College Prep Genius: Gabby Moms Review

I cannot tell you how excited I was to be able to review the College Prep Genius DVD SET  through Gabby Moms!  I have a daughter who is in tenth grade and is at the beginning of the process of preparing for college, studying for her PSAT/SAT tests, and researching scholarships.

This resource couldn't have come at a better time!

My daughter has already expressed her worries about knowing how to prepare for this test and wants to earn the highest test scores possible as early as possible.   How awesome to know that this program exists  - and not only exists, but promises to help high school students prepare for the test to have the best chances of earning enough scholarships to attend college for free!

What a tremendous resource!

I liked the fact that this DVD/workbook set was set up in a very organized fashion.  The DVD hostess even outlines how to study for these tests and breaks it down into how to prepare by grade.  After watching the DVD, I thought back to my time of taking the SAT MANY YEARS AGO and I couldn't help but wish this resource had existed then!  It really is that helpful!

I learned a lot by watching this DVD series.  I didn't realize that you aren't required to answer every test on the SAT - that the PSAT is used for deciding who is qualified to be a National Merit Scholar - and that you can approach the tests with logic and strategy to earn the highest score!

I loved the fact that the DVD teaches students to approach different parts of the tests with different strategies, easily remembered through the use of ACRONYMS.  How many of us still remember the colors of the rainbow or the notes on the musical staff because of the acronyms we were taught to remember that information?  I learned some effortlessly by only watching a section of the DVD ONE time; how much more will a student retain by really studying this material!

This DVD set also teaches to each type of learner:  

• The visual learners like me can watch the DVD and follow along in the workbooks as the hostess teaches each section.  The DVD mirrors the books exactly and even includes visual lists and helps.
• The auditory learners can listen to the DVD narration as they review the concepts.
• Lastly, the kinesthetic learners can take breaks and move around as they "attend this DVD seminar" - and - once the hostess reviews the material for each section, the student is encouraged to do a practice test to practice the new concepts.

I am blown away by how much information I learned in such a short amount of time.  My daughter is also excited to know that just by watching these DVD's, practicing the tests, and following the advice of the materials and using the lists, she will have everything she needs to prepare to do her best on the PSAT/SAT.

I highly recommend this product to every high school student to use as they prepare to take this test.  After considering the price, I am convinced that it is more than fair for the amount of material presented, the completeness of the set in fully preparing a person to take the tests,  and the fact that the DVD's  can be used again and again for multiple students.  

* Disclaimer:  I received this DVD/workbook for free 

in exchange for my honest review. *

Review of Healing Hearts with Helping Hands

So many times, we as Christian women, desire to be the Hands and Feet of God in the lives of other people when they are going through a time of crisis or loss of a loved one.

We desire to be able to offer a tangible gesture of love and care; we want to be able to ease their pain and lessen their loss.  We want to be a support and encouragement to them in a positive way.

We worry about doing or saying the wrong thing.  Sometimes that fear keeps us from reaching out at all.

Lorrie Flem, from Eternal Encouragement, has written a book that addresses these concerns and desires to help and heal the pain in the hearts of our family members or friends.  It is called, Healing Hearts with Helping Hands.

As a member of the Gabby Moms, I was given a copy of this book to review - - and I found it to be full of ideas to use to reach out to others in a meaningful way when they need support.

The book starts out with reminding us of how we can minister to others through our presence and attitudes.  We should listen to and pray for our loved ones who are hurting.  The greatest gift we can given them is a supportive shoulder and listening ear, the gift of our time.

We can also be a blessing in taking part of preparing and providing meals for a family when they are in crisis.   I loved how Lorrie included some recipes in the book too!  (I actually got very hungry when reading them and had to make myself a snack!)

We can also minster to others without food - through our acts of service such as offering to run errands, pick up some groceries, and taking the kids of the family on an outing for a while.  We need to be mindful that someone who is grieving may find it hard to ask for this type of help and it may be something that is needed but hard to ask someone to do for them.

In being mindful of their needs, we can anticipate and seek out special ways to meet them.  We can be a blessing to them in their time of loss and grief.

Probably the most important tip I will remember from this book is the importance of offering and giving a short-term gesture of care, along with remembering to be considerate of their needs and the grieving process over the long-term.  After all of the meals are eaten, the extra dishes are taken away, the flowers are dead, and the sympathy cards are put aside, that's when the person in grief is still in a huge need of someone to be aware of the loss and reach out to them.

This book is going to prove to be a wonderful resource for me as I refer to it when I mean to reach out to a loved one in pain.  I know that you will gain insight and appreciate the resources inside it as well.

