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A Better Way to Homeschool

What if we focus on character

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You are here: Home / Archives for Blog / blog

blog

Read these Verb Books BEFORE Handing Kids a Pencil

…

Read More »

Filed Under: blog, sticky

Promise of God Coloring Page

Sometimes it’s easier to believe in God’s power on a grand scale- creating the universe, sustaining it through all time, reigning over centuries- than to believe one simple promise.

Ann Spangler- Praying the Names of God

Believe.

  • God holds you in His righteous right hand.
  • He will NEVER leave you.
  • He will take great delight in you.
  • He will quiet you with His LOVE.
BELIEVE

A free reminder.

When our son struggled with great pain this past week and all we could do was give him medicine, pray, and wait… my heart was troubled.

I needed to focus on God’s promises, but all I could hear and see was my son in pain.

So I pressed in to the promise in Zephaniah 3:17

  • Reading the promise
  • drawing the promise
  • coloring the same promise

The quiet, still, repetitive motion as I meditated on God’s ability to QUIET our son cause my heart to fill with peace.

Do you need that too?

I bet you know a gal who does.

I’m sharing my drawing/prayer for free in hope that the Lord will use it to calm your heart as well.

Free for subscribers

Get you Mother’s Day Kit

More Bible Studies for Kids:

  • Days of Creation Board Game
  • Days of Creation Printables
  • Days of Creation Food Ideas (free)
  • Bible Study BUNDLE #1
  • Sunday School Activities: Fruits of the Spirit
  • Daniel 1: Bible Study and Children’s Ministry Activities
  • Bible Object Lessons for Kids: Waterfalls
  • Bible Fun for Kids: ABCs of God’s Character
  • Advent Activities for Kids: Freebie
  • Advent Activities for Kids- Complete
  • Bible Study: What Can I Learn from the Camel
  • Bible Study: Pearl of Great Price- Matthew 13:45-46
  • Bible Study: Transfiguration of Jesus- Matthew 17
  • Daniel 4: King Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree Dream
  • Sunday School Lessons on Prayer for Preschoolers
  • Bible Study for Kids: What Can I Learn From the Ant?

My personal statement of faith:

I believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.

I believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

I believe “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that we are saved by faith in Jesus.

Some of my favorite Bible teachers are my husband (Craig Sayler), Pastor Jon Courson, Pastor Chuck Smith, and CH Spurgeon.

Filed Under: blog, Mom Solutions, sticky

Activities for Preschool and Under

Activity Room

You just want 20 minutes of quiet… so you can get things done.

Kids are energy in motion.

  • bouncing
  • leaping
  • expoloring
  • licking
  • singing
  • smiling
  • shrieking
  • skipping
  • loving
  • crawling
  • hugging
  • building
  • dancing
  • tapping
  • twirling
  • climbing
  • sneaking
  • GROWING
  • rolling
  • tumbling
  • discovering
  • learning
  • spilling
  • slipping
  • snapping
  • questioning
  • hopping

Energy. No wonder you’re tired!

Mom, there are simple to use easy to put together activities to help your kids learn… and thankfully, someone has already organized it so it’s ready NOW!

Want to Easily Preschool your child at home… 
With little to NO planning and prep…
And without spending a fortune?
Find out exactly what activities YOUR child should be working on for THEIR age.
Open your weekly preschool plan on your phone or ipad for instant access to
✅ Early Math and Literacy Activities
✅ Preschool Art and Block Activities
✅ Book Suggestions and Youtube Song Links
❌ No more hunting for printables all across the internet.
❌ No more hours on Pinterest and hand cramps from cutting out little pieces.
Get a no-printer required preschool plan made for moms using things you already have around your house.
Find out more at: https://www.mommyandmepreschool.com/mommyandmepreschool?affiliate_id=2632744

Filed Under: blog, sticky

Lounge Wear Makes Life more Comfy

It’s true.

Clothes make the woman.

COMFY Clothes make the woman happy.

I like being comfy and cozy. I spend most of my time at home and I like to spend that time as comfortable as possible!!

Aren’t you nicer when your clothes are comfy?

Me too!

WARNING: Make sure you do a weekly “Jean Check”.

