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10 of the BEST Homeschool Subscription Boxes for your Kids Inside: Top picks for homeschool subscription boxes by moms like you. These subscriptions will spice up your homeschool Travel to the future with me, and let’s give each other a virtual high five today. Ready? HIGH FIVE There are two boxes and an envelope on the kitchen table for your child. YOU are so excited, you can’t contain yourself. Related: Learning by Surprise Enhances Memory You close your eyes and think to yourself: “Don’t say they’re for school!”“Don’t say they’re educational!”“Don’t say they’ll be fun learning lessons!” You are squirming with excitement, because you know your child is holding the future in their hands and waiting with anticipation for the go ahead to peek inside. Yes!! They hold up one of the boxes. “This one?” YOU: Not, yet. They try to hide disappointment, and hold the the other box. “This one?” What’s inside?!?!? YOU: Maybe you should open the envelope first.((Insert wink.)) They tear open the paper and read, “You are about to get a glimpse of the future. Something that will some to you every month for the rest of next year!!!” At this point, tell them to pause while you get another cup of tea or coffee and ask them to guess what’s inside. YOU: What do you think it could be? ((Insert virtual high-five here)) They are so excited, they can barely contain themselves. What is in the boxes? đź’› Excitementđź’› Curiosityđź’› Fine motor Developmentđź’› FUN How is this possible? Something for everyone Related: Learning by Surprise Enhances Memory I polled hundreds of homeschool moms and compiled their favorites list of kits into a list for you. My own 15-year old gets the Kiwi Co Tinker Crate each month. When it arrives, he places it on the ottoman and waits for the end of the day. That evening, he opens the box with great fanfare, making sure his DAD sees and is equally impressed. Then he gets building. Careful reading of instructions Fine motor development Engineering and design Problem solving and math skills Those are the words we HIDE AWAY from his ears and replace them with WOW! FUN! Let me see. MAGIC. You have time to make this happen. Most kits take a few weeks to get to you and there is one for almost every kind of child and passion. Just be stealthy and I promise… …I won’t spoil the surprise. Food for thought: These make GREAT gifts for people in nursing homes too!! Quick Links to the top Homeschool Subscription Boxes Green Kid Crafts KiwiCo Mel Science Bitsbox Ivy Kids Young Woodworkers Let’s Make Art Rock By Rock Raddish Letter from Afar Highlights Little Passports Think Outside Craftsman Crate Sensory Therapy Play Box BarkBox DIY Preschool Earth Box Plan DIY ABCs of God Plan Free Science for three months from Mel Science? Here’s how you register! When you really want to know what’s best you ask the experts, right?Kids LOVE getting stuff in the mail! Surprise them with a special gift – A subscription box just for THEM! Perfect for birthdays, holidays and more! But, if you’re like me you’re wondering which are the BEST Subscription Boxes for kids. So I asked all the moms On our Facebook page: I’m looking for subscription box and membership ideas for homeschoolers. Most subscription boxes are chosen to meet a specific need, want, or interest. Throw in the fact that you don’t need to look for duct tape, buttons, or instructions for how to whip together something cool and BOOM. Your kids will think you’re the coolest mom on the planet. Not sure which boxes will best fit your family? That’s exactly why I asked a few dozen of my homeschooling friends. Check out all the AMAZING subscription boxes other Homeschool Moms love. …Read More »
7 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts that Kids Will be Proud to Make Inside: Thanksgiving Desserts for kids and made by kids.  The first time my oldest son tried to cook he was about three. He had decided that “I will make eggs”.  Thank goodness the only damage was done to the eggs. I believe a dozen fresh eggs met their end that day.  Kids love to help in the kitchen.   All five of our sons can cook to some degree or another. We even have their favorite “fails”. … Read More »
