Thanksgiving Word Puzzles for All Ages
Lincoln's Thanksgiving Speech Analysis
40+ Youtube Videos for "The Burgess Animal Book"
.jpg)
Learning the Art of Discernment
5 Engaging and Fun Writing Activities for Thanksgiving
Friday, November 6, 2026
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
On Fostering Sibling Relationships
One of the reasons we started this homeschool journey was out of a desire to have a strong family bond. We didn't want our kids to only see and know us for only a few hours a day. Looking long term, we wanted something more. And looking even father into the future, I wanted to give my kids a head start toward close sibling relationships. While nothing is guaranteed, I wanted to give them the best shot at truly being a close knit family.
These are just some of the ways we've tried to intentionally nurture those relationships:
1. Shared family experiences-- Hiking, bike rides, camping, annual family traditions have all formed a basis for family experiences. We include friends when we can, but also plan some opportunities just for family memories.
2. Shared family read alouds-- This is just another way we have family experiences. We've traveled all over the world, and through time and space through the books we've read. They've given us inside jokes and shared vocabulary that is still apart of our family life today.
3. Family projects-- Whether cooking together or completing tasks that require family teamwork, these moments have taught us to communicate, exercise our patience and laugh with one another.
4. Celebrating each other-- Some of the ways we've celebrated each other have been through writing encouraging notes, sharing things we appreciate about each other, making dessert to celebrate each others accomplishments, and offering a high five or hug when one of the siblings accomplished a goal.
5. Learning to resolve conflict-- Because we're together so much, conflicts naturally arise. On the plus side, being together has also given us the time to work out these conflicts. By listening, practicing a genuine apology, and working through forgiveness, we've come to a better understanding of each other.
As always, we are a work in progress and I've love to hear below...
How do you foster sibling relationships in your home?
Monday, November 2, 2026
Fall Life Skills for Kids
With the upcoming holidays, fall is the perfect opportunity to incorporate life skills into your homeschool. Valuable skills like food preservation, baking, homemaking, hospitality and more can be put into practice with real tangible results. Not only will they grow as helpers, but their sense of self will be enhanced as they make real contributions to family life.
The following is a list of life skill particularly suited for this time of year. Incorporate only a few in the coming months and save the rest for next year. Don't overwhelm you kiddos, but rather think of this as a running list that you work on throughout their elementary years.
1. Rake leaves (maybe jump in them as well)
2. Knock down cobwebs
3. Organize the pantry
4. Inventory ingredients needed for the holidays
5. Knit a scarf for a loved one
6. Learn to sew a button
7. Measure ingredients for pumpkin muffins
8. Help change the bedding for guests
9. Clean the bathroom
10. Help stack wood
11. Help build a fire
12. Bake a loaf of bread
13. Learn a simple breakfast for guests
14. Help bake a pie
15. Learn to make elderberry syrup
16. Make place cards for Thanksgiving
17. Roast potatoes (sweet and savory)
18. Roast pumpkin seeds
19. Practice greeting guests with a smile
20. Work on interesting conversational questions
What ever skills you choose to work on, remember to practice on a day that you have lots of patience and are well-rested. Learning is always a more enjoyable experience when Mom is joyful and present. And have fun. Remember that every life skill takes practice, but you are specifically well suited for teaching your child and look toward the long term. You're doing great!
What life skills are you working on this season?
Friday, October 30, 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll October 2026
Fiction:
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
I'm continuing on my journey of reading Jane Austen's work. This was a new to me read and I'm very glad I looked up some extra resources. They really provided the background information I needed to fully appreciate the author's satire and voice. In this novel, we follow innocent Catherine Moreland as she emerges the protective covering of childhood and into the wider world of friendship and acquaintances. In this world, she meets "friends" who are not always as they appear. She must navigate social expectations and her own overactive imagination in an attempt to find worthy and fulfilling relationships. Definitely an underestimated work of Austen's especially considering how young she was when she wrote this one.
A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber
I needed a light fun read so I decided to skip to Christmas in my audiobook selections. This delightful tale from Debbie Macomber follows a young couple and their grandmother as they navigate an infertility diagnosis and the grandmother's dementia. As Ms. Miracle arrives to help take care of the grandmother, strange things start happening... and the magic of Christmas ensues. It's a predictable storyline, nothing too dramatic. But the perfect comfort read for the holiday season.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
This was my 2nd audiobook selection and just the right length. If you're looking to get into Dickens' writing, I would highly recommend starting with this one. The storyline is well known enough that even if the language trips you up, you can still follow along.
Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster
This book of letters tells the story of Judy Abbott, a young woman who has spent her life in an orphanage. Through the generosity of an anonymous benefactor, she is able to attend college and pursue an independent future. His only request is that she write letters to him and share her experience. Through her letters we get a glimpse into her spunky personality, as she emerges into adulthood. I don't typically read books of letters, but this one was sweet, endearing, and had a fun ending. It's a quick read, and clean enough for preteens and older.
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
This was the Christmas book I didn't know I needed. When Oswald T. Campbell faces a grim diagnosis from the dr, he makes a call into Lost River, Alabama to escape the damp air of Chicago. Once in Lost River, he gets wrapped up in a whole bunch of wild characters, including a quirky redbird and a little girl who needs a family. As the town rallies together for this little girl, Oswald discovers has might be finding a family as well. Whitty, heartwarming, ... funny in all the best ways... This is the Christmas book that will keep you laughing from cover to cover.
Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock
As a first year law associate, Sydney can't afford to lose her current case. The firm is downsizing and she has to prove her loyalty. So when her grandmother becomes sick, Sydney calls a cab to take her to her doctor's appointment. Unfortunately for Finn Parrish, he is that cabbie. After that first trip, Miss Callie adopts him as "that sweet boy," calling him for every errand, from Christmas shopping to purchasing a Christmas tree to setting up a date for Sydney. Miss Callie is the star of this book. She brings together all these people that she loves and love her in return. But as far as a happy Christmas book, this one was pretty sad. I kept waiting for the story to lighten up and it just didn't. The message was good and appropriate for the holidays, but it was just a little sad for me.
Non-Fiction:
The Promised Christ by Sherri Hughes-Gregg
See my full review here.
Cherish by Gary Thomas
To Love, Honor, and Cherish... we all say those words when we get married. The love and the honor are pretty self-explanatory, but what does cherish look like in a marriage? What is we really cherished our spouse? Sacrificing, prioritizing, praying with intention... learning to put their needs ahead of our own.... cherishing means helping them shine in their strengths. Very good and very well worth reading for any marriage that wants to stay strong and healthy.
Our Homeschool Read Aloud:
A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
This cute little story tells the tale of how Santa was kidnapped by the daemons so that he missed Christmas Eve and his delivery route. It's a classic tale of good vs evil and how Santa's community rallies to make sure the children get their presents. It's a fairly mild story with no major action, but just the right taste for a younger audience. L.Frank Baum uses his beautiful gift of storytelling to bring this one to life. I would absolutely recommend this one for PreK-3rd grade.
The Hour that Changes the World by Dick Eastman
Eastman challenges his readers to commit to a hour of prayer each day, broken down into 12 5-min increments. We read this book as part of our morning time, slowly working through the 12 steps and taking notes about how to use each one. It's a challenging book to read. I found myself getting lost in the details at times. But it's also very useful if you're wanting to take your prayer time up a notch. For our homeschool high school, we're going to be implementing this system in a shorter time periods as a way of refreshing our prayers.
What are you reading?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
