Take the November Road Trip with Stuff to Scrap: Everyday Elegance!

In two hours, we will begin the month of November 2011 and my favorite time of the year.  I love all of fall, but I especially love November and December, the whole Thanksgiving and Christmas season!  Here is my part of Stuff to Scrap's Blog Road Trip.  Click on image to download from 4shared.  PU/S4H/S4O.

If you prefer, you may download from MediaFire.

Here's the Road Map for the rest of your stops.  You should have arrived here from 

Sweet Maple and your next stop is scraphannah.

Scraps by Andrea
Dandelion Dust Designs
Junfunkie Designs
CutieFruity
The Digi Scrapping Mama
Shel Belle Scraps
Lovely Creations
DoubleTrouble Scraps
KatyBugScraps
PizazzPixels
Queen Wild Scraps
Scrappin Serenity
JMC Designs
Adriana's Cafe
Ladybug Pics n Scraps
Lindsey's Digital Scrapbook
MDK Scraps
Queen Bee Scraps
Daydreamer
The Scrappy Kat
scrapN2Nspire
Let Me Scrapbook!
Sweet Maple
Note-able Scraps
scraphannah

Happy Scrapping!  :)

TOS Thanks Military Families

As a homeschooling military spouse myself, I appreciate TOS's tribute to the military so much.  If you are military, please click here to see the beautiful tribute and to claim your FREE subscription (for new subscribers only) to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

Thank you for your service!

TOS Review: Ooka Island Adventure

One of the fun things about homeschooling is that while my oldest is beginning college prep reading and writing (see last post), my youngest is just beginning to read.  I have found in teaching four children to read that the best programs involve actual books that early readers can learn to read for themselves, rather than just word lists or word/picture flashcards.  My first grader is anxious to accumulate more and more whole books that he can read all by himself, and each one he masters gives him a sense of accomplishment and a boost of confidence.

Ooka Island Adventure is a unique downloadable early reading program for 3-7-year-olds.  It works on Mac or PC, which is welcome news for us Mac users!  To begin with, you must download the game itself, and then you may purchase a subscription to use it online (the download is included in the subscription price).  It is a large initial download, but I did not have any problems downloading it or using it.  Or should I say, my children did not have any problems.  When we first started, I was unable to figure out how to personalize the student's avatar, and I was thinking the program may not be user-friendly.  When I unleashed my 6-year-old on it, however, he had his avatar ready to go in a purple superhero suit that he LOVED in a matter of minutes.  So apparently, my problem was user-malfunction.  You know what they say:  if you can't figure out how to work a computer program, ask someone with a doctorate degree or a 10-year-old!!

Once you have logged into the program, the student first plays games on Ooka Island, learning and reinforcing the alphabet and the sounds different letters and blends make.  Watch out for the FLIGS, the mischievous flying pigs who like to make trouble all around the island!  Your child can play these games as long as he or she wants or needs to in order to learn the sounds and letters, so this is ideal for preschoolers who are just beginning to learn their letters, or for kindergartners and first graders who can move through to the books more quickly.  Once your child has earned some books, he may go to the Popcorn Theater on the island, where he may pick any of the books on his bookshelf.  The book may first be read with Auntie K and Zobot the robot, who will read the book while highlighting each word, and explain what is on the pages.  Then you may read with Zobot, who will just read the book while highlighting each word.  Finally, you may read the book completely on your own.  The ability to go back to any book on the list and choose to read it by yourself or with help gives children a chance to reinforce their skills.  The more your child plays Ooka Island, the larger the library he can build - of books he can read ALL BY HIMSELF!

My son is currently up to 7 books in his Ooka Island library, and if he had his way, this would be his entire 1st Grade curriculum!!  The program may be used as part of your homeschool reading curriculum, or as a reading supplement, whether you homeschool or not.  You can find more information at http://ookaisland.com/.  Pricing is as follows:

Click here to purchase.

To read what other TOS Reviewers have to say about the Ooka Island Adventure, click here.

