How to Homeschool When that First homeschool Year is a Flop Sifting through my emails over coffee reading through questions form homeschool moms. How do you get kids to read? How do I teach kids respect for others and themselves? How do teach a child to write? And then my heart sunk. This one wasn’t a question, but an exhale of defeat from a mom who just began my free Homeschooling with confidence class. “My homeschool year was a flop”. In the quiet of the day when my entire house is still sound asleep and my coffee is still hot, I want to look this young mom in the eyes and smile. “Breathe… You’ve got plenty of time.” Related: Our first year of homeschooling isn’t what we expect We all have BIG expectations for our homeschooling journey. While expectations are where we begin to help us set our master homeschooling goals, they can easily become stumbling blocks perfectly designed by our own hearts to make us trip and fall flat on our faces. You smile and nod, when an older homeschool mom says, “focus on the heart of your kids, spend extra time building their character, and enjoy their company. Mama, relax about academics.” …but then like awake at night discouraged, as I did. I worried because all five of my sons were delayed readers my youngest son didn’t learn to read until he was ten years old my 15-year old couldn’t hold a pencil correctly until he was about 13 because his fingers are freakishly long one of my sons spent more time in the hospital than doing “school” between kindergarten and 2nd grade (at least it felt that way) my oldest son hated history until eighth grade one of my kids would sound out words like this: C-A-T… then he’d say “dog!” But my husband and I kept our eyes on our Master Homeschool Goals, taught them how to be a part of our family-team, concentrated on their heart and character, and pressed forward. I searched for grey haired successful homeschool moms who had kids that made my parenting heart drool and I pressed forward. Character and attitude first, ABCs and 123s second. Every day for over 20 years. Do you know where all five of my boys are now? All five are ahead of their peers My youngest, most delayed reader devours books by the dozen and is writing an epic novel two of the boys are in college and close to their bachelor degrees one is a gifted musician who is writing the score for his brother’s screenplay (Yes, a different brother) All of them are the first to arrive, last to leave kind of helpers They’re all kind, compassionate, stubborn, hard-working, diligent, men who will make amazing husbands one day (The oldest is married) We are nothing special. The kids are all “normal” sinners like you and me who sometimes fight and complain, but we see the fruit from years of focusing on their foundation. It works mama. Focus on heart, attitude, and character as a priority over academics and the ABCs and 123s take care of themselves along the way. I’ve had “flop” years in homeschooling, just like my student, have you? This is me taking a minute to smile and to let you know, it’s gonna be ok. You have time. Focus on the BIG things first and relax and enjoy your kids.
Short Homeschool Funny Videos: Hilarious, Free and Fun A reader challenged me to make short homeschool funny videos. “We need these fun, joyful videos! Just make sure they’re short and sweet so that we have time to watch them!” ~Ericka Video Challenge accepted! Because Life’s too short to take yourself too seriously! Homeschooling and juggling The Secret Sauce to Teaching kids to write essays and research papers isn’t what you think! Mothers Against Cardboard Crossbows, Legos, and a Bouncy ball Homeschooling with Confidence {free} Homeschooling with Laundry More added each week!
