Best Photo Bombs- Homeschool Siblings and Family Photos Do you see what I see? I’m not sure what you think about photo bombs. But this one makes me so happy. Lol. …Read More »
Homeschool Life Win #197 As our kids spread their wings and catch flight, it can take our breath away.It’s what we want. We teach them to read and to calculate the best deals at the grocery store, and at some point it happens. They find their sweet spot. It’s incredibly humbling to hand dinner to someone you’ve birthed, taught, raised, and mentored and to see an accomplished adult looking back at you. LUCK? It’ll take your breath away! Nope. It’s days, weeks, months, and years of mentoring, guiding, correcting, training, and… letting go. It will look different for each and every one of our children.But that swelling feeling of warmth that fills our hearts and brings color to our cheeks will be the same. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been watching one of my sons soar. He launched his little shop and is daily releasing art that he’s been working on for months. It’s absolutely incredible to watch as he, “does what he said he was going to do”. Being the mom of an artist, I’ve listened to countless dreams, ideas, and plans… But now I get the double joy of watching his talent being unveiled. WOW! Let me give you a glimpse of what can happen when kids are given time and space to develop their talents. https://www.redbubble.com/people/TheSaylerMan/shop But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Where did this very talented man begin his journey to success? With a medical challenge that required HUGE surgeries every few years until he was 10 years old. Wasn’t he adorable? Medical issues that still cause him to develop grit Potty trained at 4-years old (because surgeries kept causing all progress to be lost as he lay in hospital beds”. He didn’t read well until he was 8 (He was one of five of the delayed readers in my home) When taking standardized tests, he simply created patterns with the little bubbles. Creative FANCY patterns. We’d fight over math. A lot. Eventually, I got him math teachers because I loved him too much to fight over my inability to teach him math in a way he could understand. He found a love for performing on stage in 8th grade. He began writing a book in 8th grade that eventually turned into a full screenplay in college and morphed to his passion project. ONE day before the production of a feature film project was to begin, the world shut down and he found himself staring at a project that could NOT be done due to pandemic. He moped for a bit, and I told him to think outside the box. Maybe there was something there that was hidden. (YES. I take credit for the next one. lol) He turned that feature film into a full 22 minute animated film. HAND DRAWING thousands of frames in a few weeks. He teamed together with other film students and produced and incredible little film that will make you cry when it’s released. A letter to you from me… Mom, Your child may be struggling to learn to tie their shoes today. Maybe they can’t hold a pencil correctly or write a complete sentence.It’s ok. Keep loving on your kids. Teach them HOW to learn. Marinate them in more books than you think they should read.Give them magic markers and let them draw. Turn on music and let them dance.Give them a guitar and let them play. Provide Legos and time to build. Let them learn to write computer programs. Someday, not too far in the future, you will hand them a dinner plate and you will see an amazing adult looking back at you. Every ounce of effort, love, time, and attention you put toward their life and education is worth it. xoxoBekki PS- This is the FUN part of homeschooling. Come follow Micah… Update! I’m going to be a Mother-in-love AGAIN!!! We’re delighted!! Focus on the heart, character, and attitude of your kids 99.8% more than academics… It may not make life easier, but it will make life RICHER! Get my book today!
