER workshop. It is all about teaching girls how to grow strong and be confident using a Flower Power theme". According to the Art Loft, "girls will learn to build confidence by discovering themselves, their interests, and personal strengths through canvas art which they will take home as a reminder of the lessons they’ve learned and the powerful person they truly are". Ages 6-9 workshop will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2017 Ages 10-12 workshop will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 Cost: $45 (+tax) per person inclusive of materials Time: 9am - 11:30am If you have any questions please contact us at [email protected]. Note: I am not affiliated or associated with the Art Loft or this event. This is NOT a sponsored post or paid advertisement. I am simply sharing and passing along information that might be of interest to my readers. Please direct any questions to the business or event organizer for most complete and accurate information.
From the Bishop Museum... "Be the first to see the star of the upcoming exhibit The Machine Inside: #Biomechanics, Sue, as she makes her debut at the #fallinlovewithscience event on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017. Sue is the world's largest and most complete T. rex! Experience a life-size replica of her enormous skeleton, as the science of biomechanics provides the tools to recreate her living body—the way she moved, chomped on prey, and saw the world around her. www.bishopmuseum.org/fallinlovewithscience Click here for information on The Machine Inside: Biomechanics. Full exhibit opening Feb. 25, 2017, in the Castle Memorial Building.http://www.bishopmuseum.org/biomechanics/" Note: I am not affiliated or associated with the Bishop Museum or this event and exhibit. This is NOT a sponsored post or paid advertisement. I am simply sharing and passing along information that might be of interest to my readers. Please bring any questions to the organization directly for the most complete and accurate information. Enjoy!
I received the following via email recently. I'm just passing the info on in case some of you are interested. (I am not affiliated or associated with this organization or event. This is NOT a sponsored post or paid ad.) Lyon Arboretum Invites Homeschooling Students to Participate in Field Trips April 2017 The Lyon Arboretum is offering two days of field trips to homeschooling families, April 6th for 5-8 year olds and April 7th for 9-12 year olds. Come join us for a morning at the Lyon Arboretum, partaking in an outdoor, place-based, hands-on education experience. Our programs address a variety of the HCPS III benchmarks for Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, and Math. Field trips are $5 per child and per parent, payable upon arrival with cash or check. These field trips are a fun and enriching way for your child to address the benchmark requirements of your homeschooling curriculum. 5-8 year olds (K-3rd Grade) –Thursday April 6, 2017 9am-11am
9-12 year olds (4th-6th Grade) –Friday April 7, 2017 9am-11am
Spaces are limited and available on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you are interested in registering for one, or both, of these field trips call or email the Lyon Arboretum’s Education Department. Please be prepared to provide the following information:
The Lyon Arboretum’s website is a great resource for information about our grounds, and the Education Department. Feel free to contact us with any further questions at 808-988-0461 or email us at [email protected] . Lyon Arboretum - Education Department University of Hawai'i at Manoa 3860 Manoa Road Honolulu, HI 96822 (808) 988-0461 https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum/
On Friday, February 3rd, Colonel Charles E. McGee, a decorated WWII Tuskegee Airman Pilot, will be at the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor to discuss his career and the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, an all African American squadron who overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of WWII. This is for school groups and homeschool groups are invited to participate! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from Colonel McGee, who not only overcame racism, but went on to become a fighter pilot in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and at the age of 97, still holds the record for the highest three-war total of fighter combat missions of any pilot in the United States Air Force history. Colonel McGee travels across the country speaking to kids about the importance of remaining positive even when faced with adversity, as well as the importance of hard work and getting a good education. Please visit the following link for additional program information, including registration: http://eepurl.com/cyj8UP Note: This post is for informational purposes. I am not affiliated or associated with this organization or event. This is NOT a sponsored post or paid ad.
A new art studio has recently opened up in the Kakaako area with Hawaiian and Contemporary art classes for kids. She is creating classes mid-week for parents with homeschooling children, so feel free to contact her if you are interested! Her Facebook page says "The Art Loft is a community arts space located in the heart of Kakaako that aims to support the development of Hawaii’s arts scene through its arts program, educational initiatives and community projects." You can visit her website for more information: http://www.theartlofthi.com/ Note: Note: This is NOT a sponsored post or paid advertisement. I am not affiliated or associated with this business in any way. I'm simply passing on information that some of my followers might find useful.
Homeschool Now USA is promoting awareness of homeschooling during National School Choice Week this January (22-28). There is a local event, to be held at Ewa Beach Baptist Church (91-743 Pohakupuna Road) on January 24th, 2017, from 7-9pm. Call Dianne Nowak at 808-429-8386 for more information. Note: This is NOT a sponsored post or paid advertisement. I am not affiliated with this event so please contact the organizer directly with any questions. I'm simply passing on information that some of my followers might find useful. Enjoy!
For my military followers... You might want to take note of the changes to the USAG-HI Youth Sports and Fitness Homeschool PE programs, particularly the $20 fee (this program was previously offered at no charge). The next session will run from 7 Feb. to 2 May and cost $20. Children ages 5 and up are invited to participate. AMR PE will be held on Tuesdays (1130-1230), Schofield Barracks PE will be held on Tuesdays as well (1130-1230). Participants must register in advance at their local registration office. Contact the YS&F office with any questions at 808-655-6465 or 808-836-1923. Note: I am NOT affiliated or associated with the USAG-HI Youth Sports & Fitness program (aside from that we might sign up to participate in their programs), so please contact them directly with any questions. This is NOT a sponsored post or paid advertisement. I'm simply passing on information that some of my readers might find useful/helpful.
Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu is hosting a "Science Symposium for Girls" on February 18th, 2017, 7:45am-11:20am! Girls in grades 5-8 and their parents are invited to participate in this FREE program with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities and workshops. After a keynote address, students will attend two 50-minute workshops of their choice (see their website for details). Must register by February 13th! Note: I am NOT affiliated or associated with this event, organization, or school. This is NOT a sponsored post or paid advertisement. I am simply passing along information that some of my readers might find helpful.
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AuthorI'm a homeschooling mom of three, enjoying our time in Hawaii and hoping to share some of that experience with you, including ideas, reviews, resources, and information. Archives
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