Disclaimer:  I received a free subscription to Ooka Island Adventure for the purpose of a fair review.  No other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Excellence in Literature

My 12-year-old son is, by age, in 7th grade, but he is doing mainly 8th-grade work this year, and he is especially ahead in the Language Arts side of things.  He is an avid reader who has been reading at high school level for some time, and he enjoys the classics, especially those by such authors as Jules Verne.  For this reason, I was realizing that I need to start looking at college-prep studies and stepping up our writing pursuits.  Just in time, I was blessed to be able to review Janice Campbell's  Excellence in Literature:: English 1: Introduction to Literature with the Honors option, from Everyday Education.

The Introduction to Literature is set up like a study guide, providing assignments to use with the classics listed in the course.  If your budget is tight, you could get these books from the library.  The author recommends, however, that you purchase the books, so that you may highlight sections, write in the margins, and have them for future reference.  Many of the books can be found second-hand very cheaply, and if you have multiple children who will be using the course, then of course you will be able to use them again.  My husband regularly peruses thrift stores, yard sales, and used book stores for the titles we need for homeschool, and we have built up quite a library very economically.  Introduction to Literature is, however, much more than your average study guide with a few discussion questions to ask with each book.  Janice Campbell's course covers how to read analytically and for comprehension, how to study and make notes on the literature, and how to write an effective paper communicating your own ideas about what you have studied.  Much of the work can be done individually by the student, at the student's own pace, with a parent or teacher reviewing the finished papers at the end of each unit and offering praise and advice for improvement.  The course teaches excellent personal study habits, research tips, and in-depth reading and writing skills in preparation for college.  It is also completely customizable for each family: while a specific order of books and timeline is suggested for the year-long course, the books may be done in any order, by themselves or in conjunction with another Language Arts or History course.

We are doing the course in the suggested order, and we have barely scratched the surface in Unit 1: Short Stories.  We cannot wait to get to Unit 2: Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne.  Jules Verne is one of my son's favorite authors, and he has already read that book.  Just take a look at the fun titles we have in store for the rest of the year:

Unit 1: Short Stories by- 
• Sarah Orne Jewett: A White Heron
• Edgar Allen Poe: The Purloined Letter (This one is not scary, if you're concerned about that.)
• Guy de Maupassant: The Diamond Necklace
• O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief
• Eudora Welty: A Worn Path
• James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Unit 2: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne 
Honors: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Unit 3: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
Honors: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Unit 4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 
Honors: Shirley or Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Unit 5: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw 
Honors: Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot
Unit 6: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Honors: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Unit 7: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Honors: 1984 by George Orwell
Unit 8: The Tempest by William Shakespeare 
Honors: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Unit 9: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Honors: The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

The titles listed are just the focus texts.  More context readings are assigned in each unit, as well as optional honors texts which can be used for further high school and college credit.  The English I college-prep course is recommended for students in Grades 8-12.  It can be purchased from Everyday Education at http://www.everyday-education.com/literature/eng1.shtml.  The print book is $29 plus $4.95 S&H.  If you prefer to download the e-book and print your own pages for a 3-ring binder, you may download it for $27.  Everyday Education also has many more resources for homeschooling through high school.

To see what other TOS reviewers have to say about Excellence in Literature, click here.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of Excellence in Literature:: English 1: Introduction to Literature with the Honors option, from Everyday Education, for the purpose of a fair review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Lots and Lots of Fire Trucks!

Do you have a little boy (or girl) who LOVES fire trucks?  This review came at a great time for me, as my 1st grader had just started a unit on fire safety.  Also, since we have several friends and relatives who are fire fighters, any bright and shiny pictures of fire trucks are always popular with my crew!

The 128-page Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks & Firefighters book contains many color pictures of fire engines and other equipment.  It also contains fire-fighting information and trivia about fire-fighting history.  My 6-year-old enjoyed the many pictures.  I think a slightly older child might get a lot more out of the information included.

What my 6-year-old really loved was the DVD that was included:  Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips.  These fun jingles will keep him remembering to "stop, drop, and roll" for a long time to come!

These products are recommended for all ages.  In my house, it seemed that they were best suited for around ages 6-10.  While the songs and pictures are fun for any young children, I think the extra information in the book would especially be good for that older elementary child who wants to go beyond coloring pages and become a young expert on fire engines.  If you are teaching multiple ages about fire safety, this combination would help you to have something for everyone.

