Deeper Roots Bible Curriculum for Middle School

I have recommended and used several different devotionals for short term missions from Deeper Root Publications in the past and knew that they had great products. I have been interested in their homeschool Bible Curriculum for quite a while, but was hesitant to purchase since I didn't know if it would be a good fit for our style of homeschooling. So when presented with the opportunity to review their Middle School Bible Curriculum, I was very excited to receive this and try it out!

First I would like to give you a little information about Deeper Roots Publications. Howard and Bonnie Lisech have spent time on the foreign mission field, as well as much time training and working with short term missions teams. Deeper Roots Publications grew out of their heart to provide material to help those preparing for the mission field, but even more importantly, deal with the issues of returning to their own culture. Having just returned to the U.S. after almost 6 years in Mexico, I can certainly relate to the need they are addressing. Having also homeschooled several of their children, they saw the need for a good, Biblically-based Bible curriculum.

After having the opportunity to use and review "Discovering Who I Am In Christ" which is for 7th - 9th grades, I am very impressed with the quality of this curriculum. And I very much appreciate the missions-mindedness that is incorporated in all of their products. This curriculum is laid out for ease of use for both the teacher and the student. The Middle School curriculum consists of four different volumes/studies in the Discovery Series. They are Discovering Our Amazing God, Discovering Who I Am In Christ, Discovering Christlike Habits, and Discovering a Christlike Character. There is a Teacher's Guide ($28.95) for each, which provides all the instructions, ideas and information that you, as teacher, will need to use this curriculum. The Student Workbook ($19.95) provides the lesson, memory verses, questions with space to write their answers, as well as Reflections pages for the student to write their thoughts and notes. Each section contains information about unreached people groups and prayer focus. It has engaging artwork, maps, photos, etc. which make the pages fun to look at and interesting. If you have a student that is still not comfortable with alot of writing, you can answer the questions orally and work through this together. It is a great foundational Bible study that would benefit every family.

They also have Bible curriculum for younger children called "Firm Foundations: Creation to Christ Children's Edition" which follows a chronological study of the Bible. It includes maps, a timeline and posters to make it more appealling to children.

Their high school Bible curriculum, "Rooted and Grounded (A Guide for Spiritual Growth)", is a one-year senior high course that helps students move from Biblical knowledge to spiritual application of these truths and concepts. The Teacher's Guide is $39.50 and the Student Workbook is $23.95. There is also a Unit Tests and Answers booklet for $3.95.

And if you are planning now or in the future to take a short-term missions trip, please consider using their short-term missions devotionals. They have Pre-Field, On-Field and Reentry resources and devotionals. We have recommended them for our interns when they came and stayed with us and I believe this truly helped them to make the most of their time with us as well as "re-enter" their life in the U.S. with less stress and culture shock.

Deeper Roots Publications offers free samples of their curriculum, so please don't hesitate to try them out and see if their products would meet the need in your homeschool family. If you would like to have a missions emphasis in your home, these products will be a great help with this and provide many opportunities to discuss missions and unreached people groups as you and your children study together.

Best Grocery Deals in Phoenix Area

I am going to start a new weekly column here that will highlight what I find to be the best grocery deals for the week in the Phoenix area. Some of them may also apply to those living in other areas of the country (if you have the same grocery store), but mostly they are for those local to this area. The reason I have decided to do this is that I have a number of friends who I send out a weekly email on Wednesdays to with this information, and I figured since I was already compiling the list, I might as well share it just in case there are others in the area that might benefit as well.

I will most often post this on Wednesdays since that is when the sales ads usually arrive. Most of our area sales run from Wednesday through Tuesday, but a few are Monday through Sunday or Sunday through Saturday. I will try to make note of that for each store.

Also, you will want to note that I am NOT including all specials or sales. I am only including those items that I have found that are truly a good deal and most of them will not include processed food items since I don't buy them and therefore wouldn't know if they were a good deal or not:-)

With all that preliminary said and done, here is this weeks best deals:

Albertsons (Feb 18 - 24)
Bottom Round Roast $1.88/lb
Red Seedless Grapes $0.77/lb
Broccoli $0.77/lb
Large Eggs - 18 count (limit 2) 2 for $3.00
Albertsons 2 lb chunk cheese $5.99
They also have a bunch of Buy 10, save $$ - some of these are good deals, too, so check them out.

Bashas (Feb. 18 -24)
Sanderson Farms Whole Fryers (limit 2) $0.67/lb
London Broil (limit 2) $1.87/lb
Milk (limit 2) $1.58/gal
Angel Soft Bath Tissue 4 pack (limit 3) $0.88
Brawny Paper Towels (limit 3) $0.88
Keebler, Kellogg's or Sunshine Crackers 50% off

Food City (Feb.16-22)
Chicken Leg Quarters (10 lb. bag) $0.39/lb
Food Club Long Grain Rice 2 lb bag $0.99/lb
Green Cabbage 3 lbs./$0.99
Large Tomatoes 3 lbs./$0.99
Avocados 2/$1.00
Maruchan Ramen Noodles 7/$1.00
Jalapenos $0.59/lb
Navel Oranges $0.59/lb
Lemons $0.69/lb
Gala Apples $0.79/lb
Red Bell Peppers 3/$0.99
White Onions 2 lbs/$1.00

Fresh & Easy (Feb. 18 - Mar 3)
Boneless Beef Chuck Roast $1.99/lb
Whole Frying Chicken $0.67/lb
Mild Cheddar, Monterey Jack or Colby Jack Cheese $2.50/lb

Fry's (Feb. 18 - 24)
Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast $1.67/lb
Boneless Beef Bottom Round Roast B1G1Free
California Cuties (Clementines) 3 lb bag $2.77
1/2 gallon milk $0.88
General Mills Cereal $1.47
Lay's Potato Chips B1G1Free

SafeWay (Feb. 18-24)
Lucerne Milk $1.57/gal
32 oz. Gatorade $0.69
Honeysuckle White Turkey Breast (bone-in) $0.99/lb
Bar S Smoked Sausage Links - 3 lbs $0.99/lb or $2.97
Baby Peeled Carrots 1 lb bag $0.99
Ragu Pasta Sauce $0.99
Red Seedless Grapes $0.68/lb
Navel Oranges $0.68/lb
Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts $1.98/lb
93% lean Ground Beef $1.97/lb ($1.78 at Mesa, Main Street location)
73% lean Ground Beef $1.47/lb

Sprouts (Feb. 18 - 25 double sales on Weds)
Strawberries 2 lbs/$3.00
Navel Oranges 2 lbs/$1.00
Hot House Tomatoes $0.67/lb
Red or Golden Delicious Apples $0.77/lb
Mild Cheddar Cheese $1.99/lb

A Very Crafty Necklace

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I make some beads with Sculpey Clay as part of the unit study we are doing about the Powhatan Indians. We experimented with using the pasta machine and different colors of clay. It was a lot of fun and I ended up with a fantastic necklace that I really enjoy wearing. Go homeschooling!!

