Y is for Yesterday and Yesteryear

Yesterday's Break

Yesterday, Alyssa and I took a break from school, writing reviews, planning, packing, organizing, anything else that was on our to do list so that we could visit our awesome friends for the day.  We both needed a little break so we went to the Jumpy Place for almost 6 hours.  The girls played so hard and they had a ton of fun! Alyssa needed this socialization time. We ran into some bullying issues the last hour of play.  There were three children (2 younger boys and an older girl), probably between the ages of 6-10, who harassed our girls.  They followed them everywhere intimidating them with dirty looks and words.  I spoke with our girls about bullies and how to react to children that bully.  We also gently spoke to the other children on several occasions in hopes to put an end to the bullying. If anything, the children disrespected our wishes and the problem got worse. The mothers sat disengaged from reality in their little world chatting without a watchful eye or concern with what their children were doing or how they were behaving.  The daughter ran to get a drink and spoke with her mother.  The mother glanced over every once in while laughing at what the children were doing.  I was appalled.  It actually reached a ridiculous point and I almost had to speak up. One child stood at the top of the slide stairs with his arms and legs spread apart so that my daughter could NOT pass by. I happen to be standing by and said, "Let her pass."  I can only imagine what Alyssa felt at that moment.  The girls were already terrified and tried to ignore the behavior of the other children.  They kept walking away from the situation but the children were persistent in their attacks and followed them. We ended up leaving the location and I mentioned the children's behavior to the worker on the way out the door. She kept an eye out and told me she wished I had told her earlier. I did notice that she needed to talk to them and address their behaviors (unrelated to our situation) before we left the building. I immediately turned to our Child Training Bible when we arrived at the house.  I searched the key for helpful verses.  We read and discussed what happened at the Jumpy Place. The topic we discussed was FEAR. Alyssa also asked to watch her VeggieTales movie today titled, "Where's God When I'm S-Scared?"

"Be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Yesteryear Lessons
Character training is of great importance to me when it comes to child training and instruction. I have been on a mission ... a search began not too long ago ... a search for items that will help me teach Alyssa Christ-honoring character traits and habits.  I want to instill good character traits so that she will grow to be a God abiding citizen with a heart of gold.

The Bible says,

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

I believe this Scripture verse with all my heart. It is our responsibility as parents to raise children that respect God and others through training.  Parents need to teach children how to act ethically and morally. 

I recently posted my review on the Child Training Bible and how we use it to teach Godly character habits or traits and how we hide His Word in our hearts and minds. Another resource that we came across was an endearing book titled, Moral Lessons of Yesteryear, written by A.L. Byers.  It is published by Mantle Ministries. This book would be suitable for children in pre-k through 6th grade. This is a Christ-centered book full of character building life lessons that will be cherished in our family. The hardcover book containing 168 pages is beautifully illustrated in a victorian-style containing black-and-white pictures or images. The book consists of life lessons that teach desirable and valuable principles such as obedience, respect, helpfulness, kindness, honesty, gratefulness and many other character building traits. The well-illustrated character building lessons are revealed through the use of poetry, quotes, short stories, and rules or guidelines. We are reading aloud sections during family devotion time (at times may just be Alyssa and I due to Jeff's schedule).  My hope is that Alyssa will have the tools to make the "right" choices in applying skills and actions read in the lessons to everyday life occurrences - that she will continue to develop good character that honors God.

Here are a few of the stories and poems you will read throughout this book:

A short excerpt from a poem found in the book:

What To Mind

Mind your tongue! Don't let it speak

An angry, an unkind,

A cruel, or wicked word;

Don't let it boys - now, mind!

- Moral Lessons of Yesteryear A.L. Byers (page 99)

I can tell you now that I had to try hard to mind my tongue at the Jumpy Place ... just being honest with you all.  I won't share what I wanted to say to the parents or the child because I am trying to be a good Christian. I am just glad that I prayed and God intervened - helping me to control inexcusable words or reactions. No parent in their right mind likes to see or hear their child being bullied.  The poem implies that the statement applies to only boys but it also applies to girls and adults alike.  This is one of those things that I explain to Alyssa as we discuss the contents of the book

This precious book containing timeless stories and poems is a great resource to teach character lessons and to encourage terrific discussions during Bible study time or family devotions. Moral Lessons of Yesteryear may be a perfect fit for your family needs depending on what type of resource you enjoy using. I seemed to be drawn to Biblically-based old fashioned books.  

Disclaimer: This post is not a book review. I thought the book was special enough to mention on my blog for character training purposes since we are enjoying it. I purchased it on Ebay for less than a dollar and it looks brand new.  It was a little gem that I just happen to find one day while purchasing curriculum. Thank you Lord for blessing our family yet again this year with incredible literature.

