What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll August 2026

 Fiction:

Emma by Jane Austen

Emma is the classic matchmaker.  She's always on the lookout for the next couple she will bring together.  And it doesn't help that several of the couples she has introduced end up getting married.  But she insists that she will never marry herself.  Along the way, she befriends Harriet, a child of unknown parentage, that Emma is determined to introduce into high society.  Along the way, Harriet passes in and out of love with not only one, but several gentleman, including Mr. Knightley.  This match produces some dire consequences as Emma soon comes to realize that she carries for Mr. Knightley herself.  Whitty, clever, touching on the themes of class, propriety, and friendship, this book is classic Jane Austen as she balances a whole cast of interesting characters, bringing each one to life.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

This book follows the Dashwood family: Mrs. Dashwood ruled by her fervent desire to see her daughter's married, Marianne who's heart always lead the way, and Elinor who rather chooses to take things slowly and cautiously.  When the family finds themselves living in Barton, they meet a handful of eligible suitors: Willoughby with his dashing good looks, Col Brandon with his steadfast nature, and a returning beau, Edward, though quiet, proves himself to be a true gentleman.  Over time, they all learn what it means to be ruled by one's emotions and whether or not a little reserve is more advantageous.

This is one of Jane Austen's books that I've read previously and prior to reading Mansfield Park, I would have said this is my favorite.  If you're looking to start reading Austen's novels, this is the one I would begin with.

Nonfiction:

Making Peace With What I Can't Control by Lysa Terkeurst

See my full review here.

Read Alouds:

Building 903 by Lois Lowry

See my full review here.

The School of Obedience by Andrew Murray

Does this title look familiar?  I read it for myself in June to see if I wanted to share it with my sophomore son.  The beginning is a little slow and the text is complex.  So I put it into our read aloud list so we could discuss it together.  Here's my review from June:

As we see from Scripture, Christ was our example of full obedience to God.  He followed God's plan of redemption even to death on the cross.  In The School of Obedience, Murray lays out Christ's total surrender and how we as Christians are to follow in His steps.  This book is small, but mighty.  It's dense, thorough, and thoughtful.  Rather than presenting obedience as legalism, Murray shows the true freedom that comes from obedience and how it draws us into the fullness of Christ.

What are you reading?

Weekend Links ll August 28, 2026

 

Easy Ways To Do Art For Homeschoolers

Impressionism Artists Notebooking Unit

15 Fun Preschool Spanish Curriculum for Homeschoolers

How to Teach Foraging in Your Homeschool

Aviation and Flight Resources for Your Homeschool

September 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:

Sept 4th--Lazy Mom's Day
*Have the kids make their own lunches
*Drop the curriculum for the day and go on a field trip
*Order takeout
(This might be my favorite holiday of the month)

Sept 8th--International Literacy Day
*Take a trip to the library or attend story time
*Write journal entries from the perspective of your book's main character
*Create a puppet show based on a favorite fairy tale

Sept 13th--Grandparent's Day
*Make cards for the grandparents
*Surprise the grandparents with a visit and lunch
*Become a Grandparent Servant for the day (mow lawns, cook, etc)
*Adopt the elderly in your neighborhood

Sept 13th--Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day
*Plan a meal and grocery shopping with the kids
*Bake a special treat with the kids for after dinner
*Practice measurements with baking muffins for breakfast

Sept 16th--Playdoh Day
*Make Pumpkin Pie playdoh
*Try making textured playdoh
*Set up a themed playdoh center

Sept 22nd--First Day of Autumn
*Collect fall leaves
*Take a nature walk and take photos of the changing leaves
*Enjoy a cup of apple cider

Sept 27th--Tourism Day
*Create a brochure for somewhere you'd like to travel
*Research a family trip for next summer
*Create a travel brochure for your hometown

Sept 28th--Good Neighbor Day
*Take a treat to your neighbors
*Adopt an elderly neighbor to take care of
*Host a block party

What days are you celebrating this month?

