This post is sponsored by Hoffman Academy. All opinions are my own. For more information please read my full disclosure.

I wanted to start their piano lessons again, but I was afraid that they wouldn’t remember anything. Luckily, I  started up again with the free Hoffman Academy online piano lessons, and my daughters picked up right where we left off.

Free Online Piano Lessons

My eldest daughter did surprisingly good and was still able to name all the notes of the keys. Thanks to the online piano lessons she was playing a song right away. We were able to skip the first half of the lessons.

I really like Mr. Hoffman’s method and the fact that I’m not really the one teaching. It takes the time and pressure off of me, and ensures that my girls learn from the a master. Mr.Hoffman has tons unique games and ways of introducing the sounds and notes of the piano. And Audrey and Emma love listening to his stories and playing along.

Learn to Play the Piano

The materials that go along with the lessons are a must. They reinforce the music that the children are playing and help them learn to read musical notation. All the video lessons are free, and there is only a small fee for the unit materials. It is such a minimal fee, and really worth it!

I had Audrey review the musical alphabet with a fun worksheet from his materials and also write the beats of the song that she played in her video lesson.

The exciting part is, now that Audrey is older, I can set up the video lesson for her and let her learn on her own. It won’t take me any time to do the lessons. I just scheduled it into her daily calendar and will be continuing the lessons from now on without interrupting my regular schedule!

The post Learn to Play the Piano Online first appeared on True Aim.

That’s why I’m excited to tell you about this new video subscription service through a sponsored post from Highbrow. All opinions are 100% my own.

We tried Netflix before and the problem is, there is no way to really control what they watch except for supervision AND not all videos on Netflix are educational.

Educational Videos for Kids

Highbrow’s mission is to encourage productive screen time so children can learn new languages, art projects, science experiments and lots more as opposed to watching mindless screen time or playing video games.

I love Highbrow’s safe, educational, and age appropriate videos. They are perfect to supplement my regular curriculum and I can customize what my children watch. I made a profile for my oldest daughter and started assigning videos that were at her level. It’s like having her own video playlist that I know is perfect for her abilities and meets my standards.

First, I had her try an art video. She is very good at drawing what she sees, so I knew she would like this one. There are lots of drawing and art videos which makes art lessons easy on me.

Next, she wanted to try a science experiment. If you have heard of Steve Spangler Science, you know that these science experiment videos rock! We did the dollar experiment because it was quick and easy.

They couldn’t get enough and wanted to watch ALL of the science experiments.

We also tried the math videos which are really unique. They involve physical activity to review basic math and help children solve problems mentally. We love it!

If you’d like to try Highbrows curated educational videos for children, sign up for a Free 30 Day Trial. After that, it is just $8 a month or $60 a year.

Then make sure you follow Highbrow on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more educational activities for your kids!

The post Educational Videos for Kids: Highbrow Review first appeared on True Aim.

With Joy Sprouts, your preschooler will have access to multiple apps inside the Joy Sprouts platform. They conveniently call them sprouts.

Each sprout focuses on 5 different developmental skills that all children need to react appropriately to the world around them. Those skills are; language, physical, social, cognitive, and approaches. They call it “Total Development”.

Preschool Learning App

There are so many apps out there to cover the basics; colors, shapes, numbers, letters, etc. Joy Sprouts is different because it covers a wider variety of subjects while touching on things that other apps don’t.

Children will use critical thinking skills, problem solving, matching, one-to-one correspondence and more to answer the questions within the apps. Some sprouts allow for more freedom. That means the children get to choose what the characters in the app will do, like in the “That’s My Job” app with Garfield as the main character.

Other sprouts are more like storybook apps where children are led through a story and interact with the environment and solve problems based on what is happening, like in the “My Dad” app.

My daughter really enjoyed these two apps a lot! It is the first app that she wants to play when she has screen time. The best thing about it is the variety of activities and skills she is learning all from just one app.

Get the Joy Sprouts Preschool App Free!

You can get the Joy Sprouts app absolutely FREE! Just click here to download the $9.99 app from the iTunes app store. Then tweet out this message:

I downloaded @JoySprouts. It’s our new favorite #homeschool app! #ihsnet http://bit.ly/1whJaub

Joy Sprout will then give you a full refund via paypal. If you have any trouble with this, you can always contact support at support@joysprouts.com

Don’t forget to follow Joy Sprouts on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube for more information on Preschool development and new Sprouts!

The post Joy Sprouts Preschool App: Get It Free! first appeared on True Aim.

In my online college class, the material was simply from a book.  We read the material and turned in all of our assignments to the online program.  There was little human interaction other than the required critiques made on each others’ work in a chat box.  The teacher had little impact other than assigning work and offering feedback on my essays.

With Bridgeway Homeschool Academy, that is not the case.  Their Student Learning Labs live classes are just like the real thing.  Instead of having to leave home to go to a coop or class you get all the benefits and human interaction right at home.  In fact, it can be better than participating in those other classes.

3 Benefits of Homeschooling Online

With Bridgeway’s Learning Labs, the convenience, interaction, and skills gained are unlike any I have experienced.  Audrey (1st grade level) enrolled in the class called Fun with Science:  The Rainforest.  Although we already have a curriculum we use daily, this class was an enriching addition to our weekly routine.

Convenience

Unlike other online courses, this course required no additional materials.  We didn’t have to buy any extra books and we printed very few worksheets.

