Friday, November 29

The Ghost of Darwin Stewart + Giveaway!

Do ghosts really exist?

"There can be only two answers to this question. If you think a ghost is the spirit of someone who has died, then an unequivocal “NO.” Hebrews 9:27 NLT says, “Man is destined once to die, after that the judgment.” This means the soul/spirit does not remain on earth; it goes to one of two eternal places. Heaven for the believer, and Hell for the unbeliever. Remember the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

If you believe a ghost is a spirit being, then “YES.” Spirits are very real. The bible never refers to ghosts as the dead and departed. They are spirit beings, created by God. The Bible clearly teaches about good and evil spirits, not dead humans who stay behind to “haunt” a place or person. Up until recent years, our Bible referred to the third person of the trinity as the “Holy Ghost.” Within the last 40 or so years, an explosion of different translations have appeared to clarify or remove difficult wording or to make uncomfortable verses easier to understand.

So, ghost is another term for spirit.

The Issachar gatekeeper is a clean, fun, faith-based adventure that will introduce tweens, teens, and young adults to spiritual concepts within a biblical worldview. Readers with a faith-filled background will recognize various references, while readers with little or no exposure to God’s word will still enjoy a ghostly adventure with spirits, shapeshifters and a benevolent High King and evil entities.

The ghostly theme of this series is designed to attract the interest of young people. After all, everyone enjoys a bit of a thrill occasionally. I hope this short exploration of Scripture will ease any anxieties Christians might feel about the use of “ghosts” in my novels." ~L.G. Nixon

Recently we had the opportunity to check out The Ghost of Darwin Stewart, the first book in a series for teens and young adults. It incorporates faith-based principles as well as the supernatural.

The Ghost of Darwin Stewart (L.G. Nixon)

A girl, a ghost, and a magical artifact. What could go wrong?

Summer vacation is all fun and games for Lucy Hornberger...until she's attacked by a smelly ghost and followed by a terrifying shape-shifter who declares he must retrieve an ancient artifact called the Spectrescope, which Lucy happens to have in her possession. The Spectrescope has revealed a beguiling reality filled with magic, spirits, and Irredaemons who have crossed into her world. Lucy has discovered deep secrets that could destroy both realities.

Entangled in an unbelievable struggle against a spirit world she never knew existed, Lucy's understanding of reality has her questioning everything. Once things of fantasy, ghosts, spirits, shapeshifters, and magical objects are suddenly real and menacing.

As the entities pursue the Spectrescope, Lucy must search for a way to defeat the spirits and discover the truth about the unseen realm.

Lucy must decide—should she protect the artifact and defend her world against this evil that is threatening it? Or give it up to protect herself and her loved ones? And at what cost to the innocent? Can someone called the High King help her in this fight against the Dark Prince?

Lucy has been chosen, but evil is strong, and the night has secrets of its own.

Snag a copy of the book!

In the same vein as some of the classic mysteries - Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Frank Peretti, etc - Lucy and her friends are young teens who have a mystery to solve! Unlike the stories of old, this one involves supernatural elements and also includes faith-based ideas. There are angels - not the cherubic kind, but the true Biblical kind - and an ancient artifact that allows her to interact with spirits. One of the author's strong suits is world-building, and the setting is a character in itself within the story. We have wizards, demons, archetypal good and evil, and lots of magic, but the plot doesn't stray from it's Bible-based undercurrents, even though it isn't preachy. This is the first installment in The series, and we'll be interested to see what happens next...

Enter to win!

Pop over here to win your own copy of The Ghost of Darwin Stewart

Looking for more fantastic book recommendations? Check out Mom's Reads!!

Friday, November 22

Books to Celebrate Chanukah

As part of our continuing series on Celebrating the Holidays through Literature, this month we are bringing you a collection of Chanukah stories to share with your children!

Pop over to the Books for Christmas post to download your freebie, includes cross-stitch patterns for the holiday, easy peasy gift guides, a couple of fun holiday homeschool unit studies, a decorating guide to bring your personal flair, holiday self-care tips, and a cookie recipe collection!

What's the deal with all the different spellings?

There are over 15 possible correct ways to spell Chanukah in English...but why? "Hanukkah" is the traditional Hebrew spelling, while "Chanukah" is the Yiddish spelling. Yiddish is based on Hebrew, but also includes influences from German, Slavic, and Aramaic.

In Hebrew, Hanukkah is spelled Het-Nun-Kaph-Hay. That's four letters, but when they translate into English, especially with the accent marks, it leads to several possibilities. So Hanukah is right, and Hannukah, and Hannukkah, and Hanukkah. And so is Chanuukah, Chanukah, Chanukkah, etc...

Hanukkah Books for Kids

The booklist is alphabetical and includes books for everyone from preschoolers to middle schoolers.

