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RATINGS EXPLAINED: - perfect score = 5 1. Price is within reason for the product (1 pt) 2. The product does what it claims (1 pt) 3. Suited for recommended age (1 pt) 4. Quality manufacturing (1 pt) 5. Instructions are clear and easy to follow (1 pt) 5 = PERFECT | 4 = GOOD | 3 = OKAY | 2, 1, 0 = rejected |
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Our Rating: 
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| Product: |
Air Hog Skywinder |
Company: | Spin Master |
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The Airhog Skywinder. Not your average Joe, when it comes to performance R/C aircraft. This R/C plane will soar into action as soon as it reaches heights of 30 to 50 feet. Once you have attained this altitude, simple movements of the toggle, and thrust buttons will have you doing loops, sidewinds, high climbs and more. You are able to go about 100' and maintain accurate control of the Skywinder. This plane is a lot of fun for the entire family. Dad will enjoy it as much as the kids.
The plane is made of durable yet lightweight EPP foam and plastic. This ultra light body allows for peak performance, when you set into action. Because of the plane being made of this lightweight foam, it is not suited for smaller children. Not only would this pose a choking hazard, it would also pose a threat to the integrity of the stunt plane, by not being handled in a careful manner. This is a durable plane, when used in a normal manner for the materials used. It will not withstand rough handling. When you are soaring high and doing tricks of all kinds, the main thing you will find to happen in the way of collision damage is breaking a propeller. We broke one the first flight out of the box. This is why the company includes two extras in the box. We still have an extra, we quickly learned how to avoid these fatal crashes. However, it is nice to know they have you covered for when these mistakes and accidents happen. Another lesson well learned when reviewing the Skywinder, was not to use when it is very windy. This causes you to lose control of the plane and either crash, or not experience the fun of being in control of your stunt navigation. In the remote control world, I rate this plane in the high caliber. The stunts are easy to maneuver, you are in control from take off to landing, and it does stunts many other R/C planes just do not do. I know you will be impressed with both the quality and performance, as we have been. It is one to bring many hours of enjoyment. <<<- (2005) RETURN TO TOP |
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 Winner 2008 
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Algebrator |
Company: | Soft Math |
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A life saver for algebra students, and a time saver for algebra teachers.
This program allows teachers to easily create problems for their class,
as well as providing an excellent resource to help teachers guide their students through the steps needed to solve the problems. The program helps students not only solve algebra problems, but with the step by step explanation it helps one to also understand what they are trying to do, which thereby builds their algebra comprehension as well as their confidence in an area many students struggle, not so much because it is difficult but because it is so different from the math they have been used to prior.
This program is good for all levels of pre-algebra on, and offers different methods for one to use it, including a whiteboard as well as a wizard. If you or your student have been struggling with algebra, and having a hard time figuring out sequence and how it all works together, this program will guide you through in a teaching manner that is very similar to what you experience in the classroom when a teacher explains it to you, but the nice part is the program will wait for you as long as it takes. Work are your own speed and level and truly begin to grasp this thing called algebra. My son used this program through the review process. He liked how the program could help him get through the areas he was stuck on, yet allowed him to work out the rest of the problem that he did understand. He also liked that it showed step by step processes for everything the program did, so he could follow it easily and then know what to do on the next problem that was similar. This program promises to solve every math problem from every book through college level algebra. An excellent resource because it doesn't just do the work for you, but shows you how to do it yourself. <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP |
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Chooka Boots |
Company: | Washington Shoe Company |
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Washington Shoe Company has made a great and lasting impression at Family Review Center.
