LLamitas Spanish II Review

The following post is a collaboration between Llamitas Spanish and MommyMaestra. All thoughts and opinions are the personal ones of guest writer, Stacie Farias. This post contains affiliate links.

Parents raising bilingual children: Need an easy-to-use Spanish curriculum that blends culture with language learning? Check out Llamitas Spanish!

It is a great fit for parents who are bilingual and trying to raise bilingual kids, or those who don't speak the language but are still trying to give the gift of bilingualism to their children. Read on to learn more about this program.

What is Llamitas Spanish?

Llamitas Spanish is a relatively new Spanish curriculum provider for homeschoolers, co-ops, charter programs, and traditional schools. It is secular-based and teaches Spanish with an open-and-go format that even a non-speaker can use with ease. Llamitas’ mission to “provide an academically robust, culturally authentic, and beautifully illustrated Spanish curricula” is definitely something this Latina, homeschool mama can support.

Easy to Use Spanish Curriculum

Having almost finished Llamitas Level I with a couple of my six children, I was excited to have the opportunity to review the newly available Llamitas Level II. What was previously Level II is now Llamitas Level III and I was relieved. Taking my 9 and 11-year-olds’ Spanish proficiency into consideration, the former Level II was too advanced for them. It was just too big of a jump from Level I. My personal criteria for picking homeschool curricula is that it must be “Easy + 1” for my children, a criteria I have found again and again to be a good fit for our family since I first heard these words from Andrew Pudewa of IEW. This new Level II is exactly that: Easy + 1.

It is formatted exactly like Level I with a few more advanced activities. There are 6 thematic units encompassed in an all-in-one Activity Book. There are 18 Level 2 Readers which are small books for the children to practice reading. There are helpful links to songs and YouTube videos for each individual lesson and THE clearest audio tracks to help with pronunciation (which I particularly appreciate because other programs have terrible audio). However, my favorite bit about Level II is that it comes with a beautiful picture book of Short Stories.

The Spanish Text of Short Stories

The collection of Level II Short Stories are to help the student “practice the vocabulary, grammar, and phonics from the units” and to ”learn about the Hispanic culture, traditions, and the natural world in Latin America!”

It is written by Llamitas founder Corrie Wiik and María Adelaida Soto Sánchez. I found the short stories (in English and Spanish) to be culturally relevant, appropriate for young Spanish learners, and pleasant. Color me impressed!

What blew me away was the illustrations by Ekaterina Ilina. This is where the color has been hiding! Saturated in the brilliant and vibrant hues of Latin America are stories about the pink dolphins of the Amazon, pineapples, and a quinceañera, among other things. My personal favorite, which will surprise no one, is the story of the monarch butterfly.

Incorporating Different Subjects

You can see from the Scope and Sequence that Llamitas incorporates other subjects into their levels beyond Phonics, Literacy Comprehension, and Grammar. The math concepts include addition, subtraction, odd and even numbers, telling time, among others. Don’t be discouraged if your kiddo is proficient in these concepts because it’s not about teaching how to add and subtract, it’s about listening to math concepts in Spanish and learning the vocabulary that goes with it.

But perhaps the cross-curricular nature of Llamitas is best displayed in their choice of topics for social studies and science. My favorite science lesson is about the monarch migration into Mexico but I love, love, love the lessons on Pura Belpré and Julio Tello. These additional subjects do not replace a social studies and science curriculum, but very nicely supplement one. Level II (like Level I) includes a few picture studies and songs in Spanish to incorporate music and support the themes.

Supplemental Digital Resources

Can I just take a moment to say that the digital resources of Llamitas curates for each unit are remarkable. On days when we don’t have enough time to complete a full lesson, I can pull up any of the Spotify playlists to listen to on-the-go. The SoundCloud audio tracks are crystal clear, which is my biggest gripe about most Spanish curricula.

You can tell when the audio is not from a native or heritage speaker or when the sound quality is poor. This is not the case with Llamitas. The YouTube videos are thoughtfully chosen and I appreciate being able to have something that all my littles can watch to feel like they are participating too.

Overall, Llamitas Level II is a beautiful and delightful program that I think any parent can easily use to bring Spanish and Hispanic culture into their homeschool. If it sounds like a good fit for your family, you can learn more or purchase the level of your choice on the Llamitas Spanish website!