I will link this post up at:

Child Training Bible Review and Giveaway

STOP!  NO!  Give me a break!  Get away from me!  What are you thinking? The cruel, disheartening, and distant words spoken to children cannot be taken back.  These words may or may not seem hurtful to you but they will have an impact on children. Some parents often get frustrated and respond to their child in unwanted ways later regretting the exact words that come from their mouths.  I caught myself losing it not too long ago and responding to Alyssa in an unwanted way due to the amount of stress at home ... not to a horrible extreme but in way in which made me unhappy and upset with myself. It wasn't how I wanted to raise my daughter. I want to eliminate scoldings and train her in deciding the "right" things to do and how to behave properly.  I want her to know that God's Word and Scripture is the authority in the end. She was testing limits and I knew that I did not want to be the type of person that spoke harshly to my child.

I started praying to God ... for something ... something to help guide me in the right direction towards teaching Alyssa how to learn scripture meanings and apply them to her life. I wanted her to love, trust, and obey God, Our Almighty Father.  I wanted her to memorize scripture and to be willing to hide God's Word in her heart and mind. I wanted her to apply the necessary scriptures to her everyday life when needed. I wanted to train, encourage, and discipline her using a Biblical approach rather than addressing her outward negative behaviors. I want Alyssa to understand that the Bible is the ultimate resource that will guide us in ALL decision-making opportunities.  If I need to discipline her ... I would like to turn to the Bible for answers - it will be the authoritative reproof instead of me.  It is important to me that I model appropriate behaviors by reading scripture when dealing with discipline issues and to help her develop good Godly character traits and habits.

I received an answer to my prayer - a door opened ... and I was introduced to The Child Training Bible Kit as recently seen all over the the internet. God only knew what was to come and how much the Child Training Bible would honestly bless this home. We needed to hear more of His Word! This product has tremendously changed my way of thinking about discipline and Biblical truths.  It changed who I am and my attitude towards child rearing.  Now I just need to take action and be proactive with my choices consistently. My hope is to train and teach Alyssa while using the Bible as my main source of nourishment and guidance.  All children and adults for that matter need guidance in developing Godly character traits and habits.

"And these words words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

A Little About Me and My Lifelong Decision

I feel it necessary to give my readers a little background knowledge. I was raised in what many people today would call a non-christian family. When I was younger, much younger,  I remember getting ready for church one day.  As we walked up to the grand door entrance, a gentleman approached my parents and asked us to leave because we were not dressed properly for church. I am sure there was more to the situation. Was it possibly the powerful alcoholic stench that seemed to be seeping out of my stepfather's skin pores or the strong odor of his breath lingering over the man at the door. I am not sure what their reasoning was for turning us away, but I do know what I heard and that is all I remember. We didn't have a lot of money and to tell you the truth ... when I look back at old photographs we were filthy ... my hair was always greasy and stringy. I looked as if I hadn't had a bath in days.  I couldn't believe we were turned away.  Unfortunately, that day was the last time our family attempted to go to church.  I would occasional stay over night with relatives just so that I could go to church.  My junior year I lived with my grandparents in Texas ... faraway from family in New York.  I had an awakening. A wonderful girl at school invited me to her church one evening and opened my eyes to a newfound world. Something miraculous happened that night ... that very night I saw an outstanding performance that left me in tears but led me to God. An overwhelming amount of joy and love took over my body and I rose to the occasion requesting prayer and guidance. I was SAVED that very night! I traveled both off and on the spiritual path throughout my college years struggling to make the right choices but alas I came to the conclusion that I must have faith in God. I must respect God and His Word. I eventually, after many questions, learned to trust and believe in God.  I learned that the Bible contains the Biblical truths that will lead me in the right direction. This is where I am today.  I have a very strong desire to raise my daughter as a Christ-loving christian in opposition to the way I was raised. I want her to be surrounded by positive spiritual attitudes and experiences with regards to God.

Are you looking for a resource or tool to help you teach character traits and habits found in the Bible? Have you heard about The Child Training Bible Kit?  It may be the answer for your family needs as it was for mine.

I recently had the opportunity to review an essential and useful parenting tool or resource called the Child Training Bible Kit developed by Mindy Dunn and her husband.  I was absolutely thrilled when Mindy corresponded back so quickly. The Child Training Bible is a 9" by 6" Bible that uses colorful color-coded tabs to correlate highlighted Scripture references to character traits, habits, or behaviors. There are 21 color-coded key traits or habits found on the child training key such as anger, disobedience, defiance unforgiveness, lying, and not listening. The key is glued or taped to the front of the child's Bible. Your job is to highlight over 200 Scriptural references related to those traits using matching colors. The parent will then address and discuss the color-coded Scriptures with their child related to the behaviors or traits exhibited in order to develop Godly character.  There are three other double-sided laminate tabbers that contain discussion questions and prayers one side and Bible verses on the other side.

