I'm bombarding you guys with reviews today
Trigger Memory
http://www.triggermemorysystem.com/ Clean N' Flip
http://www.triggermemorysystem.com/Zone.html Check lists in the form of small note-book sized flipcharts for house chores for kids:
1. Laundry
2. Bedroom cleaning
3. Zone cleaning (living room, kitchen, bathroom)
These are great for teaching kids how to help around the house in a delightful and clear way. The flipcharts are pre-made into steps, with absolutely great illustrations to detail out all what is entailed in "cleaning a bedroom" or "a living room". The colorful illustrations, apart from being just eye candy, come in very handy for younger kids who can't read well yet.
P.S. The laundry flipchart is printed in black and white for the time being because it is still in beta testing.
The Zone cleaning flipchart is glossy which makes for great quality and a great base for dry erase markers (temporary/whiteboard markers). There are checkboxes in front of each task (step) so the parent can check or uncheck that step depending on their specific house limitations and also depending on the age of their children. Younger children can be given less tasks easily by leaving out some steps unchecked. A dry erase marker included to get started right away.
There's also space for further jobs that are done occasionally and not every time children clean up such as vacuuming or dusting and so on. This space is also included in the bedroom flipchart as well as the laundry chart has checkboxes but the whiteboard marker won't work here…a pencil would do instead.
The laundry flip chart also has general guidelines on how to adjust the settings for different loads, however, I would end up changing the instructions for the whole washing step because it talks about a top-loading machine while I use a front loading one.
I would have loved the laundry chart to be in color, and would have liked them all glossy and laminated, but there is a significant difference in price that not everyone would appreciate. All in all, in my personal opinion, these flip charts are amazing! They are almost reading books for children to enjoy
The instructions also are very easy to do for a child; very systematic, clear and logical.
Times Tales
http://www.triggermemorysystem.com/Deluxe.html Times tales uses mnemonics to make memorization of the time table as easy as pie. The numbers are turned into characters and objects and then are used to make mini-stories that help in recalling the time table. One example can be found on the above link.
Mnemonics are memory aids, whether verbal, visual or kinesthetic.
There is a sequence to doing it explained in the step by step manual included. This method involves discussions, storytelling, flashcards and a couple of crossword puzzles and a multiplication cube game. Nevertheless, I would have loved to see this in colors. The black and white is very cute and the paper quality is great, but still I think colors add a vibrant quality that catches kids' attention!
The beauty of times tales is its simplicity and how it works wonders!
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