Ten Counter by Anatex Reviews

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It is solidly constructed from wood and thick coated wire with wooden beads. They provide a great introduction to counting for toddlers and up. I love that there are no pieces to lose, it is self contained. If you children like bead mazes this is a great compromise between pure fun and educational fun for a great price. My only disapointment, which was not enough to detract overall, was that the "written" numbers to correspond to each number of beads are simply stickers stuck to the wood. They haven't peeled or become damaged at all, I just would have preferred them to be painted on.

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LEGO Education City Buildings Set 779311 (843 Pieces) Reviews

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List Price: $113.95
Sale Price: $89.71
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

This set is very easy to put together. It is much easier than other lego city sets meant for 5-12 so it is a good introduction for kids who are transitioning from the larger legos to these types of sets. I got this set for my 9 year old because he wanted a city set to go with his ambulance, police dog unit and other lego city vehicles and people. This gives the child an entire town to play with for a lot less money than the lego city corner and city house combo. The stores are really just fronts with no details or interiors so it allows for easy building but less interior play. It does not come with all of the instructions which is very annoying and makes no sense. Here is a link to get the instructions for the building instructions not included with the set: [the lego education website: legoeducation.us/] Search for the set number which is 9311. Click on "resources" and you will get pdf files for the instructions not included with the set. Also, unlike other city sets, the bags are not divided so that each bag contains one building. So, my son had to open all the bags and sort them by color in order to easily find what he needed. Despite these small problems, it is a nice set that my son will enjoy and play with repeatedly.

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We were so excited about this set because our Lego city really needs some buildings. But when we opened up the set we were confused. There are not enough instructions to build all the buildings and the baggies are not split up by each building. One of the things I always love about Legos is the organization. This set is going to take some extra thought and creativity. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but I see some hard work ahead.

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We had to download some of the instructions from the Lego Education site, but once we did, my five-year-old had a great time putting the buildings together. These are just the right level of difficulty for him. Not too hard or detailed like some of the other Lego sets, but a better challenge than his Duplos.

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My four grandchildren, ages 3,6,7,9 all thoroughly enjoyed this set. The 7 year old is a girl, the other three boys. It was a little difficult for the 3 year old, but with a little assistance, he was fine. Each of them concentrated on one item at a time and were entertained for hours. Each was able to complete one item in a decent amount of time.

Reviews of AmScope 40X-1000X All-Metal Optical Glass Lenses Cordless LED

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List Price: $450.00
Sale Price: $84.50
Today's Bonus: 81% Off

The microscope itself is pretty solid. The included 25x eyepiece, which is needed to reach 1000x, doesn't fit the scope securely as far as I can tell. There may be some way to do it, but the instructions won't help you there. If you're like me and try to do it anyway, be prepared to grab a magnet to fish up the tiny (TINY) screw that holds the 10x eyepiece in place. For the 4x and 10x objective lenses, you can use cheapo slides, stacked 2 high. This is good enough to check out plasma cells flying around, hair structure, fly wings and other commonly available things that strike your nerdy fancy. As a casual hobby microscope, this thing is totally worth it.

HOWEVER: The 40x objective can't focus that high above the stage. You'll need thin (.8mm or less) or depression slides, which are slightly more expensive, and slips in order to really get in tight for microbes, amoebae, and carbon fiber robot building (you should probably have a pro 'scope for that, anyway). It shouldn't deter you from buying, but be sure to add the right slides/supplies to your order.

Also, if the portability is a seller for you, I'll add that there is clearly a battery compartment in this model. However, and I'll concede that I may just be stupid, I can't figure out how to get that bad boy open.

EDIT: 6 months later, I found myself in a situation that required the use of the battery, and I decided to go for broke. Pliers remove the cap easily, and the fastener beneath the cap is sturdy enough that it won't cause damage. Disregard my portability complaint.