14+ Amazing Gifts for Homeschoolers- 2021 He was adorable… When our oldest was little, his FAVORITE book was the Christmas Catalogue that came in the mail. He carried it everywhere, sat and looked at the pages for hours, practiced reading with the delicious sounding product descriptions, and marked every single toy he wanted that year. IMAGINE my shock, here in 2021, that anAmazon FUN Gift BOOK showed up in the mail!! I combed through it and marked it up, just like my son used to do! “I want a copy!” Wonderful toys and games to drool overstickers to mark favorite goodiescoloring page and paper activities All inside the colorful pages. Here are my 14 Top Picks from this year’s Toy Guide! With shipping a little wonky this year, I thought it would be fun to start early wishlists! Lego Pickup Truck! I LOVE all things Melissa and Doug, but this ice cream scoop and serve is adorable! Balancing blocks are a GREAT hand eye coordination builder! PIZZA is Love! I say that every single Friday, because it’s a family tradition in our home. This wooden pizza kitchen and restaurant play set makes me want to harass my married son for grandkids!! Classic Sit and Spin! This toy saved me when my very active sons were little. They would spin their hearts out while I worked with an older brother during school. A fun cozy INSTANT a reading spot. Just add something fluffy, some books, and a cute kid. Wooden Teaching Clock! Homeschooler refuse to raise kids who can’t read an analogue clock! I don’t care that it’s frivolous. My family is obsessed with baby Yoda (his name is Grogu). Lego kits for older kids, like my husband are called Technic. Very detailed and amazingly challenging. My husband will be getting the JEEP for Christmas from the boys. Shhh. BEST throwback toy ever! Super Spirograph is still mesmerizing. 5 in one knitting station. This is such a fun craft. All five of my sons have used them to make beanie hats. Our youngest son can crank out beanies in abou an hour! Settlers of Catan is a family favorite in our home.so much fun! Good Ole Trike! This one is a MUSThave for gross motor development! Our backyard was always filled with fun toys! But I have to say I’m drooling over that glamping set! LOL. My husband and boys are all hammock lovers.
24 Ways to Make Learning about Verbs Creative, EASY, and Fun INSIDE: Fun and Easy Action Verb Activities for teaching verb tenses I was browsing Pinterest this morning over a cup of coffee looking for a creative action verb activities. I know, not your typical read-over-coffee topic. But I’m tired of kids falling asleep or worse groaning when we begin talking about verbs and other parts of speech. “There has to be a verb game I can use to bring this area of learning to life!” I dreamed. If verbs are really where all the ACTION is expressed in writing, then why can’t we find ways to make them jump off the page with our kids. I took another big sip and started digging. …Read More »
97+ Amazing Ways to Make Math Fun for Our Kids Inside: A master list of simple, inexpensive, and fun ways to teach all the basic math principles your kids need to thrive. PLUS- Free Math Roadmap Most homeschoolers overcomplicate math with fancy curriculum, worksheets, quizzes, stop-watches and tests. We choose to be different! Stripping math back to its basic foundational core, we can set our kids up for success in life by giving them a solid foundation with allows them to add, subtract, multiply, divide, count, measure, weigh, and estimate. Pickin’ Cute!!! …Read More »
Best Homeschool Math Curriculum for Struggling Students and Their Parents Since you mentioned math… Five kids later, I can testify that most kids are NOT future mathematicians. In my scientific study five, only one is a math guy. He went all the way through Calculus 3 and cried when it was done. The other four? They burned their books the moment they reached “high enough”. And please… …don’t try to make your artist, dancer, or farmer fit into a mathematicians world. Mathematicians reveal themselves. I knew my son was a math brain long before high school, but I purposefully held him back until he touched 9th grade so I could make sure he didn’t miss life math. Measuring twice, cutting once.Building and managing a budget.Tripling recipes.How to know you have enough gas to make it home.Are the beans on sale for $3.00 a can REALLY a better deal than the ones sitting next to them? Math has always been my love hate subject- yours too? I love math.I just hate teaching it to kids older than 12 because I have to study their math lesson and do all the problems first- then teach them the lesson and have to endure the frustration.I always frustrated my older sons when teaching math. SIGH. Why? Because I don’t know the harder math off of the top of my head. But we survived. And