Homeschool Freebie/Deal of the Day Here’s Today’s Freebie/ DEAL!! Day 2. This one’s worth repeating: 60 Homeschooling Tips by Kathie Morrissey and Donna Reish at Character Corner. Don’t scroll past this one… Pause and download. You can thank me later:). Medieval History, Reading, and Art Activities for your Byzantine/ Eastern Roman Empire Studies by Bekki @ A better way to homeschool. My Kids LOVED the eggshell craft! Related: How to Organize Your Digital Files, by Ana @ They Call Me Blessed Deal of the Day https://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Inside-Out-Presorder.mp4 Who wants one? Preorders for $7 for Inside Out Homeschooling If you’re bouncing and excited too, get your pre-order copy here: https://a-better-way-to-homeschool.teachable.com/p/pre-order-insideout-homeschooling-ebook/ It will be $19 when I’m done!! Want to see past freebies and deals? (Scroll thru. The whole page changes daily!) (click the image to learn more) These notebooking style pages are by Peanut Butter Fish Lessons. Just print, grab your favorite Magic Tree House books and go! This cute Bible Study for Kids is by Bekki at A Better Way to Homeschool. By studying The Ant in Proverbs, we can learn a lot about diligence, hard work and finding our place in God’s plan. Nestle your learning activities within Christmas themed activities by Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool Gingerbread Men Craft by Christine at Blooming Brilliant Text Wars, by Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool, is the perfect way to safely teach teen drivers about the dangers of texting and driving! Sharla with MN Country Girl brings us this unit study about hurricanes! Bekki with A Better Way to Homeschool shares a goodie! 12 winter jokes solved with multiplication Handprint Reindeer Craft by Sam at Simply Everyday Mom 3 Day Challenge by my friend Sarah. Let’s take back our homes!! Kindergarten Dolch Sight Words WINTER Set by Bekki @ A Better Way to Homeschool Turn your kids’ artwork into their very own plate! My children still LOVE their childhood creations! Shutterfly will help your kids create theirs!! Ana @They Call Me Blessed does a BEAUTIFUL class on Hannakah. Circle up the kids and enjoy!! Homeschool Confidence {FREE} by Bekki at A Better Way to Homeschool is a MUST for new or frustrated homeschoolers! This free class is self-paced and can be completed in 4 sittings over coffee. Step one: enroll here: https://a-better-way-to-homeschool.teachable.com/p/homeschool-huddle Step two: request to Join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/HomeschoolHuddleMembers/ Step Three: Enjoy all PAST and future Huddles for as long as you are a member! Shop the 2018 Toy Gift Guides from Fat Brain Toys Click here for special freebies valued over $25 A CHRISTMAS PARENT GIFT…STAINED GLASS WINDOW PICTURES Craft by Pocket of Preschool brings us this cute tree craft! Beautiful Christmas Bundle by Oh My Creative. So much cuteness!!! Christmas vocabulary fun by Anu at Growing Curious Minds! Receive $5 off $10 or more when you join the Evan-Moor Rewards Program and Newsletter! Get an additional 10 Reward Points for a limited time only at Evan-Moor.com! LAST Day!!! Sonlight’s Buy more, save more. Only a few more days for 2018 Homeschool Thursday!!! $1200 in freebies by Life of a Homeschool Mom!!! This set of FREE Printable Conversation Cards is brought to you by Julie with Happy Home Fairy! 37 Ideas for Creative Book Report Alternatives by Write Shop. Limited time! DIY Christmas Jack-in-the-Box with a Gingerbread Man Pop-Up by Lisa at Adventure in a box Jesse Tree Activities by Bekki at A Better Way to Homeschool The TpT “Sale” thru Dec 3!!! VISIT MY STORE HERE! The Toddler Experience by Sicily’s Heart and Home Beautiful Bullet Journal Pages by Jodi @ Kitchen Table Homeschooling 22 Manner Cards to help your kids practice manners, by Bekki Sayler Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way, by Bekki Sayler @ A Better Way to Homeschool Beautiful English/French Christmas Bookmarks by Bekah @ http://masonalamaison.com/ Magic Tree House Books helped my delayed reader break through the barrier between not reading and reading fluently. These activities cover books 1 and 2 of the Magic Tree House Series. In Spite of Myself, by Katie Horner. They call me Blessed Academy! Ana has so many amazing classes to choose from! For Your Chin Hair Friends Coffee Mug Every woman needs at least one Chin Hair Friend. “If you’re ever in a coma, I Pinky swear to love you kids and sneak into your room and pluck your chin hairs for you!” Abby, with 4 One More Homeschool with Moxie brings us this beautiful homeschooling overview Budgeting is often neglected, and this project by Bekki with A Better Way to Homeschool is a perfect introduction and review for students learning to budget and manage their money. Portals and Prophets I LOVE this game!! Enter HERE for a chance to win a copy! Portals and Prophets extension activities, by Bekki Sayler (with permission) 11/23/2018 From The Art Kit Blog Free Winter Printables by Homeschool Gardens Elderberry Study {Still FREE!!