you tube homeschool vs school video (shameless promotion : )
One of the Wechts
Hi all,
Andrew has been making live movies for a little while.
His love of the art started with claymation several years ago.
He and some home school and public school buds have been having a blast making all kinds of shorts.
They just couldn't resist giving this topic a try.
Check out their contest video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwKodvNBnyU
Don't forget to vote!
Beth in MD
FYI Andrew is the clapper guy, the black jacketed biker and the one beside the trampoline. But mostly he did the storyboard and was behind the camera.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Andrew has been making live movies for a little while.
His love of the art started with claymation several years ago.
He and some home school and public school buds have been having a blast making all kinds of shorts.
They just couldn't resist giving this topic a try.
Check out their contest video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwKodvNBnyU
Don't forget to vote!
Beth in MD
FYI Andrew is the clapper guy, the black jacketed biker and the one beside the trampoline. But mostly he did the storyboard and was behind the camera.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Adrean Clark
It looks like my mom came around to the idea of homeschooling quicker
than I thought. She was asking me about the Leapfrog handheld gaming
system, to purchase for DS. She also pointed out the VTech system,
which requires a monitor. Anyone have experience with all of them? I
thought abt the Nintendo DS esp with the new Brain age, etc. games...
--Adrean
than I thought. She was asking me about the Leapfrog handheld gaming
system, to purchase for DS. She also pointed out the VTech system,
which requires a monitor. Anyone have experience with all of them? I
thought abt the Nintendo DS esp with the new Brain age, etc. games...
--Adrean
BRIAN POLIKOWSKY
V Tech is a POS ( peace of S**t) in my book. Both my sister and I have one and they break easy. My ds is 5 years old and he says he likes his VTech but really the games are dull and slow and silly ( condescending). They do not come with a power cord ( neither the hand held or the system) you go to buy those sepate for a fortune ( like 15-20) and they go thru batteries every 3 hours of play.
Nintendo DS is awesome. You don't need to play Brain AGE ( Which I do). My ds plays his Super Mario Games and has learned a lot from it. Fro reading and writing to math to much more.
Having said that my ds says he does like his vTech ( maybe plays 20 minutes every couple of months).\
He plays for fun and not because they are educational.
We also have the Wii system and its a lot of fun for all ages.
You can go to any GameStop and play with the Nintendo DS to try it out.
I invested a lot of money on VTech and I think it is not worth it.
And by the way they do have a handheld VTech. I have one and my system has the one that goes on the TV both sucked in our experience.
Alex
----- Original Message ----
From: Adrean Clark <adrean@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 12:32:31 AM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] 'Educational' video games feedback?
It looks like my mom came around to the idea of homeschooling quicker
than I thought. She was asking me about the Leapfrog handheld gaming
system, to purchase for DS. She also pointed out the VTech system,
which requires a monitor. Anyone have experience with all of them? I
thought abt the Nintendo DS esp with the new Brain age, etc. games...
--Adrean
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Nintendo DS is awesome. You don't need to play Brain AGE ( Which I do). My ds plays his Super Mario Games and has learned a lot from it. Fro reading and writing to math to much more.
Having said that my ds says he does like his vTech ( maybe plays 20 minutes every couple of months).\
He plays for fun and not because they are educational.
We also have the Wii system and its a lot of fun for all ages.
You can go to any GameStop and play with the Nintendo DS to try it out.
I invested a lot of money on VTech and I think it is not worth it.
And by the way they do have a handheld VTech. I have one and my system has the one that goes on the TV both sucked in our experience.
Alex
----- Original Message ----
From: Adrean Clark <adrean@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 12:32:31 AM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] 'Educational' video games feedback?
It looks like my mom came around to the idea of homeschooling quicker
than I thought. She was asking me about the Leapfrog handheld gaming
system, to purchase for DS. She also pointed out the VTech system,
which requires a monitor. Anyone have experience with all of them? I
thought abt the Nintendo DS esp with the new Brain age, etc. games...
--Adrean
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Adrean Clark
Ahh what about the Leapfrog handheld? You tried that one yet?
--Adrean
--Adrean
Ren Allen
--- In [email protected], Adrean Clark <adrean@...> wrote:
and boring really fast. Save your money and go for something your kids
find really fascinating...like the DS or other real handheld game
systems without the agenda of getting academics into kids.