I must say I probably took WAY TOO LONG to pick a new Bible for Alyssa.  It was a very hard decision for me.  She was ready for something other than a story book Bible.  I wanted it to be special.  I wanted her to be reading and learning from a "real" Bible with scriptural references and not just historical accounts in the form of stories. I scoured the internet checking my favorite stores for a reasonably priced Bible that was the right size and font.  After hours of searching ... I ended up purchasing one of Mindy's recommended Bibles, "The HCSB Illustrated Study Bible for Kids." I couldn't wait to begin the training process.  Luckily, I was extremely busy with other home organization projects (house going on the market) that distracted me from thinking about it ... at least  temporarily.  When the box did arrive, I tore it open like a child on Christmas morning.  I showed Alyssa her new Bible and our excitement began to soar.  I was impressed with the help aids offered within the Bible.  Now, I must say it has taken me forever to write this review because shortly after completing all house projects suggested by the stager - our house sold in less than three weeks.  Those of you following and reading my blog frequently already know this tid bit of information. It was finally time for me to share this marvelous tool with you once and for all so that you too can impress His Words in your child's heart.

Below you will see photographs of the Child Training Bible Kit. You will receive:

• 1 Child Training Bible Key
• Three Tabbers or Question Cards
• Set of Instructions (explaining how to create and how to successfully use the kit with children)

           

I stored all the supplies in the pencil pouch. You can also see the package used to ship the kit and instructions.

Additional Required Items to Purchase On Your Own

• Children's Bible (your choice of any version - 9" x 6")
• Tabs or Post-It-Notes - 7 Colors
• Highlighters - 7 Matching Colors  
• Bulldog Clip
• Double-Sided tape

Click on this link if you are interested in purchasing the extra items through the CTB company.  

What Does it Cost?

The Child Training Bible Kit costs $9.00.  Shipping and handling is $4.99 for up to two kits.  Discounts are available for order of 10 or more. Please contact Mindy.

Creating the Child Training Bible
Please view the informative and concise video tutorial including instructions on how to create the Child Training Bible (CTB). No, really I am serious - watch it!  I was so excited about receiving my kit that I jumped into tabbing and highlighting verses in Alyssa's Bible after a short period of instructional use. A third of the way through I realized that I didn't tab correctly.  I didn't follow the explicit, helpful instructions outlined for me. I also recommend creating this Bible when you are fully alert. I worked on her Bible after a long and hard week working on the house.  I was exhausted and tired so after double checking my scriptures ... I found that I made three highlighting errors.  This is not a good thing for someone with perfectionist tendencies.  I did get over it.  My husband told me it was not the end of the world. I personally wanted to buy another Bible and start all over.  Shhhh ... don't tell him I said that. I can't tell you how long it took me to actually assemble Alyssa's Bible because I created it on vacation. Our vacation lasted a week and I didn't record the times I worked.  If I had to guess, it would take you approximately 2-4 hours depending on how familiar you are with the books of the Bible.  If you are unfamiliar with the location of the books of the Bible, like myself, then make a copy of the table of contents as you work to eliminate flipping back and forth. 

How We Used The Child Training Bible
It was important for me to be consistent and to remain calm while using the Child Training Bible with my 4 1/2 year old daughter. It was used during family devotion time in the morning or after dinner for approximately 5-15 minutes at a time. We targeted several character traits initially before highlighting the verses. I decided that before highlighting all the scripture verses, I would read from the Bible verses, discuss them with thought-provoking questions, and pray with Alyssa. The first character trait or habit that I discussed with Alyssa is disobedience.  I had read several Bible stories and other books related to both obedience and disobedience. We would read and discuss 2-6 tabs during each sitting depending on her attention span that day. I used the questions on the three tabber cards to understand Alyssa's perspective and knowledge of the topic. Then, together we would highlight the scripture, narrate it, write it on a notecard, and then add it to our scripture memory system to memorize or hide in our hearts and minds.  This would assure me that the verses were to be read many times throughout the year. She also completed a character notebooking sheet from Notebooking Pages that focused on disobedience.  This would be a great time to encourage the use of a Bible journal especially for older children! The next two habits we covered were attention and trust.  These three traits were mentioned as top priorities during a Charlotte Mason workshop at a recent homeschool conference I attended.

After briefly discussing those character traits for several days, we then decided to highlight the rest of the scriptures to use as a reference when discipline was needed and as Bible study topics in the morning for devotional studies. The Child Training Bible was used whenever character issues arose as a reminder of how God would want us to act and be.  Our hope is to be responsible parents in the upbringing of our daughter ... to teach and train Alyssa to rely on God's Word and relevant scriptures that can be practically applied to daily life.  Alyssa also spent her quiet time using the Child Training Bible - this independent reading or study time lasted at least 15 minutes to 30 minutes at a time. At times, I would catch her doing copywork from the Child Training Bible - writing down verses that seemed meaningful to her for one reason or another. She often explained to me her reasoning for copying particular verses.

We'll continue to use the Child Training Bible to study character traits in conjunction with other resources we own. We haven't decided yet if we'll do one trait per week or if we'll discuss character traits or habits in depth for one month.  The Character Training Bible Kit easily turns a child's Bible into the ultimate child rearing training guide.

Finished Product
This is what our finished Bible looks like inside and out. I ended up highlighting every single scripture verse and I am so glad that I did.  I really thought I would give up and only highlight a few. YAH!!!

Doesn't it look great?

