Important Life Lessons to Know Watch this FIRST Do you see what I see? SECOND Make a guess at what the important life lesson to know is below. THIRD Ready to see the life lesson?
Simple Personal Budget Spreadsheet We have used this simple personal budget spreadsheet for almost 20 years now, and it is the exact tool we share with our sons as they learn to manage their own finances. …Read More »
What You Really Need to Homeschool Homeschool Supplies at Your Fingertips When we had our first son, we had all the gadgets. Bassinet, stroller, carrier, car seat, bouncy seat, playpen, baby gate, huge diaper bag, and a baby monitor for our 425 square foot apartment. …Read More »
97+ Amazing Ways to Make Math Fun for Our Kids Inside: A master list of simple, inexpensive, and fun ways to teach all the basic math principles your kids need to thrive. PLUS- Free Math Roadmap Most homeschoolers overcomplicate math with fancy curriculum, worksheets, quizzes, stop-watches and tests. We choose to be different! Stripping math back to its basic foundational core, we can set our kids up for success in life by giving them a solid foundation with allows them to add, subtract, multiply, divide, count, measure, weigh, and estimate. Pickin’ Cute!!! …Read More »
Successful Homeschooling: What if… What if by the time you finish teaching your kids… They are kind. They are confident. They look people in the eye when spoken to. They befriend the new kids. What if: They put down their phone when others are in the room. They are strong and hard working. They know how to cook, chop wood and change the oil on a car. They are compassionate and caring. They LOVE to read and devour the written word. They never text and drive … Read More »
Custom Advent Calendar as a Gift? WOW! I Squealed when I opened the first two “Bekki, you should post these online so people know how much you mean to me…” My little sister sent me a box filled with manilla envelopes, dated Dec1- Dec 25. When I tore open the first envelope I SQUEALED. This is by FAR, the BEST gifts I’ve ever received in the mail. HandmadeThoughtfulPaper adorablenessand a story that build each day… Want to bless your sister, mom, wife, daughter, or bestie? Here’s how to build your own Custom Advent Calendar Kit Step 1: Pause and close your eyes. Who comes to mind? Pick her. Step 2: Assemble your materials Supplies. You’ll need card making supplies. There are many kits available, but my amazing sister used goodies she had on hand. You can buy a hand full of cards, or even find advent DIY ornaments. Trust me, it’s the thought that counts! Step 3: Envelopes! Place each day’s card inside the manilla envelope and write the date on the front. My sister, Jackie included fun number stickers for me inside too, so I could number the set as I open them! Step 4: Box the envelopes up and mail them to your loved one. When I called my sister to say thank you, she said, “You told me you never receive letters in the mail and I just had to fix that! Blessed beyond blessed. That’s what your bestie will be. Send some Mini Clothes pins and ribbon and she can hang them each year:) PS- Remember to teach your kids to write good old fashioned letters, it’s such a small way to make a HUGE difference in someone’s day.