You can order it on Amazon or from the Eternal Encouragement site here.

*Between May 1-3, you can get a copy of this book for only $.99 on Amazon!*

You can buy and read Kindle books, even if you don't have a Kindle! To download the free app needed to read Kindle books, go here.

If you want to learn more about Eternal Encouragement and be able to benefit from a free subscription to Lorrie's articles, go here to learn more!

*  Disclaimer:  I received a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review. *

Review of: "Mr. Science Teacher"

I had the opportunity to connect online with Mr. Matthew Poston, a.k.a. Mr. Science Teacher, a few weeks ago where I was asked to step into the role of a student meeting him for a tutoring session for the purpose of this review.   It was a very enjoyable experience and one I would highly recommend to others without reservation.

It's been over 20 years since I was in high school chemistry -  and I still remember some of what I learned way back then - but after meeting with him, I can honestly say that I learned something new and had fun at the same time. Because of his methods in teaching this concept, I don't think I will forget what I learned in our session either.  Talk about a win-win!

I want to point out from the start that I was very impressed with the professionalism of this teacher and his website and materials; I have also taught in an online environment (4+ years).  Because of that, I was able to go into this session with the background knowledge of what it takes to engage a student through the Internet while going in to this session "playing" a student.

Mr. Science Teacher has what it takes to be a successful teacher and tutor online because the presentation is simple, charming, and engaging.   He is a great conversationalist and I felt comfortable talking with him and hearing his background and passion about engaging students and helping them become successful in Science and Math, his other subject of expertise.

The format that Mr. Science Teacher uses covers all of the learning styles, and that makes it a wonderful resource for every student and their needs.  He talks to you one-on-one in real time (auditory learner) while he writes on an online whiteboard and includes colorful images and graphics to support the learning process (visual learner) .  In addition to that, the student is encouraged to write on the whiteboard along with the teacher, showing the real-time evidence that they have learned the material.

Since I am a visual learner, I enjoyed getting to see what I was learning as I heard the Teacher explain the concepts to me.  It was fun to write on the whiteboard and hear from the Teacher that I was doing such a great job in learning a special concept in Chemistry centering on the Periodic Table of Elements.

I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Science Teacher and his services through Mr. Science Teacher.com.  I enjoyed getting to sample his tutoring and teaching abilities online and I know that investing in his services for your student needing Science and Math tutoring will be an enjoyable experience and a worthwhile investment.

I wish Mr. Matthew Poston and Mr. Science Teacher all of God's best and much success in teaching many students in the future to love learning about Math and Science!

Find his website here
Find him on Facebook here 
He will be at a homeschooling convention this year, maybe near you!  Learn more here

* I was given a tutoring session online for free in exchange for my honest review *

Creating Contentment Seminar: Gabby Moms Review

Creating Contentment Seminar

I was so blessed to have been given an opportunity to review this seminar for Lorrie Flem and her website, Eternal Encouragement.  I t has been a joy to become a part of the Gabby Moms and the the review team; this month's resource is quite a special treat!

The Creating Contentment Seminar is definitely worth the $3.00 investment; the visuals matched with the pictures alone are worth that much to me as a study resource for learning how to create contentment in my personal life.  

Lorrie's voice in the audio is so calming and each word from her mouth is so positive; she makes my heart feel like I am sitting at the couch with her in her home, just soaking in the encouragement that she is sharing from her heart.

One of the things I will remember from this resource is that contentment is a choice; it's all a matter of perspective and choosing to be a peace with God and His plans and Will for my life.  Even if I am in an uncomfortable place, I know that God's love for me and His care will always be enough, more than enough, and better than being anywhere else.

Creating Contentment is an active choice, not a passive mindset.  Lorrie summarizes the process to Creating Contentment in 14 Steps (Actions) in this seminar; when followed and implemented, and supported by the Work and Leadership of the LORD in our lives, we can experience the joy and peace that come from living in blessed contentment, no matter what our particular situation.

I can attest to the fact that true contentment isn't dependent on gaining more money or losing weight; it's in resting in the promises and love of God for you. If you decide to invest in obtaining this seminar for your personal library, I know you won't be disappointed.

BY THE WAY - there will be another Seminar entitled:  "True Womanhood is Not for Wimpy Women" - and it will be available on the website on March 1st!  Sounds like one that you don't want to miss!  Learn more about it here.

