LeapFrog Academy® from LeapFrog® Review

{Disclaimer:  I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.}

We were blessed to receive a one-year subscription to LeapFrog Academy® from LeapFrog® for F and G!  This interactive, online, learning program is designed for children 3-6 years old.  There are over 2,000 games, eBooks, activities and more!  Children can play on the go!

Learning Adventures covers curriculum for PreK - 1st grade and includes subjects like math, reading and science.  I really appreciate that it tracks your child's learning progress and provides extra practice in the areas they need help with, such a cool feature.  

I set G up on the Introduction to Pre-Kindergarten (ages 4-5) and F on the highest level Introduction to Grade 1 (ages 6-7).  Both boys enjoy this program but G has played the most of the two.  It's part of his "school" and he begs to play.

In this program, students move along their map or world by completing activities and games.  These activities are specifically designed for their level and as they continue on their journey, they build bridges (see above) which allows them to access even more of their map!  It's colorful and fun and G enjoys it.

There are also many options for activities outside their map.  One section that G particularly loves is art!  There is so much to do here.  G loves to build things, sort things, and color things.  There are so many fun activities and games to partake in.  He can also play games, puzzles, music, videos and more.

Above you can see G's dashboard.

When he selects art, here are a few of his choices.  The hearts show the activities that he likes the best.

The boys have both enjoyed earning certificates along the way!

One of F's certificates.

I really like that LeapFrog Academy® helps students with problem solving skills and creativity.  If you are looking for an educational program for your 3-6 year old, we highly recommend it.  They also have a free trial available!

Be sure to click on the banner below to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read even more reviews of LeapFrog Academy®.

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Happy Birthday Stevie Dawg

We are celebrating a big birthday today - Stevie Dawg! 🐶  Some of us think he is 9 while others (me) think he is 10.  One thing is for certain, he’s been with us for 7 years and we love him to pieces!  Happy Birthday Stevie!!  Check out all his birthday fun.

 

Typical birthday around here, chicken minis for breakfast!

 

Stevie & The Kids

Party Animals

Stevie even got to paint!  The kids and I put paint blobs onto several canvases.  We then put them inside of Ziploc bags that were covered in peanut butter.  We put them down on the ground and as Stevie licked the peanut butter off the bag, he created a few masterpieces.  This was super fun and Stevie loved it!

 

This was Stevie's 1st painting.

 

And this was his 2nd.

 

And his 3rd.  I think this was his best work!

 

Stevie got to go on several drives, which is his absolute favorite.

 

We had hot dogs for dinner (even Stevie).

 

And of course, Stevie's cake (celebrating the 7 years we have had him)!

 

Happy Birthday Stevie Dawg - we love you so much!

Archery Fun

This weekend A competed in the Archery Competition at the Houston Rodeo for Barebow.  I am proud to say that she came in 3rd place and won a cash prize.  She is over the moon!  Archery is such a cool sport 🏹.

 

At the competition...

Shooting - She made it to the finals!

Barebow Finals Target - 3rd place finisher

Family Mixed Martial Arts Videos Preschool Mixed Martial Arts Review

{Disclaimer:  I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.}

I have been so blessed to receive unlimited access to Family Mixed Martial Arts Videos Preschool Mixed Martial Arts as part of our homeschool fitness program.  While this online video course is targeted for preschool, it can be used by the entire family!  I love that this program can be beneficial for all ages as it utilizes Mixed Martial Arts techniques specifically designed to help develop and improve balance, coordination, and gross motor skills.  I have mainly been using this program with G but F likes to jump in too!  The primary goal and objective of the video lessons is to improve self-confidence and overall physical fitness!

 

An important aspect of this program to note is that it is a mastery-based program.  This means that the lessons should not only be completed in the correct order, but the skills should be also be practiced and mastered as you work your way through the lessons.  It is ideal to have shorter more frequent practice times verses longer and more infrequent.

 

This course begins with an introduction section (above) that introduces your student to Miss Cheryl, the instructor.  It has a course items list, which comes in handy, and teaches a few fundamentals.

I really appreciated knowing which items we needed to have for each week.  You can see a sampling of this list above.

One of the first fundamentals is to learn attention.