} 60% Off ABC Mouse (thru November 27, 2018) That’s 7 months free!! MORE Amazing Homeschool DEALS (The following products were on sale at a fantastic discount when I shared them. Prices may change without notice) What is MomsToolBelt.com? It is where Debra offers all of her customizable planner printables! If you’ve been thinking about joining our program, now is the time. Sale ends Cyber Monday, November 26, 2018. 11/22/2018 Thanksgiving Notebooking pages {free}: Dozens of Thanksgiving printables included More Incredible Homeschool Deals I know free is amazing, but sometimes a great deal is even better. I know I’m not the only mom that’s grabbed a freebie and then promptly forgotten it’s on my computer or in my closet. The homeschooling resources that blessed us the most weren’t always free. But that’s true in every arena of life. When my son asked for permission to go on a 5-day sailing expedition we said, “Of course, but you’re gonna have to buy your own ticket”. We walked over to the calendar and counted. 10 days. He had 10 days to raise the remaining $300 required to set sail. His response? “OK!” He went door to door with a photo of the opportunity, a plastic jar, and a winning smile. I’m earning my way to this sailing expedition, do you have any jobs you could hire me to complete for you? If they said, “sorry kiddo,” he asked if they could toss in some loose change into the jar. He was so proud of himself when he paid off his trip with $300 in small bills and change!! Bonus? It was a great example for his younger brothers. These Homeschool Deals that may require a Jar to save up some Pennies, but are worth it! 60% Off ABC Mouse (thru November 27, 2018) That’s 7 months free!! More than 850 Lessons Across 10 Levels “Love the progressive activities! I don’t have to take the time to search for activities for my 3–year–old, and my 5–year–old just follows along when she’s playing by herself… So I know everyone’s doing the right things for their ages!” —Crystal, mother of 3- and 5-year-old girls Starting now and running through Cyber Monday: KiwiCo is offering 60% off your first month of your KiwiCo subscription Use code CHEER60 ! Products Homeschool Moms Love Pirate Raiders’ Ship Deluxe My First Hidden Pictures Gift Box God made a homeschooler Don’t Panic if Yor child can’t read yet The Best List of Delightful Books for Your Preschoolers Grab your NEXT homeschool freebie/deal by visiting daily!! I just LOVE freebies and saving money, don’t you? Be sure to check out this entire page. There are new goodies all throughout!!! Click here for special freebies valued over $25
150 Educational Toys Gift Ideas Inside: Over 150 recommendations for educational gifts and a free printable gift list!! With this list of over 150 gift ideas, your kids will never be bored. Yes, they may still play with the box, but they’ll love what’s inside as well! Just 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! Free Educational Gift Organizer printable {download here} Portals and Prophets Biblical History and Time Travel theme Learn biblical history and geography as you play. No biblical knowledge required. Simple rules with strategic depth, multiple paths to victory, and scales well with different player counts Download: Get your extension activities here, turning this beautiful game into a full Bible Curriculum! Fine Motor Toys TINKER TOYS BUILDING SETS: The “SNAP & LOCK” design has been proven to have significant cognitive and academic benefits for children of all ages. Stimulate and encourage brain development with these kids connector toys. Prepare kids for school, sports and life = THE BEST BUILDING BLOCKS OF SUCCESS. Related: The Importance of Fine Motor Skill Development Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Up Develop math skills, color recognition, matching, sorting, counting, and early math skills Squeezy Tweezers™ increase fine motor skills and hone skills needed for writing When your kids love the box more than the gift inside {free download} Learning Resources Avalanche Fruit Stand Game Spin the wheel – then use the jumbo tweezers to pick or place fruit