Funny Birthday Card for Mom Gorgeous watercolor from my son Funny Birthday card for mom… complete with misspellings! My favorite? Now that I’m older I really want to thank you for never leaving me in a shopping cart and running for the exit.I know it was tempting.Stephen- Age 15 Yes, I laughed so hard I cried. Then I created greeting cards for other kids to bless their moms. Because, this is the BEST blessing possible. Thank you and respect for our sacrifice and effort in raising them all wrapped up in a giggle. I made a few different versions. Fun foodLegoStunning blueFloral lavender Thanks for never leaving me in a shopping cart…
Fun Earth Science Worksheets for Middles Schoolers Kids slumped over their Earth Science books, eyes glazed. This is NOT how I wanted my boys to march through rocks, minerals, plate tectonics and all the other AMAZING topics to dig into during middle school. If you love science, you understand that textbooks are a great place to start, but definitely NOT the final destination when getting your students excited about this incredible planet we call home. Easy Earth Activities When they’re little, some fun earth day activities whet their appetites. But now that they’re in middle school, we get to dive into the good stuff. 3 Ways to make Earth Science Amazing for Middle School Students “For heaven sakes, please take us outside,” our kids beg. Go outside! Find amazing rock formations, mountains, and even a friendly volcano to visit.Let the kids get dirty with some fun hands-on activities.Make every piece of paper count! Earth Science Worksheets Worth the Ink to Print YOUR TURN What are your favorite EARTH activities and Crafts? Share in a comment below!
Selling on Teachers Pay Teachers Hey my printable friend, I earned a whole new gray stripe in my once dark brown hair when I began selling printables. There were so many parts to discover and master and I didn’t have anyone leading me down the dark path.This year, I’d like to bless you with some secret sauce. No, not for your next dinner. For your printable business. If you’re selling on your website, Etsy, or Teachers pay Teachers this recipe is for you. But, if like me, you have AMAZING ideas, but you don’t have 37 hours in your day. Laundry, kids homework, and hanging Christmas lights are great activities. They just happen to take up some of your creating time. To get your selling journey up to speed, you’re gonna want EASY. I believe many sellers give up too soon. NOT because they don’t have amazing ideas, but because they get tangled in the web of brainstorming, product covers and Pinterest. That’s where I come in. One of my passions is sharing what I’ve learned with other sellers.I wish someone had reached out to me a the beginning of my journey, so that’s what motivates me to reach out to you. Let me help you make your journey EASIER. Brainstorming is Secret Sauce A FREE Community for encouragement and Support Join us! A SELF-PACED Master Class Give it a test spin: 30 Day Guarantee Grab your free Success Path Printable Bookmark. Here
The Day The Thanksgiving Bird Imploded I sauntered into the kitchen. That 30 pound bird smelled so good. Opening the oven door to baste the turkey… I had a mini heart attack.My Thanksgiving turkey had imploded.Sitting in 3 inches of juice, with black charred ribs showing from under the skin, I panicked. I ran to my dad.“I need to show you something.” I whispered. “NOW.” I’ve began cooking Thanksgiving at 17-years old. My dad walked up to me and smiled. “We’re having 30 people over for dinner and you will be in charge of all the cooking!” I cried, whined and begged, but he wouldn’t budge. “Bekki, YOU will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner.” At that point in my life, I could make spaghetti and a bowl of cereal, so the thought of “destroying” a holiday meal for 30 people made my face turn green. Dad smiled. “I will be there every step of the way,” Dad said. “I promise.” I can still his face as we handed me a piece of paper and pencil. “First, write out a menu.” He took me step-by-step: MenuRecipesGrocery listPrep cook tasksCooking timesCooking scheduleFinding bowls and serving utensils As a homeschool mom, I can tell you he was teaching me project planning! But as a teenaged girl, I thought I was being tortured. Dad gave me confidence by teaching me to cook Thanksgiving By the time I was standing in the kitchen looking at an imploded turkey, I was a seasoned Thanksgiving chef with 6 successful feast notches on my chef apron. “I need to show you something.” I whispered. “NOW.” Dad followed me into the kitchen, leaving our house full of guests in the other room. “I don’t know what happened. The bird has only been on the over for a couple of hours… but, look.” The charred black ribcage mocked us. Much later, we would realize that my parent’s oven malfunctioned and had spiked to over 600 degrees, but now… …NOW, I just needed to figure out how to serve dinner to the 23 people in the house, without dying of embarrassment. We grabbed one more accomplice. My cousin Sue. Dad gave us careful instructions. Stand shoulder to shoulderWalk sideways to the garageI will carry the