All posts by NerdMom

Contesting Monday 12/1

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Apparently it is December already. I say apparently because I am denying it;). The year can’t almost be over… I have so much to do. But winning some awesome things would help make this all a little easier. At least emotionally;).

So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!

And this week is special because this linky is also being hosting over at Robyn’s Online World! You only have to add it once to be seen at both sites!

Contesting Monday 11/24

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Happy Thanksgiving week! I can’t believe that it is already Thanksgiving. This year is flying by!

So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!

And this week is special because this linky is also being hosting over at Robyn’s Online World! You only have to add it once to be seen at both sites!

Contesting Monday 11/17/2014

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I can’t believe it is already November! It seems (at least according to the stores) that it is the beginning of the Christmas buying season. Wouldn’t it be better to win some gifts? For others or for yourself;)?

So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!

This linky is also being hosting over at Robyn’s Online World! You only have to add it once to be seen at both sites!

Contesting Monday 11/10/14

Contesting Monday2
I can’t believe it is already November! It seems (at least according to the stores) that it is the beginning of the Christmas buying season. Wouldn’t it be better to win some gifts? For others or for yourself;)?

So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

Before you run off, make sure to enter my giveaway! I am giving away a set of gorgeous Fast Track Pack of New Testament flash cards by Wizzy Gizmo!

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!

This linky is also being hosting over at Robyn’s Online World! You only have to add it once to be seen at both sites!

A Look at Big Hero 6

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Big Hero 6 is finally out! We here at the NerdFamily have been looking forward to it for a while so we were stoked to get a chance to check out a preview! Now I had heard this was a Disney movie but my husband had heard Marvel. And when you look at the credits you see some representation by both! To me this movie is the first fully new Disney integrated, animated feature movie and I am loving what the new Disney is looking like!

So not only was the Big Hero 6 visually stunning, the plot was really good. It is simple enough that it is resolved and the kids can understand it but deep enough that any adult can relate to it. And wow! It is a nerd movie.

The plot… This is always where I struggle because I want to inform you guys but I don’t want to ruin the movie. So some of the broad strokes. This is set in San Fransokyo and centered around Science and Tech College. It deals with a brilliant 14 year old and the relationship he develops with Baymax after tragedy befalls him and the city of San Fransokyo. He has a band of nerdy friends who help him by highlighting their own nerdy talents.

I love all the various nerdy personality types that they included in this movie. You had different types of male and female personalities and just about no stereotypes. Everyone had their own nerdy interests and they were all different. It was awesome! And they even had the line “Woman up” (which is something my mom used to say;).

We loved this movie and highly recommend it!!! It is fabulous and I think it was even worth the 3D! But there is one question I have heard many times. “What is Big Hero 6?” Well, you are going to have to watch the movie to find out;).

(Thanks to Disney for the preview passes! But all thoughts and opinions are still my own.)

A Look at Wizzy Gizmo’s Fast Track Bible Pack (and a Chance to Win One)

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I recently got hold of a new product from Wizzy Gizmo. It is the New Testament Series of the Fast Track Bible Pack. These are like the uber Bible Flashcards!

These are gorgeously printed, double sided cards. On the front there is a great summary along with a couple of highlights. Then on the back there is a plethora of information.

1)Theme of each book
2)Outline
3)Key Chapters and their topics
4)Key Passages
5)Key Doctrines with the specific passages to support them
6)Key people

The New Testament set has 28 cards (there is an index card also with Names, themes, dates and chapters too) and retails for $14.99. They are for all ages and don’t assume any previous knowledge.

Now that we got all the details out of the way… I think these flashcards are great! They are not at all trying to replace the actual Bible because they constantly turn you back to the text. But they do help to stream line the information. You can use them as a memorization tool or as a devotional. I am planning on using these as a devotional tool with the kids. I myself am using them to work on my own memory work!

I really love these and look forward to checking out an Old Testament pack when it comes out. And how would you like to win a set?

Wizzy Gizmo has generously offered to give one set to one of my readers. Just enter the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Disclosure: Wizzy Gizmo gave me a set to review but all thoughts and opinions are mine. The giveaway will be fulfilled by Wizzy Gizmo! You can also check out more reviews over at Homeschool Mosaics.)

