Mother's Day Acrostic Poem Templates
Printable Travel Brochure Template
Friday, May 8, 2026
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
25+ Fun Picture Books for Spring
Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Bug Off!: A Swarm of Insect Words by Cathi Hepworth
The Bumblebee Queen by April Pulley Sayne
The Honeymakers by Gail Gibbons
A Butterfly is Patient by Sylvia Long
The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi and Krysten Brooke
Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Kidman
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messne
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Treasury for Children by James Herriot
Pig and Goose and the First Day of Spring By Rebecca Bond
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlers
It's Spring by Renee Krill
Mossy by Jan Brett
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Park
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na
And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano
Buzzing with Questions by Janie N. Harington
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson
Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor
Escargot and the Search for Spring by Dashiki Slater
Which One Will You Pick Up?
Monday, May 4, 2026
2026 Homeschool Goals ll March & April Check-In
Happy May! It's time for my monthly check-in for our 2026 Homeschool Resolutions. I missed updating in April so this month's update will cover both March and April. I think I needed that little break because April was FULL. I cannot believe we are rounding the bend of finishing another homeschool year. I'm trying to keep these resolutions at the top of my mind so I can keep making progress. I felt so convicted about at the beginning of the year. Especially considering that my kids are just getting older. There are a few goals here that we are absolutely conquering. And then, there are others that we're really struggling with. Ooops! I'm actually going to put some things on the calendar as soon as I finish this update.
So I'm doing a check-in to keep myself accountable. I've copied my resolutions here and I'll put my March and April updates in bold, just to help keep things at the top of my mind.
Our 2026 Homeschool Resolutions:
1. Reading Scripture together--While my kids each have their own devotional and Bible study times, I would like for us to incorporate some Bible reading together. I'm hoping this will open up some dialogue about what we're reading together and start our day on a good note.--We're doing so good with this. I've been very encouraged by the progress we're making just be having the habit of 5-10 min each morning. We finished Mark and now we're reading through John and discussing. I love hearing what my teenagers are thinking.
2. Praying together each morning--I realized our prayer times together have become route. The idea is that having this prayer time in the morning will open up an opportunity for us to share a little more freely. And practicing public prayer will make it less intimidating to pray with a group.--This is getting better... it's been a little harder to get into a routine. My daughter leaves morning time when my son and I get into our read aloud, so I have to remember before we're completely done with our time. But it's getting better. Now with Bible reading and prayer, I have to find a new place for these habits once school is out. Any suggestions?
3. 12 Read Alouds in the Year--We love our read alouds. And I love that reading good books together gives us a chance to adventure together... even on a limited budget. As the kids have gotten older and the books longer, 12 books feels like a good goal for the year.-- In March, we read both Shooting Kabul and SeeSaw Girl. And in April, we read Turtles of the Midnight Moon. Which means, we've read a total of 6 books from our read aloud list. Yay!
4. Go on 12 Hikes this year-- Ok, we've made hiking goals before and failed miserably.. So I'm keeping it really simple this year. Only 12.. should be doable.--Ok, we are absolutely failing at this one. Or rather, I'm failing at this one. We've done ONE hike in four months. That's pretty bad. This is going to take some more pre-planning on my part.
5. Celebrate Lydia's graduation--I can't believe I'm graduating my second kid. Unbelievable! I have a feeling the way we celebrate this one will be very different from the way we celebrated the first. But I want to make it just as special so it's time to start planning now.--I've ordered and set out graduation announcements and start collecting some decorations. She doesn't want a big party, but we will have some family in town so I'm doing a little. I just can't let a milestone like this go uncelebrated.
6. One on One Dates--Yes, this is parenting. But with homeschool, parenting and education bleed into each other. Having strong relationships and time to listen can only allow for more openness and connection during our homeschool days.--We've done a little here and there. In the past two months, we've had a one on one at least once with each of them.
7. Plan 6+ homeschool field trips--Having one kid graduated and two in high school, I realize more every day just how small this window of time really is. So field trips mean so much. Making time to enjoy learning, experience new opportunities, expand their horizons... I have 2 in the works right now, with multiple tabs open for potential learning over the next year.--Over spring break, we were near the state capitol so we finally took a tour. I've been wanting to take the kids for years. We also had our nephew and nieces with us so we had a group from 7-18 yrs old. Our tour guide was amazingly patience, knew just the right amount of history and personal interest stories, and gave us a great tour. And it was FREE! Cannot recommend highly enough. So we've gotten in 2 formal field trips and lots of fun outings as well.