 Disclaimer:  

** This was a Gabby Mom Review opportunity and will be posted on their Facebook Page**

**This product was provided in exchange for my review, I was not compensated in any other manner **

Math Made Simple: Review

Over the past month, I was given the opportunity to review the Math Made Simple videos that have been created for Algebra 1 instruction and review.   It is a series of 13 videos that provide "one-on-one" instruction for the advanced/struggling math student.  With the instant download complete, at the click of the button, your student gains the access to have a tutor in their own home - but they are given the opportunity to decide where, when, and how they receive the instruction!

 The website states that, "The Algebra I category of math lessons covers the beginning Algebra skills including the language and symbols of algebra. Tutorials start with basic algebra terminology. Lessons follow on exponents, multiplication & long division of polynomials, solving linear equations, solving word problems, solving linear inequalities, operations with radicals, zero, negative & rational exponents, factoring polynomial and working with rational expressions. These lessons cover the fundamentals to prepare for Algebra II."

I would have to agree.  When watching through the videos with my kids, I was impressed with how organized and detailed they are in explaining the math concepts and working through different math problems to illustrate that specific concept.  I enjoyed seeing the teacher/tutor writing on the "board" with a real writing implement; it brought back memories of me being in math class many years ago!  The speaker's voice is soothing and calm, which is a huge bonus to keeping "math tension and fear" to a minimum!

Since the instruction is presented through a video format, the student has the ability to go at their own individual pace.  I know that there were times I needed to pause the video for a moment and then start it again.  If a student is having a really hard time with a particular concept, you are able to start it from the beginning and review it over and over again until they are able to grasp the information.

Another thing I found helpful is that once you purchase and download the videos in the series, you can use it again and again with your students.  It will become a part of your individual student/teacher/homeschooling-help library!  I am always looking for help in teaching math to my kids; this is one resource that I will be using at least three times considering I am homeschooling three kids!

Because it is so simple and the presentation isn't flashy, one of my kids was a little bit disappointed that she wasn't getting "entertained" as she was learning, but for a child with ADD/ADHD, any extra stimulation would probably be distracting.  I for one find the amount of information adequate and organized and geared towards a left-brain and visual learner.

You can order the series I reviewed here and learn more about the Math Made Simple by going here.


Disclaimer:  

** This was a Gabby Mom Review opportunity and will be posted on their Facebook Page**

**This product was provided in exchange for my review, I was not compensated in any other manner **

Review of Helping Hands at Home - Lorrie Flem

Joyful Hearts and Helping Hands

I was blessed to be able to become a reviewer for Lorrie Flem and her website Eternal Encouragement at the beginning of this year.  In addition to being a book reviewer, I will now be a "Gabby Mom" for E.E. and have the opportunity to share reviews on products and services that will be helpful to a homeschooling momma.

Helping Hands at Home is the first item I was given to review - - - and I have been blessed by the impact it has had on my family after only one run through.  I rounded up my nine year old and six year old and the cleaning supplies ... and we were off! 

These two kids have been begging me to let them do chores to help momma; it was no issue to get them motivated to clean together, as a team, following the process in the e-book.  In addition to that, taking this time to teach them how to do these tasks has helped me hand off the responsibility of these chores to them.  They woke up this morning asking to clean the bathroom and kitchen!  

In this e-book, Lorrie is very organized and detailed in her presentation of the steps involved in coaching our children to learn how to efficiently and completely clean the bathroom and the kitchen - two main areas of the home that need daily attention. I love that the book includes lists to post and follow and it also includes tips and encouragement for the mom throughout the process.

On a personal note, I was the oldest of five kids - - - and had to take on lots of responsibility at a young age for cleaning, childcare, and cooking.  I never had my mom teach me or show me how to do any of it; I figured it out along the way.  In following Lorrie's procedures in teaching these steps to my own kids, I will be honest and admit that I even learned a thing or two that will help me be a better homemaker.

I know that my experience isn't unique; I have a feeling that when others take the time to follow the outline and steps in this e-book, they will also get to see first-hand the joy of teaching their kids to take on more responsibility and the ability to complete their chores and take care of their home. 

My expectations were exceeded in putting this e-book into practice with my own kids: I didn't think that I would see this level of excitement on the faces of my kids and the cheers that came from working hard to beat the timer and seeing a job well done!  

My son, in particular, was very self-motivating and encouraging to his sister as he kept saying over and over that he was doing a "smoking job" and could hear things getting squeaky clean!  Too bad I missed getting a clip of these moments on video, complete with the aprons!

Considering that  it is available for Kindle for only $.99, I know you will find it to be a worth-while investment for your family and homemaking library.  It's worth every penny!

Let me know what you think!

*  Disclaimer:  I received a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review. *