TOS Review - Apologia Educational Ministries (Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms)

What is Apologia Educational Ministries?

Apologia Educational Ministries has been a total favorite around here in our homeschool, for both myself and the kiddos. We have had the opportunity to use so many of their wonderful products and have never been disappointed. If you are unfamiliar with Apologia, here is a quick overview of their company. Apologia is a curriculum company based solely for homeschooling families. This company offers several different subjects from Science to History to Language Arts to Biblical Worldview. They also offer products for parents as well. You can check out their website, www.apologia.com, for all of their great products!

As mentioned above, Apologia offers different products for parents alongside the curriculum they provide for students. Apologia has recently added a new book just for homeschooling Moms titled, Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms. 

Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms is a book written by Mary Jo Tate, a seasoned homeschooling Mom. Since 1997, Mary Jo has homeschooled her four sons, along with being successful in many other areas. She has written several books, teaches high school literature for a homeschool co-op, blogs at Flourish at Home: Joyful Balance For Busy Moms and hosts a radio show, "Flourish At Home" on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network. 

Obviously, balance is a must in Mary Jo's life. In this book, she shares her personal story, her struggles and a great plan to overcome a busy schedule, thriving along the way in life as homeschooling Mom. Throughout the book, she acknowledges the lives of stay-at-home Moms, single Moms, working Moms. Mary Jo Tate leaves no one out as she gives practical advice for how to balance life. 
Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms is only $15.00.

What I Received and How I Used It:

For this review, I received a soft cover copy of Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms by Mary Jo Tate. When the book came in the mail, I looked at the cover and knew I would love it. It's so pretty, calming and inviting. It is one of those books you want to curl up in the bed with or on the couch with, light a candle and just indulge yourself. And well, that is pretty much what I did. 
Most of my reading is done when the children are napping or after they have headed off to bed. 
To say this book could not have come at a more prefect time is no understatement. This school year, I am adding Kruz (4) to the mix 3 days a week, in which I am certain Kohen (2) is going to want to be right alongside of his Big Brother and Bestest Bud. So not only are we adding a full preschool curriculum this year, but our family is also adding a new Baby Sister any day now. All in all, next year's homeschool is going to look completely different than last year's. I needed this book. I needed to be filled with ideas, encouragement and ways to thrive as a homeschooling Momma with a busy life. 
Over the past few weeks, I have read just about this entire book and am looking forward to finishing it up soon.

What I Thought About It All?

I have had the pleasure to take part of this wonderful ministry, Apologia Educational Ministries, by using their products several times over the past couple years in our homeschool. Some of the products were ordered by choice and others were given to us by way of review. When I say I have never been disappointed, that is no understatement. Myself and my children have always loved what has come our way from Apologia Educational Ministries. And of course, Flourish: Balance For Homeschool Moms, has been no different. 

I would say this book is for all of us homeschooling Moms who are at all different seasons. Whether you are starting out fresh or have been homeschooling for years, this book acknowledges all different stages of this journey. 

There have been several different spots in the book that have really resonated in my mind, others in my heart. One of my favorite chapters so far has been Chapter 6: What Do I Do Next? In this chapter, Mary Jo provides Seven Essential Planning Tools that allow us to focus on goals and where we are at with them. Another chapter encourages us Moms  to rest. And sometimes, I need to be reminded that is okay for me to rest. Another chapter encourages us Moms to create a time log and assess where our time is really going each and every day. 

I really could go on and on, but I think I have said enough that all the homeschooling Moms reading this are going to grab this book and consider it a gold mine.

Important Information:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlourishAtHome

Twitter: twitter.com/maryjotate

Price: $15.00

Along with the purchase of this book, you will also receive downloadable links to loads of extras like To-Do Lists, Schedules and Planners. 

TOS Review - Apologia Educational Ministries ...

What is Apologia Educational Ministries?

If you have been following my blog for a while now, you know that Apologia is no stranger here. When we first started homeschooling, I had more than one seasoned homeschooling Momma rave about Apologia and their Bible-based curriculum. This is the third curriculum we have used from Apologia and each time I am more impressed with the in-depth, scripture based, fun and exciting teachings. 

