2024-25 Homeschool Read Alouds

Debuting our 2024-25 Read Aloud List for Our Homeschool Year.  So many good books, so little time.  For reference, I have an 8th grader that I read with and some times my 11th grader sits in as well.  My 8th grader will be going through SOTW's vol 4 for the second time so I've based a lot of our reading on that time period.  I'm realizing now that I've laid heavy on World War II, so I may make some sustitutions.  However, looking at this list, I have no idea what to swap out.  What's on your reading list for your homeschool?

The Accidental Apprentice

The Weeping Tide

The Ever Storms

Journey to the River Sea

Stella by Starlight

When the World Was Ours

A Place to Hang the Moon

We Are Wolves

The Endless Steppe

A Night Divided

Walls

Farewell to Manzanar

A Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Born Behind Bars

A Season of Gifts

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

What would you add to the list?

Free Children's Audiobook Resource ll The Good and the Beautiful

*This post was originally published on 8/10/21.  Enjoy!

(Click on post for video) 

Today I'm sharing a free children's audiobook resource to bless your family and your homeschool. And who doesn't love free???

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑19yrs led to 👱15 yrs, 👧13 yrs, and 👱 9 yrs. The Good and the Beautiful StoryTime: https://goodandbeautifulstorytime.com What We Read ll July 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InPx4RJrSw4&t=16s Tips for a More Affordable Homeschool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_3sTqtakac Continuing Education for Homeschool Parents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AJW9sy6Wd8 Best of the Homeschool Year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VoTH3hjZYQ&t=1s Fourth Grade Homeschool Curriculum Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhhBtibAvNo&t=2s Board Games Our Family Loves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzzPR2lCgpc&t=1s Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/52903?ref=nav_mybooks Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored.

Top 10 Must Have Items for Your Homeschool Craft Cupboard

*This post was originally published on 6/6/22.  Enjoy!

 Summer's here!  The weather is warming up, the school books have been put away (mostly), and our days are slow and easy.  But wait.... no school for the next 10 weeks???

Well, sort of.  While we're taking time off from traditional schooling for a summer break, that doesn't mean that the learning stops in our home.  Nope, we're just getting creative.  

Summer is the perfect time to get creative. And while I love learning handicrafts with the kids, there's also something to be said for just having a well stocked craft cupboard.  From your toddlers to your teens, no one can resist a little freedom to just be creative.  These are ten items that we keep in our homeschool craft cupboard to encourage those crafting moments.

1. Variety of Paper--

  Different stages have introduced different types of paper to our craft cupboard.  From butcher paper for life-size drawings to tracing paper for perfecting our drawings.  Currently with teenagers and a preteen, we go through lots of kite paper and origami paper.  But paper is always an essential.

2. Variety of Writing Utensils-- 

  Over the years, we've tried lots of different writing utensils as well.  We started out with classic crayons, but over time, we've added mechanical pencils, thin markers, chalk pastels, and oil pastels.  All of my kids have gravitated to different mediums at different points in their lives.

3. Buttons--

  This is a funny one, but buttons can be used for so many projects.  From eyes on drawings to creating Christmas ornaments, my kids have come up with some pretty cool projects just from digging in the button jar.

4. Stencils--

  This is a personal favorite of mine.  I'm not the best artist, but stencils help me bring my visions to life.  At least most of the time.  I try to keep a variety on hand... from plants to holidays to animals.

5. Adhesives--

  There are as many adhesives out there as you could ever imagine.  Over the years, we've used our share of scotch tape, glue dots, hot glue, Elmer's glue, velcro dots, and so much more.  

6. Felt--

  We love having felt sheets and scraps around the house for creating everything from dolls to puppet clothing to ornaments... and more!  My favorite is to create Christmas ornaments every year.  This is a great beginning sewing project for elementary kids as well.