I used double-sided tape and to place the key on the first page. 

Our tabbed and highlighted Child Training Bible is complete.

Pros

1. The colorful charts and key were created using heavy, durable, and sturdy cardstock made of good quality, glossy laminate. The charts provide practical application and tips for child rearing.
2. Customer service was at its best with super fast shipping. Mindy was readily available to answer questions promptly via e-mail or on her blog.  It was a pleasure working with such an understanding person.   
3. The Child Training Bible kit helped show God's authority with regards to character development.  Children learn what they should do and how they should act based on God's Word and this kit lessens the "We do this because mom or dad said so" approach. If there was a problem with character or issues with other children arose, we went straight to the Bible for answers and instruction in His righteousness.  This resource helps parents get to the heart of the problem or issue.  Sins are addressed and discussed immediately once encountered. Alyssa responded well to this sort of instruction. I noticed a more positive change in her behavioral attitudes and saw immense spiritual growth throughout the use of this tool.
4. The Child Training Bible can be assembled quickly and easily with the use of the simple and clear instructions. Be sure you read them first and watch the tutorial ahead of time. 
5. The Bible recommended by Mindy has a larger font, great colorful illustrations, and helpful aids.  It was a trusted translation. It was a "real" Bible and not just a storybook as seen for children Alyssa's age.  I wanted and needed the "real"thing.  This Bible was a perfect fit for our needs at the moment. 
6. The Child Training Bible Kit thoroughly covers 21 key character traits or habits with over 200 correlated Scripture references. The scriptures to highlight were placed in sequential order based on the books of the Bible; this organization method made it somewhat easier for beginners to prep the Bible. There are gospel, prayer scriptures, and applications included in the set.  I love the fact that I am instilling scripture related or biblically-based verses to discuss, memorize, and pray about within the ultimate living book. The character traits are color-coded with tabs and the use of colored highlighters.  
7. This resource could be easily implemented with children of all ages. 

Possible Cons

1. Bible was not included and the choices were limited due to size of key and charts.
2. The highlighters did bleed through the thin Bible paper and could be seen through the pages of the Bible.  If I were to create this Bible again for a friend, then I would use twistable crayons or colored pencils to mark the verses especially since the the cost of highlighters was extremely high in my opinion. They were almost the same price as the Bible.  You can reduce the cost by using resources you already have at home.
3. The tabs may become a problem for both Alyssa and myself.  I find the tabs flimsy and I am not sure how long they will last before needing to be replaced.  I also have a hard time turning the pages since the tabs are placed across the top, down the side, and across the bottom of the page.  Younger children will need to be taught not to remove the tabs.   
4. The prep time may be too overwhelming for some individuals but I can tell you now - it is definitely worth the effort and saved me time in the long run searching for scriptures on my own.  Flipping back and forth between the table of contents and the scriptures to highlight became a problem for me.  I am not as familiar with the Bible as much as I hoped to be. I found this part a little frustrating.  It did help me realize that I need to spend more time reading my Bible and becoming more familiar with it.  
5. It was very hard for me to highlight a Bible but over time I realized the purpose is to STUDY and learn from it.  I thought it was taboo to mark a Bible but many of my friends clarified this for me quickly. 
6. Several Scripture verses may be too advanced for younger children to understand without a full explanation describing practical insights or applications.  It may be necessary to mark more suitable verses in the Bible. 

Possible Improvements

• Offer a variety of packages with and without the children's Bibles and other required items.
• Develop and sell larger key and charts for larger Bibles. On the other hand, offer smaller keys and charts for smaller Bibles.  This would allow individuals to choose ANY Bible they wish to use with their child or children.  There were several Bibles that were top on my wish list however the keys and charts would not fit inside so they were eliminated. 
• Offer a second edition that covers additional scriptures and topics.  You could also create a specific product with scriptures meant strictly for teenagers and the issues they face today.
• The Child Training Bible kit could be easily turned into a character study unit. It would be very beneficial if lesson plans or some sort of character-based curriculum was written as a supplement for the Child Training Bible.  It could be offered as a package or separately for those that already own the kit.   

Results and Recommendations
This was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had with any review product.  It created a peaceful and joyful home atmosphere, resulting in high quality family bonding time, while bringing us all closer to one another and one step closer toward God. Personally, it led me toward an enriching spiritual path closer to God during my independent Bible studies and was helpful in guiding the entire family's growth and relationship with God and His Word! Overall, this is a fantastic product to deal with the heart issues behind your child's negative behaviors and poor attitudes making the bible the ultimate resource for child training. I believe this is an effective tool for families to use when teaching children character traits and habits. I would absolutely, positively recommend this phenomenal resource to ANY parent, homeschooler, church, or Christian school educator! This tool would be a blessing in any home or christian school. The Child Training Bible Kit was very beneficial to our family in many spiritual ways. This may or may not be the case for your family, but you'll never know until you try.

Click here to read other reviews of the Child Training Bible Kit by many well-known bloggers. 

