TOS Review: Moving Beyond the Page

     Are your kids creative?  Do you want them to be more so? Are you bored with just books and worksheets?  Do hands-on activities sound like what you need more of in your homeschool?  Then Moving Beyond the Page may be right up your alley.  Moving Beyond the Page provides Language Arts, Science and Social Studies curriculum for ages 4-14.  Our homeschool received two of their individual units to review:  Language Arts Package: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (which came with an online guide and the physical book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain) and Science Package: Health and Nutrition (which came with a physical guide and both physical books: Boy's Guide/Girl's Guide to becoming a Teen).  I will share with you how each of these worked in our home and the details of each, beginning with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

How it worked in our homeschool:

     The online version of the Language Arts Package: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was so easy to use!  It was simple to access the online curriculum each time my son sat down for his next day's lesson.  We liked how that when we had completed a lesson we clicked "lesson completed" and it was automatically marked out in the Table of Contents.  This gave a sense of accomplishment and helped us keep track of where we were. On the Table of Contents page there is a button which allows the parent to turn the "parent overview" on/off (with a password).  This was very handy...I could turn it off while my son was working on the computer, and then turn it on for grading or instructional purposes. 
     Each lesson begins with an introduction about what the focus will be on that day.  It gives you "things to think about"/"things to know" as you prepare to read the assigned chapters from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Usually 3 chapters were assigned each day and there were 3 questions for the student to answer at the completion of the reading.
     Next came the Language Arts Lesson.  Topics like point of view, the 3 basic types of writing or irony were taught.  The student/parent was usually given 2 activity options to choose from in order to learn the topic for the day.  (I always like options!)  Most of the choices were hands-on or at least a thought-provoking writing assignment.  (At first, the activities seemed like so much work...like is is really important to build a raft from rolled-up newspapers?  But...as my son worked, I could see the value in the activities!  Problem solving, creativity and learning-by-doing all came into play.
     A note about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: I realize that MBTP (Moving Beyond the Page) cannot take credit for the authorship of this novel, but I commend their choice in literature.  My son loved the book!  I read the first half aloud to him.  He read the second half to himself since I had a cold.  He could not wait to finish the book since it was so exciting.  In fact, once we were just a few chapters in to the book, he went and got The Adventures of Tom Sawyer from the library to read.
    

Getting started: One of the first activities was to map out the slave/free states during the time period of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (I love the integration of subjects!)

A map of Huck and Jim's Journey.  The stops along the way were numbered in order as we read the book. All the worksheets were easy to print from the online site.

Building a raft.  This was made from instructions that we printed off the online curriculum.  My son was a little frustrated at first, but in the end really enjoyed this project.

A language arts activity.  MBTP has several activities that take time/effort...but most of them are well worth the effort.  My son was proud of all the hard work he put into these posters.  I was happy to hang them beside his school desk for future reference!

Product Cost/Similar Products:

$22.88 (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn online version, like the one my family received)
$26.94 (for the physical version)
OR
Purchase a Full Year Language Arts Package (physical version) for $255.68

If you'd rather have the online version, that would cost $219.30.

 

Age Range:

12-14 years old  (new age range just added in 2014)

Health and Nutrition

How it worked in our homeschool: 

      The curriculum, Science Package: Health and Nutrition was different in that my son had an actual notebook to work in, which was handy. Similar to the Language Arts unit, there are "ideas to think about"/"things to know" before beginning each lesson.  A reading assignment is given for the Guide to Becoming a Teen most days.   There are questions to answer and activities to complete.  There were several video links to watch online, especially for the Drug Abuse chapter.   The activities in this unit did not seem as hands-on/creative as the Huckleberry Finn unit. 

      We only needed the Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen since I had a son completing the unit.  The guide was written by the American Medical Association. There are several worthwhile chapters in this book, like "Eating, Exercise and  Healthy Weight" or "Your Skin, Teeth and Hair."  However, I need to note that there are also sections in the book that our family, as Christians, disagreed with.  To be fair, most of these sections were not assigned, but they are there. (MBTP is a secular company.)  Our family made some modifications to the curriculum and still made it work for us. 

Filling in answers in the Health and Nutrition workbook.

My son discovered some scrapbooking tools of mine that came in handy with all the hands-on projects with MBTP.

 

Watching online videos about Drug Abuse and filling in a chart in his notebook. (The links were given in the workbook.)