You may also be interested in...

• Book Review- Raising Bilingual Children: A Practical Guide
• 28 Bilingual English-Spanish Fairy Tales & Fables
• 5 Things To Consider When Choosing Bilingual Homeschooling
• Barton Reading and Spelling: Expensive, Boring, and Effective

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of level two for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ~Stacie

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Bio:

Stacie Servantes Farias is an Army wife and mom of 6 with a “very healthy” obsession for Snoopy, Disney movies, Audrey Hepburn, Dr. Pepper, Whataburger, books, and homeschooling. Originally from Mission, Texas, Stacie and her high-school sweetheart hubby live with their kids and dog in a different home every few years, because that is the military life. She has big plans to write a book exploring her theory that La Llorona drowned her children because they would take their socks off all over the house and then would complain that they never had clean socks!

K-2 Math AND Science Curriculum

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

Homeschool parents! If you've been looking for a curriculum that covers BOTH math and science, read on to learn more about SPORK. This K-2 program may be just what you're looking for!

As a homeschool mom, I'm always on the lookout for quality programs and resources that either save me time, or money, or both. So when I was given the opportunity to review SPORK Butterfly Math & Science K-2, a program that combines TWO subjects, I was quick to agree. Here's what I think about it...

Two Subjects in One

I am a HUGE fan of cross-curricular learning. In fact, I would bet that many homeschoolers are. It's one of the things that makes unit studies so popular. For me, it's because I love teaching my children how interconnected the world (and universe!) is. Seeing the relationship between objects and/or concepts is a powerful skill that I want my kids to develop and use as they grow up. Plus, I think it makes learning more fun!

What SPORK is Like

I wasn't sure what to expect from this program. But it turns out, I really do love it. Why? Because of several reasons:

First, the layout/dashboard is simple. There are 18 units with 8 to 12 lessons in each. Each lesson covers a new concept for math and one new concept for science. For example, lesson 15 covers tallying (math) and states of matter (science). I can go into the dashboard, pull up the lesson we're on and click on instructions. From there, it is a simple list layout with links to printables or digital resources for everything we cover.

The layout can be short or long. But each activity is clearly defined in its own highlighted box:

Second, the directions are minimal. This is an activity-based program and my son learns by doing. I don't have to lecture, but we have discussions and I might click a link to pull up a visual to explain a concept, such as states of matter:

The program recommends a schedule of five times a week for 85 minutes. This works out to be about 17 minutes a day. Given that some lessons are a little longer and others a little shorter, this is fair. I don't really pay any attention to the time frame because we just go at a stead pace and try to get one or two lessons done each day. But we probably do about 15 - 20 minutes a day. Days with "experiments" or hands-on activities can take a little longer, but we don't mind if it is something that really engages my son. 

A Variety of Learning Activities

Third (and the thing that I love the most), the lessons are consistent - but diverse! This sounds like an oxymoron, but we start off with a review of the previous lesson and/or previously learned concepts, then move on to learning something new, and then we always end with the Learning Path. 

So let me explain this a bit. We usually do one worksheet that just reviews the skills he has learned. The worksheets are not tedious. Seriously, there is like one question for each concept:

I cannot emphasize enough why I like these worksheets. They don't require my son to do the same type of problem or answer the same questions over and over again like a sheet of multiplication questions. As you can see from the picture above, the problems/directions are brief and require him to do something once (or at most three times as in the last question). These bite-sized problems prevent my son from hating the work because he answers one thing, then - BOOM! - he's answering/doing something different. 

You might think this just wouldn't work, but repetition is built into this program so that he does this everyday. That daily repetition carries over with some older concepts replaced as new ones are learned. This repetition builds my son's confidence and his enjoyment of both science and math. It really is brilliantly done. 

And the new concepts may require us to do a hands-on activity, study and discuss some visual aids, or something completely different, such as one fun activity for learning about tally marks that required my son to watch an animation of cows jumping over a moon and use tally marks to keep track of how many had jumped (I had the option to click on the image and make it full-screen)...

So my son isn't doing only lectures and then worksheets in every lesson. He knows that he will do at least one worksheet, but it's quick and "easy." 

