 I'm always on the lookout for family-friendly movies that are well made, artistically and for the purpose of entertainment and learning something new. The Woodcarver is a newly released, family-friendly movie that is not only entertaining, but teaches excellent lessons about life and having a meaningful relationship with the Lord. We all loved this movie! I can't wait for someone here at Joy In Our Journey.com to win a brand new copy of this DVD! See the bottom of this post to enter the giveaway. Summary of The Woodcarver The Woodcarver tells the story of a troubled teen named Matthew, who becomes friends with an accomplished woodcarver, Ernest, after vandalizing his local church. Through this friendship, Matthew learns to work together with Ernest to not only restore his local church, but also restore his faith in God and life. Matthew Stevenson is a troubled kid from a broken home. When he vandalizes the local church to get back at his parents, Matthew has to repair the damage to the church to avoid criminal charges. While working at the church, he meets Ernest (John Ratzenberger), an accomplished wood carver who created the intricate woodwork decoration that Matthew destroyed. Ernest has become something of a hermit, but reluctantly comes out of reclusion to help repair the church. Now Ernest and Matthew must work together to preserve the church's beautiful antiquity, and along the way, they also manage to restore their faith in God and in life. The Official Movie Trailer: |
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of "The Woodcarver" DVD for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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Most parents are deeply concerned with their children's use of the internet in their own home. Will our children see inappropriate content, pornography, etc. easily in our own homes?
Who wants THAT?
Definitely NOT me. I've seen what has happened to more than one youth who easily - and at first, accidentally - viewed pornography and inappropriate content on their family's home computer. It is life-changing...in a very negative way. The results can last for years and years.
What if I could download some software that enabled me to do the following:
- Create a kid-safe PC - with web site blocking and filtering
- Control Computer Use - with comprehensive time controls
- Get alerted - know if anything suspicious occurs and review activity
The FREE version provides all 8 of these tools to one computer per household.
The Maximum Protection version ($29.99) may be used on multiple computers in the same household, it is customizable, and it monitors all social networking sites as well.
How does Action Alert work?
Action Alert is easily downloaded and installed to your home computer. Action Alert sent me the link to their Maximum Protection version, and it was easily installed on one of our home computers. I chose not to install it on both of our computers in case there were any problems in the installation and use of Action Alert.
Action Alert automatically sets itself as the "home page" on your computer. It provides a search engine for searching the internet. If someone chooses to type something inappropriate into the search engine, the inappropriate sites will be automatically blocked from view.
I was surprised to find that I could easily open up a new tab next to the Action Alert home page...and this would allow me to access anything inappropriate, should I desire to do so. It would also allow me to open up a different search engine, like Google, and access anything I wanted to at the other search engine. Hmm. So, instead of this being a "blocking" software for anything inappropriate, there seem to be ways to bypass the filtering.
However, I also noticed that within a few minutes of me typing words that could possibly be considered as inappropriate ("bloody", for example), I received an email that someone on this particular computer had typed the word "bloody" in the Action Alert search engine.
Action Alert automatically sets itself as the "home page" on your computer. It provides a search engine for searching the internet. If someone chooses to type something inappropriate into the search engine, the inappropriate sites will be automatically blocked from view.
I was surprised to find that I could easily open up a new tab next to the Action Alert home page...and this would allow me to access anything inappropriate, should I desire to do so. It would also allow me to open up a different search engine, like Google, and access anything I wanted to at the other search engine. Hmm. So, instead of this being a "blocking" software for anything inappropriate, there seem to be ways to bypass the filtering.
However, I also noticed that within a few minutes of me typing words that could possibly be considered as inappropriate ("bloody", for example), I received an email that someone on this particular computer had typed the word "bloody" in the Action Alert search engine.
For parents who have smart phones, they can add their phones to the Action Alert software so that the parent is sent a message whenever inappropriate content is searched for on the home computer, even if the parent is away from home.
I wasn't able to assess this feature, because I don't have a smart phone. I did hear some members of the TOS Crew mention that they received notices on their smart phones from a few minutes to 45 minutes after the inappropriate search was completed, but since I wasn't able to try this feature, I really have no idea how well it works.
I do know that Action Alert, via a smart phone, can be used to remotely turn off/shut down a home computer. Wow! That is a great feature, especially if the warning is received by the parent within a couple of minutes of the indiscretion taking place.
Site Blocking appears to be a positive feature of Action Alert, if you are willing to type in a bunch of inappropriate website addresses you don't want your family to access. The problem I see with this is that a majority of the internet is inappropriate and NOT family-friendly. A person could spend a lifetime adding in website addresses of inappropriate websites. This doesn't seem feasible to me, but maybe I'm completely misunderstanding how this feature works.
Activity Video Recording allows a parent to know every keystroke that has been typed over the previous 60 hours. Occasionally, I would receive an email that this feature was 90% or 100% full. When the capacity of 60 hours is reached, then all of that information is dumped, and a new set of 60 hours of recording is begun.
The other features of Action Alert are worthwhile for parents to explore and use, if they desire.