Product Cost/Similar Products : 

$46.89 

Online $42.83 (This includes an online curriculum, Health and Nutrition and physical books: Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen and Girl's Guide to Becoming a Teen.)  If you only need just the Boy's Guide or just the Girl's Guide, you could purchase the items separately and pay $27.88.

OR

Purchase a  Full Year of Science for 12-14 year olds for $436.08. (Physical)
or the online version for $400.36

Age Range: 
12-14 years old  (new age range just added in 2014)

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Moving Beyond the Page is on Facebook!

Note: The prices given in this post reflect the prices at the time of posting.  Prices are subject to change. 

FREE Digital Issue: July/August The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

     Whether you are taking a summer break or are continuing to homeschool through the summer, you will want to check out the July/August FREE Digital Issue

 of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  

I think the article, "My Best Friend" on page 77 in the Language Arts section looks particularly interesting.  I love the quote contained in the article: "Literature that is rich in vocabulary and truthful in content builds our cognitive skills, heightens our conscience, and awakens our moral imagination."

TOS Review: Veritas Press~~ Self-paced Omnibus 1 Primary

  

      For the first time in our 8 years of homeschooling, my youngest son is at a point in his history and Bible studies where he is "caught up" until high school.   We thought this would be the perfect time to to try out something new, like Self-paced Omnibus from Veritas Press.  We started at the beginning, with Omnibus 1 Primary.  Omnibus means "all encompassing" in Latin.  History, Theology and Literature are all taught together.  Omnibus 1 covers Ancient World Literature culminating with the first century.  (Omnibus 2 and 3 continue on into later periods in history.)

The Product (what you get)

     Self-paced Omnibus is an online teaching curriculum. Once purchased, you will have access to the lessons.  The lessons are done in a video format.  Each lessons lasts about 30 minutes.  The lesson is broken up into segments.  Generally a lesson includes:  a teaching time, an interview with an expert, on-location talks, interactive games, quizzes and more. (No lesson is the same thing twice.  This helps keep things interesting.)  Each student will need an Omnibus Student Text.  (You can purchase either the hardback or the e-book version.)  The program will keep track of your child's grade average.  This is very easy to access, simply click "my grades" on the student page.  Once you complete a lesson, then the next lesson is available.  (Thus "self-paced.")

*You will need to purchase the literature books (Like Gilgamesh, Code of Hammurabi, etc.) for the course. These can be purchased separately or from Veritas.  You will also need a Bible.  

The Instructor

     The instructor for the course is Bruce Etter.  He is a very easy to follow and understand teacher.  Mr. Etter is very personable and relates to the students as their teacher and doesn't just lecture.  He is obviously well-versed in this field of study.  Mr. Etter begins and ends each lesson with a review.

Price

$295 for access to the online course.  ($100 sibling discount is available.)

Omnibus Text: $75 (or purchase within 7 days of ordering the course and only pay $50) 

 The e-book is $37.50.  Literature books that go along with the course can be purchased from Veritas as part of a kit.  The kit without the ebook is: $137.63; with the ebook is $151.32
A teacher answer CD is available for $30.  (Gives all answers to the questions in the Omnibus Text.  It also includes the Omnibus Text.)

Age Range

7th-9th grade

(Minimum of age 12 on the day you begin the course work.)

How Omnibus 1 Primary worked in our Homeschool:

     I sat and did the first 2 books (Genesis and Exodus) of the course with my son.  We watched the videos together and read the Omnibus text together.  My son read the reading assignments in Genesis and Exodus on his own. (I am still trying to catch up with him on my Genesis and Exodus reading.  Let me tell you, this course will make you want to dig in deeper to God's word!)
     This curriculum involves sitting in front of a computer and listening.  At times this can be a bit tough for a 13- year-old boy, but I was amazed at how much information he remembered.  A lot of reading is also required.  In a 5 day period, a student is expected to read the entire book of Genesis or Exodus, for example.  This may seem daunting to some...but it is also doable!  (What an inspiration it was for me to see my son read that much of God's word in one sitting without complaining!)  There will be reading assignments both for the Omnibus Text and the piece of literarture that is being studied. The videos and the reading assignments work together as layers of learning, which helps to both review and solidify ideas and facts.
     Within minutes of beginning this curriculum, I felt as if I was in a first year seminary class.  I was so  impressed with things my son (and I) were learning.  My husband (a seminary graduate) had the same response.  Topics like covenant theology, differing views on creation, freewill vs. predestination are all talked about during the first two books.  It was all explained in such a way that my son was able to keep up and understand the concepts. The course work is not too overwhelming, but the concepts are much "deeper" than I had expected.

