Easy Kitchen Chemistry Experiments Science in the kitchen is a sure fire combination to draw your kids right into the depths of science.It’s kind of like cheating!Fizzics Brings so many fun Chemistry Experiments right into your kitchenCreate a growing carbon sugar snake with simple ingredients. A science activity for the adults to try that demonstrates combustion & chemistry for kids.Create fireworks in a glass! This colorful science activity is highly popular with kids and can be used look at buoyancy, density and surface tension.A simple color change in the kitchen! Simply grab a lemon and a mug of tea to explore kitchen chemistry that you can drink afterwards 🙂The gummy bear osmosis experiment is perfect for variable testing! Learn how to design a simple kitchen chemistry activity that explores how water moves.The Chemistry of Pizza, by my sonThis was such a great project! Not only did he learn about all the chemical reactions taking place while making pizza, he taught me how to make my famous pizza dough even better! Get Creative in the Kitchen!Buy nowAmerica’s Test Kitchen Kids brings delicious science to your kitchen! Over 75 kid-tested, kid-approved recipes and experiments teach young chefs about the fun and fascinating science of food. This is the fourth book in the New York Times bestselling cookbook series for Young Chefs.So many amazing picks!!
150 Educational Gift Ideas Kids will Love Inside: Over 150 recommendations for educational gifts and a free printable gift list!!First words out of hubby’s mouth this morning. “If the kids don’t get on their Christmas lists, they’re gonna get cans of corn for Christmas.”Me: “And they’d be blessed!”Get yours freeChristmas is always a zoo at the Sayler home.A big happy zoo full of my own personal band of monkeys.The boys pull names out of a hat and then they are responsible for the three gifts that land under the tree for that person.This year?Back in the early days of homeschooling, I took FULL advantage of Christmas sales to stock up on goodies for school.Pencils, erasers, paper, books, great games, and even a good microscope were always on the list.But experiences always made the biggest splash.This year, I expect the holidays to be crazier than usual. So I am refining our Gift Ideas.Clutter-Free Gift Ideas!Get your copy hereOver 150 Education Gift Ideas Your Kids will LOVETop Game PickTicket to Ride Board Game!!Related: Yes, they may still play with the box, but they’ll love what’s inside as well!Your free Cardboard CONQUEST KitJust don’t tell them they’re educational toys! If you’re looking for recommendations for fine motor skills, gross motor development, STEM, games, outdoor activities, and of course, books, you’re in the right place!…Read More »
40 Creative Writing Projects for Kids who Hate Pencils Inside: Free printable with 42 fun writing prompts plus creative writing ideas! He sat slumped in a chair glaring at the blank page; his freedom held captive by the writing assignment taunting him. The instructions read, “write a paragraph describing the weather.” He snorts. “Who cares about the weather, I just want to see if I can get to the next level on my new video game. In the old days, we’d call this a polaroid- a simple snapshot of a moment in time. The image is so typical- child sits at table with a stomach ache, a headache, a bad attitude or their 14th broken pencil. All because a stupid writing prompt is giving them the evil eye. Subscribe to A Better way to Homeschool on YouTube We want to raise up writers, not kids who mangle the English language- but how? Right now two of our five sons are chopping wood with their dad. They were driven to a dark scary piece of land with a borrowed trailer attached to our SUV. Once far off the beaten path they were directed to the freshly cut giant. My husband enthusiastically wielded a chainsaw and cut the trunk into manageable 500 pound pieces. Maybe, they were lighter. I couldn’t tell you for sure. I was delegated to watch the boys “hump the logs” out of the wood. (That’s men talk) Those very heavy logs were carefully brought home. Enter my hero: My husband. He takes the boys to the hardware store and buys a couple of axes. While my husband looked the other way, each son looked at me with pleading eyes. “Save me mommy.” I said nothing. I trust that my husband- a manly man- is much more equipped to teach boys how to be men than I am. Plus, I had a cup of coffee to enjoy with my bon-bons. An hour later, the door bursts open and my wood-chopping sons walk in with a very distinct swagger. Lumberjacks in training. They were all wearing sawdust covered jeans, work boots and flannel shirts. You could taste the testosterone in the air. “Mom, that was AWESOME!” Funny how being taught to do something challenging and dangerous leaves a “lovely glow” on the face of a growing boy. Our young men need to swing axes. Even if it’s metaphorically speaking. I wish it were that same for basic writing skills. Writing is one of those skills that many of us have been forced into against our wills. But we need to STOP grouping writing into the same category as forcing our 11-year old sons to shower daily. (I swear my kid believes that water will melt his manliness.) After 25-years of teaching and homeschooling, I’ve found the secret sauce to teaching kids to write. The 3 Know Knows of Writing Believe in yourself. You can teach your kids to write. Believe in your kids. They have it in their hearts to become excellent writers. Believe in fairies. Because fairies make life magical. So what is the trick to teaching kids to write? Take their pencils away. Send them into the woods to chop wood with their dad. Read a book together and them buy a HUGE tub of popcorn and go see the movie version at the theater and watch them discover there is a BIG difference. Read funny product labels at the grocery store. Watch them do something they love and create questions to ask them later about the activity. Collect jokes, riddles, and hilarious and nonsensical songs to share at random and unexpected times in the day. Read aloud to them daily and leave them hanging in the story– begging for you to read “one more chapter”. Collect memories, experiences, and opportunities for excitement. Teach them to brainstorm. When my sons came back to the school table after chopping wood, we filled up our white board with all the words and phrases about chopping trees and wielding axes TOGETHER on our 4 x 6 whiteboard. I held the marker and drew an axe in the hand of a stick figure. The axe was 2x larger than the man, and then I wrote “The day I almost died” on the board. The boys laughed and then I asked them to describe their day in detail. “Slow down,” I can’t write that fast! The following day, we sat in front of the white board and I whipped out my 40 types of writing list and had the boys each choose how they would capture their day in the woods on paper. 