I wasn't able to assess this feature, because I don't have a smart phone. I did hear some members of the TOS Crew mention that they received notices on their smart phones from a few minutes to 45 minutes after the inappropriate search was completed, but since I wasn't able to try this feature, I really have no idea how well it works.
I do know that Action Alert, via a smart phone, can be used to remotely turn off/shut down a home computer. Wow! That is a great feature, especially if the warning is received by the parent within a couple of minutes of the indiscretion taking place.
Site Blocking appears to be a positive feature of Action Alert, if you are willing to type in a bunch of inappropriate website addresses you don't want your family to access. The problem I see with this is that a majority of the internet is inappropriate and NOT family-friendly. A person could spend a lifetime adding in website addresses of inappropriate websites. This doesn't seem feasible to me, but maybe I'm completely misunderstanding how this feature works.
Activity Video Recording allows a parent to know every keystroke that has been typed over the previous 60 hours. Occasionally, I would receive an email that this feature was 90% or 100% full. When the capacity of 60 hours is reached, then all of that information is dumped, and a new set of 60 hours of recording is begun.
The other features of Action Alert are worthwhile for parents to explore and use, if they desire.
Our overall impression of Action Alert:
This company seems to be heading in the correct direction, to help protect children. The downloading process went well, although our computer seemed to slow down significantly and progressively over a few weeks' time, even after rebooting our computer and unplugging our wireless router. I'm not sure why this happened, but after we uninstalled Action Alert, the computer went back to its normal speed.
In my mind, I think Action Alert is a good product to install on home computers, for the purpose of accountability. In other words, when I tell my children that every keystroke they type will be recorded, and inappropriate content they search for will be emailed or texted to me, this provides them with a level of accountability. Even if I personally know that I may not receive the message for a few minutes or maybe even a few hours, my children will know that I will be alerted. For many children, just having that level of accountability works well enough for them to stay out of trouble on the internet.
However, if you would like to prevent your children from seeing inappropriate content on the internet, you may want to look for a different product that will actually filter all internet searches, regardless of which search engine is used.
For my own family, we've chosen to pay for regular internet filtering on a quarterly basis. The service we selected blocks 99% of internet pornography and inappropriate graphics and pictures. It blocks out inappropriate ads on websites, and much more. This seems to work the best for us.
As far as social networking goes, my children use my own YouTube account, so I can follow all conversations placed over YouTube. I'm also a "Friend" on my daughter's Facebook account so I can easily see any conversations taking place on her account. And, my girls know that at any moment, I can get onto their Gmail accounts and read all of their mail, which I do from time to time. Those extra checks I place on their social networking and email accounts also provides them with a sense of accountability.
Should Action Alert eventually have a product that will almost completely filter internet like the service our family already uses, and then combine it with the features they already offer, they are going to have one very solid PC protection product for families!
Want to know what other TOS Crew families thought about Action Alert? Check out their reviews HERE!
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Disclaimer: I received the Maximum Protection version of Action Alert in exchange for my honest review of their product. No other compensation was provided.
| Rob and Joanna Teigen offer help and encouragement to dads who want to make that all- important difference in their daughter’s life. Rob Teigen has been a publishing professional for more than fifteen years. Rob met his wife, Joanna, when they were students at Moody Bible Institute. Joanna Teigen is the mom of their teenage son and three younger daughters. The Teigens enjoy church, foster parenting, books, music, and laughter. They live in West Michigan | 
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My girls love going out with Daddy for a fun time together: fishing, hunting, backpacking, geocaching, trips to the dump (!), shopping at Lowe's (!!), and going to watch the auto races at our county speedway.
After hanging around me 24/7, I think it's wonderful that they get out with their dad occasionally and just hang out together. Sometimes, Elmer will take them one at a time somewhere, even for something as simple as going to get a small ice cream cone at the local DQ. Sometimes, he plans weekend backpacking trips with the girls so I can cram in a lot of homeschool planning in a short amount of time. (Bless him!)
What if your husband's little dates with the little girls in your family had more purpose than just hanging out and building relationship with each other? Capturing the heart of your daughters is very important, but what if dads also had an eternal purpose, a plan to also spiritually invest in the lives of their daughters?
88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates is the kind of book that will help the dad in your family connect on many levels with your daughters. There are many fun yet godly ideas from which dads can choose to do with their daughters. Elmer, my husband, picked out a couple of suggestions and did these with our girls. They not only had fun together, with lots of giggles, but he also was able to instruct them in a spiritual way. That's the whole point of this book - to connect emotionally and spiritually with the little girls in your family. Scriptures and conversation starters are included with each daddy-daughter date idea, so dads will no longer have an excuse for not knowing how to spiritually impact their daughters.
The book suggests that it is written for girls ages 6-12. My 12-year-old looked through the book and felt that most of the ideas are geared for girls ages 5-10. My 14-year-old thumbed through the book and also felt this way, but every family will have their own opinion of this as they read it.
I do hope that dads will consider buying 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates and begin trying out some of the ideas that are presented. It has some excellent ideas, and it is so important to strengthen the father-daughter relationship before the girls reach those critical mid-teen years. I highly recommend 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates as an excellent method of making fun times more meaningful and strengthening the spiritual and emotional bonds between Christian dads and their daughters.
