House

I elected to homeschool my children four years ago. My oldest son, at that time, was eligible for kindergarten. I had determined that if I ever homeschooled my children, I would use Sing, Spell, Read and Write, a phonics-based reading and writing program that I had discovered several years ago. The church that I attended had used the program to help children and adults to learn to read.

My older children, who were in private school, had learned to read using other phonics programs. Yet, I was convinced that Sing, Spell, Read, and Write far exceeded what I had seen of the reading programs in their private school.

Finally, I had a chance to use the program with my oldest son. I was absolutely amazed at his progress. By the end of his kindergarten year, he could read almost on a second-grade level.
Also, the writing portion of the program clearly taught how to draw the alphabet, so as to avoid problems like "b-d" reversal.
Moreover, the use of "catchy tunes" to teach reading principles
made things not only fun, but practical. My son never seemed to forget the principles because they were "muscially-engrained " in his mind.

Now, four years later, I am still amazed at his ability to read and comprehend.

Thanks Sue Dickson for developing such a wonderful program. I am now getting ready to use the program again with my other son who
will be soon entering kindergarten. I'm excited!

After trying several well known phonics/reading programs with my older two kids when they were in first grade (with lots of frustration), I finally decided to try Sing, Spell, Read, and Write (SSRW) with my third child. Even though I knew about SSRW when my two older kids were in first grade, I didn't want to fork out [money] for it. I thought it was too much money. Looking back now, though, I wish I had. It's a great program!

It is a complete Language Arts program for first grade. By complete, I mean it includes phonics, spelling, reading, grammar, composition, and penmanship.

There is a more child-appeal in this program that I've seen in any other program; in fact, more child appeal than in many other programs put together! The "Raceway" theme is motivating for young learners. The games are fun and the main workbook is colorful.

Level One includes three consumable books (two workbooks and an assessment book), a teacher's manual, 17 phonetic storybooks, games, an audio cd, five audio cassette tapes, and a video.

It's a pretty fast paced program, so don't be afraid to slow it down if necessary. It's designed to finish in one school year, but my son won't finish it until about 1/4 of the way through second grade. I had to slow it down for him because it got hard.

Also, when you are finished with it you can sell it for at least 1/2 of what you paid for it; your buyer will only need to replace the consumable books if your set is otherwise complete.

This phonics/learning-to-read kit has shown excellent results in our family. I have had the joy of teaching 5 children to read and it was a fun adventure every time with this product. Songs on the cassettes correlate with clear workbook pictures taking the kids through basic alphabet sounds, blending, on up to every phonics rule they will need in their life! Lots of incentives are included: games, tracking progress with a car on a racetrack, prizes, and great books for each level. Not only is it simple for Mom, but every one of my kids loved it. Don't rush it. Enjoy the process and let them cruise at their own speed. All had a great foundation for reading by age 7.

A good, usable well-illustrated book for the everyday person..the middle class "dreamer". Not focused on millionare showplaces, but homes for the average family, homes under 2500 sq ft. Cozy photos and a nice selection of floor plans. A good working tool if you are considering a log home in your future.

This book is aptly second titled a "storybook" - it is the stuff of fantasies - far removed from today's "cut and stack" modern log cabin building. The pictures and design ideas are beautiful. Well worth the time and money. A must read for small log cabin would-be owners.

This book is for the log home dreamers and offers affordable and attainable log home plans. These are not your multi million dollar mansions featured in popular log home magazines but homes that can and are built for the average homeowner with a desire to live in a log home. Very interesting book with information on chosing a plan for a log home as well as plans that can be purchased.

Awesome cookbook! I borrowed my friend's copy after I tried her Cajun Shrimp recipe on page 56. Lots of great recipes!

Every recipe I have tried from this cookbook is wonderful. The make-ahead mashed potatoes are yummy and a time-saver. I use this cookbook exclusively for my Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

This is the one cookbook in my collection (of at least 50 others) that gets the most usage! I loved it so much that I gave this cookbook as a gift to my sister (a caterer) and aunt (who entertains quite a bit)! This is by far my FAVORITE cookbook(and theirs)! The recipes are easy to follow and well laid out. They offer many different meal plan suggestions and the ingredients are easy to find. The Chocolate Mousse Au Grand Marnier is sinfully delicious! Everything that the three of us have made from this cookbook receives RAVE reviews! (i.e. Chicken Alouette, Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Holiday Banana Bread, Streusel-Topped Sweet Pototo Casserole, Mushroom Roll-ups, etc.)

This book gives specific advice for tackling major cleaning jobs around the house. The focus is not on hints and tips for tackling the details but on the approach to use and how to do it. Speed Cleaning, another book by Jeff Campbell, is for doing weekly cleaning. Spring Cleaning is for infrequent large cleaning jobs, but it also has advice for tackling the weekly cleaning the first time if you're starting out from way behind. If only I could get results just from reading the book. . .

I couldn't figure out how to clean the miniblinds effectively. Now I do. While apartment dweller won't need all the info, there is something for just about everyone who needs it. Their company sells the best and most interesting cleaning tools you've ever seen. Customer service is also five stars. They know their stuff, and this book is a good example of it. Also: Talking Dirt, the newest book.

This is a very helpful book. Not only does Jeff Campbell explain exactly what the fastest way to clean your house is, but he also gives advise on what products to use and how to use them efficiently. This was not full of unnessesary "helpful hints", but was loaded with actual technique and procedure. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to spend little time cleaning house, but would still like to live in a clean home.

I loved this Book for only being Young I have the biggest card building!!!!!!

