The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
This has been our Christmas read-aloud for 3-4 Decembers. I really struggled through the first several chapters the first time we read it, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. This is a great message about why we celebrate Christmas and how to display kindness and grace to others.
Christian Heroes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
by Janet and Geoff Benge
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is such a rich character and example in church history. I was excited to see that his biography was next in our reading. Living in Germany at the time of Hitler's rise, Bonhoeffer had a unique insight into his reign of terror and as part of several assassination attempts on Hitler's life. This biography was a unique mix of Bonhoeffer's political and religious views and how the two came together at a unique period in history. I'm especially excited as this book is coming at the point in our history curriculum where we're just starting to explore the ideas that led to WWII.
What happens when one day Belle finds herself locked in a basement? Or Cinderella wakes up in the Beast's castle? What if fate did a princess swap in the middle of a fairy tale?
Ella has spent her life dreaming of adventure... but adventures are hard to come by when one is trapped as a household slave. Belle has always had a life of adventure, but the family business has hit hard times and is on the brink. So one day, Belle casts a spell, swapping lives with Ella in a desperate attempt to save her father's livelihood. But fairy tales don't always afford an easy path to a happily ever after. Ella must uncover the keys to a Beast's curse, and Belle must escape the wicked stepmother. These two intertwined fairy tales take so many twists and turns that, in the end, they become new tales of their own.
Author Kim Bussing does an incredible job of keeping enough of the original elements of these two fairy tales to draw in the reader while switching just the right elements to develop original storylines. Belle and Ella, both with an original take on the problems faced in their own tales, bring a fresh perspective to this retelling. Placing them in new storylines allows Bussing to really play with their personalities and bring out new characteristics. It's easy to get caught up in the characters, both those from the originals and some new faces as well. The story focuses on strong female leads as opposed to romance or becoming royalty. Themes explored include friendship, loyalty, admiration for other's character, forgiveness, and more. Not your average fairy tale, and I can't wait to read more from this author. Great for preteens and early teens.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Iliad is a snatchwords. Whatever she reads aloud comes to life right before everyone's eyes. She has a gift for taking tales and adventures, and bringing them to reality. And this gift causes her to be summoned to the palace. Along with this request, a strange and unusual courtship also draws her far from home. So, with her whimsical grandmother to chaperone, Iliad sets off on her own adventure. But court life is unlike anything she expected. Iliad is quickly drawn into one mystery after another. Who can she trust? The king who seems to be playing both sides? Her reclusive suitor? Or the charming prince? Her very life is dependent upon her choice. Where will it lead her?
This book has a great premise. An intelligent woman travels to a foreign land, meets a variety of interesting people, and stands her ground... Both the king and Iliad's suitor strive for justice in the kingdom. There are plenty of references to classic literature and poetry. Many of the elements and themes I look for in books that I want to pass on to my kids But there were definitely trouble spots. This book is listed under middle grades and teens. It is absolutely not a middle-grade read. There are references to Iliad taking off her clothing, being seen in only her shirt, guests to the palace being encouraged to drink to the point of drunkenness, and more. The main characters also display an attraction to each other that is much too mature for the audience. In addition, there are references to other characters, such as the "old bag." Terms and attitudes that kids might be familiar with today but still don't need to be encouraged. There are enough of these instances that I won't be handing this book over to my kids and just can't recommend this title. There are so many great reads out there. This just isn't one of them.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Wow! The first semester of this school year has absolutely flown by. I can't believe that we're already halfway through the year, and. yet, all of December has been non-stop. And despite my best intentions, our homeschool has been in full force this Christmas season. This was the year that I realized having high schoolers sometimes means a more hectic holiday season. A lot of it has to do with my junior taking a DE course while pouring tons of hours with this final push for The Nutcracker. It's all good things, just lots of things.
For my 11th grader, she's taking three courses from me: Algebra II, American History, and Physics. American History from Notgrass has been a great fit for our family. We're not doing all the projects, but I do have her pick a project or writing assignment each week to accomplish. I try to keep this very carefree so she can follow her interests and explore things that she might not necessarily have the time to explore. We've separated it from the English credit, but I do have a lot of the novels available for her to pick up as she chooses.