The Learning Path

And at the end of each lesson, my son does his Learning Path. This is an online, game-like series of tasks that my son does. The Learning Path looks like this:

And it can be done with a touchscreen or a mouse/touchpad. Each number takes him to an activity that covers the concepts he has been learning. I know that he's developing those math and science skills, and he thinks he's getting "tech time" and playing games.

If you'd like to try before you buy, you can definitely request a demo from the company. I ALWAYS tell parents who are shopping around for a curriculum to download the samples or request a demo before they buy to see if it is a good fit for their family. Doesn't matter what the subject is, it only makes sense to try it first.

What's Included in the Curriculum

When you purchase this program (only $39!!), you'll get access to the online learning portal. You will have a dashboard, and your child will have a separate one so that they can access the Learning Path. 

I also received the manipulatives kit that provides all the items we need to do the activities. It has a LOT packed into the kit for the price ($45). I think ours had around 20 items and it included everything from a geoboard and rubber bands to base ten blocks to tangrams and a lot more. But if you have all the basic math manipulatives, you might not need to purchase this. It's definitely way cheaper than purchasing each of these manipulatives independently, though.

And lastly, I received three books: 

• The Teacher Resources Book ($35) that contains the non-worksheet printed resources that you may need while teaching, as well as the tests for the end of each unit (don't worry - they're simple!).
  


• The Butterfly Math & Science B ($45) - Student Workbook: Part 1 which contains all of the printable worksheets and activity sheets for units 1 - 9. 
  
  
• The Butterfly Math & Science B ($45) - Student Workbook: Part 2 which contains all of the printable worksheets and activity sheets for for units 10 - 18. 

These books are great if you don't have a printer or want to save on ink. But all of these materials are available for download through the learning portal, so I haven't even used them. For visual aids, I just show my son the screen and we discuss the topic. And if I need a worksheet or resource printed out, I just click the link, open the PDF, and print it. I feel like I save a lot of paper (and trees!) this way. But I also have an Epson EcoTank, so printing doesn't cost me a fortune in ink. If you have just a regular inkjet printer (or don't have a printer), then purchasing these books may be way more cost effective.

You can find all of these and the resources for grades K - 2 here in the SPORK shop.

If this program sounds like a good fit for your child, I encourage you to request your demo and purchase the program for your child's grade!

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Other Posts for Elementary Resources that You May Enjoy:

• Calico Spanish for Elementary Students
  
  
• Igniting Wonder for World Cultures with Picture Books
  
  
• Martín y Pepe: Beginning Readers in Spanish

Vocabulary Program for Homeschoolers

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

In homeschooling high school, nurturing a strong vocabulary is a key aspect of holistic education. A rich lexicon empowers students to communicate effectively, think critically, and succeed academically.

As a homeschool parent, I try really hard to find resources that aren't just academically beneficial, but ones that will help my kids throughout their lives. And building their vocabularies is one of those important skills that are at the top of my list. I'm excited to have found Wordela Homeschool as a resource, and wish I had found it sooner. 

Quick Overview

Program: Wordela Homeschool
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: Self-Paced Online Program
# of Classes: Varies
Ages: 10 and up depending on course
Price: $67/Family - $97/Big Family - $197/Homeschool Co-op

 

The Power of Vocabulary

As a writer, I know that a rich vocabulary equips students with a diverse range of words to express their thoughts clearly and effectively. By mastering a broad lexicon 😃, our kids can articulate their ideas with confidence and precision, whether in written assignments, discussions, or presentations. The ability to choose the most appropriate words enhances communication and promotes self-expression.

Vocabulary development also goes hand in hand with critical thinking skills. As my kids encounter new words and their meanings, they expand their cognitive abilities by: 

• making connections, 
• analyzing context, 
• and drawing inferences. 

A strong vocabulary empowers them to grasp complex concepts more readily, enabling them to engage in deeper levels of analysis and interpretation.

These are pretty important skills that I think my kids need before going to college. In my opinion, developing these skills can not only help them with the college application process (think SAT scores and essay writing), but also once they begin their learning journey at whichever college they decide upon.

Practical Strategies to Build Vocabulary

Here are a few strategies that I have worked to incorporate in my children's homeschool journey.

1. Reading Extensively
   We've looked for ELA programs that encourage my kids to read a variety of literature, including classic novels, contemporary fiction, non-fiction, and thought-provoking articles. Reading exposes kids to diverse vocabulary in context, fostering word acquisition and understanding of nuanced meanings. Discussing unfamiliar words during reading sessions really helps solidify their usage and encourages curiosity.
   
