Review and Giveaway of Rock 'N Learn Phonics Volumes 1 & 2

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It's almost back to school time and wow, summer has just flown by! I'm getting prepared for the beginning of the school year, and I'm sure that parents and students are doing the same. Recently I was given the opportunity to review two awesome videos that I will be using in my fourth grade classroom: Rock 'N Learn Phonics Volume 1 and 2. Not only was I given two copies to review, I was also told that I could give one lucky winner both dvd's!

Rock 'N Learn was started in the mid-80's by two brothers with an idea and the desire to make learning fun. After more than twenty years, the Rock 'N Learn company has earned awards and honors for their products combining music and learning. The company has more than 50 products that both teachers and parents can use.

I started with Volume 1 which is recomended for ages 6 and up. As a teacher I immediately appreciated the fun interactive component to the video. The DVD features approximately 70 minutes of learning about vowel and consonant sounds through animations, music, and read-along sentences and stories. The songs are catchy and kinda made me want to tap my toe to the beat! I liked that the video included read along stories to help students with comprehension. One of the keys to learning and retention is repetition, so the practice stories are wonderful!

Volume two goes into more depth with vowels and consonants and builds on what is taught in the first volume. This video is also engaging and entertaining. Volume two has the same fun characters as volume one.It gives important rules for learning phonics and, like the first video, includes plenty of fun animation and music. Both videos use a mouth that speaks the words so that children can see how to pronounce the words.

As a teacher, I like the fact that music is used to teach and reinforce the vowel and consonant sounds. The presentation is appropriate for learning and I plan on using these videos in my classroom of 4th graders for differentiated instruction which is teaching to the level of the students. I often work with groups of students based on their level of need, so I feel that these videos would be of benefit to my students. From my experience my students love to sing along to videos and they also enjoy videos with animated characters. There is also a website of worksheets that go along with the videos. Click here to check it out.

As a parent I like the fact that the videos have a lot of information- both are 70 minutes or more. I don't think that these videos would be ones that I would show all at one time. Sometimes children (or really all of us) can get overwhelmed with too much information coming at one time so I were a parent showing these videos I would break them down into segments. That is what I will do with these in my classroom as well. Parents can get as involved as they care to with the videos, or children can also watch the videos independently. The worksheets can be used to complement the information learned in the videos, and there are even extension lessons.

Buy it: If you are not a winner of this contest, you can buy these and more Rock 'N Learn videos from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or even from Rock 'N Learn.




Win it: I have the opportunity to give both Phonics Volume 1 and Volume 2 to one lucky person (Valued at $35-$40)! Even if you don't have a child is there someone you know who this would make a good gift for? Oh, and don't forget to leave a contact email so that I can reach you if you are a winner! Here's how you enter:

Mandatory entry: Subscribe to my blog. You must make sure to click on the verification link in the email sent to you when you subscribe (If you are already a subscriber then pick one of the additional entries to participate). Then click here to go to Rock 'N Learn and tell me which product you would like and leave me a comment. This counts for three entries. If you skip this step your other entries will not count.

Additional entries (leave a comment to let me know):

+ Put my blog button on your blog (if you have at least 50 followers or subscribers- worth three entries).

+ Follow me on twitter: @mysshopnteacher. Leave a comment with your twitter name. I may tweet about additional opportunities to enter so this is a good way to stay in touch(two entries)!

+ Tweet about this contest on twitter- you can do this once daily(two entries). Copy and paste:

Rock 'N Learn Phonics Volume 1 and 2 giveaway for ages 6+ ($35-$40 value) ends 9/4. Follow @mysshopnteacher to learn more.

+ Follow me on Google friend connect(two entries).

+ Like me on Facebook . My facebook name is Mystery Shopping Teacher(two entries).

+ Like Rock 'N Learn on Facebook. Tell them that the Mystery Shopping Teacher sent you(two entries)!