8. Stay invested in our homeschool group--Our high school home group has been a lifeline this year. Giving my kids an opportunity to make likeminded friends AND be mentored by other quality parents... WIN/WIN! I'm definitely making time in our schedule to keep this going.--We had a couple of discipleship groups in March, but April was BUSY! So we didn't really meet. We do have a couple of dates on the calendar of May so I'm looking forward to it. My hope is to do some little meet-ups over the summer, and start up again with some renewed excitement in the fall.
As you can see, my theme this year is CONNECTION, CONNECTION, CONNECTION! Now more than ever, I'm well aware of how important relationship is in our homeschool. Everything flows from that starting point. So happy to be raising my very best friends.
Are you making homeschool resolutions this year?
Friday, May 1, 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Aloud ll April 2026
Nonfiction:
Help! My Kid Hates Writing by Julie Bogart
Writing is hard. Teaching writing is HARD. Julie Bogart brings her Brave Writer system to parents as they support their children's writing journey with practical advice and ideas. Bogart comes from a coaching perspective and really creates an alliance between parent and child. I also love that it included real life examples and exercises for putting Bogart's philosophy into practice. I'm not sure what I expected, but I wish I would have had this book when my kids were younger, and I will be returning to it again and again for ideas.
You Can Be Brave by Max Lucado
See my full review here.
Christian Heroes: Wilfred Grenfell
by Janet and Geoff Benge
I love these Christian Heroes books. They remind me how the Lord can use any of us for His purpose. This one chronicles the life of Wilfred Grenfell as he ministers to the people along in Newfoundland and Labrador. The conditions he find there leads him to establish hospitals, schools, fisherman cooperatives, and more. It was heartbreaking to read the stories of these families. The lives they lived were harsh, ruthless, and dangerous. Grenfell's work during that time is truly amazing and inspiring. I say it every time... "This one's my new favorite."
Fiction:
Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
This final novel in the Anne of Green Gables series follows Anne's youngest daughter, Marilla. Entering adulthood as World War I erupts, Rilla jumps in to help the war effort and even raises a baby whose mother dies while the father is a soldier. As the war rages, she watches three brothers, numerous friends, and a love interest leave for Europe. This book discusses themes of courage, resilience, and heartache. Other than the first book, this might be my favorite in the series. Montgomery has a way of writing very believable characters and bring history to life. This book reminds us all what a challenging time this was, and the grit and resilience that was exhibited by an entire generation.
The Secret, Book, and Scone Society by Ellery Adams
Four strangers in a small town unite together to not only solve one murder, but two. It all enters around the new housing development and an executive who was ready to come clean. Until he wounds up dead. And when one of their own is framed for the murders, it's up to the other to uncover the real killer. This isn't my usual genre, but spoiler alert, I loved it. The plot was intriguing without being "too much." And the four protagonists were so endearing. This is a great light mystery of just stepping into something new.
There's an Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead George
This was quick middle grade read about a young boy whose father has lost his job due to conservation efforts. The spotted owl threatens the family livelihood and a rural town is in transition. The young boy finds a baby owlet which he brings home and it immediately bonds with his father. Over time, the father comes around to loving the owl as well. However, they have yet to realize it's a spotted owl. What will the father do when he realizes? I love this author's books. She does a great job of balancing the needs of the environment with the needs of people, without belittling either side. This would make a great read about for ages 8-12 years.
Read Alouds:
Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald
Twelve year old Barana is fascinated by the sea turtles that visit her coastal home in Honduras. And she's equally as determined to preserve their nests for generations to come.
Aberdeen is struggling to fit into her life in the states, where she's never quite felt like the other kids.
When Abby gets the chance for a two week visit to Honduras with her father, the girls become unlikely allies in tracking down the poaches that are terrorizing the island.
This is an age appropriate mystery about friendship, preservation, and family, all themes appropriate for tweens and middle schoolers. We loved reading this one and hope you will too!
What are you reading?
