{Review} Alpha-Phonics

Over the years I have tried quite a few products aimed at teaching your child how to read. From workbooks to computer games to hands-on learning products. I have made my own and I have used others. And when I look back over the years of teaching my kids how to read, I can see which products were used and forgotten and which were used over and over. And what I have learned, is that we prefer the simple and the plain when it comes to reading and phonics products. So when I was approached by the creators of Alpha-Phonics to try their product, I was ready to give it a try and see if it would work for my current struggling reader.

What is Alpha-Phonics?

 On the front cover of the Alpha-Phonics books states this well. It describes Alpha-Phonics as:

"An effective, setp-by-step, intensive phonics program for teaching reading to beginners of all ages. Designed for easy use by teachers, tutors, and parents"

And that is exactly what it is. The Alpha-Phonics primer is one book, with no frills, no pictures, no characters and no color. It reminds me very much of the old 1900 primers I used to use with my older kids when they were learning to read. The book is all inclusive- with lessons, teachers manual and pre-reading exercises all included in the same book.

Alpha-Phonics also sells optional resources to go along with the Alpha-Phonics textbook. These include Alpha-Phonics & How To Tutor Phonics Workbook and the Alpha-Phonics & How To Tutor Little Companion Readers. These can be used in conjunction with the textbook to enhance learning and solidify skills.

How We Used Alpha-Phonics

I am currently working with my 6 1/2 year old on learning to read. He has a base knowledge but was having a hard time picking up speed and moving forward. We were given a copy of the Alpha-Phonics textbook, the optional workbook and the companion readers. We started Alpha-Phonics at the beginning but proceeded quickly through the early lessons,  sometimes doing a few per sitting since they were review for him.

The textbook is set up so that the child learns something new- a letter sound, a blend, etc and practices reading words using that new item. Then the following lesson focuses on practicing reading sentences containing the new and previously learned sounds.

At this time I chose not to use the supplemental workbook, but we did use the Little Companion Readers. My son is very stubborn, to the point where I often don't know what his actual reading level is because half the time he refuse to try just because he wants to. We worked through one, or 2 lessons, per day together. Each week I gave him one of the companion readers to read silently to himself. Each of the kids have a required 30-60 min block of silent reading per day. He was to read the book to himself each day, coming to me if he got stuck. At the end of the week, or when he was ready, he would then read the book aloud to me. Doing it this way took his attitude out of the equation and having him read the book multiple times meant that he had a chance to pick up speed in his reading. Often by the time he read aloud he could read it at a normal rate and even add in some inflections.

The Bottom Line

I really enjoyed the Alpha-Phonics program and it's simplicity. I think my son's reading has improved in the past months that we have used it. I use it in conjunction with his previous language workbooks and our own collection of early readers. 

What I liked most:

• As I have said a few times, simple is so much better for me and this is as simple and no-frills as you can get. 
• I like that it is for any age- even adults can learn to read with this program without fear that it is too "kiddie".
• The price is very reasonable  for a curriculum that can be used on any age, over and over again. 
• It works. My struggling reader picked up speed and confidence. He fought against it less and learned more.

What I struggled with.....well I am not sure I have anything I can list here. But if you enjoy a more flashy program or if you need a script of what to say, Alpha-Phonics probably isn't for you.  If your kids want and thrive on the busyness of a character-covered page, you probably should skip this one. But if you want a reasonably priced curriculum that will do what it promises, I don't think you will be disappointed with Alpha-Phonics.

 

For More Information:

If you head over to the Alpha-Phonics website you will find videos and talks from the creator as well as videos from parents using Alpha-Phonics. You will find links on how to purchase as well as information on the entire line of products. 

You can watch one of these videos below:



 If you give Alpha-Phonics a try, let me know if you like it as much as I did!

{Review} Udderly Smooth Lotion

Since it's winter and the air is drier- especially in our wood-heated home- dry skin in on the rise. My hands usually end up cracked and red for most of the season, and my feet are 10 times worse than my hands year round. We also have a few eczema sufferers in the house- and again the cold winter air usually spurs an outbreak. I am actually usually pretty bad about buying and using lotions, but I was happy to be given the opportunity to try our Udderly Smooth's line of lotions to see how they did against my dry skin. 

About Udderly Smooth

According to their website:

"Made in the USA for over thirty years, Udderly Smooth® products contain rich moisturizing ingredients. Not your average moisturizing lotion- Udderly Smooth® can be used on Dry Skin, Cracked Skin, for Diabetes Foot Care, as a Facial Moisturizer, as a General Moisturizing Lotion and many other uses." 