40+ Types of Writing to Teach Your Kids Get your FREE Printable here Text messaging Facebook posts Twitter tweets Instagram Descriptions Linked in Profile emails Friendly letters Grocery lists Birthday cards Comics strips Write to a prompt Letters to their Future Self Recipes Directions to the zoo Instructions for making the perfect cup of coffee Review a play Word webs Speech Writing Book Report Alternatives Cornell notes Outlines Essays Research Papers Poetry Music lyrics Mentor Sentences Newsletter Books Short stories Journal entries Captions for pictures Resumes Job applications Cover letters Paraphrasing MLA citation Works Cited pages Blog Script writing Autobiography Comparison Chart Scattergories! Teach writing without pencils Experience first! Kids need to touch, taste, see, smell, fear, hear, and experience something first. Then, they need to practice brainstorming everything they can think of about that topic. What did it feel like? Smell like? Sound like? You hold the pencil. The most important part of writing is brainstorming wrapped in a real life experience. Now, Go give your kids an axe. These also make great additions to your emergency file. (Also known as “mom is sick and needs you to work independently today”) Download your 40+ Writing Ideas {Printable} Download your guide to teaching Kids to NOT be thieves (MLA Citation) Grab your “Friendly Letters to Me” Pack Thanksgiving Writing Prompts worthy of making their way to the “keep me” pile. A Writing Lesson without Pencils?Me: Everyday, we should choose a new creative word to describe the water.Without hesitation, my 18-year old said, “serene”.Driving to college, I repeated for the 113th time, “always comment, always notice, always see the little things; because life is made up of little things.And it’s those little things that matter.”We drive by this water’s edge every single day on our way to the college, and every single day the face of the water is different.And we comment.Gorgeous, calm, glassy, row-able, turbulent, choppy, moving, rushing, flowing, and today… SERENE.Because we want to raise our kids to cherish the little things. But I also cheat.Don’t miss what’s happening (and for the love of Pete, don’t tell my kids what I’m doing)Vocabulary building on the road!!!((Insert high 5 here))We want our kids to notice the water every single day.Because it’s gorgeous: True.If you don’t have a water view, exchange it for something you see everyday and now take for granted too: a mountain view, an endless sky, a majestic tree, open range, or whatever is in your backyard.Teach your kids to notice, by doing your noticing out loud. Daily.Stretch their vocabulary, tell related clean jokes, invent an imaginary creature who lives in the scene, challenge them to a new word a day contest.Because at the end of our homeschool journey, we want kids that says things like, “Lord, You’re just showing off today with those colors in the sky!” or”I love how serene the water looks when it’s slack tide.”Today, embrace the beauty and give it a label.Because it’s the little things that matter!!How to Build vocabulary from everyday sights1. Today: Brainstorm as many words as you can to describe water with your kids. Challenge them to come up with 50 before revealing the truth. (you hold the pencil and write word they call out to you)2. Tomorrow: Peek at the 1000 words to describe water: https://describingwords.io/for/water3. Then give them a prompt and challenge everyone to write the rest of the story.4. When you’re done, have a readers theater where everyone reads their ending!Prompt with the picture: The day started serene. The water playfully reflecting the homes along its shoreline.A cheerful seagull bobbed up and down on the gentle current enjoying the break of a new day.No one would have guessed what happened next…The GOAL of all writing is clear communication. Free Printable
The Carl Angel 5 Pencil Sharpener- My Top Pick Worth every single dollar. Bonus points if you can name the movie he’s quoting! … Read More »
Inspire Kids to Read by Hanging Them My son is terrified of needles. And swarms of bees. And sour cream. Strange boy. But I am not exaggerating when I say nothing makes that boy of mine run faster than presenting him with a book that he needs to read. You see this is a problem. … Read More »
Attentiveness Yes, PLEASEOnly a handful of my readers are seeing this page. YAY!!!As I begin this new series, I wanted to make sure you were able to try them for almost nothing.Your kids will love the activities and you will smile knowing they are listening carefully to the Word of God.Buy Now
Toilet Paper Roll Activities for the WIN! Whether you call them cardboard tubes, toilet paper rolls, poster rolls, gift wrap tubes or paper towel rolls – they are hands down one of the best ways to entertain your toddler on the cheap! YES!!Here is a growing collection of Easy and FUN for your kids.MaterialsEmpty paper tubesTemplates & DesignsGlueScissors (supervised)Adorable kidsThis stunning watercolor Santa and Friends set will delight your child and grow their imagination.The kids will love creating this Toilet Paper Roll Santa craft!You can also find this in my:Etsy shopTpT ShopThis stunning watercolor nativity scene will help reinforce the story of our Lord’s birth, while your child practices fine motor skills and grow their imagination.The kids will love creating this Toilet Paper Roll Nativity craft!You can also find this in my:Etsy shopTpT Shop10 Toilet Paper Crafts & Activities by Kiwi CoIf you’re stocked up on toilet paper, don’t toss the empty rolls in the trash! You can transform these cardboard tubes into educational games, awesome art projects, and tools for at-home learning!Read moreBuy NowThese Thanksgiving and FARM toilet paper roll Craft and Activities are very easy to assemble – all you need is a pair of scissors, glue, toilet paper rolls, and an excited child (or 10).It is the perfect activity for Thanksgiving, Sunday School, or any craft time with your kids.You can also find this in my:Etsy ShopTpT Store