G learning attention

After the introduction, this course is broken down into 16 lessons, each focusing on a different technique.  Throughout this course students will learn technique for push/pull, double collar break, self defense stand up, jab, cross, front kick, left hook, left uppercut and so much more!  Each of the 16 lessons is made up of 6 parts: the greeting and warm-up, technique, character trait, review with game, fun exercise and lesson review and closing.

 

 

Let's walk through a lesson together.  Lesson 1 begins with the greeting and warm-up.  This warm-up includes jumping jacks and squat reaches.

G doing his warm-up exercises.

Next, the lesson teaches the technique.

 

This week students learn the push/pull technique.  This teaches the students what to do in response if someone pulls them by the right arm or pushes them on the right shoulder.

The next part of the lesson focuses on a character trait.  This lesson teaches students the word attentive and what it means to be attentive.  I like that they tell students that being attentive is a choice that requires effort.

The review and game focuses on the technique learned and gives students an opportunity to practice it more.

 

The fun exercise this lesson was planking.  The boys were able to practice planking on our boogie boards (which I knew to have handy from the items list).

 

G showing me his surfing pose.

The review and closing is exactly what it sounds like.  Miss Cheryl goes over the technique learned and encourages students to practice.  And that's lesson 1!  The lessons range between 14-23 minutes.  They are very manageable and G has no problem focusing for that amount of time.  He absolutely loves all the fun exercises.

F and G learning Target Toss

 

Fun Exercise - Target Toss

If you are looking for an online mixed martial arts course for your preschool student or your entire family, we definitely recommend this one!

Be sure to click on the banner below to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read even more reviews of Family Mixed Martial Arts Videos.

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Finding You Trailer Debut & World Market Giveaway

 

I have a new movie trailer to share with you today, this time a romantic comedy from Roadside Pictures, Finding You!

This inspirational drama full of heart and humor follows violinist, Finley Sinclair, to an Irish coastal village as she begins her semester studying abroad.  At the B&B run by her host family, she encounters a heartthrob movie star, Beckett Rush, who it there to film another installment of his fantasy-adventure series.  This movie is about passion, life, and love.

Thinking about this film, I am reminded of the best adventure I have ever taken, my own journey to Ireland with David on our honeymoon.  The landscape was lush and green, and the people were as genuine as can be.  We drove around the country with no particular agenda and it was so much fun.  I kissed the Blarney Stone, we looked over the Cliffs of Moher, I watched Waterford Crystal being made, and we toured too many castles to recall.  This movie makes me want to go back again!

Welcome to Ireland, a land of beauty, fantasy and romance worth risking it all for.   Watch #FindingYouMovie trailer below now, and see it in theaters May 14.

 

 

You can engage with Finding You on social media @:

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Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win a $20 World Market Gift Card to 'Shop Around the World!'  Just enter below and good luck!  

 

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Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Grace Hill Media for providing this trailer and information and the prize giveaway.  All opinions are 100% my own.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Stevie Dawg! Hope you remembered to wear green 😉

Happy Pi Day

 

Apple Pie - Yum!

 

Happy Pi Day!  We have apple and cherry pie here at our house.  I love the apple pie craft below - G has had fun with it today.

 

Apple Pie Craft

Hope you get to enjoy some pie today!

Whale Drawing

D was trying to decide what she wanted to create for art yesterday so she began looking around our schoolroom and decided to draw a whale, inspired by one of our storage holders.  I love the way it turned out.  Enjoy!

A close up of her whale.

Dolphin Island Review & Giveaway

I have a new adventure-filled film to share with you that recently released on Digital HD on most video-on-demand platforms, Dolphin Island!  This fun, family-friendly film is about a young girl, 14-year old Annabel, who runs a nonprofit marine research and conservation center with her fisherman grandfather.  Annabel inherited the center when her parents tragically died in an accident 10 years ago.  Her grandfather uprooted his life to care for Annabelle and live on this island paradise.  

Annabel's best friend happens to be a dolphin named Mitzy which is super fun!  Conflict arises when Annabel's maternal grandparents show up with plans to take her away from the conservation center and the life she knows to New York to live with them.  Will Annabel get to stay or will she be forced to leave?

Check out the trailer below to see even more about Dolphin Island.

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win a digital code (only valid in North America) for you to watch this film from the comfort and safety of your home.  Enter below and good luck! 

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Entertainment Squad for providing this movie and movie information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a movie screening in exchange for this review and post.