the boys all thrived!!! Lessons from a mom of five boys who all made it through Algebra without dying. Get a clear understanding of what your kids really need to learn: It will have nothing to do with a chapter or page number!Always look for hands on lessons to practice skills!If your kids don’t know how to add, subtract, multiply, divide, solve fractions and decimals, and do percentages… They are NOT ready for algebra.Do a little math every day.Solve math problems on windows with dry erasers or on the sidewalk with chalk.Hang a white board and do math together.If a math curriculum isn’t working DITCH IT! (Try my favorite on for size)Use graph paper for help kids learn to solve math neatly.Make math funny. Solve math with jokes, or get your kids funny shirts. My math kid LOVES his latest shirt. WARNING- You may not think it’s funny because its a higher math shirt. Trust me. It’s funny.Look for math picture books and read aloud daily! Yes, slip in a math book or two each week.Eat the problems. Whenever possible, teach math with food. Best Homeschool Math Curriculum for Struggling Students and Their Parents This is a tricky one. What works for my kids may not work for yours, but here is a list of amazing math curriculum and youtube channels to give you and your kids assistance as they follow their math roadmap to success. Pro Tips: Know what your kids need to learn before starting to teach.Look at the table of contents in your child’s math book. I bet you know how to solve most of the math. Use the Table of contents as a guide. Teach what you KNOW. If you get stuck- turn to the lesson page! Teaching Textbooks is by far the most recommended math curriculum by homeschool moms. They have video lessons so your kids can simply follow along and do the work. Math You See is another homeschool mom favorite. It is very hands-on and makes very small steps forward so your child can achieve mastery. My boys didn’t love it; but I know MANY homeschool families who do!Evan Moor is HANDS DOWN my favorite publisher for teaching materials for kids PreK-6th grade! I discovered them before entering into homeschooling. Easy to follow and fun, I recommend them for all subjects- but especially math, history and science!All Things Algebra. I WISH I had found Gina when my older sons were beginning pre-algebra! Her curriculum is hands-on, challenging, but fun. She’s not cheap- but her materials are WORTH the money!Abeka Math is wonderful! They appeal to me, someone who loves color. “If mama doesn’t love the math curriculum, no one will.” Kids with Special needs? Teaching Math to Students with Autism Homeschooling Kids with Dyslexia YouTube Channels for Math help The trick is finding the correct teaching from someone you can relate to and learn from, right? The Organic Chemistry Tutor saved us when my sons hit Algebra and beyond. Math MashUp Is great! Goofy Math to make your kids laugh These are video my kids loved, or that I loved to torture them with when they needed to learn or practice a concept. Sergeant Seven will have your kids master their 7 multiplication facts in 7 minutes. School house rock! Why? Because it works. The number three is our favorite! Goodies I’ve created for over the years. Printable Math Basics through grade 6 Your Turn! Did I miss anything that worked well in your home? PLEASE share below!!
Earth Schooling by Accident: Teaching and Learning as we Go “My 16 year old is really struggling with his purpose in life. He asks WHY about everything, lately. It’s just why about finishing high school, why he’s here, and what is he supposed to do in life (all in a very negative way). It’s heartbreaking as a mom, and while I’ve always taught them they are here on earth for a purpose… I can’t always answer those questions thrown at me. Have any of your boys struggled with that?” Her heart beckoned me to respond. I stopped in my tracks and wrote her back. “Yes… My youngest son was really struggling a few years ago (when he was 14 I think). I did something extreme. Every day, rain or shine, we began our day with a walk. I didn’t give him a choice. Honestly, his dyslexic brain needed the fresh air. Every day we laced our shoes and hit the road for the first 1-2 hours of school. I found myself looking at the man-child and realized I have very little time with him. It was killing me that when he struggled with school our relationship suffered. I named our new way of learning Tom Sawyer schooling. I handed him my phone and encouraged him to take pictures. We walked