Another great thing is that everything your teacher assigns or gives as an extra resource is available after class in your student account.  I love the ability to research further into a subject that my child really likes or review any topics that needed extra time.

Finally, doing the class from home allows us to relax.  I don’t have to worry about hauling everyone in the car or childcare for my other children.  After Audrey was used to using the system, I was able to get some small chores done and work with my other children.

Interaction

The relaxed environment of home also made my daughter more comfortable participating in the class instead of being intimidated by a new place with lots of new eyes on her.

In other online classes I’ve taken, interaction is almost non-existent.  You simply do your work independently and turn it in online.  However, with Bridgeway Learning Labs you get the benefit of real class interaction.

You get to see your teacher talking in real time and are able to ask her questions by “raising your hand” via pushing a button.  The teacher controls the interaction so no one is interrupted and class can move quickly if needed.  Once your microphone is enabled, it is just like a real class experience where you can share your thoughts.

Camera privileges are also managed by the teacher and allow the students face-time so they can read their assignments and practice their communication skills.  A virtual map shows the location of all the students and a virtual white board can be used by all the students to write answers or draw pictures.

The interaction was one of our favorite features of the class because we felt a personal connection with the teacher and the students which made the subject even more interesting.

Skills Gained

The first class we had I wasn’t sure it was right for my daughter because she had a hard time sitting through the whole hour.  However, as we attended each week the class got smoother as the student got used to the system.  By the end, she was wishing it wasn’t over.

This experience really helped her gain confidence reading out loud in front of other people, she learned patience while the technological kinks were worked out, she gained skill using the computer, and of course she learned lots of new things about the rain forest.

Online Homeschooling with Bridgeway

If you want to give your child the classroom experience from the comfort of your home you’ll want to try a Bridgeway Learning Lab.  They offer classes for all ages including,

• Science Through the Magic Tree House (Elementary Level)
• Fun with Robotics (Middle School Level)
• Kitchen Chemistry (Elementary Level)
• Web Design (High School Level)

Early enrollment has started and Bridgeway is offering a $20 discount!  Click the image below for more information and a look at all the classes available.  In addition to this discount, they are also offering a free learning and personality style assessment which is valued at $39.95.  This assessment gives parents an individual profile filled with strategies to set their child up for lifelong success.

Have you tried an online homeschooling class before?  I would love to hear your experiences!

You can learn more about Bridgeway by following them on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Google+.

The post Homeschooling Online with Bridgeway Homeschool Academy first appeared on True Aim.

If you are looking for a great source for Math Lessons and Curriculum Online, I have an amazing opportunity for you.  This post contains affiliate links.  For more information read my full disclosure.

A+ Interactive Math by TutorSoft Inc. is giving away a full year of their comprehensive online math program!

This curriculum  (grades K1 – Algebra 1) is a complete math program which will provide your student with a solid foundation in mathematics. It is NOT a supplemental program, although A+ does offer supplements for concepts including multiplication, division, fractions and more.

A+ offers several options to fit the budget of any homeschooling family. It is their goal to provide every student the best math education possible by making their program so affordable.

Current Specials for Online Interactive Program: 

But . . . There’s More . . .

With our special affiliate link – you can save an additional 40% off of the SALE PRICE! 

No credit card or contract required to sign up for the monthly subscription!  Purchase a printed workbook for less than $25 if you prefer to do worksheets in text format.  It includes exams and answer keys as well.  Enjoy both the online interactive teaching and use a textbook as well = the best of both worlds!

The new and improved A+ Interactive Math is a terrific solution for your homeschool.  The team is developing new products to provide your family with the most effective math lessons in the market.  It uses visual, audio, and text – taking advantage of the 3 main learning models to ensure success for your student.  Kids love the free printable “certificates of accomplishment” which encourage them along!

Try it for FREE with a 1 Month Trial here 
FREE Placement Test with comprehensive report here

Enter to win 1 year of FREE Math Lessons:

To learn more about the program, visit their review page to hear what other homeschoolers say about A+ Interactive Math!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Homeschool Math Lessons Online GIVEAWAY! first appeared on True Aim.

ABCMouse Review

1.  They have HOW many activities?

There are over 3000 different activities!  They cover all the basic preschool subjects including Reading, Math, Art, Music, Science, Social Studies, and Basic Computer Skills.  All three of my children enjoy the program because there is something for each of their levels; Toddler Time, Preschool, and Kindergarten.

2.  Customization

There are so many things to customize in the program from the clothes the children’s avatars are wearing to the activities your children can play.  One tool I love is the Lesson Builder.  This allows you to choose the books, games, and activities your children play in order to complete a lesson and earn a special reward.  You simply drag and drop what you want.  This helps when a child needs more work on a specific area, like counting by tens or that one letter sound they just can’t remember.  You can also block any activities that you don’t want your child doing.

3.  Affordable

A one year subscription costs as little as .22 cents a day!  That’s about $6.50 a Month!  Plus, the access you have to their printables lasts beyond the subscription.  Just put them in sheet protectors, use dry erase markers and they will last for years.

4.  They will LOVE it

Whoever created the reward system for this program is genius!  My daughter loves getting tickets from the activities so she can buy pets in the pet store.  As soon as your children understand the rewards, they will beg to play all the time!

Become a Mouse House today!

Try it Free for 30 Days, then get 2 Free Months when you subscribe!

Or enter to win a year subscription good for up to 3 children below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

The post Preschool Learning Games: ABC Mouse Review and Giveaway! first appeared on True Aim.