Kids like games. Go for the system with the best games that your kids
would have FUN playing. Is there a reason you are looking at the
"educational" style? I find that those aren't as versatile and fun as
the straight up gaming systems.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
>Personally, I think the "educational" ones are exactly what get old
> Ahh what about the Leapfrog handheld? You tried that one yet?
>
> --Adrean
>
and boring really fast. Save your money and go for something your kids
find really fascinating...like the DS or other real handheld game
systems without the agenda of getting academics into kids.
Kids like games. Go for the system with the best games that your kids
would have FUN playing. Is there a reason you are looking at the
"educational" style? I find that those aren't as versatile and fun as
the straight up gaming systems.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Adrean Clark
She's buying it, not me - said the Nintendo DS was a bit too much for
her budget. I suppose I could propose paying the difference on what
she'd spend on it. My dad proposed the Wii because we would be more
active with it. But ultimately they're buying it for the kids.
Still negotiating... :)
Adrean
her budget. I suppose I could propose paying the difference on what
she'd spend on it. My dad proposed the Wii because we would be more
active with it. But ultimately they're buying it for the kids.
Still negotiating... :)
Adrean
On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 6:19 pm, Ren Allen wrote:
> --- In [email protected], Adrean Clark <adrean@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> Ahh what about the Leapfrog handheld? You tried that one yet?
>>
>> --Adrean
>>
>
> Personally, I think the "educational" ones are exactly what get old
> and boring really fast. Save your money and go for something your kids
> find really fascinating...like the DS or other real handheld game
> systems without the agenda of getting academics into kids.
>
> Kids like games. Go for the system with the best games that your kids
> would have FUN playing. Is there a reason you are looking at the
> "educational" style? I find that those aren't as versatile and fun as
> the straight up gaming systems.
>
> Ren
> learninginfreedom.com
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
BRIAN POLIKOWSKY
Nintendo Ds goes for $129 and the Wii for $ 249. The games for the wee are $50 and for the DS it is easy to buy used games on GameStop, Amazon.com and even your local craig's list.
You can also play GameCube games on the Wii or download on the Virtual Console. Those games go from $ 10 to $40 and you can get used GameCube games cheap.
Because you have 3 boys maybe get the Wii and 3 remotes ( those are expensive) so they could all play together ( or not) unless you are willing to buy one Nintendo DS for each. There are DS games taht you can play up to 8 people with one card ( game card) but you still need three Nintendo DS hardware.
Also GameCube controllers are cheap ( from like $ 7 dollars up)and you can have 3-4 to play at the Wii.
The Vtech and Leapster are $ 69 I think and the games start at 20 but in my experience the Vtech does not last and like I said the games are realy dull and NOT fun.
Alex
----- Original Message ----
From: Adrean Clark <adrean@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 5:28:46 PM
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Re: 'Educational' video games feedback?
She's buying it, not me - said the Nintendo DS was a bit too much for
her budget. I suppose I could propose paying the difference on what
she'd spend on it. My dad proposed the Wii because we would be more
active with it. But ultimately they're buying it for the kids.
Still negotiating. .. :)
Adrean
You can also play GameCube games on the Wii or download on the Virtual Console. Those games go from $ 10 to $40 and you can get used GameCube games cheap.
Because you have 3 boys maybe get the Wii and 3 remotes ( those are expensive) so they could all play together ( or not) unless you are willing to buy one Nintendo DS for each. There are DS games taht you can play up to 8 people with one card ( game card) but you still need three Nintendo DS hardware.
Also GameCube controllers are cheap ( from like $ 7 dollars up)and you can have 3-4 to play at the Wii.
The Vtech and Leapster are $ 69 I think and the games start at 20 but in my experience the Vtech does not last and like I said the games are realy dull and NOT fun.
Alex
----- Original Message ----
From: Adrean Clark <adrean@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 5:28:46 PM
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Re: 'Educational' video games feedback?
She's buying it, not me - said the Nintendo DS was a bit too much for
her budget. I suppose I could propose paying the difference on what
she'd spend on it. My dad proposed the Wii because we would be more
active with it. But ultimately they're buying it for the kids.
Still negotiating. .. :)
Adrean
On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 6:19 pm, Ren Allen wrote:
> --- In unschoolingbasics@ yahoogroups. com, Adrean Clark <adrean@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> Ahh what about the Leapfrog handheld? You tried that one yet?
>>
>> --Adrean
>>
>
> Personally, I think the "educational" ones are exactly what get old
> and boring really fast. Save your money and go for something your kids
> find really fascinating. ..like the DS or other real handheld game
> systems without the agenda of getting academics into kids.