A Really Nice Birthday!

Today was my birthday and I just wanted to share what my family did for me. First, my lovely dd made (with a little assistance) an incredible coconut cake completely from scratch (we started with 2 whole coconuts) using Alton Brown's recipe from Good Eats! It is SO delicious - I think I will make myself sick eating all this deliciousness!!

My hubby gave me a really cute case/tote for my laptop,and my son gave me fantastic headphones so I can listen/watch things on my laptop. We went out for breakfast at Denny's (you get a free breakfast on your birthday!!) since my hubby had to work, and then we are going to eat cake and watch "Fireproof" when he comes home tonight. All in all, I think it has been a very nice day! And my family is so great to me!!

Birthday Gifts Galore!!

Happy Birthday to me!! Well, not actually until next week, but today I began receiving all my birthday gifts from restaurants! That's right, I can eat all week for free with my free meals from these restaurants! I signed up for these all last fall and today I began receiving them via email. Here are my favorites:
Black Angus (free steak dinner with purchase of an entree - up to $18.99 value!)
LoneStar Steakhouse (Free entree of up to $15.00)
Red Robin (free gourmet Burger of your choice)
Mimi's Cafe ($10 off $20 or more purchase and you'll receive a free breakfast for joining)
Cold Stone (Free Like It Create Your Own Creation)
Old Country Buffet (one free buffet with the purchase of one adult buffet)

I know that there are many more restaurants that offer freebies for your birthday, too. Just check online for your favorites.
That's what works for me, and to check out more great ideas visit Work For Me Wednesday over at Rocks in My Dryer.

Way to Go Steelers!

What a great Super Bowl game! My son and I really enjoyed watching the game and decided that we really are tried and true Steeler fans. Since we live in Phoenix, we were also very excited that the Cardinals went to the Super Bowl, but down deep in our hearts we hoped that the Steelers would win. But we hoped it would be a good and close game, which it surely was! We took alot of ribbing from the folks around here, but the fans here in Phoenix are not as crazy loyal as those Steeler fans in Pittsburgh.

We have been trying to describe to our kids (who did NOT grow up in Pittsburgh like we did) what it is like in Pittsburgh when the Steelers go to the Super Bowl. And others around this area just don't get it when they see the intense loyalty of us Steeler fans:-). I told them it is heritage. The Steelers are a Pittsburgh institution that has been around for more years than any of us can remember and not only that - they are really good at football!!! They are the winningest team in all of Super Bowl history! Now that is a heritage to be proud of:-)

A Very Productive and Frugal Day

Today was very busy, but also very productive. I had a lot to do today and my hubby canceled a breakfast meeting to stay home and help me. You see, my brother and his family are coming to visit us tomorrow for the week. Since we just moved here last month, there were alot of little things that hadn't quite gotten done and I was feeling a little overwhelmed. I really appreciated the sacrifice my hubby made to help me.

After getting all that done, I then made some homemade buttermilk since my brother likes buttermilk. I also made some peanut brittle and peanut butter. Then I made a double batch of my homemade granola cereal so we would have enough for the week with extra mouths to feed.

I also made a trip to Albertson's to take advantage of a great deal they had for free eggs, milk and bread, as well as many items for only $1.88. And strawberries were only $1.48 for a large container, as well as blueberries for $1.88 a pint. Picked up some Scott Extra Soft Toilet Tissue for $.88 and some Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce for $.88, too. I also stopped by Basha's to get their chicken breasts for $.69/lb. I was able to get 6 packages with 4 breasts in each.

I also refilled my foam soap and mixed up some liquid for a box of baby wipes that had gone dry. Whew! It makes me exhausted just reiterating all this for you! I was very busy, my family all helped, too, and we accomplished a great deal!

Have some last minute cleaning to do in preparation tomorrow morning, but we are very excited to have them coming to visit us in our new house!

Superbowl This Year is Win-Win For Us!!

Wow, I am truly amazed that the Cardinals and Steelers will be playing in the Superbowl this year! Just a few weeks ago I said to my son, "Wouldn't it be something if the Cardinals and Steelers went to the Superbowl?" And we were truly shocked when it actually happened! The games were great on Sunday!

Here's why it is a win-win situation for us: we are die-hard Steeler fans since both my hubby and I are from Pittsburgh. However, we currently live in Phoenix area and have become Cardinal fans, too. We especially like Kurt Warner, who is a Christian. So I guess we will be rooting for both teams and happy however it turns out! What a strange set of circumstances this has turned out to be!

Go Cardinals and Steelers!!

Our Favorite Teriyaki Chicken!! Yummmmmmm!

I first made this Baked Teriyaki Chicken recipe several months ago and we all LOVED it! And it is very easy to make since you bake the chicken with the sauce on it.

Last weekend, I made this recipe for 100 people for our church lunch and everyone seemed to love it as well. So, since many have asked for the recipe, I thought I would share it.

It is from Allrecipes.com (if you haven't looked at their recipes yet, you really need to check it out!). I really like baking this with the chicken thighs because they are cheap (I usually get them for $0.67-$0.79/lb) and stay very moist. You can also use chicken breasts, even boneless, if you prefer.

While the chicken is baking, I saute some veggies (carrots, broccoli, squash, whatever) and cook my rice so that as soon as the chicken is done, the whole meal is ready to go. I like to debone the meat, shred it a little and toss it with the veggies, adding any leftover sauce at this point (make extra, you will love it!). Then just serve over rice and your meal is complete.

Blessings Galore Today!

This morning I went out to yard sales looking for 2 items: a smaller bookshelf for all of our music books and curtains for my daughter's bedroom. As I got into the van about 8am, I asked God to lead me to the places where I could find what I was looking for at a great price (I only had $10 in cash on me and couldn't afford much more than that anyway).

