TOS Review: LearningPalette.com

My family was given the opportunity to review LearningPalette.com by Learning Wrap-Ups.  

LearningPalette.com is an online math and reading supplement designed for grades K-5.  It is correlated to the Common Core requirements.  

We received a full online family subscription.  The annual cost is $59.99 for 5 students with access to all levels of reading and math. 

LearningPalette.com is currently offering a 20% discount to homeschooling families. The coupon code is "HomeSchool".

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What's included in LearningPalette.com?

Once logged on, your student will have the option to choose either Math or Reading by clicking on the top tabs.  There are 6 levels for math, including a Basic Level and Levels 1-5.  Each math level consists of 6 different topics, each having 12 learning palette cards to complete.  There are 4 levels for reading, including a Basic Level and Levels 1-3.  Each reading level has 5 different topics, with 12 learning palette cards to complete.  With math and reading, that's a total of 7,20 questions!

LearningPalette.com

By checking out the demo, you will be able to see all the topics in each level and a sample of the learning palette cards.

In addition, this short video highlights the uses and benefits of LearningPalette.com.

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How did we incorporate LearningPalette.com into our homeschool?

Mac, 5 years old, focused mainly on the math portion during the review period.   She began with the Basic Level with the first topic, Numeration Step 1-Matching and Early Numbers.  She started with Card 1 and worked her way through the remaining learning palette cards.  Once a learning palette card is completed, the circle changes to green.

LearningPalette.com, Math-Basic Level

 
Every card is set up basically the same way.  There is a circular palette in the center, which contains the questions.  On the left hand side, there are 12 color coded disks (6 solid and 6 hollow) that are used to indicate the correct answer by clicking and dragging each disk to the correct spot on the learning palette.

 On Card 1, Mac was asked to match the color coded disks to the correct paint color.  As you can notice, the card is divided in half, with the hollow disks being used on top and the solid disks being used on the bottom.  After clicking and dragging several of the color disks, she got frustrated with the process.  I ended up controlling the mouse, while she would just point to the correct spot.

LearningPalette.com, Math-Basic Level, Concept 1-Card 1

I really like the self-check aspect of the program.  At any time during the clicking and dragging, your student can check his/her answers and change the incorrect ones.  Unfortunately, Mac was not able to use the program independently.  However, she still enjoyed seeing the little green checks to indicate that her responses were correct. 

LearningPalette.com, Math-Basic Level, Concept 1-Card 1, Self-Checking

When the learning palette card is completed, a small box appears with an evaluation indicating completion time and number of correct answers. 

LearningPalette.com, Math-Basic Level, Concept 1-Card 1, Evaluation

Mac found the palette cards that were divided in half or in quarters the easiest to understand.  In the Basic Level on Card 8, she was asked to sequence the events in each quarter. 

LearningPalette.com, Math-Basic Level, Concept 1-Card 8

 However, the cards that were divided into more parts were much more complicated to understand.  In the Basic Level on Card 4, she was asked to determine which set had more and which had less.  

LearningPalette.com, Math-Basic Level, Concept 1-Card 4

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Izzie, 7 years old, focused only on the reading portion during the review period.  She began at Level 1 and worked her way through each topic, by completing the 12 learning palette cards.  She was able to work independently throughout the program. 

In Level 1 on Concept 1-Reading Comprehension, Card 1, Izzie was asked to complete the sentences with the correct word.  She was able to read each sentence and choose the correct word, but struggled with matching the correct color disk to the correct word.  There were several times that she would mix up the solid and hollow color disks.  Thankfully, she was able to correct her mistakes by using the self-checking option.  However, this meant her evaluation time was longer than she liked.  She was very obsessed with the time on her evaluation.  I don't think including the completion time is necessary or it would be nice to have the option to remove it. 

LearningPalette.com, Reading-Level 1, Concept 1-Card 1

Izzie preferred the learning palettes that had all the questions in the center, instead of being divided in a specific way.  In Level 1, Concept 2-Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives, Card 2, she was asked to differentiate between singular and plural nouns. 

LearningPalette.com, Reading-Level 1, Concept 2-Card 2

 In addition, the parent can view and print off progress reports.  This would be very beneficial to include in a portfolio, if needed.

LearningPalette.com, Progress Report

 

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What are my final thoughts about LearningPalette.com? 

1.  I really like that the family subscription includes all levels of math and reading.  It's a nice way to supplement and differentiate all students in the family.

2.  It's extremely convenient that each student in the family has his/her own account; therefore, he/she can work at his/her own pace.

3.  The program is user-friendly and most children are able to work independently.  Younger children may need help with the clicking and dragging of the mouse, but can still answer the questions.   

4.  It's great that there is immediate self-correction, which allows the students to understand and correct errors and evaluate their own progress.

5.  Parents can easily check their students' progress by looking over the progress reports.  If a child needs more practice, they can complete the section, again.

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Connect with Learning Wrap-Ups!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LearningWrapUpsInc

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Be sure to check out what other Crew Mates had to say about their experience with LearningPalette.com by Learning Wrap-Ups. 