If you have any questions about the Child Training Bible kit, please contact Mindy here.  Be sure to check out her Pinterest board and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you Mindy for blessing our household and my daughter with The Child Training Bible Kit!  It will definitely get used in this home.  

Disclaimer: I received The Child Training Bible Kit, at no cost to me, in exchange for an honest, professional review on my blog.  All experiences and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by the creator.

Time for the Child Training Bible Kit Giveaway!!!

Mindy has graciously offered to giveaway a Child Training Bible Kit which will bless one of my readers.  Other required items are not included in this giveaway. You will need to purchase your own Bible, tabs, and highlighters.  This giveaway is open to continental US residents only.  The giveaway will end on August 19th, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time Zone so be sure to bookmark or pin this to help your remember the date.  The winner will be e-mailed within 48 hours so be sure to include a reachable e-mail address.  If the winner does not contact me with shipping information within 48 hours, a new winner will be randomly chosen. Please be sure to read the terms thoroughly.  Comments are moderated.        

To enter this giveaway simply fill out the Rafflecopter widget below. There are multiple entry options. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This review and giveaway will be linked up at the following blogs:

Blessed Beyond a Doubt

Schoolhouse Review: Addition Teaching and Learning Made Easy

Are you looking for a program that strictly teaches addition facts using rote memorization techniques?  Are you looking for a six week program where children master addition facts without counting or using their fingers?

The Schoolhouse crew members were given the homeschool version of Addition Teaching and Learning Made Easy created by Glenda Brown James to review last month.  We had a choice of reviewing either the addition or multiplication workbook.  I chose to review the sixty-four page reproducible addition workbook which is suitable for children in first through second grade.  The book may also be helpful for children with special needs and is optional for children in kindergarten. I used this book with my 4 1/2 year old daughter in hopes to master those last few addition facts that were causing her some trouble. Therefore, this book may also be appropriate and successfully used with preschool-aged children depending on their abilities in math. Alyssa is very good at memorizing and has a strong background knowledge in addition. I must note that my daughter is currently working through curriculums meant for first and second grade so please do not force your child to do these activities unless they are ready. You know your child and their needs best.

The book arrived comb-bound with a colorful front cover.  You will find a table of contents and a short philosophy blurb inside the book. There are three printable games on colored cardstock and perforated flash cards for drilling exercises found at the back of the book.  The book contains a pre-test and a post-test to evaluate your child's knowledge of math facts before and after use of the book. The author provides a few lessons at the beginning to work on addition facts containing 0 and 1. An addition table is provided which shows all of the math facts the child will learn eliminating the duplicates and addition facts containing 0 or 1. The rest of the book is divided into weekly activities by day.  Each day of the week your child will complete a worksheet for six weeks.  The worksheets are labeled Monday through Friday for weeks 1-6. The directions on the worksheets (if any) were for the most part self-explanatory and pretty easy to follow.  The book included basic lesson plans on one page for the entire program.  The author recommends using concrete objects at the beginning of each lesson to practice weekly addition facts before drill work. The game directions and weekly review directions were vague at times allowing for flexibility. Your child will focus on only six addition facts per week and they are shown on the weekly guide sheet. That's only 36 facts to memorize in six weeks! The facts were randomly chosen for each week forcing the child to recall and recite answers from their memory rather than the addition table. This is not a complete math program it simply targets addition facts using rote memorization methods and activities.  If your child can fluently and automatically recite addition facts from memory without hesitation, then they will have an easier time with higher-order thinking math concepts in the future. Memorizing facts does not necessarily teach the "why" behind addition and it doesn't focus on the reasoning behind the skill, but I believe children must memorize some math concepts in order to be successful.  Math facts can be memorized using an assortment of games, hands-on activities, and practice worksheets.

Other Materials Required
Concrete Manipulatives or Counters (anything will work)
Two Brads
Clothespins
Ziplock Bags
File Folders (optional)
Lamination (optional)
Computer, Ink, and Copy Paper (for copying reproducibles)

Pricing

The cost for the "Addition Teaching and Learning Made Easy" homeschool book is available at the inexpensive or affordable price of $24.95. Classroom packages and prices are also available on their website. This is what you'll receive in your homeschool package (it's really just a book containing the rest of the items):

Other Products of Interest

The "Multiplication Teaching and Learning Made Easy" homeschool book is also offered for only $24.95. There is a multiplication classroom package too.  Check their website for classroom pricing.

Initial Reaction

This is not what I was expecting. I am not fond on worksheet-based programs.  In the beginning, I was not impressed but by the end of the book I was satisfied with how it worked and I didn't mind assigning worksheets to my daughter.  This type of program was different from what Alyssa was used to and she enjoyed completing the activities independently. I never heard her complain at all about having to complete the worksheet activities. She had trouble with a few of the addition facts but overall the program was extremely easy for her to complete.  