88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates is available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller - from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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I received one paperback copy of 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates in exchange for my honest review of this book. No other compensation was provided.
One of my daughters learned, mostly on her own, to read fluently at age 4-1/2. I didn't even really get to have the satisfaction of teaching her to read!
However, she has always preferred picture books or shorter books to lengthy chapter books. Even at age 12, she would rather be pursuing her hobbies of photography and videography than to sit down with a chapter book to read. Something about sitting still, reading, hasn't been her cup of tea.
So, occasionally, I assign reading to her.
Yup, I do.
I'm so mean!
;-)
This time, because I was selected to review a Literature Study Guide from Progeny Press, and because my other daughter was in a very, very busy part of her school year, Brittany was "chosen" by me - Mom - the teacher - to help review this literature guide.
Of the several literature guides from which I was able to select, Across Five Aprils, The Cay, and The Bronze Bow, I chose The Cay, by Theodore Taylor. In our history studies, we were currently studying World War II, so this fit in perfectly. We had already read The Bronze Bow a couple of years prior, and while Across Five Aprils also takes place during a war (the Civil War), I decided to select the Guide that would match our history studies.
However, she has always preferred picture books or shorter books to lengthy chapter books. Even at age 12, she would rather be pursuing her hobbies of photography and videography than to sit down with a chapter book to read. Something about sitting still, reading, hasn't been her cup of tea.
So, occasionally, I assign reading to her.
Yup, I do.
I'm so mean!
;-)
This time, because I was selected to review a Literature Study Guide from Progeny Press, and because my other daughter was in a very, very busy part of her school year, Brittany was "chosen" by me - Mom - the teacher - to help review this literature guide.
Of the several literature guides from which I was able to select, Across Five Aprils, The Cay, and The Bronze Bow, I chose The Cay, by Theodore Taylor. In our history studies, we were currently studying World War II, so this fit in perfectly. We had already read The Bronze Bow a couple of years prior, and while Across Five Aprils also takes place during a war (the Civil War), I decided to select the Guide that would match our history studies.
Eleven-year-old Phillip lives with his parents on an island off the coast of Venezuela in 1942, but when the Nazis begin torpedoing ships nearby, Phillip's mother insists that he and she return to the United States. Their ship is torpedoed by a Nazi submarine long before they reach the U.S., however, and Phillip finds himself marooned on an island with an old, but strong, black deckhand named Timothy. When Phillip goes blind from an injury, he slowly realizes how caring, wise, and resourceful Timothy really is, and the color of their skin is unimportant.
Since Brittany didn't really love reading chapter books, I chose to "hook" her interest by allowing her to listen to the first chapter online at www.Amazon.com while we both followed along in the downloaded version of The Cay on our Kindle reader. (The first chapter or so was free to listen.) I felt it was very important for her to literally "hear" the accent of the characters, because she is not as familiar with Caribbean accents, and it could be tougher to understand some characters' language if she didn't have an introduction to the language by listening to this on audio.
I also mentioned that when she came across the Caribbean accents in her reading, if she found a sentence she didn't understand, she should read it aloud, a bit quickly. If she still didn't understand it, she should come ask me or my husband to explain it to her.
Even though audio format is Brittany's weakest method of learning, we have built up this skill in her over the years so that now she loves to listen to audio books online. Who would have guessed this five years ago? !!!
Progeny Press began their work in writing literature guides with a Christian perspective back when they were homeschooling their own children. They recommend that junior high and high school students read the entire literature book in one week, and then spend the next 6-10 weeks working through the literature guide, typically one section per week.
I had requested the audio version of The Cay from our library on a Thursday evening (online), but because of being out of town the following Saturday, and due to our local library only being open four days per week, it would be five days before I could pick up the audio CD of The Cay.
Lo and behold, when the audio CD was ready for me to pick up from the library on the following Tuesday, Brittany had already finished reading the entire book! She definitely got "hooked" from hearing Chapter 1 on audio, so she decided to sneak away into her bedroom a few times that weekend and read The Cay on the Kindle while turning on the "text to speech" function on the Kindle. I laughed! The "text to speech" function isn't all that great, but she chose to listen to the entire book while reading along with the text!
I had requested the audio version of The Cay from our library on a Thursday evening (online), but because of being out of town the following Saturday, and due to our local library only being open four days per week, it would be five days before I could pick up the audio CD of The Cay.
Lo and behold, when the audio CD was ready for me to pick up from the library on the following Tuesday, Brittany had already finished reading the entire book! She definitely got "hooked" from hearing Chapter 1 on audio, so she decided to sneak away into her bedroom a few times that weekend and read The Cay on the Kindle while turning on the "text to speech" function on the Kindle. I laughed! The "text to speech" function isn't all that great, but she chose to listen to the entire book while reading along with the text!
What did we think of the Literature Guide itself?
We received an emailed PDF version of the Interactive, "type-as-you-go" Literature Guide.