+ Post the following on your facebook page and copy and paste the link in a comment(two entries). Paste this:

I'm entering the Rock 'N Learn Phonics Volume 1 and 2 giveaway for ages 6+ ($35-$40 value) and you should too! Go to http://www.mysteryshoppingteacher.blogspot.com/ for your chance to win!

+ Follow my blog on networked blogs(one entry).

+ Leave me a comment telling me where you saw this giveaway posted (one entry).

+ Leave a comment on any other post on my site (one entry).

The contest is open to individuals 18 or older. This giveaway is open until 9/4/10. I will pick one winner via Random.org and will post the winner on my blog and send an email. The winner will have 48 hours to give me shipping information or else an alternate will be chosen.You have lots of chances to win!



Disclosure: This is a non-paid post and all opinions mine! Rock 'N Learn provided me with Phonics Volume 1 and 2 to review. Thanks Rock 'N Learn!

Social Parade-Follow on Fridays

So it's Friday and I'm trying something new to find new blogs to follow and meet new people. You can check it out by clicking the button!

Giveaway Scout

Do you like winning things? You've come to the right place. I love giving things away but I am not always able to, unfortunately. No worries, I've found this new site that features tons of giveaways. If you're like me, and I know you are, you want to win something! Well if you go to Giveaway Scout and sign up for the newsletter you will receive updates when new giveaways are listed. Sign up for new giveaways daily and you'll increase your odds of winning. Check it out here!

Giveaway~ not mine but definitely worth entering!

Hi there! I love awesome giveaways and here is one that I think is worth entering! The giveaway is for a mother's ring from Kranich's. Now this is not just for women- men think gifts for the wife too! It ends tonight so get on over to http://www.funsavingmoney.net/ to get your entries in. Have a great day.

Grab a cold one and maybe get paid 20 bucks to do it!

Want to grab a cold one for free? I'm not talking about a Cullen or any other handsome Twilight vamps (I know it's trendy right now, and I kinda hate that I love something so trendy-but I love love love Twilight!). I mean a beer. I don't happen to drink beer...not really my thing because I'm more of a margarita girl. I only like drinks that are sweet and fruity so that's what I was hoping for when I did this mystery shop.

The shop required that I spend a certain amount of time in the store examining the hot food area, the beverage coolers, the bath room, and most importantly I was supposed to count the number of signs that mention the legal age to purchase tobacco products and alcohol. I can't remember exactly how long I was to remain in the store. I think it was at least 10 minutes. I also had to purchase an alcoholic beverage, and a non-alcoholic item of my choice with a reimbursement of 1.99. I was supposed to see if the employee asked for my i.d. when I purchased the alcoholic beverage and pretend that I didn't have one to see if the employee would still allow me to purchase the alcohol.

It was a pretty standard shop with no strange questions to ask, or nothing that would make me stand out as a mystery shopper. I don't do the shops that I don't feel I can't pull off without looking like a mystery shopper- that's just one of my personal things. I completed the actual mystery shopping and the report in 45 minutes. I have shopped with this company before and they are one of my favorites! The pay was $20 plus a reimbursement of $1.99 for the beer and any non-alcoholic item. Here is a link to the company that I did this shop for.

I guess I can find something to cook with the beer as neither my husband or I are that big on drinking beer. Actually another time I did an alcohol shop for this company the beer stayed in the refrigerator for probably a year! Does anyone have any ideas for good recipes with beer?

Wanchai Ferry winner!

  Congratulations to the winner of Wanchai Ferry dinner for two and tea set! I used random.org to select Dinghy S.! I have contacted her by email and will be getting her prize pack to her soon.

  I want to thank everyone for all of the entries, tweets, and facebook posts. I also have had many new people sign up to follow my blog with gfc and subscribe. I will be having a review coming up soon along with a giveaway. I also will be giving away another freebie coupon (who doesn't love those?). I will also be giving away a free chapter from my book to subscribers coming up in August. Please stay tuned!

Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the freebie coupons! The winner of the Oscar Mayer coupon is electricisland@gmail.com. The winner of the Chavrie goat cheese coupon is jonilynntaylor@gmail.com . I have sent you both an email, and I will need to hear from you by tomorrow morning at 9:00. That way I will be able to get the coupons in the mail and out to you! I learned how to randomly pick a winner with random.org- really neat. I want to thank you all for all of the entries! It was way more than I could have ever expected. More contests coming soon...

  Don't forget I have one more contest going also for a Wanchai Ferry dinner for two and tea set that includes two mugs, two containers of tea, and two tea strainers. That contest will end on 7/25 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern time. The dinner is awesome, and the tea set is great too. If you are one of those people who like to regift (who doesn't?), the tea set is a great gift! This contest is open to residents of the U.S., or international who 18 or older only. I cannot, unfortunately, ship to p.o. boxes. Check out my post for all the specifics. Hey, if you are not interested in delicious Chinese food, stay tuned! I plan on having more contests in the very near future! Thanks again everyone!

Another mini-contest!! Easy entry

Okay, this is another chance for a subscriber to win!! This contest will also end before the Wanchai Ferry contest is over (look further down the page to enter that one). I have another coupon from my personal stash for a free package of OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Angus Beef Bologna or Turkey Pastrami. Here is what you do to enter:

1.) If you have not signed up for my blog yet, do it now! Then post a comment under this post telling how you like to eat a bologne or pastrami sandwich: what kind of bread, what toppings, etc. This will count as one entry for the contest for new subscribers only (those who subscribe after July 1st).

2.) New subscribers and old subscribers can do any (or all!) of the following things and earn two entries for each when you send me a link of the posting:
*Tweet about this on twitter
*Become a follower of my blog with google friend connect
*Mention this on contest on your blog or website
*Post about this on your facebook page
*Get a friend to sign up! Just send me an email telling me which friend's email address was used to sign up

Here is yet another way to earn entries:

3.)If you sign up for offers that I send to your email between now and the end of the contest, you will earn two entries per offer. I will send 1 or two offers, which will give you the opportunity to earn 2-4 entries! I will randomly select a winner using an online randomizer and will post the winner on the blog, and send an email. The winner must respond within 1 business day or I will select a runner up. This will give the winner about a week to use the coupon. The contest starts today (July 17) and will run until July 21st. I will announce the winner on the 22nd. My email address is mysteryshoppingteacher@yahoo.com. Sign up for all three of my contests for increased odds of winning :). I love giving stuff away!!!

New mini-contest with fast and easy entry!!

Here is a new mini contest! It will be quick and easy to enter and will end before the Wanchai Ferry contest (see further down on this blog for ways to earn entries to that one). The winner of this contest will recieve a coupon for a free package of Chavrie goat cheese. It is one of my personal stash that I wanted to share with my readers. I will ship as soon as I hear back from my winner!

Here's the rules: You must be 18 or older to enter and I will only ship to the U.S. You may enter this contest daily.

How to enter:
1.) First step: Sign up for my blog and post a comment saying what you would like to try with the goat cheese if you win...recipes, snacks, etc. (counts for one entry for those who signed up after July 1st). If you are already signed up to receive emails from me then you must do one of the following to earn entries into this contest:

2.) New subscribers and old subscribers can do any (or all!) of the following things and earn two entries for each when you send me a link of the posting:
*Tweet about this on twitter
*Become a follower of my blog with google friend connect
*Mention this on contest on your blog or website
*Post about this on your facebook page
*Get a friend to sign up! Just send me an email telling me which friend's email address was used to sign up

Another way to earn entries:

3.)If you sign up for offers that I send to your email between now and the end of the contest, you will earn two entries per offer. I will send 1 or two offers, which will give you the opportunity to earn 2-4 entries!

I will randomly select a winner using an online randomizer and will post the winner on the blog, and send an email. The winner must respond within 1 business day or I will select a runner up. I want to get this coupon out to the winner so he or she will have a chance to use it!
The contest starts today (July 17) and will run until July 21st. I will announce the winner on the 22nd. My email address is mysteryshoppingteacher@yahoo.com. Enter now!