Pros

1. The book activities are easy to implement on a daily basis. We found it very easy to include this program into our homeschool day. 
2. There is a lot of flexibility with this program. The child can work at their own pace.  They can do one worksheet a day or as many pages as they like.  They can work as fast or as slow as needed. I would still recommend playing an addition game, working with counters, or doing drill exercises daily if worksheets are completed in advance.
3. The activities are short and sweet.  They can be completed in about 5-15 minutes depending on your child's knowledge of math facts and their interest level.
4. The material is reproducible within a family. You may make as many copies as needed for your children. 
5. The flashcards are perforated which should make it easier for the user and saves time for the busy homeschooling mom or educator.  You will not need to cut out each individual addition fact card.  Cardstock paper was used for the flashcards which makes them more durable. They will last longer especially if laminated. I personally chose to use my own addition fact cards. 
6. The comb-binding makes it easier to lay flat when using the book for lessons or copying materials for multiple children.

Possible Cons

1. This is a worksheet-based program.  Some children may not like completing worksheets if it is not their learning style. Children may prefer concrete manipulatives over worksheets. They may also get bored doing the same exact type of worksheet each day of the week. 
2. The game directions and weekly review were not clearly stated. They were a bit on the vague side for example, "Lastly give addition weekly reviews found in the back of the book.  Also make up your own daily reviews." I wasn't sure exactly what to do for weekly reviews.  Did she mean come up with my own ideas or did the author mean use the few materials provided to plan weekly reviews?  Do we do one weekly review each week or do we combine them?  I ended up changing a bunch of the activities and doing what I wanted.
3. This is strictly a drill or rote memorization program using worksheet activities for learning addition facts up to 18.  No other math concepts are taught.  Drill type exercises are not always seen favorably.  You must memorize some things but I also believe in making activities hands-on for early exposure and exploration.  I feel it is important to find a balance between hands-on and drill type exercises.   
4. For some odd reason, I found it difficult to remove the perforated flash cards from the comb-binding.  The cards started to tear as I tried to remove them from the binding.  I was hesitant to continue removing them so I decided to use my own addition flash cards.
5. The printable games are available on colored cardstock making printing them a bit more difficult.  It works great for individuals that plan on tearing the book apart wanting colorful activities.  But, there are some individuals, like myself, that prefer to copy reproducible forms within our family in order to keep the book intact for future use.  This also enables users to choose preferential colors for games helpful for individuals that color code operational activities.     

Possible Improvements

• Provide more hands-on printable addition games for children to play while learning addition math facts.  There are so many possibilities and ways to make learning addition facts fun using actual games.  The last review game isn't really a game ... it is just a way to independently practice addition facts using addition wheels. 
• Is it possible to provide blackline printable games available on white cardstock for easy printing for those of us not wanting to tear the book apart in order to use the colored addition cardstock games?  
• I would prefer that the book activities include additional math facts up to a sum of 24 instead of sums to 18.
• High quality spiral binding is much easier to work with and seems to be better quality than comb-binding.
• Correct the game error or flaw found in the gumball game. This was very disappointing.   
• Continue to offer the perforated flash cards with this package but as a separate item in the package rather than including them inside the comb-bound book.  
• Clarify the wording of the product description on the website. I was under the impression that there would be many games and that I was receiving an actual package. Let the customers know that the items are all contained in one book. 
• Expand on lesson and activity directions or ideas including the clarification of misunderstood directions. 

How We Used It
(All Adaptations and Changes Will Be Highlighted Blue)
We used this math program on a daily basis at least 5 times per week as a replacement for our current math curriculum. It could definitely be used as a supplement in conjunction with your chosen math curriculum since the the book is not a complete math curriculum.  The activities also require very little time to complete if added to daily math curriculum. There were days that we completed one worksheet a day, but there were also days where several worksheets were completed in one sitting depending on Alyssa's interest and schedule for the week.  I am a bad girl ... I did not follow the directions as stated in the book. This is pretty usual for me though because I like to change things up. I changed a few things and did what worked best for my daughter.  I did not remove the flash cards as directed in the manual after I saw that the cards were tearing.  I pulled out a set of addition flash cards and removed the cards needed and organized them into six main piles.  The addition +1 and +0 facts were combined in a separate pile.  I wrapped each set with a rubber band.  We focused on the targeted math facts during the drill exercises but I ended up adding all the duplicate addition math facts, +0's, and +1 math facts to Alyssa's practice pile each day.  This means that her pile became larger over time.  I wanted Alyssa to see, learn, and practice all facts while realizing that it didn't matter the order of the addends - the sum was still the same (commutative property). She didn't mind the extra cards. I understand that studying fewer cards makes learning math facts easier and not as overwhelming for some children. It shows the child that there aren't many addition facts to study in the end and it may possibly motivate the child more to learn the facts.  Do what is best for your child and situation.  If Alyssa felt overwhelmed by having too many cards, then I would have obviously removed the duplicates and easy facts.  I may still do this for the last week.

Organization
First, I labeled five colored file folders with the days of the week. I labeled an additional folder "Completed" to store all completed activities after they were hung up for at least a day.  I printed copies of each of the activities for the duration of the review.  This organizational method was not recommended or mentioned in the book but it did keep paperwork organized and in one place. After using the file folder system, I quickly realized that I actually needed to add a sixth folder for games and weekly reviews.  I also stored the game pieces in labeled Ziplock bags.  