destroyed turkey out the back door Trying not to laugh, we side stepped while dad removed the bird. No one noticed. Standing in the garage, laughing, we realized we had another problem. What are we going to feed everyone? By the way, this Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite memories. Dad hopped in his truck and reappeared 30 minutes later with a cooked turkey breast. We popped it into the oven and proceeded to finish all the side dishes. No one knew about the imploding turkey until much much later. Sometimes, the BEST memories are born out of adversity, challenge, and even kitchen catastrophes. How about you? Do you have a story of disaster turned to blessing? PS- How many turkeys have you cooked? I just counted. I’m up to around 50 and only one was a disaster! Ways to distract your houseful of guests when your turkey implodes. Have the Kids and guests make a fort. Make a cootie catcher and tell jokes Have them play Scattergories Send everyone on a scavenger hunt! Pull out paper and pens and have them learn a few Doodles together. Better yet? Pair the adults with kids and have the kids teach them! Convince a cousins to help you dance as a shield. Get your FREE Gift Here
Earth Science Worksheets: Geology BUNDLE Inside: Earth Science Worksheets: Geology BUNDLE Mini-Lessons Most of these products are No Prep: Just print and go! Studying geology this year with your students? These Earth Science and geology mini lessons are meant as a companion to all of the various topics your students will explore this year. Geology and Earth Science in general are fascinating and engaging. I hope your students enjoy these activities! Topics covered: Composition of the Earth: layers including core, outer core, mantle and crust, Rocks: metamorphic rock, igneous rock, sedimentary rock, and the rock cycle, minerals and all their glory, plate tectonics and oreos, weathering/erosion/deposition, glaciers, mountains: fold, fault-block, and volcanics, topography, topographical maps, volcanoes: cinder, composite, shield and lave dome, and earthquakes, and video records Get your Earth Science Bundle in my TpT Shop 11 Mini lessons and Activities Included Layers of the Earth (5 pages) Layers of the earth readingLabel the layers of the earth worksheetLayers of earth poster labeledLayers of the earth poster unlabeledLayers of the Earth writing paper: Teacher created prompt. Rocks (6 pages) The Rock Cycle readingRock Cycle posterRock Cycle WritingLabel rock cycle (color and black and white)Types of RocksMinerals (4 pages)About Minerals readingMineral mini bookletMinerals foldableTypes of minerals Writing Plate Tectonics (6 pages) About Plate tectonics reading (2 pages)Oreo Lab: plate tectonics (2 pages)Plate tectonics Word search and answer key (2 pages)Weathering , Erosion, Deposition (7 pages)Weathering ReadingErosion Memory GameWeathering writing Glaciers (4 pages) About Glaciers ReadingGlaciers foldableSoilAbout soil readingSoil mini-bookletSoil profile readingLabel soil Mountains (5 pages) Mountains readingMountain vocabularyMountain feature foldableMountain word search and answer key Topography (4 pages) Topography readingTopography writingTopography internet activity and questions Volcanoes (5 pages) Volcano readingVolcano vocabularyRing of fireVolcano in a cup labVolcano writing Earthquakes (5 pages) Earthquake readingEarthquake questionsEarthquake project and rubricMake a seismograph projectVideo record sheet
Super Secret Code If there’s time on the clock keep reading… 3 Ridiculous things. One time, I opened the refrigerator and found my brother’s left shoe. No explanation. Just a left shoe. Another time, one of my sons was hard at work making a mountain knife with his dad and needed to make sure the blade wasn’t hot. So he placed it on his arm. “That was dumb!” He screamed.Last week, I agreed to host a Bekki Hates Bra online party. And I thought the left shoe was ridiculous! I still can’t believe it In a closed SAFE group of homeschool moms I asked for recommendations… A friend tagged another friend and soon I was looking at this image. This is what made me do it! All I said was WOW, I need that! Short version: I need some new bras and I decided to try the ones in the picture.When asked if I wanted to host a party to earn discounts or freebies, I RUDELY said “No!”I felt bad for being rude, so I asked my homeschool group if anyone else hates bras and would come to a bra haters party…Now there are almost 70 of us inside giggling about hating underwire and other bra-ish things. What does this have to do with homeschooling? Moms are people too!Moms need to feel more secure and confident too!Most moms are wearing bras that don’t fit. Grab Your Secret Code. Original, I know. Yes. The code is: SuperSecretCode Just for pausing for 2 seconds and asking yourself if you LOVE your bras, I’m giving you a HUGE discount on anything (or a bunch of things) in my Shop. Do you love your bras? Skip to number 3.You hate your bras? Me too! Join the fun.Use your SuperSecretCode before the timer runs out. This year is DEFINITELY the year of the ridiculous. Hopefully you don’t end yours with a shoe in your refrigerator.