That’s right. Wearing yoga pants is super comfy, but it can also be a bit deceptive. Catch those extra few pounds before they get you by simply slipping into your favorite jeans once a week.

If they zip up just fine, slip back into your yoga pants.

If they’re “snugglier” than before…

Wear them for the next few days!

Filed Under: blog, sticky

Learning at Home: Everything you need in one place

A Quick Start Guid to Teaching at Home

how to homeschool

These resources have been moved to my academy.

Before you start looking around, go ahead and grab a copy of my book, Homeschooling from the Inside Out

It’s completely FREE. Just click over and fill in your first name and primary email below and we will send you a digital copy immediately!!

how to homeschool


PRINT THIS FREE REMINDER.

This post comes with a free printable reminder list to help keep your heart focused on the heart of our kids. I always have the hardest staying focused. This printable simplifies it!

Here is a sneak preview…

the homeschool mom

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRINTABLE

  1. Download the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 9,000+ homeschool moms who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas!
  2. Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal.
  3. Place it on your refrigerator as a helpful reminder.

the homeschool mom

Filed Under: blog, Ready to go Resources, sticky

Welcome!

You are here because you clicked on our Facebook page. Yay!

I have a few things to show you before you go back to scrolling.

Quick links:

  • The growing DIY Subscription Crates for kids are here.
  • Cooking Camp for Kids
  • Adorable and Easy Mother’s Day Craft

I am a professional Nerf Bullet Dodger who LOVE creating activities, games, and printables for kids of all ages.

When great grandma stayed with us for a month, she looked at our five sons playing and doing “school” at home and she declared, “Gosh! This is just like my one room classroom!”

Grandma taught hundreds of kids in a small one room school in the middle of the cornfields in Iowa for years and she just adored having kids of all ages around.

Her advice?

  • Teach the older kids.
  • Keep the younger kids close by and you’ll be shocked at how much they absorb.
  • Get a sand/water table to engage the youngest.
  • Keep the kids moving and using their hands.

If you’re new to homeschooling, rather than trying to grab everything all at once, I’d recommend you start here.

I have a free printable for you!

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…

the homeschool mom

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRINTABLE

  1. Download the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 9,000+ homeschool moms who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas!
  2. Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal.
  3. Place it on your refrigerator as a helpful reminder.
the homeschool mom

Filed Under: blog

Jokes Make Math More fun!

Really! Make them laugh and they’ll beg for more.

Math with a Deck of Cards
97+ Ideas for Making Math FUN
Homeschool Math: Grab your Roadmap to Success

Filed Under: blog, Popular, TpT store

Hundreds of Printables for you!

printables
new products added all the time!

Bundles

games

life skills

Kindergarten-1st

Preschool

2nd grade

3rd grade

4th grade

5th grade

6th grade

7th grade

8th grade

middle school

high school

Bible Studies for kids

Creating printables

history

language arts

science

math & math jokes

holidays

arts and crafts

spring

summer

fall

winter

clip art

Filed Under: blog, TpT store

Mother’s Day Craft and Keepsake

Mother’s Day Crafts

Mother’s Day is a few weeks away.
While it may seem self-serving to have your kids make you a Mother’s Day Craft, it can be one of those precious keepsakes that finds a forever home in your treasure chest.

 

This booklet craft is easily modified for different age kids.
Recommended Time for craft:  3 days- each with an hour block. (some children prefer to complete the project in one sitting. Younger children require smaller chunks of time spread out over a few days)

Why do a Mother’s Day Keepsake?

  • Your kids love you. Give them a chance to show it!
  • They enjoy talking about you.
  • You’ll want to capture the essence of “where they are” developmentally.
  • Kids say the darn’dest things and it is precious to capture these funnies on paper. Plus, you may want to hold it over their heads when they are teenagers. Just kidding. Sort of.
  • This craft uses scissor skills, helps fine motor development, and nurtures creativity.

Print, color, cut, assemble:  Sneak Peek Video

Buy now

Includes:
Mother’s Day Craft templates
direction with photos
10 customizable booklet pages
cut and paste activities
scissor skill practice
creative writing
games

and more

 
Yes, I have a Father’s Day Craft Kit too! You can save by purchasing them as a bundle here.
 

Get your FREE tic tac toe game here.