Chanukah Movies for Kids

Download the entire holiday bundle of book lists for free. Can't get enough of the holidays? Incorporate the Bricks Through the Year and History of Our Holidays bundles into your homeschool year, too!

Pick up the Jewish Holidays in Literature Bundle!

Each of the ten unit studies in this year-long bundle centers around a book for middle school level and includes videos, cooking projects, hands-on activities, writing assignments, and more. There are also resources for younger children in eight of the ten units (not in *).

Introduction to Judaism
Solomon and the Trees + Tu B’Shevat unit
The Queen of Persia + Purim unit study (sample)
Devil’s Arithmetic + Passover unit study
The Secret Shofar of Barcelona + Rosh Hashana unit study
The Yom Kippur Shortstop + Yom Kippur unit study
The Mysterious Guests + Sukkot unit study
All-of-a-Kind Family Hannukah + Chanukah unit study
Broken Strings + Fiddler on the Roof + Persecution unit study*
The Golem & the Jinni + Kabbalah unit*

Wednesday, November 6

Roadschool Trip to Vindolanda & Ancient Roman Forts

Just south of Hadrian's Wall is the Roman fort of Vindolanda. Archaeologists have determined that it was occupied from about 85 to 370 AD. One of the most fascinating things on display is a set of wooden tablets that are the oldest handwritten documents...and history doesn't change that much —one of the tablets is a birthday party invitation!

After being abandoned, the site was stumbled upon by hikers and travelers who described its ruins over the years, but it wasn't until the mid 18th century that archaeologists became interested in excavations. Today, it is still being excavated and you can apply to help with the archaeological dig as a volunteer.

Adjacent to the fort, as with many of the Roman forts, was a self-governing village with several rows of buildings. This would be a place for families and other camp followers. Remains of these buildings can still be seen today outside the fort walls. A number of amazing archaeological finds can be found in the Vindolanda museum, including tatted lace that is nearly two thousand years old and still intact! Other exhibits include Roman boots, shoes, armor, jewelry, and coins.

Throughout history, the Roman legion had a reputation for being fierce and invincible. They were well-organized and could quickly take over a region. Most soldiers were from the plebian class, and officers had to be able to afford their own horses, as they were not supplied by the government. Each man in the army served for a minimum of twenty-five years before retirement, so it was a life pledge. Upon completion of service, he was granted land and a small pension.

Upon joining the ranks, a man was issued his uniform of rectangular shield, short sword, dagger, chain mail jacket, lorica segmentata, belt, helmet, kilt, shirt, and sandals. Each legion had its own name, number, and special banner. Within each legion, the centuries also had special banners. It was similar to the way that Boy Scouts are set up - with each troop being divided into patrols.

As legions moved around, they built camps, towers, and roads -- leading to the saying "All roads lead to Rome." Many of the earliest architectural finds uncovered through Europe can be traced back to these legions.

Pick up activities and worksheets to augment your real or virtual trip in the unit study bundle below!

Explore the art, history, geography, food, and culture of England in this cross-curricular unit study….perfect for families getting ready to travel abroad or folks who want to travel via unit studies! Each stop along the roadschooling trip covers a different facet of history and culture with unit information, resources, worksheets, activities, and more...

YES! I want 122 pages of FUN STUDIES!

Table of Contents:

o Introduction & Geography of England
o Portsmouth
- o The Mary Rose & naval archaeology
o London
- o The British Museum & archaeology
- o The Wallace Collection & medieval history
- o The Tower of London / London Bridge & the Tudors
- o Buckingham Palace & royalty
- o Victoria and Albert Museum & medieval art
- o Thames / Globe Theater & Shakespeare
- o Sherlock Holmes Museum & British Literature
- o Abbey Road & British Invasion
o Leeds
- o Royal Armouries & middle ages
o York
- o Jorvik & Vikings
- o York Castle & archaeology
o Haltwhistle
- o Hadrian’s Wall & ancient Celts
- o Vindolanda & archaeology
o Alnwick
- o Alnwick Castle & architecture
- o Poison Garden & herbs
- o Barter Books & WW2 history
o Alnmouth
- o North Sea & train history
o Newcastle o Segedunum & ancient Romans
o Tips & Tricks for Travelling in England

Saturday, November 2

Fantastic Finds for YA Fiction this Christmas! + a few extras

Each Christmas, the kids get new books...it's a holiday tradition! We've gifted everything from Magic Treehouse and A to Z Mysteries (elementary school) to the We Were There series and Wingfeather Saga (middle school) to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Wheel of Time series (high school).... If you've got a reader on your list, or just want to foster a love of reading, here are some fresh new books perfect for stocking stuffers!

