Friday, January 28, 2022

Blossom and Root Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Review



The following review is a guest post by Latina mom, Vanessa Ruiz. All thoughts and opinions are her own.

When you are looking to homeschool your child, you want to make sure that he or she is learning absolutely everything necessary for success. To ensure we cover all the necessities, many of us look to pre-made curricula to avoid the overwhelming task of planning a year of learning. However, choosing the right curriculum is no small feat. Here is a review of the Blossom and Root Kindergarten Curriculum to help you decide if this homeschool curriculum is the best choice for your child.

Note: We used the Blossom and Root Kindergarten Curriculum for the 2020-2021 school year. A huge update was released in the Summer of 2021. Although we did not get to use the updated materials during our school year, I looked over the new materials to give you the most current review possible.

This post contains affiliate links.

The Pros of the Blossom and Root Kindergarten Curriculum


Nature- and Play-Based


Anytime you can do school outdoors, it’s a good day. With Blossom and Root, you are encouraged to go outside as often as you can. The curriculum is based upon the Charlotte Mason principles, which means that time in nature is a huge component of learning.

My son loved doing school at the park or in the woods and I loved the special memories we got to create together. We often spent more time playing than doing the actual school work, and that is exactly how it should be for the early years.

We chose to homeschool because of the COVID-19 pandemic and due to unfortunate previous experiences that had shattered my son’s self-confidence. This curriculum was the perfect springboard to help him re-encounter a love of learning and confidence in himself. We got to be creative, go at our own pace, and explore his interests together.


Secular Curriculum


Although I am a person of faith, I want my child to have a well-rounded education that introduces him to the world, not just one point of view.

Therefore, I love that Blossom and Root is a secular curriculum that doesn’t mention faith but does introduce figures of different faith backgrounds and points of view.



Science


We absolutely loved the way science is presented as an adventure into outer space. The 2021 update even includes a list of recommended texts to help expand the exploration.

This was the one subject matter that my son begged to do each day. We ended up far ahead in science because he just couldn’t wait to go visit his friend Zoola in space. He told everyone he met about his trip and even built a cardboard box space ship big enough for the whole family.

History


I also loved how history was presented in such a child-friendly way. You begin by exploring your child’s own history, their family and community. The year ends with a section to study influential people of your choice. Therefore, you can cater this subject to your family’s own heritage and background.

Well-Rounded


What amazed me about this curriculum is that you could sufficiently explore all the subject matters in a very small amount of time. I remember never having enough time for art or history as a classroom teacher. Yet, in our few hours each day of homeschool, we were able to fit in all the subjects.

I love the artist and musician selections in the updated version. We didn’t love the choices in the first version because they were lacking diversity. However, the updates have done a beautiful job of selecting artists of diverse backgrounds.


Small Time Commitment


This was a catch-22 for us but for most people it is a huge perk. Sometimes we would get through all the material for the day in an hour or less. The curriculum recommends free play after structured school time is done, which sounds wonderful.

Unfortunately, my son didn’t do well with free play at first because he was used to constant structure and always having other kids around. To make matters worse, I was still working from home full time and needed to keep my son busy eight hours a day. So, I quickly learned to have a busy book full of supplemental activities on hand for the days we zoomed through it all.




You Can Mix and Match


As I mentioned before, my son’s previous educational experiences had left him ill-equipped for Kindergarten in many ways. He was not quite at the Kindergarten level in some subject areas and far beyond in others. Luckily, you can choose to purchase additional curriculum pieces by subject. They are sold separately on the website for most grade levels.

I could have purchased both the Early Years Curriculum and Kindergarten bundle to help supplement our Kindergarten curriculum in the areas where he was lacking.


The Optional Book Lists


This first edition had very little literature guidance beyond the language arts section. I love that the update includes optional literature recommendations for each topic. That would have saved me so much planning time!


The Cons of the Blossom and Root Kindergarten Curriculum


Print Your Own Curriculum


I personally didn’t mind this aspect but I have heard others mention that they don’t like having to print the curriculum on their own.

Blossom and Root does recommend a vendor you can use in order to print and bind your curriculum but that is not a purchase option offered directly through the Blossom and Root website.