Filed Under: blog, sticky Tagged With: arts and crafts, Holidays, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Activity, Mother's Day craft, Mother's Day Gift, Uncategorized

Math with a Deck of Cards

Quick round up of all the math games I can find that you can play with a deck of cards.

best math card games

Total of 10

Lay out 20 cards on the table (leave out face cards or change them to equal 0, while aces equal 1). Kids remove sets of cards that add up to 10, ultimately trying to remove all the cards from the table. It’s harder than you think! Learn more at First Grade Round up

Nifty 50

This game is great to develop logical thinking and problem solving, review two digit addition and subtraction regrouping, and is fun! The object is to come up with a math equation that has a sum or difference closest to the number 50. First player to five points is the winner! Learn more at Scholastic

best math card games
Great collection from Math Geek Mama!

21

This game is a simplified version played in casinos, with no gambling involved. Object: be the closest to 21 without going over! Learn more at Scholastic

Place Value War

Turn over 1, 2 or 3 cards. Place
them in any position to make the highest
number possible. The higher number wins all
of the cards for that turn. Learn more at Newark Schools

Once through the deck

Shuffle the deck and place it face down on the table in front of you. Flip the cards face up, one at a time.

For each card, say out loud the sum (or product) of that number plus (or times) the number you want to practice. Don’t say the whole equation, just the answer.

Go through the deck as fast as you can. Learn more at Denise Gaskins

Related: Games with a deck of card FREE printable by SAU 39

Closest To

Starting with two digit numbers, deal out two cards per player. Each player takes the cards in their hand and rearranges the digits to create a number that is closest to 50. The players show each other their hands and the player who is closest to 50 wins the set of all of the players’ cards.  Learn more at Math engaged

Math Memory

 Lay all of the cards down on the table face-down in a grid. Players take turns flipping over three cards and seeing if they can make an equation with the face-up cards. Younger players can try using addition and subtraction, and older players can also try using multiplication and division. Players are challenged to remember what cards every player has flipped to help them create equations on their own turn. The player with the most amount of cards at the end of the game wins. Learn more at Math engaged

best math card games

Here’s a game similar to the one described above, but this version allows students to compare fractions instead. You will need two pencils, one for each player, to serve as the fraction line. Learn more at Super Teacher Worksheets

Guess My Number

Place a student at the front of the room and give him or her two playing cards. The cards can be ordered any way the student wants. Be sure the cards cannot be seen by the class!

Take turns around the room guessing what the number is. The types of questions asked have to use math vocabulary, such as, “Is it even?” “Is it odd?” “Is it greater than 10?” “Is it a factor of 20?” and so on.

The student can only answer with a “Yes” or “No”, until the actual number is guessed at. Learn more at K5Chalkbox

More math with a deck of cards!


More math goodies

Math Picture Books Breath Life into Arithmetic!
97+ Ideas for Making Math FUN
Homeschool Math: Grab your Roadmap to Success

Filed Under: blog, popular, Ready to go Resources, sticky

DIY Doll Game and Activity

DIY Doll Game
your kids will Love this game/activity!!

This beautiful activity comes from author Gail Masinda, with Maestro Heights.

The idea is simple. 

Learn to care for baby while living your normal life.

Perfect for training siblings for life with baby!

There are two sets of activities: 

  • small manageable tasks
  • what baby needs.

How to play

  • Place each in their own jar/basket.
  • Begin the day with a smt. Complete the task
  • Then reach in and see what baby needs. 
  • Set the timer and kids practice setting baby’s needs above their own. PLUS, you get a little bit of time too!

Back slips are included so you can customize chore/tasks and activities for baby.

Kids can use dolls or stuffed animals for “Baby”. I purposely used the word BABY and did not include his/her pronouns. HAVE Fun!

Download your free copy here


Visit Gail’s beautiful Music Room

Filed Under: blog, k-2nd, Ready to go Resources, sticky

Parenting in Times of Crisis turned into MAGICAL Memories

When I was about 11-years old I had the BEST summer ever.

  • Family wildflower walks every evening after dinner.
  • Family wifle ball games.
  • Family soccer games. (got a basement?)

We lived on a 15 acre farm in Connecticut and my dad spent the summer carving out adventures for us with his ride-on tractor.

⚽️First he cut the soccer field.