A Message from Kelly with Sticky Blogging Today Is Wednesday, October 28, 20222.I just copied and pasted the email I just received from your blogging fairy/guru/soon-to-be-bestie, Kelly.The Sticky Blogging master class is now open. This class gives you everything you need to attract your perfect readers—true fans who share, subscribe, and buy. And all you need to get started is one hour a week.»» Ready to attract your true fans?You should know that…Because I opened registration to the bloggers on the waiting list to give them first dibs, andBecause those folks had been waiting several months to get in, andBecause I’m throwing in a lot of awesome early bird goodies this time…Things are moving pretty darn fast. Case in point: The class roster is almost half full, on day two of registration being open to the public. And because this is an instructor-led course where each student gets individualized feedback, seats really are limited.So here’s your public service announcement: The deadline for getting the early bird goodies is tonight.Which means you’ll need to act fast to get all the extras.Got a question?Because time is tight, I wanted to answer the most common questions I’ve been getting about Sticky Blogging. (Scroll down for the answers!)If you don’t see your question here, just hit “reply” and ask away. What do I actually get as a Sticky Blogging student?How do I know this will work for my niche?How much time will this course take me?Do I have to be available at a specific time every week?How is this course different from your SEO course? Is there any overlap?What about the Blog Smarter program? Is there any overlap with that?But…is this course really worth it?Do you have payment plans?Will you review my posts during this class?Do you offer any sort of guarantee?What if I don’t have my blog started yet? Or what if my blog is still brand new?1. What do I actually get as a Sticky Blogging student?When you join me inside Sticky Blogging, you get access to the entire Sticky Blogging program, including:10 core training modules that you can get done in 1 hour a week on your own schedule Weekly live Q&A group coaching calls with me (also recorded in case you can’t make them live) One-to-one mentoring from successful Sticky Blogging graduates who’ve been where you are right now Printables + checklists + templates to help you integrate Sticky Blogging right into your daily routine Real-time “sticky” makeovers where I live-edit a handful of real student posts + email newsletters A private course community where you can ask questions and connect with your fellow Sticky Bloggers (not another Facebook group!)Lifetime access to the program, including any future updates ️1 advanced module on how to keep your true fans coming back with the best mailing list strategy A video library of “sticky” makeover sessions from a wide variety of niches Plus: A whole bucketload of bonuses to help you reach your blogging goalsAnd if you enroll by Wednesday before midnight Central, you also get these fast-action goodies:First 50 students only! Live Training + Bundle: How to Boost Your Blogging IncomeIn a live and recorded training with me, you get practical, real-life strategies for growing your business, plus worksheets and printables to move you forward on the best next steps.First 50 students only! Live Coaching Call With KellyTackle your biggest challenges with targeted coaching from me in a small group setting.Mini-Course + Bundle: How to Conquer Your Never-Ending To-Do ListNo time? No problem. In this bundle, you’ll get a power-packed mini-course with the best time management secrets for busy bloggers, plus printables to help you get a handle on your overwhelm once and for all. After four quick modules, you’ll have the confidence to cut the busywork from your schedule so you can focus on the techniques that will actually grow your blog.These extra goodies are exclusive to students who enroll in the Sticky Blogging master class by Wednesday night.Yes, please! Add my name to the roster now2. How do I know this will work for my niche?If you write words that you want other people to read, and you also want those people to take action after reading them—to click the share button, to subscribe to your list, to get your product, and so on—then the Sticky Blogging approach will work for you.The reason Sticky Blogging works for any niche is that it’s based on the science of how people read and of what moves them to action.Because that’s where the real growth happens. More shares, new subscribers, and new followers means more traffic. More traffic, more clicks on affiliate links, and more customers means more earnings.3. How much time will this course take me?This course is designed for busy bloggers who can’t afford to put everything else on hold for an e-course.Starting Monday, October 10, you’ll receive two lessons each week for five weeks. Each lesson will take you approximately 30-45 minutes, for a total time commitment of around one hour a week. Beyond the course material itself, the time it will take you to implement the Sticky Blogging strategies on your own blog will vary based on your specific situation.And if life gets in the way? No worries. The course includes lifetime access to all the course materials…plus any future course updates. So you can breathe more easily, knowing that when life settles down again, you’ll have what you need to get back on track.4. Do I have to be available at a specific time every week?Nope! You can go through the lessons on your own schedule, so you do not have to be available at any specific time of day.You’ll also get access to a live Q&A group coaching call with me every week to get answers to any questions you have about the lessons that week. And the calls