to a local beach and searched for treasures.We purposely splashed in puddles.He began to talk more and more each dayI began to listen with intensity. After a few weeks, (yes weeks), he said, “don’t laugh… but I think I might know what I want to do when I grow up.” “Buddy, I won’t laugh… what?” He took a deep breath. “A cardiothoracic surgeon.” My eyes went wide. ignoring the truth that he is dyslexic and can’t spell for beans, I replied. “WOW!! How can I help you get there?” Mom, this is the most important thing I learned that day. He already KNEW what his first steps were! We continued walking and talking and he became more and more excited. Not wanting to lose any of the GOLD flowing from his lips, I recorded his developing plan so he could write it down when we got home. The Un FANCY recording of our conversation He’s now almost 16. He’s been studying human anatomy and the history of medicine since. He studies on his own, unprompted. Things like: how to survive and thrive in medical schoolhow to sleep enough in medical schoolhow to learn complex ideaadvance note taking skills Everything he studies has a clear purpose in helping him reach his goal. and he’s ALL IN. New homeschool word: Earthschooling. I didn’t know this is what I was doing; but it works. No. I didn’t buy any curriculum:). Everything he does has purpose. Everything he does has purpose. Taking photographs to relax his mind and soak in the outdoors and improving his fine motor skills through sewing and crocheting earning money for medical school with: photos he’s takena DIY heart foldableHeart BOOM cardssnowman printablesteaching kids to crochet, opening his Etsy shop. He’s laser focused on his goal, and we give him time, resources and assistance by wrapping all his school in a way to align with his goals. Oh the JOY As his teacher, I lay the practical skills he needs right on top of his goals. And then I stand back and rub my eyes in astonishment with what he accomplishes. Your teen can do the same kinds of amazing. If I could whisper in your ear it would be to say… stop normal school for the next few weeks, at least for an hour or two a day and hang out with him without technology. For me, walking was the ticket. It may be going on a drive with him… you know him best. That season is a serious gauntlet where the enemy not only discourages their hearts, but floods their minds with hormones so they can be testy. Prayer is key. So is leaning into their lives and listening. Even if it’s late at night. Once you’ve spent time enjoying each other, he may be open enough to share some of his hopes/wishes with you… respond with “how can I help you get there?” And then listen and take notes.” 3 Tips to Unlocking this Magical Learning Spend enough time shoulder to shoulder with your kids that they relax and learn to TRUST YOU with their heart.LISTEN a lot more than you speak. Take notes even.Choose materials and hobbies that feed their passion. Yes, even buying gifts like this for your wanna be surgeon like we did. (He LOVES it). I learned this “How can I help you reach your goals” and then listen from Kerry Beck. Wow! One workshop from her transformed my homeschooling. 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. WANT MORE POSTS ON HOMESCHOOLING FROM THE HEART? Don’t homeschool your kids Godly women and homeschool You don’t need to apologize
Solution for “My Child Hates School” In our Facebook group, Our Lives as Homeschool Moms, she hesitantly asked, “How long do you go without a child doing his (homeschool) work before you just enroll him in public school?” My favorite answers from other homeschool moms: …Read More »
Bible Object Lessons from Nature for Kids God’s creation is so incredible, and He uses it to restore our souls and reach our hearts. Our kids need this. I need this. Honestly, we all need this, right? After an incredible vacation where my family stayed in a river house in Oregon, I’ve been inspired to create the most amazing, delicious, and inspiring creations studies possible. …Read More »