I am sure if you have spent any time in the lotion aisle of your local stores you will have noticed Udderly Smooth. It's the tubes covered in black and white cow spots! It's hard to miss!

We received the following items to test out:

1- 4oz Hand Cream Tube
1- 2oz Hand Cream Tube
1- 12oz Body Cream Tub
1- 8oz Foot Cream Tub

I used the foot cream daily- twice if I remembered- and the hand cream multiple times a day.

My Thoughts on Udderly Smooth

Udderly Smooth is very creamy. It is not petroleum based so there is no oily residue to get on your skin or clothes after applying.

What I liked most:

• I like that the lotion is not petroleum based.
• I am always happy to see products that are produced here in the USA!
• With regular use, my hands are still in nice shape. Even though they are subjected to the cold air, dish water and lots of farm chores.
• The lotion absorbs very quickly, so I can get back to what I was doing and not worry about getting greasy smudges on door knobs, the keyboard, etc. 
• The cost is very reasonable- and the fact that a little bit goes a long way makes it even more cost effective. 

What I have trouble with:

• I usually do not like to use products with added fragrance. The fragrance was too strong for my kids (the ones who won't use lotion anyway...) It is not overpowering, and they do offer a fragrance free option. 
• Some of the ingredients are questionable for me. For the most part I use coconut oil as my moisturizer since I know what's in it and I used Grape Fruit Seed Extract as a preservative in homemade beauty products! Ingredients like methlyparaben and propylparaben make me a little nervous. 

 

Where to Get Udderly Smooth:

You can find Udderly Smooth's line of products almost anywhere! Food City, Kroger, BiLo, Walmart, Dollar General, Dollar Tree- just to name a few. You can visit Udderly Smooth's  website to find a complete list of retailers. Just look for the black and white cow spots!

You can find a complete product listing on their website, as well as order directly from them. Prices start at just $1.75 for the 2oz tube and  a 12 oz tub of body cream is only $5.75!

If you would like to read more thoughts on Udderly Smooth, visit Mosaic Reviews.

{Review} Hello Fresh!

Most weeks I have a menu plan. But then there are those days (or sometimes weeks) when it seems dinner time comes along and I am at a loss. I stand in the kitchen- staring into the cabinet or fridge wondering, "What's for dinner?" Recently I was given the opportunity to try out HelloFresh, which is a weekly food delivery service. But it's not like any other food delivery service- this is fresh ingredients and full recipes!

How it Works:

HelloFresh is a subscription service where each week you order a box containing ingredients to make 3 meals. You can choose between options feeding 2 people or 4 people. They have a Classic Box option which includes meat and a Veggie Box for those who prefer to eat vegetarian. Once you've placed your order (by Wednesday of each week) your box will be delivered the following Wednesday.

Personally, I am was little concerned about receiving the meat. I don't think UPS has refrigerated trucks! But our box arrived on a day we were out and sat on the deck for quite a few hours. We opened it up as soon as we got home and it was packed very well with insulation and ice packs- which were still almost completely solid. Everything was still very cold, so no worries about spoiled meat! 

Your box will come with each meal grouped together in bags with labels, so you know which ingredients go with which meal. You will also get 3 full-color recipe cards- with pictures! That will tell you step by step how to prepare your meals.

These meals are easy to make, usually taking less than 30 minutes to prepare. HelloFresh  meals are standard so if you have any special diets or restrictions you will have to plan accordingly and make substitutions or pause your delivery for the week. You do have some meal options though- when ordering the Classic box you have 5 meals to choose from. So if you don't eat seafood or don't like the sound of one of the dishes, simply swap it out with one of the other options.

You can easily pause your subscription if you don't like the meals or are going to be away. When you are through using the service you simply send HelloFresh a cancel email to end your subscription. 

Our Meals and Modifications:

We received a box containing 3 meals, serving 2 people each.  Our meal choices were: Shrimp and Chroizo Stew with Kale, Garlic Roasted Pork Chops with Fennel and Carrots, and Chicken Polpetti over Penne.

We started out with the Garlic Roasted Pork Chops with Fennel and Carrots. The recipe was easy to follow and dinner took less than 30 minutes active prep time.  If I were serving 2 people this would have been a nice large serving size, but I was serving 4 meat eater- but coupled with some rice pilaf it was enough to fill our family of 7.