Here is a sample of The Cay Literature Guide by Progeny Press:
http://www.progenypress.com/pdf/Samples-MiddleSchool/CaySample.pdf
If you can take a minute or two to follow that link to the sample, you'll notice that it's designed to be printed out on paper so the student may write his or her answers, or the student may actually type in their answers on the PDF version of the Literature Guide on the computer. That's especially handy for readers who really don't enjoy writing down their answers or who struggle with handwriting skills or have other fine motor challenges.
I hadn't decided if I was going to have my 8th grader, Kelsi, read The Cay and work on this Progeny Press Literature Guide for The Cay, so I printed out a booklet for Brittany.
For some of her answers, we completed them verbally. We sat down together, and Brittany told me the answers to the questions. For some of the questions, especially the Bible devotional questions and tying the Bible in with The Cay, she wrote down her answers so she would have more time to be introspective.
The Progeny Press Literature Guides are not filled with activity sheets or "who did this" types of questions.
YES! Finally! I got so tired of crosswords, word searches, and "who did this" questions in my schoolwork when I was growing up!
Instead, the Progeny Press Literature Guide we used focused on literary terms, comprehension and analysis, critical thinking skills, vocabulary, and activity suggestions.
Each Progeny Press Literature Guide contains the following for the teacher/parent, and student:
- a synopsis of the book being read along with the literature guide
- Information about the book's author
- background information about the setting and era of the book
- Ideas for pre-reading activities
- literature lessons encompassing all of the chapters in the chosen literature book
- an overview (can be used as a final test, if desired)
- essay and project suggestions
- additional resources
- an answer key
The BEST part about Progeny Press' Literature Guides:
Not only did Brittany and I have some good discussions on literary elements and terms, but she was able to use parts of each section of the Literature Guide during her Bible devotional times!
Wow!
While I've seen some decent literature guides on the market for homeschoolers, I haven't seen any that contain tools for deep Christian thought and discussion.
Especially at the junior high and high school ages, this is very beneficial! Students are given a tool that will enable them to evaluate literature and their own lives through a biblical worldview. This is so important to me!
A bit more about Progeny Press:
Progeny Press has developed 106 Literature Guides for student use. They also continue to develop additional Literature Guides, about 3 to 6 per year.
- 17 Literature Guides for K-3rd graders
- 17 Literature Guides for 3rd-5th graders
- 35 Literature Guides for middle schoolers
- 37 Literature Guides for high schoolers
Their study guides are available in 3 formats:
- As a printed, paperbound reproducible booklet ($18.99)
- PDF interactive file on CD (can be completed on computer or printed out) ($16.99)
- PDF interactive file as an e-mail attachment (can be completed on computer or printed out) ($16.99)
*Note: the literature guides for grades K-3 (Lower Elementary) are not in an interactive, "type-as-you-go" format.
Are any other materials necessary to use a Progeny Press Literature Guide?
Students should have easy access to a good dictionary, a thesaurus, a Bible, and sometimes a topical Bible or concordance. Supervised access to the Internet can also be helpful at times, as can a good set of encyclopedias.
How do these Literature Guides work for high school credit?
Most Christian high schools provide one quarter of a credit for each completed literature guide. Homeschooling families are able to provide the same type of credit for their high school level children.
May parents and teachers reproduce these literature guides?
Purchase of a study guide entitles an individual teacher to reproduce pages for use in their own classroom or home. Multiple teachers may not reproduce pages from the same guide.
And for families who are active military, Progeny Press would like to thank them by offering 15% off all orders for active military personnel. Send a scan of your military ID to progeny@progenypress.com or enter a valid APO address during checkout. They will happily apply the discount upon order processing.
And for families who are active military, Progeny Press would like to thank them by offering 15% off all orders for active military personnel. Send a scan of your military ID to progeny@progenypress.com or enter a valid APO address during checkout. They will happily apply the discount upon order processing.
Final thoughts:
While Brittany would still prefer to use her camera and edit and produce videos (!), she enjoyed using The Cay Study Guide. We didn't have use of this guide long enough for her to finish it completely, but she'll be working on it for the rest of the school year. I'd love to be able to purchase a few more of these every school year, because I know the validity of researching and exploring literature through a biblical worldview. I think Progeny Press has made a wonderful step in that direction to assist homeschooling families and Christian schools, and I applaud them!
Members of the TOS Crew have also reviewed Progeny Press' Literature Guides. Check out what they have to say!
Members of the TOS Crew have also reviewed Progeny Press' Literature Guides. Check out what they have to say!
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Disclosure: I received one PDF download via email of The Cay Literature Study Guide by Progeny Press, in exchange for my honest review of their product. No other compensation was provided.
The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.
Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone - whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.
When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.
Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone - whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.
When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.
Here's a "preview" of this book! If you can't seem to view it here on this webpost, you may follow the link, below, to YouTube so you can view it:
View on YouTube: http://youtu.be/AdzNGJXkHPs
The year is 1818; the setting is England and Ireland. There are two main characters in this fascinating story: Alexandria Featherstone, the lone child (now 20 years of age and quite independent) of a couple who have more interest in their chosen profession of treasure hunting than of raising their child; she (Alex), therefore, has grown up in a dilapidated and crumbling castle with an elderly couple who look after her and the castle, the fields, and the animals around it, on tiny Holy Island with a tiny town and its citizens as faithful friends.
