Night Zookeeper Review! How we use it with a 7 & 8 year old.

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www.nightzooke...
Our homeschool resources:
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In this video I'm sharing what Night Zookeeper is, hot is works on creative writing, grammar, spelling, and reading comprehension based on your child’s age.
It’s ideal for ages 6-12.
Your child does not need to be a strong reader yet to use this, but in order to use it independently they’ll need to have some beginner reading skills.
Here’s how we used it in leu of our language arts and writing programs for a month, and what it looks like using this with a 7 and 8 year old.
Since one of my kids is a great reader and one is an emerging reader, I'll share how they were able to use Noght Zookeeper differently! I'll also share how it gets kids wanting to create these fun stories and what seems to make it so fun.
I'm very happy with this program, and will continue using it as a creative writing and language arts supplement in our homeschool!
Socials:
IG: / blue.and.hazel
FB: / blueandhazel

[@savannahcooper1926]

Thanks so much for this video! After watching this one we decided to give it a try and my kiddo loves it. :)

[@LizBlueandHazel]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@homeschoolingthroughhighschool]

I've always wondered about this program. Thank you for sharing.

[@Angieemvi]

How would you submit samples to a public homeschool?

[@risesantillo8885]

Does Night Zookeeper work on comprehension?

[@LizBlueandHazel]

It does, if your kids are doing the activities that have them read a passage and answer questions from it. However it’s possible for kids to avoid activities in the Night Zoo if they don’t like them since there’s lots of things to choose from.

[@xommul79]

It looks to me from this vid and your others and the comment section that you use multiple online tablet programs to assist with all areas. It must cost a fortune in subscriptions and keep your kids glued to a tablet all day?

[@ErstwhileEducation]

I'm down the rabbit trail of finding a writing program for my rising 3rd grader. I *think* I'm going with Lightning Literature, but then heard the composition aspect isn't very good. So I thought Night Zookeeper would be a great supplement to that. However, I also just watched your video on Brave Writer Dart, and am super intrigued because I love the idea of Charlotte Mason style education, and that it is based on a literature study. My son does very well with dictation and copywork, more than free-writing, so I'm thinking it could be a good fit. Are you still using it? Do you feel it is sufficient in it's grammar, writing, and reading comprehension aspects? Thank you ! new sub :)

[@LizBlueandHazel]

We are still using the Dart with Night Zookeeper and I will continue to do that next year with grades 2 and 3. I think it's been an amazing way to read more books together and it's a very natural way to integrate grammar, reading comprehension, copywork, and dictation. The Darts do not really contain any creative writing...so Julie Bogart sells Jot It Down for that (perfect for k-1st or 2nd grade) and Partnership in Writing is the next level up. I'll be using that next year with my 3rd grader! We will also still use Night Zookeeper to supplement the Dart and Partnership in Writing because it's just so fun and my kids ask to do it. Truly all the games are learning games. Inside Night Zookeeper, there's areas for creative writing, and areas for learning games and activities. So it would be easy to to use it to supplement for either area.

[@WilliamsLovesToLearn]

the 50% off is with or without your link. we don't get extra with ur link. just thot you should know. i used your link still

[@LizBlueandHazel]

Thank you! And good to know!

[@monikac4459]

I like your videos

[@YelenaTX]

I am wondering, hiw the kids actually write in this program?!! Especially 5 y.o.? And then I wish to improve my sons 8 y.o. penmanship. Is it typing? Or actually writing? Thank you!

[@LizBlueandHazel]

I would skip this for a 5 or 6 year old, and spend time instead learning to read. I’m not using this with my 3rd who is 7 until he’s a stronger reader and has begun learning more basic grammar concepts. For your 8 year old’s penmanship, you could consider a handwriting program (we love Handwriting Without Tears and I have a video comparing the 3 beginner levels). With Night Zoo, creative writing is typed out, or by using a voice to text feature on the iPad which usually requires some editing by hand because it doesn’t write it down perfectly for you. My daughter tends to “chicken peck” or use her fingers to randomly find the letters which takes a long time. This has turned into more of a just for fun program for her, my oldest son isn’t too interested in using it at this point. We haven’t begun a formal computer typing program with my oldest two, now 9 & 10 but can see it would be a good time for them to begin. Hope that helps!

[@ivanacarter-wagstaff9816]

Do you feel you could use this as a main education platform? My sons 8 (year 3 uk) but travelling and want something easy to use going around.

[@LizBlueandHazel]

Yes they advertise this as being used as a full language arts curriculum or supplemental depending on your needs. You may want to be actively seeing what he’s been doing though since kids have a lot of freedom to do more of the things they like and less of things they don’t like. One nice thing you can do if the games/vocab level seem way too hard is to go down a grade in their profile. We did this for my daughter and it was more at her level which made it much more enjoyable! What I don’t know is how much time is recommended to spend on it if you use it as the primary language arts curriculum.

[@unsmokable69]

Can you only use this on I-pad or tablet or can you also use a PC?

[@LizBlueandHazel]

You can use it on a PC. It’s not an app, so whatever device you use it on you’ll first have to open a browser and go to the website to login. Hope that helps!

[@929jpotter]

Is your link still good for the discount?

[@LizBlueandHazel]

Yes it should still work! Just check the price looks right in your cart 👍. Thanks!

[@maribelhernandez1946]

Hello, do you see any improvement on your kids ? After using the program?

[@LizBlueandHazel]

I've seen improvement in both my kids (now age 8 & 9). They write a little bit more, with better spelling and grammar. However, since we don't use Night Zookeeper regularly or as our sole curriculum, I'm not sure if I can credit that to this program. But they do enjoy it and it certainly helps to reinforce what we are doing in Brave Writer for sure!

[@icantthinkofagoodname8319]

What size iPad are you using with this program? I am looking to purchase an iPad, but the sizes have me conflicted. We just signed up for Night Zookeeper, but my son is frustrated with the laptop. Thank you!

[@LizBlueandHazel]

This is an 11 inch iPad. It’s worked really well! I do really wish Night Zookeeper would put this on an app so we don’t have to open an internet browser though. Maybe someday!

[@icantthinkofagoodname8319]

@@LizBlueandHazel Thank you so much! Maybe someday we will get an app. Thank you again for the in-depth review, my kids love the program!

[@JemaineCupido]

my son is 12

[@_E_P]

what age groups do you think this is for?

[@LizBlueandHazel]

I think my 8&9 year olds are in the sweet spot for this with spelling practice and grammar games and some imaginary game fun. It’s way too much for my 6 year old, and doesn’t match my goals for him right now. However, as we move to a more Charlotte Mason homeschool approach, I’m finding my goals are changing to do less grammar and less formal writing up until around age 10. So this is changing to be more just for fun if my kids want a reason to do “games” that mom will likely say yes to.

[@_E_P]

@@LizBlueandHazel my 10 and 11 year old boys are struggling in reading, spelling and they HATE writing my 10yr old writing looks like hes in 1st grade, seriously my just turned 5yr old writes better than him!. They like game approach on learning (not sure what Charlotte Mason approach is) But if this helps with spelling and all ELA things then I might have to try this out. We did adapted Minds before but they completed everything it had at the time (claims more is coming) so does this have a limited selection also?

[@driftingforward]

DO they talk about evolution at all? Is this Christian?

[@LizBlueandHazel]

This isn’t a Christian program, but I haven’t seen anything about evolution in it. Maybe the company could comment on that more thoroughly for you.