educational insights logo

 

I am always looking for ways to incorporate more hands-on activities into our homeschool day.  It gets REALLY boring for my 5 year old to sit with workbooks all day, no matter how much she likes doing them.   I don’t have a lot of hands on resources, though, so I was really excited when I was contacted by Educational Insights about doing a review of a few of their products.    And not only did I get to do a review, but I get to give one away, too!!   Keep reading for details on how to enter.

I was sent two items for review.   The first was a set of Hot Dots for my (now) 5 year old.     I was sent a Hot Dots pen as well as two sets of cards – Hot Dots® Phonics Activity Cards, Blends & Digraphs and  Hot Dots® Flash Cards, More Addition Facts 10-19.     I had heard good things about them and had even purchased some Jr. sets but hadn’t used them yet and I have to say they didn’t disappoint!

hot-dots copy

Do you remember Questron?   I realize I’m totally dating myself with that reference, but these are just as entertaining as those were, except in card form instead of book form.   And my daughter really likes them.  In fact, when my 5 y/o is using them, I have to get out the Hot Dot’s Jr sets for my 2 y/o or there will be no peace.   Period.

I love that the sets do not take up a lot of space and come in great storage containers.  I also love that you can buy the HD Pen and use it for YEARS by expanding the cards to increasingly difficult materials.   And they don’t take up a lot of space.    At an average of $10 per set, they are a great resource for helping with that topic that is just not quite clicking with your kiddo for extra, non-boring practice.

Drawbacks?   There weren’t a lot.  First, the boxes were bigger than needed to fit the cards in, but I didn’t really want to cram 2 whole sets into the box.   On the other hand, it DOES fit a set of cards plus a pen for easy travel (which we’ve done).    The only other thing I didn’t like about the Hot Dots was that harder material (like the addition 10-20) was in gray tones instead of the colorful printing of the Phonics cards.   I think even older children would prefer beauty in the cards/manipulatives they are using.

Hot Dots are available for Language, Math, Science/Social Studies and Jr sets covering early learning topics starting at $9.99 and up from Educational Insights as well as other online stores & retailers.

teaching-tiles-1 copy

The other item that they sent was the Teaching Tiles™ Early Learning Tiles Beginning Reading Center.    This reading center contains 6 sets of tiles to be paired with 50 self-correcting activity cards.   The child can use the cards to spell words, match sentences, match words with pictures and more.

These were great because my daughter is a reluctant, yet very able reader.   She can read, but gets annoyed about 2 pages into a reader or other reading type exercise.  She has NO problem, however, doing most of the activities in this reading center.   In order to help encourage the idea that she CAN read, we tend to do a lot of work with these.

The biggest downside for me is space and limited lifespan.  If you are buying with with the oldest child of who knows how many, $49.99 and storage space is probably not an issue.  This is a product that takes up a lot of space and will probably only be used for a year or two at the most.

On the other hand, I really like that the tiles were a sturdy plastic and were color coded to match the activity cards that they were to be used with…sort of.   There are lots of blue cards and several sets of blue tiles.   The cards are laminated and stand up to the abuse of the 2 y/o who likes to play with them as well.

All things being considered, I AM contemplating purchasing the Math Readiness Teaching Tiles set to have on hand for my 2 y/o to work on since it starts with colors and shapes and my 5 y/o can work on money values and early math vocabulary (even though it says ages 4-7).

Overall, I’m really happy to have gotten a chance to add these hands on manipulatives to our homeschool day and working with Educational Insights has been wonderful!

Educational Insights has graciously offered to giveaway BOTH products to a lucky winner!     To enter, leave a comment letting me know product at Educational Insights you would most like to try or use.    This entry is Mandatory!

For extra entries:

Entries are open to US shipping addresses and will be open until midnight April 3, 2013.  I will email the winner after the giveaway ends.   Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen.

Good luck!!

Jen S.

 

 

Disclaimer:   I received these products for free in exchange for an honest review.  No other compensation was received.

by | 58 Comments

58 Comments on {CLOSED} Teaching Tiles & Hot Dots {Edu-Blogger Review & Giveaway – ends 4/3/13}

  3. Twila Claycomb
    3 April 2013 at 11:50 PM (11 years ago)

    like happy little homemaker on facebook

    Twila Claycomb

  4. Twila Claycomb
    3 April 2013 at 11:49 PM (11 years ago)

    I like Educational insights on facebook

    Twila claycomb

  5. Twila Claycomb
    3 April 2013 at 11:48 PM (11 years ago)

    I like Jeopardy

  8. Gloria Wilson
    3 April 2013 at 11:41 PM (11 years ago)

    I like Happy Little Homemaker on Facebook

    Gloria Wilson

  9. Gloria Wilson
    3 April 2013 at 11:40 PM (11 years ago)

    I like Educational insights on facebook

    Gloria Wilson

  10. Gloria Wilson
    3 April 2013 at 11:40 PM (11 years ago)

    I like Quiz Shark

  13. Roy Claycomb
    3 April 2013 at 11:31 PM (11 years ago)

    like Happy Little Homemaker on facebook

    Roy Claycomb

  14. Roy Claycomb
    3 April 2013 at 11:31 PM (11 years ago)

    I like the human skeleton

  15. Roy Claycomb
    3 April 2013 at 11:28 PM (11 years ago)

    I like Educational Insights on Facebook

    Roy claycomb

  19. Becky M
    3 April 2013 at 6:39 PM (11 years ago)

    I like Happy Little Homemaker on Facebook.
    (Becky Robinett Milstead)

