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Our
Favorite Products
"Technology Assisted Learning"
Continuing in the tradition of helping you find excellent learning
resources, Homeschool.com has focused this issue of "Our Favorite Products" on technology-assisted products. From traveling virtually
with Dr. Robert Ballard to the "Frozen Worlds" of Alaska to learning about Picasso on an interactive multimedia CD, these outstanding
learning resources will help you provide a superior education for your
child at home.
Our Favorite
Products – Technology Assisted Learning
On-Line
Learning
ASSESSMENT TESTING AND REPORTING
Testbuddy.com
1-866-311-6500
 Regardless of how one feels about children taking tests, the fact
remains that learning how to take tests efficiently and with confidence
is an important skill and that periodic assessments provide helpful insights for learning success. Homeschool.com's tester families
appreciated the non-threatening way in which Testbuddy.com successfully
kept their children attentive to the areas in which they needed to strengthen their skills. The programming is well organized and
seamlessly interactive. Although designed for 6th grade and up, our 4th
grade tester had no difficulties and enjoyed improving her grammar skills. Testbuddy.com offers review, practice, and test simulations in
Reading; Writing; Language Arts, Mathematics, Information Skills; Workforce Readiness; and Thinking Skills. This on-line program is fun
and easy for children to use and at $99.00/year per family, is an educational bargain. Check out their FREE demo at their web
site.
http://www.TestBuddy.com/
ON-LINE CURRICULUM
 APlusStudent.com
(856) 642-9293
A unique interactive online learning site with bright graphics,
animation and audio. Over 15,000 interactive quizzes and exercises are
delivered in easy to use portions that can be completed in about 3-5 minutes. Homeschool.com testers especially liked the "My
Classroom", "Portfolio", "Homework Help", and "Fun Activities" sections.
Priced at 49.95 for six months.
http://www.aplusstudent.com/
HIGHER MATH
 BoxerMath.com
There is absolutely no reason to be intimidated by higher math any
longer! Covering math concepts, which so often frustrate children, Homeschool.com tester families were elated at how quickly Boxermath.com
was able to remove the stresses typically experienced with learning higher math. Easy to follow and easy to comprehend, this interactive
programming opened the door to an entirely new way for their children to
approach math. The comprehensive graphics and math environments are anything but boring! Boxermath.com provides self-paced, interactive
courses that include Fundamental Math (grades 3-5), Introductory Algebra
(pre-algebra), Intermediate Algebra (algebra I and algebra II), Geometry, and Trigonometry. At
$59.99 per year Boxermath.com's on-line
math subscription is well worth the investment! Try their FREE two-week
trial.
http://www.BoxerMath.com/
SOCIAL STUDIES AND LANGUAGE ARTS
 StoriesPast.com
(434) 528-0358
You will be transported back into the past with this exciting new interactive on-line program. Wander through a virtual house with doors
leading to a number of rooms containing items that will lead your child
to uncover information about the time, place, and people that they are
visiting. A bed reveals a diary with an entry from the past but be careful-it is written in code and you have to detect the message! Our
young testers thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining way StoriesPast.com used a detective approach to guide them through the many layers of detailed information to research the interesting topics. With a wide
variety of exercises including interactive quizzes, discussion topics,
reading comprehension, and history notes this game-like program is a real retention getter! For only $19.95, the price of a single book, you
can get all the wonder and interaction of Stories Past. Go on-line and
take the demo adventure today.
http://www.storiespast.com/
SCIENCE & EXPLORATION
 JASON At-Home
1-888-527-6600
The JASON project has now made it easier than ever for homeschoolers to
share in the learning adventure! Last year our testers explored the hot
rocky volcanic slopes at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and this year will be virtually transported to Alaska and some of the colder regions
of our planet and solar system. Engage your child in hands-on research
by following real field scientists as they explore some of the earth's
most fascinating places The overall structure of the JASON curriculum consists of units, several of which are broken into investigations
focusing on a particular theme. Aligned to state standards and truly multidisciplinary covering areas of language arts, geography, geology,
math, technology, ecology, history, cultural studies, art, physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy and engineering. Enhanced by the TEAM
JASON ONLINE learning community, supplemental videos, maps, CD's and the
live expedition broadcast, this is one learning experience your child won't want to miss! Only $75.00 per family.