End of Year Art Show

This year at our weekly co-op, Izzie participated in an art class, Meet the Masters.  She absolutely LOVED it!  She learned a great deal of information about each artist and was able to recreate their techniques, while creating her own masterpieces.  

Thankfully, she was able to get back into this art class for next year and will be learning about different artists.  I'm not sure who's more excited!

Wordless Wednesday: Strawberry Picking

Wordless Wednesday: Ballet

TOS Review: Golden Prairie Press

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum by Golden Prairie Press is a 30-week history curriculum that covers American History from the time period of 1000 to the present.



Recommended Grade Level: 1st through 6th grades

Price: $98.99

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What's included in Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum?

The curriculum includes three e-books and three downloads.

The first two e-books contain the bulk of the curriculum with a total of 30 sections.  Each section consists of 5 lessons.  The Scope and Sequence suggests completing one section each week, one lesson per day, over a 30 week period.

The first e-book, Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History, Part 1, covers the time period 1000-1837 and consists of 15 sections, totaling 388 pages.  

The second e-book, Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History, Part 2, covers the time period 1837 to the present and consists of 15 sections, totaling 408 pages.

The third e-book, Historical Skits, consists of 19 historical skits to bring history alive.

There are Additional Materials that can be downloaded to supplement the curriculum.  The supplemental materials include instructions, videos, colorful historical artwork, and printable timelines, maps, games, and coloring sheets.

In addition, the Sing Some History CD can be downloaded.  There are a total of 20 songs that compliment the curriculum.

Lastly, the Listen to Some U.S. History MP3 CD contains an audio collection of 20 original speeches, poems, sermons, and documents that are mentioned in the curriculum.

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How did we incorporate Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum into our daily schedule?

We followed the suggested schedule of completing one lesson per day, which resulted in completing one section each week.  Each lesson took approximately 30-60 minutes to complete.

The lessons in the Part 1 and Part 2 e-books are divided into two sections.  The first section is geared toward 1st and 2nd grades with the information presented as a basic overview.  The second section contains the same information, but is more advanced for 3rd through 6th grades. You can see the difference by viewing the sample for Section 1, Lessons 1-3.

We used the reading section as a read aloud.  The following is the one-page reading material from Section 1, Lesson 4, for 1st-2nd grade.  You will notice that the font is larger and that there is only one picture.

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4 

Izzie, 7 years old, preferred the 3rd-6th grade reading section over the 1st-2nd grade reading section.  The following is the three-page reading material from Section 1, Lesson 4, for 3rd through 6th grades.  The older reading material included more detailed information, more pictures, and a map.

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4 

After reading the lesson material, I would choose a couple of activities for Izzie to complete.   At the end of each lesson, there are a variety of activities to complete.  The activities include review questions, writing topics, mapping skills, hands-on projects, additional reading assignments, examining historical art, timeline information, historical skits, games, recipes, songs, and a memory verse to recite.  This particular lesson had two pages worth of activities at the end of the lesson.

  

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4 

Izzie always completed the review questions, orally. Some of the review questions at the end of each lesson seemed to correspond better with the older reading material; however, most questions were open-ended.  She also enjoyed completing the Geography section, which focused mostly on mapping skills.  Most of the maps within the reading section were too small to actually use, but she still enjoyed investigating the maps.  Some of the maps are available in a larger format on the Additional Materials download, but not all of them.     

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4

Izzie loves learning about art; therefore, her favorite activity was examining the historical art and answering questions about the artwork.  All of the historical artwork can be downloaded and printed larger from the Additional Materials.    

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4

At the end of Section 1, Lesson 4, Izzie colored Christopher Columbus' Coat of Arms.  

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4

In addition, she completed the Timeline Information for the year 1492.  The Timeline is found on the Additional Materials download.  There are four different options on how to complete the Timeline.

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4

Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4

Lastly, in Lesson 4 there was an option to act out a skit about Christopher Columbus.  The skits were Izzie's least favorite activities.  However, the skits would be much more fun with siblings or in a coop setting. 

Digital and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, Section 1: Lesson 4

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What did I like about Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum?

1. It is very adaptable for different style learners by simply choosing which additional activities to complete.

 2.  It can be used by the whole family, even with different grade levels, by using the differentiated reading material and by choosing specific activities for different students.

3.  The implementation of a variety of cross-curricular activities that included, geography, art, music, drama, writing, and literature, was extremely beneficial.

4.   I have been searching for an American history curriculum with a Charlotte Mason approach for awhile.  After using the Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum, I'm thrilled to announce that it does have a Charlotte Mason approach, which is a great fit for our family!

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In conclusion, I would recommend Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum.  However, I would encourage you to purchase the "printed" version.  It's the EXACT same price as the "digital" version.  Save yourself time, ink, paper, and money and go with the printed version!

Be sure to check out what other Crew Mates had to say about their experience with Digital Heroes and Heroines of the Past: American History Curriculum by Golden Prairie Press.