When her parents are not seen nor heard from in nearly a year, and are declared "dead" by the powers that be, Alex knows in her heart that they are not dead but instead in some kind of trouble. She takes it upon herself to find them. She prays much to the God she trusts, and she feels it is certainly His Will to be with her and help her on her quest.
Gabriel Ravenwood, Duke of St. Easton, is the other major character in this story. He lives in London and is a powerful individual who is suddenly afflicted by an illness or "condition" which devastates him and causes him to begin looking inward, wondering why God would allow such a thing to come over him. He receives a letter from the Prince Regent, an all-powerful force in that day, requesting him to find this "child" and brin gher to London. After all, her parents are "dead", and she is obviously in need of a guardian. He appoints Gabriel as that guardian. She is also heir to a great fortune.
With that introduction, we begin on a very interesting, sometimes spontaneous trip throughout Ireland. Alex always manages to keep just out of reach of the Duke, who is intent on finding her and taking her under his wing. Through letters they write to each other during the following weeks and months, she tries to deceive him because she does NOT want to be taken to live in London. Instead, she wants to continue her quest for her parents. He begins to find himself falling in love with her just by what he learns of her and sees in her letters, which become more and more personal in nature. He also begins to realize that her prayers and the strength of her God are giving him comfort and courage in his own life, and he begins to receive strength from God himself.
Of course, there are many setbacks in this adventure; others - who are intent on evil - attempt to discourage and end this quest. Accidents happen; much misfortune at times; which make for an exciting and adventurous read. The sequel to this book is in the making currently, and is obviously a must-read. The Guardian Duke well-written, fast-moving story which was hard to put down.
I'm pleased to mention that I read this book very quickly, in a day or so, while we were on vacation. I could hardly put the book down! I've always enjoyed regency-era books and movies, and I'm pleased to let you know here that this did NOT disappoint! As well, the author has developed a romantic book that is very clean and appropriate for all audiences! I'm so happy that the author, Jamie Carie, has chosen to write her books in this manner. Sensuality is just not necessary in Christian fiction books these days. If you like a mystery with a touch of romance, in a book where Christ is glorified and honored, you will enjoy The Guardian Duke.
About the author, Jamie Carie:
 | When she was six, Jamie Carie’s parents met Jesus and soon after started a church. It changed everything. As Jamie’s relationship with God grew, she discovered her heart was filled with songs and poetry. During high school, she wrote lyrics for her brother’s band. (And she sang them too!) After college, Jamie married, had two sons and decided to stay home with them. While she homeschooled her sons, she wrote skits, poems, plays, and short stories for school and church. When her eldest son turned five she dove into the world of novels. She’d read romance novels for years, but couldn’t relate to the flawless, saintly heroines in Christian romance novels. So she decided to write her own. Jamie and her husband Tony have been married for twenty-one years and live in Indianapolis with their three sons and a giant of a dog named Leo. If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!” |
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Fallacies? Um, okay. I basically know what a fallacy is.
But "informal" fallacies?
"Formal" fallacies?
Huh?
I've always been interested in teaching my girls about argument, logic, and fallacies. I just didn't know how to go about doing it.
Enter Classical Academic Press.com's "The Art of Argument".
Perfect for students in junior high school and high school, right where we're at these days, I thought this would be great to give a try.
And, it has been!
But "informal" fallacies?
"Formal" fallacies?
Huh?
I've always been interested in teaching my girls about argument, logic, and fallacies. I just didn't know how to go about doing it.
Enter Classical Academic Press.com's "The Art of Argument".
Perfect for students in junior high school and high school, right where we're at these days, I thought this would be great to give a try.
And, it has been!
Kelsi, my 8th grader, was VERY interested when this came in the mail. She grabbed the book from the kitchen counter...and I grabbed it back.
"Hold on! You are going to have to sit down with me and read this book with me!" I insisted. "I need to know what it's like and what your impressions are as we read this together!"
So, Brittany (6th grade), Kelsi, and I sat down on the couch and began reading through the student guide.
While it will take us probably at least this next school year to finish working through this text together, we have already learned about the three basic categories of informal fallacies, as well as some important questions to ask ourselves when we are evaluating what others are saying or writing.
Kelsi has been highly interested in EVERY. SINGLE. PAGE of this text. Seriously!
Brittany finds it interesting, but I've also determined that for her age, I need to preview each chapter we read through. I pencil in a little star or mark by the paragraphs that Brittany and I will read together, because some of the text can get bogged down for her age, especially since she tends to not enjoy textbooks as much as her older sister.
This strategy has worked well for us! Kelsi reads the entire chapter, while Brittany and I go over the paragraphs that I believe are relevant for her age and ability levels.
The student and teacher texts contain:
"Hold on! You are going to have to sit down with me and read this book with me!" I insisted. "I need to know what it's like and what your impressions are as we read this together!"
So, Brittany (6th grade), Kelsi, and I sat down on the couch and began reading through the student guide.