   
2. Word Games and Puzzles
   Make vocabulary-building fun by incorporating word games and puzzles into your homeschool routine. Crossword puzzles, word searches, and word association activities engage my kids in an interactive and enjoyable way. These games not only reinforce vocabulary knowledge but also strengthen memory retention and cognitive skills.
   
   
3. Vocabulary Journals and Flashcards
   Encourage your kids to maintain a vocabulary journal where they can jot down new words, their definitions, and example sentences. Reviewing the journal regularly helps reinforce retention and serves as a handy reference tool. Additionally, creating flashcards with new words and definitions can turn vocabulary practice into a portable learning experience. I haven't done this very much with my son, and I wish I had. But you'll see below how beneficial it is. 

Introducing Wordela Homeschool: A Vocabulary-Building App

Wordela Homeschool is an innovative app designed to enhance vocabulary skills through an engaging and personalized learning experience. It offers various interactive exercises, quizzes, and word games to expand word knowledge. (So this fits into #2 listed above!)

Students can track their progress, set goals, and receive customized recommendations tailored to their proficiency level. We like its user-friendly program and comprehensive word database. So far, the site offers eight courses divided into two categories:

VOCABULARY

• Overnight Vocabulary
• Vocabulary Booster
• Confidence in Context
• ESL Vocabulary
• Corporate Vocabulary

CAREER/SUCCESS

• Productivity
• Career Success
• Brain Training

How It Works

My son has started with the basic course, Vocabulary Booster. He simply logs in to the dashboard and selects a word list. From there, he can choose how he wants to learn. There are four options:

1. AutoLearn™
2. Smart Flashcards
3. Review
4. Zspell

AutoLearn™ presents you with the definition, and you have to select the correct vocabulary word. From what we can tell, it presents 10 words at a time before introducing new vocabulary. 

Smart Flashcards give you the word on a digital flashcard and then you can "flip it over" and see the definition. This one is great for studying.

Review is really cool. It begins by giving you the basics: the word, definition, part of speech and additional definitions (if there's more than one). But what makes this option stand out is that you can select from the Dictionary, Wiktionary, or Wikipedia, and scroll around to read more information about the word. It also lets you track your progress with that word so you can see how you're doing with it. 

And finally, there's Zspell, which is just a really fun way to learn. It's basically a typing game and you "shoot" the spaceships and missiles by typing the word as it falls to the ground. Gamification at its best. :) My 17yo loves it, which I think is hilarious because it's like that first video game from when I was a kid called Space Invaders. 

Actually, Wordela Homeschool is owned by the same company that created Typsey Homeschool! So if you are a Typesy fan, you will probably love this program, too. 

Create Your Own Word Lists

The best part of this program, in my opinion, is that you can create your own word lists based on your child's interests or studies. I created one for his aeronautics interest and course. All I had to do was type in the list of words and the program automatically looked for them in the dictionary and added them to the four different learning paths I mentioned above.

You can do the same with your ELA vocabulary, if you want to make learning the words more engaging using the methods in this program.

Get It For Yourself

If you're looking for a great vocabulary-building program for your kids, and want something more than just printable word lists, we highly recommend this program which takes word lists to the next level! 

If you're convinced, or just want to learn more, visit Wordela Homeschool!

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New Bilingual Explore with Animals Series for PreK

The following is a sponsored book post with NicaGal.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

One of the most frequent requests I get is for elementary teaching materials in Spanish. So many parents  are looking for the materials that will support their children's bilingualism, especially those starting their homeschool journey. Today's post highlights the new bilingual Explore with Animals series from NicaGal.com.

Several years ago, there was the most excellent Spanish-language magazine available for children ages 8 to 12 called Iguana Magazine. The force behind that magazine was the talented Christianne Meneses Jacobs. She created that wonderful resource from scratch and eventually it was purchased by Cricket Magazines. (That's a story for another day.)

Since then, Christianne has been developing her NicaGal line which includes her podcast, Latino Book Chat, and now her bilingual book series for preschoolers.

Bilingual Preschool Skills Books

There is a list of fundamental skills and specific concepts that every preschooler should learn before entering kindergarten. Among these concepts are the ability to recognize numbers 1 through 10 or higher and to identify colors. Many preschoolers also begin learning alphabet recognition in preparation for learning to read in kindergarten. 