Choosing a Chore System that Works for Your Family Inside: Age Appropriate Chores {printable} We have always believed in the philosophy that children are a welcomed addition to our family. We love, eat, live, play and WORK together as a family unit. We also make messes faster than the chicken can cross the road to prove to the opossum it can be done. … Read More »
10 of the BEST Homeschool Subscription Boxes for your Kids Inside: Top picks for homeschool subscription boxes by moms like you. These subscriptions will spice up your homeschool Travel to the future with me, and let’s give each other a virtual high five today. Ready? HIGH FIVE There are two boxes and an envelope on the kitchen table for your child. YOU are so excited, you can’t contain yourself. Related: Learning by Surprise Enhances Memory You close your eyes and think to yourself: “Don’t say they’re for school!”“Don’t say they’re educational!”“Don’t say they’ll be fun learning lessons!” You are squirming with excitement, because you know your child is holding the future in their hands and waiting with anticipation for the go ahead to peek inside. Yes!! They hold up one of the boxes. “This one?” YOU: Not, yet. They try to hide disappointment, and hold the the other box. “This one?” What’s inside?!?!? YOU: Maybe you should open the envelope first.((Insert wink.)) They tear open the paper and read, “You are about to get a glimpse of the future. Something that will some to you every month for the rest of next year!!!” At this point, tell them to pause while you get another cup of tea or coffee and ask them to guess what’s inside. YOU: What do you think it could be? ((Insert virtual high-five here)) They are so excited, they can barely contain themselves. What is in the boxes? 💛 Excitement💛 Curiosity💛 Fine motor Development💛 FUN How is this possible? Something for everyone Related: Learning by Surprise Enhances Memory I polled hundreds of homeschool moms and compiled their favorites list of kits into a list for you. My own 15-year old gets the Kiwi Co Tinker Crate each month. When it arrives, he places it on the ottoman and waits for the end of the day. That evening, he opens the box with great fanfare, making sure his DAD sees and is equally impressed. Then he gets building. Careful reading of instructions Fine motor development Engineering and design Problem solving and math skills Those are the words we HIDE AWAY from his ears and replace them with WOW! FUN! Let me see. MAGIC. You have time to make this happen. Most kits take a few weeks to get to you and there is one for almost every kind of child and passion. Just be stealthy and I promise… …I won’t spoil the surprise. Food for thought: These make GREAT gifts for people in nursing homes too!! Quick Links to the top Homeschool Subscription Boxes Green Kid Crafts KiwiCo Mel Science Bitsbox Ivy Kids Young Woodworkers Let’s Make Art Rock By Rock Raddish Letter from Afar Highlights Little Passports Think Outside Craftsman Crate Sensory Therapy Play Box BarkBox DIY Preschool Earth Box Plan DIY ABCs of God Plan Free Science for three months from Mel Science? Here’s how you register! When you really want to know what’s best you ask the experts, right?Kids LOVE getting stuff in the mail! Surprise them with a special gift – A subscription box just for THEM! Perfect for birthdays, holidays and more! But, if you’re like me you’re wondering which are the BEST Subscription Boxes for kids. So I asked all the moms On our Facebook page: I’m looking for subscription box and membership ideas for homeschoolers. Most subscription boxes are chosen to meet a specific need, want, or interest. Throw in the fact that you don’t need to look for duct tape, buttons, or instructions for how to whip together something cool and BOOM. Your kids will think you’re the coolest mom on the planet. Not sure which boxes will best fit your family? That’s exactly why I asked a few dozen of my homeschooling friends. Check out all the AMAZING subscription boxes other Homeschool Moms love. …Read More »
Snowman Fun Pack: Perfect Snow Day Activity after Building a Snowman When our youngest son was 9-years old, he was “chomping a the bit” to create something for my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. He loves the idea of pulling an idea from his brain and creating something cute, useful, educational and FUN for kids while putting a few pennies in his pocket. Although you must be 18 to open a sellers account, he decided to begin studying the process so he’s ready to go on his 18th birthday. … Read More »