Within the first 3 stops, I found a wonderful bookshelf and they were only asking $10 for it. I had picked up a bread tray with tile warmer at a previous stop, so I only had $8 on me. They took $8 for the bookshelf! Then I had a little time to kill before the Goodwill opened at 9am (today was their 50% off everything day), so I wandered around a little more to a few more yard sales. I passed an area where there were a bunch of people handing out tons of produce. My curiosity got the best of me, so I stopped. I walked over to find out if it was a farmer's market or something, and found out that it was a food bank farmer's market giving away carts full of produce for FREE! All you had to do was sign in, get a number and wait your turn. So I decided God had led me here to bless us and took my turn. I received a pizza, more yellow squash than we could ever eat, about 20 bunches of green onions, honeydew, a bag full of apples, some peaches, a bunch of packaged bake goods, a box of candy canes, 4 small cabbages, a bag full of leaf lettuce, a fruit tray, 6 cartons of grape tomatoes, some ready to bake Christmas tree cookies, a 2.98lb Tri-tip from Trader Joes (priced at $17!!) and a few other things. Whew!! What a blessing that was! I shared some of the produce with our pastor's wife and she is going to use some of it for our church meal tomorrow. I also sat a peeled almost all of the apples to make a couple of apple crips (since most of them were bruised). I will be making Yellow Squash Casserole and the Tri-tip for dinner tonight. I baked the pizza for lunch.

Then I finally got to Goodwill and they had curtains made of fabric with horses on them - my daughter's room is horse-themed!! And they were less than $6 for three panels (I am going to use one to make accent pillows, etc.)!!!

God is SO awesome! He is so anxious to bless us if we will just ask Him and seek His leading in everything we do! Even going out to yard sales to find a few items!!

Technical Sketching for Middle Schoolers

I have to admit that when I received this in the mail from Insight Technical Education, I was a little overwhelmed with the holidays and moving, so I just put it aside for awhile.  My expectations were very vague because I had no idea what this product would entail.  Well, I have to tell you that I am very impressed with the product and the skills that it teaches in a very self-directed environment!

I received Advanced Complete-A-Sketch which teaches technical sketching, introduces drafting concepts, explore orthographic and isometric sketching, includes 3D Models to build and provides independent learning opportunities.  It is a CD Rom, so you can print out whatever you want as many times as you want.  The sketches are a little like advanced dot-to-dot projects where the student can used a straight edge, compass and other simple drafting tools to complete the sketch.  This is very much geared towards boys (helicopters, planes, tanks, etc.), and I believe my son will gain a great deal of ability from these pages.  This program runs $28 and includes a great variety of different projects.  And when they get better, they can do the same project again with more skill that they have acquired.  There is also bonus materials to enhance the learning acquired with the program.  They provide blank graph papers in order for you student to create their own projects, too.

The company is called Insight Technical Education and all their products are self-teaching, self-paced and great for all learning styles.  They have a number of different products including Accounting, Drafting, Introduction to CAD, Technical Sketching and Vision-Dexterity-Focus.  They range in age from Elementary to High School levels.

They also offer package deals, manual drafting kits and CAD software(TurboCAD), which will give the student a good foundation for going on to use other CAD programs.

If you have a child that is leaning more towards the technical end of the spectrum, I believe these products may be exactly the type of art you may be looking for and didn't even know it.   These products were developed to help their own children and now they have made them available for others to benefit from.

Visit their site and you will get an idea of how their program works!  It is a lot of fun to watch your kids complete a sketch that they never thought they were capable of and acquire skills that will aid them in their future.

KidsWealth - Money Management for Kids

When I opened the box with the KidsWealth Money Kit, I was very impressed with all that it includes!  First, let me explain that this is a money management kit for kids ages 4 - 12.  But it is so much fun and attractive to kids!  "The KidsWealth Money Program will help your child learn the value of money, how to manage their money and build smart money habits for a successful future."

The kit contains the Money Kit Case (available in blue or purple), 5 Account Wallets, Kid's Guide, Parents Guide, Kid's Pay Calendar, Pencils, Calculator, Kid's Pay Agreement, Kal & Pals Sticker Sheet, and Kid's Pay Sticker Sheet.  The Account Wallets are for Wealth (savings/investment), Plan (long-term goals), Learn (educational activities), Fun (spending money) and Angel (charity or tithe).

This program is so simple and fun for your kids that they will be excited to take control of their finances.  The Parents Guide explains all you need to know the implement the program and get your kids well on their way to a successful future financially.

I was very impressed with the KidsWealth Money Kit and would highly recommend it to every family!  It is set up similar to the "envelope method" of budgeting and makes it very easy and fun for kids to plan and save.  The cost for all of this is only $39.95!  And it is so colorful that my daughter immediately began begging me to let her have it and start using it right away!  I think you will find that kids will have fun using the KidsWealth Money Kit as they learn to manage their money.

Math Mammoth - Math Help For Everyone!

I am very happy with the math curriculum we have been using this year, so I was hesitant to try another program.  But with Math Mammoth, I have been very impressed with how their worksheets can be a great addition or help to any math program you may be using.  Math Mammoth has several different programs available.  You can purchase just the worksheets you need to help your child in an area where they may be struggling or just need a little more practice.  Math Mammoth has the Light Blue Series which is complete curriculum for grades 1-5, but they also have the Blue Series which is organized by topic, so you can just pick the topic that you need some extra support in and buy that.  These units are very inexpensive, too, ranging from just $2.50 - $6.00 per unit.  The complete package sets are about $27 for each grade.  That is a whole year worth of math for under $30!  

Then Math Mammoth has the Gold Series which are organized by grade level 3  - 8th grade, including Algebra I.  These are priced at about $12.00 per grade level.  But you can also choose by topic by ordering the Green Series books which are organized by topic and are quite inexpensive at just $2.50 - $6.00 each.  With a bargain like this, you almost can't afford not to try them!  These worksheets will give you that extra peace of mind knowing that your child has fully mastered each topic before moving on to the next level.

And to top it all off, all of these worksheets are printable over and over again so if you have several children, you only have to buy these one time and you will have them for each of your children.  And if your child makes a mess of their paper, simply print it out again and let them start clean.  They also have some package deals for around $60 which include all the topics or grade levels in each color series.  Since most math programs are quite pricey, you will be amazed at what you can get for just a small price with Math Mammoth!  And if you are still hesitant to try it, you can get a free "virtual" email course which included 280 free worksheets and sample pages so you can "try before you buy".  You will also get 7 math teaching articles and their Homeschool Math newsletter - all for free!