How To Find Your Sofa Under All That Laundry She turned and asked the salesman, “so how many loads can this baby handle?” “Um. Ma’am, that’s a sofa…” She doesn’t blink, “looks like 6 loads, maybe 7. I’ll take it!” Unless your name is Karen, you likely are a lot like me. Sofa typically has a pile of laundry (or 12) ready to be folded. Kitchen counter is covered in paint, an incomplete science project, and a few cardboard boxes. Drawers are filled with an assortment of 42 things you haven’t thrown away yet that TANGLE and TRAP the drawer from sliding open so you can access the pen you need right at this moment. If you are in this club, raise your hand… I have something to help us. I don’t know about your house, but mine has basically fallen apart since COVID lockdowns. Although I am NOT a super organized and tight ship gal, I typically keep my home pretty tidy. You too? But now we need help getting it back under control. If you’re nodding your head and saying, “Bekki… ME TOO!” I’m gonna encourage you to do something scary. Take a sober look around and ask your self these questions. Do I have any cluttered areas that are causing me stress, frustration, or anxiety?Do I need HELP to get the areas under control?Would you be willing to attack ONE small space a day, in less than 30 minute chunks?Are you willing to play “follow the leader” with someone who has NINJA skills at organizing? Nope. It’s not me. I need this challenge as much as the next non-Karen gal. Don’t neglect this opportunity! We have the ability to find our sofas and kitchen counters BEFORE the holidays bury us in trimming and decor. Sure, you can build Christmas trees from laundry, but there really is a better way. PS- It’s worth it. Why is it only a few dollars? Free challenges and classes get neglected, so a few bucks gives us extra motivation.Sarah, my Ninja friend, is a single mom and knows how tight a budget can be… so she keeps her challenges within reach If you Join me, I have a $10 incentive/gift for you! Consider it a bribe.When we visit each other’s homes I want us to be able to sit on the sofa:).
How to Keep Kids Dreaming, Thinking, and Happy Inside: Easy to follow Step By Step Drawing Lessons for your kids! Working from home is an incredible perk… Not all homeschoolers work from home. Not all work from home parents homeschool. But MOST of us are dealing with distractions and interruptions. Usually, it’s fine. This whole have ‘our own life at home’ thing.UNTIL: Your 5-year-old princess interrupts your Zoom Call for the 12th time.Your son designs a nerf ambush for his brother right in the middle of the baby’s nap.All of your kids decide the perfect time to come give you a group hug is right in the middle of your online presentation.Someone screams. Let’s be real. You ADORE your kids. You want to see their drawings and listen to their stories.You want to play. Mixing work and parenting is NOT for the faint of heart. You really want to be the best parent on the planet right now and join the nerf battle and hug your kids… But RIGHT at THIS moment you just need 20 minutes of UNINTERRUPTED time to focus on this project. Why don’t you let me keep your kids busy doodling, dreaming and thinking for the next 20 minutes while you focus! In just a few minute, your child will be FOCUSED, entertained, and learning something valuable. Developing fine motor skillsWorking QUIETlYPracticing the art of visual thinkingBuilding their visual vocabularyHaving FUN How?Learning to draw! Let me introduce you and your kids to the Doodle Clubhouse! Each week, I release a new series of How to Draw Videos for Kids of All ages (well, 5 and up if they need to do them independently) The videos are EASY to follow and are sure to give them Instant mastery over drawing. While you are Thinking and WORKING, your child will be focusing and practicing the art of bringing drawings to life, all while I teach them how to draw step by step. Start with a Plan for Success Without a plan, your budding little artist may decide to decorate your dining room wall, rather than that piece of copy paper. You can’t just slap those kids of yours in front of a screen and say, “see you in 3 hours.” Even the BEST online activities require set-up and practice with kids. Because they can smell busy work and “get out of my space” tactics faster than your dog can smell the peanut butter jar open. So, let me give you some NINJA Skills for getting those kids to draw happily for a few minutes! NINJA skills are those secrets for success that we brilliant work from home parents keep to ourselves so our kids begin to trust in our creative brilliance. I won’t tell on you if you won’t tell on me; deal? NINJA TIPS for SUCCESS: Do the first one TOGETHER. Seriously. Don’t roll your eyes. Do the first few videos of the SPACE theme inside the clubhouse together. Your kids will buy in to these drawing lessons if YOU show them they are worth YOUR time and interest.Layout paper and markers. If necessary, buy some new ones as a surprise. Drawing with pen is a powerful lesson for letting go of perfectionism. I talk about that all the time in the videos. Don’t let a lack of supplies slow you down. Use what you have and then sneak in a few new markers later to keep them