Make Toys from Sticks, Stones, and Natural Materials Just because you’re stuck at home due to injury, illness, or global pandemic, doesn’t mean you can’t create a magical playtime for you and your kids. While we all live in different climates and have different types of raw materials near our back doors, we can use what we find to make some fun natural toys. Browse for a few ideas.Go outside and gather your materials with your kidsLet them lead I bet you’ll make something cool, but I’m also guessing you’re gonna make something else: MEMORIES! Learn more from The Best Ideas for Kids Nature Sun Catchers! Learn more from Hands on As We Grow Learn more from Adventure in a box Make a fairy Garden! Learn more from Family Handy Man Make a tie tac toe board! Learn more from Chicken Scratch NY Paint Name, or word, rocks! Learn more from Mama Papa Bubba Make story stones! Learn more from Happy Hooligans Related: Turn classic puppet show stories into story stones Sea Glass Chime! Learn more from All Snug as a Bug Nature Sensory Bottles! Learn More from Rhythms of Play Make a SIMPLE draw string bag with your kids to store these NATURAL WONDERS! Learning at Home: Everything you need in one place Don’t stress about Screen Time
Thanksgiving Writing Prompts Thanksgiving Writing Prompts for Homeschoolers.While we do break free from our regular homeschooling routine during the holidays, it is important to continue writing:). Grab your free Notebooking Templates and have your child choose one of the Thanksgiving Writing Prompts Below (source: Alpha Omega Publications) Download Thanksgiving Printable Paper homeschool helpers printables Grab your pencil and put on your thinking cap! • On Thanksgiving, my family likes to… • If I had been a Pilgrim child on the very first Thanksgiving, I would have… • My favorite Thanksgiving memory is… • What I like/dislike about Thanksgiving is… • I think a turkey would/wouldn’t make a good pet because… • If I had been a Pilgrim travelling to America on the Mayflower, I would have taken along… • On Thanksgiving, it’s traditional for my family to… • The Pilgrims’ feast on the first Thanksgiving included… • The best thing the Indians did to help the Pilgrims was… • I am thankful for my family because… • When I think of Thanksgiving, I think about… • To make a great Thanksgiving turkey, you… • The first Thanksgiving I can remember was… • As I walked up to the table to share Thanksgiving with my family,… • My favorite part about Thanksgiving is… • To me, Thanksgiving symbolizes… • My perfect Thanksgiving meal would include… • Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house is… • Being thankful means… • I think brown and orange are Thanksgiving colors because… • The first Thanksgiving and today’s Thanksgiving are very similar/different because… More Thanksgiving Activities Here Thanksgiving Math, Reading, Science Activities for 3rd Grade 30 Thanksgiving Activities, Crafts, and Games for K-2nd Grade 21 Thanksgiving Math Activities for Kindergarten 4 Thanksgiving Jokes Solved with Divisibility Fall Math and Literacy Super Bundle- Grades K-2 Download your 44 Writing Ideas {Printable}
This is the Best List of Delightful Books for Preschoolers (and their Parents) What’s that I see? My little guy toddling around the corner in just his underwear and cowboy boots tightly gripping his treasures: his snuggly blue satin blanket, a loaded nerf gun and 3 tattered books. My face relaxes. It must be almost bedtime. I panic a little. …Read More »
Teaching Kids to Write- One Day at a time Drum roll… My 3 biggest tricks for turning kids into writers are EASY Write and send paper letters- together Bring back letter openers There’s something magical about going to the mailbox and pulling out envelopes with handwriting on them. “I just got a letter?” This will take quite a bit of effort, but it is so worth it for your kids. Imagine the excitement of tearing open a letter and reading together over tea! Need to find a penpal for you and your kids? Hope Notes for Dakota Boys and GirlsPenpal SchoolsLetters to soldiersLetters to THEMSELVES in the future in a time capsule! Looking for some letter writing prompts? My friend, Let’s do it! Buy some cute stationary, some fun stamps and a letter opener and let us ‘correspond’ by mail!! Oh, you KNOW you want the thrill of opening your mailbox and finding a handwritten letter from me.I know I’d love to receive on from you as well. This beats text messages every day of the week! XOXO, me!! 2. Buy journals. Require 10-30 minutes of free unedited writing every day. Use timer. The only real rule… the pencils keep moving entire time. Drawing counts. So does writing in the sand with a stick So do random sentences like “ I don’t want to write today but I hav too keep my pencil moving. My little red pencil that I got from the doctors after I slipped and fell in the front yard and everyone thought I broke my foot. Nope. But I did a pencil out of it…” (mistakes were intentional on my part) 3. You must journal at the same time. Writing is a muscle. You can write and your kids need to see you holding a pencil too. While the kids are journaling, you write: letters, lists, cards, silly poems, etc. My favorite pencil sharpener of all time: demonstrated by my goofiest son. Adjust the daily time to meet age and ability. 