I encourage you, no matter how much you love your math program, to take a minute to check our Math Mammoth and see if it can be a help to you and your children.  And if you are looking for a math program to love, definitely don't hesitate to explore Math Mammoth!

Baby Memory Quilt Project Complete!

Just before Christmas, I completed this project of a baby memory quilt for a friend of a friend. It was my first time to piece something like this together and was quite a project! I received a box of baby clothes - mostly boys because the girl in the family was a bit older and they hadn't kept as many of her clothes. So it was a challenge to make it look balanced, as well as highlighting the few girls clothes.

I am not sure how many hours this took, but at least 20 hours over about a weeks time. It sort of came together as I went - the hardest part was the first cut into each cute baby outfit!! It was SO hard to start:-), but as I went along it got easier and a plan came together with the six blocks. I chose navy for the borders since there was so much blue and hand-stitched some of the special things on top after putting it together.

All in all, I was very pleased with the results and I believe the recipient was pleased also. It is a great way to keep some of those baby memories around without keeping a bunch of boxes of baby clothes that you only pull out once in a while to look at. And no one else appreciates them like you do, but this quilt is adorable to all your friends, as well as a great conversation piece.

I have had some requests to do more of these in the future and I believe it was worth my while, so I will let you know when I do another one. Let me know how you think it came out. I am also open to any suggestions that might make the next one easier.

A New Year's Day Tradition - Chicken Kiev

I guess our traditions are so multicultural because our family is so multicultural (and I love to cook all different kinds of ethnic foods!). On Christmas Eve, I always make Italian Wedding Soup and on New Year's Day, I always make Chicken Kiev (Russian). I have no Italian or Russian in my heritage - I just like their food!

So, I thought I would start out the new year by sharing my Chicken Kiev recipe. It is mostly in my head since I no longer have a printed recipe, so I will share the measurements to the best of my ability.

You will need one chicken breast per person, boneless and skinless, plus:

Stick of butter
Green onions, chopped
Parsley or Cilantro, chopped
3 eggs, beaten with some water
1/2 cup all purpose flour
Pepper
Dill Weed
Garlic Powder
1 cup bread crumbs
Oil

You will need to pound/flatten out the chicken breasts to about 1/2 inch thick, using a skillet or a mallet. I prefer the skillet because it doesn't massacre the meat as much. Then place an 1/8 of a stick up butter (cut in half longways, turn, then cut again longways, then cut those long sticks in half), 1 teaspoon of chopped green onions and 1 teaspoon of parsley or cilantro in the middle of the chicken breast. Begin rolling up, tucking in the sides, until you have a nice chicken roll. You may want to use toothpicks to hold it together.

Mix the pepper, garlic powder and dill weed into the flour. Then with your flour mixture on a plate and your breadcrumbs on another plate, begin by rolling each chicken roll into the flour mixture. Then dip into the egg mixture and roll in the bread crumbs. You can either fry right away, or you can place into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes while you get everything else ready. That way you can clean up the messy stuff before you prepare your other dishes.

When you are ready to fry, you need at least 1 1/2 inches of oil (more is ok) in a pan to reach about 360 degrees. Place a few of the chicken rolls into the oil. Cook at least 5 minutes and then turn over for another 5 minutes. You may need to cook longer depending on the thickness of your chicken. You need to cook until they are done all the way through. Sometimes I pop them into the microwave for a few minutes after frying to just make sure they are cooked through. You don't want to pierce them and let all the butter out, so be careful. Use just one as your test subject.

When you are ready to serve, serve over noodles or rice. When you cut into the Chicken Kiev, the melted butter will pour out onto your noodles or rice and make a rich and yummy dish!

Enjoy whatever meals are your family traditions this new year!

Hello, 2009! Waiting on God...

This year is a clean slate, a blank canvas, waiting to be filled with all the wonderful (and other:-) events, happenings and memories that God will bring you in 2009! Are you looking forward to you? Are you dreading it? Are you just taking a "wait and see" attitude?

Every year God has done wonderful and amazing things in my life, so I look forward each year with curiosity to what He has in store for me and my family. There have been MANY very hard times and I have walked many a treacherous road, but through it all I have learned to lean on Him and know that He will never give us more than we are able to handle with His love and mercy and grace.

The biggest thing that God has been teaching us over the past 5 years is to wait on Him. Wait on His leading before we jump into things. Wait on His timing to do things. Wait on His voice to speak things. Wait on His guidance in decision-making. Wait on His still small voice inside our hearts to be that compass that guides us each and every day. Waiting seems to be very "un-American". We Americans don't like to wait, we are impatient and want to "make things happen". We look at those individuals who are movers and shakers and admire their ability to make things happen. What we forget is that waiting on God is the only way to do things His way! He is NOT impatient or in a hurry! He knows exactly what is going to happen next and far into the future. He knows exactly what is best for us. So why do we forge ahead and make plans and decisions before we hear from Him? We often have to deal with many repercussions and long-reaching effects that our "hurry up" mentality and impatience bring us. God didn't intend those things because He had a perfect time and situation in mind that we weren't willing to wait for. Then we cry out to Him to save us from the "fallout". I'm sorry - that is now our road to walk. He will be with us, but He won't usually change the circumstances that we brought about by our own impetuousness. He loves us too much to save us from the consequences - He simply stays by our side and loves us through the turmoil. That is the only way we learn and grow.

So, my greatest encouragement for this new year is to WAIT ON HIM!!!! I can't stress this enough and I hope and pray some of your ears will hear this message (and eyes read this message) and stop to consider His leading and guiding as you walk through this new year. Stop trying to make things happen NOW, and listen to His gentle voice inside your heart. You will know it is His voice - it is always calm and clear, quiet and gentle. His voice is never rushed, loud or harried. It is never panicky or stressed (that is YOU!). You must calm yourself and quiet all the other things rushing around in your head to hear him. You must stop working so hard to accomplish things and take a moment of quiet (my favorite time to hear Him is in the shower:-) to calm your turmoil and sense His presence and hear His voice.

He desperately wants to lead and guide you. He longs to be gracious to you and show you His plan for you today. He really does love you and want to direct each word, each step, each action of your day so that you can walk completely in His will. Will you listen? Will you stop? Will you wait on Him?

Saying Goodbye to 2008

It is hard to believe this year has flown already! Is it just me or does each year go by faster and faster? Every year is a good year if it brings us closer to God (and sometimes that means a tough year:-), but this year brought our family some great things and great times!