Promotes fine motor skills, especially the pincer grasp Learn about colors, fruits, and counting Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards A classic math manipulative and learning activity Great for spatial awareness, color recognition, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving Related: The cognitive benefits of play: Effects on the learning brain Preschool Large Lacing Beads Gross Motor Toys Kinderfeets Wooden Balance Board: Created to help children develop a sense of balance, stimulate their vestibular system, and gain a deep sense of awareness of their body and body parts. Wobble, Spin, Rock, Slide GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower GIANT-SIZE: Tower starts at 2.5 feet tall and grows to over 5 feet during play – Includes 54 Giant Blocks (18 rows) BONUS RULES WITH DRY ERASE BOARD: Includes bonus dry erase board to make your own optional party rules. Includes carrying case EasyGo Giant Checkers Game FUN, EYE-CATCHING CONVERSATION PIECE – Our checkers large folding board game is a classic!! Everyone loves a good game of checkers and multiply the fun by the size of the game set! Fun to play, fun to watch!!! CHECKERS ON THE GO – Take this folding oversized checkers game with you to BBQ’s, parties, church activities, classrooms, picnics, or use it at home as a fun family game! Exciting Giveaway! expired a Rafflecopter giveaway Geospace The Original AIR POGO JUMPER Kids are hopping up onto our AIR POGO JUMPER, gripping the ball with their feet, and bouncing away like a Kangaroo on a mission. Jump up and down, bounce up and spin, bounce your way across the room or down the street! FUN AND BUILDS STRENGTH Gogo Roller The GoGo Roller has been created from the idea that children can give it rough treatment without damaging it. The children will enjoy how easily it runs. The wheels, the strong steel shafts and the pedals form a unified whole, which radiates sturdiness and strength. Balance Board Maze The challenge is to move a ball around the top of the balance board Excellent exercise for coordination and muscle building Students will improve strength and balance Related: The Importance of Gross Motor Development Sturdy Birdy Game Fun and silly game of striking poses and balancing seed bags Roll the dice to determine where on your body to balance the seed bag and for how long you must hold the pose Improves gross motor skills, social interaction, self-esteem; No reading required Amazon best sellers STEM Toys Electric Motors Catalyst STEM Kit | Intro to Engineering, Robotics, Circuit Building Projects Build & rebuild endless robotic creations with a single kit Snap Circuits Snaptricity Electronics Exploration Kit Build over 75 projects Projects relate to electricity and magnetism and how they are used in the home Includes: meter, electromagnet, motor, lamps, switches, fan, compass, and electrodes <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Mini Explorer Light-up Terrarium Kit for Kids with LED It is a miniature garden within a container that simulates a natural environment Beneath the lid, there is a built-in innovative LED light that transforms the experience into something magical. It’s not often that a science project can be fun and engaging, but this terrarium kit achieves both! It fascinates children as soon as they pull it out of the box. Looking for a weird gift? {click here} Related: Why is STEM so Important? Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit 20 piece kit allows your young scientist to explore and learn the basics of science from chemical reactions to the use of science tools GAMES ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Logic Game and STEM Toy Gravity Maze is a combination logic game, marble run, and STEM toy for boys and girls. Easy to learn with a clear, high quality instructions. Playing your way through the challenges builds spatial reasoning and planning skills, and provides a great stealth learning experience for young players. Related: the BEST game for active kids! {read more} Sleeping Queens Wake up the Queens form their royal slumbers! Play a Knight to steal a Queen or take a chance on a juggling Jester Watch out for potions and dastardly Dragons! Mattel Games UNO Card Game The classic card game of matching colors and numbers Players take turns matching one of their cards with the color or number card shown on the top of the deck Related: 8 Surprising Benefits of Board Games Settlers of Catan Picture yourself in the era of discoveries: After a long voyage of great deprivation, your ships have finally reached the coast of an uncharted island. But