10 minutes is a long time for a younger “I hate writing” person. So start low and add time. What can they write? The list is endless: lists, comics, drawings, describe something random, story, poem, rewrote their favorite picture book but change the place and characters and tweak the details to match the switch. Rules: Don’t edit journals. No spelling or punctuation or anything!Free and creative writing needs to flow without fear of being redirected. The best way to snuff out enthusiasm is to have a kids fill up a page or two and then correct it and make them rewrite. The first goal of writing is to write daily, grow to the ability to write freely, and to press into an idea. You know they are READY starting to learning the writing process when the timer goes off and they beg for a few minutes to finish their thought. Always give it those few minutes. Once you see them writing daily and diving in and chasing ideas, add another broken record saying. “Writing is a process. No one sits at a blank piece of paper and writes a perfect anything. Writing is a process.steps to a completed piece.” Then say things like, “You’ve already mastered and will keep practicing the first step in the process. Finding an idea and writing a rough draft. Let’s go a little bit further now.Start thinking about what you’ve written so far and let’s pick ONE of your ideas to push through the whole process.” Homeschool mom… You’ve got this. Pro-tip: Be a broken record about writing-Repeat the same sayings all through each week. “Writing is a muscle. It gets stronger as you exercise”. “What are the 3 Know-Knows of writing? Know the PURPOSE of each writing. Know your AUDIENCE. Know the specialized vocabulary for that piece of writing.” Writing muscles take a LONG time to develop. Daily practice is your best friend!
Pincer Grasp Activities for Fine Motor Development Your son is using all of his fingers to rake small items into his palm rather than pinching them together with his thumb and index finger. Your daughter is choking her crayons rather than carefully holding them between her fingers. Maybe your kids need some help strengthening their pincher grasp The development of this fined tuned grasp is influenced by a child’s growing interest in objects and desire to hold them. Kind of curiosity’s way of helping our kids. We all need great pincher grasps to: zip zippersbutton buttonstie shoesthread needleswrite beautifullyhold pencils without crampingbeating someone at tidily-winksputting on make-uppainting nailsand so much more! 8 Hands-on Toys to Help Kids Develop Pincher Muscles Sewing Buttons!! Buy on TpT Related: Fine Motor Activity from Hands On As We Grow Super easy!! More Pincher Grasp Activities! Simple Activities to Improve Pincher Grasp and Help Your child Hold a Pencil Peel Duct Tape: Place strips of duct tape onto surfaces like the sidewalk, garage walls, or the floor. Your child simply peels the tape!Squishy Sponge: Give your child a sponge and bucket of water. Have them water plants by squeezing the water out from the sponge!Tongs and tweezers: Give your child a pair of tongs, and egg carton, and a bin of small things (pom poms, beads, pasta, etc). Have them fish out objects with tweezers and sort them into the egg carton. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RZNG5PW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=abett06-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07RZNG5PW&linkId=c20a374356badff2b7b81f0fe672daf8 Classic Games are the perfect way to sneak in Pincher Grasp Development Don’t Spill the Beans Ants in the Pants Kerplunk Jenga Hi-Ho Cherrio Perfection Medical schools are noticing a decline in students’ dexterity, possibly from spending time swiping screens rather than developing fine motor skills through woodworking and sewing.The New York Times The great news is Pincher Grasp Development is easy to weave into your child’s day. A Little less swiping of screens and a little more of old fashion fun and these intricate hand muscles can get a good work out! For Older Kids Crocheting and knitting Embroidery Tin Foil Art Using a sock to improve pencil grip (Brilliant) 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.