This year, we saw the vision for Hope House come into reality. God provided all that we had need of to get the facility ready (thanks to some new friends from Tracy, CA). He brought us a wonderful director that we have confidence in to accomplish the work God has put in her heart as well as ours. He has provided for every need throughout the year - in His time!

He led us to make the move up to the Phoenix area and worked out every little detail to accomplish that move. We are very excited to be able to worship in His awesome presence every week with these folks who have become like family to us!

We have continued to grow as a family and our children have entered those teen years! Our relationships with them have grown and changed, and all for the better! God is so awesome! If we will just learn to WAIT ON HIM, He will accomplish every good work in our lives!

For the past 5 years or so, the main lesson we have been learning is to wait on Him - for everything! For His provision, for His leading, for His timing (which is NEVER the same as ours:-) and for every little thing! He knows all and sees all and is the best to decide the what, where, how and when! We serve an absolutely awesome God!

And as far as this economy goes, well He is in charge and will always take care of us. We have been excited about the low gas prices and grocery prices since stores are competing for our business. When you already live VERY frugally, the downturn in the economy hasn't had that great of an affect, except in ways that have benefited our budget:-). So look on the bright side and take advantage of those lower prices while they are here. And God will take care of us when things change again, too! He has a plan and He ALWAYS provides for His own! Trust in Him, lean on Him, look to Him and you will have a wonderful new year (no matter what the circumstances are)!

Learning through PLAY!!

The basic concept of the Puppetools site - that is learning through play - is something I believe in greatly! The founder, Jeffrey Peyton, has spent many years researching and putting together information for educators about the great advantages of learning through play. He quotes many famous philosophers and educators who stressed the importance of play in learning.

The Puppetools website is designed primarily for the classroom teacher who needs inexpensive and creative ways to bring the joy of learning through play into the classroom. He teaches the basics of the "hinge" which is what all of the puppets are built upon. There are many patterns and ideas for use in learning and teaching that could be very helpful to getting you started in using play as a learning tool.

I truly believe in using play for learning and teaching, and when my kids were little we used puppets as part of that play. Now, we lean more towards games, but the concept is the same. Children will learn and retain more when it is presented in the context of play.

And individual subscription is now available for only $20 for a full year. If your co-op or homeschool group is interested in Puppetools, you could purchase a Group Subscription and share among 30 different families for only $99 for a year. That comes out to only a little over $3.00 per family!!

Whatever your method for including play as a learning and teaching tool, please make sure to incorporate it in your daily teaching to enhance your child's ability to learn and retain the material!! And take a moment to check out Puppetools to see if this may be the way to get you started.

ALEKS Math

Ok, I am not a big proponent of online education, but this program may be the exception. ALEKS math is not just an online math program. At the heart of ALEKS is an artificial intelligence engine that assesses each student individually and continuously. It avoids multiple choice questions, thereby being more able to assess the student's abilities and challenges. ALEKS offers K-12 grade learning in all the applicable math subjects.

After taking the assessment, each child is given a pie chart showing what areas they need work and how much. Then the student can choose which area of math to work on until they fill up that section of the pie chart completely. They can move freely from topic to topic, thus keeping them from getting bored with one area of math. Also, if they are struggling in one area, they can switch to something they are more comfortable with for awhile.

My children actually like this program, and I sat with them as they worked and was very impressed with the quality of the material. We had a few technical challenges since we are using MACs, but quickly overcame them so that the kids could both work at the same time on different computers. My son loved the fact that it allowed him to use the calculator for long problems, as long as he understood the process and steps taken to figure out the problem. My daughter enjoyed the Geometry sections since she has not done much of this yet in her regular math program.

Here is some more information that I think will be helpful to you from their website:

"To ensure that topics learned are retained in long term memory, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student, using the results to adjust the student's knowledge of the course. Because students are forced to show mastery through mixed question assessments that cannot be predicted, mastery of the ALEKS course means true mastery of the course."

How is ALEKS different from other online learning programs?

• Uses artificial intelligence to target gaps in student knowledge
  
• Provides a cycle of assessment and learning
  
• Assesses and instructs with standards-based content
  
• Remediates gaps in student preparation
  
• Adapts to student needs with individualized instruction
  
• Presents only topics the student is ready to learn
  
• Provides clear explanations and feedback
  
• Monitors learning progress with automated reports
  
• Allows students to toggle between English and Spanish
  
• Offers unlimited online access from any computer
  
• Requires no minimum purchase -- Buy as few or as many subscriptions as needed!
  
• Allows you to save unused subscriptions

I encourage you to check out ALEKS for yourself and see if this might be a helpful math program for your children. They have a free trial so you can actually see what it is like.

A subscription to ALEKS is $19.95 per student, per month, or only $99.95 every 6 months, or only $179.95 every 12 months.

They also have a family discount program so that you can get discounts for multiple students.

Time 4 Learning - Online Education

Time 4 Learning is an automated online learning system with K-8th grade material that can be used by homeschoolers. The majority of their program is Language Arts and Math, but it also has some Science and Social Studies for some grades. This program is completely online and the student would do all their schooling on the computer. For me, this is a negative since I strictly limit my childrens' time on the computer and would definitely not want them to do all their schooling online. However, I know that this is not the case for many families. So, with this in mind, I will share what Time 4 Learning has to offer.

For children who love to work on the computer and interact online, Time 4 Learning may be a great incentive to do their schoolwork. The lessons are animated and colorful, although my children thought them a little goofy. Children get to work at their own pace and can repeat lessons whenever desired. There are reports for the parents to check progress, as well as complete lesson plans.

This is a secular program, so evolution is taught and some of the humor may be a little questionable depending on your family:-). Personally, I would not choose an online curriculum. However, if you would like something to supplement what you are teaching, or an educational option for your kids when they have time on the computer, you may want to check out Time 4 Learning. It costs $19.95 per month for the first child, and $14.95 for the second. They offer a risk-free 14 day trial that may be perfect for you to see exactly what Time 4 Learning has to offer.

All About Spelling

For starters, I want to let you know that I have tried several spelling programs, made my own, used those included in my unit studies and used none. I don't believe in using a formal spelling program until around 3rd or 4th grade, when your child can write well. Up until that time, I believe they learn alot of spelling just from reading.

Ok, with this explanation given in advance, I want to tell you how impressed I have been with All About Spelling! This program is set up in such a way as to not be tedious for the child that is not yet comfortable with a lot of writing. It is creatively put together so as to teach spelling without a bunch of repetition and copy work. There are games to make it fun and smaller children can use magnetic letter tiles to spell words rather than always writing them out.