7. Foam Sheets--

  Foam sheets are great for creating play scenes for those peg dolls to enter into as well.  Or what about a homemade door mat for your child's bedroom?  Or a sun catcher for the window?  These are nearly as inexpensive as felt, and provide hours of entertainment.

8. Paints--

  Summer is a great time to experiment with different painting techniques and mediums.  Watercolors, for instance, are on my personal experiment list for this season.  But what about acrylics or oil pastels?  Pick up some inexpensive canvases at the Dollar Tree and give your kids a chance to see what they can create.

9. Blank Books--

  Blank books can often be found at the dollar spot in Target or a teacher's supply store.  These books are great for encouraging budding writers.  With the pages already bound, young writers can feel like they're creating real work.  You'll be amazing at the stories that will flow out of them.

10. How to draw books--

  For those creatively challenged individuals like myself, how to draw books give some guidance in getting started.  I love to keep a variety on hand from popular cartoon characters to realistic animals to facial expressions.  Sometimes having that starting point is just enough to get a young artist creating.

What items do you keep on hand to encourage creativity in your kids?

Inspiring 4th of July Recipes

 Yay for 4th of July!!!

We plan on spending the day in the pool, BBQing with family and friends,

and enjoying the city fireworks!

Just in case you're still looking for a last minute addition to the menu,

I gathered up a few good looking items from around the internet.

Not sure which on I'm picking...

What about you???

Bacon Cheddar Dip

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Cucumber Summer Salad

Fiesta Corn Salad

Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bites

All- American Trifle

What are you cooking up this week?

Summer Break or Summer Planning?

 *This post was originally published on 7/9/14.  Enjoy!

I don't know where this summer's gone... Wait, I take that back.  I don't know where it's gone: VBS, baseball, ballet, swim lessons, ... on and on.  And here I find myself over a month into the summer and this homeschool Mama wants to make the most of what's left.  So while, I'm trying to soak up some rest and relaxation, I know that school is just around the corner.

Thus, summer planning it is.  I'm looking over the past year and reworking what's best for our family.  Just to get me started, these are a few things I'm working on:

• Start with the Basics--For us, my non-negotiables are Math and Reading.  Any time we have a field trip, we try to hit at least these two subjects.  After that, my kids love Science so I work that in next.  And then we  add in History and Writing. 
• Get into a routine and don't overwhelm in the first month-- I learned last year that we just went too crazy, too fast.  I have to remember that we're going from the lazy days of summer into 5 subject school.  Even I feel overwhelmed.  So this year, we're easing in, bit by bit, and finding our groove before we get in too deep.
• Look for discounts and used deals--I'm spending a good chunk of my time this summer searching for used curriculum.  There are lots of curriculum exchange groups on Facebook and you can find lots of used books on ebay as well.
• List some read alouds--We've had a read aloud list going this year with the kids.  So I'm planning ahead in case there's any unit studies I want to coordinate our reading with.
• Determine priorities for your kids--Usually my kids so some kind of sport through out the year so I can count it as their PE.  But your family might have other priorities to work into your schedule: music lessons, art classes, co-op classes, language learning... now is the time to prioritize and see how they will fit into your fall schedule.
• What do your kids want to learn this year?--Ask your kids if theres anything specific THEY want to learn this year.  For us, we're doing California history and my oldest has always wanted to visit the state capitol.  I'm thinking my youngest wants to learn more about animals so we're working that into our Science curriculum.
• Don't compare--I have to constantly remind myself of this one.  I see moms writing their own curriculum.  Or other moms planning fantastic field trips.  Or even other moms who's kids are skipping grades, and learning third languages, and taking engeneering classes at 5 year olds.   I wouldn't compare my kids if they were in public school.  So why am I putting so much pressure on myself and them in our homeschool?  Part of homeschooling is having the chance to celebrate our time together and I'm not going to ruin in by comparing any of us to someone else.

So is anyone else back in planning mode yet?  How are you planning for the fall?