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Great customer service and product. I received the microscope on time, however the ocular piece was defective as it would not remain intact due to threading misallignment by manufacturer. Although Amazon mistakenly offered to give me a refund inc s&h without contacting the seller, assuming Amscope would not be able to replace it, Amscope had contacted me immediately regarding the issue, once my disappointed feedback was posted. Within 2 days, I received a new microscope at excellent condition and free s&h. No stress involved! I just need to send the previous one back, also s&h prepaid by the Amscope. Gladly, I removed the negative remarks.

Re: microscope, all metal body. Knobs are not metal, but overall, very sturdy and will be great for a small classroom of students. The movements are very smooth...great buy!

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I enjoy this microscope. It has everything that I would need and then some. It's an excellent price for something of this quality in my opinion. Everything works just as expected... but I wouldn't necessarily use a plastic locking mechanism in my fine lens TBH.

Honest reviews on AmScope 40X-1000X All-Metal Optical Glass Lenses Cordless LED

I purchased this product as a Christmas gift for my child. We did a lot of comparison shopping and had a lot of fun selecting this one because it was mid-range in price and appeaered to be a good quality item.

When the scope arrived, we opened it right away. That is when our dissapointment began. The scope is not "all metal." The body is indeed metal, but many of the other parts, including the casing around the light, are not.

Nevertheless, the unit appeared sturdy enough, so we decided to give it a whirl with some slides I had purchased as well. We got the light to work, but every time we even slightly moved the unit to insert a slide or adjust the view, the light flickered on and off.

We promptly contacted the seller, who seemed happy enough to take the unit back. He sent me a mailing label and apologized for my inconvenience. That is when the fun started. This seller only refunded part of the cost of the unit. When I emailed him to ask why, he informed me that he had been able to get the light to work for five hours continuously by plugging it in at his shop. Because of this, he charged me a $20 shipping charge. Of course, I also got the light to work when the unit was just sitting there, but this is not a lamp, it is a precision instrument.

We then proceeded to exchange emails abour this all day. I am not sure how much this guy makes an hour. Given his poor customer service ethic and obvious overpaying for postage, I am sure it is not alot. But I am also sure it cost him more than $20 of his time to exchange emails with me and insult me by insinuating that I was lying about the defective condition of the microscope.

Bottom line, this is not a good product or a good seller. I highly recommend moving on.

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Very happy with this purchase. I received it within a reasonable time. The price is great for what I got. I am a home school mom and will be able to take advantage of my daughters natural curiosity to explore. The instructions could be a lot better. It was confusing to change the lens out. However, I was able to find information on line that helped me. Overall... Great product for a great price. Best of all, she will be able to use this thru High School. I would recommend purchasing some prepared slides to get started. Not the Lab quality scopes that I was used to working with in the Lab, But this is a great quality started scope that gets the job done.

Reviews of Mishidesign Grow Up Toy, Blue/Orange

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My daughter and son-in-law suggested it for the first birthday of my grandson. He is not yet one year old but the sturdy little fellow pushes it where ever when ever and climbs in and out fills it with toys and empties it again. Safe sound and just wonderful.

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Discount Learning Resources Super Strong Magnetic Clips (LER2692)

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These are brightly colored and very strong. I used one inside my metal mailbox for outgoing mail. My only caution is don't let 2 magnets go back to back they are nearly impossible to pull apart. (I pinched my finger in the process). But that shows how strong the magnet is. Just keep them separate.

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I received these magnets for review on my blog. I have used these magnets for displaying art work, and for keeping up with a stack of papers I need handy for my son's upcoming autism evaluation process. I have all the forms and typed up info clipped in a magnet, envelopes of his past evaluation results in a couple of magnets, and art work in another. These magnets are strong, and held all of this -even the envelopes which probably have about 20 sheets of paper in each! I did use 2 magnets on the envelopes, not because one magnet wouldn't hold the weight of the envelopes, but because the clips aren't very deep and I felt it held envelopes full of papers better with 2 magnets to make sure they wouldn't slip out. It has held the actual stack of papers with no problem, and that is about 10 sheets of paper. I am sure it could hold an even bigger stack if I tried it! The clips are easy to press, but not so loose that they are going to get opened easily and have your papers fall out. Once we get started with our evaluation process, these magnets will probably mostly get used for holding artwork and grocery lists, but for now it is a great way to keep those evaluation papers out of my son's reach and in a place where I won't lose them.