Since my children are older, we quickly reviewed through Levels 1-3 and began working on Level 4. In the first several lessons, there were spelling rules that I had never heard of!! And I am an excellent speller (spelling bee winner and all that:-)! There was some prep work of cutting that they have eliminated by making the cards perforated - so that is a HUGE plus! You have word cards that you can use to keep track of words that your child still needs to work on, as well as Phonogram Cards with all the sounds so you can keep reviewing and keep track of what your child has mastered. All About Spelling brings together the three pathways to learning - auditory, visual and kinesthetic. There is a built-in review system and reinforcement activities to ensure that students retain what they learn and how to apply it in practical situations.

And this program is very reasonably priced! They range between $29.95 and $39.95 for a full year set, which includes the Teacher's Manual, as well as the Student Material Packet. You will need a Student Material Packet for each child to keep track of their progress, but these are only $12.95 - $17.95 each. You will also need to purchase a set of Letter Tiles ($9.95) and their Magnets ($5.95) one time to use with all of your children. The last spelling program I purchased was almost $100!! So this is very reasonable!

They have sample lessons on their website so you can see how it is laid out. Each lesson is very short and simple so spelling won't take a lot of your time each day. And because of the multi-sensory approach, it is much more appealing to all types of students. All in all, I am very impressed with this spelling program and will be continuing to use it with my kids! If you are not thrilled with your current spelling program, I challenge you to check out All About Spelling and see if it isn't just the fit for you!

A Little Grocery Shopping Help in Phoenix, AZ Area

If you are in the Phoenix, AZ area, this might be of help to you in your weekly shopping. For those of you who are too busy to peruse the sales ads and find out what is on special (and truly a good price:-), I am going to make a quick list each week (maybe twice since ads come out at different times) and post it here, as well as send it directly to those who wish to receive it in their email.

So, for the week of December 29, 2008, here are the best buys that I have found:

BEST DEAL: Skinless, boneless chicken breasts - $1.67/lb at Albertsons
and
Ranchers Reserve Beef Chuck 7-Bone Pot Roast $1.27/lb at Safeway


Albertsons
2 lb baby carrots 2 for $4.00
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts $1.67/lb
Farmer John Refrigerated Maple Bacon Sliced (16 oz) $1.77
Challenge Unsalted or Regular Butter (16 oz) 2/$6.00
Milk $1.88/gallon

Fry’s
Chicken Thighs and Legs $0.99/lb
93% lean Ground Beef in 2 lb Chub $1.88/lb
Dole Salad (in a 1lb bag) 10/$10
2 liter Pepsi products $0.88
1 lb bag of baby carrots 10/$10

Basha’s
2 liter Coke products $0.77
Roma tomatoes $0.88/lb

Safeway
Safeway skinless, boneless chicken breasts $1.77lb
93% lean ground beef $1.77/lb
Avocados Hass (1 lb) $0.48/lb
Smithfield Bacon (16 oz) Thick Sliced, Hickory Smoked 2 for $2.96
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce (18 oz) Hickory/Brown Sugar 2 for $3.19
Ranchers Reserve Beef Chuck 7-Bone Pot Roast $1.27/lb

Sprouts
Peppers Bell, Field Grown Red,Green, Yellow (1 lb) $0.77/lb
Peppers (Capsicums) Banana (Yellow Long) (1 lb) $0.77/lb
Lettuce Red or Green Leaf (1.00 ea) $0.77/lb
Chicken Thighs, boneless / skinless (1.00 lb) $1.69/lb
Pears Bartlett (1.00 lb) $0.88/lb
Grapes Red Globe (1 lb) $0.88/lb
Grapes Blue/Black Seedless (1 lb) $0.88/lb
Apples Fuji (1 lb) $0.88/lb
Apples Braeburn (1 lb) $0.88/lb

Food City usually has the best produce prices, so check there. Their ad is not out yet. And don’t forget 99 Cents Store for produce – they have great prices, too!

You will notice not much processed-type foods on this list. That is because I seldom buy them so am not an expert on what is a good price. Don't forget that WalMart price matches, just make sure it is the same brand. I have found that the cashiers usually keep the sales ads from all the competitors handy to look up prices, so you just need to mention them (from this list even) to get the better price.

If you would like to receive this in an email each week, simply comment on this post leaving your email address and I will add you to my weekly distribution list.

Hope this is helpful for some of you out there! Happy grocery shopping!

What Are You Baking for Christmas?

I began my baking today for Christmas - finally! Life has been a little busy with moving and all, but I am beginning to get settled in and today I began my baking.

First, I made 3 batches of peanut brittle. This was my first time to do it by myself and it turned out great! And I even taught my daughter how to make it.

Then, I had to go and do all my shopping to get all the ingredients for baking and Christmas Eve and Day meals. Then I made 2 Key Lime Pies from the original recipe my mom got from the guy who invented it in Key West, FL. This is such a simple recipe, but SO yummy!

There are only 4 ingredients:
5 egg yolks
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup of key lime juice (I squeeze my own from Mexican limes - the small ones)
1 graham cracker pie shell

Mix the first three ingredients together and pour into the pie shell. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes and you are done!! Top with some freshly whipped cream and you have a winner dessert for any occasion!

Tomorrow I will be baking pumpkin pies and pumpkin roll, as well as pumpkin dinner rolls. Then we will be making snickerdoodles and peanut butter M&M cookies. That will be all for us!

How about you? What are you baking (or have you baked) for Christmas? Care to share a recipe or two?

Did You Know There Was A Little Man in the Map?

Well, I learned something new when I read this delightful book with my children - there is a little man right in the middle of the United States map and he can help you learn all 50 states!

The Little Man in the Map is a delightful and beautiful hardbound book from Schoolside Press that will help your children (and you) learn your U.S. geography. The author is very imaginative in creating clues that will help you to remember the location of all 50 states.

After reading this book, my children said to me, "But the states don't really look like a man." So I took them to another map and showed them that indeed, there is a Little Man in the Map!! They were really shocked! They thought the author changed the shape of the states to make it work, but the states do really look like that! So even though my children thought the book a little corny (they are 12yo and 14yo), they did learn the placement of all 50 states in just a short time through the clues and rhymes in the book.

If you would like a delightful addition to your U.S. geography studies that will also help you to remember the states, The Little Man in the Map is the ideal book for you! There are also free coloring pages you can download from their website, as well as a wall map to aid your children in learning the states. And this beautiful book is only $19.95 and would make a great addition to any home or school library.