We just printed it all out on regular paper and put it in three ring binders with divider tabs and it worked out wonderfully. I think I actually prefer that to having several smaller books for each subject.


The Planning Process


For me, the draw of a curriculum is that it is planned out for you. Therefore, I want you to hand me a lesson plan grid with everything I need to do each day so that I can just jump in and get started.


The Blossom and Root Kindergarten Curriculum does provide a chart with everything you will go over during the week within each subject. However, I would have loved all that information together on one page so that I didn’t have to keep flipping back and forth throughout the week, or make my own lesson plan, to stay on track.

There is, however, a master supply list and a master book list so that you can at least get everything you need at once.


Outdated literature (before Summer of 2021)


When we first began using Blossom and Root in the Fall of 2020, the literature used in the language arts section felt sorely outdated. I found myself doing the necessary reading but supplementing with diverse authors and more modern texts.

However, in June of 2021 an updated version was released and it almost made me want to go back and redo Kindergarten. The curriculum now contains a beautifully diverse list of titles from all walks of life.

I chose to still mention this aspect because the creator of Blossom and Root is updating one grade level at a time. Therefore, if you are looking for a grade level other than Kindergarten, you may want to check the expected update timeline before purchasing, or just plan to supplement in order to add more diversity to your literature.

The Nature Study Readings


We loved, loved the projects that took us outside into nature to explore. We both abhorred the readings from The Burgess Animal Book for Children.

The chapters are long and dry and left my active five year old frustrated and tired. We tried splitting them up into a page a day, letting him play or bounce while I read, asking questions as we read and stopping frequently but nothing overcame the boredom.

Eventually, we skipped the readings completely and used supplemental books or videos to learn about the animals or topics in the nature studies.

Keep in mind that there are surely kids out there who love this text and listen with enthusiasm. Mine is just not one of those kids.



Light on the Math


My son loves math and science. Therefore, one math lesson a week embedded into our space exploration was not enough for him. However, looking back onto my own childhood, I personally would have loved having math hidden within an adventure.

They do have a list of recommended math curricula on their FAQ page, I was just hoping the Blossom and Root Kindergarten Curriculum would have everything I needed included.


Doesn’t Always Align With State Standards


If you are homeschooling for a short period of time and want your child to be able to jump into public school without missing a beat, you will want to double check your state’s learning standards to make sure you are covering everything necessary. However, this is true with most curricula, not an issue with Blossom and Root itself.

In my opinion, Blossom and Root is a wonderful, well-rounded curriculum for kids and families who enjoy nature and lots of playtime. It has just enough freedom within the structure to allow you to modify things depending on your child’s needs and explore topics that are important to you.

Books and Toys that Pair Well






Other Posts That May Interest You





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Vanessa Ruiz is a mother of two bilingual boys, former Spanish teacher and early childhood educator turned writer. She also runs the website, Families Embracing Diversity, a resource to help families learn to embrace our differences today in order to give our children a better tomorrow.

In her spare time she enjoys reading books on diversity and culture, traveling when possible with her family and friends, and spending time outdoors.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Picture Books that Celebrate Dance

Everyday, I've noticed that my four-year-old bursts out dancing. Sometimes it lasts only a few seconds. But sometimes, if there's some really good music happening, he'll just dance and dance his little heart out for a while. More and more, I've been joining him and by the end we're laughing and having a good time. Sometimes my 15yo even joins in!

This, of course, got me to thinking about just how important movement and dance is to children. So I started looking on my bookshelf and found a few bilingual picture books about dance. I decided to go ahead and just put together a list of 10 awesome picture books that feature dance (some also highlight culture) for children. I hope you enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my sidebar for more information.



by Rachelle Burk

Toddlers are natural dancers and they love to move! Channel toddlers’ energy and help them develop balance, coordination, and control with the help of this engaging choice in dance books for toddlers. Moving along with the story will help stimulate little brains and provide a fun, creative way to build spatial awareness. Tons of colorful pictures offer toddlers visual clues for the movements, and rhyming words make reading aloud feel like music!

Movement and motor skills―Little ones will begin by isolating individual body parts, like their hands, hips, arms, and toes.