Monday, April 27, 2026
May Holidays and Homeschool Ideas
Looking for a few ways to add some fun to your homeschool? Here are just a few of the holidays and fun days you can celebrate this month:
May 1st--May Day
*Create a floral bouquet and surprise your grandparents
*Gift your neighbors with some floral plants and offer to help in their garden
*Learn about composting
*Practice a few simple dance steps set to folksongs
May 2nd--National Scrapbook Day
*Create a scrapbook page around an "I am" poem
*Create a page around a state/ historical figure you're studying
*Create a scrapbook page around an "I am" poem
*Create a page around a state/ historical figure you're studying
*Scrapbook a page about your nature walk
May 5th--Cinco De Mayo
*Read the Real History of Cinco De Mayo
*Complete Cinco De Mayo word search
*Plan a special dinner together
*Try your hand at homemade tortillas
May 10th--Mother's Day
*Create a menu/shop/cook dinner (w/help)
*Play this Mother/Baby Animal Memory Game
*Gift Flower Coupon cards
*Make Mom's favorite dessert
May 15th--Pizza Party Day
*Have a pizza party of course!
*Cut pizzas in different amounts and talk about fractions
*Double or half the recipe for more practice in fractions
*Research favorite pizza toppings by country
*Make Mom's favorite dessert
May 15th--Pizza Party Day
*Have a pizza party of course!
*Cut pizzas in different amounts and talk about fractions
*Double or half the recipe for more practice in fractions
*Research favorite pizza toppings by country
May 18th--Museum Day
*Go to your local children's museum
*Check out an art gallery
*Or explore the train museum
May 20th--Pick Strawberries Day
*Plant strawberry plants
*Extract DNA from strawberries
*Visit a U-Pick Strawberry farm
*Pack these Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jelly Bars
May 25th--Memorial Day
*Attend a memorial service at a veteran's cemetery
*Write to a serviceman in your family
*Visit a U-Pick Strawberry farm
*Pack these Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jelly Bars
May 25th--Memorial Day
*Attend a memorial service at a veteran's cemetery
*Write to a serviceman in your family
*Watch a patriotic movie together
What days are you celebrating this month?
What days are you celebrating this month?
Friday, April 24, 2026
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
You Can Be Brave {Review}
We live in a busy wold. Information is everywhere, headlines scream chaos, anxiety is on the rise. Since 2020, counseling waitlists have grown exponentially, with many clients finding it impossible to get an appointment. Being brave feels far out of reach when most of us are just trying to get through the day.
Author Max Lucado addresses our fear filled world, while encouraging his readers not to be filled with fear themselves. Simply saying, "Don't worry" just doesn't cut it. But in true Lucado style, the author walks us through how to move away from fear as default reaction, love fully, and live boldly. Some of my favorite takeaways from this book include:
*"Parents... We can be loyal advocates, stubborn intercessors. We can take our parenting fears to Christ. If fact, if we don't, we will take our fees out on our kids."
*"Whether or not storms come, we cannot choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can choose."
*"Change trampolines our lives, and when it does, God sends someone special to stabilize us (Holy Spirit)."
*"Christ distributes courage through community; he never dissipates doubts through fellowship. He never deposits all knowledge in one person but distributes pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to many. When you interlock your understanding with mine, and we share our discoveries... When we mix, mingle, confess, and pray, Christ speaks."
I loved that this book goes beyond the cliches of "Don't worry," "Trust the Lord," "Where's your faith?" Instead Lucado uses real life examples of struggle and the peace that comes from laying it all down before the Lord. His writing is a beautiful mix of Scripture and story telling, relating Biblical truth to everyday life we all find ourselves living. This book was an easy read, but with powerful message... making brave choices today can lead us into a purposeful future with the Lord. All in all, a worthwhile read.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Monday, April 20, 2026
Regarding Socialization in Homeschool
"But what about socialization?"
Ahhh.... the S word!
Socialization in homeschool really isn't as big of a deal as everyone thinks it is. It 's so much more than simply hanging out with same aged peers all day. It's engaging in real life social interactions with people of a variety of ages and stages. And homeschool is the perfect environment to make that happen. It's learning to connect, collaborate, and learn in every day life. It's really all about building relationships.
Socialization won't happen overnight. It does require some trial and error in finding a good family rhythm. It means trying new classes, inviting others into your life, and building community. But while it takes time and effort, the results are so worth it.
