Greek 'n' Stuff (A Homeschool Crew Review)

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know the struggle that I have had with finding a foreign language for my kids.  We tried Spanish for a bit, we tried French for a while, and we even tried Chinese.  Once the "newness" of the program wore off, none of these held interest for my kids.  Eventually, we found the right fit with Latin for Ashleigh, but that left Garrett without a language.

When the opportunity to review Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! - Level 3 Set from Greek 'n' Stuff was offered , I was slightly hesitant. After all, Greek can be somewhat intimidating with it's entirely different alphabet.  I asked myself plenty of questions before asking for this program - How would Garrett react to learning a completely new alphabet? Would it be too hard for him? Would we sit down for the first lesson and have him balk and have a meltdown?  As the mother of a special needs student, I knew I wanted him to learn a second language but would Greek be asking too much from him for his capabilities.   After a long, thoughtful internal debate, I ended up asking for the review.  

And I'll be honest right now.  The moment I filled out the form saying I would like to review this product, I completely second guessed myself on the decision.  It's very rare that I actually do this - typically I have a decent idea if something can work for my kids.  I had very mixed feelings when I was informed I would be on this review - part of me was very excited to try it with Garrett but the other part of me was very anxious, thinking I might have gotten over my head and it would be too much for Garrett.   My fears were especially compounded when I pulled out my own book about the Greek language (that I honestly hadn't picked up since I purchased it)..  To say "it was all Greek to me" would be an understatement.  Granted, I had looked at the sample pages but I'm sure we all have those moments were we second guess things.   BTW - There's a Greek Placement test available on the website to help you select the correct starting level for your student, in case your like me and second guess every decision you make.. For our review, we opted for Level 3 based on Garrett's age and Grade.  I should also mention, prior to this review, Garrett had no previous introduction to Greek or Latin.

When the materials arrived, Garrett and I opened the box together and inside we found the three components that made up the set.  First was the spiral bound Biblical Greek Workbook.  This workbook is the textbook for the student and contains all the lessons, reviews, glossaries, and also the flash card templates that the students need to work though the curriculum. Second, there was a second spiral bound Level 3 Full Text Answer Key.  This book contains all the answers to each lesson found in the student book, as well as a schedule of lessons, teacher's tips and an appendix of very useful information about the Greek language.  Finally, the third component was the Pronunciation CD which contains audio pronunciations of new vocabulary and an Alphabet Song to help with memorization.

Our VERY first Greek Lesson

The new shiny curriculum was of interest to Garrett. He already knew that this would be "his language" and he was raring to get started.  A positive for sure but I had seen him get excited about other things, only to lose interest very quickly. How would this turn out? 

This system teaches Biblical Greek, also known as Koine Greek, and is the language most used by the Greek Orthodox Church. Designed by Karen Mohs, the way the program is broken down is fairly simple. For the first couple of weeks, the students learn the Greek Alphabet. Once they learn the letters and the sound that each one makes, they they begin to translate those letters into pronounceable words.  Activities throughout each lesson help reinforce what they have learned and provide additional practice, while the flash card templates can be cut out and put on index cards to provide additional review material.  Along with the CD, the program provides both written, audio and visual stimulation in which to present the material to the student.   

We decided to follow the recommended schedule as listed in the Answer Key.  Following this

schedule, this curriculum can be 36 weekly lessons consisting of roughly 4-6 pages out of the student workbook each week.  I found this scheduling recommendation worked well for Garrett and it did not overwhelm him.   The Answer Key does offer recommendations for additional books in order to find more information but I did not find that I needed any of those outside references to use the curriculum with Garrett.

The first two weeks, Garrett and I focused solely on learning the Greek Alphabet, learning three letters each day while reviewing those we had already learned.  I found writing the letters on our white board and allowing him to both identify the name of the letter as well as to tell me the sound that it made worked really well for us.  The three letters a day pace also worked well.  I admit here, Garrett had a bit of trouble with pronunciation of some letters due to his speech delay (for example, he struggled with Beta  and Theta) but consistent reviewing and correction helped to cement the proper annunciation in his head.   After two weeks, it was time to move on to actual words. 