you are not the only discoverer. Other fearless seafarers have also landed on the shores of Catan: The race to settle the island has begin! Cranium Cadoo With a variety of hilarious activities, the Cranium Cadoo game gets kids thinking, creating and giggling as they play. Let’s play: play “combo” or go “solo” to compete in challenges from sculpting a clay object, solving a picture puzzle, and acting out a clue, sketching a target word or answering a trivia question Team play: players guess what you are doing. If a player shouts it out, you share the same spot on the board. Be the first to get four tokens in a row and win! but you can only win on a solo card Lattice Perfect for adults, small parties, kids (ages 6+) or families, fun for everyone! Simple rules that combine into surprisingly deep strategies as you learn the game. 3 minutes to learn, 20 minutes to play, a lifetime to master. Develops cognitive, spatial recognition, planning and interpersonal skills with no language, age or gender barriers, color-blind accessible through patterns on the tiles. Portals and Prophets Biblical History and Time Travel theme Learn biblical history and geography as you play. No biblical knowledge required. Simple rules with strategic depth, multiple paths to victory, and scales well with different player counts Free 26 Things Kids can Do with a Cardboard Box Printable a Rafflecopter giveaway Don’t Make Me Laugh Perform hilarious scenarios and acts. FOR KIDS 5+. ANNOUNCE YOUR ACT AND THEN PERFORM! Go Solo, With Partner, or For Everyone. ALL PLAYERS EARN AWARDS like “Silliest Performance” or “Bravest Performance.” For Moms For Your Chin Hair Friends by HomeschoolMagic “If you’re ever in a coma, I pinky swear to love your kids and sneak into your room and pluck your chin hairs for you!” Ladies Heart t-shirt by HomeschoolMagic Books! Books! Books! Naomi Home Kids Toy Sling Book Rack Product dimensions 24 wide x 10 25 depth x 24 inches height The innovative design allows books to be displayed by the front or back to make them easier to identify by kids Best collections of book recommendations 36 All-Time Best Picture Books Most Loved by Kids And Parents ~ Kelly Holmes Make Reading Irresistible Kids Pod Swing Child Hanging Chair Indoor Kid Hammock Seat Pod Nook THE FAVORITE SPOT, our pod swing provides a fun and cozy spot for kids to read, play, daydream, and relax with their friends and toys Durable Teepee for Kids Made of 100% cotton canvas and chosen pine. The costly pine has hardwood, looking very straight. The tent strap adopts professional nylon rope, which passes the strength test. You can use it for a long time! This is the BEST list of Delightful Books for Preschoolers (and their parents) ~Bekki Sayler While being engaged in fun activities, your children will be practicing important age-appropriate skills such as visual discrimination, sequencing, small muscle coordination, following directions, reading, and critical and creative thinking. The activities in The Never-Bored Kid Book, Ages 6 and 7 are organized around 17 age-appropriate themes, including: pandas pigs banks up a tree shoes happy birthday wild animals vegetables moon and stars kittens merry-go-rounds snails ice cream tracks trains a hole in the ground scaly creatures 120 Classic Books for you and your children~ Bekki Sayler Creative QT Extra Large Stuff ‘n Sit – Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag Chair Our stylish stuffed animal storage organizers help you take control of your entire stuffed animal collection, wrapping up to 90 toys in one comfy pouf ottoman to instantly clean up the room. Simply fill and zip to create a plush, stuffed animal bean bag chair in a matter of minutes. A Year of Picture books ~ Sarah MacKenzie Outdoor Fun! Life Best Kids Frisbee Rings The World’s Easiest Frisbees To Throw & Catch! Perfect for young children! Our unique design flies straight and can be caught in the smallest of hands, on your wrist or even your foot! Triumph 2-in-1 Three-Hole Bags and Washer Toss Combo Two sturdy, classic outdoor lawn games are combined for an incredible value: 3 -hole bean bag toss or 3-hole washer toss Includes two 26″ L x 10″ W game platforms featuring on-board scoring, with detachable legs for support Capture the Flag REDUX a Nighttime Outdoor Game Play Capture the Flag in the dark using futuristic lights — with 33 light up game pieces, 12-24+ hours of batteries, game variations, and ALL NEW games Exciting nighttime activity — without TVs, computers or tablets. Physical exercise becomes part of the fun as players run, hide and chase each other to win! Bring people