Her DE course, Eng 1A, was a challenge before, but it really picked up just before Thanksgiving and continues to be a challenge. She'll finish with a decent grade, and I'm so proud of her, but it's definitely been a lot during dance season. I think I underestimated how much time this course would take, and I should have prepared her better. Looking back, that's a word of advice I'd have for any homeschool family. Your child may be perfectly capable of completing this course, but are they in a season to devote the time that's necessary to complete well. It is a step up in time and prep from high school and should be treated that way. I knew that before, but I REALLY KNOW that now.
My 8th grader has worked through his Math challenges. I did, too. :-) And so many things are going well currently. Our big struggle currently is the fact that I assigned a Living History project just before Thanksgiving. And I love what's coming out of that assignment. However, this is just not the right time of year. We are on the struggle bus to finish it. Neither of us has the heart to get it done, but we're pushing through.
On a positive note, we've been reading A Christmas Carol and talking through character development and storyline. It's been a great study. I'm so glad we did this. This little novella is jam-packed with so much good stuff, and yet, it's a gentle, fun way to enjoy the holidays and still keep learning.
Incredibly, that's our first semester... so many lessons learned so much good... a few bumps along the way, but realizing that kids keep growing, and we just work through the challenges. Such a blessing to be at home with my kids, learning together.
*This post was originally published on 12/11/17. Enjoy!
(Click on post for video)
I'm sharing with you today how we do a book advent through the month of December and our Top 5 Christian Christmas Books that we return to year after year. Do you have a favorite?
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As an English major, I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read this classic. Knowing its place in American history and literature, I assigned it to my 11th-grade reading list and decided to take it on as well. We follow our lead character, a slave named Uncle Tom, as he's sold when his owner falls into debt. While reassured that Tom would be well taken care of, the slave trader is cruel, both physically and emotionally. Tom eventually finds his way into a kind home where he's often treated as one of the family and even promised his freedom. However, his owner tragically dies before the promise can be kept and his wife sells Tom to a slave owner in the deep south. All along, Tom is the epitome of truth, kindness, and love to those around him, finally touching the heart of his first owner's son. Throughout the book, we follow other slaves as well.. some sold, some runaways, some escaping... some not so lucky. We see a variety of outcomes in their stories and are faced with the tragedies and kindnesses that were all wrapped up in the American slave era.
Our Homeschool Read Alouds:
When the World Was Ours by Liz Kessler
This book focuses on three childhood friends (Max, Leo, and Elsa). The three meet and grow together in pre-Nazi Austria. But as Europe descends into chaos, the three are ripped apart by growing anti-Sematism. Scattered to Prague, Poland, England, and Germany, they all live under Hitler's enormous shadow. Can their friendship stand in spite of the propaganda and fear?
I chose this one as part of our read-aloud list for the year, knowing that we'd be covering WWII. While there was nothing too graphic, the subject matter was heavy and dark. So I'm glad we read this one together. This book stood as a bridge to some of the harder topics for my middle schooler.
A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck
When the new preacher's family moves into town, they have no idea the adventures that await them. Their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Dowdel, is quite a character and keeps them all on their toes. With a keen eye and a stern practicality, Mrs. Dowdel knows how to get the job done, even if it means bending the rules once in a while. Spanning about 5 months in 1958, A Season of Gifts has become one of our favorite read-alouds for Christmas. It has everything you could want... adventure, humor, a mysterious neighbor... and a great reminder of how the importance of community. We love this one.
Lillian Trasher by Janet & Geoff Benge
American Lillian Trasher felt herself called into missions and eventually founded an orphanage in Egypt in the early 1900's. Living by faith, Trasher would often go to bed, unsure of where the next day's meal was coming from. But through it all, the Lord showed up in miraculous ways. This woman's faith was remarkable. All that she lived through... all that she did under tremendous circumstances... all that she faced including the fighting between Egyptians and British overlords and being caught in the middle... Lillian Trasher's story is one of dedication and faithfulness. Her love for Egypt's orphans was incredible. And her faith was personally challenging. This biography is my new favorite in the series.
There's something uniquely special about Thanksgiving. The pace of the day is a little slower. The focus turns more to family. And a sense of gratitude warms the air.