So while you're building your socialization circle, keep the following ideas in mind:
*Invite a family over for a meal or playdate
*Try out a local nature study group
*Say yes to meeting a friend at the park
*Look for library events (homeschool families love the library)
*Take your kids on every day errands and encourage them to interact with others
*Join a volunteer group
*Plug into a local church and small group
*Establish a reoccurring commitment with family or friends
*Join a sports team and actually interact with the other families
*Look for low cost kid classes at the YMCA
*Join a local park meet up
*Start something new!
It can definitely take some effort to find your niche. But when you do, the socialization issue just falls into place. Don't get frustrated if it doesn't happen on the first try. Rarely does anyone connect instantaniously. But with a little time and effort, you'll find your community, and socialization concerns will feel like a far distant worry.
How do you address the socialization issue?
Friday, April 17, 2026
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Celebrating National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month and what a fun opportunity to play with language. Poetry is one of those subjects that can seem to get lost if we don't make an intentional effort to incorporate it into our homeschool. But the language is so rich and it's really very easy to place into our homeschool plans. Good poetry is like good books. It plays into the family culture, building vocabulary and creating a shared experience. It expands our world and forces us to look at life differently. Poetry takes big universal truths and distills them down into simple lines with layers of meaning and importance. And there are so many resources to draw from.
Additionally, poetry is great for teaching metaphorical thinking in the older grades. Subtlety of language, layers of inference, critical thinking are all part of having poetry in your homeschool. Playing with poetry in a fun and engaging way can create life-long poetry lovers and thinkers in your home. Avoid the urge to dissect everything you read. Read silly poems, thoughtful poems, poems about nature and poems about life. And just enjoy!
Pick only a few to look at deeply. Talk about how the poet uses letter sounds, line breaks, rhyme, etc to convey his meaning. And don't be afraid to disagree with a poet's style. That level of deep thinking is valuable too.
Start with reading. Share some of your favorite poems with your kids. I personally love Robert Frost's poetry. The library is a great resource for finding new poems to read. Hearing the language spoken adds beautiful depth and nuance. There are also a variety of resources online of finding new poetry. Try Ambleside Online, Youtube or 21 Must Read Poems for Kids. Looking for something different? What about The BreakBeat Poets or Echo Echo. And listen to beautiful orators recite their favorite poems. One I particularly love is Sr. Michael Caine sharing Rudyard Kipling's IF.
Watch a mini biography about a favorite poet. Try: Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, William Blake, Phyllis Wheatley, Robert Frost, or Christina Rossetti. Talk about what may have influenced their writing and the themes they presented.
Memoize rich poetry together. Practice one of the poems you've been reading or pick from 12 Poems to Memorize. Check out silly kids' poetry books from the library and find one that you can great hand motions for. Laugh, be silly, memorize tongue twisters or The Jabberwocky from Lewis Carroll.
Do SOME Analysis work. Don't overdo it, but when you get comfortable, some analysis can be fun. Look for things like this Easter Poetry Analysis Pack, or Learning through Literature's Poem of the Month.
And don't forget to Create! Let your students become poets too. Have a special poetry tea time to share what they're writing themselves and celebrate their hard work.
Write a blackout poem
Create a poem with this poem generator
Or maybe this one
Write an "I Am" poem
Create a partner poem like the Echo Echo book
Discover National Haiku Day
AND HAVE FUN!
Don't forget that poetry is all about playing with language. Pushing the boundaries of creativity and conveying meaning as concisely as possible. Read deep poetry, read nature poetry, read silly poetry... read with voices... read slow... read poets you disagree with ... and especially read poets you love!
How Do You Celebrate National Poetry Month?
Monday, April 13, 2026
Teaching Poetry Memorization to Children
Do you struggle with how to start memorizing poetry in your homeschool? This video will give you some simple ideas for getting started.