Next up we tried the Shrimp and Chorizo Stew. The kids were the most excited about this one since all but one LOVE shrimp and the one who doesn't like shrimp loves most soups. I modified the recipe a bit so that I could feed all of us. I added 2 extra cups of water and a very large sweet potato.

And with just those 2 modifications I was able to feed all 7 of us, more than one serving each. Every one gobbled this one up!

Our final meal was Chicken Polpetti over Penne, and some how it got eaten without any pictures! It was an easy meal to modify by adding a LOT more pasta and more sauce. I don't eat meat but the kids seemed to enjoy the meatballs, though not as much as some of the other meals. But then again they are not big chicken eaters.

What did we think?

 Overall we really enjoyed the taste we got of HelloFresh. Here's what we liked best:

• The recipes were quick, simple and fresh. They were also meals that weren't the norm in our house. It was nice to try something new and expand our tastes a bit. 
• It was fresh! Fresh kale, fresh basil and rosemary, fresh garlic and onion. The produce was all in great condition.
• It was convenient. I had 3 meals that week were I didn't have to plan, shop or worry about dinner. I just pulled out the labeled bags and got to work.
• The website is informative, customer service is superb and delivery is prompt. 
• The serving sizes were very generous

What could be better:

• The wording in the some of the recipes wasn't very clear. A couple of times I had to read over and over to make sure which pan, pot, bowl I was adding things to. And I did it wrong in one recipe- but it worked out in the end anyway!
• The ordering process was a bit confusing. You are told you can choose your meal options after check out but when I finished the check-out process I got a confirmation and that was it. You have to search out and change your meal options. I think taking you straight to that page after check out would be much simpler. 
• For a large family on a budget the price is high for an every week use. This con is for my family situation in particular. HelloFresh is cheaper than going out to dinner and I can see it being a nice way to spend a "date-night" at home with your spouse. 

How to Get HelloFresh!

You can find HelloFresh online through their website. Their subscription rates are as follows:

3 Classic Meal Box for Two - $69
3 Classic Meal Box for Four - $129
3 Vegetarian Meal Box for Two - $59
3 Vegetarian Meal Box for Four - $109

For more information see their FAQ.

See what others thought about HelloFresh on Mosaic Reviews!

{Review} See the Light: Art Projects

I have always enjoyed art, I am not necessarily an artist, but you can find my doodles on almost any paper that crosses my path and pastels, crayons and markers have always been in my home. As a parent, I have always tried to include art in our day-to-day life. When my boys were all small, we had an "art corner" with free use of an easel and paints, craft supplies, drawing supplies and any other artsy material you can think of. As the kids grew older, and especially once we began homeschooling, I added more directed art projects into our days. While I am big supporter or allowing a child to express their own creativity, I see the use of a directed project of a predetermined subject to help learn certain skills and methods in art. So, while I normally create my own art lessons and reproduce projects I have found online, I was very interested in trying a more "professional" approach to art.

See the Light is a DVD based art curriculum for children ages 10 and up. There are a few different series available: Art Class, which teaches the basics of things like composition, shading, perspective and color and Art Projects, which covers history and technique of a particular artist as the students complete a project in the style of that artist. For the purpose of this review, I received a copy of one of the Art Projects lessons to try out with my kids.

 

About the Product:

 

Like I mentioned, the Art Projects series is made up of 9 DVDs, each covering a different artist, and will have the students complete a projects based on the style of that artist. We decided to try out the Sunflowers Project, in the style of Vincent Van Gogh. The DVD is set up with 4 lessons, each lasting about 25 minutes (running time). Each lesson combines elements of art history, art technique and other art education basics. Each lesson requires very basic supplies. For Sunflowers, all we needed was oil pastels, paper and a few towels. There was also a requirement of a bouquet of sunflowers, but since the ones in the garden were past bloom and I didn't want to purchase any, we went without and used pictures from online, and the lesson's bouquet as inspiration.

Our Experience:

We sat down as a group- five kids ranging in age from 2 to 12 and myself- with Rylan's laptop centered for us all to see. The first lesson was all about drawing the basic form and adding the first layer of color. The kids each chose how many sunflowers they wanted to include, as well as the shape of the vase. The lesson really encouraged the kids to do what they wanted, which I really appreciate- even though they were doing the same project they could add their own elements and personalization.

We found that even though the lessons were only 25 minutes long, we had to pause often to allow each of the kids to finish each step and this stretched our daily art lesson to well over an hour. Half-way through the second lesson we decided to split each lesson into 2 sessions, so that we didn't feel as rushed.