Making Peace With What I Can't Control {Review}

 

Bestselling author, Lysa Terkeurst offers an alternative to the frantic control mindset we can sometimes fall into.  She offers up a path for releasing what is already out of our control anyways.  Control isn't always motivated from a bad place.  Often we see the choices our loved ones are making, and we know the outcome can only bring heart ache.  So it starts with a little worry... a small comment... a desire to help them find a healthier path.  Before we know it, we're sucked into their chaos, trying to get them on the right track, our minds in an absolute mess.  If only we could find the right words... the right conversation... the perfect illustration to show them how destructive their choices are... And we find the joy and peace being sucked out of our lives in an attempt to bring health to someone who doesn't want to be healthy.  

So what's the answer?

In Making Peace with What I Can't Control, Terkeurst helps her readers find the balance between concern and control.  She identifies the fears that drive many of us, contrasts healthy relationships with controlling ones, and wrestles honestly with the Lord and His will.  Most helpfully, she not only helps her readers identify the patterns, but also offers real life strategies for how to get out of them.

This book was so helpful for me.  It can be difficult when faced with challenging relationships.  Where is the line between being a wise voice in someone's life and crossing over to control?  And what do you do when you realize you have crossed that boundary?  Not only does the author walk through common controlling issues, but also the deep underlying motivation: fear.  I think this is one of the most commonly overlooked parts of control... how do we allow others to make their own choices when their choices could have devastating effects on us?  So often our culture encourages us to cut them out of our lives, but some relationships are more complicated than that.  Terkeurst acknowledges this and equips her readers with real ways to handle these delicate situations.

Honest, real, candid... this book is helping me let go and place these individuals in God's hands.  That's not to say that it's easy.  Real letting go takes time.  That's why I'll be reading this book again.  Filled with Scripture and deep wisdom, I know that Making Peace With What I Can't Control will be a lasting tool in so many lives.  Highly recommended.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

How We Teach Artist Study

 

(Click on post for video)

(Video from a few years ago/ text goes more in depth)

Artist study is one of those subjects that I used to think I just didn't have time for.  It wasn't something I grew up learning and I just didn't think I could make the time to learn about art to teach it to my kids.  Who has time for artist study between grammar lessons and hatching caterpillars and dinner to be prepped and the baby crying?  It was just too much.

Little did I know just how easy Artist Study could actually be.

A couple of years ago, I set out on a journey to incorporate more art into our homeschool.  In order to keep it from being lost in our day, I decided to anchor it one morning a week in our morning basket.  My goal was to simply get the kids familiar with different artists and styles of art.  It wasn't to give them a complete overview of art history, but rather to consider art, enjoy it, let it shape them.  I wanted them to see art as something accessible to anyone, to form a relationship with it.  To see value in it purely for what it is.

And it had to be both quick and easy!

So here is how we got started:

1. Start early-- This is my one regret in artist study.  I waited until my kiddos were in middle school before I jumped in.  I wish I would have started younger so they were have had years more to enjoy good art.

2. Choose about 6 paintings from one artist to cover over the course of 12 weeks--We follow the Ambleside Online rotation, but you can choose any artist you enjoy.  We observe one painting per week and then loop though them a second time.  This means we are exposed to about 3 artists per year.

3. Show the painting to your student for about 5 minutes-- discuss what you both notice.  How does the title refection the action in the painting?  What details can you notice?  Does this painting remind you of anything others you've seen by the same artist?

4. Have your child tell back-- Now turn the painting over and ask them to tell back what they remember.  What details can they specifically recall?

5. Review the painting together-- Take a second look at the painting.  Where their details correct?  What do they notice now that they didn't notice before?

6. Display the painting for the following week-- Remind children to take notice of it for a few minutes every day.  Allow the details and feeling of the painting to be observed.  

7. Have your child give you an oral or written narration-- At the end of twelve weeks, ask your child which of the six paintings was their favorite.  Have them give you an oral or written narration, including any details they recall, as if you've never seen the painting yourself.  Ask them to describe why they chose that particular painting and any other information they'd like to give you.  Younger children can also try to imitate that painting with a drawing or painting of their own if they choose.

It really is that simply.  Add in a trip to a local museum if you'd like, but don't feel pressured to take it any further.  Read a book about the artists life if you want to go deeper, or just keep it simple.  Remember the goals are exposure and enjoyment.  It amazes me how this little once a week practice has completely changed the way my kids feel about artists and art history.  And our lives are so much richer for it!

Do you include artist study in your homeschool?  Would you like to try?