When the Chooka Boots arrived (timely and in perfect condition I might add) I pulled them out of the box to find a gorgeous 'fashion statement worthy' pair of sheepskin boots called Chookas. The pair I have reviewed are the sand color, tall style. Washington Shoe has so many colors in both tall and short style, that you will have a hard time choosing the color and style for for your first pair, because they are all so gorgeous. The nice part is you can pick up more pairs later. The wooly inside that folds down on the tall style, is plush and so, so warm for these winter months. The soles are made of a thick and durable material that help with shock absorbency and make them that much more comfortable. When I slipped them on it was as pleasant as sliding in to a hot bubble bath on a cold, crisp night, with a glass of sparkling cider to sip on; Simply Divine! After I had tried them on my children asked to try them on as well. Their responses were all similar "Oh, that is so nice" "Ummm, those are warm!" ... We all agreed they were 100% awesome. The only thing we did not agree on was the fact they could try them on, but I would be wearing them. The sizing is very accurate. This is something I have found to vary in boots. Sometimes when you purchase "your size" you seem to get 1/2 to 1 full size larger or smaller than your foot. With the Chookas they felt tailored to my feet. Chookas are one of those items you can wear with just about anything, anywhere. This is a good thing, since you probably won't want to take them off once you try them on. The Chooka line has recently added a childrens section as well, so now the entire family can be spoiled by having a pair of their very own. Made in the USA, you can now own a quality boot that will last a very long time and keep you comfy and warm for the days ahead. If you have not tried on a pair of Chookas - Don't Wait! You deserve them! Now you can be "stylin" without sacrificing true comfort. Check out their full line today. Warm on the inside - HOT! on the outside! High Quality Made of Sheepskin Toasty warm and comfy on the inside Great fashion trendy style Wearable with pants (inside or out), skirts and dresses Made in the USA Come in multiple colors as well as short and tall styles <<<- (2005) RETURN TO TOP |
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Math Goodies CD |
Company: | Mrs. Glosser's Math Goodies |
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The Math Goodies CD is a great solution for math struggles and frustrations in middle school age students. It is also a great introduction to middle school math topics, and enables students to truly grasp the principles shared. This CD is explanatory enough for a student to work through on their own, and is also helpful to teachers using this as curriculum, giving them a lot of guidance along the way.
The CD offers 81 separate lessons in 9 areas of math. Within each of the 9 units you will find lessons as well as worksheets and puzzles that help to reinforce each of the principles you are working with inside that unit. I walked through the entire cd and will tell you I found it to be easy to navigate, easy to understand, easy to know what is expected of you, and easy to find the help you need to fully understand how to work the problems you are given. I like that it does not randomly throw things at you, but rather has the principles of each unit precisely worked in to each and every problem you are working, so there is no confusion lurking in the foreground as I have seen in other math cds. Keeping everything in context, building the skill level from ground up, and using multiple hands on learning tools to work through each unit, helps to build strong knowledge and skills in each and every topic. This is a great cd to brush up on ones skills, great to use in a classroom as an introduction to each of the unit topics, and is great for a homeschool student to work on their own. Then, if one needs further help to grasp the topic, Mrs. Glosser offers a free website where students can go and receive one on one help with the math problems they get stuck on. The helpers here do not answer the question for them, but rather help them to work the problem and to understand it. Check out Mrs. Glosser's Math Goodie website for more information on this product. It is available by download or you may order the cd. <<<- (2006) RETURN TO TOP |
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Award Winner Our Rating:
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Winner 2008  
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| Product: |
Math Tutor DVD Series |
Company: | Math Tutor DVD |
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The Math Tutor DVD series offers a solid guarantee. It is guaranteed to raise
your grade, or your money back. How is that for confidence in their product?