Dynamic dancing―Toddlers will harness their imagination to dance the prancing pony, flapping chicken, and twirling pinwheel.

Keep the fun going―Explore a list of online dance videos and resources to help them keep moving and developing even when the book is finished.

Set the stage for an active childhood with this standout in toddler books!




by Thyra Heder

There are so many ways to dance! You can jiggle or wiggle or stomp. You can bop or bounce or go completely nuts. You can dance at the market or the bus stop, with your fingers or your face. You can dance because you’re happy or even because you’re sad. But, what’s the best way to dance? Exactly how you want to!

In How Do You Dance?, award-wining author-illustrator Thyra Heder explores dance in all of its creativity, humor, and—most of all—joy, in a picture-book celebration of personal expression that will inspire young and old readers alike to get up and get moving.




by Duncan Tonatiuh

As a child, Amalia HernƔndez saw a pair of dancers in the town square. The way they stomped and swayed to the rhythm of the beat inspired her. She knew one day she would become a dancer.

 Amalia studied ballet and modern dance under the direction of skilled teachers who had performed in world-renowned dance companies. But she never forgot the folk dance she had seen years earlier. She began traveling through the Mexican countryside, witnessing the dances of many regions, and she used her knowledge of ballet and modern dance to adapt the traditional dances to the stage. She founded her own dance company, a group that became known as el Ballet FolklĆ³rico de MĆ©xico.

 Using his signature illustration style, inspired by the ancient art of the Mixtecs, award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh tells the story of Amalia HernĆ”ndez and the formation of the Folkloric Ballet, one of the most famous and successful dance companies in the world.



by Lupe Ruiz-Flores

Lupita is excited about dancing la raspa, a Mexican folk dance, with her first-grade class at a celebration of Children's Day. But she's devastated when she learns right before the show that her partner Ernesto sprained his right ankle.

She had been practicing for weeks. And now her family won't get to see her, swishing and swaying in her beautiful dress full of colorful ribbons. Lupita sadly watches the other dancers from backstage behind the blue velvet curtain. But suddenly, she finds herself on stage, in the spot where she and Ernesto should have been. She begins to dance the routine she knows so well, holding her arms out to an imaginary partner, and almost flees when the audience laughs at her.

But the sight of her mother encourages her to be brave. She continues the dance, becoming the star of the show at least in the eyes of her proud teacher and parents.




by Raquel M. Ortiz

A sweet story that follows a young girl as she learns the Afro-Latino dance, Bomba!

Julia tries to imitate the best dancer in the class, but her turns are still too slow, her steps too big. She just can't do anything right! When the instructor announces the younger students will be participating in the bombazo and performing a solo, Julia is terrified. When it s her turn, she takes a deep breath, closes her eyes and focuses on the beat of the drum. As she dances, Julia notices that the drums are actually talking to her. Feeling braver, she stops worrying and trying so hard. Instead, she loses herself in the rhythm of the bomba drums and enjoys herself!

Introducing children and adults! to the Afro-Latino tradition of bomba music and dancing, author and educator Raquel M. Ortiz shares another story for children ages 5-9 about her rich Puerto Rican heritage. With lively illustrations by Flor de Vita that aptly express Julia's frustration, fear and joy, this book will help children understand that practicing whether dance steps, dribbling a ball or playing a musical instrument yields results!




by Marilyn Singer

Marilyn Singer has crafted a vibrant collection of poems celebrating all forms of social dance from samba and salsa to tango and hip-hop. The rhythm of each poem mimics the beat of the dances’ steps. Together with Kristi Valiant’s dynamic illustrations, the poems create a window to all the ways dance enters our lives and exists throughout many cultures. This ingenious collection will inspire readers to get up and move!

Included with the book is an audio CD of the author reading each poem accompanied by original music from composer Jonathon Roberts.




by Cynthia L Smith

The cone-shaped jingles sewn to Grandma Wolfe's dress sing tink, tink, tink, tink…

Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared over generations in her family and intertribal community. She hopes to dance at the next powwow.