How to Turn Homeschool Frustration into Joy and Learning Dear homeschool mom, Don’t homeschool. I’m not kidding. Yes, kids need to read and write and solve basic math problems, but they don’t need school at home. They need to have plenty of time to run, jump, slide, swing, lay, laugh, build, and rest. Related: building toys Give them time to be bored, time to think, time to day dream. Don’t give them workbooks, worksheets, and hours of assignments. Instead, give them LESS. …Read More »
Memory for Kids: Building Better Minds! Mind Blown. The book that BLEW MY MIND About a month ago, ordered Limitless as an audiobook and devoured it on my daily walks. I am on a mission to walk 1,200 miles this year and one of the ways I stay motivated is to listen to audiobooks. I knew I was listening to GOLD. The BEST thing we can teach our kids is:*HOW to learn*HOW to remember*HOW to improve their reading speed and comprehension Walking in circles around the local football track, I became obsessed with the possibility that I could improve my own memory. I quickly invested in Jim’s Memory Masterclass and Kwik reading programs. I planned to try them for a week or two and get my money back if it wasn’t working. I figured I could race through, test to see if it was a scam, and then ask for a refund. NO WAY. I don’t want my money back!!!!! HUGE life changing is happening as I roll up my sleeve each day and read and study and YOU need to know about this today. Imagine beginning your day with your kids: 10-20 minute reading videos. I started doing this a with my youngest son. The results so far?My son is BLOWING me away. I knew he would. I told him he would… He’s dyslexic and I honestly believe he was boring his brain to death trying to read before… He went from 200 to 500 words per minute in a week… Now he is just barely getting started and has jumped from about 200 words per minute to over 500 words per minute! Me?I’ve stopped calling myself “Dory” from Finding Nemo and have embraced the truth that I can build a better brain.My reading speed has doubled, and we’re only a few lessons in to the Kwik Reading. I keep surprising myself with the memory tactics I’m learning in the full memory class as well. * Two days ago I learned 24 different meanings of the word fervent and know them backwards and forward.* I learned two Bible verses this morning while walking and listening to birds. Have you ever met someone new and forget their name within a few seconds? Me too! So we are working on learning the tactics to quickly and permanently remember names! * I memorized the Top 100 Male names and began teaching them to my 15 year old so we can become name learners together. Womens names are next on my agenda! I learned about Jim Kwik during an interview. He was a guest on a podcast with one of the doctors we follow online. I was mesmerized by Jim’s story and purchased his book while watching the interview. What if my short term memory issue could become a part of my past? What if you could really memor? Today, I am deep into this new land of brain super powers, neuroplasticity and so many other things I didn’t know I was missing. In days, this is the kind of progress I’ve made: I memorized my favorite poem, “Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” by William Wordsworth.I created an “imaginary news paper” in my mind so I can record what happens in my day, so when my husband comes home from work at night I can give him the highlights, rather than my typical “not much happened” answer.I find myself no longer saying, “I forgot.”Instead, I find myself saying, “I didn’t draw the memory on my mind well enough to remember; just a second.” Learning HOW to learn is unlocking things in my life that I never thought possible! My next personal goal is to go grocery shopping without a list with the confidence of knowing I will remember everything I need while I am still at the store! It’s a whole new world for me and I am diligently working on “infecting” each of the others in my family, plus anyone who will read or listen. In this world full of technology and digital overload, what of you could teach you and your kids to:: have a super power memoryquickly learn everything from vocabulary words to grocery listsbuild better recall of people’s names and eventsread faster and with much higher comprehension What if you really could unlock your memory, increase your reading by 25%-100% or more? Or like my son, increase reading speed by 150% in less than a week! Better yet…What if, like me, you can teach your kids to do it… Resources I’ve absorbed, invested in, and am devouring: Limitless, a book by Jim KwikMoonwalking with Einstein, by Joshua Foer (This book was mentioned in the Limitless book and I downloaded it and almost have it complete. Some language and suggestive language inside)Recall Masterclass by Jim KwikKwik Reading by Jim Kwik If I could rewind the clock and teach all five of my sons over again, I’d teach them how to read effectively and quickly, how to REMEMBER what they read, and how to learn anything. If your kids already know how to read, it’s a great time to begin learning and weaving these types of trainings into your day. Get excited and learn along with them and join me on this path of unlimiting our minds! 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.
