I received Modern Parables for free as part of my job working with Compass.  I want to offer my unbiased opinions below, along with my affiliate link to their sale this week.

I started working for Compass Classroom last summer and was introduced to all of their products. Having a visual learner you can imagine what a great fit their dvd curriculum is for our family.

Of all their current curriculum I am most excited we have started watching Modern Parables.

Modern Parables Review

Each lesson starts with a 13-17 minute show. Real actors acting out a literal “modern parable”. No puppets, no animation, no song & dance – these are real believable life situations all relevant to today’s culture. Situations my 10yr old son understands.

After each show a pastor then gives a short 13-17 minute video lecture on the parable.
What did Jesus mean when He said …
How does this look in your life today …

Using Modern Parables as our family bible time has sparked some great discussions we normally do not enjoy during “bible time” curriculum.

We start off comfortable together because we’re all sitting on the couch. No pencils, no right or wrong answers, no tests. The study guide offers questions, but we focus on what my 10 year old wants to talk about. For my visual learner this makes more of an impact than listening to another bible story while trying to practice being attentive.

Rather than timelines, family trees, chronological book lists, or historical facts, the video pitches meaty faith focused discussions. My son has been in the bible since Kindergarten. He knows the stories by heart, but what about his relatiosnhip with Christ? Is that growing as much as memorizing kings, villians, or scripture verses?

Compass helps me ask the question, can you see your faith in action?

Modern Parables does not hit you over the head nor take a hell fire and brimstone approach to sharing Christ’s teachings. This bible curriculum has made the parables real, relevant, and refreshing.

Modern Parables is perfect for family bible study (children 10yrs+), homeschool co-ops, church small groups, or husband/wife bible study time.

I am home from the 2:1 Conference and looking over the wonderful products the sponsors gave us! Especially the dvd Jericho: The Promise Fulfilled by Shatterpoint Entertainment.

This short film is great encouragement for my tactile learners. It is a 28 minute video acting out the story of Joshua and the fall of Jericho. All reinacted by lego figures.

I received this dvd free in exchange for an honest review and you can watch the trailer here!

Jericho: The Promise Fulfilled

I can not imagine the time put into this production, but the show is great. It’s funny too! The scenes offer history with little fun twists of our current culture (C.O.P.S. meets Jericho soldiers – no kidding).  Witty comments with lego humor have been added that absolutely do not take away from the story line.

Also on the dvd:
Bloopers, deleted scenes, production planning, shot analysis, and interviews with crew.

I spoke with my 10 yr old tactile learner after the video and here are his thoughts …

“It is totally awesome. My favorite part was when they cross the Jordan river.”

I asked my son what is so interesting about the “back story” of this movie.

“Its great God gave the boy the problem writing, because his mom just said, “Go make Jericho”, and he took it to a whole different level. He honored God with this show. And he didn’t just make a quick lego Jericho … he did all this!”

This video is more than a bible story. I feel this really shows others that homeschooling is about knowing your children and setting them free to be who God created them to be.

We discussed using our gifts and how that should look different for each person.  He brought up his lego advent pieces, hubs playing golf in a charity golf event for the local adoption agency, and me using my blog to encourage other moms.

I am so proud to have met Wendy from Shatterpoint Entertainment at 2:1 (Wendy my son wants your son to know he’s now a big fan!).  I look forward to their new adventures.

You can follow Shatterpoint and like Jericho: The Promise Fulfilled on Facebook.

*Note: Lego is a trademark of the LEGO Group which does not sponsor, support, nor endorse this film.

I usually write a few reviews every now and then, but this is a WriteShop Preview since we’re just a few lessons into the new curriculum. 

I ran into Writeshop during a twitter party, and soon after ordered the 4th grade curriculum. (right there speaks volumes to me about a company available via social media)

WriteShop Preview

Constructing the mini lapbooks from the Fold-N-Go Grammar Pack has been fabulous reinforcement for my visual hands-on learner.

For a boy who had no desire to edit his own work, nor could remember where commas went … this curriculum has changed all that!  I have gone on and on about “tactile learning”, but my son is also just as much a visual learner too!  And easily discouraged with pages of work.  These sheets are vibrant, not overwhelming, and easy to flip through!

TACTILE GAMES!

What “language arts” curriculum includes games?? I thought “English” was supposed to be boring?!

WriteShop even makes the games easy by offering a Time Saver Pack (print or ebook) for quick use.  We have laughed our way through  Funny Situation Sentence Starters a few times now. (I recommend laminating these for future use).

I appreciate that the boy is learning he can be a good writer without relying on “bathroom humor” that is so popular in “family friendly” movies.  

My son’s love language is quality time.  The discussion opportunities included in WriteShop curriculum are the best I’ve seen yet! (this was greatly missing in Daily Grams)

The journal prompts and writing have been a fun adventure as well.  I’m grateful since my cool 10yr old couldn’t stop groaning and eye rolling through other curriculum’s goofy sentences.

This week he’ll be writing about a bat, boa, and tarantulas on an Amazon Jungle adventure.  I’ve already recommended WriteShop to a few of my local homeschool friends!  Be sure to follow WriteShop on Facebook – the updates are brilliant! 

*I purchased WriteShop Student & Teacher books