But with the day quickly approaching, she has a problem—how will her dress sing if it has no jingles?




by Tara Rao

Moving to a new country, new city, new school and making new friends is difficult for everyone. But a little encouragement from family, teacher and friends, can make it very exciting! And it's always fun to share your culture and love for dance with everyone! This book takes a look at traditional dances from India.




by Once Upon a Dance

Each Dance-It-Out! story is a kids’ dance performance for the imagination stage. Ballerina Konora joins the fun with dance suggestions on each page. Three books in one: readers can enjoy the story, act out the tale in their own way, or follow Konora’s suggested moves, designed by an award-winning ballet teacher to improve body coordination and teach dance fundamentals.

Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon is an independent story in the Dance-It-Out! collection and is ideal for kids 4-7. While there are some challenging movements, this story would make a great series introduction. Featured characters include Dayana (she/her), Dax (he/him), and Dragon Kadeena (non-gendered, no pronoons). Dance-It-Out!s are a bit above level (language-wise) as they are often initially enjoyed with a caregiver or teacher.

Movement, technique, and dance concepts in this story include:

  • Gallop/ChassĆ©
  • PliĆ©
  • PassĆ© (shown but not discussed)
  • Spin/Twirl
  • Jump
  • Kick
  • Russian/Character Dance: Coffee Grinder/Helicopter
  • Rocking/Weight Shift
  • Extended Legs/Arms
  • Activating/Relaxing Muscles
  • Movement Quality




by Anitra Rowe Schulte

Elsie can’t wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie’s heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and words from a book filled with pictures, she shares her excitement with her family. But when a winter storm comes, she wonders if she’ll get the chance to spin and dance her way to a dream come true.


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Wednesday, January 19, 2022

MCBD Review: Brave in the Water

 

This year, it is my honor to participate in Multicultural Children's Book Day. The goal of this grassroots initiative is to highlight multicultural books and authors and promote the publishing of diverse books.

Drowning Risk Among Children of Color

I was provided with a copy of Brave in the Water by Stephanie Wildman. What an important book this is for multicultural families. Why? Check out these statistics from StopDrowningNow.org :

  • Drowning remains in the top 5 causes of unintentional injury-related death from birth to 5 years old.

  • Eighty-seven percent of drowning fatalities happen in home pools or hot tubs for children younger than 5. Most take place in pools owned by family or friends.

  • Children 5 to 17 years old are more likely to drown in natural water, such as ponds or lakes.

  • Sixty-four percent of African-American, 45 percent of Hispanic/Latino, and 40 percent of Caucasian children have few to no swimming skills.

A fear of water and/or drowning is higher among children of color, who are less likely than their Caucasian peers to have been taught swimming skills.

Picture Book About Conquering Fear


Wildman's picture book, Brave in the Water, specifically addresses fear of the water in children and helps children learn techniques for overcoming this fear. It is the story of young Diante who is afraid of sticking his head under water even though he yearns to swim carefree like the other children at the pool. 

His grandmother inspires him to get over his fear when she admits something that she is afraid to do and asks for his help. Then she shares some techniques she uses for trying something new. 

The end of the book also includes a page with water safety rules/tips to review with your children.

And YES! The book is available in Spanish! It was translated by Cecilia Populus-Eudave with the title, Valiente en el Agua. Here is an online read-aloud version on YouTube by Cecilia:


There are also many wonderful resources available to extend the learning:

Buy Your Copy Today!


You can purchase your copies using these Amazon links:



More about Multicultural Children’s Book Day


Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission & History HERE.

MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

SUPER PLATINUM: Make A Way Media

PLATINUM: Language Lizard

GOLD: Barefoot Books, KidLitTV, Candlewick, Capstone, Abrams Books

SILVER: Pack-n-Go Girls, Charlotte Riggle, Kimberly Gordon Biddle  

BRONZE: Carole P. Roman, Patrice McLaurin, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Redfin Mortgage, Redfin/Title Forward, Create & Educate, Star Bright Books, Vivian Kirkfield, Dr. Eleanor Wint, Kind World Publishing, Snowflake Stories, Lisa Wee, SONGJU MA, Melissa Stoller, J.C. Kato and J.C.², Crystel Patterson, Audrey Press, Pragmaticmom, TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales 

MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Charlene Mosley (official MCBD2022 Poster Creator)
Illustrator Isabelle Roxas (Class Kit Poster Creator)

Alva Sachs, Brianna Carter, Ebony Zay Zay, Rita Bhandari, Gwen Jackson, Lois Petren/The 5 Enchanted Mermaids, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Josh Funk, Afsaneh Moradian, Eugenia Chu, Maritza MartĆ­nez MejĆ­a, Diana Huang, Kathleen Burkinshaw, CultureGroove, Sandra Elaine Scott, Dorena Williamson, Veronica Appleton, Alejandra Domenzain, Lauren Muskovitz and Sandfish Publishing, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kimberly Lee, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Nancy Tupper Ling, Winsome Hudson-Bingham, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Sivan Hong, Michael Genhart, Debbie Dadey, Elizabeth Cureton, Stephanie Wildman, Maryann Jacob, Sherri Maret, Rochelle Melander, Dia Mixon, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young, Shereen Rahming, Linda Thornburg and Katherine Archer,  Rebecca Flansburg and BA Norrgard , Maxine Schur  Natalie McDonald-Perkins

MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!

Check out MCBD's Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents

Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit

FREE Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit

Gallery of Our Free Posters

FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program

Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party! Be sure and follow MCBD and Make A Way Media on Twitter!


This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!

Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.

Friday, January 14, 2022

Print-and-Go Activities for MLK Day

MLK Day print-and-go activities 

This coming Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Are you looking for resources that are no-prep to share with your children or students? MommyMaestra has you covered!

Consider one of my bilingual print-and-go activities for your classroom. I have a variety of activities for different ages. The most popular one is my Triptych Writing Activity, shown above. In this writing triptych, kids read a short passage about Martin Luther King, Jr. and read some quotes from his famous speech. They can color it, and draw or paste a picture of themselves on one of the folds of the triptych. Then they can think about the quotes and write a few words (short paragraph) sharing their own hopes for this country.

Here are a few other downloads that may interest you:

MLK Day print-and-go activities

Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Activity
grades 3rd - 6th

This simple activity allows students to write their own ending to Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech. They simply color in the base sheet and write in their ending, before coloring in and attaching a flap-style poster to the top.

MLK Day print-and-go activities

Martin Luther King Jr. Bilingual Coloring Activity
for PreK - 1st (FREE!)

A simple color-by-number activity for introducing Martin Luther King, Jr. to younger children in preschool and lower elementary.

MLK Day print-and-go activities

A Martin Luther King Jr. Glossary
grades 4th - 8th

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with this easy, no-prep, printable poster and glossary! Available in full color or black-and-white, you can decorate your classroom or have your students color in the poster and read the glossary which features words related to Dr. King.

MLK Day print-and-go activities

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quote Analysis
grades 7th - 10th

Teach and develop your students' ability to analyze and interpret text in a social justice context.

This file contains one lesson plan for teaching quote analysis, grading rubric, and 26 worksheets - 25 with different different quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and one blank to allow students to choose their own quotes.

Includes links to online reading and video resources to introduce Dr. King, as well as suggested links for online sites with King's quotes.

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Free Lessons on Spanish Vowels

© Can Stock Photo / karammiri

This is the time of year when people "reset" what they are doing and make improvements. So this month, our sponsor, Spanish for You!, is giving some focus to pronunciation which might be a good way to refine and refresh student skills.

Here are the links to five Spanish for You! lessons here on MommyMaestra that focus on Spanish vowels and their pronunciations:

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Remember! Spanish for You!'s program is geared for middle schoolers and is the perfect choice for homeschoolers and afterschoolers alike because their concepts are carefully divided up into manageable bundles that are available for immediate download from their website.

If this is your first time here, you can find other free samples from Spanish for You! here. There are some fantastic downloads of games and activities for you and your family to enjoy. If you enjoy this activity, be sure to visit the Spanish for You! website where you'll find tons of additional resources for you to help your young Spanish learner!

