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?

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.  

 book cover for You Can Be Brave

You Can Be Brave by Max Lucado

Wilfred Grenfell: Fisher of Men (Christian Heroes: Then and Now)

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: A Laugh-Out-Loud Middle Grade Story About Owls, Family, and Conservation for Kids (Ages 8-12)

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
*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

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
*Watch a patriotic movie together

What days are you celebrating this month?
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