However, if we're not careful, Thanksgiving can quickly turn pricey as we attempt to prove an abundant spread. These are just a few ways we can focus on our favorites and still feast:
1. Name your Priorities
I grew up celebrating holidays with a wide variety of savory dips, hearty entrees, and sweet endings. With plenty of family, there was often 3-4 types of salads and appetizers, a full holiday meal, and several desserts. However, as we've moved away, we've come to live under a starting budget. For us, that has meant naming our priorities. Our list includes turkey, potatoes, hominey casserole, rolls, and cranberry applesauce. Oh yeah. And pumpkin pie cake! For your family, it may mean Grandma's Spinach Dip or an olive and pickle platter. Gather the family and get their input. Then narrow down from there.
2. Make a List (and check it twice)
Make a list of what you need. And be sure to check your cupboards... twice... before you hit the stores. You may have a bag of cranberries tucked in the back of the freezer or an extra cake mix already in the back of the pantry. Trust me, it happens. Making a list will keep you both from overbuying and from forgetting that one essential item.
3. Consolidate your Shopping
There are great deals to be had this time of year, but for me, running from store to store spending time and gas just doesn't add up. Pick the store with the best deals overall and go for it. And sometimes it works out in more ways than one. Some stores are offering discounted or free turkeys for purchasing a certain amount of groceries. This year I'm consolidating my regular grocery shopping with my holiday shopping to meet my discounted turkey mark.
4. Spread the Cost (and the work)
If you're inviting others into your home, accept help. Many would love to help. Thanksgiving is all about sharing blessings and being together. People love to contribute and not only will it keep your cost down, but it will also add variety to your menu.
5. Know your Limits
Thanksgiving doesn't have to include four desserts. And no one expects you to do everything. So give yourself, and your budget, a break. Don't be afraid to ask for help and simplify if need be. Know what works for you and enjoy the day.
As the world gets faster, it's becoming more important for our kids to know how to type, and type proficiently. While I still think good handwriting is essential, around middle school, I begin to see a greater need for typing as well. Papers get longer, editing is more complicated, and time spent re-writing essays becomes precious. But finding a typing program that kids love AND gets the job done??? That's a tough order.
Over the years, we've tried a variety of programs, both paid and free. And with all three kids, I've gotten a variety of opinions. But I find that there are two FREE programs that we come back to again and again.
Dance Mat Typing has four levels with three stages for each. The animated animal characters guide kids through the various levels will still putting an emphasis on proper technique. The animals speak in a variety of accents and have their own fun, creative personalities. And at the end of each stage, there's a song and dance to celebrate your child's accomplishment. This was a great way for me to get my kids started and excited about practicing. So much fun. Best part? 100% FREE!
After a few years of Dance Mat Typing, my kids decided they were ready to move on. Typing Club was a great fit. Students can start with Typing Jungle or Jungle Jr. The focus here is on the home base letters with animation included. Student progress is rated from 1-5 stars, with 5 being the goal. Kiddos can retake lessons they score low. I would often have my kids retake a section if they score lower than a 3, and later lower than a 4. As students progress, rating are based not only on accuracy, but speed as well. And again... 100% FREE.
Between these two programs, we've really had great success teaching our children such a great skill while still having fun doing it. Make sure you check out these two resources and let me know what you think. And if you have any typing resources that you've loved, let us know in the comments below. Happy Homeschooling!
*This post was originally published on 11/2/18. Enjoy!
Today I'm going Ingrid at Mommy and Mia Homeschool Chronicle in sharing a recipe for your Thanksgiving Table. Not only do these rolls make a great addition to your holiday meal, but they're also quick enjoy to be a fun seasonal treat any time.
Ingrid of Mommy & Mia HSC: Butternut Squash Apple Soup https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmcrZSa0FOG6FH5BUv8QNDg
Julie M. of Julie Marie: Maple Bacon Roaster Butternut Squash side dish https://www.youtube.com/user/julmulli
Arika of Dorsett Doorstep: Apple Pie https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMYoPRkjpEpvxC_3c-KSTqQ
Robin (Lee)of Creative 2X Mom: something apple or pumpkin https://www.youtube.com/user/Creative2xmom
April of The Simple Rugged Path Banana Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread (Gluten Free) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HVorQE8LgvYfw8_zPiDAQ
Amy Ciola Brisbois: Squash Casserole https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP-sBFkdkmo8yqBYq0-pdvw
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FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.