Friday, January 7, 2022

Self-Motivation Quiz for Teens

TruSpark Curriculum and Assessment

The following post is in collaboration with TruSpark. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With the arrival of a new year comes the excitement of new tools to use with my children in our homeschool journey. As a parent of two very different teens, I'm always on the lookout for resources that help me motivate them with their school work. Today's review is a fantastic tool for parents (and teens!) who are looking for ways to better understand what it is that motivates their teens and what careers might be a great fit as a result. 

Quick Overview

Program: TruSpark
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: Online/Self-Paced
Grades: 7th and higher
Price: $59.95 and up

TruSpark Curriculum and Assessment

I think that as parents, we believe we know our kids really well - maybe even better than they know themselves. And often we do. But there are definitely moments when I feel like I have aliens living in my house because they are just so different from me in some ways.

And there are days when I feel like I just can't figure out HOW to motivate them to get something done.

I was curious to see if TruSpark would really help me learn something new about my kids.

**NOTE** I'm sharing the results of my own assessment because my kids have a right to privacy. :) 
 

Core Motivations

TruSpark is NOT a personality test, nor does it tell us what our strengths or talents are. It focuses on discovering and sharing core motivations. They do it by relying on US to share information in a story-based way. 

Don't worry. You don't have to write a lot. In fact, I was really surprised at how quick it was able to figure out my core motivations based on just two or three sentences. 

Core motivation is the stuff inside us that influences everything we do. It's what guides our daily actions and influences our interests. These core motivations are why I started homeschooling... and then decided to start this blog to share the resources and experiences we had.

When researching the site, I found that this curriculum is based on science (yay!) and you can visit their site to read more about the 19 motivations.

TruSpark Curriculum & Assessment

TruSpark Assessment & Curriculum


TruSpark is a simple curriculum and assessment quiz that is designed to help you understand what your core motivations are. 

When you purchase a credit from TruSpark you get instant access to a curriculum and assessment quiz. As the parent and/or teacher, you get an account with a dashboard that lets you add students and assign the assessment. 

From your dashboard you can also open the curriculum, which is pretty straight forward. It is a series of PowerPoint type slides intended to be used in conjunction with the assessment. There are three levels to the curriculum:
  1. Core Motivations (3 lessons)
  2. Career Exploration (3 lessons)
  3. Live Your Purpose (1 lesson)

I actually did the assessment quiz myself first and then opened the curriculum. I'm glad I did as I then realized that the curriculum should be opened first and that it will guide the student through explanations and a link to the assessment at the appropriate time. This just helps the person taking the quiz better understand what exactly core motivations are, why they are important, and how to use the information going forward.

My oldest son struggles with dysgraphia, so at first he was concerned about the assessments "story-based" approach. He thought he'd have to write a lot. He was so relieved when it turned out he only had to write one or two sentences!

Once you complete the assessment (which only takes a few minutes), my results came in the form of three motivations with a short description and a list of key characteristics. This is the first time a type of personality quiz has been so accurate.

Even my son was surprised by the results. And one of the suggested careers under two of his motivations turned out to be a pilot - which he is currently studying to be!


TruSpark Curriculum and Assessment


Promotes Self-Awareness


I found this whole quiz fascinating. Because once I read the results, I knew they were spot on. But I guess I just didn't consciously realize what it is that motivates me? And I think that knowing this is really critical for my kids. Because then they can make better decisions. 

Understanding yourself is really hard for a lot of kids. And self-awareness, I think, can take a lot of the anxiety out of a teens life. Knowing why you made a choice - or better yet - making a choice knowing how you will likely react/interact with it in the future is extremely valuable.



Career Exploration

The other part that I really like about this program is that after you take the assessment, it provides a list of suggested careers that you may enjoy. And these actually make sense. We've tried personality tests and other quizzes that list careers that would be a good fit. Some of them were WAY off! (But they gave us a good laugh.)

We like that TruSpark doesn't overwhelm you with professions. It gives a short list of the top 10 careers that might complement your child's core motivations based on the results of the assessment. 


The Giveaway!


How fabulous is this? They're giving away a curriculum and 2 (TWO!) assessments to 2 winners! 



But if you've already made up your mind that this is a resource that you'd like to offer your teen, then go ahead and visit their website to sign up!

Want to find this review again? Pin it!

TruSpark Curriculum and Assessment


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