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Don't get me wrong I have magnets in our house, but all them pretty much suck. They don't hold much, they fall and they cause problems. The problems arise when papers fall and get lost or damaged, which is what happens in my house. The Super Strong Magnetic Clips are truly awesome! They hold 20 pounds each and you clip the papers, rather than just putting a magnet on. Each clip is easy to use and brightly colored to easily spot. I was able to hold a whole magazine from these clips without them sliding or budging at all! These are great for classrooms, home or office use! I never would have bought new magnets thinking they were all the same but these magnets I think are going to be a big help in getting and staying organzied!

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They do not fall off, they hold heavy loads of paper, and they're perfect for holding up a calendar or a folder of my kid's school work. They make me happy.

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I really love these magnets. The clip on the front makes it easy for kids to display their own art work. The magnets are very strong. The price is a little high, but I'd still very highly recommend them.

AmScope 3.5X-90X Digital Zoom Stereo Microscope with 144-LED Light Reviews

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List Price: $2,800.00
Sale Price: $689.98
Today's Bonus: 75% Off

In order to analyze the traces of writing, buy this microscope. It has good optical and camera with 10 mp give appropriate image to present a report on the case studies. The offer would have been better microscope with incident and transmitted light, in spite of this, research is done well with AmScope 3.5X-90X Digital Zoom Stereo Microscope with 144-LED Light + 10MP USB Camera.

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Reviews of Kids Play 13-Note Chromatic Handbells

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List Price: $86.00
Sale Price: $65.48
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

I recently ordered Kidsplay 13-note chromatic handbells as a way of getting the children in my Sunday School (K-3rd grade) class more interested in participating in the music ministry.

We used the sheet music that came free with the bells and within 10 minutes the children were playing songs.

The bells are perfect pitch and the children are excited about playing them. They have been practicing on their own and are now getting prepared for the Thanksgiving and Christmas programs at church.

Thanks for an affordable way to get kids interested in music.

Church Lady

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I am a music teacher, and I purchased this 13-note chromatic octave hand bell set for the upper elementary school students to play in our church's annual Christmas Cantata. Having only a month to prepare, I did not want to teach this particular group to read music. Rather, I wanted to be able to quickly put together something that sounds polished. Each bell in this set is color-coded and labeled clearly at the end of the handle with both its note name and its number (scale degree), meaning that you can use colors, letters, or numbers to chart/teach songs.

QUALITY

When I opened the box, I was pleasantly surprised by the tone quality and intonation. The sound is clear and even throughout the octave. Additionally, the design of the beaters goes a long way to prevent the dreaded "double-ring." The construction is sturdy, although I would have used a rougher material (or attached some sort of grip) for the handles. The handles are quite smooth, and I'm just waiting for a bell to fly out of someone's hand during a "forte" section.

COLORS

Unlike the photo shown above, the chromatic add-on set (sharps and flats) comes with black handles. This makes them much easier to distinguish from the 8-note diatonic set. The 8-note set (in the key of C) makes use of the same standard colors you will find on Boomwhackers and other elementary keyboard instruments, meaning you can easily use the same charts or sheet music for all of them. My only complaint here is that the G (teal) and the A#/Bb (slightly bluer teal??) are virtually indistinguishable, and the G#/Ab (slightly lighter teal??) is awfully darn close as well. Logically, it seems that the A#/Bb should be a variant of the purple used for the B. I've had to make very creative use of my Sharpie collection for all my songs in F Major.

EXTRAS

The diatonic set also comes with a tiny sample of sheet music for 6 simple songs in C (Festive Bells, Old MacDonald, Peace Like a River, Beethoven's Ninth/Joyful Joyful, Sarasponda, and Ring Joy). The bells come in a cardboard box that will suffice for storage, but I highly recommend purchasing a soft case for protection and desk-top playing. NOTE: THE SOFT CASE IS SOLD SEPARATELY.

Overall, this is a good set for kids at a very reasonable price.