The style of teaching used in this series is different than we usually see at the review center. There is no one standing there lecturing you. You view a whiteboard, the teacher's arm & hand, and him writing with his dry ink pen. When he is finished explaining a problem on the board, he erases it and moves on to the next. You hear his narration (teaching & explanation) as he is writing the problems out. Another difference I noted, when he makes a mistake, he does not start the filming over. He points out his mistake and moves on. (these are infrequent, but I thought the honesty and transparency used is helpful to students, to let them see we are all human) These differences took me aback for a moment, when I first began to watch. However, what I found and had confirmed by my son (who hates math), is that it sticks! My son, watching only a few segments with me for the review time, said he gained a few helpful tips in those few moments, that will help him with his math both now and in the future. Tips and tricks he had not been taught prior, that now he has in his arsenal when dealing with a school subject he dislikes passionately. Math Tutor DVD gives you real life examples of the math issues you face. Walking you through problem after problem, giving you tips along the way. I like the simplistic manner and ease in which he teaches. This makes math much less scary and much more doable. You can actually see what is going on and understand how it all works together. Without this knowledge math remains a mysterious subject that people struggle with. Once you see the big picture, however, it makes sense and is much easier to approach. Divided into topical segments, one can set the dvd to the portion they need to work on at the time of viewing. (this is a great feature I love about DVD's that was not available back in the day of VHS). Problem after problem is solved before your eyes. This helps the brain to retain it much easier than seeing one problem solved and then moving on. Seeing the same problem, but in a different context, helps one to see the relationship of the steps in solving the problem. These videos offer hours of tutoring for a very moderate and affordable price. You would spend hundreds of dollars hiring a tutor to give this much instruction. (I know because I have hired one in the past) Now you have an excellent resource to go to at any hour of any day, time and time again. They offer 1st - 7th grade math tutor videos, all the way up to calculus, trig and physics. If you have a student who needs a little help (or a lot of it) - or you need to do some brushing up on your math skills - I encourage you to try this one! I think you will find it very beneficial and so easy to understand and follow. <<<- (2007) RETURN TO TOP [ Gold Award ] [ Press Release ] [ Company Profile ] |
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Winner 2008 
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Number Wonders |
Company: | Fun Addict Games |
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Number Wonders is a book that will satisfy the most demanding minds. An excellent resource for teachers wishing to interact with their classroom on an educational but laid back manner, as well as being a fun book for anyone to read through and enjoy the amazing facts found herein.
Divided into multiple categories, from Planet Earth to Physics, Humans and Things They Do, and Just For Fun - all categories are equally filled with amazing statistics and facts concerning numbers. The beginning pages of the book contains conversion tables and other helpful number information. Then the fun begins as the Planet Earth category unleashes the multiple factual statements you will find. Examples: 1) If all of the salt were taken from the seas and spread evenly over the land surface of the planet earth, there would be a layer of salt 500 feet thick. 2) The average human stomach holds 2 quarts of food and drink 3) A duck has 12,000 feathers but only 11 on each wing power its flight. 4) An unexcited elephant takes about 12 breaths per minute. 5) It takes about 11 pounds of potatoes to put on 1 pound of weight. To read more amazing facts you will need to buy the book, but this gives you an idea of the wow! moments that are waiting for you. Children as well as adults will enjoy this one and it would be a fun book that is easy to carry along on road trips, to enjoy together as a family. You can take turns sharing the facts you find interesting with the others around you. The author, Kevin Brougher, shares a delightful series of amazing facts and wonders, all based on numbers, in this fun filled book. Check it out today, as well as the others they offer on their website. <<<- (2005) RETURN TO TOP | Buy Now At Amazon 
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Winner 2008 
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| Product: |
Snap Logic Digital Design Lab |
Company: | Edmund Scientific |
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KIT CONTAINS: SnapLogic Set (25 pieces) -- SnapLogic Book (175+ pages, soft-cover) -- Circuit Connector Pins -- Prototyping PCB -- Prototyping ICs (4 pcs) -- Prototyping Header Pins -- Circuit Designer's CD -- Two AAA Batteries If your child or student is interested in a fun science project or learning activity, this is a great set for them. This kit makes learning digital logic about as easy as it can get. The kit comes with everything needed, and offers a hands-on learning activity that is sure to please. No soldering needed, probes, power supplies, or wires are needed. The kit has everything in it, including the 2 AAA batteries. Students will enjoy learning about digital logic. It is a logic ic that operates at nanosecond switiching speeds, and is quite easy to learn, when given a set like this to approach it with. This kit is made with the student in mind, to walk them through what would otherwise seem quite complex. As soon as they begin using this kit, they will begin learning, and it will begin making sense to them. Circuit Construction is not needed in this set, as it is only to learn the basics of digital logic. The Snaplogic cards included, provide a simplistic way for your child or student to learn about how this conventional digital logic functions. The cards also serve as a platform for working with tiny logic IC's. Be sure to let your student or child try this one! This will help them to advance into areas of interest they may not have otherwise approached. <<<- (2005) RETURN TO TOP |
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Our Rating:
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Winner 2008 
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Thinklers |
Company: | Fun Addict Games |
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Thinklers is a great book, over 300 pages, filled with puzzles for the mind.