NicaGal's new bilingual and Spanish animal-themed books focus on these three concepts and are a wonderful addition to any home library. 

Bilingual & Spanish Book of Colors

These books are absolutely fabulous. Los colores / Colors includes vibrant images that really help to teach young children their colors. And using animals is a great way to engage preschoolers who are fascinated by them. I love the simplicity and focus of the text which directs children to learn.

Parents and children can ask each other additional questions about the images, or point out things that they notice or like. In addition, the back of the book includes a few ideas for easy activities that parents can do with their children that reinforces color recognition. 

This book is available in a bilingual format (shown above), as well as Spanish-only. 

Spanish or English Book of Numbers

123 Animales or 123 Animals is another sweet counting book that helps children learn numbers 1 though 20. Again, they are colorful and simple with two opportunities for children to count: on one page, count the shapes under the text box, and on the other page count the animals. 

This book is available in two formats: English-only and Spanish-only.

Spanish Alphabet Book

And finally, the book ABC Animales, is a fun way to learn the alphabet. Each letter is associated with a type of animal and includes text with a brief description of the animal and some interesting facts about it.  Again, great pictures and a section at the back for additional activities. This particular abecedario is only available in Spanish. 

If you have a bilingual elementary student who is learning many of these concepts or needs some materials to reinforce their learning, consider adding this series from NicaGal to your child's lessons. 

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• The Importance of Preschool
  
  
• Q & A: Should I Homeschool My Preschooler In Spanish, English, or Both?
  
  
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Social Emotional Learning App for Children

The following post is a collaboration between Luvbug Learning and MommyMaestra. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not long ago, I shared a post on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in homeschool. Educators across the nation are currently focused on SEL education as one of the preventative measures when it comes to school violence and shootings. But SEL is something that benefits each and every one of us. These are skills that are some of the important ones children need to learn and master...but these days, they often go undeveloped. If kids aren't learning these at school, then they need to learn them at home and vice versa. Today's post features the LuvBug app, which is one tool parents might consider using as they teach SEL at home.

This post contains affiliate links.

Name: LuvBug: Play-Based Learning
Subject(s): Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills
Brief Description: An interactive app for kids that teaches children social emotional learning skills through games and videos.
Price: From $6.49/mo. up to a one-time payment of $199 for lifetime access (A special discount is available for my readers if you scroll down.)
Language: English (more languages coming)
Ages: 4 years and up
Device: iOS, Android, Amazon

What are Soft Skills?

Soft skill are those that have to do with how a person works. Sometimes called "people skills," they involve how we interact with others. A few of these skills include:

• communicating,
• listening, 
• empathizing,
• team work,
• openness to feedback,
• adaptability,
• time management.

It's a lot harder to learn soft skills as adults (but it's not impossible). The best time is when children are young and learning to identify and control their own emotions and reactions.

My youngest is 5 years old. And he has a hard time managing big emotions. So I've been reading about SEL and looking for different resources that will help me to help him. 

LuvBug is one resource that I've recently learned about. It's designed by a lot of experts in the field of psychology and child development to help nurture SEL skills in children.

Why Teaching Feelings to Elementary Kids is Important

Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. As we grow up and emotions become more complex and (sometimes) more intense, it's important for us to be able to self-regulate. Impulse control is important. But we can't control our emotions if we don't known what we're feeling. So identifying those emotions is the first step toward self control, as well as empathy.

A Social Emotional Learning App

I introduced my 5yo to the LuvBug app the other day and as I watched him use it, I liked how the app doesn't just teach him to identify emotions, but also to imagine how other people are feeling in different situations. Teaching empathy can be hard. So this is definitely one thing I really like about this app.

For example, while playing a game, my son was presented with something along the lines of the following:

Dance party! But your friend doesn't know how to dance. How do you think they feel?

- Thankful

- Happy

- Embarrassed

He is still too young to read, so he taps on the little help button by each word and a small window popped up with text plus audio that recites the word and what it means. He's challenged to choose the correct answer.

The app also offers videos that teach important lessons. Here's an example:

What I like about the app

I truly like the Parent Dashboard and the fact that it is available online and not just through the app. I prefer to access things like this on my desktop. 