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These handbells are the greatest choice for a beginning group that wishes to bring joy with music. They ring true to pitch and are good to play in musicals in church or other places.

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I ordered these for our church primary. The kids LOVED them! The colors made it easy to learn new songs and the bells are sturdy enough to withstand some "eager" players. Teens and adults enjoy them, as well. We have had fun for all ages at church and in my own home. I would add that we have basically used the 8 bell kit, which would suffice for those that need to save money. But the 5 bell extension is an excellent buy and will allow us to have more musical options in our primary. Overall, great buy!

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The 3 year olds -6th graders got the hang quickly of ringing these bells. Less than an hour of rehearsal total and they were good to go. Use with the chord cards...makes your life much easier.

Cheap Story Speller

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We love this game. It's easy to learn, has endless possibilities for storytelling, and gets kids to be creative in a single sitting.

The story element cards, which are used to create the story line on the game board, have such a wide variety that it enables kids to be choosy when they are laying out their board.

The heroes are also diverse and even include animals, proving that animals can be heroes, too.

Families can play this game as a foursome or kids can play it on their own and then share their story to a listening audience. It's a great way to not only learn how to create a story but also to tell a story. The instruction booklet has a list of excellent storytelling tips at the end. And, there is even an Advanced Storytelling Tips section, which is ideal for educators and homeschooling parents.

You'd be surprised how much fun a simple storytelling game can be and this is simply one of the best out there. Story Speller won a Parents' Choice Approved Award. Here, in part, is what the reviewer said:

"It was amazing to see how much fun kids had playing this game. On multiple occasions, we found the kids pulling this out to play when there were more than four kids. They teamed up and made stories together. This game is highly versatile and could have lots of uses at home and in the classroom (the directions provide many other uses for it)."

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Learning Resources Hands-On Standards Photo-Illustrated Lessons Review

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I purchased the Hands on Standards as a supplement to use at home with my son. The concepts are well illustrated and the standard of learning is clearly explained. I think it is a good tool to assist a parent if used properly.

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I am a first grade teacher who was looking for quick, easy, common core standards based, hands-on lessons to supplement our math curriculum. Although this book is based on NCTM standards instead of common core standards, almost all of the lessons do align with first grade math common core standards. I really like the lessons because they are simple, quick (probably 10-15 min.), and hands-on. I also like that the lessons all start with a challenging WORD PROBLEM that kids have to work through and defend their answer to. There are 24 lessons on Numbers and Operations, 8 on geometry, 9 on algebra, 9 on measurement, and 6 on probability and data analysis. I would not recommend this book as a stand alone curriculum, but it is terrific for adding a hands-on problem-solving component to your program.

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Great resource for K-2 teachers looking for more "hands-on" manipulative learning for their students! Not full blown lesson plans, but great ideas to supplement learning.

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We purchased this book for our math curriculum this fall. It has a lot of hands on math, and looks like a lot of fun. There are also black line masters to duplicate for worksheets. The instructions could be a bit better, a bit more organized, but in general it looks like a good book and we are looking forward to using it.

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I have used it and will use it, I am not sure what I expected. The kids love when I use it.

VTech Infant Learning Hammer Fun Learning Truck Review

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I got this for my son when he was 6 months old and he absolutely loved it he is now 12 months and still loves it and my 4yr old son loves it too

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My older son received this as a present when he turned 1. He loved it so much and it got so much use! Now little brother uses it all the time too. I have actually bought this for other people when they had a boy with a first birthday. I highly recommend.

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Bought this toy for my 9-month old. He's is not too interested in it but I do like that it plays various songs which I sing to him. Maybe it's me, but I do find the voice on this quite annoying but it may not bother others. Also, I cut the strong off of mine immediately not sure why V-Tech would have a string on a child's toy. Overall, not too bad and it seems durable.

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My son is obssessed with this truck. He is 14 months old, we gave it to him for his one-year bday and he hasn't let it out of his sight since. Doesn't matter if the sound is on or off. Yes, there is a string underneath it but you can tuck it up in the battery compartment. The music will make you CRAZY (have you ever seen a puppy, a puppy, a puppy, have you ever seen a puppy driving a red truck?), but like I said, my son seems to like it without the music. Definitely worth the purchase!