We found this book to be fun, mind boggling at times, and a great conversation piece!
This book seems to get family members talking as they try to figure it out and strategize methods of solving together ...
Here you will find puzzles you will easily solve, while others will have you pondering for some time. These are word picture puzzles, riddles and more. In these word picture puzzles, each portion of the word, how it is spaced, sized, placed etc, all plays a part in the solution. You will enjoy over 5,000 puzzles, giving you many hours of thought. In the example above, we have: (LEFT TO RIGHT) Fooling Around, Buccaneers, Fat Chance Musically Inclined, ________________, Born again ________________, ________________, ________________, ________________, One Step Ahead, ________________, Can you figure out the one's marked ________________ ? Highly recommended for both youth and adults. Everyone will have fun with this one. Great for on the road, at the office, or at home. Great for groups, or for individuals. Should you ever struggle with a puzzle too long, and get to the point you just want the answer - they are readily in the back of the book for easy lookup - but I encourage you to think on them for a while ... carry the image of the puzzle with you for the day and see if the answer doesn't come to you, when you least expect it! This is one of many great resources available from FUNaddict Games. Check out their site for some wonderful and fun products! <<<- (2005) RETURN TO TOP | Buy Now At Amazon 
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Our Rating:
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Winner 2008 
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| Product: |
Quark Ultra High Performance Spinning Top |
Company: | Edmund Scientifics |
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The Quark Top would make a great scientific presentation.
I have seen no other top like this one. It is fascinating to watch and
causes a lot of breath holding, as you watch it, wondering if that next spin
will be its demise or if it will remain in never ending perpetual motion.
Our top recorded in at 13 minutes in spinning motion, non stop. The company claims it
can go as long as 15. We have not attained this level yet, but we are still working on it.
I do not suggest this top for younger children, unless they have the supervision (and help as needed) of an adult. I say this not because of any danger, but because of the parts the kit contains and the fact that you must ensure all is as it should be to command peak performance from your top. It requires tuning it up to peak performance from time to time, to ensure the balance / weight management and other fine features are all in prime condition. These are not things a younger child will be able to manage easily on their own. However, for older children, as well as adults, it simply gets no better, when it comes to scientific gadgets. This is not a cheaply made, flimsy top. This is made of brass, has a carbon steel tip, and the weight and balance technology used in making this are very exact. This allows for the fine performance one will encounter when setting this top into motion. The Quark comes with a glass surface to use it on. It also comes with a laser pointer that can be used in adding more fun to it, as you experience the fun of the Quark. The glass surface offers the prime platform to launch your top into action. Other surfaces will find resistance and will impede its performance. If you are looking for those ewwww and awwww moments in life, or wish to amaze an audience, this is a perfect match. Should your top not be at peak performance, simply use the tools and parts within the kit to tune it up. This will then allow you many more hours of enjoyment, prior to having to tune it up again. Great for older children and great for adults. Many hours of amusement and amazement await you and your family with the Quark Top. <<<- (2005) RETURN TO TOP |
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Word Master |
Company: | Edcon Publishing Group |
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Word Master : Seeing and Using Words In Word Master you build your skills, learn root words, their meaning, suffixes and prefixes. In a step building series of lessons you start by reading and writing the words. You then Use them in context, to choose the correct meaning of a sentence the word is used in. This step by step procedure (A-F) helps you to learn successfully and retain what you have learned. This series is great for middle school through to adult age. Each book in the series of four is available individually, or save $ by purchasing the entire set. Books are soft cover and large size. Text inside is easy to read and the lessons are easy to follow and understand. Reproducible activity sheets and answer keys are included with each book. Whether you wish to use this for home study or simply wish to expand your vocabulary in a comprehensive manner, this is a great series for you. <<<- (2006) RETURN TO TOP |
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RATINGS EXPLAINED: - perfect score = 5 1. Price is within reason for the product (1 pt) 2. The product does what it claims (1 pt) 3. Suited for recommended age (1 pt) 4. Quality manufacturing (1 pt) 5. Instructions are clear and easy to follow (1 pt) 5 = PERFECT | 4 = GOOD | 3 = OKAY | 2, 1, 0 = rejected |
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