Teaching Kid to Study More Effectively What does this list of words have to do with studying? Fire HydrantBalloonsBatteriesbarrelsurf boarddiamondknightoxtoothpasteneon sign Here’s a weird little story. Try not to cringe. My 15-year old added some details. You are standing next to a fire hydrant. Not just any fire hydrant, but a huge red one big enough for Clifford the Big Red Dog to pee on.Out of no where, someone comes and ties a big RED balloon onto the hydrant and then adds many more balloons to the bundle. So many balloons that the hydrant pulls out of the ground and begins floating away.WHOA!Out of nowhere, energizer bunny batteries come flying through the air and begin popping the balloons. Oh no! Where are those batteries coming from?You look down and see a huge wooden barrel firing batteries faster than you thought possible. Squinting you look at the side of the barrel and see the picture of a surf board.What’s that you see? A diamond is rolling down the surfboard! The biggest, brightest, most beautiful diamond you’ve ever seen is rolling down the surf board!BOOM!The diamond hits a knight in shining armor in the head and knocks him unconscious.Don’t worry! Paul Bunyan is walking by with Babe, his big blue ox. The ox begins licking the knight back to consciousness.Confused, the knight blinks awake and is startled to see a big ox standing above him. He’s confused because the ox is covered with toothpaste!Overjoyed about being awakened, the knight licks the toothpaste off of the ox’s side and reveals a neon sign that is blinking. “YOU Win!!!” Can you retell the story? Can you recite the list of words? Do it now. Then be amazed…
Character Training Resources are in HIGH Demand! My boys will fight over blueberries, Legos and who gets to be the most gentleman-ly boy. Today, we entered the gauntlet of doors at our dentists office. There are three doors to open and they fought over who got to open which door AND almost killed me in the process. LOL. You should have seen the girls behind the desk. Are you in the same boat? If you have sons, are your holding on to your sanity as you raise up the next generation of godly men? Boys test our grit. If your sons are near the age of 12 you may be surprised at the thoughts that go through your mind. Related: All five of my sons were lucky to survive 12… just being real. I have thousands of readers with daughters and yet I’m still looking for bits of wisdom to pass on. Do you have any nuggets of wisdom for raising godly women? I was chatting with a mom this morning about our kids. She was trying to make sense of our family’s stance on dating. It seemed so foreign, strange, and crazy that none of our sons date. Oh, they’re social and have lots of friends. The girls think they are super cute and the boys have to be creative in keeping them at bay… But they don’t date. It’s so odd to the world. Funny, that’s how it should be. Our kids, our families, our lives shouldn’t fit in. Our 20-year old was cussed out at college and called horrific names because he opened the door for a young woman who had her arms full.His offensive crime? He saw she had her hands full, so he opened the door. Gasp. After he told her to have a wonderful day (sincerely) a group of boys said, “dude… you have guts. I’d never open the door for a girl here!” How sad. When did it become wrong, bad, or offensive to be kind, considerate, and a gentleman?When did it become weak, bad, or scandalous for a woman to accept assistance from a …….MAN? Related: 22 Simple manners Kids should know by the time they graduate high school I’m rambling a bit. We need to be strong when raising up our sons and daughters. The world needs men and women of God who are not afraid to be men and women of God. How will they know what that means if they are not taught? How can we teach them if we weren’t taught ourselves? There are some INCREDIBLE goodies for you to grab before the BYB goes away. REAL MEN 101: GODLY MANHOOD GOD’S GIRLS 101: GROW IN CHRIST There is so much inside this year’s Build your own bundle. You’re gonna need a cup of tea, a chunk of time, and a printable to help you. Related: Homeschool Goals Planner to help sort through the Build Your Own Bundle Where do I begin with the Build Your Own Bundle? Grab your free planner Decide how many products you want from the bundle Choose the best option for you: This year, you can add ANY product (excluding the mystery bundle & premium products) as long as the retail value is $100 or more. Now, here’s the really cool part! $100 retail = you pay $25$200 retail = you pay $40$340 retail = you pay $60$800 retail = you pay $80 The more you add to your bundle the BETTER the savings! Again, the flexibility of this makes it totally WORTH IT! Build Your Bundle sale ends 5/22/19. #BYB2019 (referral) –>> https://www.buildyourbundle.com/#a_aid=ABW&a_bid=d82325b2 Time to save hundreds of dollars on next year’s homeschool curriculum and resources! The Build Your Bundle sale begins on May 15th, but you can enter now for your chance to win ALL 15 bundles in this year’s sale. Plus more great prizes will be awarded from May 15th-22nd, so head over now! Show me this year’s BYB!!! #BYB2019 Enter here for your chance to win BIG this year from Build Your Bundle. Two winners will receive ALL 15 Bundles, plus daily prizes awarded May 15th-22nd for more than $5000 in total prizes! “I discovered Build Your Bundle four years ago, and it has made a world of difference in our homeschool journey! My kids LOVE being able to pick what they want to learn about and how they want to learn about it, as well as having such a wide variety of options to choose from. We’ve grown from elementary to middle school with BYB, and we wait anxiously every year for it to roll around. This was an incredible way for us to learn about new companies, authors, blogs, and opportunities for us as a homeschooling family. We discovered Mystery of History, How Great Though Art, A Journey Through Learning, and Amanda Bennett through BYB, as well as dozens of other great authors and resources. Plus, the cost is so much less than buying traditional curriculum. For a family on a budget, you can’t beat it! And if you’re trying to find new ways to learn and grow, then this is a sale that can’t be missed!” April D. – South Carolina, USA Make Learning Basic Math Facts a Breeze Free Copy of My book Successful Homeschooling: What if… 97+ Amazing Ways to Make Math Fun for Our Kids Need Help Finding Real Scholarships?