of all ages together — kids, teens & adults will all enjoy this awesome icebreaker and activity that develops teamwork, group bonding, comradery and strategy Playable anywhere with space to run Surprising Fun & Random Little Helper FunPod Kitchen Step Stool Tower with Adjustable Height Safe environment to get toddlers from 12 months up to six years up to the Little Helper kitchen worktop on their own safely constructed platform to help, interact, learn and play in the kitchen 5 height settings accommodating the average height of a 12-month baby up to a toddler of 6 The only toddler kitchen step stool tower that is fully enclosed Related: Choosing a Chore System that Works for Your family You’ve Been Warned! This Unsocialized Homeschooler will talk your ear off! Freebies Exciting Giveaway! Expired a Rafflecopter giveaway Homeschooling with Confidence {free}
This is the Best List of Delightful Books for Preschoolers (and their Parents) What’s that I see? My little guy toddling around the corner in just his underwear and cowboy boots tightly gripping his treasures: his snuggly blue satin blanket, a loaded nerf gun and 3 tattered books. My face relaxes. It must be almost bedtime. I panic a little. Please. Lord. Can you make sure he grabbed Pout, Pout Fish, Good Night Moon, and The Lorax tonight? I’m just so tired. I don’t think I will survive reading _____________ tonight. … Read More »
6 Advent Countdown Ideas: Start Now! I love the holidays! I love our Lord Jesus with all my heart and it simply makes my heart skip a beat that, at this time of year, I can celebrate His coming in creative and unique ways. As a homeschooler, I have to confess that I have an incredibly difficult time focusing on traditional studies during the holidays. I’m simply too distracted by HIM to get too wrapped up in anything else! While we will “do school” we will absolutely spend too much time doing other things… And that is just the way it is:). While I will incorporate “school” ideas soon enough, I want to let you know that if you are like me, distracted by the blinking lights and nativities… It’s OK! Actually, it fantastic. … Read More »
The Pinky Promise Every Woman Needs to Make Inside: a truth, a promise, and a giveaway. Standing in the sun watching our kids jump on a trampoline, she reached under my chin and pulled out a hair. “You had a long golden hair growing under your chin.” I was horrified. This beautiful, funny, and brilliant woman just reached out and plucked a chin hair from my chin. And then she laughed and made me promise to do the same for her if I ever saw “a straggler”. This woman redefined what a true friend looks like in my life. She took care of my children when I threw out my back Made my family meals when I was sick Babysat my kids so I could get my Pap smear without two young sons in the room Brought my husband and me a cooler of food and a roll of quarters when my 3-year old son was recovering from major surgery. “Just in case you want to get something from the vending machine.” Women. We try really hard to hold it all together, to remember to put on fresh lipstick when we go to the store and to stop and cross our legs when we sneeze. We work very hard to look good, sound good, and be good. But we don’t have it all together. My friend taught me that some of the most important friends in life are our Chin Hair Friends. “If you’re ever in a coma, I Pinky Swear to love your kids, feed your husband and to sneak into your room and pluck your chin hairs.” Do you have one or two Chin Hair Friends? If you’re younger than 30, you may be in denial at needing such a person in your life. But you’ll understand soon enough. If you have European blood, like me, it’s inevitable. Ask my husband? No Way!! Related: How To Remove Upper Lip Hair Naturally At Home I adore my husband. He is a loving, caring, attentive man and he lives to bless me and our kids. But ask him to pluck my chin? Nope. I want him to always think of me as a goddess. Not a woman who needs to shave. There are just somethings that our husbands shouldn’t have to do for us. Start looking for your Chin Hair Friends (CHF) Now. You really only need one or two. I like to consider the subject of chin hair to be a “you better not tell anyone” secrets. A CHF you will need to be vulnerable. She’ll have to know you have a mustache if you neglect hygiene for too long. But she’ll love you anyway. You’re gonna have to tell her when you need help. Trust me she’ll come running. CHFs, always come running. You’ll have no one who makes you laugh harder. Consider it an ab workout. It totally counts! Especially if you laugh