Music Attribution:
Birds in Flight by Dan Lebowitz
A few favorites:
Secret Channel Book Swap Unboxing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyPNMWsNZ04
Back to Homeschool Supply Haul 2018:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3n8v5nCpLk
They Cancelled Our Flight to Hawaii:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi_9TOtAy6c
Our First Day of School 2018:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGErJBl4vnI
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Busiest??? Yes! But absolutely wonderful. This time of year our thoughts start to turn to coming inside, cozying up with family, and celebrating the holidays. Starting about mid-November every year, we press pause on many of our regular curriculums and start celebrating with Christmas school.
Christmas school still contains a lot of our regular elements, but in a different, festive manner. Each year our plan changes to include fun holiday books and projects I've discovered through the year. And revisiting some of our favorites.
*Morning Basket--
--Christmas Devotional--starting in December, we'll be laying aside our regular Bible curriculum and picking up Not Consumed's Uncovering Mercies at the Manger. We did the Easter study this past spring and it spurred on some beautiful conversation. So I'm excited to delve into this one. I purchased the teen level for all three of us to do together.
--Christmas Scripture Memory--We'll also be memorizing a passage from the Christmas story in Luke as our memory work for the holidays. We love the memory box system and memorizing part of the story allows us to keep Christmas in our hearts all year.
--Christmas Around the World book reading--I have several Christmas Around the World books that we'll be reading from during morning time. It's always great to learn about celebrations in other countries and spend some time praying for the people there.
*Read Alouds--
I have two read alouds that we'll be read from for sure and possibly a third. These are the same books I've included in our December celebrations for years and we continue to enjoy these timeless tales.
--A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
*Christmas Carol Study
--Hymn too (folks and hymns)-- I have a Christmas carol study in my Google drive that's sat there for years waiting to be used. I'm hoping to utilize it as a fun way to study music this year. We'll also continue our Charlotte Mason music study with seasonal selections in hymns and folk songs.
*Christmas Musical Study
Also as part of our music study, we're going to be lightly touching on 2-3 musicals over the holidays, talking about different styles of music and how to incorporate them into productions. I'm going to be using Music in Our Homeschool's Mini Christmas Musical unit and studying Elf the Musical, White Christmas, and possibly A Christmas Carol.
*Language Arts--
--A Christmas Carol-- We've been working hard on our regular curriculum so we're taking a short break in December to read A Christmas Carol and complete a unit study on this classic. This book is the perfect way to introduce Charles Dickens. Dickens' work is a lot to tackle and starting with this one gives my kids a chance to wrap their brains around his style with a lighter topic than some of his other works.
*Handicrafts--
--Teacher Ornament Project--every year the kids pick out a homemade ornament project from pinterest. They create a handful for their teacher and directors from trampoline, choir, etc. These are usually simple, inexpensive projects, but take a little time and show care for those that are investing their time into the kids. A little way of saying thank you!
--Dot snowflake ornaments--if time allows, I found some cute snowflake ornaments for us to create together as we listen to our composer, read alouds, or during family movie night.
*This post was originally published on 11/7/16. Enjoy!
This is the time of year that time seems to travel faster than the speed of light. Each day passes quicker than the last and the to-do list seems to get longer and longer. Every year we strive to slow down and savor the moment. Breathe out the grouchy and breathe in the gratitude. In an attempt to live in the moment, I'm doing 12 Things in November to Make Christmas Run Smoother.
1. Take your Christmas photo--Fall is the time for photos in our family. With all three kids having fall birthdays, I take their photos in the fall anyways. And try to squish in one of the family as well. Plus the fall colors are simply gorgeous. Even the silly candids come out looking picture perfect for a Christmas card. And if not picture perfect, certainly a snap shot of where we're at in life.
2. Make a gift list--I am a huge bargain shopper. So starting off the holiday season with an organized gift list gives me the chance to pick items up at a great price. Plus having a gift list ensures that I don't forget someone while overbuying for others.
3. Purchase hostess gifts-- Don't forget those hostess gifts. We do a lot of traveling during the holidays and it's fun to leave little gifts for our hostess as the budget allows.
4. Gather Christmas outfits--I love to take Christmas photos in front of the tree each year. But in the rush of Christmas morning, it's so easy to let the kids just get dressed in whatever. So this year, I'm planning ahead and picking outfits they'll love, but look nice in as well.