doodling!Pick up a pen and a blank piece of paper and write the words: DOODLE CLUBHOUSE across the top. Set a timer and draw with your kids. Every day. One doodle goes a LONG way. (NINJA high five)ESTABLISH rules of engagement. “I know you’re going to be excited to show me what you’re learning, but when I am working, you’ll need to wait until (insert your secret cue here… I suggest a timer) to show me.”Instruct young kids about markers… Only on paper, not on the baby, or the wall… you know the drill… Once, I thought my little angel was doing exactly what I thought he was doing. Reality? He was painting hime]self and the bathroom with red nail polish. A few minutes of proactive will set you up for success!AFTER work, or when you take that coveted break mid-day, Be sure to find a few minutes to OOh and Ahhh over their creations. Better yet, watch their favorite How to Draw Videos together and YOU DRAW WITH them and create a happy memory. The Great news?Anyone can draw. The Better news?I’ve grouped the themes into 20-25 minute themes, BUT each image is its own separate video, making them easy to follow! Sign your kids up for the Doodle Clubhouse for Kids today! For only a few dollars a month, I can give you those 20 minutes you are looking for instantly. Ready? FAIR WARNING: Your kids are gonna LOVE the Doodle Clubhouse! Be sure you establish the boundaries for your work time.PRACTICE for a few minutes each day for the first few days. Heads up. The first few minutes of each theme include fun hand warmup videos that will make them laugh. Out-loud. They will make a little noise as they get started and then they will quiet down as they draw. The goofy videos are a NINJA trick to get kids to exercise their fine-motor muscles. You need some time to work. Let me help you!! Diane Bleck is my Doodle Teacher Doodling and Drawing is NOT just something to keep your kids busy. It’s REALLY powerful and beneficial for their learning! Who benefits from the Doodle Clubhouse for Kids? Kids ages 5 and up. Our oldest doodlers are in their 50s! Anyone who wants to draw, but feels like all they can muster is a dot or a very short line. Yes! You can draw!Homeschool kidsPublic School KidsYour kidsMy kids There’s something MAGIC that happens when a person suddenly is able to MASTER a little drawing. CONFIDENCE blossomsCreativity is UNLOCKEDJOY flows in The Doodle Clubhouse for Kids includes: Video lesson on how to deal with mistakes. Really important lesson for our perfectionists!Weekly themes including multiple step-by-step videos showing just hands and the images come to life.Printable sheets including step by step drawing, a coloring page, a worksheet template and a colorful display of the theme.Access to a private Facebook Group where you kids can share their creations (optional; but fun) Why only a few dollars a month? All kids benefit from the POWER that is unlock as they master hand eye control and overcome those self-imposed hurdles. “I can’t draw” TRANSFORMS into “LOOK what I drew!!” I believe all kids need this type of confidence building, fine-motor development, joy bringing activity in their lives. I don’t want any child to be left out. This Clubhouse could easily be priced much higher… but then the kids who really need it would miss out. So POWERFUL! You need a few minutes to think, true. But you’re kids need the CONFIDENCE and JOY just inside the Doodle Clubhouse for Kids. Give it a test spin, today. Those 20 minutes of time for you to focus are hiding right around the pile of colorful markers and smiling faces.
Your Brilliant Dyslexic Child Will Surprise You The Most Homeschool Hack: Grammarly is free. This is one of those “no-brainer” add-ons for your devices. “Mom, can I sit next to you and work on my story?” Sure kiddo! Enjoying the warmth of his shoulder resting upon mine as he typed away at the computer, I glance at his screen and almost spit out my drink. … Read More »
Homeschool and Delayed Reader I spent about 30 minutes searching for my then 10-year old. It was cold and rainy, so I doubted that he had adventured outside. I looked everywhere. We lived in a big home then, so it took me a while to go back and forth while calling his name. Silence. I couldn’t find him anywhere. I walked faster toward the back door so I could begin looking outside. Movement caught my eye as I called again from the kitchen. The little squirt was hiding in plain sight, as still as a statue, curled between a black bean bag and our fluffy black and white dog. “What the heck are you doing?” I asked. He lifted a Magic Tree House Book in the air without making eye contact. I almost spit out my gum. The boy’s reading!!!! Did you catch that he was 10-years old? That’s old enough to thoroughly enjoy the sight of me walking right by without seeing him. It’s also way beyond the “normal” reading age. I get messages from frantic mama’s often about: how to teach their 4-year olds to read What language curriculum to buy for their kindergartener and suggestions for chapter books for 5-year olds Meanwhile, my own kids took their sweet time learning to read. As my son grew into the, “I’m starting to wonder if I am the right teacher for this child” age I began to leave him hanging in a story. My goal became leave him