Paper Project for Kids- Notebooking Paper projects can help transform your homeschooling!! Today’s Paper Project: Notebooking
5 Hands-on Hobbies for Your Sons That Will Make Your Heart Race “Don’t go too high!” “Slow Down!” “I don’t care that he has a helmet on, you may not push your baby brother down the hill in the wagon.” Boys. …Read More »
17 of the Best Advent for Kids Activities for your Family Inside: Fun Advent for Kids Printables to help countdown Christmas Share the nativity with your kids in a fun and unique way with these FUN and Easy Advent Activities. On Christmas morning, there were ash boot prints on my carpet and sleigh marks on my roof in the snow. To say my parents went over board to help us believe in Santa is an under statement. My child hood is filled with stories of Santa, reindeer, and all things Christmas. Did you grow up KNOWING Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas? I sure didn’t. And yet, Christmas remains magical in my life, even without a jolly old man in a red suit. Weaving the truth about the nativity story into our kids’ lives while surrounded by tinsel and elves can be a bit challenging, right? 17 Quick Advent for Kids Activities All 17 activities included in the BUNDLE 1. Advent Door Hanger Craft For 8 days, read a little bit about the nativity Story as found in the Bible. Then cut, laminate, and hang a decorative door hanger as a reminder that we choose to let Jesus in. A New Door Hanger for 8 days! Includes: mini story book foldable with prompts to help your child learn and re-tell the greatest true story of all time: The Birth of our Lord and Savior! 8 Advent style Door hangers (With light and dark skin alternatives!) These make fun and easy craft and story time, but also make a fantastic gift set! I laminated mine with –> peel and stick self laminate. Get your free copy of this set here. 2. Advent Scattergories 3. Advent Dice Game for Toddlers 4. Build your own Nativity Board Game 5. Mini Jesse Tree Activity/Craft 6. Daily Readings to Help your Kids understand the Nativity story from the Bible. As I began having kids of my own, i really wrestled with Christmas in general. Yes, I LOVE that it’s all about Jesus. But would my kids miss out on the MAGIC I experienced as a child? Nope. Heads up: No judgement here! Although you and I both know Santa is a myth and Jesus is real, many still bring the belly jiggling fellow into their homes. Like my third son. He was about 5-years old when he said, “Mom, I KNOW Santa is make believe, but I’m gonna have fun pretending to believe in him anyway.” Even at 18-years old, he just loves to add ALL the holiday flair into the scene; even as a sold-out-for-Jesus worship leader at church. 7. Ornaments for a flip Book 8. Advent Ornaments for a tree 9. Christmas Chain Countdown Craft 10. Advent: Make Your Own Calendar Adding Advent themed activities into our kids learning activities is another fun way to bring the advent season alive. Just make the focus the Lord, rather than the grade. 11. Advent: Language Activity- Find the Missing parts of the word 12. Advent: Writing: Diamante poem about Jesus 13. Advent Themed Math: Fact families 14. Advent themed math:Pie Graph 15. Advent Maze: Help Joseph and Mary find Bethlehem 16. Maze: Help the wise men find Jesus 17. Christmas Eve Reading No matter how you bring the Nativity truth, advent, and Jesus into your lives, have fun. It’s LOVE, laughter and memories that bring this amazing season to life for our kids! More Christmas Activities Christmas Color by NumberKindergarten Sight words: WinterSnowman Math: KindergartenSnowman Worksheet and ActivitiesWinter Writing Booklet and Writing PromptsScissors Skills worksheets and Fine Motor Practice: Winter Bible Studies for Kids: Bible Study BUNDLE #1Daniel 1: Bible Study and Children’s Ministry ActivitiesBeatitudes Coloring PagesSunday School Activities: Fruits of the SpiritBible Object Lessons for Kids: WaterfallsBible Fun for Kids: ABCs of God’s CharacterBible Study: What Can I Learn from the CamelBible Study: Pearl of Great Price- Matthew 13:45-46Bible Study: Transfiguration of Jesus- Matthew 17Daniel 4: King Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree DreamSunday School Lessons on Prayer for PreschoolersBible Study for Kids: What Can I Learn From the Ant?