You can find all of the Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks products at Marshall Publishing, http://marshallpublishinginc.com/.  Purchase the book and DVD combo here for the current sale price of  $29.95 (regularly $49.90).  And just for taking a look at our TOS reviews on the product, you can receive another $10 off the sale price by using the coupon TOSF1 at checkout!

Marshall Publishing also has a number of other educational videos and products, including the George Washington Carver DVD, of which they also graciously sent me a copy.  This inspirational story of the man born into slavery who rose above his circumstances to become a great scientist and benefactor can be purchased at Marshall Publishing for $19.95.  A study guide is also included on the website.

To read other TOS Crew members' reviews of these products by Marshall Publishing, click here.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of the Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks & Firefighers book, the Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips DVD, and the George Washington Carver DVD for the purpose of a fair review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Freebie at Sprouting Seeds Studio

There is a Freebie for you today over at Sprouting Seeds Studio!

Hurry over to Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog to download this sweet treat and to check out the rest of their October specials!

Pick up your free quickpage at 4shared.  PU only.

Happy Scrapping, and be safe with all of your activities today!  :)

TOS Review: Say Anything

As noted in yesterday's post, my family loved the games we received to review from NorthStar Games.  The second game we reviewed was the family edition of Say Anything.  Like Wits & Wagers, this game has brightly colored dry-erase cards.  In place of the fun meeples, it has the high-tech "Select-O-Matic 6000" for showing the reader's choice.  (It is a cardboard dial!)  Instead of numeric answers to trivia questions, in Say Anything, the reader in each round asks a question from the card about his or her own opinion.  The players then must answer the way they think the reader would answer, and the reader picks the best answer.  Sometimes you don't know people as well as you think!!

This fun game for 3-6 players is my kids' new favorite.  (You'll find that every time we get a new game, my kids have a new favorite!)  The box says it is for ages 8+, but again, my 6-year-old enjoys participating.  It is helpful if all the players know how to read, but sometimes he draws a picture of the answer on his card rather than writing a word.  I love the fact that NorthStar Games has made Family Editions of two of their popular party games!  Say Anything Family Edition game retails for $19.99 and can be purchased from places like Amazon.com, Target and other retail stores.  You can find more information at http://www.northstargames.com/.

To find out what other TOS Reviewers thought about this game, click here.

Happy Game-Playing!

Disclaimer:  I received a free Say Anything Family game for the purpose of writing this review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Wits & Wagers

If you've been reading my blog for any time at all, you know we love games!  We were thrilled to get not one, but TWO games to review from NorthStar Games!  The first was the Wits & Wagers family version.  Here's what NorthStar has to say about the new family version of the popular party game:

Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it!
The game features 300 new family-friendly questions. And even better than that, Wits & Wagers Family includes Meeples-- fun, cute, human shaped wooden pieces that the players use to select which answers they think are correct. Meeples have been a hallmark in European style strategy games for years, but this is the first time they have made an appearance in a party game.
So check out Wits & Wagers Family, the game that combines laughter and learning in a way that all ages can enjoy together!

My kids love this guessing and wagering game, with it's bright colors, fun "meeples," and easy dry-erase cards.  The box says the game is for 3-10 players, ages 8+, but my 6-year-old comes in first or second place just about every game.  Since you don't have to actually know the numeric answers to the trivia questions, and you get points for choosing the player's answer that is correct, he frequently picks the player who he thinks would know the answer, and he scores points.  For instance, he wagered on his Boy Scout brother's answer on the Cub Scout question, and depends on Mom to be right about the year certain TV shows came out.  He had everyone betting on his card, however, when the question asked about the number of characters in a Wii Mario game - his area of expertise!

Anyone who enjoys trivia games or party and family games will love the fast-paced Wits & Wagers from NorthStar Games.  You can find more information at http://www.northstargames.com.  The list price is $19.99, and the stores that carry the game are listed on the website when you enter your zip code.  You may also purchase the game online.  To find out what other TOS Crew members thought of the game, click here.  To see another offering from NorthStar Games that my kids liked even more, check back tomorrow!