are also recorded in case you can’t make it live. 5. How is this course different from your SEO course? Is there any overlap?The Sticky Blogging master class is a completely separate program from the Sticky SEO course. In this master class, we dive deep on the most important skill for your success as a blogger: how to write in a way that grabs the reader’s attention, compels them to keep reading, and drives them to take action—whether that’s to share your post, subscribe to your list, get your product, or whatever your goal is.On the other hand, the Sticky SEO course teaches you only how to grow your organic search traffic from Google and other sources. We do address some SEO techniques in the Sticky Blogging master class, but the Sticky SEO course goes much deeper on the topic of getting your content to show up in search.6. What about the Blog Smarter program? Is there any overlap with that?The Sticky Blogging master class is also a completely separate program from Blog Smarter.Sticky Blogging is a 5-week class where we focus on how to blog in a way that compels the reader to keep reading and then drives them to take action. On the other hand, Blog Smarter is a 12-week mentorship program that many students have said is a lot like getting an MBA in how to run a successful blog-based business.Because Blog Smarter is an intensive mentorship program, registration opens just once a year and is currently not open.7. But…is this course really worth it?You should know that I make it my personal goal to deliver massive value to my students during this course. For five weeks, I clear my schedule and spend a big chunk of time every single weekday on call to my students. I review homework, answer questions, and hold video Q&A sessions where we tackle all things Sticky Blogging…and any other blogging question on your mind.This is why many of my students tell me this course is actually more like a coaching program.No better person to ask than a blogger who’s been through the full Sticky Blogging program. These comments came directly from the survey I send to students at the end of the course:Krystal: “I’m really happy about my email open rates for the last couple of emails since starting the course: 75.8% and 61%. A few months ago, I had no list, no idea what I would ever send to a list or how to write the emails in a way that would connect with my readers. I also received a nice reply from a reader who shared my life coaching info with a group she’s in (of 28K) – so that’s a pretty cool win. “Victoria: “I’ve been reading blog posts I admire (like Kelly’s!) and I thought writing like that was just reserved for those who had natural talent. After Sticky Blogging, now I know it’s not that hard to write in an engaging way. Even with just the first lesson, it already transformed how I wrote! 🙂 During the course, I applied the technique to an email about a master class I was offering, I got way more registrations.”Terri: “My average session duration has skyrocketed to over 14 minutes! The people that have found my blog are ‘sticking around.’ “Brittany: “I’m brand new to blogging so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to relate to or apply some of what we learned in the class. But you did such a great job breaking the information into accessible chunks, making the course material interesting, and providing such fantastic support in the online community. I never felt overwhelmed, confused, or like a ‘newbie.’After applying what I learned, my email newsletter open and click rate are significantly higher than the average over the previous six months!”Jen: “I questioned why I should spend money on a course that I was assuming I could likely figure out on my own. Just do a few more Pinterest/Google searches or attend a few more free blogging webinars or read a few more biz blog posts.I was wrong. I’m so glad I listened to that voice in me that said I should do this. Sticky Blogging is one of the best investments I’ve made in myself.This course isn’t about some trick to make your blog stronger…it’s about completely rethinking the way you blog to connect you with your readers in a powerful way. And the course helped me rediscover my love of writing, something that goes way beyond authoring a blog as a side shoot to my business. Kelly is present throughout the course and gives, gives, and gives some more as a teacher. She’s such a generous resource of support and the course went above and beyond my expectations.”Angela: “This course was challenging and fun. I enjoyed every bit of it. I felt stretched as a writer and loved the satisfaction of seeing my posts improve daily. Being able to interact with other students was so helpful, and I learned nearly as much in the course community as I did in the lessons.This course has fundamentally changed my writing for the better. I haven’t felt this excited about writing in a long, long time. So, thank you, Kelly. Thank you, mentors. Thank you, fellow students. Best. Course. Ever!”Kelly W.: “Thank you so much for this course! I was truly nervous that this was going to be just another course that didn’t live up to the hype…I have never recommended a course before, but this is one that I will be sharing with others. It’s challenging but doable, stretching the student as a business owner and made me stop and think about how my business is ran.Plus, unlike so many other courses, this one translates to all avenues of the online business world – blogs, emails, and social media posting.I am motivated and looking forward to transitioning from just another blog about homeschooling to a ‘sticky’ blog about homeschooling where my words can reach the readers they intended for.”Rachel: “Sure, I could write a decent literary analysis paper in college- but writing to connect with people online is a different art form, and you’ve nailed it. All the printables are out of this world useful. I reference them every day multiple times. And I keep coming back to the lessons again and again.I used to have people share posts on social media only once in a blue moon. Now I can guarantee when I press publish that every single post will be shared. Each post has gotten more shares than the one before!”Anne: “This has been the *most* helpful class I’ve ever taken (and I’ve taken a lot). The lessons are applicable to so many more areas of my business than just my blog…I know I’ll be able to keep working on this, keep honing my skills and ultimately use what I’ve learned to truly make a difference in my readers’ lives. Thank you!”Andy: “So many of us say ‘Why hasn’t this post taken off? What am I doing wrong? How come this person’s audience is growing leaps and bounds and my content is stagnant?’ This course shows you that there are a lot of common mistakes that are holding back your already great content from reaching its best possible audience… and it includes exactly how to fix it.”Adrianne: “You have taught me SO much. It is hard to find the words! Sticky Blogging has helped me to take all my random thoughts and turn them into blog posts that actually help people.My readers noticed a difference right away and feel like I totally ‘get them’ which I am thrilled about! Because I do get them, but didn’t adequately express that in the past.Sticky Blogging has helped me conquer the blank screen overwhelm because I know what points I need to cover and brainstorming it is much easier. I am also willing to spend more time writing than I was in the past because I know it will actually pay off.”Bekki: “Having you as a guide makes me feel like I can travel through the Amazon rainforest of blogging and not get lost.”Kathi: “Every day I learn something with your course. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your heart and passion for helping other writers.”Corinne: “Sticky Blogging has made me rethink my entire writing and editing process. The way Kelly has written and designed the course, makes it very easy to understand how to apply it to my own writing. I’ve genuinely been surprised by how amazing the course is.”Tove: “I have been impressed with every aspect of this course. Too many bloggers are self-proclaimed experts in various aspects of the blogging craft. There is nothing worse than signing up for a course that then doesn’t teach you anything new. This is NOT that type of course.I have been so excited for this because I know you have the skills to keep your readers reading—because I read every single email from you—from start to finish—and then I laugh and think ‘Damn she’s effective!’Thank you for living up to your pledge with this course. It is the best one I have attended.”8. Do you have payment plans?Yep! For your convenience, you’ll find them under the “Claim my spot” buttons on this page:Join me inside Sticky Blogging here9. Will you review my posts during this class?To be clear, this is a group class and not a one-on-one coaching program, so you will not receive a personalized individual critique. However, I’m active inside the private course community every weekday, answering questions and reviewing homework—as is your team of course mentors. And we make it our goal to make sure every question is answered.Plus, you will have weekly live (and recorded) Q&A group coaching calls with me to address your specific questions as you put the Sticky Blogging techniques to work on your blog.You’ll also be able to submit your post or email for a chance to be reviewed by me in a live “Sticky Makeover” video session. Even if your post isn’t the one reviewed, this real-time critique session is a powerful learning experience that will reinforce all the Sticky Blogging strategies you learn.10. Do you offer any sort of guarantee?Absolutely. If you aren’t satisfied within the first 30 days after the class start date, contact me and I’ll work with you one-on-one until you’re satisfied.After the course ends, you’ll also get lifetime access to a private alumni group that I run for students, where you can ask questions, request feedback, and share your “aha” moments. In other words, you won’t take this class once and never hear from me again. You’ll be a part of the tight-knit Sticky Blogging family.11. What if I don’t have my blog started yet? Or what if my blog is still brand new?Full disclosure: The Sticky Blogging master class doesn’t step you through the basics of setting up a blog the first time. With that said, I’ve had students who start the course with no blog in place, students who’ve been blogging for 10+ years, and everyone in between.So it really depends on your personal preference. My students who are just starting their blogs tell me they’re grateful to have taken Sticky Blogging at the very beginning of their blogging journey because they can start off the right way, connecting with readers and turning them into true fans with every post they publish and every message they send.Also, during the course, I encourage students to ask any and all questions about blogging in our private class community—not just about the course material. So if you’re at the beginning stage of your blogging journey, the course mentors and I are available in the community to answer any questions you have, from how to choose a host to picking a blogging platform to social media tactics and more.We even have a special networking group inside the course called “The New Crew” that’s just for bloggers at the start of their journeys! If you aren’t seeing the results you want, it’s time for a change.Churning out more and more content isn’t paying off. You’ll end up burning yourself out on blogging before you even get close to meeting your goals.The truth is that you’ll be more likely to achieve your long-term blogging goals if you put a few tasks on hold while you take this course. Get off that publish-promote-publish-promote hamster wheel, and put that time towards learning the strategies that will make your blogging dreams a reality.Instead of posting three times a week, cut back to once or twice. Instead of spending an hour “networking” on Facebook, close that browser tab. Instead of using every spare moment to pin or tweet or check Google Analytics, stop. Take the time to invest in your future, and it will pay off.When you’re ready to take your blog to the next level, get access to the Sticky Blogging master class before it closes again:I’m ready. Let me in!See you on the inside,Kellyp.s. Don’t forget: The deadline to snag the early bird goodies is tonight at 11:59 pm Central (4:59 am UTC next day).