I'm not going to lie.  The first time I wrote Άνθρωπος (the Greek word for A Man) on my white board, I cringed. It was one thing for Garrett to recognized θ as Theta, but he struggles with reading when using the English Alphabet as it is. How would he handle actually deciphering a Greek word?

I wrote it on the board and like a pro, Garrett proved to me that he had indeed learned those letters and their sounds. We broke the word down phonetically (anthropos) and defined it (a man). Garrett did the accompanying activities in his workbook which included writing the word several times and drawing a picture of a man. We made a flashcard for the word to start our deck of review cards and the lesson was over without any tears or meltdowns.

That has basically been how our last few weeks have gone. Tear free, meltdown free, and dare I say it, Garrett LIKES Greek. Weeks later, he's still as excited to do his lessons as he was for that first one. He's also very possessive of his Greek lessons - he does not want his sister (who has managed to also learn the Greek alphabet from listening in on our lessons) to participate in his lessons, after all, she has Latin and this is HIS Greek.

The format of the lessons works well for him, especially when we incorporate the flash cards with his lesson. I spread out the cards in front of him, pronouncing the word for him and ask him to find the correct card that matches. By flipping the cards over to their English meaning, I can work on proper pronunciation of the Greek word with him as well, making them a very handy learning resource at my disposal. I especially like that this resource is part of the workbook and not an extra expense. I simply trim out the words for the week from the back of the workbook, glue them onto index cards and we're set.

I recently got asked by a family member - Why bother teaching the kids Latin and Greek? When will they ever use these languages?  Wouldn't they be better off learning Spanish?  But when you realize that many of the words we use today are derived from Latin and Greek, especially in the fields of science and technology, then one can see the usefulness of learning them. For example, just the one word that I used above, Άνθρωπος , which is pronounced as Anthropos, meaning A Man, is the root for the word Anthropology, which is today's term for the study of man (from a historical aspect). And as Garrett progresses with Greek, then that opens the door for Latin as well.

Greek has worked very well for us and I found that all my nail biting and second guessing was really for naught as Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! turned out to be the perfect fit for Garrett. This is also a program that he could stay with for many years to come (there are 8 different levels currently available on the website), allowing us to stay with a format that works for him.

For more information about Greek 'n' Stuff and the Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! curriculum, be sure to visit their website (they even offer some free downloadable activities). You can also find more information on the following social media platforms:

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GreeknStuff/         https://www.facebook.com/groups/heyandrewteachmesomegreek/ 
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GreeknStuff  
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kuriakos/greek-n-stuff/     
• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/karenmohs/ 

While our review for Greek 'n' Stuff focuses on one of their Greek curriculum, members of the Crew were offered more than just Greek.  Be sure to click the banner below and read not only about Level 2 for the Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! curriculum but also reviews on Greek 'n' Stuff's Bible study curriculum for the book of Ester, Jonah & Ruth, 1 Samuel and the Book of Acts.

Trust Fund (A Homeschool Crew Review)

How many times when you were growing up did you hear "When you're older, you'll understand why I said no"? Or maybe you, as a parent, have said something similar to your own children when we make decisions for them but knowing that they are not yet able to understand the "why" behind our decisions. Maybe you've watched as your older children have made decisions that took them down paths that you knew weren't right for them but felt helpless knowing that sometimes, they have to learn the heard lessons on their own and there's not much we can do until then but put it in God's hand.

Recently, the members of the crew had the opportunity to preview the movie Trust Fund, produced by Mapelle Films.  In addition to the movie, many of us were also given the opportunity to read Love Was Near, a book that accompanies the film written for young girls ages 12+.

About Trust Fund



Trust Fund focuses on the story of Reese, a young woman who grew up in an affluent home with her father and older sister after losing her mother during her teenage years.  Reese tends to let her heart lead her life, making decisions spur of the moment with very little thought of the future or what actions she might have to take in her life to actually achieve any goal she sets.  When she learned that upon her mother's death, she was left a sizable trust fund that she was unaware of, Reese takes the money and lets her heart once again take the lead, putting her into a situation that she never expected.

