My Favorite Homeschool Curriculum and Supplies ll Collab

*This post was originally published on 6/17/19.  Enjoy!

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 Today I'm sharing some of favorites from the past homeschool year... along with some other wonderful Youtube homeschool moms.
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Diary of A Homeschool Mama
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC__Yo0lEm98Qfps4dqSIgsw

The Brave Homeschooling Mama
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNT9jeaMb7ylcKvZm5yq2Zg

The Simple Rugged Path
https://www.youtube.com/thesimpleruggedpath

Creative2xmom
https://www.youtube.com/user/Creative2xmom

Bytes of Memory
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZYXBRaow7qaPnA5i0kf2bw

Boyboss Mama
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvrQy_Ml6tuc8Z4k83kmaXg

Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFdamhRE3YEAeEIhqxQ4WBxzB3GhW7N6o&jct=LOAAMm7eEeaDAZMNVusAJq0p7JRoAQ&disable_polymer=1

Homeschool Bravely Review:
http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2019/03/homeschool-bravely-review.html

Rascal Novel Study:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Rascal-Reed-Novel-Studies-666616

First Language Lessons Vs. Rod & Staff Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LG9Rpy-Xgs

Real Time Homeschooling--First Language Lessons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtAifOpWMfM

10 Days in Africa Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wpYh2CtYGk

Fall Homeschool Favorites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbocXwfmax8

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
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FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Music Attribution:
Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod

What We Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll Feb 2022

 

Lemon Drop Falls by Heather Clark-- See my full review here.

Loyalty by Avi-- See my full review here.

Raising Successful Teens by Jeffrey Dean

This book has to be on my list of top parenting books.   Today teens are growing up in such a different world than we did: social media, dating pressures, technology.  Sometimes it makes MY head spin.  Author Jeffrey Dean gives an honest look at the pressures today's teens face and how they desperately desire their parents guidance.

But how do we guide teens through challenges we've never faced?

This book shares tips and strategies for keeping the lines of communication open and helping to launch successful, well-adjusted adults.  

I originally reviewed this book in 2019, but it's one that I've returned to again and again.

Truly invaluable.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

After 10 years of homeschooling, I couldn't believe that we'd never read Treasure Island.  We're a family that loves classics so we decided it was time to pull this one out.  

Guess what?

It was an absolute flop!

Mostly it was the language.  Very rich, and full of description... and VERY hard to read aloud.

Although we were all into the story, we just couldn't get into it as a read aloud.  I think we'd enjoy it, just individually.  Better luck next time!

What did you read in February?

Weekend Links ll Feb 27, 2022

Parts of a Penguin Worksheet

Sugar Cookie Bars

25 Ways to Show Teens You Love Them

Cheeseburger Meatballs

Keeping Your Happy Through Winter

This Week:

What I'm Cooking:

Oh, this week we brought back an old favorite: Spinach Calazone.  This is true comfort food in my mind with the rich combination of spinach and ricotta and cheese and homemade dough...

So yummy!

What I'm Reading:

I picked up The Teenage Brain again.  I've read this one in the past, but it's been a couple of years.  It's deep and thought provoking and insightful... and so good.  I'm reminded how this book really helped me understand my teens better and how I really needed this reminder.

What I'm Doing:

We've discovered kite paper and window stars.  I AM OBSESSED!

They are so much fun and so beautiful in the windows.  

I may have made quite a few.  :-)

What I'm Enjoying:

Cool mornings coming back...

Reading The Case for Christ...

Trampoline tournaments with my teenage son...

What are you up to?

Understanding the Human Body: Anatomy for Kids {Review}

Children are brimming with curiosity and as a homeschool mom, I'm always on the lookout to take advantage of that curiosity.  This anatomy book made for kids does just that.  Understanding the Human Body goes into detail about each of the body's systems with fun illustrations, and tips and tricks for everyone from child to adult. Basic scientific terms are introduced and annotated diagrams help the information "stick."  This book would make a great addition to a human body study for the elementary age and we absolutely loved it.

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

My Top Five Parenting Books

 * This post was originally published on 5/16/16.  Enjoy!

Throughout the years of blogging here at Creative2xmom, I've embarked on this crazy, grand journey of motherhood.  And like many things, the reality hasn't quite scripted like the fantasy.  Challenging, tough, and full of both tears and laughter, this crazy parenting road has taken more twists and turns than I could have ever imagined.