I'm also very picky about the amount of time my son can spend playing "video games." This wouldn't even be an issue, except that I have two older teens who like playing STEAM, Minecraft, and other games. (Now you know why my 5yo is wanting to play.) 

I actually don't let him have access to an iPad except once a week for a short while. And even then it is a challenge to get him off. That's one confrontation I can avoid with this app because it shuts itself off based on the Play-Time Settings that I've set up. The app closes itself with a simple response (which I could edit if I wanted): 

I can also see what topics my son learned because the Parent Dashboard gives me detailed learning results. For examples, on this day, my son correctly understood three different terms related to emotions:

I also like that I can customize what my son sees based on his age level. From the Dashboard, I can choose his level which affects what games and videos are available for him. And I can change it at any time. 

Overall, I can see this app as being a really good guide for parents that shows us what concepts and skills to focus on or reinforce outside of the app.

A Discount for You!

The LuvBug app has three pricing options: 

• $6.49 ($8.99) a month for their annual subscription
• $10.99 a month for a 6-month subscription
• a one-time payment of $199 for lifetime access

But MommyMaestra readers can enjoy a discount and get the annual plan for only $5 a month! Although LuvBug offers promotions throughout the year, $5/month is a considerable savings beyond any promos. Just use the discount code: LUVBUG5 at checkout.

This discount code expires on Oct 15, 2022.

So if you feel this is a good fit for your family, head over to LuvBug Learning and get signed up!

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Homeschool Typing Program with Typesy

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with Typesy and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

There is very little doubt that typing is a useful skill for students. But like most parents, it can be difficult to convince our children that texting and typing are two completely different things. It seems so strange to use their entire hand to type when they live in a world where messages, posts, and most things can be drafted only using their thumbs. What a world we live in!

Enter Typesy. It's a fun typing program for children that offers more than many standard typing courses. Designed for school and home, Typesy offers Common Core and TEKS-aligned typing and technology courses for students and adults which incorporate a variety of different subjects like science or social studies within the program. I think this may be helpful for some homeschoolers that are homeschooling temporarily or have plans to send their children to public school in the future. 

For homeschoolers who are not interested in following Common Core and/TEKS aligned programs, Typesy offers their standard Learn the Keyboard Program, which is what I tried out with my children.

Quick Overview

Program: Typesy for Homeschoolers

Religious Perspective: Secular

Format: Online, Self-Paced

Grades: 2 to 12

Price: $67, $97 $197 (See below)

What I Appreciate

Of my 6 kids, I thought my 7, 9, and 13 year olds would be perfect guinea pigs for Typesy. It took me a while to set up my admin account, add in my children, set up classes, etc. Perhaps there could be a way to streamline this better for homeschool families as it is set up for classroom teachers. But once I got it all set up, it was pretty easy. 

There are a couple of things worth mentioning that I really appreciate and that I believe would interest homeschoolers. Firstly, I like how you can customize the sensorial experience of the program. You are able to pick fonts, font sizes, keyboard sounds, display, etc. For example, my children really like the clicking sound as they choose their accounts (it sounds like an old-fashioned typewriter). It may seem like a small thing, but the sensorial impact small sounds can make on children can be significant. Kids have strong opinions on sounds, tastes, smells, etc. If they are annoyed by sounds, they will not like the activity. Period. 

I also appreciate that you can set up the account in a “dark mode” for the same reasons listed above. Too much white space on a screen impacts my children in negative ways and presents headaches, eye fatigue, and general grumpiness. 

 Also, it warms my heart to know that Typesy included the Open Dyslexic Font as a font choice in their settings. As a mama to children with dyslexia, I applaud Typesy for their effort to include this font! #saydyslexia

Homeschool Typing Lessons

My 7-year-old worked on the K-2 Keyboarding Course. Overall, he enjoyed the short animation videos, the pace was not too fast, and he did pretty well considering he is only beginning to read. My only bit of advice to parents would be to make sure your children know which lowercase letters correspond to the uppercase letters on the keyboard before beginning a typing program.

My 9-year-old worked on the Typesy Kids 2.0 Course. He enjoyed it very much and I think he is the perfect age for this program. The videos and challenges were entertaining and motivating for him. He is proficient at reading, despite being dyslexic, and did very well. He “plays typing” for half an hour without my assistance and constant supervision. Homeschool win!!