Written and directed by Sandra L. Martin and produced by Isaac Alongi, this movie features Jessica Rothe as Reese Donahue, Louise Dylan as her sister Audrey and Kevin Kilner as their father, Greyson in addition to a strong supporting cast.  The movies total time, from beginning to the end of the credits, runs 1 hours and 48 minutes in length.  English closed captioning is available.

Without giving too much of the story away, this story is a modern day twist on the proverbial tale of the Prodigal Son, or in this case, the Prodigal Daughter. The movie echoes Jesus's parable, from the wayward lost daughter who thinks she's entitled to something but then loses everything, to the father who offers forgiveness and the lesson of love, to the sibling who resents the father's happiness and acceptance of her sister's return.

Available Small Group Study Guide

Regarding questions of questionable content - I personally had no issues with this movie and would feel comfortable allowing a young teenager to view this selection. However, be aware there is a scene where the main character is wearing only a men's style t-shirt as she kisses her boyfriend "good morning",  a scene where women are by the pool in bathing suits and there is some smoking and
drinking by grown adults.  There is also some illegal activities that take place as part of the storyline.

In addition to the movie, Mapelle Studios also offers a free, downloadable 12 page Study Guide, especially useful if viewing this movie as part of a Small Group. This study guide helps to guide the viewers through the similarities of the parable of the Prodigal Son and the movie through questions and Biblical passages to help dig deeper into the story.

My Thoughts

First - the movie.  The cinematography is excellent with great visuals and stunning backdrops as the story unfolds.  The cast are also spot on and are believable and it would be hard pressed to pick any one cast member who doesn't give a strong performance.

I ended up watching this movie alone since my daughter is currently away on summer vacation but I am looking forward to watching this with her once she returns. There are so many lessons to be taken away from Reese's story: that sometimes parents make decisions that a child might not understand or like but that there is a reason behind them, that sometimes the heart fails to recognize faults in a situation and overrides common sense, and that even when a child makes a mistake, a parents love is always there to help pick up the pieces and to rejoice when they find their way home.

One of the things that I noticed quickly is that it seemed Sandra Martin used other's research in her development of her characters.  I was reminded of "The Birth Order" by Kevin Leman in both Audrey and Reese.  Audrey is the reliable, self driven, self disciplined, structured older sister while Reese falls into the "baby" roll perfectly as the fun loving, out going, self centered, free spirit sister.  If this was done intentionally, then kudos to Martin for doing her research. If not, then even more kudos for some really great character development skills.

The main character, Reese, starts off as likable but a very selfish young lady who is use to having everything she wants - a nice apartment in the nice part of town that's out of her price range (and that Daddy pays for), a monthly allowance that she constantly blows through frivolous spending and lack of budgeting, and unrealistic expectations for how she expects to support herself.  Not unlike many young adults today.  While her father wants to see her happy, he also wants to see that she beings to take life seriously, offering her a job at his publishing company to help her learn the value of hard work and a paycheck. However, Reese being the baby and up until now having had everything given to her, doesn't see the need for responsibility in her life.

This really hits home while reading Love Was Near, the book that accompanies the movie.  Love Was Near, which is also written by Sandra Martin, is not a retelling of the movie but is instead additional material to read after watching the movie in the form of diary entries and writings by Reese. These writings bring more insight into what was going through Reese's mind as the events of the movie take place and allows the reader to see how Reese's character changes as she reflects on the aftermath of her actions and we see many of the events through her eyes.  Through these diary entries, we see her begin her journey of growth with a selfish attitude of "The money is mine and my mother wanted me to have it and my father is wrong to keep it from me. My mom would want me to be happy" to "I now understand my father knew I wasn't ready for such a huge responsibility and was only waiting until I was mature enough to handle such a large sum of money".

In addition to telling her story, many of the pages are designed like a character study.  As the book is

written for younger readers in their teenage years, the guide aspect offers questions that allow young readers to reflect on their own lives and situations so that they begin to learn how some of Reese's mistakes and learned lessons can be transferred over to their own lives.