>
> Kids like games. Go for the system with the best games that your kids
> would have FUN playing. Is there a reason you are looking at the
> "educational" style? I find that those aren't as versatile and fun as
> the straight up gaming systems.
>
> Ren
> learninginfreedom. com
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lesley Cross
We have 2 Leapsters in our house (though I think the older one just kicked
the bucket) which happened first because we had trouble finding games my
middle child could play on her own at the age of 5. We already had a GBA
and DS in the house.as well as every previous Game Boy system. It turned
out that her favorite game was "Mr. Pencil's Learn to Draw and Write" which
sounds horrible, but has some art components that she loved. The other
games were too dry and instructional in nature, even though they had
characters and stories she liked. Last year we ended up getting a second
Leapster because our youngest was continually wanting to play with her
sister's when her sister wanted to use it too- plus we didn't have a whole
lot of other ideas of what relatives could get for a 2yo (who has 2 older
siblings and a house full of toys already!). For her we got Finding Nemo,
which is one of her favorite movies, and the cartridge was supposed to be
more of an interactive storybook. They still both seemed to prefer Mr.
Pencil. The younger one will also play the Disney Princess game and
recently has taken to Dora the Explorer.
I think the newer games have improved a bit as far as having less dry
educational "identify the letter" kinds of things and being more open ended,
but I'm really not speaking from a place of having played the games myself.
Let me see if I can gather up what I have, try to play them a bit and see if
I can give a better review. My youngest seems to actually like some letter
identification sorts of things and while I think it's unnecessary for her
future learning, her enjoyment is the most important thing.
While I'm all for helping my kids with their games, we've found it easier to
do that on the tv console systems than the handheld ones. Plus if they want
help, they want it to be minimal (ie. to read for them), which is why we
were aiming for something they could do independently. In the few cases
they want me to get through a part of a game for them, they like it a lot
more when they can see it while I'm playing it. Maybe try a Game Cube if
there are budget restrictions to work within (the games can later be played
on a Wii) . Or a PS2. There are a lot of great, affordable games for
younger players on the PS2. I personally love Barbie Horse Adventures,
though I'm SO not a Barbie kind of girl. I was a horse lover as a kid
though- so my inner child loves the game.
Lesley
In SC w. Logan (ds12), Ayden (dd7) and Alethia (dd3)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
the bucket) which happened first because we had trouble finding games my
middle child could play on her own at the age of 5. We already had a GBA
and DS in the house.as well as every previous Game Boy system. It turned
out that her favorite game was "Mr. Pencil's Learn to Draw and Write" which
sounds horrible, but has some art components that she loved. The other
games were too dry and instructional in nature, even though they had
characters and stories she liked. Last year we ended up getting a second
Leapster because our youngest was continually wanting to play with her
sister's when her sister wanted to use it too- plus we didn't have a whole
lot of other ideas of what relatives could get for a 2yo (who has 2 older
siblings and a house full of toys already!). For her we got Finding Nemo,
which is one of her favorite movies, and the cartridge was supposed to be
more of an interactive storybook. They still both seemed to prefer Mr.
Pencil. The younger one will also play the Disney Princess game and
recently has taken to Dora the Explorer.
I think the newer games have improved a bit as far as having less dry
educational "identify the letter" kinds of things and being more open ended,
but I'm really not speaking from a place of having played the games myself.
Let me see if I can gather up what I have, try to play them a bit and see if
I can give a better review. My youngest seems to actually like some letter
identification sorts of things and while I think it's unnecessary for her
future learning, her enjoyment is the most important thing.
While I'm all for helping my kids with their games, we've found it easier to
do that on the tv console systems than the handheld ones. Plus if they want
help, they want it to be minimal (ie. to read for them), which is why we
were aiming for something they could do independently. In the few cases
they want me to get through a part of a game for them, they like it a lot
more when they can see it while I'm playing it. Maybe try a Game Cube if
there are budget restrictions to work within (the games can later be played
on a Wii) . Or a PS2. There are a lot of great, affordable games for
younger players on the PS2. I personally love Barbie Horse Adventures,
though I'm SO not a Barbie kind of girl. I was a horse lover as a kid
though- so my inner child loves the game.