Disclaimer:  I received a free Wits & Wagers Family game from NorthStar Games for the purpose of review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: E-Mealz

I think every mother says it at some point:  "If someone would just tell me what to fix tonight!"  Or we start to fix something and then realize we are missing one ingredient.  Frustrating!  I have been trying to fix low-carb meals for our family, but sometimes those garlic crescent rolls are SOOO tempting!  

Whether you are trying to stick to a diet, trying to find some new recipes for your dinner table, or just trying to save money on groceries, E-mealz has something for you!  Once you join this subscription menu-planning service, you can download your new menu and grocery list each week.  There are menus based on the specific sales at the following grocery stores each week: Kroger, Publix, Wal-Mart, ALDI, & Ralph's (CA).  If you do not shop at any of these stores, you may also choose the "Any Store" low-budget plan.  If your family has special needs, you may also choose a Gluten-free Plan, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Portion Control, or Vegetarian.  And if your family is not that large or the kids have flown the nest, there are menus with meals for 1 or 2.  With this ability to personalize the menus to the special circumstances of your family, these plans have something for everyone! 

When you download your menu each week, you will also get a convenient grocery list, all on one page.  I chose the low-carb, any-store option.  My family has enjoyed the new dishes, and my kids have even made some of them.  I love the fact that grill recipes and slow cooker recipes are included, as I use those frequently.  This service is helping us to eat healthy dinners at home more often, with less fast-food when my schedule gets crazy and I just don't have much time to think about fixing dinner!

You may subscribe to this menu service at https://e-mealz.com/amember/signup.php for just $5/month!  See what other TOS Crew members had to say about the service here.

Disclaimer:  I received a free subscription to E-mealz for the purpose of writing this review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.
Happy cooking!  :)

"My Boy" by Sprouting Seeds Studio

After all my hot pink, girly pages made from Sprouting Seeds Studio's kits, you may be thinking, "But what about the boys?"  Sprouting Seeds Studio has them covered, too.  Here's a page made with the "My Boy" kit:

He was so cute when he was 3 feet tall.  Now he's taller than me!  Scrap your own memories with the kit from ScrapDelicious.

Hop over to Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog to pick up the FREE add-on!

Pick up your FREE Quickpage from 4shared!  Click image below.  PU only.

Happy Scrapping!  :)

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Visual Latin Coupon!

I know, I know, you are probably mulling over my post on Visual Latin (click here if you missed it) and thinking, "Wow, that looks like such a great program; if only I had a discount code of some sort!"  Well, Dwayne Thomas does not disappoint.  He has made a coupon code available for $10 off Visual Latin products.  Use OCT$10 at checkout.

I won't keep you long tonight, since I know you are in a hurry to go use that discount code, and I have a 6-year-old who just stuck toothpaste in his eye.

Carpe diem!  Valete!

TOS Review: Always Ice Cream

For the last month or so, my girls have been reviewing Always Ice Cream at http://www.always-icecream.com.  This fun and educational website for girls was founded by parents who homeschooled, though it certainly is not limited to homeschool students.  The goal is to have a safe and fun website for girls ages 7-12, with family friendly content.  As a parent, you may link your parent account to your daughter's account and monitor her progress and activity on the site.  You may choose whether to allow only educational content or to also allow community content, so that your daughter may communicate with other players online and play "social" games with them.  You may also choose whether or not to allow Christian content.  There are no ads for external sites, and the website has been certified by the Privo Privacy Assurance Program for online safety for children.  You can see more information about the safety features here.

Games on Always Ice Cream teach and review concepts in Language Arts, Math, Geography & History, Science, Music Arts, Computer Skills, Foreign Languages (Spanish & German), and Religious Education (Christian) if you choose that option.  My girls have already improved greatly in their math drills and in learning the USA States and Capitals.  

The girls are rewarded for their efforts in "$coops," which they may then use in the games.  From my parent account, I can also award them "$coops" for doing things like their homework, instrument practice, or cleaning their room, for no extra charge.  That is a fantastic incentive!

In terms of review, I have to say that my girls absolutely love this website!  I love having a safe and educational place for them to play on the Internet.  The animation, the colors, and the games are perfect for their age and interest level.  And as for my boys who feel they may be missing out?  Well, I hear there may be something coming for them in the future!