MouthWatering Pizza Dough Recipes Pizza… oh pizza:) I have has pizza every Friday Night since my childhood. My parents took us out for pizza every week and I loved it. Family time, pizza, the simple pause in everyone’s week to gather. It’s a tradition I carried into marriage and it still is a highlight of our week. I’m not sure when I began making pizza rather than ordering out. Maybe 25 years ago? I probably started with those Boboli pizza crusts and packs from the grocery store. We all have to start somewhere! I upped my pizza skills when a friend sold me Pampered Chef Pizza stones. You don’t need them to make pizza, but they are worth the investment. I’ve made BBQ pizza on the grill, pizza in small wood fire box that cooks the dough in 90 seconds, and in the oven. Yes, my husband bought us a ROCCBOX as a kickstart supporter! This baby cooks pizzas in 90 seconds! Perfect for entertaining! Our current recipe uses 100year old sourdough starter, gifted from a friend. When she handed me the containers, I was blessed she thought of us. But it wasn’t until I asked for help with using the starter that I learned it was a family sourdough starter passed down for over 100 years! If you can get your hands on a sourdough starter this is wonderful. Yes, you can begin one EASILY. 2 cups proofed starter1 tsp salt1/2 cup water3 cups organic flour2 Tbsp oil (not olive) Love your dough. This life-changing dough video is how I make my doughs. MixForm ballCoverLet rise (I usually let mine rest and rise for 6 hours+) Preheat oven to 475If you have stones, let them heat in oven! Break into balls and roll into pizza shape. That recipe makes about 3-4 balls of dough. I double the recipe for my crew.Lay on parchment paper. Top with favorites.Bake 15-ish minutes.Yum!! Related: One of my sons did a Chemistry of pizza presentation years ago. No sourdough starter? This was my go-to Pizza dough for years: Dissolve 1 Tbsp oil, 1Tbsp yeast, 1 tsp sugar in 1 cup lukewarm warm waterWait until frothyAdd 2-2.5 cups flour & 1tsp salt Roll outLay in parchment paper.Top with favorites! 475 degrees, 22ish minutes Enjoy Pizza making is an art and your ability to make, roll, and understand the texture of dough takes practice. Weather, humidity and elevation have always effected my doughs. Always start with less flour than needed, so you can add more if necessary. And seriously, use this video to help you love your dough. Want to make dough with me? I recorded the process on Facebook a while back. Part One: Getting the dough ready Part 2: Rolling the dough and topping
Zoom Backgrounds for Teachers My kids are always scrambling to find a new background for their next zoom class or meetings. I think it’s a simple way to spice things up in a world that is becoming more and more comfortable working, teaching, and learning at home. A creative virtual backdrop can be more than entertaining; they can be a stress reliever too! No last minute scramble to tidy up those stray toysLaundry can wait until after you’re done with your classYou can enjoy living in a virtual dream home Great zoom backgrounds are bright, crisp, and clean. They’re like your Sunday Best outfit, only for your computer screen. Every day, my son is quizzed by his calculus professor, looking for a good joke. This professor knows that laughing releases “feel good” hormones from your brain and sets you up for learning. It’s kind of a sneaky pro tip for teachers… make them laugh. I create zoom backgrounds that not only allow you ignore your laundry for a little bit longer, but actually add room for creativity and fun with subtle message changes from one image to the next. Zoom makes it easy to switch out your background. Who needs clean, crisp, professional zoom backdrops? Honestly, anyone who meets online for work or school. People react differently to you based on what’s in the background. Who wants to live here? You can virtually! Give it a try! 4 stunning backdrops for everydayFunny zoom backdrops to make people laughBackdrops specifically for teachers; filled with affirmationsFunny math teacher backgrounds In case you’re wondering… yes, I do custom backdrops too.
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 »