Sprinkled through the pages of cute doodles, bits of poetry and diary entries, there are also many beautiful references to Bible verses that can be applied to the situation.  These references to verses tie in with Reese's journey as she finds not only herself, but her Heavenly father who has always been there for her.

Together, I think this is a great approach, at least in terms if I was reading this as a teenager. Through the "diary" aspect of the reading, you almost get a feeling of sharing secrets with Reese, like you're privy to something very special, just between the two of you. After all, when we were young, many of us had a diary and would never dream of allowing anyone to actually read it, yet here Reese is opening her's to you, the reader.  Then, by answering the questions, you not only gain insight into your own self, but share in that experience - like making entries in your own diary.   I think it's a great concept on approaching teenagers, who do not necessarily enjoy opening up about there lives but might be more open if they feel they are sharing the experience with Reese.

For more information about Trust Fund and Love Was Near, please visit their website. You can also find more information on the following Social Media platforms:

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TrustFundMovie/ 
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TrustFundMovie 
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/trustfundmovie/pins/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trustfundmovie/  

Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer (A Homeschool Crew Review)

Imagine living  during the time immediately following the Exodus and the time of Joshua, when the Hebrews are waiting to enter the promise land but are currently living in exile.  Imagine still being a young shepherd boy, unsure about the outcome of the invading people who want to claim your homeland as their own and saying the land is their's by their God's decree, and watching the entire story unfold before your eyes.

For the last few weeks, I've been digging through the pages of the book Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer by Peggy Consolver - Author.  This is a 375 page book published by Carpenter's Son Publishing brings the above scenario to life vividly.

About Peggy Consolver

First, I have to say, my hats are off to the author as she annually reads through the entire Bible each and every year.  I'm 41 years old and have only completed this feat once and it took me a bit longer than a full year.  She also has taught Sunday school for 35 years, so it's safe to say that she has a pretty extensive knowledge in regards to scripture.  Using the books of Joshua, Genesis and Psalms, she was able to take that knowledge in regards to the Gibeonites and weave together the novel Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer.  On top of that, she's also visited Gibeon in the Palestinian West bank and has participated on an archaeological dig.  In all honestly, I'm really in awe with the author and the wonderful experiences she has had.

About the Book

This book follows the story of Keshub, a 13 year old Caaninite shepherd who lives a pretty mundane

and boring life, guarding his family's sheep in 1407 BC.  He longs for adventure and dreams of experiencing some of the journeys that he hears about form the passing traveling caravans who pass his flocks on their way to much more exciting destinations than the green grass hills he lives. And he also longs for the time when he will no longer be bullied and tormented but instead can be a warrior and hero.   But all that changes when he rescues the son of the Amorite king.  Suddenly Keshub finds himself in a precarious position, playing the role of a spy for the Gibeons as the Hebrews begin their conquest to pursue the Promised Land.  Through it all, Keshub and the Gibeons debate the truth of the God if the Hebrews might be the God of their own ancestors.

The author describes this book as "a Bible Study disguised as a novel" and I can definitely understand this to be true as she invites you to return to the Scriptures to read it for yourself and approach it as more than just "a dusty old book of theology".  Readers are also invites to dig out Biblical maps to locate places of importance as the story takes place.  Consolver brings Biblical history to life with attention to the smallest of details which comes from her knowledge of the time period as well as the area, using her experience to get the facts accurate and creating a truly immersive Biblical experience far beyond just a book of fiction based on Biblical evenst.  After the story, she also includes a page of 10 discussion questions for small groups.

Also available from the author's website is a 12 unit study guide that allows teachers and students to dig even digger into the life of the time period.  From learning about the Gezer Calendar (an agricultural calendar of events), learning to tie a tripod lashing or videos on bow making, these quick lessons teach about skills and locations that would have been very important to a young boy responsible for keeping his flocks safe or to understand how worship has changed over the years.