begging for more… And you know what? It worked. We never stressed about his lack of reading skills (out loud). We just kept reading. All five of our sons were delayed readers. Our youngest was the most delayed. His brain had too much going on to be troubled with the task of decoding the dancing syllables on the page. This extra busy, brilliant, and wiggly son couldn’t be bothered until that day he disappeared in plain sight. So how did I get him to read? I didn’t. I just kept reading to him. I read his math instructions, his history and science lessons to him and marinated him in exciting read-alouds. Sure, I pointed to words, tracked with my finger, and read slowly and carefully, but I kept reading without adding pressure on him. That day he curled up in the beanbag with our dog and read his first chapter book launched him from not reading, to devouring books almost overnight. Some may be tempted to roll their eyes. A 10-year old reading Magic Tree House? Big Deal. I think that’s where so many people miss the point. The point is not to rush your kids through the easy readers and into the ocean of “Big Kids Books”, the point is to get your kids to love to read. I mean head over heels in love with reading, reading. I make it a point to never roll my eyes at the book choices of my kids to their face. Instead, we embrace the fact that they love to read. Magic Tree House for Big Kids? You Bet! My son burned through 1-3 books a day when he discovered he could read. I even sat him down and picked his brain. Together, we created learning activities to go along with the books he was reading. Excited, overjoyed, and proud. That’s how those silly little kid books made him feel. Related: Don’t panic if your kids aren’t reading yet. Just keep reading to them. It will click eventually. The goal is NOT when they read, but THAT they LOVE to read. When that cold rainy day comes and you are frantically searching for them, just be sure to check the beanbag in the corner! Do your kids love Magic Tree House Books? Click here to grab some fun activities for books 1 and 2. Print this free homeschool mom reminder. This post comes with a free printable reminder list to help keep your heart focused on the heart of homeschooling. I always have the hardest staying focused. This printable simplifies it! Here is a sneak preview… Download Your Free Printable Download the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 9,000+ homeschool moms who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas!Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal.Place it on your refrigerator as a helpful reminder.
Life Skills for Kids of All Ages This is where the rubber hits the road in homeschooling and raising up the future generation! “We NEED these!!” Be nice to peopleHow to make a bedThe proper handshake5 ways to cook an eggHow to sew a buttonHow to iron a shirtDigital mannersHow to tie a tieHow to secure passwordsWhat to do if locked out of your houseGross habits to STOP and avoidSmall talkHow to pass on a complimentSmall talkand so much more!!! These mini units are hands-on, FUN, and guaranteed to be filled with things your kids REALLy need to know to ROCK Life! Don’t miss a lesson! The Proper Handshake Buy Now! PRINT THIS FREE HOMESCHOOL MOM REMINDER. This post comes with a free printable reminder list to help keep your heart focused on those important life lessons. I always have the hardest staying focused. This printable simplifies it! Here is a sneak preview… DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRINTABLE Download the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 9,000+ homeschool moms who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas!Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal.Place it on your refrigerator as a helpful reminder. WANT MORE POSTS ON HOMESCHOOLING FROM THE HEART? 120 is the number of classics you need to read Don’t homeschool your kids Godly women and homeschool You don’t need to apologize
How to Homeschool: Quick Start Videos to Rescue “Help! We just decided to homeschool our kids and I’m freaking out!” I’ve received various translations of the same message from so many family members, neighbors, friends, and readers that I’m, putting all the answers on one page. –>THIS ONE. Homeschooling is like eating and elephant, you’ll have to do it one bite at a time. Pages: Page 1 Page 2
Yes, Your Child’s Mind is POWERFUL and Creative ! Do you try to make handwriting sound a whole lot more fun than we both know it is to your kids? Yeah, my kids saw through that plan too. Kind of like the time I tried to hide carrots into a cake, but neglected to make the bits small enough to get by my little veggie detector. I know, you worry that your child’s only prospect for future employment is in the medical field. Surely, you are staring at at a doctor’s handwriting page. Right? …Read More »
A Family Fish Unit INSTANT Activity day! Theme: FISH Materials needed: Fishing poleweight/clayPaintPaint brushSmall snack like golf fish crackers …Read More »