Make Multiplication Fun!!

Times Tales is the answer to all your children's struggles with learning their times tables!! I was very skeptical when I first purchased this product several years ago, but after only 30 minutes, I was a believer!! My daughter had struggled so much with trying to memorize her times tables without much success. And after only a few minutes with this story-like program, she only needs a very slight memory prompt in order to remember any of the upper, more difficult times tables. It took so much stress out of our lives and in such a short period of time!!

And when I received the newer version, I found that it also included the more difficult lower multiplication facts ( like 4x6 and 4x8) which my daughter was still struggling with. In minutes, she solved that dilemma forever! I cannot speak highly enough about this simple, yet amazing, method.

I also had the pleasure of checking out the Clean n Flip charts from Trigger Memory Systems: Zone Cleaning for kids, Laundry for kids, and Bedroom Cleaning for kids. Boy, do I wish I had bought these a few years ago - we would have foregone so much aggravation and stress over cleaning up! These charts are laminated and simply designed for ease of use for your kiddos. They are a fantastic way to help your kids learn to be responsible and they can work through the steps on their own without needing Mom to oversee. I am very impressed with these wonderful products. Go to their website and check them out - I promise you won't be disappointed!

Great Old Books for a New Generation

Salem Ridge Press is a publishing company, established in November, 2005, dedicated to bringing back quality children’s books of the 1800’s and early 1900’s for a new generation of readers. They strive to republish books that are well-written, interesting and wholesome. I had the distinct pleasure of checking out several of their books and was very impressed with the quality of the books that they are republishing.

I had the pleasure of reading Glaucia, the Greek Slave and was very pleased with the quality of the story. It is a wonderful story about a slave girl in the first Century who learns about Jesus. It gives a tremendous amount of history and culture of the time in Greece and Italy. This would be a tremendous supplement to any Ancient Greece study!

My daughter read Mary Jane, her Book and was delighted with the simple story. It reminded her a little of the Junie B. Jones books which she thoroughly enjoyed.

I would highly recommend any of the books that Salem Ridge Press has republished, as well as anything they will be republishing in the future since they are a company founded on Godly principles by a homeschool graduate. The underlying philosophy of Salem Ridge Press is found in the Bible: "Whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8)." Daniel firmly believes that what we read matters and what we take into our minds is a major factor in forming our ideas and character. His goal is to be a blessing to others by providing reading material that fits the qualifications outlined in the Bible. While not every title that Salem Ridge Press publishes is explicitly Christian, all of our titles have strong moral values and encourage positive character.

You can feel safe in letting your children read any of these books since they are carefully screened and edited where necessary to protect your child's purity. I will definitely be looking to Salem Ridge Press for more good family reads as we continue our literature-based unit studies.

New To Homeschooling? Here Is The Ideal Way To Get Started...

If you are new to homeschooling or even just beginning the process of deciding to homeschool your children, this is the perfect way to get started - Homeschooling ABCs! Terri Johnson of Knowledge Quest, Inc. will guide you each step of the way to make your first year of homeschooling a wonderful experience you will want to continue for many years! She has put together a series of weekly email newsletters that will take you by the hand and introduce you to all the different facets of homeschooling, from curriculum choices to socialization, and everything in between.

Homeschooling ABCs consists of 26 weekly lessons (one arriving every 7 days) that will gently guide you through preparing to homeschool your children, what does homeschooling really mean on a daily basis, choosing curriculum, networking with other families and much, much more! Her approach is so similar to mine when I am teaching my Homeschooling 101 workshop, so I can wholeheartedly recommend this to any new homeschoolers! In fact, I think this should be mandatory for all those contemplating or beginning to homeschool:-). It would help alleviate so many fears and worries of those new to the whole world of homeschooling.

And the price for Homeschooling ABCs is so reasonable, I don't know why anyone would turn it down! The cost is $10 per month for the 6 month duration for a total of $60! And you also receive tons of extras like curriculum samples and other products along the way that are worth over $250!! She includes links to many products and/or books that would be helpful to the new homeschooler, as well as a myriad of tips and ideas to make your first year great!

It has been a joy to receive these weekly newsletters and walk the path just like I was a new homeschooler in order to experience it just like a subscriber would! It has brought me back to the basics in my homeschooling. Even after 10 years of homeschooling, it is important to get back to the basics and not get caught up in what everyone else is doing. I have truly appreciated Terri's approach and thoroughness in covering so many different aspects that are important to the new homeschoolers.

If you are new to homeschooling, just contemplating the idea, or have been homeschooling a little while but have begun to get frustrated or overwhelmed, Homeschooling ABCs may be just what you need to help you along the way and help you experience the joy and excitement of homeschooling your children.

Terri Johnson is also offering a free 5-day mini class called
DO YOU WANT TO HOMESCHOOL WITH CONFIDENCE?
5 Ways to Know That You Are on the Right Track!

This would be a good way to try out what she has to offer and see if Homeschooling ABCs is right for you!

The Best Christmas Story I Have Read in a Long Time!

This morning we finished reading Cootie McKay's Nativity by Todd Wilson and I could hardly finish reading it for crying! It is the most precious and wonderful Christmas story I have read in a very long time. I received this book, along with book 2 of The Familyman's Christmas Treasury (Captain Chaos and the Manger Blaster!) and To Bethlehem - a Christmas Game for the Entire Family. I have been SO impressed with these wonderful products by The Familyman - Todd Wilson. I learned of these products through a weekly email newsletter that I get called The Homeschool Minute. Todd is one of the weekly contributors and has mentioned his game and books, so I just had to check them out. We love to play games, so I was really interested in a game about Christmas.To Bethlehem is so much fun to play and the more players the merrier! It is simple enough for little ones to participate, but fun for anyone at any age. There are silly things and questions that make you really think about the true meaning of Christmas. You use shekels (gold plastic coins) for money and there are times you have to pay fees or other players. You may have to sit on someone else's lap or wear your socks on your hands, but I guarantee that you will have fun and make some treasured memories along the way!

Then we began reading Cootie McKay's Nativity after breakfast together as a family. Wow, what an incredible reminder about the real reason we celebrate Christmas - and I'm not talking about Jesus being born! I don't want to spoil the ending, but we wouldn't be celebrating His birth if He wasn't alive now!! I cried through the last several pages with joy at this wonderful story (it is bringing tears to my eyes just remembering it:-). I can't wait to read Captain Chaos - I think we will start it tomorrow morning.