5. Save the date--December is very busy with events that only come once a year. But the pressure to be everywhere can be overwhelming. So it's important to put our most treasured events on the calendar early. Some of those dates for us include the Christmas parade, Lydia's birthday party, our Christmas theater field trip, and Lydia's dance performance.
6. Make a master baking/grocery list--I come from a huge line of bakers and Lydia's caught the bug as well. We start our baking in November every year just to savor the joy of being in the kitchen together. Everyone has their favorites and I try to include those in my list, while buying ingredients as they go on sale to not knock my budget off course.
7. Check all decor items--Inevitably, I seem to forget to put out some special decor item until I'm packing things away in January. The last couple of years, I've tried to start sitting out some of those special items ahead of time in the garage and checking for any broken pieces that I can fix early on. This is particually important with Christmas lights. Checking those ahead of time saves a lot of running around on the day we finally get them hung.
8. Prep some freezer meals--December is certainly busy. Besides Christmas, homeschooling, and sports, we also have all the holiday events as well as a December birthday and dance performance. So while I'm cooking dinner in November, I try to double the recipe for the freezer. On those nights when things get crazy, I can pull dinner from the freezer, saving time, money, and sanity.
9. Declutter--Some people love spring cleaning. I get the bug to declutter in the fall. December makes me feel a little crazy with everything coming into the house and I just feel the need to purge. Don't take this as a huge decluttering event (unless you want to), but just work on it a little bit here and there. Spend 15 minutes in a room or two during the week and do a quick decluttering, just the things that stick out to you the most. And give yourself permission to stop after 15 minutes.
10. Deep clean--With out of town guests, I like to have my house looking a little fresher than usual. So each weekend, I find a public room (living room, kitchen, bathrooms, etc) to do a deeper cleaning. That way when December rolls around, I have a fresher, cleaner home to offer.
11. Stay healthy--There's a reason why we all catch the flu this time of year. More sugar, less exercise and fresh air, unusual diets, and less sleep contribute to a run down immune system. So this November (and December), I'm staying healthy. Creating a healthy meal plan during the week to enjoy those holiday parties. Making sure I'm getting lots of rest and bundling up for a walk in the fresh air. Taking care of my health will allow us all to enjoy those fun holiday times even more.
12. De-stress--While I'm taking care of yourself, I plan to spend some time de-stressing as well. Plan a girl's night out in November before the craziness to reconnect and laugh together. Get a massage to unwind after all the cleaning and baking. Pamper yourself to a pedicure to look festive and de-stress at the same time. I'm remembering that a happier me affects my family's holiday experience as well. And that makes for a very Merry Christmas.
What are you doing now to prepare for the craziness of the holidays?
*This post was originally published on 11/2/22. Enjoy!
It's November and that means just over 3 weeks until Thanksgiving. This year I wanted to share the holiday with my kids in a way that focuses on gratitude, love, and family. So I went searching for fun, nostalgic stories and activities that we could sprinkle into our homeschool throughout the month. And I came to find that there were so many good ideas that we probably won't get through them all. So if you're looking for some family centered ideas for your homeschool, I hope you'll find lots of inspiration here.
This book did a great job of introducing a very good job of addressing a very challenging subject. I have a fairly sensitive 13 year old and this book brought enough light to the subject without hammering the reader. Stella faces the harsh realities of racism through a young girls; eyes. But it's also mixed with the joys of girlhood and life. She written as a very real, complex character making her so relatable. So glad we were able to finally read this one in our homeschool.
Rascal is really one of my favorite books for the World War I time period. This sweet story of a young body who raises a raccoon kit while his older brother is off to war. With a loving, but distracted father, an older meddling sister, and a mischievous little raccoon, Sterling is growing up. He and his little raccoon, Rascal, become the best of friends. it's a story about friendship, growing up, and finding family in the least likely places.
Christian Heroes: Samuel Zwemer and John Flynn
by Janet & Geoff Benge
Still making our way through this series. These are two men that I hadn't heard of in church history and both were very interesting. What made of these men unique was that so much of this series (at least the books we've read) have been centered on India or China. It was interesting to read about the missionary efforts in other parts of the world. John Flynn's story was particularly insightful as it focused on Australia, a part of the world that we rarely think of when we talk about missionaries. He led such an interesting life. I really loved this one.