Along this path, I've reach for inspiration in friends and books, desperate to learn from those who have gone before me.  And through the years i've found that there are a handful of books that have both challenged me and changed the way I parent.  These are the books I reference again and again and learn from in each reading.

Here's a quick run down on those that are worth their weight in gold:

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

Several years ago, we did a book club series on this book and I was really challenged with the idea of capturing my child's heart in their growing years.  Discipline is addressed as restorative and the goal is a change of heart, not just a change of behavior.  

Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas

This book was much less a how to parent and much more a how is parenting changing you book.  The focus isn't on the child, but rather on how God uses children to "grow" parents.  What type of child am I hoping to raise?  And how can I lead them where I haven't dared to go?

Love and Respect in the Family by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

This book sits at the top of my list for how I want to parent.  It really opened my eyes for how males and females communicate, and developing my relationship with my sons.  Again, this book reminds us of the fact that we are here to "guide" our children, not control them.  And that requires a development of relationship and communication.

The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell

This book focuses on how we give and receive love.  Taking the idea of 5 Love Languages and putting them in the context of our children, Chapman and Campell give practical advice for communicating love to our children in a way that they can understand and receive it.

Strong and Kind by Korie Robertson and Chrys Howard

I had my doubts about this book when I first picked it up, but it's become my most recent favorite.  Robertson encourages parents to focus on what kind of family culture they hope to create and begin developing that culture one trait at a time.  It's not a one size fits all book, but rather an encouragement to seek the Lord in discovering how he sees your specific family.

So what about you?

What books have influenced your parenting journey?

Lemon Drop Falls {Review}

Following her mother's death, junior higher Morgan feels the pressure to keep the family together.  Her mom asked her to take care of her siblings, and Morgan is determined to do just that.  But when her father spontaneously announces their family vacation, her anxiety transforms into a full-blown panic attack.  Determined to prove herself, Morgan sets off on a dangerous hike.  Along the way, she'll not only push her physical boundaries, but face her mother's memory as well.  Can she move past the sour to savor the sweet future?

Written in chapters alternating "Before" and "After," the author really gets to how Morgan's mother's death affected her.  Once I was in the rhythm of the writing, I really enjoyed this style of flashback.  It filled in a lot of the gaps of how Morgan came to her current understanding of the world.  Also the aspect of Morgan's mom being a life coach provided so many interesting life lessons.  Throughout the book, I came to realize that she was coaching Morgan into the next chapter of life.  Even though she was gone, she was still parenting Morgan.  So many life lessons where included in this book: working through grief, sharing emotions, allowing others to support us, and starting over.  Well suited for jr high and older, Lemon Drop Falls is a bitter sweet story of working through grief and healing as a family.  Great book for opening up conversation and sharing big emotions.

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

Loyalty {Review}

 

From Newberry Medalist, Avi, Loyalty follows the emotional journey of Noah Cope, whose father is killed by rebel patriots and whose family must flee to Boston in the aftermath.  Determined to avenge his father's death, Noah turns to spying for the British, putting himself in a precarious situation.  It is during this back and forth interaction with both British soldier and American patriots that Noah realizes everything is not as it appears, and he must lean on his relationships to discover who he truly is.

Set using the American Revolution, Loyalty is a coming of age story.  When we first Noah, he's a young 13 year old trying to cope with his father's death.  He's naive and determined to do anything he can to make his father proud.  Throughout the two year span of this novel, we see Noah grow and as his mother challenges, think for himself.  This is the story of a young man who must navigate what he sees and hears, along with what he knows about his friend a young Black freeman.  Where do Noah's loyalties lie in a volital time in history?

I read this book with my 10 and 14 year olds.  We shared this one as a family read aloud and I was glad I didn't just hand it off to either of them.  The challenging thing about Loyalty is that it mirrors real life.  Characters are complex.  Situations are complex.  And the reader is often left with a feeling of standing on shaky ground.  Historical figures are examined from multiple angles, both in relation to politics, loyalties, and stance on slavery.  It's often times hard to discern good guys from bad guys.

I would recommend this book with a few caveat... read it with your children... discuss it with your children... talk about the complexities of human nature.  This was a tough read at times because it really was difficult to discern where Noah's loyalties should lie.  Also be aware that there are a handful of very graphic scenes.  The opening where Noah's father is killed is particularly difficult to read and I censored it as we read aloud.  I would definitely not categorize this as a middle grade book.  At best, this book is geared toward the high school years, but again with discussion and guidance by parents.  Loyalty is a unique look at the American Revolution, but not without its challenges.   

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