     It is important to note that Veritas Press is a Christian curriculum that follows the classical teaching model.  Even though my children have never gone by a classical model, it has always intrigued me.  I found it to not be a problem to jump right in and not feel like we had missed something.  The Bible teaching is wonderful, though a bit more reformed than we are.  This really is not a problem, though, as the instructor is very even handed and generous in his openness to discuss other biblical viewpoints.

 

What I didn't like as much:

• During much of the videos there is music playing.  This was distracting at times.
•  A few questions that my son got incorrect on the online quizzes, I was unsure why they were incorrect.  I wish there was some short explanation at the end of the online quiz.

A few notes: 

• A high-speed internet is very important to run the videos.  
• I consider art appreciation/education  to also be part of this curriculum.  For example, my son and I really enjoyed the lesson on the art in the Sistine Chapel during the study of Genesis.
• The guests speakers are top notch!  Professors, a rabbi, experts...
• Veritas Press has excellent customer service.  Twice I have had to call for help. (Once my video was "stuck" and once I just had a question.)  Both times, I was speaking with someone right away and my question or problem was answered/fixed within less than a minute.

There's more to learn about Veritas Press!  Check out my fellow TOS Review Crew bloggers and what they had to say:

That's Worth Repeating Thursday #4

 

     Last week my family went on a mission trip to Pennsylvania with our church youth group.  I noticed a message on the back window of another church van attending the same mission trip that really caught my attention.  It said: 

His Work

Our Hands

     This fit in very well with the construction and other tasks were were to be assigned for the week--but the message is for everyday.  Each believer should be willing to use his/her hands to do whatever job the Lord has for us.  He will do the work in us and through us.  We just have to be obedient and willing to work diligently for the Kingdom.  

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.

 Night is coming, when no one can work.  

John 9:4

Agency D3 VBS Snapshots

     I had grand plans of sharing lots and lots of pictures from our church's VBS...but, alas the week is gone and I just have a few snapshots.  Time sure does fly when your are teaching VBS!  I had a great week teaching 1st and 2nd  grade boys.  I had 8 in my class--they were fantastic! 

My youngest having fun after VBS...a little goofing around before skit practice begins!

Painting with watercolors to find the secret message.

A=Admit, B=Believe, C=Confess

Reading the reverse Bible verse with a mirror.  They loved doing this....this activity lasted a lot longer than I expected, and went a long way to helping them memorize 1 Peter 3:15.

Working with a friend.

My goofy spy kids! 

My preacher husband getting the pie-in-the-face since the girls won the mission challenge!  (Compliments of our Children's Director!)

Agency D3: My classroom and 3 VBS Pinterest Boards

     I've been directing VBS for the past 4 years, so this is my first time to teach VBS since Boomerang Express.  I had a lot of fun getting my room ready for my 1st and 2nd grade boys.  (I think boys will especially like this fun spy theme!) Can't wait to get the week started as we examine all the evidence and learn the truth about Jesus!!

I used silver wrapping paper for the door.

Thankful that my sons went through a "spy" phase...and that they saved all the gadgets!

An old laptop...the "screen" is printable from the director's cdrom.  I plan to change the screen each day.

An old "briefcase" I found.  I just added the D3 emblem.  Probably my favorite prop.

So awesome that I already had these "evidence" boxes leftover from our move!

Had to add some mustaches around...I could have gone crazy with those! 

My "I heart VBS" from the Big Apple Adventure VBS.  It's a keeper! 

    

 For those of you who are currently working on Agency D3, another VBS theme or preparing for next year's VBS...here are 3 of my VBS Pinterest Boards: 

Agency D3 VBS

I Heart VBS

VBS 2015: Journey off the Map

Blog Find of the Week~~Encouragement Corner

     I want to introduce you to my new friend, Tessa.  We met last week at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary while our oh-so-studious husbands were in their doctoral class. We had fun chatting about ministry, family and blogging.  Her blog is Encouragement Corner (Godly Encouragement for Everyday Life).  Each Saturday she posts a devotional.  Not just any devotional, but one rooted in scripture.  I think you will find her devotionals each week to be not only an encouragement, but challenging as well!