Flash Card Use (Not Used According to Book Directions)
First, we used manipulatives or counters to practice the weekly addition facts introduced.  Then, we completed a drill exercise together using only the six required addition facts as stated in the book.  I believe you are supposed to ONLY review THOSE six math fact cards on a DAILY basis - at least that is how I understood the directions. But, as usual, we changed things up a bit. We added the week's six addition facts to the rest of the flash cards on the same day and we reviewed all of them every single day.  She spent a few minutes going through ALL of them. She would sort them into two piles: "Mastered" and "Practice." She would review the addition facts needing more practice.  She mainly used two methods to help her remember the facts. Alyssa would use a method similar to Charlotte Mason's spelling visualization strategy combined with First Language Lessons idea of repeating the information three times. First, she would study the addition fact needing practice. She sang or stated the fact three times. Most of the time she sang it or used a silly accent. Then, she would close her eyes and try to picture it in her head while saying the math fact aloud. She would immediately check her answer and repeat the math fact if it was incorrect.  Then, I drilled her using ALL the flash cards including the duplicates and addition of 1 and 0 facts. She would jump up and down trying to tell me them as fast as she possibly could.  At times, she would race her daddy. Oh ... I almost forgot ... we also discussed math strategies when learning the new facts. I taught her different ways to figure out the answer if she got stuck such as using doubles, making ten, counting on, and so forth. There were times when she applied those addition strategies and learned the facts even quicker. Alyssa started to say that she didn't need to do the flash card drill exercises anymore because she already knew them all - this was at the start of week 5.  At this point, I removed the duplicates and plus 0 and 1 facts.  We focused on only the new facts and those mentioned on the weekly guide the first day. I plan to use the duplicate flashcards during the last two weeks.  I will switch them out with the facts that are stated in the weekly guide every other day in order to review commutative property facts.  This also changes up the facts that she views and memorizes even though they remain the same. I hope what I am saying makes sense.

Pre-Test and +0, +1 Math Fact Activities
We used a two-part tray to review plus 1 and plus 0 addition facts. The idea is to use any kind of counter or manipulative to practice addition facts.  We used her favorite teddy bear counters and red, white, and blue star beads. If the addition fact was 3+0.  Then, the child would place 3 counters in the section on the left of the tray and zero counters on the right (as seen in the tray picture below).  We practiced addition facts and problem-solving skills this way many, many times when she was much younger.  She spent some time exploring other combinations or math facts.  It's an oldie but a goodie!  She didn't really need the counters or the tray but I wanted to show my readers how you can adapt the drill exercises into a hands-on activity for younger students. This activity was not part of the review product lessons.  This is just how we did it.

A Weekly Glance: Daily Worksheet Activities
Monday
Alyssa was excited that she was getting to color today! Her first job was to solve each addition fact.  There were some days that she yelled out the sum and I told her if she was correct or not correct before she colored it in. Other days she used a pencil to write the sum first and then proceeded to color in the sums. Each sum was to be colored a particular color based on the key at the top of the page.

Tuesday
She solved addition facts and used the sum to figure out the letter needed for the code.  She was thrilled that she could color a firefighter ("her daddy") today after figuring out the hidden message.

Wednesday
She was extremely goofy today during math. I am not sure if she ate a few pieces of candy or what! She made faces for almost every photo.  She always knows how to make me smile and laugh.  First, she cut the sum cards into pieces.  Then, she either yelled out an equation and covered it with the sum or she solved it on paper and then covered it. I checked over her answers if she solved them on paper before she could glue and color the sums down.  Be aware that your child may try to just do the puzzle and not solve the equations which defeats the purpose of practicing math facts.  I checked Alyssa's knowledge by asking her questions and watching her complete the activity.  If the child completes the picture puzzle instead of solving the problems first, then you can always review the equations afterwards by asking and requiring the child to quickly give you the sums to the equations verbally.     

Thursday
This worksheet consisted of several different activities.  First, your child will work on matching sums to equations.  You can always use different colored Wikki Stix and sheet protectors for the matching activities to make the activity more hands-on or if the child has a difficult time drawing straight lines. They will also find the missing addends or sums in an equation.  The worksheet also contained addition fact equations written horizontally and vertically exposing the child to the commutative property of addition.

She always tried to get in the photo!

Friday: Problem Solving Day
Each weekly problem solving question was different.  This was my favorite activity for the week.  It was much easier to adapt or modify the activity. I will post several photos of how we adapted the activities to make it a bit more hands-on and to help with finding solutions. I gave Alyssa colored tiles that matched her crayons for the first week's activity.  First, she arranged the color tiles using different combinations.  Then, she used matching crayon colors to fill in the hotel windows.  She did this three times and asked to create more combinations afterwards.        