While it will take us probably at least this next school year to finish working through this text together, we have already learned about the three basic categories of informal fallacies, as well as some important questions to ask ourselves when we are evaluating what others are saying or writing.
Kelsi has been highly interested in EVERY. SINGLE. PAGE of this text. Seriously!
Brittany finds it interesting, but I've also determined that for her age, I need to preview each chapter we read through. I pencil in a little star or mark by the paragraphs that Brittany and I will read together, because some of the text can get bogged down for her age, especially since she tends to not enjoy textbooks as much as her older sister.
This strategy has worked well for us! Kelsi reads the entire chapter, while Brittany and I go over the paragraphs that I believe are relevant for her age and ability levels.
The student and teacher texts contain:
- Dialogues (little dramatic plays between Socrates and some college students - we love these!)
- Worksheets
- Real-World Applications
- Phony Advertisements (these are professionally done - and funny!)
- Dialectic Discussion Questions
- Tests
- Fun extras such as a humorous skit for students to perform, and the famous short story, "Love is a Fallacy" by Max Shulman
We thought that the Dialogues between Socrates and college students have been exceptionally good! They review the covered material in the lesson that was most recently studied, and they do so in a way that makes the concepts more easily understandable...with humor!
The DVD lessons are also great. We received one DVD that contains video instruction on the first 6 of the 28 fallacies covered in this text. Students and teachers sit around a table, casually discussing the concepts studied in the text. It is interesting, informative, and relevant. Here's a sample of the DVD lessons:
So . . . what do we think, so far, about The Art of Argument (by Classical Academic Press)?
The Art of Argument is pushing me, as a teacher, beyond what I've ever learned in regard to argument . . . which is, basically, almost nothing. Sure, I've been able to pick out statements that are fallacies, over the years, but I didn't always know why. And I'm sure a lot of fallacies got past my brain, because I wasn't aware of so many different types of arguments that exist.
We will be using this curriculum for the next twelve months or so - and gladly! It will meet my needs to teach my children about logic and fallacies . . . and in a way that is interesting to them, even though they have different learning styles and methods.
We will be using this curriculum for the next twelve months or so - and gladly! It will meet my needs to teach my children about logic and fallacies . . . and in a way that is interesting to them, even though they have different learning styles and methods.
If you'd like to view some sample chapters from The Art of Argument, you'll find them here.
The student edition of The Art of Argument can be purchased for $21.95 and the teacher’s edition is $24.95. The full DVD set (5 DVDs) for The Art of Argument costs $54.95 and covers all 28 informal fallacies.
If you'd like to hear what other members of the review crew thought about The Art of Argument materials, please visit The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew blog here!
The student edition of The Art of Argument can be purchased for $21.95 and the teacher’s edition is $24.95. The full DVD set (5 DVDs) for The Art of Argument costs $54.95 and covers all 28 informal fallacies.
If you'd like to hear what other members of the review crew thought about The Art of Argument materials, please visit The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew blog here!
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Disclosure: I received one copy of The Art of Argument Student Book, Teacher Book, and 1st DVD in exchange for providing my honest review of this product here on Joy In Our Journey.com. No other compensation was provided.
A Joy In Our Journey Book Review ~ Sarai: A Novel
Sarai, the last child of her aged father, is beautiful, spoiled, and used to getting her own way. Even as a young girl, she is aware of the way men look at her, including her half-brother Abram. When Abram finally requests Sarai's hand, she asks one thing--that he promises never to take another wife as long as she lives. Even her father thinks the demand is restrictive and agrees to the union only if Sarai makes a promise in return--to give Abram a son and heir. Certain she can easily do that, Sarai agrees.
But as the years stretch on and Sarai's womb remains empty, she becomes desperate to fulfill her end of the bargain--lest Abram decide that he will not fulfill his. To what lengths will Sarai go in her quest to bear a son? And how long will Abram's patience last?
About the author:
| Jill Eileen Smith is the author of the bestselling Michal, Abigail and Bathsheba, all part of "The Wives of King David" series. She has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has garnered acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. |  |
My Thoughts:
To those who love the stories from the Bible–and knowing they are all true–this is a well-written, familiar story with an in-depth meaning that will forever change one’s attitude and intrigue with Sarah and Abraham! We all know the beginning and the outcome of this relationship but filling in the blanks is mainly up to the imagination of an author who can bring out the emotions of trauma and despair, conflict and joy, as the very long-awaited event of Isaac’s birth finally takes place.
Following one’s dreams can be far, far different than following the commands of an Almighty God, Adonai Elohem. Even completely trusting those commands may still leave great doubts as to whether this is the “right” thing to do. Abraham’s faith in his God seemed to never waver, but he really appreciated that Adonai would periodically reveal Himself and reaffirm His command and promises for a great nation to arise from this one man.
Sarah’s conflict at believing she is part of the Promise, yet being unable to believe fully that she will ever have a child of her own as the many years flow by, is the prime basis for any woman to relate to her. Infertility was a huge issue in Biblical history and Sarai was miserable with her inability to conceive a child. She could never feel “complete” because of not becoming a mother. She even finally went to the great extreme of giving her Egyptian maid, Hagar, to Abraham so that he could have a son through her. It was a decision she greatly regretted as soon as it was accomplished; it brought a great deal of grief to both women. How it must be for our Lord when we proceed with our own ideas of accomplishing His will!