Contesting Monday 11/3

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I can’t believe it is already November! It seems (at least according to the stores) that it is the beginning of the Christmas buying season. Wouldn’t it be better to win some gifts? For others or for yourself;)?

So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!

This linky is also being hosting over at Robyn’s Online World! You only have to add it once to be seen at both sites!

iTooch Math and Language Arts Apps

itoochapp *This piece brought to you as part of the #VZEducation Campaign and is compensated. But the thoughts and opinions are mine.*

Apps. By this point we all know and believe that apps can be more than mindless time wasters. They can be informative and educational and broaden our minds. But it seems that most of the “learning” apps are either aimed at young learners or aimed at much older. There are also all the reference apps like the ones I shared with my 5 Apps to Start the School Year With post. But where are all the learning games and apps for older kids, say about junior high?

Well, with the Verizon Educational Tools helped me to find some great learning apps for my junior high students. I found this line call iTooch that has all kinds of apps for different grades and even the TOEFL test. We tried the free (or “lite”) versions of the 7th grade Math and Language Arts.

This are not game but more quiz like. They have practice and test modes. In the practice mode you get questions to answer and it is not timed. If you need help on a question then just go to the lesson and it will be queued up right to the information you need. Where as test is timed and counts your questions (and score).

I absolutely love the whole lesson aspect of these apps! It is my favorite part. I know, that sounds weird. But by having the lesson with every question I don’t have to help;). I set one of my kids down with my phone and told her to start playing. She quickly stopped  and said she couldn’t play any more because she didn’t know what the indirect voice was. I told her to read the lesson and she was back on her way. She knew what indirect voice was but didn’t know that was what it was called.  And the math app was set up the same way! 

With the “lite” version there are still lots to do. There are different subjects for kids to do but they can only do the first chapter. But the full app is pretty affordable. You can buy them by the small subject (like 7th grade math) or by the grade. The whole grade level app is $9.99 normally at Amazon. They also offer free chapters if you will rate the game on Google Play. 

I really liked this line of apps but to be completely honest, my daughter wished it was more game like. So if you are looking for a real game… this isn’t it. But if you are looking for a study tool and quiz, this is for you!

Thanks to the #VZEducation campaign for compensating me for this piece. But I chose the app and all thoughts are mine! 

A Look at the Alphabet Song Game & a Critical Thinking Company Coupon!

Alphabet Song

I was recently asked (and compensated with a Critical Thinking Company product) to take a look at the Critical Thinking Company’s Alphabet Song Game.

Software and apps for toddlers and preschoolers is always a hard thing. You want to engage the children, yet make sure it isn’t to challenging for them to run. You also want them to learn something and not just turn off mentally. I find the Alphabet Song Game to be a great balance of language learning, entertainment, and fine motor skills development. I evaluated this software on my PC but it also comes as a free app on iOS, Android and Windows 8.

Alphabet Song in gameThis really is built upon the Alphabet Song and is quite precious. At the beginning of every lesson they sing the Alphabet Song. Then the lesson takes the child through the Alphabet Song again by singing along to their action, and each lesson has a different call to action. It starts with choosing the capitol letters in the alphabet where they choose the next letter by clicking on it and there is a choice between 2 capitol letters. The lessons get harder by going from capital letters to lower case and then they increase the number to choose from. The advanced lessons even have them choose among letters going the right and wrong directions. 

I love this! It is cute and just really gets to the alphabet! Understanding letters is the first key to reading and really helps start them down the path of logic. And anything that requires consistent mouse movement and clicking helps work on those fine motor skills. 

I highly recommend the Alphabet Song Game for anyone who wants to have a fun learning activity for their non-reading child on their computer, phone or tablet.

Once again the Critical Thinking Company has come up with a fabulous product. If you want more of their products (like ones they are charging for;) they have given me a coupon to share with you all!!! Use code BLOGR814 by October 31, 2014 to get 15% off your entire order! 

(Remember that while the Critical Thinking Company may have compensated me to write about this software the thoughts and opinions are still mine!)

 

Contesting Monday 10/27

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So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you!

And this week is special because this linky is also being hosting over at Robyn’s Online World! You only have to add it once to be seen at both sites!