Author Lysa Terkeurst takes readers on a journey through the in-between... the desert land of desiring relationships and overcoming broken trust. Trust is the oxygen of relationships. It's what breaths life into our connections. But what happens when the betrayal is so deep you're not sure the tears will stop? And where is God when trust is broken? If He could see the behind the scenes, can He even be trusted?
Broken trust in past relationships can quickly become a stumbling block to future wholeness. Deep wounds, shattered illusions, and discarded dreams take more than time to heal. They require strategic reprogramming to stop them from destroying future relationships. But what does that look like when we loose faith even in your discernment?
As someone who's walked through deeply broken trust, Terkeurst's book was incredibly timely. She brings words to hurts and betrayals that feel so profoundly inescapable. I found myself nodding along with all she was saying. These were the words I've been searching for to describe how I feel. Here was a woman that understood the groans of my pain. I could identify with this feeling of despair. And yet, neither of us could be allowed to live there. Yes, this type of broken trust requires hard work, but it's not meant to be a dead end.
This book is exactly what I needed for this season of my life. Full of insight and practical advice... while not allowing the reader to remain stuck. I waver between 3.5-4 stars. This book hits on this topic with such precision and insight. I just expected it to have more Scriptural backup. However, the advice is solid and life-giving. I was continually surprised by Terkeurst's ability to clearly identify the issue and slowly chip away at the solution in a way that as neither cliche or belittling. Definitely recommended.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I realized it's been a very long time since I did an update on what's in my Mom Morning Basket. Just as we have a morning basket to start off our homeschool day, so I also have a personal "morning basket" to keep myself learning and growing as I have small moments of time. I've realized that those small moments add up quickly, and just as the kids need life giving ideas to meditate on, so do I. So while my basket isn't necessarily done in the mornings, I do try to touch on it throughout the day. This is just a sampling of someof the items in my basket:
This has been my Bible for over 20 years. I love that it's filled with notes and dates, and growth. This Bible has a ton of study helps, maps, commentary. It's a great Bible for giving in deep.
I don't have this specific journal, but rather an inexpensive one from Dollar Tree. But I love having a journal in my basket for writing down my thoughts. Typically I spend making notes a few times a week. But it's also really helpful to have some place to brain dump when I'm feeling distracted or for processing what's going on in life.
I also have a non-fiction book in my basket. Currently I'm reading this one by Lysa Teurkerst and I'm hoping to review it this week. I love having something meaty to think on throughout the day so my non-fiction book is usually the book I pick up sometime mid-morning or at lunch. I try to read non-fiction when my brain is fresh. Sometimes this category is history, Christian living, how-to... but it's always something that I want to learn more about in this stage of life.
Besides a non-fiction book, I also keep a fiction book in my basket. My high schooler is in American History this year and this one if coming up quickly for her. I saw her reading list and decided this was one that I wanted to read as well. I've never read Uncle Tom's Cabin, and being a lit major, I'm slightly embarrassed to say that. This is a heavier book for this category, but I'm about 1/3 of the way through and it's not too bad. Looking for books that will challenge me, but still not be as heavy as the non-fiction category.
This year I'm reading through several of these Christian Heroes books with my 8th grader. Currently I'm reading about John Flynn and he's been one of the more interesting figures that I've read in awhile. The content of these books is really good, but they're not so hard to read that you struggle through them. This is a great series to inspire young and old alike.
I keep a stack of index cards in my basket as well. They're great for writing down quotes or Scriptures that I want to remember. There are so many uses for index cards... I can't see myself ever not wanting them in my basket.
Page Flags... with all these books, need I say more???
I always grab a package of inexpensive note cards from the Dollar Tree as well. I try to write an encouraging note at least once every couple of weeks. By keeping notecards in my basket, I'm guaranteed to have a note on hand when inspiration strikes.
Finally, I like to keep some sort of learning activity in my basket. Dover Coloring books are always a good option. I've enjoyed working in various animal and bird coloring books, and I'm thinking about adding this one next.
I know I'm a couple of weeks late, but I wanted to share a first quarter update for our homeschool year. I know resources for middle and high school are few and far between (although it's becoming more common), and I hope that our journey of homeschooling through the high school years will be helpful for other families.