My 13-year-old took a quick survey and assessment to help pick her course and the results said for her to start with the Kids 2.0 Course as well. She has some typing experience and I wish she could unlock levels without the animated videos because teens just want to get right down to work…so they can finish as quickly as possible and get back to more important things like their phones, video games, or in my daughter’s case, drawing. I did hear spurts of motivation from her by way of dramatic teenage sighs and a few, “I can type faster than that!” interjections. So it sounded like Typesy was definitely teaching her something. LOL!

Pricing for Families or Co-ops

Typesy offers three plans for homeschoolers:

• Homeschool Family: up to 4 student accounts for $67
• Big Homeschool Family: up to 10 student accounts for $97
• Homeschool Co-op: up to 30 student accounts for $197

And the most amazing thing to me is that they offer a 12-month guarantee! You can receive a full refund up to 365 days after your initial purchase!! I'm pretty sure you won't find this type of guarantee in any other homeschool programs.

Bottom Line

Overall, I think Typesy is a fun program for homeschoolers particularly with mid-elementary age kiddos who want to add this crucial skill to their homeschool program.

If you'd like to learn more about Typesy, or sign your children up, visit their website page for homeschoolers!     

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Other Posts You May Like:

• Resources for Dyslexia Awareness Month
• PRIDE Reading Program Review
• Homeschooling Children with Learning Differences
• Free Typing Lessons & Games Online

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Bio:

Stacie Servantes Farias is an Army wife and mom of 6 with a “very healthy” obsession for Snoopy, Disney movies, Audrey Hepburn, Dr. Pepper, Whataburger, books, and homeschooling. Originally from Mission, Texas, Stacie and her high-school sweetheart hubby live with their kids and dog in a different home every few years, because that is the military life. She has big plans to write a book exploring her theory that La Llorona drowned her children because they would take their socks off all over the house and then would complain that they never had clean socks! Stacie also thinks she is really funny, but she is mostly lame awesome!

Spanish for You Sale

  

The following post is in collaboration with MommyMaestra sponsor, Spanish for You!

They’ll ask to do Spanish! That’s what many homeschool parents say when they use Spanish for You! with their kids. If you’ve been looking for a program to teach your kids Spanish, check out Spanish for You!’s offer below! 

Get Free 5 Learning Songs & Lyrics Set and Free Valentine Lesson with purchase of Mi vida (My Life) Homeschool Package ($44.95) - risk-free with 30-Day Money Back Guarantee!

The Spanish for You! Mi vida (My Life) Homeschool Package lasts the school year and teaches your child to understand, speak, read, and write about their own life. There are 5 units - My House, My Room, My Family and Friends, My Activities, and My Classes - taught through kid-friendly, fun lessons that require no Spanish experience by you or your kids.

The Homeschool Package:

• is reusable.
• comes with everything you need.
• can be used with multiple ages together.
• is interactive and hands-on.
• easy for kids to do on their own or with you.
• and has short, step-by-step lessons.

Plus, all content is on audio so you can hear everything!

 

In addition to all the materials included in the homeschool package, you also gain access to FREE supplemental resources on their Curriculum Users page and their YouTube channel!

Free Mi vida (My Life) 5 Songs & Lyrics Set

The FREE Songs & Lyrics Set contains 5 Songs that match the units in the Mi vida Homeschool Package, with one song per unit. The songs come in MP3 format for download and playing on any of your devices. Plus there are printable lyrics so your kids can sing along.

Using songs to supplement language learning is beneficial because it provides listening practice, pronunciation practice, is fun, AND helps learners get a feel for the natural rhythm of the spoken language. 

Listen to a sample of one of the songs here. 

Free Valentine Lesson

The FREE downloadable Valentine Lesson teaches students to use 14 vocabulary words and 6 verbs so they can speak, read, and write about Valentine’s Day in complete sentences. Plus everything they learn in this lesson they’ll be able to use to speak, read, and write about things in everyday life too!

 

The lesson includes:

• Step-by-Step Lesson filled with a variety of games and activities!
• Audio so you can hear everything!
• Vocabulary and Verb Word Cards
• Vocabulary Picture Cards
• Sentence Building Worksheet
• Verb Conjugation Learning Chart
• Learn More About Verbs Activity Sheet
• Answer Key

To order and get all your FREE extras:

• Add the Mi vida Homeschool Package to your cart here.