The kids were pretty unimpressed (with their art, not the lessons), after the first couple lessons. They didn't see how it was going to come together to look like the completed project shown in the lesson. But once the negative space was filled in they really started to like what they saw.

Each lesson is also filled with a lot of history about the artist. We learned a great deal about Van Gogh and his life. I think the kids were especially interested in the fact that he didn't consider himself an artist and was very insecure about his abilities. One of my children in particular feels that he is NOT an artist and CAN'T draw. But hearing that fact and looking at his finished project he felt much better about his abilities.

Above are our final projects. I was amazed at the difference between the first day and the last. They all really came together and even the parts that they struggled with came together. I can also see the light bulb moment for the kids where they see that that techniques like layering colors, adding shadows and adding highlights make a huge difference in the finished project. These are lessons that they can bring into their own art creations for years to come.

The Bottom Line:

As you can probably tell, we all really enjoyed this Art Projects lesson. I asked the kids when we were finished what they thought and they unanimously agreed that they enjoyed these lessons better than ones we've done in the past. My oldest liked that she did the project along with them so they could SEE what each step was and not just be told what to do.

What I liked most:

• The lessons combine many visual elements- there is an artist's original print, a finished project, a vase of sunflowers, and the teacher completing a project along with you. All of these elements can really help the kids see what they are doing and what they are working toward. 
• Although the lessons are for ages 10 and up, they are fully customizable to all ages. We tend to do electives such as art as a family, so this is a big plus!
• I like that the lesson include art history, while we have completed many projects and worked with a variety of mediums over the years, I have never done much on the history part of art even though I think it is very important. 
• With high school on my mind, I like that this series can be used to satisfy the fine arts credit. You can even find a PDF download on how to use See the Light to satisfy a 1/2 or full credit for high school on their website.

Notes:
   The See the Light lessons are Christian based and do include elements of such. We are secular homeschoolers and although the religion-based parts of these lessons were not 100% in line with our beliefs, I would still recommend this product for its intended purpose of art history and instruction.

Product Facts:

For more information about See the Light, or to purchase the lessons for yourself, you can visit their website- where you will find all the information you need plus tips, sample lessons and a blog.

The Art Projects DVDs can be purchased individually for $14.99, or as a boxed set for $99. You can also join a DVD of the Month Club for $12.99 per month.

Also available are the Art Class series, the art-based Bible Stories series and the Art Projects Cartooning DVD.

To read more review of this product or other projects in this series, visit Mosaic Reviews.

 

Sucre Indulge Chocolate Review and Giveaway!

I have a confession. Okay, so most people who know me already know this, but I have a major sweet tooth. With chocolate being one of my very favorite treats. I am sure I am not alone when I admit that I sometimes save the chocolate in the house until after bedtime, just so I don't have to share. But today I am going to share some chocolate with one of my readers!

Sucré is a Sweet Boutique located in New Orleans, Louisiana. They specialize in making some of the best confections in the world. They not only offer a variety of chocolate collections but also macarons, king cake, and a variety of other handmade treats. They run a storefront in New Orleans, but most of their confections are also available to be shipped as well.

I was given Sucré's 15 Piece Indulge Chocolate Collection to taste. It consists 5 different flavors: rhum, malted milk, wedding cake, hazelnut cream and peanut butter and jelly.  I have never ordered chocolates through the mail, so I was a little worried I would end up with a melted mess if I wasn't home when the package arrived. But the chocolates were packaged safely in a cooler box with cold pack, so they were still in perfect condition!

Like I said, I am a chocolate lover, so it's not hard to sell me on chocolate, but Sucré's collection was beautifully crafted, the fillings were silky smooth, and they are made with fresh cream and butter- which I appreciate. This time, I did share, and my family all enjoyed trying the different flavors. And my chocolate-loving 10 year old drooled over their website pictures for days.

So how would you like to win a 15 Piece Indulge Chocolate Collections for yourself? The giveaway will close on Tuesday, October 15 at 11:59pm EST and is limited to the contiguous US. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

{Review} Math Mammoth

Choosing a curriculum is a daunting task. Over the years I have found myself pouring over the phone book sized Rainbow Resource catalog attempting to make choices that will provide my children with the best education that fits their learning style. Math is a very personal subject- we all think in different ways and see things with different eyes. Personally, I love math. Some love to correct grammar, I love equations. It comes rather easy to me, but teaching math does not. Over the years we have tried various math curricula to see what works best for me as the teacher and the kids as the students. We've been all over the place, and while we have settled on favorites, those favorites do have some places that I feel are lacking.