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Friday, April 10, 2026
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Twelve Women of the Bible Study Guide {Review}
Discover lessons from Women of the Bible including:
1. Eve: finding Lasting Contentment in the Truth
2. Rebekah: Breaking Free from Feminine Stereotypes
3. Leah: Overcoming Rejection and Insecurity
4. Hannah: Surrendering in Waiting
5. Abigail: Dealing with Confrontation in Relationships
6. Gomer: Learning to Accept Unconditional Love
7. Mary, Mother of Jesus: Moving from Comfort to Courage
8. Mary Magdalene: Transforming from Outcast to Follower
9. Mary of Bethany: Putting Our Faith in Action
10. Martha: Finding Our Identity in Jesus
11. The Woman at the Well: Turning Our Messes into Messages
12. The Syrophoenician Woman: Approaching God with Persistency and Boldness
Each profile follows one woman, an example of faith in an imperfect world. Though each lives a life very different from the modern world, her story parallels today's woman in both troubles and joys. These 12 studies include a video lesson, a devotional on the woman's life, and both study and reflection questions for a women's group.
I did appreciate that this study covers a variety of women from the Bible, both in their strengths and weaknesses. Each session included an overview of her story and didn't shy away from showing her humanity. The questions were reflective and the lessons seemed a good length for a beginning to intermediate study. On the con side, I did find that some of the studies seemed contradictory. For example, the second study was about breaking stereotypes, but then goes on to stereotype that women focus on their physical appearance. These contradictions appear to be few in number, but were distracting when they popped up.
I do think this study would be a beneficial for those groups wishing to go deeper without being inundated by homework. If you have an established group that's looking for a little more, this would be a good place to start. There are a variety of contributors which will appeal to a wide audience, and the teaching is Biblically sound. Over all, a good study for a women's group.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this study from the publisher. All options are my own.
Monday, April 6, 2026
25 Spring Break Ideas
*photo from hiking in spring 2013
1. Purchase a roll of art paper and get creative with your kids. Watercolors, finger paints, markers, outline each other's bodies and add the details, be creative!
2. Make Smores! Get the fire pit going in the backyard or pop them in the microwave. And don't forget to add those colored Peeps for a fun twist.
3. Memorize a piece of Scripture together. Pick on that pertains to where you're family is at and challenge each other to memorize by the end of the week.
4. Make an Easter Garland. Pick bunnies, eggs, or peeps and make a seasonal garland together.
5. Have a sleepover! Pitch a tent in the living room, pop popcorn, and turn out the lights.
6. Make ice cream. Pull out that homemade ice cream recipe or try a new one. What a great way to spend time in the kitchen with your kids.
7. Do a community service project. Select a project to donate your time to and work alongside your kids. Show them the value of working hard and serving others.
8. One on one dates. Take your kids out and spend some one on one time together. Let them pick the activity (within reason) and just listen. Who knows what you'll learn?
9. Read a book together. Pick a book to read as a family and read a bit each day. Great cuddle time.
10. Learn something new together. Go to a museum, open up the internet, take a class together. What are your kids interested in? Learn about it together.
11. Tackle a project together. Do you have a fun creative project you'd like to work on together? Use the extra time to tackle that project.
12. Get ready for guests. Create a new spring wreath, bake a special dessert, freshen up the guest room. Work together and remember the joy of spring.
13. Make a new batch of Play-doh. Try some Pumpkin Pie Play-doh or Kool-aid. And play with the spring colors.
14. Create cards. Break out the scrapbook paper and markers and make a stack of cards to send to loved ones.
15. Plan a neighborhood bike ride. Get the neighborhood kids together, add some streamers to the bikes, and have a bike ride. What a great idea for community pride!
16. Plan a playdate at the park. Pack up a picnic, gather some moms, and let the kids play as long as they want.
17. Cook a meal together. Allow the kids to help you plan and cook the meal.
18. Go local. Make a list of local places you've always wanted to visit and plan to see 3-4 of those throughout the day.
19. Plan a family game night. Put together some fun prizes like no chores for one day, pick your favorite dessert, or day out with mom.
20. Have a pizza party. Lay out all the toppings and let them build their own pizzas. Top the night off with a family movie.
21. Create a Spring Break scrapbook. Spend the day taking photos of each other and put them in a special book to remember your time together.
22. Start a journal together. Create a journal where you can write letters back and forth to each other. Save it for times of encouragement and love.
23. Make a batch of Peanut Butter Easter Eggs.
24. Create a family movie. Let the kids come up with a script, create the costumes, and act it out before the camera. Have a movie premiere with fresh popped popcorn.
25. Plan a nothing day. Let the kids jump on the trampoline, play with the dog or watch cartoons. Stay in your jammies and catch up on some relaxing.
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