What I was looking for… One of the hardest lessons my kids have learned recently is the truth behind the verse, “It’s better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” I wish I could say I never argue, but that’s not true. I became obsessed with everyone else’s opinion– but my husband’s. I searched the internet and friends’ social media feeds until I became blue in the face and unbearable at home. I dug deep, argued, walked away, and pouted. Just a few days ago, I realized my issue had nothing to do with the subject I was fixated on, but about my inability to communicate clearly. …and my thirst to prove I was right rather than listen. ((Sigh)) I hate it when my own bad behavior becomes the “kids, this is what NOT to do” lesson. If you’re on any news/social media sites at all, I’m confident you can make a good guess about which health related subject I have been wrestling with. At the heart of my personal communication crisis was a desire to hear both sides. The good and the bad from both perspectives. And I drove myself to the edge of insanity and back trying to find it.Critical thinking is an incredibly important tool to pass on to our kids. Free for subscribers How can you, how can I, how can WE teach our kids to objectively look at both sides of an issue or argument and then make informed decisions? Our world needs OUR KIDS to grow up with this skill mastered. How? Practice often.Remember debate classes? Teach kids how to be devil’s advocate (defending the side they vehemently oppose)/ Drop any issue on the table and take the time to peel back ALL sides.Form pros and cons for EACH side of the argument.Peel away emotionally charged language and blame.Talk through each side of the issue. The older your kids are, the more urgent this skill becomes. Today, the world is clearly divided about everything. We need to teach our kids how to be objective, loving, and clear about choice they make.And that comes from the seat of compassion and a determination to look at both sides long enough to see the truth.In my instance, once I turned off all the “noise” inside my head I could hear my husband clearly.It’s almost comical.But the moment I tossed aside propaganda, I found what I was looking for all along.XOXOBekki PS- Here are some starter topics to get you rolling: Should we have a pet?Should kids rule one day a week?Can we put one person in charge of toilet paper changing? Older kids Should the age for earning a driver’s license be raised?Books or movies: which is better for education?Should we ban cell phones for kids under 18? Controversial Should we mandate vaccination?What should be done about abortion? My struggle was over the propaganda charged mandates for everyone to get vaccinated. I wanted to find the prevention and treatment plans that are working around the world in order to weigh BOTH sides of this heartbreaking condition. I will not talk about vaccine vs no vaccines, but rather share a bullet list of what we’ve done in our home. We looked at both sides.We found treatment plans that are peer reviewed and have solid randomized clinical trials.These plans are updated weekly as new data and research comes to light.We printed the plan and took it to our doctor and openly discussed all stages of the potential disease.We determined we were on the same page as a family as our doctor.We built a wellness kit based on the research and our discussion with our doctor. Disclosure: I am not a doctor or medical professional in ANY way. I am a woman, wife, mom who feels responsible for the health and well being of her family and has spent hours and hours and hours digging through garbage to find a complete plan for her family which includes having our own: Prevention planEarly treatment planAdvanced treatment planVaccination decision that works for our family Boy, if you’re looking for a deep dive study with older kids, this is intense! I’d love to hear how YOU approach controversial topics in your home.
MATH FACTS! Bundle of Homeschool GOODNESS Days Hours Minutes Seconds Bundle of MATH FACT GOODNESS (retail 0ver $80)You pay ONLY $14.99 1. Where's your goodie- It's on the way! 2. GRACE- a free goodies for you. 3. MATH FACT Bundle of Goodness. Give your kids a BOOST and help them MASTER those Basic Math Facts! You can barely keep up with meals, activities, and laundry and everything else on your never-ending to-do list. And yet, you know that now is the time to do your best to get your kids ready for life. In just 10-15 minutes a day, these FUN Basic Math Fact activities will make your child will feel empowered, stop the confusion caused by not doing activities that count, and show you that even underneath that massive to-do list, you're still an awesome + fun parent. Bonus: Get the Basic Math FACT BUNDLE of Goodness (CRAZY DEAL- over 90% off) But only for a few minutes... Bundle of MATH FACT GOODNESS (retail 0ver $80)You pay ONLY $7 ... for the next few minutes only. Bundle of Homeschool GOODNESS for over 90% discount. “I’ll Buy It Back”Guarantee. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the Bundle of Math Fact Goodness, I will buy it back from you. ~ 100% RISK FREE ~ Here’s my 100% Better-Than-Risk-Free-Take-it-To-The-Bank Guarantee: 30 Day Money Back GuaranteeIf you aren’t 100% satisfied – I don’t expect…or want…to keep your money. Simply send off a quick email to me and I’ll happily refund your money in full. That means you can’t lose no matter what!