One of my older boys' current math curriculum lacks the repetition and time needed to really solidify the multiplication and division facts. My 2 younger sons use a curriculum that is very heavy on the mastery of the basic math subjects, but don't offer a lot of "extras" like time, money or measurement. So when I was given the opportunity to review Math Mammoth, I decided to choose their Blue Series, which is a series of worktexts that cover specific topics meant to be used as a supplement, extra practice or just as review.

Math Mammoth's Blue Series is inexpensively priced and available for PDF download, with a print or CD option also available. The worktexts cover most topics up to grade 6, with some grade 7 topics as well.



I choose 4 books based on areas I thought my boys needed the most work: Clock, US Money, Multiplication and Division 3 and Fractions 2.

My 3rd and 1st graders used the Money and Clock books, while my 5th grader used the Multiplication and Division and Fractions books. We used them in addition to their current math curriculum to touch on topics not covered and for add practice on topics that were proving more difficult to master.

What did we think?

Over all Math Mammoth has a lot of positives.

• The Worktexts are in inclusive. They serve as the text books, work book and answer key all in one. 
• I like that there is a PDF option. Not only does this offer a less expensive option (only $2-$7 per e-book), but for those with multiple children, it saves time and money.
• The individual books are intensive enough to provide topic mastery by the completion of the book.
• Math Mammoth gives you all sorts of options from the Light Blue Series which is a full curriculum to a mix and match curriculum using the Blue Series or as a supplement curriculum. There is something for everyone. 
• Math Mammoth is self-teaching, with very little prep work for the parent/teacher.

What didn't work for us:

• Switching curriculum is hard, and while I do think it is important to learn how to do math, no matter how it is presented, my older son didn't care for how the multiplication was presented. (That being said, his multiplication did improve.)
• I personally didn't like how the clock book was presented. I can see how young children, with no prior experience telling time, might be okay with starting with a one handed clock. I found it unusual and confusing.

 If you aren't sure if Math Mammoth would be a good fit for your family, the creator offers a "virtual tour" by email which included over 300 worksheets and sample pages from the various books. The Blue Series e-books are also inexpensive enough to try one to see if it works well for you child.

If you are interested in purchasing Math Mammoth, you can find them at CurrClick, Kagi and LuLu.

Head over to Mosaic Reviews if you would like to read more reviews and see what others thought about Math Mammoth

{Review} EEME Project Genius Light

There are a few skills that I think are truly important to learn in this day and age, and one of those is electronics. We live in a technological age, which makes it very important that we understand the inner-workings of the machines around us. Enter EEME.

 EEME's monthly hands-on project kits teach kids about electronics. Each project kit is paired with online curricula to not only guide the kids in assembling the project but also to teach the concepts applied. EEME's kits are aimed for kids ages 7-12, but older and younger kids can definitely learn from them too! The first kit in the subscription is Project Genius Light- which will get your kids learning all about circuits, resistors, LEDs and other basic electronics knowledge.

About the Kit:

 From EEME: 

              "With the Genius Light project, you will assemble a simple LED circuit system that does the smart thing - lights up when it is dark and dims when it is light. The project kit will be shipped with all the materials needed to build the Genius Light (a breadboard, resistors, circuits, LEDs, battery). Once you've gotten your kit, you'll come back to eeme.co to access our 45 minutes of online videos, which will (1) teach you and your kid how to build the Genius Light, and (2) explain the electrical engineering concepts behind it. (Videos are free to check out.)"

So what is in your first EEME monthly project kit? 

The only thing you will need in addition to your kit is access to a internet-ready computer. The kits go hand in hand with online curricula that will teach your kids not only HOW to complete the project but the WHY behind it as well.
 

How does it work?

You will start by accessing the video lessons from EEME's website. These lessons are broken down into many short videos that will step by step lead your children through the process. I was a little worried that 4 pairs of hands working on one project would lead to frustration, but there are so many little steps that everyone got plenty of chances to help build the project. Depending on the age of your child you may need to offer a hand, so stick around and use this time to learn together. I found that my 12 year old needed no help, while my 7 year old had a hard time with some of the assembly. The videos will also tell you when your assistance may be needed.