If you would like to try out this fantastic program, you may try it for one month for only 99 cents!  After that, a modest membership fee guarantees that the site can be funded without outside advertising.  Packages range from $4.99 per month to a lifetime membership for $99.99.  You can see all the packages here.

I highly recommend Always Ice Cream for anyone with girls ages 7-12.  To see what other TOS Crew Members thought of the site, click here.

Disclaimer:  I received a free subscription to Always Ice Cream for the purpose of review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Visual Latin

Latin is dead,
As dead as it can be -
First it killed the Romans,
And now it's killing me!

When I wrote that on the chalkboard in my 8th Grade Latin Class, my teacher had a little chuckle, but proceeded to emphatically explain all the reasons that Latin is not a dead language.  When my brother wrote the same poem on the same board for the same teacher, he got in trouble.  I wonder why they called me a teacher's pet?

Well, Dwane Thomas says Latin is not exactly dead, it's just "frozen."  It is not currently in use as a spoken language, and since it has not been for quite some time, it has no direct translation for words such as "Internet," "airplane," "LOL," or "BFF."  So how in the world could it be useful to kids of today?  As it turns out, Latin has plenty to offer.  To find out what, you should look into Dwane Thomas's Visual Latin series, available on DVDs or as online downloads.

At this point, I should probably admit that despite enjoying taunting my teacher with the above poem, I was somewhat of a Latin geek when I was a teenager.  I took several years of the ancient language, bringing home a gold medal and a silver medal for the National Latin Exam, as well as several Certamen trophies with my team.  If you know what Certamen is, you are probably as big of a geek as I am, so for those of you who have never heard of it, it is kind of like a Latin Bowl or game show between schools.  Because I loved Latin so much, I had planned to teach it to my children, but with so many other things for me to teach and them to learn in the few short years I have to homeschool them, I had about decided I would let it go.  I very happily changed my mind when I received these videos to review.

The study of Latin gives kids a firm background in word roots, grammar, and language structure that is helpful in understanding their own language as well as others.  Dwane teaches the lessons on the videos in a very easy-going manner with a little humor thrown in.  Kids enjoy his conversational method of teaching.  I also appreciate his explanation of the history of languages in the Biblical context.  I learned a thing or two myself!

The Visual Latin curriculum is available at http://www.visuallatin.com/.  It is designed for ages 9 and up.  For pricing, see http://store.compasscinema.com/categories.php?category=Visual-Latin.  The three DVDs that make up the full Latin I course are currently on sale for $80.00.  You can also purchase them separately or purchase group licenses for use with a homeschool group or co-op.  The full Latin course includes Latin I and Latin II, each intended to be done over one school year (but of course you may speed that up or slow it down), and there are several companion products you may wish to use for further enrichment.  Overall, this is a very effective and entertaining way to breathe life into a language that some some have considered to be beyond saving!

If you would like to try out Visual Latin for free (you can't beat that deal!), click here to download SIX FREE lessons!  Also see what other TOS reviewers had to say about Visual Latin here.

Disclaimer:  I received a free DVD copy of the first 10 lessons of Visual Latin for the purpose of review.  I received no other compensation, and all opinions are my own.

Grand Opening of Dandelion Dust Designs!

Yesterday was the Grand Opening of Dandelion Dust Designs, and they are celebrating with a full-size FREEBIE fall kit!

Click here or image below to check out the Grand Opening and download your full-size kit!  Also look back to posts from earlier this week for a few more freebies!

Of course, I have a free QP for you at 4shared  PU only:

Happy Fall, Y'all!  :)

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

New Kit from Sprouting Seeds Studio

I'm not much for celebrating Hallowe'en itself, but some years we do attend some sort of Fall Festival or other costume party.  I love the colors and the little candy and pumpkin elements in Sprouting Seeds Studio's "Spooky Night," just released at ScrapDelicious, for scrapping those not-so-spooky pics!

You can get the whole kit over at ScrapDelicious.

Head over to Sprouting Seeds Studio's blog to pickup a little add-on freebie!

Don't forget to click the image below to download your free QP from 4shared!  PU only.

