SchoolhouseTeachers: A Review

 
Howdy Folksies.  Things are thawing out here and it's starting to look like the south again.  I'm thinking of peaking my nose out the door to see if it's warm enough for normal people to venture outside again.  For the last several days I've been hibernating like a bear, but that's okay.  I've had plenty to occupy me.

I've been busy reviewing SchoolhouseTeachers.com (a division of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine).  As part of the Review Crew, I received the Yearly Membership Option, and let me tell you, it is pretty awesome.  There is literally something for everyone.  SchoolhouseTeachers.com is an online homeschool resource chock full of classes covering preschool though high school.  You even get their extensive Schoolhouse Planner, the TOS magazine, ebooks and more.  You know those subjects you have trouble getting excited about?  They have classes compiled by expert teachers to bail you out -- Grammar, Composition, Science, Trigonometry -- it's all there.  There are classes covering everything from Mock Trials to Geology -- with a smattering of filmmaking and Hebrew thrown in for good measure.  My problem isn't finding something useful, it's trying to find time to take advantage of all those great resources.  Don't worry.  I'm pacing myself.  ;)

Pickle Mickle "working" on her motor skills with
sparkly green play dough and rhinestone Christmas Trees
from the Homegrown Preschool class.

This week we have been up to our happy little elbows in the Homegrown Preschool Class.  It's preschool as it ought to be.  There are lots of fun hands on projects, opportunities for kids to learn life skills and books to read -- all geared to teach a character trait.  This month was Kindness.  I don't know about you, but I like being around people who are kind.  Helping my little one learn kindness early is a good thing. 

Practicing Kindness and life skills by
sweeping the sequins into the square.

Pickle Mickle and May-May (my resident ornithologist)
practicing kindness to the birds by making cool fruit and seed bird feeders.

May-May is checking out the Photography class -- maybe she will take over my blog pictures.  I'm thinking it's time to upgrade from iphone pictures, don't you?  She is also learning to write the College Admission Essay.  I am so glad to have someone else covering that issue, since I didn't need to write one when I went to college about an eon ago.

Rocket Boy is uber-excited about the Tinkers Club.  Tinkers Club is a class for, you know, tinkering.  The very first class involved ripping appliances and engines apart.  That sucked him right in.  (I kept him out of my kitchen.  He has a habit of asking to tear apart perfectly good equipment.)  I love that this class makes it okay to be very hands on.  Rocket Boy isn't much of a text-book, rules-and-regulations guy.  He's more of a jump-first-then-look-down kind of guy.  After taking things apart, the instructor tells the kids to look at what they have and begin to think about what they can do with it.  Then he makes a revolutionary statement.  He says, "But don't think too long.  Start building -- even if you aren't sure what you are building.  You'll figure it out later."  My Rocket Boy's eyes lit up.  He lives in a house full of perfectionists who are always telling him to slow down and be careful.  Here was an instructor telling him to jump in and figure it out later.  Rocket Boy is in heaven.

I am personally looking forward to the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling class, the college prep classes and the science classes (we love science around here).  And to help me keep track of all the different classes we are taking, they have course check lists.  That's right, folks.  There is so much at SchoolhouseTeachers.com that they have to give you a map.

The Yearly Membership Option is $139 and that covers the whole family, no matter how many students you have.  There is also a Monthly Option, if that works better for your family.  If you are looking for a one-stop homeschooling resource, SchoolhouseTeachers.com gets the Gallimaufry Grove seal of approval.  But don't just take my word for it.  You can check out what other reviewers are saying about it by clicking this graphic: Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go make some Magical Milk with Pickle Mickle in her Homegrown Preschool class.  And I think Rocket Boy might be disassembling the toaster... Have a great day! Angela