One of the best things about the video lessons is that they aren't simply how-to instructions. The kids have to build, take apart, and re-build numerous times before actually starting the final step of building the genius light. This means there was plenty of time for things to go wrong- which is a good thing! My boys learned how to troubleshoot and double check their wires and circuits in order to make it work before moving on.

The lessons not only gave directions on how to set up the circuits, but also the reasons behind what they were doing. So they learned what a resistor was and its purpose and got to experiment with how the light looked with and without the resistors in their circuit.

Also included were short assessment questions at the end of some of the videos to check and make sure the kids were actually understanding what they were hearing.

What we liked best:

• The video lessons were amazing. I loved that the lessons were broken up into shorter sections as opposed to one long video. Having someone who truly understands what they are talking about and teaching is so much more effective than me reading a manual and trying to teach the same thing. 
• One kit can work over multiple kids of multiple ages. The kit can be assembled and disassembled numerous times. You don' t have to have one kit per kid. They can work together or on their own one at a time.
• I liked that they were actually learning concepts. We've had many "eclectronic kits" over the years and they show you how to complete a circuit but not why.
• I like that each new project builds upon knowledge learned in the previous project, it's a great way to really solidify the concepts being learned.

How can you get your own?

EEME has 2 pricing plans, starting at $18.95 per month. Each month you will reuse your breadbox and battery pack, but will receive new project parts in the mail that will build upon the knowledge learned in previous projects.

And if you act fast, you will receive the first month free when you subscribe to EEME! That means you will get to try out Project Genius Light at no charge! Just click here and you will see a special promo banner on the bottom of the page! This promotion will expire on 9/16.

You can also find EEME on Facebook and Twitter!

 Click here to read more about EEME and what other families thought about the project.

{Review} Typecrush

What is Typecrush?

Typecrush is a word game based on letter frequency analysis. It is made up of letter tiles, color coded based on how frequently that particular letter appears in the English language. The key is for one player to choose a word and all the other players try to guess the word. There is only one rule- whoever solves the word, chooses the next one. All other rules are up to the individuals who are playing, which means it is fully customizable. It is best suited for ages 7 and up, with some reading skills required.

What you get: 

 

In the Typecrush canister you will receive the following:

• 98 color-coded, letterpressed letter tiles made from 100% recycled materials
• 2 letter frequency charts/how to play cards

 

How to Play: 

 

This is the fun part. Since the one rule is simple, you are free to make up your own rules. In basic terms a player picks a word, chooses the tiles needed to spell that word and flips them so that the word is hidden from the other players. Then, using the letter frequency chart, the other players try and guess the hidden word. Whoever guesses the word gets to choose the next one.

There are endless possibilities to this game. We played in sort of a hang-man style. Where we'd take turns guessing each letter. If we were correct it was flipped over and once we had guessed each tile we would get the chance to take guess as to what word it was. This way we all of us, with our varying ages and abilities, were able to play. We also chose to play using categories- such as sea life or food items- in order help with the guessing.

 

 Some other options to think about:

• Play in a scrabble formation- where each word has to connect to a previously played word
• Make it even more educational by playing with spelling words, sight words or vocabulary words
• Pair up younger and older siblings to help teach cooperation
• Use the game time to remind kids about common spelling rules or letter combinations

 

What did we think:

I really like open-ended games like this, especially letter games. There are so many possibilities on how to use the letter tiles- from the intended game playing purpose to using them for added points of interest in spelling, reading and other language arts lessons.

What did I like best?

• I liked that we could all play together. All of us- even Annika could participate in her own way.
• This game really encouraged my boys to expand their spelling. My older 2 boys tried to come up with the longest words/phrases they could think of and they had to spell the word and then remember it even after the letter tiles were flipped so they could tell us if our guesses were wrong or right.
• The critical thinking and problem solving aspect of this game is wonderful. The older the player the more they get it. I saw my oldest thinking aloud often, saying things like, "the only letter that makes sense there is...." I saw them remembering rules and letter combinations and using them to decipher the words. 

What I had trouble with? The price. At $25, it's a little steep for me. But I think just about any game is in the pricy side, so compared with most of the similar games out there, this one isn't any more than your average family game.

Where to get it:

You can purchase Typecrush from their website. They are currently running a free-shipping offer, which makes the game a better deal as well. I think it would make a great gift and a welcome addition to any family game night.

You can also fine Typecrush on Facebook and Twitter.

 If you would like to read more reviews on this product and see how other families used this game, visit Mosaic Reviews.