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I bought this for my 16 month year old grandson at Christmas and wanted to wait to write a review to see how it held up. First he loves it, very interactive for his age and will enjoy it as he grows also can take a lot of abuse. Do not hesitate to purchase if you have a little one.

Best 38" Inch Student Beginner Red Acoustic Guitar with Carrying Case Deals

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This guitar arrived as advertised. It looks great and for the price is just what I was looking for. The kids love it. It is the perfect beginners guitar to teach chords, guitar theory and just to basically get started. The price makes it perfect for kids as you don't get worried if it gets banged up a little bit. The extras that come with it make it even more fun.

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I gave this as a gift to young boys who wanted desperately to learn the guitar. It was a perfect size for each of them. It is easily tuned and is a nice guitar since it came with everything needed to start.

Discount Udu, Green

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i have played a few udu drums and this one has the best tone i think. compared to ones that cost $100 or more this one u cant go wrong with

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I use this instrument to do a version of Jack and Jill followed by The Gunny Wolf story. It makes good sound effects for the running wolf and the little girl. However, it is heavier than I imagined and a bit difficult to get the right sound out of. I'm wondering if some of the other styles are lighter weight (which would make them more delicate) and if so, do they have a different sound quality. It is beautiful in that rustic sort of way that makes it a real eye catcher and a great companion to folktales.

Janla Tales

Discount Little Tikes Bug Box

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This bug box lasted my daughter for 4 years. She used it heavily when we camped. She collected everything from the tiniest ant to frogs and toads and put them in there. She loved this toy. It just recently cracked and I plan on buying another one. I have not seen anything on the market that is as sturdy or multi-purpose.

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Melissa & Doug Playful Puppy Pull Toy Reviews

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List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $15.53
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

The wheels often stick so that the toy just drags on both wooden floors and carpet. I looked at it, and it seems the leg & wheel pieces often wiggle into a position where they are too tight together and they just can't move. The design is clunky too and the pull string is a bit too short.

PASS on the puppy pull toy and go straight for the Frolicking Frog by the same company, Melissa & Doug. The frog is great!

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This toy does not roll. You might as well tie a string to a box and drag it around the kitchen or the family room.

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The wheels on this toy do not turn properly, so it cannot be pulled as intended. When my daughter pulls it, she's really just dragging it along because the wheels don't roll. Very, very disappointing :(

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I bought this for my 18 month old son after he was dragging my work ID badge and lanyard around like a pull toy. He still likes my work ID, but this is a close runner up :). It's very sturdy and doesn't fall on its side too easily, which is great for when he takes corners. he got another pull toy as a gift that has a much narrower base, and it frustrates him a lot when it constantly falls over, so I appreciate the construction of this puppy. The string is a good length, my only complaint is that it doesn't have something easier to grab onto on the end--it has a tendency to slip out of my son's hands, since he's still working on that fine motor gripping. This is easily remedied by a little craftiness to tie the string onto a small wooden cylinder (think kite flying). overall, a great simple toy.

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Our son loves dogs and puppies of all kinds, and he also loves pulling strings and other things. So when he was 16 months old we thought it was time for a pull toy, and definitely wanted a dog design. We saw this cute puppy in a store first, but in the end we ordered from Amazon.

We can confirm others' experience that the toy has some real problems with rolling. It depends to some extent how you pull the toy and on what surface -hard floors and a not-too-steep upward angle on the string both help. Sometimes it works fine, sometimes it fails. The cord is too short, probably for safety reasons, and that doesn't help with pulling either.

Our son likes the puppy, but he has never spent more than five minutes playing with it. After six months, he still likes to pull the puppy very other day for about two minutes, but that is all. So it hasn't generated hours of joy or anything.

But the worst surprise was one day when my wife was putting the puppy away to clean the carpet, and she got a nasty splinter from the bottom of the toy when she grabbed it. This is surprising because the toy does appear well-made in general. It would have been a much bigger deal if it had happened to our son.

Not impressed at all, can't recommend in good conscience.