⚾️Then he lowered the mover and cut a baseball diamond into the same field.

💐He carved a 6-foot wide path around a huge field on our property so he could take us on a walk to see “which wild flowers bloomed” that day.

🌼We played
🌱Caught dragon flies
🌱Watch clouds float by
👀Sat in the yard playing I-spy
🎼Turned off all the lights in the house and blared the music while playing “who knows the most lyrics to each song”

We fed wild birds, watched the squirrels steal their food and simply enjoyed each other’s company.

🐾What a great summer!

It wasn’t until I was a grown woman that I learned the truth.

😳Dad had been laid off that summer.

While he applied for over 150 jobs looking for work at night, during the day he created, played, and was present with all four of us kids.

Today, we have a choice.

I say, let’s make this season of quarantine the “BEST Spring vacation of our kids’ childhood.”

🌸Be present
🌷Read
🌱Cut soccer fields out with a lawn mower
⚽️Play games

And at night, when the kids are nestled in bed make our plan for the next day.


I found the EXACT 200+ year old house I lived in at the time.
Yes, I had a heart attack too. It was not fully restored when I lived in it.

It was NOT this beautiful when I lived there.

But you get a rare opportunity to see where my DREAM summer was lived out.
Page 27. That yellow room is where I heard my sisters snore like tigers.
Page 28 was a closet PACKED with boxes and clothing and didn’t have a window.
Page 31 was the scary attic in our garage where my parents hid Christmas presents
Page 34 is the window I witnesses the greatest ice storm I’ve ever seen. I sat on the sofa and peeked out.
Page 38 shows you why I remember spending a HUGE portion of time doing yard work with my dad.

But the magical field?
Page 32. Walk to the right of the garage and hang a right after that clump of trees… I spent hours and hours and hours there with my family, led by my father…

When I lived here, all the walls were white. There wasn’t any fancy decor. We had 13 cats, no heat in my room (you could see your breath)

What’s your favorite memory from your childhood?


If you know people who can use an easy to follow plan for school for the next few weeks/months… Share this FREE, no gimmick plan with them.

Learning at Home: Everything you need in one place

Filed Under: blog, Ready to go Resources, sticky

DIY Earth Crate for Kids

How Does it work?

  • Set a BUDGET (You can create a great crate for $25+)
  • Load up all the goodies into your cart (Items from Teachers Pay Teachers, Evan Moor and Amazon)
  • From your cart, make your final selections.
  • Download your printable lesson and prep lessons while you wait for your goodies to arrive.
  • Watch your kids get excited
Earth Activities, Printables, and Games

GOODIES TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR KIT

**Hands-on Activities and Printables

I am Earth Book

Earth Day Pocket Book Project

Save the Earth Stickers

3D Globe Puzzle

Mini Squishy Globes

Terra Cotta Mini Pots

Gardening Tools for Kids

Wooden crate

WHY DO LEARNING CRATE WORK SO WELL? 

Experience Lead learning simply works BEST!

With over 20+ years of thematic/Unit based teaching experience, Bekki is an expert at wrapping a learning activity with hands-on activities, engaging stories, and fun projects to bring topics to LIFE.

*This type of learning transforms a dry topic in to a DELICIOUS and Contagious excitement. Sounds like a win!!

PRO TIP: ALWAYS GIVE STUDENTS TIME TO EXPLORE MANIPULATIVES, GAMES, AND TOYS PRIOR TO WEAVING THEM INTO LEARNING. THE YOUNGER THE STUDENT, THE LONGER TIME THEY WILL NEED TO EXPLORE.

Photos! Have your camera ready. You’re gonna want to capture their 

smiles and excitement!

Preschool earth
Stories ALWAYS make learning better
preschool earth
Earth Day Pocket Book
Preschool Earth
Save the Earth Stickers to share
Globe puzzle for hands-on exploration
preschool earth
Squishy globes
Preschool Earth
To make the Earth a Prettier Place
preschool earth
Gardening tools for kids
Wooden Crate to hold all the goodies

HOW DO THESE DIY CRATES WORK? 

Easy!