• Add the Mi vida Songs & Lyrics Set to your cart here.

• Add the Valentine Lesson to your cart here.

• Use code LoveMommyMaestra to get the Songs & Lyrics Set and Valentine Lesson FREE. 

This offer is valid through 2/28/22.

Spanish for You! Summer Roundup

 

Over the years, MommyMaestra sponsor Spanish for You! has shared a LOT of great downloads, including mini-lessons, games, and audio files. All of them for FREE!

Today, we're sharing a round-up of the summer-themed activities that you can find here on MommyMaestra. Check them out and then go order your homeschool curriculum sets for the coming school year!

Summer-themed Spanish Activities

• Summer Spanish Bingo
• Summer Sentence Building
• Summer Verb Fun
• Summer Word Search
• Summer Spanish Booklet
  
  

Affordable Spanish Learning Program

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!

High School Writing Video Course

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with WriteShop. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

As a parent of a teen with dysgraphia, I can tell you that we have tried A LOT of different resources and curricula to teach writing. It has been my greatest source of stress as a homeschool parent, which is ironic because I just love writing. That's why I am so excited about this course from the WriteShop! Read on to see if it is a good fit for you.

Quick Overview

Program: WriteShop I
Subject(s): writing 
Religious Perspective: Faith-neutral
Format: Books and online video course
Grades: 6th - 10th
Language: English
Price: $94.50 - $139.95

 

Homeschool Writing Curriculum

The WriteShop is an incremental writing program for students. This means that it teaches writing techniques in manageable portions without overwhelming kids. This step-by-step approach helps kids develop sound writing skills. 

They have a lot of products on their website for teaching writing to students in K - 12th. But I elected to use WriteShop I for my 15yo who is going into 10th grade and, as I mentioned, struggles with dysgraphia.

WriteShop I has a total of 16 lessons. Each one takes 1 or 2 weeks - YOU choose how fast you want to go. 

Your child will complete a written assignment for each lesson and learn a specific skill set each time. On their website, you can also find a complete description, product details, reviews, and even the scope & sequence of each product they offer. 

I really like that this writing program is geared toward older children (tweens and teens) so that they don't feel like the lesson are babyish even if they are learning basic writing skills. Even the writing prompts are more age-appropriate.

Online Video Course

You do have the option to just buy the teacher's guide and student workbook. If you're comfortable teaching your child writing, this is a great way to go.

BUT if you are looking to (mostly) outsource the teaching for this subject, then the video course is excellent. They go over each lesson, focusing on the main activities and skill builders. Parents will still have to review/edit the writing assignments, but the actual skill teaching will be done through their online portal which has the recorded videos. 

The nice thing is that if you aren't worried about schedules, your child can just complete this at their own pace. It's your choice.

The video lessons don't waste time. They get to the heart of the lesson and don't drag it out. This is FANTASTIC. It stops my kid from being bored and complaining. The student portal is easy to navigate, very intuitive, and not cluttered up. 

And it even has self-editing tips to help your student. (<-- BIG PLUS!!)

I always advise readers and other homeschoolers to download samples of a curriculum or watch videos that the company shares about their products before purchasing. So here is where you can download a sample lesson for WriteShop I.

Placement Quiz

If you aren't sure which product to purchase for your child, you can have them take the placement quiz! This is a free tool on their website to help you decide at what level your child is in terms of writing.

What I love best

My 15yo HATES writing. He has dysgraphia and we have just really struggled to find the right curriculum to help him. We've used a lot of great programs, but the hardest part for me has been teaching writing to this kid. It is stressful for both of us. 

And I've been especially concerned about this since he has started high school. Prepping for essay writing has had me full of anxiety. But this course is helping me relax and feel more confident in him.

I love that WriteShop offers this video course that does the teaching for me. All I have to do is review his work once he's completed the assignment.

I also like that there is a lot of humor mixed into this course. My middle kid is the one with the best sense of humor in our family. He's always telling jokes and appreciates a good one. So this added aspect, really helps him to relax and be more receptive to a WRITING program.

***It's important to note that you can do the Video Course without books OR you can choose to do the Video Course with the books.

If this sounds like the writing course that you've been looking for, then go and check out the WriteShop! You can find WriteShop I here and all of their other products for younger grades here.

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