Simple Doodle Art for Beginners Inside: A Free Doodle Lesson for you and Your Kids As parents, we have big dreams for our kids. We want them to laugh and love, and learn and grow. We want them to embrace life by the horns and fall in love with learning. We want them to have grit and tenacity and an almost unquenchable confidence. But the real issue is how to we squeeze those skills into our kids’ day without them noticing. Come on. Your kids can smell a life lesson and confidence boosting activity as fast as mine. They don’t like to be told they are learning. That’s boring. They want to inquire, explore, and discover! We need to become experts at setting our kids up to succeed at something that they are convinced is too hard. It’s a ninja parenting skill. Want to borrow my latest Ninja Trick? Teaching kids to draw. Enroll today! The Power of Doodling According to Harvard. Doodling isn’t just what 3-year olds do on the paper placemats at the restaurant. Yes! Doodling! Easy Floral doodles and Drawings at your finger tips Doodling: Improves memoryRelieves stressImproves focusBuilds confidence Don’t those things fit right on your parenting checklist, too? Let Diane teach your kids to draw! If they can draw a dot, they can doodle. And if they can doodle, a whole world will open to them just waiting to ignite their imagination. The Doodle Institute with Diane Bleck. After completing a few classes with Diane at the Doodle Institute, I became an ambassador. Which basically means I was handed all the MAGICAL tools and skills needed to help your kids fall in love with drawing. Oh, It’s amazing how happy a cute little flower, a silly alien, colorful rocket ship, or a buzzing bee house will make you and your child! Inside the Doodle Institute All you need to get started is something to write with and something to write on. Use the supplies you have add fun things if and when you can. Pro tips: Watch the Doodle Videos with your kids and doodle together.Practice a little everydayFind opportunities to doodle as you are teachingPractice, practice, practice.Encourage kids to sign their drawings Drawing with pencil, pen, or brush on paper isn’t just for artists. For anyone who actively exercises the brain, doodling and drawing are ideal for making ideas tangible.Steven Heller Join the Doodle Institute TODAY and see what all the fuss and fun is all about. I bet you and you kids will fall in love with doodling. Researchers have discovered that doodling can actually inspire creativity, engage students academically, and help hold their attention.Learning Liftoff Doodling Keeps the Brain ActiveImproves Memory RecallEncourages CreativityRecruits Additional Senses Tools for Doodling Paper and pencil, right? Sure! But if you really want to give your kids a true taste of the magic, you can hand them some inexpensive HIGH quality tools. Spiral Bound Drawing pads that can also be used with watercolors Artist Markers. Quality makes a difference! Doodle Classes!! Do you doodle? Don’t let fear, frustration, or doubt creep in. Truly you can draw as well as with practice! Practice! Even if it’s just for 5 minutes and it doesn’t need to be a perfect final piece. Every single time you’re drawing and sketching, you’re improving not only your lines but also your confidence! Looking for classes for YOU or your older kids? The Doodle Institute is for you as well. But if you’d prefer a “Visual Facilitator for Adults”, then my teacher Diane with the Doodle Institute is the ticket! Doodling. Yes, it will give your children confidence, fine motor control, and increase their ability to retain what they learn. But remember, it’s even better than that. It’s FUN. And it’s good for the soul…
Free Printable Homeschool Planner and Schedules A bit of bad news in your quest for the perfect free printable homeschool planner or schedule. There is no such thing. I wish I could wave a magic wand and hook you up with a smooth plan guaranteed to work for you. The great news? You can take the planners and schedules that work for me and other homeschoolers and give them a test spin. …Read More »
Building Trust with Your Child My youngest son is 14.If you want to see his gorgeous face, just look up the phrase “ball of energy” in the dictionary. That’s his picture. This boy spent his life surrounded by his four older brothers, but this year caught him off guard. All 3 of the other brothers at home leave the house each day to go to school at the local college. This shocked him like a stun gun the first day as he looked around a the VERY silent house and whispered, “I’m gonna die of boredom this year.” I saw it clearly too. ” Buddy, we have a very unique gift from the Lord this year. It’s just you and me all day. Yes, academics are important, but we’re going to do school differently this year. We’re going to enjoy our time together and strengthen our relationship. Especially since you’re 14, and mom is weird.” I stripped back school to the bear minimum. We do math every day, but not very long.He is writing a handful of gut wrenching stories/ so I give him time to write most days.Then he alternates between: history 2 days and science 2 days. For history, I designed a power point/slide outline with my son to be his year long project. If you’ve seen me share, he’s transformed a black and white list into a beautiful presentation. I think he’s made it from Mesopotamia to Rome. Science. We were doing health until the day he trusted me with his heart in the rain. I think it was in January that I really saw myself in the mirror and realize I need to lose about 30 pounds. My body is beginning to hurt and I know if I don’t get back into shape I will fall apart. So I declared, “rain or shine, I need to you help me walk every day. Our first goal will be 2 miles a day for a week, then 3, then 4. But I need to get to 5.” He said, “OK.” Yes, we’ve been soaked a few times…I even had to challenge his “man-hood” by requiring an umbrella twice. lol. Phew! He’s LOVED the time together. The infamous, “I think I want to be a cardio thoracic surgeon” walk, happened after a few WEEKS of getting closer to the 4 mile mark. We had spent hours and hours each day, walking, picking up “treasures” on our beach (gemstones, pretty rocks, shells and sand dollars and just chatting about stuff. I began weaving in some academic discussions while we adventured.We’d pick a road and talk about academic things for the duration of that path: grammar things, history, health. And out of that time together… he trusted me with his dream. We were at least 3 miles into a walk when he said, “Please don’t laugh. I think I really know what I want to be when I grow up…” 💞My heart skipped.He was trusting me with something.I could feel it. This didn’t just happen. This was the fruit of all that time in the street, in the rain, on our walks chatting that unlocked his heart. When I show people the level of work he’s put into his DIY heart unit, their mouth drops open.This is a labor of love project for sure.It looks like he’s an academic genius, absolutely. What it really is? Evidence that he feels loved and “seen”. It all began because I decided to create a Huckleberry Finn style year of wandering,I saw I was over weight and we just hung out and talked without distraction. 👩🦰Mama, give yourself permission to push traditional academics aside. Walk beside your kids and sing in the rain, skip stones, catch butterflies, or go fishing at the pond at the far end of your property. Dedicate a little bit of that time to chat about some “topic for learning” and simply enjoy their company. Who knows.Maybe, just maybe… like my son, your kids will trust you with their dream. Let Stephen Teach your kids to crochet! Let Stephen Teach your kids to crochet!