  1. Open the DIY Crate/Bag plan of your choice
  2. Grab and download the Printable Mini-Lessons that go with the Hands-on goodies
  3. Click and add ALL the items into your cart on Amazon or from other vendors.
  4. Set your budget and REMOVE all items that don’t fit you, your students, or your budget. 

As you wait for your goodies, print and prepare your lessons.

FAQ- Why add everything to the cart?

Because, it makes is really easy to remove and re-add things that work best for you with as little hassle as possible.

SEE OUR FULL AND GROWING COLLECTION OF DIY GOODIES HERE

Filed Under: blog, sticky

DIY Teaching Kids to Cook Kit

teaching kids to cook

How?

  • Set a BUDGET (You can create a great crate for $25+)
  • Load up all the goodies into your cart (Items from Teachers Pay Teachers and Amazon)
  • From your cart, make your final selections.
  • Download your printable lesson and prep lessons while you wait for your goodies to arrive.
  • Watch your kids get excited
…

Read More »

Filed Under: blog, Ready to go Resources, sticky

DIY Heart Foldable

This all began on a 4 mile walk in the rain.

He wants to be a cardiothoracic surgeon, that 14-year old son of mine.

Forget the  fact that he’s dyslexic, a ball of energy and only an early teen. He’s diving in.

It all began on a walk a few weeks ago, where we brainstormed the steps he could take to pursue this newish dream of his…

… and has grown into a full emersion independent study of everything related to the heart.

He’s been diving in to learning a few days a week…


I showed him a cut, fold, and learn template of the heart on teachers pay teachers and said, “I’ll get it for you, but honestly I think you can create a better one yourself.

Boy, was I right!

…

Read More »

Filed Under: blog, sticky

DIY Camel Bible Study Crate for Kids

How?

  • Set a BUDGET (You can create a great crate for $25+)
  • Load up all the goodies into your cart (Items from Teachers Pay Teachers and Amazon)
  • From your cart, make your final selections.
  • Download your printable lesson and prep lessons while you wait for your goodies to arrive.
  • Watch your kids get excited
bible study for kids
Bible Study Printable mini-lessons
…

Read More »

Filed Under: blog, Ready to go Resources, sticky Tagged With: bible study for kids, DIY

Sunday School Activities for Kids

Am I the only one obsessed with teaching kids all about God’s word and promises?

Fruit of the Spirit

Sunday School Activities
Only $4

A favorite Children’s Sunday School Lesson is the Fruit of the Spirit as explained in Galatians 5:22-13. The Fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

…

Read More »

Filed Under: blog

Teacher Appreciation DAY!

Whether you studied to be a teacher or SUDDENLY woke up a teacher in March, you are a ROCK STAR!!

This is for YOU!

teacher appreciation week
Homeschooling from the Inside Out

I want to wish you a very Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
In this season of craziness I have talked to classroom teachers, administrators, parents and homeschoolers and we all agree: Being a teacher is hard work, and it is so much harder now. I’ve seen parents/teachers go above and beyond during these times that are so unreal and unthinkable. I know how exhausting this is and you definitely deserve all the teacher appreciation love, this week and always!


A SALE? WHAT SALE? WHEN?

To kick off Teacher Appreciation Week, I am excited to announce that TpT is celebrating YOU with a special Teacher Appreciation SALE! Save 20% off all my resources (including bundles!) this Tuesday and Wednesday (May 5th & 6th). Save an additional 5% off by using promo code THANKYOU20. VISIT MY TPT STORE HERE!

Give a shout out to your FAVORITE Teacher friends and family on FB

EVERYTHING is ALL on Sale

  • Bible Studies
  • Best Sellers
  • Time Capsule Writing
  • Math Jokes
  • Mother’s Day
  • Life skills
  • and more!

Is THIS site on SALE TOO?
YES! I will mirror the TpT sale on this website! website. Use the same code, THANKYOU20, to get 25% off everything I’ve personally created on this website. (click on the product drop down menu in the tab bar)


What about all the masterclasses?
Yep! On sale too, with the same coupon, THANKYOU20, to get 25% off everything! Yes, that includes the homeschool classes, Pinterest, Business, and Selling printables classes!! Visit my academy here.



I have some AMAZING Creator friends who are also joining Teacher Appreciation week
to help CELEBRATE YOU!