My 11th grader just finished her first college course. She was taking an introductory course for the culinary arts program called Sanitation and Safety. It was a shortened course that only took 9 weeks and ended with an in-person certification final. She paced with flying colors. So proud that she's stepping into bigger and more challenging arenas.
Her other DE course is Eng 1A. This course has definitely been a challenge as we didn't do a lot of writing in our homeschool last year. That's been a learning curve for sure. It's not that she incapable. Rather, it's combining one of her weaker subjects with some firm deadlines, and has required her to put in some effort. The other thing that's been difficult is that she's very low-tech. So with both of these courses being online, she's really had to learn to navigate the internet in completing and submitting assignments. We've had to work through some technical difficulties, but all in all, she's doing great.
She's only taking a few classes from me this year. I talked her into adding Physics to her course load and I'm sort of regretting that. I do think she may have needed it eventually to build a strong transcript, but this may not have been the right year. Looking at her DE courses and her dancing, she's had a lot to accomplish. However, because she is so strong in math, Physics was definitely the route to go over Chemistry.
My eighth grader is doing pretty well. We hit a few snags in Math that we're having to work through. He was factoring polynomials and that slowed us down for awhile. This week we entered into the world of slope and I'm the one slowing us down. As much as I love Sadlier-Oxford, I've always personally struggled with the slope chapter. So I'm laying down my teacher hat, and we're using IXL to make sure he learns it correctly the first time. I love having a handful of resources like IXL or Khan Academy to step in and teach it the right way when I'm struggling with a concept. Definitely helps.
One thing that's worked amazingly well this year is writing narrations for our missionary books. I pulled 12 different Christian Heroes books from YWAM for us to read this year. While I was looking for writing ideas, we decided that writing about our missionaries would be a good way to incorporate something we're already studying. So every other book, he's writing a 5 paragraph essay about what he read. I've really had to scale back our Rod and Staff curriculum to accommodate the writing, but I'm already seeing HUGE improvement.
That's been some of our strengths and weaknesses over the past quarter. I can't believe we're already well into October. Seems crazy. So much growth with these two this quarter and I'm excited to see where it leads.
Mr. Lemoncello's at it again. And this time he's looking for a worthy contestant to take over his entire gaming empire. Thirteen 13-year olds are invited to take on one last gaming challenge in hopes of taking over the Lemoncello business. But is someone trying to destroy Mr. Lemoncello's legacy? Or has Mr. Lemoncello finally gotten in over his head? Leave it to this new batch of gamers, including fan favorite Kyle Keeley, to crack the mystery in this Fantabulous Finale!
My kids and I have loved Chris Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello from the very beginning. This wacky character makes mind benders, riddles, and trivia come to life. And his challenges are always heavily laden with literary characters and storytelling. We've been hooked from the first book. While some of the middle novels weren't as engaging, this final plot twist returns to the excitement of the original. I loved seeing Kyle Keeley come back, and all the new characters were just as original and interesting. The riddles throughout the book were fun to solve, and the final twists and turns made for a great lesson in teamwork. It was a very satisfying way to say good-bye to a beloved character. Mr. Lemoncello is certainly one of a kind. We love that these books are original, clean, thought provoking, and fun. We definitely recommend this one to young and old alike. Happy reading!
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
*this post was originally published on 3/26/15. Enjoy!
Gross Motor Skills involve the large muscles groups and improve blanace, coordination, crossing the mid-line, and set a child up for an overall healthier lifestyle. Play is essential in developing these gross motor skills. These are just a few examples of toys that make developing these skills fun:
1. Tunnel-- We love having a tunnel in this house. This one is great for toddlers on up through early elementary. It's a fun day to play tag, hide and seek, building an obstacle course, and improve balance, and weight shifting.
2. Baseball bat and T-- Swinging a bat doesn't just have to be about baseball. It's also about building up those arm muscles, making the arms and waist work together, hand-eye coordination, and focus. And you'll love the look on your preschooler's face when they actually connect with the ball.
3. Bouncy Ball-- Large bouncy balls are a lot of fun for bouncing, switching hands, and catching. Throw them on the ground and kick them around while your child works on foot-eye coordination as well.
4. Balance Beam-- Balance beams are easy and inexpensive to construct. And if not, pick up a roll or painter's tape and make a balance beam on the floor. Great of improving balance, muscle development, and a sense of confidence.