  20. Becky M
    3 April 2013 at 6:39 PM (11 years ago)

    I liked Educational Insights on facebook.
    (Becky Robinett Milstead)

  21. Becky M
    3 April 2013 at 6:29 PM (11 years ago)

    Educational Insights has so many good things that I would like to try! I think my 5 yr old would love the Teaching Tiles. I think both of my kiddos would like the Hot Dot Pen. I like that there is a variety to choose from to go with the pen. Our outside door is all metal, so I think my 8 yr old would love the 3-D Skeleton Demonstration Magnets. Like I mentioned before, there are so many things that I like that they offer!! 😉

  24. Lesley M.
    31 March 2013 at 11:33 PM (11 years ago)

    Followed all of your boards on pinterest (lesleymaxey08)

  25. Lesley M.
    31 March 2013 at 11:32 PM (11 years ago)

    Followed all educational insight boards on pinterest (lesleymaxey08)

  26. Lesley M.
    31 March 2013 at 11:31 PM (11 years ago)

    Liked the educational insights page (Lesley Maxey)

  27. Lesley M.
    31 March 2013 at 11:27 PM (11 years ago)

    I liked your facebook page (Lesley Maxey)

  28. Lesley M.
    31 March 2013 at 11:25 PM (11 years ago)

    I really like the Wonder World map.

  29. Beth
    28 March 2013 at 10:54 PM (11 years ago)

    Following Educational Insights on Pinterest— Stairsteps Academy
    Beth´s last blog post ..Italian Tortellini Soup

  30. Beth
    28 March 2013 at 10:53 PM (11 years ago)

    Following you on Pinterest—Stairsteps Academy
    Beth´s last blog post ..Italian Tortellini Soup

  32. Beth
    28 March 2013 at 10:47 PM (11 years ago)

    Already liked you on facebook ;)–Beth Morris
    Beth´s last blog post ..Italian Tortellini Soup

  33. Beth
    28 March 2013 at 10:47 PM (11 years ago)

    Liked Educational Insights—Beth Morris
    Beth´s last blog post ..Italian Tortellini Soup

  34. Beth
    28 March 2013 at 10:45 PM (11 years ago)

    The kids all wanted the human skeleton model to go along with anatomy this year. I was kind of surprised since there are so many other options there that look more “fun” 🙂

  36. Mel
    27 March 2013 at 12:29 PM (11 years ago)

    the Reading Readiness tiles

  37. dawn k
    25 March 2013 at 7:25 PM (11 years ago)

    Liked HLH on facebook
    dawn st…. ke…. banks

  38. dawn k
    25 March 2013 at 7:24 PM (11 years ago)

    Liked E.I. on facebook
    dawn st….. ke…. banks

  39. dawn k
    25 March 2013 at 7:23 PM (11 years ago)

    I like the Nancy B’s Science Club Microscope and Activity Journal,

  44. Emilee
    22 March 2013 at 9:46 PM (11 years ago)

    Already your fan on Facebook! Emilee Roberts

  47. Leah Courtney
    21 March 2013 at 10:09 PM (11 years ago)

    I would love to try the Reading Readiness tiles!

  51. Rochel S
    21 March 2013 at 11:48 AM (11 years ago)

    I Like Happy Little Homemaker on Pinterest. (rufful)

  52. Rochel S
    21 March 2013 at 11:47 AM (11 years ago)

    I Like Educational Insights on Pinterest (rufful)

  53. Rochel S
    21 March 2013 at 11:45 AM (11 years ago)

    I Like Educational Insights on Facebook. (Rochel R-S)

  54. Rochel S
    21 March 2013 at 11:43 AM (11 years ago)

    I love the Design & Drill® Activity Center

  55. Karyn
    21 March 2013 at 8:13 AM (11 years ago)

    I already liked your FB page!

  56. Karyn
    21 March 2013 at 8:13 AM (11 years ago)

    I liked Ed. insights on FB (Karyn Tripp)

  57. Karyn
    21 March 2013 at 8:11 AM (11 years ago)

    I have always wanted to get the Hot Dots, but there are tons of other amazing things on their site, too! Thanks for the chance to win.