Something for the History / Mystery Lover

The Bletchley Riddle

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.

The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother's disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues which unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?

Combining World War 2 history with a Sherlock Holmes type of mystery, the author takes the reader on a journey that continues to be cloaked until the very last page! The protagonists are resourceful and curious, demonstrate good teamwork, and appreciate and celebrate their friends, no matter how quirky. The mystery is believable and will keep the reader engaged, all while teaching a bit about the era. This is perfect for any middle schooler who loves escape rooms and other intriguing activities...

Something for the Superhero / Spy Lover

The Forgotten Five series

X-Men meets Spy Kids in this instant New York Times bestseller! Here’s the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy/adventure series from the author of The Unwanteds.

Fifteen years ago, eight supernatural criminals fled Estero City to make a new life in an isolated tropical hideout. Over time, seven of them disappeared without a trace, presumed captured or killed. And now, the remaining one has died. Left behind to fend for themselves are the criminals’ five children, each with superpowers of their own: Birdie can communicate with animals. Brix has athletic abilities and can heal quickly. Tenner can swim like a fish and can see in the dark and hear from a distance. Seven’s skin camouflages to match whatever is around him. Cabot hasn’t shown signs of any unusual power—yet.

Then one day Birdie finds a map among her father’s things that leads to a secret stash. There is also a note: Go to Estero, find your mother, and give her the map. The five have lived their entire lives in isolation. What would it mean to follow the map to a strange world full of things they’ve only heard about, like cell phones, cars, and electricity? A world where, thanks to their parents, being supernatural is a crime?

Set up with a dystopian premise, this series follows five children as they navigate an adventure fraught with peril, mystery, and the need for both teamwork and self-reliance. Told from more of an omniscent perspective, the reader is able to hear and feel what each of the characters is thinking and feeling (rather than solely being from one character's perspective). Each has their own special skills and supernatural talents, and they have to work together to use these for survival. I won't say much more, especially about books two through five in the series, as that would give away some of the mystery and fun!

Something for the Little Sibling

Just One More Sleep

Waiting is not easy—especially for children. Often they measure the concept of time in how many more sleeps until the exciting day comes, when there is so much to do, so many exciting things to explore, and so many holidays to celebrate! In a buoyant book that channels childhood exuberance, Jamie Lee Curtis makes it clear why waiting is worth it. And with Laura Cornell’s bold and humorous artwork helping readers celebrate and appreciate milestones throughout the year, this is a story worth waiting for—and one kids will want to read over and over again.

This is a colorful book with delightful pictures. It is easy to read to a young child. It gives a little bit of information about each of the many holidays, including birthdays, that we celebrate each year. Told as a rhyme, it easily captures a young child's attention and even the reader can feel the excitement of what is about to happen the next day when we wake up. One more sleep and what fun this day will bring!

Something for Mom & Dad

A Very Merry 90's Christmas

Celebrate this holiday season with all your favorite 90s stars, icons, and pop-culture moments!

'Twas the night before Christmas
when all through the house
the only sound you could hear
was the click of a mouse…

This illustrated gift book is a perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who wants to relive the best decade of the twentieth century.

If you are product of the 90s, then you will enjoy this book as it takes you back in time! A lonely young man can't be with his family for Christmas and is sad so he types in his password to his AOL account and connects with his neighbor, Mrs. Doubtfire. She is going to save him from being sad and asks permission to bring a friend....who asks to bring one...who asks to bring one...and suddenly all the icons of the 90s are back with phrases from that era. The illustrations are colorful and reiminiscent of the period. This is a quick read that will take you down memory lane....

Thursday, October 24

Lost On A Mountain In Maine

Did you love My Side of the Mountain? Then you should check out Lost on a Mountain in Maine!

Rated PG, Lost on a Mountain in Maine tells the inspiring true story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who becomes separated from his family by a fast-moving storm atop a treacherous mountain. For nine days, Donn fights to stay alive as he attempts to survive the unforgiving wilderness of northern Maine without food, proper clothing, or the knowledge of how bad his situation really is. His disappearance sparks a massive search effort that captures national headlines and attracts hundreds of volunteers, including his father, who fears he may never see his son again.

It's in theaters on November 1st. Check it out here!

To get in the movie mood, you can also use this unit study on wilderness survival...

Lost on a Mountain in Maine is sure to be a family-night favorite...add it to your to-be-watched list this month!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Blue Fox Entertainment.

Tuesday, October 22

Is DuoLingo Worth It?

Encompassing instruction in over thirty languages, including both popular ones, such as Spanish and German, and culturally-specific ones such as Gaelic, Navajo, and Hawaiian, DuoLingo is one of the most well-known foreign language apps currently being used all over the world. At only $120 / year for a family membership, the Super DuoLingo subscription offers up even more options for language learners, but is it worth it?