Just in case you are not familiar with Apologia Educational Ministries, here is a little bit of information. Apologia is a curriculum company based solely for homeschooling families. This company offers several different subjects from Science to History to Language Arts to Biblical Worldview. They also offer products for the parents as well, such as planners. Check out their website www.apologia.com for all of their great products!

Because we reviewed part of their What We Believe series, I'll tell you more about this part of their ministry. Apologia has teamed up with Summit Ministries to bring homeschooling families a curriculum based on the Word of God on how to train children to view the world through the eyes of God, using scripture to reveal along the way the truth about our world. 

There are four volumes in this series:
Volume 1: Who Is God?
Volume 2: Who Am I?
Volume 3: Who Is My Neighbor?
Volume 4: What On Earth Can I Do?

Apologia recognizes the negative influences our children are in contact with every day: peer pressure, messages sent through the television shows they come across and the music they hear while flipping through the radio. Their goal is to provide a series that will direct our children on the right path to understanding how God wants them to view the world. Even more than that, the series will teach children some of the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. 

This series has been created for children in grades 1-6. 

What We Received and How We Used It:

For this review we received the complete set for Volume 4 (Biblical Worldview of Stewardship) of the What We Believe series, entitled What On Earth Can I Do? 

In our curriculum package we received the following materials:

What On Earth Can I Do? Hardback Book ($39.00)

What On Earth Can I Do? Notebooking Journal ($24.00)

What On Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal ($24.00)

What On Earth Can I Do? Coloring Book ($8.00)

When I saw the opportunity to review another Apologia curriculum, of course I jumped on it! And then when I read about the series, I prayed about it - that our family would be selected for this curriculum. 

One question I hear on nearly a daily basis from Kollin (7) is "Why am I here? What does God want me to do? I'm just a kid." I can only tell him so many times that God has something for him and through prayer he'll begin to see what that purpose is. That answer only keeps my deep 7 year old happy for so long. I knew this book and journal would be wonderful for both of us. I knew it would be a great explanation for Kollin and would satisfy the hunger in him to know more about what his purpose is. And I knew it would be good for me too, to help answer his questions and to be able to fill those days of doubt for him with scripture and promises from God's Word. 

What On Earth Can I Do? contains eight truth revealing lessons:
Lesson 1: Your Story or God's Story?
Lesson 2: Who Put You In Charge?
Lesson 3: Will You Be Found Faithful?
Lesson 4: Where Is Your Treasure?
Lesson 5: Where Does Your Time Go?
Lesson 6: Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Lesson 7: Why Isn't It Easy Being Green?
Lesson 8: What Will Happen When The Master Returns?

Each lesson begins with 'The Big Idea' which explains the overall purpose of the lesson and what will be explored, revealed and taught. There are stories on real people, biblical truths, prayers, fictional stories and so much more used to portray to the learner (and teacher as far as I'm concerned) what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made through the eyes of our Savior. 

Kollin and I used the What On Earth Can I Do? book on our own. Kollin also used the What On Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal as well as the coloring book we also received. We read in this book just three days a week and Kollin worked through his journal and colored as I would read. Because this book is made for children from Kollin's age all the way to sixth grade, most of the material was above his head. I was able to read ahead of time and mark the material I knew he would understand, take in and would benefit him for his age now. Through the time of the review, we successfully worked through all of lesson one. Because the lessons are so incredibly in-depth, we had to work a little slower and read less than what is suggested in the layout of the lessons in the book. 

What I Thought About It All:

It's so obvious how much our family loves Apologia Educational Ministries! Their passion to provide homeschooling families with quality, affordable material is heart warming and I love their firm stance on teaching so many subjects based on God's Word. 

From what Kollin and I read in the What On Earth Can I Do? book excites me! Although I feel like much of the material and stories were more than he could handle, I know in my heart this book and journal are going to benefit Kollin and the rest of our children in the years to come. With each school year, I plan to get this book back out and go more in depth each time.

The stories throughout the lessons are so intriguing and relate so well to the purpose of the book. Although this book is made to be used by students up to sixth grade, I firmly believe teens, young adults and even Moms and Dads will learn from this book. 

Important Information:

Website: www.apologia.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apologiaworld
Twitter: twitter.com/apologiaworld
 Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/apologia