Lesley
In SC w. Logan (ds12), Ayden (dd7) and Alethia (dd3)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Malinda Mills
One thing about the Wii that I don't think has been mentioned... You can get worldwide news by simply connecting the Wii to the internet (if you have a network set up in your house it's free and REALLY simple). My DH and DS set ours up a few days ago, and we've had our system for about a month. DS (11) will jump on the Wii and surf around looking at the news.
The news articles are set up like a newspaper (you can change font size, etc). And the really cool thing? On one side of the screen is the article while the other half is devoted to a map showing where the news orginated. You can go all over the world map just looking for news. It is really quite cool...and "educational" if you are needing to pitch that at all. ;o)
All three of us in the family have Wii motes (the controllers) and have had a blast with Wii Sports. Another nifty little game is "Wii Play." It has 9 different mini games and comes with a Wii mote. The game by itself wouldn't be worth the $50 price tag, but if you are needing an extra controller this is a good way to go. You get the controller (they cost $40) and then the game. Not a bad little deal.
Malinda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The news articles are set up like a newspaper (you can change font size, etc). And the really cool thing? On one side of the screen is the article while the other half is devoted to a map showing where the news orginated. You can go all over the world map just looking for news. It is really quite cool...and "educational" if you are needing to pitch that at all. ;o)
All three of us in the family have Wii motes (the controllers) and have had a blast with Wii Sports. Another nifty little game is "Wii Play." It has 9 different mini games and comes with a Wii mote. The game by itself wouldn't be worth the $50 price tag, but if you are needing an extra controller this is a good way to go. You get the controller (they cost $40) and then the game. Not a bad little deal.
Malinda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Melissa
Get a used DS. They are less expensive, and kids really don't care
about the shiny packaging...that's adult baggage. And for younger
kids, I'd steer away from the lite, we've lost two already because
they are fragile. So a used DS from Gamestop, $70. Worth it when you
think about all the games and such. My kids love them and so do I (i
have my own) None of my kids have enjoyed the 'educational' ones.
Wii is awesome as well.
Melissa
Mom to Josh (12), Breanna (10), Emily (8), Rachel (7), Sam (6), Dan
(4), and Avari Rose (19 months)
share our lives at
http://360.yahoo.com/multimomma
about the shiny packaging...that's adult baggage. And for younger
kids, I'd steer away from the lite, we've lost two already because
they are fragile. So a used DS from Gamestop, $70. Worth it when you
think about all the games and such. My kids love them and so do I (i
have my own) None of my kids have enjoyed the 'educational' ones.
Wii is awesome as well.
Melissa
Mom to Josh (12), Breanna (10), Emily (8), Rachel (7), Sam (6), Dan
(4), and Avari Rose (19 months)
share our lives at
http://360.yahoo.com/multimomma
On Nov 22, 2007, at 5:28 PM, Adrean Clark wrote:
> She's buying it, not me - said the Nintendo DS was a bit too much for
> her budget. I suppose I could propose paying the difference on what
> she'd spend on it. My dad proposed the Wii because we would be more
> active with it. But ultimately they're buying it for the kids.
>
> Still negotiating... :)
>
> Adrean
>
> On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 6:19 pm, Ren Allen wrote:
> > --- In [email protected], Adrean Clark <adrean@...>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Ahh what about the Leapfrog handheld? You tried that one yet?
> >>
> >> --Adrean
> >>
> >
> > Personally, I think the "educational" ones are exactly what get old
> > and boring really fast. Save your money and go for something your
> kids
> > find really fascinating...like the DS or other real handheld game
> > systems without the agenda of getting academics into kids.
> >
> > Kids like games. Go for the system with the best games that your
> kids
> > would have FUN playing. Is there a reason you are looking at the
> > "educational" style? I find that those aren't as versatile and
> fun as
> > the straight up gaming systems.
> >
> > Ren
> > learninginfreedom.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Adrean Clark
This is probably funny but since I've been laid up for almost 5 days
since my surgery, I've had free access to TV, computer, and book time. I
was bored with all those things a long time ago and really want my time
outside in the fresh air and doing stuff like washing the dishes.
My kids have a shorter attention span. Free access makes sense, doesn't
it? :) Just need to figure out out to work with my kids better...
--Adrean
since my surgery, I've had free access to TV, computer, and book time. I
was bored with all those things a long time ago and really want my time
outside in the fresh air and doing stuff like washing the dishes.
My kids have a shorter attention span. Free access makes sense, doesn't
it? :) Just need to figure out out to work with my kids better...
--Adrean