Homeschool Super Heroes Week! It’s BAAACK!!! It’s finally time to announce our super fun Back to School event. What if you could sit in the home of an experienced homeschooler, askingany question you have about homeschooling? The answer is “OF COURSE”!.If you have just 1 minute, I’ll show you the next best thing. . . A private invitation to listen to our this year’s Homeschool Super Heroes forFREE. Kerry Beck is bringing back her ever-popular event to helphomeschoolers like you get ready for the best year ever. And she’s letting me share a private invitation to grab a Free Basic Pass.Her Basic Pass allows you to watch all 60+ workshops for free, as long asyou watch them within the first 24 hours they are released. If you miss one,you can always get the All-Access Pass which gives you lifetime access toall video workshops, handouts, audio interviews and more. Click here to get all the details and your Basic Pass. Why is Kerry doing this . . . and why am I involved? We know what it’s like to be in the trenches as a homeschool mom.Sometimes you need a little encouragement or a few fun tricks fromexperienced homeschoolers. Real homeschool parents who have realexperience balancing school & family with cooking, cleaning &chauffeuring. Or even working outside the home. Plus, Kerry has a heart of GOLD! Thank you for bringing together such wonderful speakers! I am a first year homeschool mom and these have been such an inspiration to me. Jennifer During our Homeschool Super Heroes Week, you’ll get answers toquestions you have on your mind. How to overcome the overwhelm andhomeschool with confidence. FULL list of Speakers!! What topics will they cover? You probably don’t want/need to use all of these. Choose the ones youraudience will identify with.● How to include the 4 essentials to an awesome school year● How to use the holy trinity of homeschooling (my workshop!)● How to motivate your child to greatness● How to teach specific subjects● How to homeschool autistic children● How to simplify your homeschool● How to coach your child, instead of dictate● How to include Music in your homeschool● How to include Life Skills in your homeschool● Lots and lots and lots of homeschool encouragement My workshops August 25 (Day 2): The Holy Trinity of Homeschooling: Heart, Attitude, and Character August 27 (Day 4): Math- Embrace the Vocabulary and the 3 Know-Knows of Writing And so much more! I really appreciate that each interview includes the question “What would you have done differently?”. I think the recurring theme is “relax”. Last year, just starting out with a 5 year old and a 2 year old, I quickly had to keep school fairly relaxed in order for all of us to stay sane. But sometimes I’ve worried that I’m not doing enough. It’s nice to get the encouragement that it will be O.K. from those who have many years of experience and perspective. Charlene Our Homeschool Super Heroes have a combined 290+years of homeschooling experience. Find out who they are AND grab yourpass here. BONUS!! Kerry and her daughter, Gentry, will release 1 or 2 Secret Super HeroInterviews each day. Gentry is a homeschool graduate and now a mom.She will ask the hard questions, others avoid asking. With the Basic Pass,you can listen to these short, spontaneous interviews, just like theworkshops. Click here to get your Basic Pass now. I have a Special Bonus for everyone who upgrades to the {ADD LINK: All Access Pass with my link! To get your I CAN Teach My CHILD ($25 Value) completely FREE . . . {Add Link!}Click here to get your All-Access Pass at the Early Bird Special PriceEmail me a screenshot or copy of your receipt with your order number, so I can verify you clicked my link to buy the bag.We will email the FREEBIE to you. Please allow 24-48 hours to process your request. What past attendees have said about this amazing week. My AHA moment was when you talked about teaching the kids to plan out their own week. I’ve been doing almost all the planning for my kids. But I know they need to learn time management for themselves. Plus if they have a hand in it, they will own what they’re doing better. Brilliant – thank you! Cynthia It has been great to sit back and relax as I take in so many wonderful tips from homeschoolers who have gained so much over the years. There is always something new to learn. Kelly It’s just always fantastic to get some perspective on parenting and homeschooling, and so timely, at the beginning of the year 🙂 Kimberly This is very encouraging in accomplishing my day to day duties of many roles. Thank you for this!!!! Michelle S YES!! There’s an ALL Access Pass!!