Homeschooling Olympians This is our passion project, our life mission… to help homeschool parents raise kids who still love the LORD and are excellent communications in both written and oral forms. We can also chat about this on the phone…Have questions about homeschooling but not ready to commit to any mentorship programs?Overwhelmed with where to begin?Stuck in a particular stage of your teaching your kids but not sure how to move on?Would you like to seek advice from an experienced homeschool mom who has survived 25+ years homeschooling FIVE sons and still has a smile on her face? Or simply have her as a sounding board for your many ideas?Book your FREE 15 minute call with Bekki!It’s EASY to schedule!
What’s INSIDE the Basic Math FACT Bundle of Goodness? This amazing bundle included hundreds of basic math fact practice activities!Your Math Road mapFUN Addition and Subtraction PagesExciting Multiplication and Division Pages97 Easy and FUN Math ActivitiesTop Recommendations for hands-on learningLet me give you a quick tourCrazy!!
Math Number of the Day Printables For PreK- Kindergarden Complete Number Sense Set (Numbers 0-10) K-4th Number of the Day Worksheets 5th grade and Up
Best Way to Teach Basic Math Facts Video Mini- Series on the best way to teach basic math factsPart 1 Where to begin?Part 2 Our MindsetPart 3 Math + ART!!Learn to doodle with your kids!Part 4 Be sure to grab the freebie!Part 4 Get your FREE sea turtle page in my TpT ShopMath Printables More math teaching tips!Fun Math Activities https://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/teach-math.html Growing collection of resources to help you teach your kids basic math facts. Get your FREE Math Road map here!
Rowing for Kids! An Amazing Opportunity Rowing is NOT an easy sport. That makes it perfect for kids that thrive on challenge. Our youngest son, Stephen, fell in love with rowing the year my husband signed three of our sons up on our local rowing crew.While his older brothers loved the sport, Stephen immediately became driven.As the youngest of five boys, he owned this one. I would have not been as calm!!Stephen would love your help with a CRAZY AMAZING opportunity!!Leave a word of encouragement below!Spread the word, by simply sharing this link: https://gofund.me/6f252753Consider supporting him on the road to this Olympic Development CampStephen writes, “USRowing has selected me to attend the Olympic Development Program (ODP) from a pool of over 66,000 teenaged rowers across the country.This month-long program is not only a place to help me advance my rowing skills, but is a way to help me pay for college and medical school with possible scholarships.Visit my GoFundMe Page and learn all about it!“Benefits of RowingIt’s a full-body workoutIt can be high-intensity without the impactIt doesn’t exacerbate sore musclesIt can improve your postureIt’s hard to slack offStephen Rows with Clam Island Rowing in Silverdale, Washington. If you live anywhere in Kitsap County, you can learn more here.Scan with your Phone…Download Phone WALLPAPER share the fundraiser!!Learn more about this amazing young man Stephen’s Collection of Resources
Color with Me EVENT- Homeschool Mom Encouragement Get your copy here!!WHAT?Not your typical homeschool “training”.Words of encouragement that will marinate your soul as we color and talk about the secrets of Homeschooling SuccessfullyWhere?Here on YouTubeSubscribe and hit the Bell Icon at the top of my page so you do NOT miss the LIVE event!DetailsThis is NOT your typical homeschooling event! YAY! Come color your FREE Homeschool Success Plan with me as we talk about secrets hiding in plain sight. You will NOT want to miss this one! Join my little corner of the internet to get your free copy. I recommend having it printed BIG so you can hang it on your wall as a sweet reminder later! Let’s do this!! XOXO BekkiMaterials needed:Markers, crayons, or colored pencilsPrintout of your Homeschool Success Plan40 minutes on the timerIf technology cooperates, you will be able to watch it again and again!FAQDo I need to subscribe if I’m already on your email list?Yes please, because there is a behind the scenes checkmark that happens for I can make sure you get the details!How long will the event be?I am budgeting 40 minutes. This is our FIRST EVER color with me event!!Is it really FREE?Yes! I believe the details on that page are so important that I want to make sure to share them with as many homeschool moms as possible!Will there be a replay?Assuming that technology cooperates, the link will turn into a traditional youtube link after the LIVE event is over! Fingers crossed!