5. Basketball Hoop-- What little one doesn't love to throw a ball into a hoop? Great for aim, working the legs and arms together, and focus.
6. Hula Hoops-- Hula hoops are so versatile. Swing them on your arm, around your waist, lay them on the ground to hop through, use them for hopscotch, etc.
7. Dancing Ribbons-- We all love to dance. And adding ribbons makes it even more fun. How many ways can you swing the ribbons and make them fly?
8. Tossing Games-- Along with basketball, tossing games help coordinate the arms, hands, and wrists. Toss bean bags in a basket or hula hoops, make a corn hole game, or invest in toss across.
9. Sit N Spin-- Sit N Spin is a fun way to coordinate the arms while spinning. It requires concentration on the hands and arms as they are always moving.
10. Toddler Riding toys, tricycles, and bicycles--These ride-on toys require the coordination of several muscles groups to propel a child forward. Additionally, your child is working on balance and cardio vascular health.
What toys have you found helpful in developing gross motor skills?
Are churches called to disciplemaking? What does that look like? How does one think in terms of disciplemaking?
In The Foundation of a Disciplemaking Culture, Justin G. Gravitt focuses on the principles for developing this kind of culture in your church. He particularly highlights the need for casting vision and ensuring that a disciplemaking culture maintains momentum beyond the first and second generation.
Discipleship in the church has been coming up a lot in my reading lately. This book in particularly is great for casting vision and reminding all of us about the Great Commission. Jesus' commission was to the church... not the church leaders, not the scholars, but the whole church. So if we're called to imitate Christ, then disciplemaking needs to be in our DNA as well. Gravitt's book reminds readers that discipleship is should be the basic core of church life. This really is a great read for living and serving like Jesus did.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
*This post was originally published on 10/9/18. Enjoy1
It's a new month and time to share what's in our morning basket. From Medieval history to earth science, we hitting multiple subjects and mixing things up.
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This four novella compilation includes works by authors Anne Blackburne, Amy Clipston, Mindy Steele, and Amy Lillard. All four novella are centered around Lancaster County and the holiday season.
Lucy's Christmas Sunbeam by Anne Blackburne introduces readers to Lucy and her younger sister. When Lucy's parents die, she takes on raising her little sister, born with Down's syndrome. But when her boyfriend turns sinister, Lucy breaks things off and decides to go it alone. Till one day she runs into the new hardware store owner and love is awakened. But can Lucy keep her little family together while pursuing love?
In A Bird in Hand Christmas by Amy Clipstone, recently widowed Makayla returns home to visit her parents for Christmas. Little does she know that old flame Wyatt was recently employed by her father. Can these two overcome old rumors to build a life together? Or will Makayla enter into a loveless marriage with someone else?
Christmas Lily by Amy Lillard tells the story of seven year old Jacob who develops a crush on his new school teacher and sets out to play matchmaker between her and his recently widowed father. But the two are far from friendly. Will mother nature plot to bring the two of them together? Or will Jacob find himself saying good-bye to his teacher forever?
In Leaving Lancaster by Mindy Steele, three sister, Louise, Beth, and Leah, discover their father has decided to sell the family farm and move to Kentucky. All three sister have mixed feelings about the move. With only on Christmas left on the farm, will the girls find their miracle?
It typically really hard to develop interesting characters within a novella. However, all four authors did an incredible job of bringing their characters and stories to life. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much interest was packed into these novellas, making them just as engaging as full length novels. Each story is told from a unique viewpoint, from single parenthood to older marriages to second marriages. All in all, I felt like this collection was really well done. All the authors took the time with their storytelling and created a wonderful set for the Christmas season.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Josiah helped me make beef stew earlier this week as part of his history homework. We’re studying the Irish potato famine, but I’m all about doing the cooking activities when given the chance. We used their recipe as a base and then made it our own. It was delicious.
What I'm Reading:
I just started a book on developing a discipleship culture in the church. Funny enough it goes along with some of the podcasts I’ve been listening too as well. Lots of information to digest and think through. Reviews coming soon.
What I'm Doing:
We spent the week catching up on appointments… well visits, pointe shoes, PSAT set up, etc. I felt like I was in the car a lot this week. But totally planning on getting some crafting time in this weekend.
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