Lot and his family also play a huge part in the history of Abraham and Sarah, and their’s is a very sad story which is interwoven throughout this story. Many details are brought in to create a very real (even thousands of years later) picture of what must have happened with these unique families.
It is difficult to imagine the hardships and disappointments of a people who were once well-settled in their native Ur and then were uprooted by the command of an Almighty God, who lived from then on in tents, traveling the desert, and had to accommodate to many inadequacies. But the rewards for them were dressed in God’s timing, not human clockwork. We all need to remember that we are NOT in control, though we constantly try to be. Hope for a better future is admirable but not always in our best interest. Only God knows our future and all that it takes to get there. He, alone, can be depended on to know what is best for us. This story is such a great illustration of how we can all take part in His great Promises, and how our hopes will be fulfilled as we seek His Presence in everything we do!
Following one’s dreams can be far, far different than following the commands of an Almighty God, Adonai Elohem. Even completely trusting those commands may still leave great doubts as to whether this is the “right” thing to do. Abraham’s faith in his God seemed to never waver, but he really appreciated that Adonai would periodically reveal Himself and reaffirm His command and promises for a great nation to arise from this one man.
Sarah’s conflict at believing she is part of the Promise, yet being unable to believe fully that she will ever have a child of her own as the many years flow by, is the prime basis for any woman to relate to her. Infertility was a huge issue in Biblical history and Sarai was miserable with her inability to conceive a child. She could never feel “complete” because of not becoming a mother. She even finally went to the great extreme of giving her Egyptian maid, Hagar, to Abraham so that he could have a son through her. It was a decision she greatly regretted as soon as it was accomplished; it brought a great deal of grief to both women. How it must be for our Lord when we proceed with our own ideas of accomplishing His will!
Lot and his family also play a huge part in the history of Abraham and Sarah, and their’s is a very sad story which is interwoven throughout this story. Many details are brought in to create a very real (even thousands of years later) picture of what must have happened with these unique families.
It is difficult to imagine the hardships and disappointments of a people who were once well-settled in their native Ur and then were uprooted by the command of an Almighty God, who lived from then on in tents, traveling the desert, and had to accommodate to many inadequacies. But the rewards for them were dressed in God’s timing, not human clockwork. We all need to remember that we are NOT in control, though we constantly try to be. Hope for a better future is admirable but not always in our best interest. Only God knows our future and all that it takes to get there. He, alone, can be depended on to know what is best for us. This story is such a great illustration of how we can all take part in His great Promises, and how our hopes will be fulfilled as we seek His Presence in everything we do!
Bible Study to accompany Sarai
The author has made available a free Bible study to accompany this book! Click here to download it for yourself.
Discussion Group Questions
For those of you who are in book groups or book clubs, you may download a free PDF version of discussion questions for your small group!
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Disclaimer: I received one paperback copy of Sarai in exchange for an honest review of this book. No other compensation was provided.
Three Hearts DVD . . . a passionate look at love, life, and loyalty!
If you're familiar at all with Samaritan's Purse, the ministry of Franklin Graham, you probably know about Operation Christmas Child, where hundreds of thousands of Christmas care boxes are packed by people and families all over the U.S. to go to children who are far less fortunate.
But did you know about the Children's Heart Project?
I didn't. But it is a beautiful project designed to save children's lives - those fragile ones who have heart defects and can't afford to have the proper surgery and care.
In Three Hearts, a passionate team of people work to save the lives of three Mongolian children with life-threatening heart defects.Graduating college senior, Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, takes on an internship at Samaritan’s Purse working with the Children’s Heart Project. This project is dedicated to saving the lives of children by providing medical procedures that aren’t available in many countries. Cissie is charged with supervising the arrival and surgeries of three Mongolian children suffering from fatal congenital heart defects.
But the task is not easy and filled with unexpected challenges. Cissie balances responsibilities as a newly married wife to a professional football player and her tasks with the internship. Meanwhile the Children’s Heart team turns to a Texas family who travels to Mongolia for the adventure of a lifetime to help bring the children to San Antonio for their surgeries. In Texas, two host families make sacrifices to care for these children and their mothers, while a team of doctors and nurses volunteer their time, only to stare directly into the face of life and death. How far would you go to save a life?
It’s a fight for survival, a fight of faith, and a fight for a new life for these three hearts.
And Three Hearts is a beautiful movie, worthy to be shared with your families. You will be inspired!
But did you know about the Children's Heart Project?
I didn't. But it is a beautiful project designed to save children's lives - those fragile ones who have heart defects and can't afford to have the proper surgery and care.
In Three Hearts, a passionate team of people work to save the lives of three Mongolian children with life-threatening heart defects.Graduating college senior, Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, takes on an internship at Samaritan’s Purse working with the Children’s Heart Project. This project is dedicated to saving the lives of children by providing medical procedures that aren’t available in many countries. Cissie is charged with supervising the arrival and surgeries of three Mongolian children suffering from fatal congenital heart defects.