Crazy Things People have said to you about Homeschooling I bet you have stories.It’s a Tuesday and you’re out of an essential ingredient for lunch and so you load all of your kids into the car for a “field trip” to the grocery store.As you chat with your kids about how to determine which can of tomatoes is a better deal, a woman in business attire looks down at your fluffy slippers from high on her stilettos and says, “no school today?”You smile.We homeschool.Stiletto woman snorts and walks away.Click, clack, click, clack.You make a mental note to read the Billy Goats Gruff to your kids when you get home. Am I the only one who has heard insensitive, rude, or careless things from strangers, neighbors, friends, or family?I’d love to hear your stories.So I’m asking…What are the most ridiculous things people have said to you about homeschooling?What have you said in response?Do you always answer nicely?Who are the boldest objectors and nay-sayers in your life?FamilyKidsLadies in stilettos in the grocery store at lunchtime?Share your stories with us!!
35 Homeschool Fun Friday Ideas Come on!We can be FUN once a week! Who’s in?Once a week, do something fun with your kidsGather all the materials a week in advance so you are readyA school year is about 180 days long. If we plan to be fun once a week, we only need 25 great ideas!Here are 35 great Homeschool Fun Friday Ideas to get you startedWatch a movie together day! You decide if it’s kid choice, or mom suggestion! You can even make it a learning activity later if you dare, by having them complete a movie response page. I recommend doing that piece on a different day!2. Visit a museum! Most towns have small little museums nearby. Don’t neglect those tiny little gems! Historical homes, interesting places, and even oddities make GREAT excursions! No museums at all near by? Go virtual!3. Paint together! Don’t overcomplicate it! Some simple watercolors, watercolor paper, a good guide book and 15 minutes is all it takes! 4. Doodle together!! When you sign up, you will have access to:12 Monthly Doodle Challenge Prompts12 Mini Activity Books for Adults & KidsColoring PagesActivity PagesSticker PagesDoodling is incredible powerful for learning!5. Explore the neighborhood together! Make it fun by completing a scavenger hunt too!Road Trip Teacher has all sorts of them to read to print!6. Plan and prepare a meal. But let your kids choose! Pick the food, prepare a grocery list, estimate a budget, go shopping, check to see how close their estimate was for that meal, then get to work cooking!Teaching kids to plan and prepare meals is an essential life skill and if done correctly is a fun educational activity!7. Make HUGE Bubbles! Making a giant bubble wand is the easiest thing in the world, and all you really need are a few sticks and some string!These kid-made tri-string wands make the biggest bubbles I’ve ever seen – the kids won’t be able to resist playing with these all day long…Read on to find out how they can make their very own giant bubble wands, with our totally home-made and plastic-free tutorial!Forest School Tutorial by Rhubarb and Wren8. Definitely do outside! Messy science = AWESOMETransform an ordinary day into an extraordinary one by combining Diet Coke and Mentos to create a spectacular soda fountain. Kids love watching (and doing) this fun, easy chemical reaction that combines two delicious ingredients to create a geyser of carbon dioxide bubbles.Scholastic ParentsLooking for more mess? We have you covered.9. So something with glitter outside! How about a glitter sensory bottle?TIPS for cleaning up10. Make Ice Cream in a bag! Yes!This is where science meets taste buds and your kids will be overjoyed!11. Play a board game! Don’t overthink this one either. Any game will do!Board games have incredible benefits for learning, building confidence and strengthening relationships!I share about our favorites games here:TabooSpeed CupsSettlers of CatanUnoYahtzee and MonopolyTicket to RideSequence12. Build an Epic FortLiving room forts are NOT just for little kids!! Call all the kids and announce you have a plan that requires zip ties, boxes, blankets, and food. Then watch their faces.Your big kids may look at you funny. That’s ok. If you dangle the correct snack, they’ll jump on board too.Once the BIG kids get on board, prepare yourself for some EPIC fort building!Let’s do it.13. Go on a hike, or long walk.Make Ketchup cookies to bring along:).14. Build a cup tower together. As a TEAM.It’s a great lesson in self-control and teamwork. 