Where was this book when I was in school? I loved words and never had any problems writing essays and reports, but when it came to delivering speeches, I went weak in the knees. I attributed my fears to the fact that I was shy. After receiving Say What You Mean for Kids, I see that it was because I never had proper training in communication skills.

Say What You Mean for Kids is a communication curriculum. It is a textbook and workbook all in one. It is a study of communication skills used in every day life. In my opinion, it is a very valuable resource.

The program is broken down into 18 weeks of study, enough to cover one semester or half a school year. Each week starts out with several pages of information to be read. The author recommends doing this reading on a Monday and then spending the rest of the week working on the activities that accompany that week's lesson. Starting in week eight, the child will begin work on the final project, a persuasive written or oral report that will be completed by week 18. Though recommended for students in third through sixth grades, this program could even benefit junior high students who have never been exposed to this type of program.

I am sold on this program and would highly recommend it. In fact, I would go so far as the say that every homeschooled child should have this book! I believe that the art of effective communication is so very important, yet it is something that is not taught often or enough. Every student should be equipped with the tools available in this book.

Again, I wish that this program had been available to me years ago. Instead, I was forced to teach myself ways to communicate effectively in order to survive and thrive. Not so for my children thanks to Art of Eloquence and Say What You Mean for Kids!

Product review by Heidi Strawser, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March 2007