But the task is not easy and filled with unexpected challenges. Cissie balances responsibilities as a newly married wife to a professional football player and her tasks with the internship. Meanwhile the Children’s Heart team turns to a Texas family who travels to Mongolia for the adventure of a lifetime to help bring the children to San Antonio for their surgeries. In Texas, two host families make sacrifices to care for these children and their mothers, while a team of doctors and nurses volunteer their time, only to stare directly into the face of life and death. How far would you go to save a life?
It’s a fight for survival, a fight of faith, and a fight for a new life for these three hearts.
And Three Hearts is a beautiful movie, worthy to be shared with your families. You will be inspired!
Now, for a giveaway of a brand new copy of the Three Hearts DVD:
Residents of the United States, as well as International residents, are welcome to sign up for this giveaway (18 years or older, please). Just fill out the options that appeal to you, to enter! Contest ends Wednesday, March 21st at midnight (Pacific time).
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
I'm not big into sports movies, so I was a bit reluctant to watch The Mighty Macs.
I must admit that I was inspired by the strength and ingenuity of Cathy Rush, the head basketball coach of a women's college basketball team that has virtually no clue how to work together as a team or play basketball. We were all inspired while watching this! The acting is excellent; casting was done well; and we felt like we hadn't wasted our time.
I must admit that I was inspired by the strength and ingenuity of Cathy Rush, the head basketball coach of a women's college basketball team that has virtually no clue how to work together as a team or play basketball. We were all inspired while watching this! The acting is excellent; casting was done well; and we felt like we hadn't wasted our time.
About The Mighty Macs:
It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.
In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.
Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.
From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!
While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.
Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!
Our Opinion:
We especially enjoyed this movie because it was based on a true story. Our girls found it interesting that competitive college sports for women was fairly new back when my husband and I were growing up. They were also surprised to see that the young women had very poor facilities in which to play...and that they were also required to practice in skirts!
:)
Guess what? I'm able to give away a brand new, unopened copy of The Mighty Macs to one of my readers here at Joy In Our Journey!
To enter, simply choose the options in the Rafflecopter form, below, that you wish to complete! If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments section below.
This giveaway is available to all individuals, from U.S. or foreign countries, who are 18 years old or older. The Mighty Macs giveaway drawing via www.Random.org will be held on Wednesday, March 21st, 2012...9:00 p.m., Pacific time.
:)
Guess what? I'm able to give away a brand new, unopened copy of The Mighty Macs to one of my readers here at Joy In Our Journey!
To enter, simply choose the options in the Rafflecopter form, below, that you wish to complete! If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments section below.
This giveaway is available to all individuals, from U.S. or foreign countries, who are 18 years old or older. The Mighty Macs giveaway drawing via www.Random.org will be held on Wednesday, March 21st, 2012...9:00 p.m., Pacific time.
 |
|
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
HEART’S SAFE PASSAGE
Book 2 in The Midwives Series
by Laurie Alice Eakes
Adventure and hardship begin this tale, in 1813, during the time of the War of 1812. The bulk of the story takes place aboard a British privateer, a ship filled with men intent on taking other ships and capturing their cargo and precious bounty, thereby insuring the pirates’ own wealth.
Mrs. Phoebe Lee, a widow due to horrifying circumstances, becomes very unwillingly involved in assisting her late husband’s sister, who is seeking to free her own husband from a prison in England.
Unfortunately, the two women are living in Virginia and must seek a way to be transported so they may accomplish this deed. The ship they board is captained by Rafe Docherty, a man determined and quite able to continue his pirating days with his men, but who has agreed to transport the sister-in-law (Belinda Chapman) to free her husband, only because George Chapman holds a secret that Captain Docherty needs to know in order to avenge his own past tragedies. The Captain will allow nothing to get in the way of accomplishing his mission.
The novel is filled with many secrets being revealed throughout, intrigue in the mysteries being solved, the problems of forgiveness to self and others for past circumstances and mistakes, denying God and His promises in the Bible, much prayer in attempting to correct misdeeds, hate, anger, growing respect, and love (of course).
Unbelievable circumstances aboard a very small ship crossing a very large ocean during a time long before our own, leaves a reader thankful for living in a much more “civilized” world, though the emotions accented in this story are still the same as those felt by all of us today. The human heart has not changed since God gave free will to those He created; but it still has (always) the opportunity to turn to this wonderful Creater/Master/Friend and find the ability to begin again.
Another great book from a Christian publisher which will share historical knowledge in a fictional way so it is very enjoyable!
And, if you are a part of a reading group or book club, you may want to use the following free reading group guide as part of your discussion time!
Revell's Free Reading Group Guide
for Heart's Safe Passage:
At 400 pages, Heart's Safe Passage is available at ChristianBook.com for $9.99 (paperback version) or $9.69 (eBook version).
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Disclosure: I received one paperback copy of Heart's Safe Passage in exchange for an honest review of this book. No other compensation was provided.
Hi! I'm Julieanne!
You'll find me in the kitchen
trying new Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters.
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