15. Watch a local play or musical production. Check with your local school and news and mark your calendar.16. Cloud watch! You can even create a FREE cloud identifier and learn about the types of clouds. Want to add a pinch of academics? Have your kids graph the weather for a month.17. Play BasketballBasketball doesn’t have to be a sweaty, competitive game of five-on-five. Maybe there are only three children playing, or the game is being dominated by more athletic children, leaving others without the opportunity to play. Either way, there are numerous games played with a ball and basket that youngsters of all skill levels will enjoy.Here are plenty of H-O-R-S-E alternatives kids can play with just a basketball and a hoop.ActiveKids.com18. Sidewalk chalk!Yes, kids can simply draw. But my kids play longer if I can stir up their creativity a little.Make and takes has 10 great ideas to get your kids chalking. Would you be stunned that #8 was my boys’ favorite?19. Ride bikes together.TOGETHER.Nuff said! Except you may need to hunt for hero dirt!20. Build Legos Together. But then let them stay out for an extra bit of time and see what happens.At first, all you might see is chaos.But maybe, just maybe, you will see order coming through...21. Play Dress Up together. This delightful season of make-believe is short, so have fun, dress up, and pretend!Great Role Play IdeasIce Cream Shop Dramatic Play Printables + Play Ice CreamPretend RestaurantMenus for playDoctor OfficePlay schoolSandwich shopVet’s officePost officeHair SalonDentist OfficeFlower ShopZooSuperhero FUNPizza ShopAirportMidwife HospitalHave FUN!!22. Have kids do a fashion show. If you’re brave, give them access to your clothes. 23. CARDBOARD DAY!!Combat the “she loved the box more than the gift” blues. Do not use banned gift words: educational, learning, smart, prepare you for life, helpfulUse kid approved words: FUN, exciting, dangerous, popular, phantasmagoric!Be prepared with a list of challenges so you can get educational value out of that box if the gift itself backfires:)Get your cardboard idea kit here!!24. Go Geocaching!Geocaching is the real-world adventure that’s happening right now, all around you. Watch this video to learn more about what geocaching is, how it works and how you can become a part of it.Ready? Get started here.25. Visit a water feature near you. Lakes, rivers, brooks, ocean, or even waterfalls!Do a quick google search to find the nearest wonder near you. Water is calming.Calm = Good.*Practice water safety! Supervise kids closely around water.26. Go fishing!Or create a fishing day right at home!Materials needed:Fishing poleweight/clayPaintPaint brushSmall snack like golf fish crackersTie a weight to the line.Set up targets in the yardHave kids try to land the weight in the target.Directions27. Paint with Pudding!!28. Make pretzels!This is a great fine motor activity, but also delicious cooking fun!These homemade pretzels never last long around our house. My kids love to make them…and eat them! I serve them to company with a variety of dips, such as pizza sauce, ranch dressing, spinach dip or hot mustard. Elvira Martens, Aldergrove, British ColumbiaRecipe to print29. Create with Fimo ClayFIMO kids is an oven-hardening modelling clay. Unlike conventional modelling clay, FIMO kids can be used to shape figures and objects for lasting playtime fun due to the fact that, once modelled, items can be oven-baked to harden. All that needs to be done is place the FIMO kids clay in an oven for 30 minutes at 110°C. Once cool, the material is hard and solid.Staedtler 30. Learn to Crochet! I began teaching my son to crochet at 4-years old, because he was driving his older brothers crazy during reading time. Let him teach your kids how to crochet too!PS- You can view and of the “preview” lessons for free!31. Learn some new songs! How about songs about the 50 states?!?!The State Songs of the 50 U.S. States online course is the perfect course to do with any state study! Listen to the state’s official –and unofficial –songs as you learn about each state. Videos of the songs, as well as links to lyrics and sheet music are included.Music In Our Homeschool32. Yes day.For the bravest and coolest of parents. Only one day a year, purpose to simply say YES to everything within reason your kids ask.Tell them in advance is you are SUPERHERO brave.33. Kids give mom directions.Get in the car and start driving. At each stop sign or light ask the kids, “left or right”?Do this 10-24 times and see where you end up!34. Curl up and read.Never underestimate the POWER of an extended reading day. Jammies, popcorn, goodies, and great books.Not your cup of tea? Let someone read aloud for you!35. Blow eggs and paint. But don’t hurt your cheeks!Use a baby snot sucker (also known as an infant bulb syringe).Fun craft to do with kids, or when they are are all busy. Yes, that means it’s a great mom craft too!Get your Free FUN Friday Idea List
Great Homeschool Curriculum Workbooks One of the biggest questions for new homeschoolers is “which curriculum should we use?”.Good news? Curriculum is not the most important part of homeschooling!…Read More »
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Thank you for staying!!! If you ever wish to unsubscribe, there is a link at the bottom of any email you receive from me.The cost of the Heart of Homeschooling Class goes up next week! Give it a test spin before it more than doubles in price!THANK you for sharing space with me in your inbox! Do you have questions? email me at abetterwaytohomeschool@gmail.com I BETR I know someone who can help you if I don’t have the answers/resources you need.Be blessed!XOXOBekkiPS- Have you check out my patreon page? The Masterclass is included after three months inside!! There are only a few more spots left at the current cost. Once those seats are gone, the cost jumps to $10/month.