http://www.homeschool.com/jason/
Videos
VISUAL SCIENCE
Environmental Media
1-800-368-3382
Environmental Media is an environmental education company that produces
and distributes quality media to support environmental education for the
classroom and community. Environmental Media's work includes a variety
of video projects on oceans, beaches, bays and marshes, the Grand Canyon, the ecology of Palau, the Blue Ridge Escarpment, and a variety
of other programs for auditoriums, exhibits and outreach. Too many to
mention in this review, here's a Homeschool.com tester peak at one such
program:
Nature Works - Why do skunks have stripes and possums play dead? From an
"Up Close" view of animal habitats to following biologists in the field,
each 15-minute program on the Nature Works video seriously reinforces sound science in a clear and entertaining way. Our tester felt this
video was well organized giving her children a thorough understanding of
each field of study. Appropriate for young children while giving older
children a framework and proper terminology for furthering their studies
of the natural world. This entertaining video contains 16 educational
programs for a total of 4 hours of engaging learning experiences. At $199.95 Nature Works is close captioned and includes an online companion
teacher's guide.
From oceans to rainforests the prices of Environmental Media's
productions range from $19.95 per video and up depending on the topic,
length of programming and teacher guides included. Order an Environmental Media catalog and plan to bring the inspirational world of
environmental science home today!
http://www.envmedia.com/
CD-ROM
CREATIVE ART
 MeetTheMasters.com
(949) 492-1583
Hear the inspirations, smell the colors and feel the emotions that make
creative art a living experience. MeetTheMasters.com's interactive program is truly a multi-sensory experience into world of creative art.
Homeschool.com's testers were impressed with the fact that they did not
have to be art experts to bring out the artist in their child. The CD-Rom made it interesting and fun to teach what previously had been an
intimidating subject. The easy-to-navigate curriculum uses simple questions and personal artist stories to introduce children to the
Masters. Creative projects using a variety of art materials and techniques boost confidence and motivate even the most reluctant artist
proving that all children can be creative! $75.00 per level - beginner,
intermediate and advance students K-6.
http://www.meetthemasters.com/
CD -
Audio
MUSIC APPRECIATION
 Mrs. Music Enterprises
(310) 472-6875
Here are three great CD's to encourage your child's music appreciation!
After listening to Mrs. Music's "Celebrating Children," ($11.95) Homeschool.com's tester parent was impressed to hear her child singing
so many of the songs to himself the next day. While not the songs most
elementary age children know, the selections are easy to learn and the
children's voices make a child want to sing along. To enhance this love
for music you will want to get "The Best Music Plans Ever!" ($19.95)
With CD, this program is an excellent introduction to rhythm, composers,
song, dance and the simple joy of making music. The accompanying book
provides plenty of inspiration for games and simple lessons in a fun setting. Finally, bring the diversity of the holiday season home with
"It's Holiday Time" ($11.95) - a celebration of Chanukah and Christmas
with Mrs. Music and members of the West Los Angeles Children's Choir -a
wonderful mixture of familiar and new music! The accompanying songbook
makes it easy for a parent to help the child sing along and begin to understand the process of reading music. To order e-mail:
MRSMUSICENT@aol.com or click below.
Celebrate Children
http://www.homeschool.com/click.asp?id=B000028U2R
It's Holiday Time
http://www.homeschool.com/click.asp?id=B000028U2Q
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Power-Glide's "Children's Complete French Course"
1-800-596-0910
Learning a foreign language never has to be boring or difficult when using Power-Glide's products! Your child will love learning a new
language with this complete French program filled with stories, games,
puzzles and songs. The program is based on Dr. Blair's method of "natural language acquisition." Natural language acquisition is the
"how to" stage of speaking. Available in French, Spanish, German, Latin, Russian and Japanese.
http://www.power-glide.com/
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