Gail, with Maestro Heights, has the most creative graphic printables that bring biographies and music to life! My top pick for this week? Morse Code for Kids! Gail’s sets make perfect “Unit study of the Month”

Holly, Will take your kids on a virtual world tour of some incredible sights as they “Unlock” some amazing destinations!

Renee has the first role play set for your little midwife I’ve ever seen! So cute!

Mary Beth has STUNNING cursive practice and scavenger hunts that will tickle your child’s imagination.

Debbie is here to help you teach your kids ALL ABOUT NUTRITION!

Tricia has ready to go Bible Lessons for your children.

Mission Mummy has all sort of goodies for your preschoolers who need better fine motor skills!

Filed Under: blog, Mom Solutions, popular, sticky

Verb Craft and Activity Printables

Verb Craft and Activity BUNDLE

Hands on Verb Craft and Activities for Kids.

…

Read More »

Filed Under: blog, sticky Tagged With: verb craft

Advent Traditions that Make Your Heart Skip a beat

Your kids see the calendar flip to November and suddenly they are ready for the holidays, right?

It’s the same in my house.

We all love this time of year as we prepare to bundle up, snuggle in and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Every family, every home, every heart can prepare Him room; but some of us are lacking creativity. While we don’t need to be Pinterest perfect to celebrate the birth of our Lord, we can add a handful of traditions into our lives and show our children how to embrace this season with the same enthusiasm as a homeschool mom embraces that first cup of coffee.

Good News!

I’ve scoured the internet to bring you fun, creative, and wonderful ideas to help you celebrate Advent this year. Be sure to bookmark this for later. And take it slow. It really only takes 1-3 activities to help your holidays stand out as you celebrate JESUS!

7 Wonderful Ways to Celebrate Advent Together

1. DIY Advent calendar

Advent calendars are special delight for kids. They are meant to celebrate each day in a small way as we count down the days to Christmas.

They can be as simple as printing a calendar and adding designs each day:

DIY Advent Calendar
Printable DIY Advent Calendar

Or making a Paper Countdown Chain, like like this one from Jim Elzerman.

Names of God Advent Chain

DIY Advent Bags are fun too! Just gather 24 bags and fill them with little treats to be opened each day.

Advent Bags

Yes, it’s also ok to buy a keepsake Advent calendar too.

advent traditions
My favorite advent calendar

I know. It’s not a nativity, it has a little santa, and there are no wise men or donkeys.

I love it anyway.

2. Advent Music

Introduce a new Christmas song every day of Advent! This is the EASIEST tradition to start this year! You can create your own playlist, print out the words, dig in tot he history behind the lyrics, or just listen.

  • O Holy Night- Joh Groban
  • Noel_ Lauren Daigle and Chris Tomlin
  • Away In a Manger- Lauren Daigle
  • The Little Drummer Boy – For King and Country
  • Do You Hear What I Hear? Whitney Houston
  • Hark! the Herald Angels Sing – Celtic Women
  • What Child Is This? – Martina McBride
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem – Nat “King” Cole
  • Joy to the World – Bing Crosby
  •  The First Noel – Carrie Underwood
  • God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings – Barenaked Ladies
  • Mary, Did You Know? – Pentatonix
  • What Child Is This? – Andrea Bocelli
  • Sweet Little Jesus Boy – Casting Crowns
  • It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Celtic Women
  • O Come Let Us Adore Him – Pentatonix
  • Ding Dong Merrily On High – Celtic Women
  • Go Tell It On the Mountain – City Kids Christmas Program 2016
  • I Wonder As I Wander – Lindsey Stirling
  • Mary’s Boy Child – Harry Belafonte
  • We Three Kings – Steven Curtis Chapman
  • O Come, O Come Emmanuel – For King and Country
  • I Saw Three Ships – Lindsey Stirling
  • Who Would Imagine a King – Whitney Houston featuring The Nativity Choir
  • Love Came Down At Christmas – Jars of Clay
  • I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day – Casting Crowns

3. Advent Printables

Oh, these are the easiest things to incorporate into your advent celebrations. Click, print, and be that cool mom!

advent printables

I created this Advent and Jesse Tree Printables Packet a few years ago and each year I add a few new activities. The great news? Once you grab your copy, you can simply re-download each year!

