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Character Education (Grades 1-3) Review by Melanie Bunnett

Edutunes
2067 Rurline Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63146
808-728-8863
http://www.edutunes.com

This 62-page book and accompanying CD were designed to help children develop character through exposure to positive songs (28 total) and interaction with corresponding worksheets. The subtitle of the book is "From Inner Peace to World Peace." And while that seems like a pretty large goal to aim for, this curriculum jumps right in without hesitation.

While I can see utilizing this material in your homeschool in a purely supplemental and mostly entertaining manner, I believe that it is definitely better suited to a traditional classroom, where character is taught in a more compartmentalized fashion. Homeschooling allows families to take this type of education out of the schooling schedule and place it in the one-on-one, real-world setting where it can be practiced and lived. Because of this, I believe Character Education has a limited usability for homeschoolers.

On a positive note, I will say that my younger children found the music catchy, upbeat and memorable. The rest of the family, however, found it a bit too catchy and upbeat, bordering on annoying. These are the types of tunes that get caught in your head and you find yourself singing for days on end. Should you need to learn "The Power of a Smile," that "Your Feelings are Okay," or to "Love Yourself," then this product is perfectly suitable. But for the rest of us, it could end up being an overload of character education.

The curriculum retails for $19.99. Because you are provided with a professional quality CD recording and corresponding lyric book/workbook, the value seems to be good. I am guessing, however, that many of these lessons could be taught by parents who simply take the time to address character issues as they arise in family life.

Product review by Melanie Bunnett, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March 2007

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