What You Really Need to Homeschool Homeschool Supplies at Your Fingertips When we had our first son, we had all the gadgets. Bassinet, stroller, carrier, car seat, bouncy seat, playpen, baby gate, huge diaper bag, and a baby monitor for our 425 square foot apartment. By the time we had our fifth son, we had narrowed down what we really needed: a crib, a car seat, a diaper in my purse, and a fun toy for him to play with (my car keys). Homeschooling is like that. … Read More »
22 Simple Manners Every Kid Should Know By High School  Has this ever happened to you? You beam with pride with joy at how wonderful, caring, and thoughtful your kids are; and without warning, they prove your heart wrong. Before you beat yourself up for being a terrible mom, Before I drag my ungrateful son away from his new pile of gifts, I need to tell us something. They’re kids. … Read More »
7 Patriotic 4th of July Activities for Preschoolers Celebrate Independence Day with these amazing 4th of July Activities for Preschoolers! Because they’ll LOVE them all!! Have a red, white, and blue fashion show! Kids will love throwing together wild and patriotic clothing combinations and come strutting through the room to make you smile. Build a float and march in a parade (or down the street) 4 of our five sons The first year we lived in a small town in California, we decided to enter the boys in the 4th of July parade. Can you believe they won 1st prize? One of the boys is riding his bike ahead. It was all decked out with red, white, and blue party streamers. We created a tank by wrapping our wagon with spray painted cardboard and stuck our preschooler in the driver’s seat (secret plan to keep him busy). The air is sucked from my lungs as I see my oldest son in my hubby’s Navy dress uniform. That’s the same uniform my husband wore to our wedding! Make 4th of July Pinwheels! These pinwheels make great cupcake toppers or party picks, and with the awesome 4th of July ribbons from the Ribbon Retreat, they will add some fun and festive flair to your next patriotic gathering! 4th of July Printables get yours here This 16 page fun and engaging reader is just the ticket to help your preschoolers dive into the 4th of July! Your preschoolers wil: Trace say and trace the sight words they will find in their readerColor and read their bookinteract with each word inside the readerFall in love with reading 4th of July books F is for Flag Every day seems like Flag Day. Perfect for reading together with a young child, F Is for Flag shows in simple terms how one flag can mean many things: a symbol of unity, a sign of welcome, and a reminder that-in good times and in bad-everyone in our country is part of one great big family. Red, White, and BOOM! It’s the Fourth of July! Travel across the country for a city parade, a beach picnic, and fireworks in the park in this poetic celebration of the many cultures and traditions that make America’s birthday BOOM! I Spy July the 4th A Is For America! A Fun Fourth of July National Patriotic Holiday Guessing Game Gift for … Preschoolers and Toddlers! 4th of July Activity Book Beautiful projects appropriate for child ages 6 -12.Printed on a high quality paper.80 Pages various activities for children 4th of July Gross Motor Boom! Crash! Fireworks! Great games by Preschool Plan it! The children pretend to be fireworks! When you yell “BOOM” they start making fireworks movements and sounds and when you yell “CRASH” they fall to the floor! EXTENSION: Give the children colored dancing scarves to use during this! Fence Weaving Image and Activity from Centers and Circle time This is the simplest activity, but it is wonderfully entertaining. Materials needed: FenceRed, white, and blue streamersAdorable kids Patriotic Windsock Craft Craft by All Kids Network “This craft would make a great gift for a Veteran or a 4th of July decoration. Wrap red, white, and blue yarn around a toilet paper roll to form patriotic stripes. Then have your child help you fold a sheet of paper to make rows of stars reminiscent of paper dolls. The paper folding can be a lesson on the term “half”, since you will be folding the paper in half 4 times!” Summertime FUN from my friend Amy with Planning Playtime!! Preschool summer theme Summer continues with our most favorite summer theme!Enjoy pool noodle sight words, flip flop matching, and pool noodle tallies. Preschool Camping theme Letter Matching Smore’s, Tent Patterns, and, Alphabet Hunt Bag, and 10 Frame activities! Space theme The Space theme is packed full of learning fun like marshmallow constellations, 10 Frame moon rock counting, and space play dough patterns. What’s your favorite activity to help preschoolers celebrate summer and the 4th of July? More preschool FUN The BEST list of delightful books for preschoolers and their parents Preschool at Home- MAGIC Easy Preschool Crafts and Activities