Advent Printables

These advent acts of kindness cards from Mum in the Madhouse are worth the ink!

4. Advents Acts of Kindness

Spread the JOY of Christmas by blessing others! It’s always time to be kind, but it’s especially fun to enlist kids as secret agents on a mission to bless others

  • Write a letter to a loved one, or a soldier over seas
  • Bring gifts to the local women and children’s shelter
  • Make Cookies and give them to a neighbor
  • Participate in Operation Christmas Child
  • Trick or Treat for canned foods and deliver them to the local food bank
  • Complete one Act of Kindness a day

5. Advent Crafts

  • Make Handmade Christmas cards
  • Make salt dough ornaments
Homemade Christmas Ornaments made with Salt Dough - Only 3 Ingredients!
Salt dough recipe by Sugar Dish Me
  • Make thumbprint Snowmen Ornaments!
Thumbprint Snowprint (2)
You gotta try this adorable craft by Family Style Schooling
  • Make handprint tree skirt
  • Make foot print Penguins
christmas-jar-luminaries-craft
Luminaries Craft by Crafty Morning

Related: 30 Adorable Handmade Christmas Ornaments

6. Advent Games!

The holidays are filled with plenty of opportunity to overstuff your calendar with fun stuff that drives you crazy. Make time to sit at the table, or around the fire and enjoy each other’s company and you play a game together

Advent Scattergories

Advent traditions
Portals and Prophets is super fun!

Learn biblical history and geography as you play Portals and Prophets. No biblical knowledge required, so you can play with your entire family whether they know the Bible yet, or not!

7. Advent Books

The day after Christmas, I bring out wrapping paper and gift wrap my favorite Christmas Picture books for the following year. Then, those books get packed away until the following Advent Season.

I am one of those people who decorates for Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving, and my kids LOVE seeing those books get nestled under the tree.

Each day, a child gets to pick a book to be unwrapped and enjoyed together. It’s one of our FAVORITE traditions!

I love picture books in general, but there’s something magical about a Christmas story, a child in footed pajamas and a mug of something warm and wonderful.

6 last Minute Advent Ideas

Yes, it’s time to plan for advent season. With a few supplies, some paper and ink, and a few ideas, your family will delight together as you add new Advent traditions into your home.

Oh, Come let us adore Him…


More Bible Studies for Kids:

  • Bible Study Printables: Romans 15:13
  • Days of Creation Board Game
  • Days of Creation Printables
  • Days of Creation Food Ideas (free)
  • Sunday School Activities: Fruits of the Spirit
  • Bible Study BUNDLE #1
  • Daniel 1: Bible Study and Children’s Ministry Activities
  • Bible Object Lessons for Kids: Waterfalls
  • Bible Fun for Kids: ABCs of God’s Character
  • Advent Activities for Kids: Freebie
  • Advent Activities for Kids- Complete
  • Bible Study: What Can I Learn from the Camel
  • Bible Study: Pearl of Great Price- Matthew 13:45-46
  • Bible Study: Transfiguration of Jesus- Matthew 17
  • Daniel 4: King Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree Dream
  • Sunday School Lessons on Prayer for Preschoolers
  • Bible Study for Kids: What Can I Learn From the Ant?
  • Memory verse for kids: Exodus 14:14

My personal statement of faith:

I believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.

I believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

I believe “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that we are saved by faith in Jesus.

My favorite Bible teachers are my husband (Craig Sayler), Pastor Jon Courson, Pastor Chuck Smith, CH Spurgeon.


Bekki Sayler is the creator of A Better Way to Homeschool, author of Homeschooling From the Inside Out, and homeschooling mom of five rambunctious sons. Yep. She says it’s as crazy as it sounds!

Bekki is most thankful for the love and support of her husband of almost 30 years. When she’s not dodging nerf bullets or stepping over piles of Legos, she creates classes, printables, books, and resources to encourage Christian homeschool moms to trust the Lord in their journey. Her heart’s passion is to share the truth that it is possible to educate your kids using God’s word as a guide while focusing on the holy trinity of homeschooling: heart, attitude, and character.

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Hi, I'm Bekki,

A professional Nerf Buller Dodging Homeschool Mom of five sons!
My passion is to help homeschooling moms educate their kids from the inside out.
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