Todd is an excellent writer and brings the characters to life through his words. My family got a kick out of me reading Cootie's accent! He has a wonderful heart for fathers and families and I am going to have to check out more of his products after seeing how wonderful these are! I hope there are more Christmas Treasury stories in the works!

If you want to make some precious Christmas memories this year, hurry and order To Bethlehem and the 2 Familyman's Christmas Treasury books! I bet they can still get them to you in time if you hurry! You and your family will truly be blessed!

Teach Art From A Christian Perspective with Spears Art Studio

I am very arts/crafts oriented and LOVE to do all kinds of projects. However, we have never really used an art curriculum and was very interested in the Spears Art Studio curriculum when it arrived. I received the K-8th grade curriculum and have been so very impressed with how inclusive it is. There are fantastic themes and projects for every month of the year, and there are separate art projects for each grade K through 8!

The format of Spears Art Studio K-8 Christian Art Curriculum, A Teacher's Manual© 2008 consists of a main theme (seasonal and holiday recognition included) for each instructional week of the school year, with one or more activities for each grade level based on that main theme, addressing art elements, art principles, design elements, etc.
• expanded Scripture integration
• color format and color illustrations (on CD-Rom in PDF)
• fuller development of themes
• Scripture connections
• core curriculum connections
• 269 art activities (many new and revised)
• 137 patterns and posters
• 498 instructional pages
• analyzed for National Visual Art Standards and TEKS
(Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)

This art curriculum supports the grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric stages of Classical education, but is an incredible art program for any style of homeschooling. And for what you get on one CD, it is VERY reasonable priced. The complete curriculum for K-8 is only $39.95 with shipping included. This includes all of the templates for projects, as well as all the teaching materials! If you want to buy the printed copy, you can get a black and white copy in a binder, as well as the full color CD rom, for $134.95. That comes out to about $14.99 per grade year! How reasonable is that!

They also have a high school curriculum which I am sure is fantastic based on what I have seen of the excellence with which Diana Spears has put together the K-8 program. The prices for the High School Art Survey program is only $29.95 for the CD rom, $69.95 for the hard copy in a binder, or a combo of both for only $84.95.

There are sample pages and lesson plans available on their website so you can check it out and see how excellent this program is for teaching art to your children at all levels. Take a minute and check it out today - I promise you won't be disappointed if you are interested in quality art education for your family.

Back in the U.S.A.!!!!

It is so WONDERFUL to be living back in the United States! We have lived in Mexico for the past 5 1/2 years and just moved back stateside a week ago. I just want to share how many little things we are so excited about! First of all, we have hot water any time and enough water pressure to turn on more than one faucet at a time! We have grass in our yard and a driveway and carport! Wow, what luxuries after so many years without these little things I bet you all take for granted:-).

And we get our mail right at our house and every day!!! We used to make a trip once a week to get mail. Our cell phones work all the time (not just intermittently when we got a US signal:-) and I can just run to the store for something without it being an all day trip! We can just jump in the car and be at friends' houses in minutes - don't have to wait for an hour in line just to cross the border! It only takes 10 minutes to get to church to worship - in English - with other believers! I can't even express adequately how thrilled I am each and every day to be able to do all these mundane every day things that most folks just take for granted!

I received a pile of grocery store ads on Wednesday - at my house!!! - and was able to go through and find the best deals and plan our meals around the best specials with one short trip to 5 DIFFERENT grocery stores!!! And they were all within a few minutes of our house!! We have 2 large shopping plaza/malls within 3 miles of our home, as well as a big mall about 4 miles away. There are so many things to do for Christmas that we are truly overwhelmed! Because traffic was so much worse during the month of December crossing the border, we would only get to do ONE thing for Christmas and now we have SO MANY OPTIONS!!!

Please take from this little bit of rejoicing on my part a new sense of all the many blessings and conveniences that God has surrounded you with! I hope for each and every one of you reading this that you will look at things a little more gratefully and realize that there are MANY blessings unique to living where you do and lift up your hearts in thanksgiving to God for all that you have.

I am bubbling over with joy every day as my children, husband and I enjoy the blessings of living here in Arizona in a wonderful home, community and country! I am enjoying every moment of this holiday season, giving thanks for every little thing that I am rediscovering, and I pray daily that I will always hold these things dear and appreciate all these little things that make life such fun! I don't want to take these things for granted every again, even as I get used to them again. I pray God will keep me in this place of thankfulness and joy through all the things He has planned for me. What an awesome God we serve!

Enjoy today and all the little joys it brings you!!!

Rime to Read

Although my children are older now, I wish I would have had this resource available when they were just learning to read. Rime to Read is a virtual program for beginning readers, and it reminds me a little of the Bob Books. However, what I REALLY like about these books is that the characters look like real little kids! My son just couldn't get over the fact that the Bob books had characters with triangle and other shaped heads!LOL

When my children, particularly my son, was beginning to learn to read, it would have been very beneficial to have little books like Rime to Read for him to read so that he could feel like he was accomplishing something. His greatest desire was to actually read a book, but it took a long time before he knew enough sounds to even read a simple reader. So I really feel these little learning booklets would be a great resource for your little ones just beginning to learn their sounds. And you can actually use these books to teach your children to read! The books are organized by rimes (words that look and sound alike, i.e. hat, sat, mat, pat, etc.) and you can purchase all 20 of them or just a vowel set f 4 books. Their prices are very reasonable ($44.99 for all 20, or $9.99 for a vowel set of 4 books) and you can try the first book for free at their website to see if this is something that can help you teach your child to read.

Here is what their site says about the program:

• Rime to Read is a beginning reading program comprised of 20 short books.
  
  
• The program is carefully structured to ensure success for the youngest readers as well as students needing remedial work.
  
  
• Each of the twenty books, four per short vowel, highlights a specific rime or word family (e.g., bat, cat, rat). Each rime is color-coded throughout the series with a different color.
  
  
• The color-coding of each rime encourages students to use visual similarities and differences to decode,a strategy employed by successful readers.
  
  
• The color-coding also helps students develop phonological awareness by providing cues for sound discrimination and categorization.
  
  
• Thirty-five common sight words are introduced and previewed the first five times they appear. Sight words are distinguished by black type.

So if you have little beginning readers in your family, take a moment to check out this great resource that will help those early readers feel a sense of accomplishment when they can read a whole book!