If you want some good family fun try this book - it's fascinating what Bryan Berg accomplishes and to learn how you can take part.

This book is amazing. Its simple explanation of how to build stronger and stronger card houses was easy enough for my 7 year old to understand. Mr. Berg's personal antecdotes made it interesting reading for adults as well. It kept our whole family busy for hours....even days! Tom O'Donnell's succinct reporting skills helped bring out the fascinating aspects of card building. I'm buying ten as Christmas presents!

If you are looking for a relatively easy way to add a touch of individuality to your quarter which can be removed before handover, then stencilling may be the answer. It's cheap, adaptable, and easily painted over- and can be as individual as you want! 'The Stencilled Home' by Helen Morris is a book to inspire you- full of sophisticated and imaginative ideas, each chapter focuses on a themed room, with step by step guides and stencil packs to trace.

There's simply no other book like 'The Stenciled Home'. When you open the book you embark on an amazing and delightful tour of thirteen themed rooms of Morris' stenciling work... Instead of following a trend into trompe l'oeil stenciling, Morris' shows us the immense possibilities that simple stenciling has in the ability to literally transform the interior of your home... It is the imaginative and innovative use of stencils that make this book invaluable... This is a stenciled house from top to bottom and definitely something not to be missed.

Transform rooms with stencil ideas from the stencilled Home by Helen Morris. Helen co-founder of the Stencil Library, showcases a number of distinct perioid styles each with a stencil pack to trace from the page.

A guide to the basics of stonework that concentrates on the most common projects: retaining walls, stone fences, foundations and steps, and then adds a bit more for the adventuresome: a fireplace, an arched bridge and a moon gate. A good book for the do-it-yourselfer or to learn what to look for in working with a professional stone mason.

As a beginner I found the book easy to read, understandable, and a great asset for my beginning projects. The only thing I would like added to this book was some colored photos of Mr. McRaven's work. Also the descriptions of types of rocks would have helped if there where colored photos. For example, when I started to gather my stones together for my project I realized Mr McRaven's comments on being OK to mix types of stone is not universal. Mixing stone is an art and requires experience with an eye on color.

Also more photos, in color, of good work verses bad work would help beginners like me visualize what my goal should be. I feel I wasted time doing and undoing my stonework.

However, this is still a book for any stoneworker's library.

Compared to other how-to books in the category, McRaven makes the reader feel very capable of completing the projects without "dumbing down" the material. Let's face it- stonework is somewhat intimidating. By adding some easy jobs like the stone birdbath-fountain, you can build confidence for bigger things. I'm ready for spring!!

Read this if you enjoy school like I do.. Or if you are the type who likes to play tricks on substitutes...

I recommend everyone this book because it tells us about we should not be bad to a teacher even if it's a substitute. We should not play tricks on them. And we should not listen to Uncle Jesse and Joey.

This is one of my favorite Michelle books. If you have never read a Michelle or Full House book before, you should read this one first.

I always appreciate a book that clearly and simply tells you how to achieve what the picture shows. This books does that and does it well. I particularly liked the Denim Days and Outer Limits rooms-fabulously creative and fun!

Wow! I loved the bedroom for a kid who likes science and technology - the metal wall and starry universe theme for the ceiling are a great touch! Lots of ideas for a great room!

I used ideas from 2 of the featured rooms. This book puts a fun twist on some standard construction materials. The cover is deceptively tradional...there were plenty of cool modern/industrial ideas. The instructions were awesome. Lots of great tips to prevent time-consuming and costly errors. There is a desk made out of tool chests that is perfect for a pre/teen boy's room. All the ideas are versatile and easily copied 'as is' or used as a springboard for your own version. I have seen many deco books and have never felt compelled to write a review until now.

I found this gem by accident on the shelf of a secondhand store, along with several other books on the subject of cruising (which I also bought). This was by far, the best written of the bunch! They say the key to being a good author, is finding your "voice" on the written page, and Jim Moore has certainly done this. Jim has a narrative style that is entertaining as well as informative. He seemlessly blends together the tale of an adventure and lifestyle story that is full of amusing anecdotes, along with truely useful information about sailing, navigating, and living on a sailing vessel. I also appreciated Jim's ability to maintain continuity throughout the book (something not common in the others I've read). Read it the first time for the shear enjoyment. Read it the second time using a highlighter (if you ever plan to go cruising)!

I'm sorry to say, I haven't read Moore's first book, but I can certainly recommend this one (after reading it twice). Moore has a down to earth writing style and is a real thinking sailor. By that, I mean that he has come up with a lot of good solutions to sailing problems, and he shares them in this book.

Besides a running narrative of his experiences, some of which have little to do with cruising, he shares what he has learned about seamanship and life on a boat. He demonstrates how to make a boat leakproof, how to anchor properly, and how to avoid a knockdown while you're sleeping. He throws in a few fishing tips as well, including one that involves vodka (a surprisingly useful tidbit).

In comparing this to a similar book, Lin Pardey's "Cruising in Serrafyn", I'd have to srongly favor Moore. Pardey wrote intirely too much about personal relationships and not enough about sailing.

I've read some pretty negative reviews about Moore's first book, but, IMHO, this one is worth the read.

Jim Moore takes us on Swan his home made 36 foot sloop in the pacific and then around North America. You learn about Molly the Mate, Vane the proud wind vane, CN (Cool Navigator) the smart allec Sat Nav and other picturesque characters. You will travel to places you will not want to leave. You will also find some of the lessons that the author learned on sailing, cruising and fishing.