Easy Survival Tips for Living with a 12-Year Old Boy Inside: The secret to surviving life with your hormonal 12-year old boy, 3 must reads if your raising boys and {Free printable: Raising Godly Men} My 12-year old boy almost died today. That’s right, I almost killed him. … Read More »
How Parenting Books Make You a Better Mom Inside: 7 Steps- Use the Parenting Books you already own to make you a better mom. Last week I decided that all those parenting books on my bookshelves are only good for one thing: starting a bonfire. A big one. I was pulling my hair out. photo by Tamara Bellis My youngest two sons had been at each other’s throats all day. They fought about breakfast dishes. Almost went to war over why their stretchy gecko toy thingy shouldn’t be touched ‘under any circumstances’. And they dared go toe-to-toe with their loving, kind, and unraveling mom. … Read More »
14+ Amazing Gifts for Homeschoolers- 2021 He was adorable… When our oldest was little, his FAVORITE book was the Christmas Catalogue that came in the mail. He carried it everywhere, sat and looked at the pages for hours, practiced reading with the delicious sounding product descriptions, and marked every single toy he wanted that year. IMAGINE my shock, here in 2021, that anAmazon FUN Gift BOOK showed up in the mail!! I combed through it and marked it up, just like my son used to do! “I want a copy!” Wonderful toys and games to drool overstickers to mark favorite goodiescoloring page and paper activities All inside the colorful pages. Warning! You may want to join the Mother’s Against Cardboard Club too!! Don’t make Rookie Mistakes!! Here are my 14 Top Picks from this year’s Toy Guide! With shipping a little wonky this year, I thought it would be fun to start early wishlists! Lego Pickup Truck! I LOVE all things Melissa and Doug, but this ice cream scoop and serve is adorable! Balancing blocks are a GREAT hand eye coordination builder! PIZZA is Love! I say that every single Friday, because it’s a family tradition in our home. This wooden pizza kitchen and restaurant play set makes me want to harass my married son for grandkids!! Classic Sit and Spin! This toy saved me when my very active sons were little. They would spin their hearts out while I worked with an older brother during school. A fun cozy INSTANT a reading spot. Just add something fluffy, some books, and a cute kid. Wooden Teaching Clock! Homeschooler refuse to raise kids who can’t read an analogue clock! I don’t care that it’s frivolous. My family is obsessed with baby Yoda (his name is Grogu). Lego kits for older kids, like my husband are called Technic. Very detailed and amazingly challenging. My husband will be getting the JEEP for Christmas from the boys. Shhh. BEST throwback toy ever! Super Spirograph is still mesmerizing. 5 in one knitting station. This is such a fun craft. All five of my sons have used them to make beanie hats. Our youngest son can crank out beanies in abou an hour! Settlers of Catan is a family favorite in our home.so much fun! Good Ole Trike! This one is a MUSThave for gross motor development! Our backyard was always filled with fun toys! But I have to say I’m drooling over that glamping set! LOL. My husband and boys are all hammock lovers. Get Your Cardboard Box Challenge Kit Here!! Get Your free kit here!
Preschool At Home MAGIC My oldest son turned 28 yesterday. Sigh. Do your kids still leave their actual handprints on your walls, clothing, and windows? …Read More »
You Don’t Need to Apologize for Raising Kids In a Greenhouse It’s not fair. When you dedicate your life to raising your kids and personally stay at home to make sure their needs are met, you are like a master gardener inside a greenhouse. Greenhouses are safe and controlled environments which provide optimum conditions for seeds to grow. …Read More »
7 Pre-K Thanksgiving Crafts 15 days of Thanksgiving Homeschooling ideas! Free of course! 7 Finger and Hand-painting Thanksgiving Crafts is a post from Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool where we learn to train our children to become lifelong learners. If you have enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Bekki on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+! 20 Thanksgiving Math and Reading Activities Day one: Give ‘Em a Hand So I have been looking for those Easy Crafts that Even Mom … Read More »
Christmas Activities: Build Your Own Christmas Tree Game Christmas is that wonderful time of year that delights our souls, causes us to wonder and distracts the daylights out of our kids. The best way to grab their attention during Christmas and the whole advent season is to improvise. This Christmas Activity is guaranteed to make them smile!! Buy Now Easy to Play …Read More »
24 Ways to Make Learning about Verbs Creative, EASY, and Fun INSIDE: Fun and Easy Action Verb Activities for teaching verb tenses I was browsing Pinterest this morning over a cup of coffee looking for a creative action verb activities. I know, not your typical read-over-coffee topic. But I’m tired of kids falling asleep or worse groaning when we begin talking about verbs and other parts of speech. “There has to be a verb game I can use to bring this area of learning to life!” I dreamed. If verbs are really where all the ACTION is expressed in writing, then why can’t we find ways to make them jump off the page with our kids. I took another big sip and started digging. …Read More »