In addition to the free unit study available on the author's website, a more lengthy and in depth study guide is available for purchase ($2.99 in Ebook format and $12.99 for a physical copy at time of writing) which includes discussion questions, research topics, geographical mapwork, Scripture reading and craft projects to be completed while reading the book. Digging Deeper into HIStory is available for purchase on Amazon.

To learn more about Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer and Peggy Consolver, visit the website or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peggy.consolver

Flip it and Turn it and Spin it Around (A Schoolhouse Crew Review)

One of the joys of being a member of the Review Crew is that we get to put on hands on some pretty

cool items that I never would have heard of otherwise. Not everything is curriculum - some things are just for fun. Such as the case when members of the review crew got the opportunity to review various versions of the FlipStir puzzles from Enlivenze LLC.  Member got to choose from the two difficulty levels of these puzzles. Our family opted to review the Level 2 Solar System puzzle and it's been a fun and challenging opportunity for us.

FlipStir is a self contained, 10 piece 3D puzzle that uses a small stir style paddle attached to a wand that poked out of a clear plastic tube. To solve the puzzle, one must manipulate the puzzle pieces into place by using the wand to flip, stir, and move the pieces into place. But don't let the idea of only 10 pieces deceive you, it's much harder than it sounds.  The tube does not allow for much movement of the pieces which means to solve the puzzle, you have to really use some problem solving skills to figure out how to get the pieces into their proper order.

As mentioned above, we opted to try the level 2 puzzle.  There are two different levels to try and each level had the same amount of pieces. However, level 1 puzzles use bold colors and clear, defined images as well as straight edged pieces where the level 2  pieces have more complex designs and wavy shaped pieces, making them harder to manipulate. For level 1, there is an option of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton or pencils arranged in rainbow colors while the level 2 options are the Solar System, the Statue of Liberty or the Periodic Table.

Each FlipStir puzzle comes in a box that shows what the finished puzzle looks like. But don't expect the puzzle to be already assembled - that would be too easy.. The puzzle is already shaken and stirred and ready to go.  (You wouldn't expect it to be easy, right? Nope, you gotta work for it!!)

So, how did our family like the FlipStir puzzle?  It's a mixed reaction.

Right out of the box, my son grabbed the puzzle and started working towards manipulating the pieces.

Garrett loves puzzles to begin with and this hands on experience was perfect for him.  It took him a bit of time, but Garrett eventually figured out the design and solved the puzzle.

Ashleigh tried for about 5 minutes, put it down and didn't bother to pick it up again.  Puzzles aren't really her thing though, she would rather play with her stuffed animals.

My oldest, Alyssa, also gave up after about 20 minutes and deemed it "impossible".  We had a really good laugh at he fact that her 9 year old brother was able to solve it but she could not.

My husband also tried for about 30 minutes and gave up.  Again, the fact that Garrett could solve it but a 30 year old man who works on a $340 Million dollar aircraft every day couldn't figure out a simple puzzle designed for ages 7 and up provided many laughs in our household.

Charles Trying to Work the Puzzle

And Charles Giving Up on the Puzzle

Being that both Alyssa and Charles could not figure out how solve the puzzle and gave up on it yet did not see the humor in the fact the 9 year old could solve it, they both decided that they would shut me up by challenging ME to solve the puzzle.  I'm proud to say that I solved it several times, each time in less that 10 minutes.

Garrett presents me with the completed puzzle

Overall, it's a fun little tinkertoy that one can easily keep on hand to challenge their friends or just to play around with.  It's plenty challenging for all ages and I love the fact it is self contained so there's no risk of losing pieces. Also, in a world where electronics and video games reign, it's nice to have something for the kids to do that requires them to actually use brain power without staring at a screen. while it helps to improve motor skills as smaller children have to use the wand to manipulate the piece.

For More Information about Enlivenze LLC and the FlipStir Puzzles, be sure to visit their website or any of their various social media sites at:

Product Accounts

Facebook: www.facebook.com/flipstirpuzzle

Twitter: www.twitter.com/flipstir

Company Accounts

Facebook: www.facebook.com/enlivenze

Twitter: www.twitter.com/enlivenze