Happy Festivals!  :)

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

"Fall Splendor" at Sprouting Seeds Studio

I am just loving all the fall kits that are out!  "Fall Splendor" by Sprouting Seeds Studio has some great decorated papers and elements in warm fall colors!

You can find the kit exclusively at ScrapDelicious.

Be sure to download this adorable add-on FREEBIE from Sprouting Seeds Studio.  It has the pumpkin sticker that I loved from "Fall'ish" with glitter around the edges.  So cute!

Then jump over to 4shared to download your free QP!  Click image below.  PU only.

Happy Fall Y'all!  :)

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this kit in exchange for the LOs and review.  No other compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Enter Survey to win $500!

HSLDA needs your input to help them better serve you and the homeschooling community! Follow the link below to their short, six-question survey and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $500 Visa gift card.

http://www.hslda.org/Survey/mvt/Default.aspx?rid=35850

Survey and drawing entries must be submitted by October 9. Winner will be drawn on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, and will be contacted by email. If we do not receive a response within 72 hours, a new winning name will be drawn. Must be age 18 or older to participate. By entering this contest, you agree to have your email address added to HSLDA’s email list. You may unsubscribe at any time.

FREE E-book: "And Then Mama Said"

Here is the Splish ebook that normally goes for $5 in The Old Schoolhouse Store - it's FREE for 4 more days only. This is about a little homeschooled frog who is beside himself because he just CANNOT learn to read. Find out how his wise Mama helped him. Be sure to read the book aloud to your children and let them view all the illustrations right there with you. Here's the link to that and be sure to use the coupon code FREESPLISH so that you don't pay a DIME for it. Totally free, no purchase necessary - let your friends know.  It's gone as of Oct 8. Get the Splish Book HERE.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, Junior

My dad taught me never to go into debt.  Like most of his generation, he saved his money when he wanted to buy something, and he bought it when he had the money.  He told his money where to go rather than wondering where it went.

Like most of my generation, I didn't listen.  Ours is the generation of immediate gratification by means of a credit card.  We wanted everything our parents had worked a lifetime to obtain, the day we left home.  Instead of asking, "Can I afford it?" we asked "Can I afford the monthly payments?"  If we are lucky, we stopped our dangerous patterns before we got into trouble.

And now the next generation is observing our habits.  My children's choir is singing about shopping in our Christmas program this year:  "And I'm runnin' out of cash and my credit cards are maxed/Oh I think I've lost control, and I'm only nine years old!"  Can we teach our children not to start the dangerous patterns to begin with?  Can we convince them to live debt-free and to be smart with their money BEFORE they get a credit card?

When my husband began teaching Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, I decided to look into Financial Peace, Jr for my kids.  This fabulous kit for ages 3-12 includes:

Dry-erase board to track commission earnings
Dry-erase board to track savings amounts
Envelope system (3 separate envelopes)
Clip-n-carry coin case
Give, Spend, and Save magnets
Cool calculator
Instruction manual
Instructional audio CD

Here's what the pieces look like all over my refrigerator!

The fridge is now Command Central for our Financial Program.  Every job, fine, and goal is right here in an easily accessible format.

My kids are very excited about this new program.  For one thing, they each get their own cool calculator and these awesome dry-erase forms, so what could be better than that?  What they are really excited about are the things they are saving up to buy.  We've already had a yard sale in which they chose some of their old toys to sell, and they got to keep the money from them.  (What a great way for Mom to clear out some clutter without making anybody mad!)  They also sold pink lemonade.  One of my daughters lucked out, having a birthday recently so that she also got money from grandparents and aunts and uncles.  When she combined all this money with the money she had saved, she was able to buy an American Girl doll she'd been wanting for a year or more - all by herself!  What an incentive for an 8-year-old!

I highly recommend both getting this kit with the cool tools, and USING the Financial Peace, Jr, system!  You can pick the kit up here for $19.95, and each additional child gets a full kit for only $10.00.  Teach your kids the value of saving, investing, and maintaining financial independence before they are enslaved by the bonds of debt! 

Also check out Dave's other products for kids, including the Foundations in Personal Finance High School Edition Homeschool Pack, which can be done for a High School credit.