The first problem for the second week was easy for her to solve. You could use a three-part tray similar to the one shown above and counters if needed.  The next problem solving question was a bit more complicated.  I looked all over my house for our mini sport ball erasers to use as manipulatives or counters but I couldn't find them. We used glass gems instead of erasers or balls.  She decided that the footballs were white and the soccer balls were blue.  She arranged the gems to match the story.  She also circled and underlined key words in the problem and used the markings as reminders.  You can see that she arranged the "balls or gems" two different ways.  She was happy when she found alternate ways to solve the same problem.  Her next step was to solve and show her work on paper.  The last photo shows a sample of her problem solving work completed.    

This next problem solving activity didn't take long to complete.  She quickly found the solution and explained to me that, "5+7=12 and 9+2=11. Twelve is one more than eleven so it is the greatest total." Well, it is time to come up with a few of my own activities to review the concepts. We ended up playing a game of "War" to review addition facts.  This game is not part of the book but we used it as a review activity. Divide a set of cards between two players.  Each player flips over two cards and finds the sum.  The first player with the correct response gets both pairs of cards.  You can also play the game where each player flips one card over and the first person to announce the sum gets both cards.

Basically, if I can figure out a way to make a worksheet into a hands-on activity ... then I will.  For example, during week four dominoes were shown in the picture so Alyssa and I used them to play a domino addition game.  As a review, we also completed the activity from the blog titled, First Grade Best.  Alyssa cut out and glued the dominoes on the folded paper.  She wrote the fact family number sentences for each domino.  She said, "These domino equations are so easy." There were only a few dominoes to choose from so I remembered an old activity we used to do. We used the Math Wire Domino Template to match dominoes and write the fact family number sentences.  The child can draw the dots or use any type of counters on the mat.  We used colored circular chips this time. In the past, we used different beans, mini erasers, or math manipulatives.  

Weekly Review and Games
There were minimal directions on how and when to do review activities and games.  Each week there was a "Girl With Braids" game to complete covering specific facts.  As the weeks progressed, we combined the girls and their hair bows to make the activity progress in difficulty.  I would always let Alyssa complete this weekly game (really an activity) one week at a time before combining them all. The book does not say to do this but that's how we did it. Weekly review assessments were also included in the book. There was no mention as to whether or not you time the child.  I chose to secretly time Alyssa and I asked her to complete the facts as fast as she could to show me how much she learned this week.  Another game we played involved solving addition facts in order to move around the game board.  We ran into a problem while playing since we both new the answers.  There was a major flaw or error in the game. We got to a certain part of the game where we were both stuck in the same spot.  We would solve an equation and the board would send us back one space.  Alyssa said, "Mommy isn't this boring going back and forth ... back and forth. Should I get one wrong so that we can move forward."  The problem is that no matter if you are correct or incorrect - no one moves forward.  Incorrect answers don't move. Correct answers move, but then must move back one space over and over again. During the entire game we were side by side following only one space behind and catching up on our next turn unless someone makes a mistake several times in a row.  If the two people playing are good at solving addition facts then you will most likely fall into the same trap we did.  We continued practicing the rest of the addition facts in the stack and then we stopped the game.    

This was the first week for this game.  It was very easy. 

This is how we reviewed the addition facts for this game after three weeks.

I secretly timed her completing the progressively harder and longer weekly reviews. 

GAME FLAW: This is where we stopped the game.

If you have any questions about this product you can contact the author or company here.  If you are interested in purchasing this product for your family please click here.  

Results 

This product was not exactly what I was expecting when I heard about it but surprisingly it worked well for us. I was hoping for more printable games and hands-on activities to learn addition facts. I actually have a ton of games we use to review facts however I am always looking for more games to use. Alyssa has mastered the addition facts that we have covered so far and I expect she will master the few remaining addition facts in the allotted amount of time (rest of six week period). Although, I will say that she knew many addition facts before we began this program. I will give her a timed post-test at the end of the six week period.  I won't actually tell her I am timing her (as I have done since the beginning). I use my cell phone and start the timer ... when she tells me she is done, I check to see how long it took her to complete all of the problems. I will ask her to work as fast as she can without using her fingers or counting. We will look over her test and discuss the ones that are incorrect at that time and we will continue to review the unknown facts.

Recommendations
I recommend this book to homeschooling families, parents, or classrooms with children in schools looking for a supplementary practice program using old fashioned rote memorization techniques to learn addition facts.  This may also be a good after school care program to use with children during homework or tutoring time since I know many teachers will ask students to study their facts for a certain amount of time each night. If your child enjoys cutting, gluing, coloring, finding coded messages, and completing worksheets then this book may meet your needs as a way to practice facts. That being said ... my daughter did enjoy using the book activities, therefore we might consider purchasing the multiplication book in the future ... if she still finds the activities interesting after the full six weeks.

Several Schoolhouse review crew members received either the addition or multiplication book in order to review.  Please click here to read about their experiences with the product and to read their wonderful reviews!
  

Disclaimer: I received Teaching and Learning Addition Made Easy, at no cost to me, in exchange for an honest, professional review on my blog.  All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by the company.