The first things users will notice upon logging into the app is how engaging and user-friendly it is. Designed like a video game, and pulling heavily from behavior theory, the app can be addictive and make even the most reluctant language learner want to play. Users race against the clock, earn points for correct answers, score bonus rounds, compete with other users, and even team up with other users to tackle larger challenges. All of this can be very appealing, getting just about anyone to commit to learning a language even if they find it very difficult.

It's worth noting that with the free version of the app, users are only allowed to make five mistakes (in a period of about four hours) before they cannot progress. The game will shut down if they make any more than that, so there is a lot of incentive to purchase the 'super' version, which provides unlimited mistakes. Given that we often learn the most from our mistakes, this is one point in favor of the paid version.

To best learn and retain new language skills, it's best to try and learn a little bit everyday rather than doing long lessons every once in a while. Duolingo offers bite-sized lessons so that you can learn in as little as two minutes a day....or spend an hour or more learning if you have the free time. Most learners aim for at least fifteen minutes a day, which can be broken up over several short lessons. Waiting for a doctor's appointment? Work on a few lessons!

The lessons circle back, revisiting previous vocabulary and grammar concepts and covering missed questions in each lesson review. (Each lesson contains between three and five mini-lessons before the review.) There are approximately twenty lessons in each unit, with a larger unit review before moving forward. As you go through the review, it's easy to see how much you're learning and retaining. Additionally, if you need extra explanations of the grammar and how it is used to form sentences, you can click on a link within the lesson for an additional grammar description and practice.

One difficulty with the shorter lessons and mastery cycle is that much of the language is taught in a closed loop - as in it's not part of a conversational mastery, but simply short sentences related to whatever topic that lesson is about. Learners will be able to speak statements and questions, but that doesn't necessarily translate into conversation. Think of it as more of a stilted, two-year-old type of conversation...but it's a place to start!

Recently, a new AI feature has been added for Super Duolingo users to practice speaking with a native (albeit artificial) speaker. This is designed to help learners work on fluency and advancing their conversational skills.

Duolingo alone is probably not going to get a learner to fluency, and would best be coupled with a full-length curriculum or, even better, conversational practice with a native speaker. However it's a fantastic starting point, provides an opportunity for students to explore a wide variety of languages, and can help foster basic communication among people with conversational barriers.

Two of our other favorite language programs, which Duolingo would definitely augment, are:

Homeschool Languages
TalkBox.Mom (foreign language) & TalkBox.Mom

Wednesday, October 9

Roadschool Trip to the Poison Garden & WW2 England

Downtown Alnwick is full of old-world charm, from its quaint hotels and lively pubs to the cobblestoned streets running through the old city walls. Here you can venture to places such as The Chocolate Shop (yum!), found within the fortressed walls, to the famous Barter Books, found outside the walls.

Barter Books is one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Europe. The bookshop is in the Victorian-age Alnwick Railway Station, dating back to 1887. The station was in use until 1968, and was used as a storage unit during World War II. Just a few years after the station was transformed into a bookstore, the owners discovered a World War II poster from 1939 featuring the slogan, "Keep Calm and Carry On." They began reprinting the design and turned it into a global phenomenon!

Visitors to Barter Books will note that it uses a barter system (in addition to cash), where customers can exchange books for other books. It has many incredible, homey features that bibliophiles will adore, such as the open fires (in winter) and a buffet with coffee, tea, cookies, and light meals. Throughout the store, you'll find several sitting areas, including a children's room with toys. There are glass cases featuring antiquarian books (such as Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species'), and several train station features incorporated into the architecture. There is also a model train that links the various rooms!

Many of England's cities and towns have apothecary gardens — historical plots containing plants turned into treatments centuries ago by doctors, herbalists, and shamans. Most such gardens exist today to teach visitors about the history of medicine, and the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle is one such.

"These plants can kill." That's what the gate leading into the Poison Garden says, and it's emblazoned with a skull and crossbones for good measure. Behind the bars is the deadliest garden in the world, and you can take a guided tour through it! Here you'll learn about hundreds of deadly plants as well as 100 infamous killers...

The duchess created this garden in 2005, wanting to add something unique to her garden with plants that would tell a good story. The garden's mission is to educate visitors about common (and uncommon) plants that are toxic. Children, particularly, are both educated and entertained by stories such as the "killing jars" of the Victorian era, which held laurel leaves that killed spiders or butterflies but left them intact — great for collectors.

When visiting, you'll be remanded not to smell, touch, or taste anything, though the occasional visitor faints from inhaling toxic fumes. Some of the species found in the garden include the source of strychnine, hemlock, cannabis, coca, the source of ricin, foxglove, deadly nightshade, and opium poppy.