Homeschool Crew Blue Ribbon Awards for 2011

I try not to mix a lot of work stuff in with the personal and fun stuff on my blog, but sometimes my work is just so much a part of me and my everyday life that I can’t help it.  Or, sometimes, something is going on with work that is just SO EXCITING that I can’t possibly NOT share!  LOL 

Right now, as we are winding up our 3rd year with the TOS Homeschool Crew, it’s an exciting time.  Sure, some of our members will be leaving us and that’s somewhat bittersweet – but we’re also preparing for Year 4 (and have another full year’s worth of lessons learned, which should serve to make this next year the best one yet).

Anyway, something that is always fun is looking back over the year and thinking about the products that we’ve received to review.  Last year, we incorporated some rewards into those reflections – The Seaworthy Awards.  This year, we’ve changed the name to the Blue Ribbon Awards.  While the name is new, the award is still the same prestigious honor for our vendors. 

So, while I’m preparing a post about the upcoming curriculum and resources that we’re planning to use for the 2011-12 school year, I want to share the award winners with YOU.  Check out  their websites and get to know them.  They must have done something right in order to earn these awards.  You just might find something new to add to your school this year!

Favorite Language Arts Product => Institute For Excellence in Writing (IEW)

Favorite Social Studies Product => Bright Ideas Press-Wondermaps

Favorite Science Product => Eagle’s Wings-Considering God’s Creation

Favorite Math Product => I See Cards-Pyramath

Favorite Online Math Product => Ten Marks

Favorite Writing Product => Writing Tales

Favorite Reading Instruction Product => Talking Fingers

Favorite Foreign Language Product => Classical Academic Press

Favorite Fine Arts Product (art, music, etc.) => Artistic Pursuits

Favorite Preschool Product => Go Go Kabongo

Favorite Elementary Product => Speekee

Favorite Upper Grade Product => Vocab Ahead

Favorite Special Needs Product => See-N-Read

Favorite Christian Education Product => Apologia

Best Resource I Didn’t Know I Needed => Lanschool Technologies

Best Customer Service => Peterson Directed Handwriting

Best Online Resource => Big IQ Kids

Best e-product => Zeezok Publishing-ZGuide to the Movies

Best Technology Resource => Collectorz

Best Homeschool Resource => Yesterday’s Classics

Best Book, Novel or Magazine => Zoe & Sozo Publishing-Foundlings

Best Children’s Book => Kregel Publications-Circle C Beginnings

Best Hands-On Resource => Corps of Re-Discovery

Most Adaptable Resource => The Write Foundation

Most Unique Resource => GoTrybe

Most Family-Oriented Product => Growing Healthy Homes-Nutrition 101

Kid’s Choice => Schleich Action Figures

All Around Crew Favorite => Institute For Excellence in Writing

Each winning vendor has received this wonderful award to display with pride (both on their website and in their marketing):