with a mouth full of coffee and it dribbles down your hairy chinny chin chin. Find Her Now and Make Some Pinky Promises If you’re ever in a coma, I will sneak in and pluck your chin hair and eyebrows, and pray over you. I promise to love on your children if something terrible ever happens to you. I will make sure your husband stays fed and your laundry gets washed. No matter how hard life becomes I will be there. There’s a flip side. We will laugh until we pee a little when life is funny and “no one else can know THAT just happened” We will rejoice and weep together. We will always pray for one another Make a Pinky Swear. And then relax. Get your CHF Swag today Tell everyone it stands for Christian Homeschool Friend, Crazy Hat friends, or Coolest Happy Friends… But your bestie will know and you’ll both sleep better at night. Because when life happens, the Lord will use her to lovingly take care of you and your family. And your secret will be safe in her hands and with her tweezers. Related: Permanent chin hair removal Products for women Homeschooling with Confidence {free}
I Challenge You to the Best Game EVER! I’m standing in my kitchen waiting for an equal opponent. Someone to challenge my speed, my agility, my ability to rule the universe. Free printable for you here!!! Alas, everyone is still sleeping at 6:30. So I will wait. … Read More »
God is in Control in the Beginning, Middle and End of the Story “Oh, my God!” My husband tossed his phone and looked at me with tear filled eyes. Thanksgiving evening, he received a text from a trusted friend that a family mentor was in jail after committing a heinous crime. The more we read, the more we sat there shaking our heads. How is this possible? He was so strong in the Lord when our daily lives crossed paths. How did he go from sold out servant for Christ to being faced with the death penalty? Mama, I know I’m not the only one praying that my children will walk the straight and narrow path. We have wept the deepest sobs over our kids and their walks with the Lord and continually remind ourselves that their eternal salvation trumps their academic education. When we see others fail and fall flat it can cause us to fear. But fear is not from our Lord. What can we do to keep our kids from straying? Don’t despair when I say, “nothing”. Remember that walking with the Lord is very personal and each of our kids must choose to follow Him. It’s easy when they’re little. Silly songs with Veggie Tales Memory verses with hand motions the security of being snuggledWhen they begin to look at their faith and ask, “I know that’s what I was taught, but what do I BELIEVE?” Don’t panic.God has already set up all the life situations necessary to keep them under His wings. But He also has it set up to woo them back when they stray. Oh, the bitter tears Peter wept when he heard the rooster crow and his eyes locked with Jesus. And then he became a fearless witness for Christ. Sometimes, our failure is exactly what the Lord uses to chip away the last bit of our flesh and to make us ready to be everything He wanted us to be on this earth. Mama, Don’t despair. I have my own prodigal son. He is walking his own way, doing his own thing, and trying to discover what He BELIEVES. And it hurts. And while my heart breaks and I wish for things to be different… this is exactly what he needs right now. To push against the boundaries and test whether or not the Lord is really there. And you know what? HE is. God is not freaking out. He’s still in control. I have no idea what happened to our old family friend. We shake our heads in disbelief and twist and turn under the question of is this God’s place for him (such as it was for Joseph) or is this his own free will. A lot can happen in 15 years. What I do know is We’ve all sinned over the past 15 years. All sin is equal in the Lord’s eyes, except denying His Son.I have a scale that measures this sin as small and that sin as HUGE. But God doesn’t.He sees we are either covered in the blood of His son or not. We are either with Him or not. I wanted to let you know I have some fun freebies and deals for you, and I do, but this is so much more important. Life is messy. We mess up. Our kids mess up. People fail. We need to not stop pouring into our kids. Train them up now Sing those silly songs Do those hand motions Stay up late at night to discover what’s going on behind those twinkling eyes Study God’s Character together. Pray over your kids and with them. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. and remember… In the beginning, middle and end of the story, the Lord is in control. Homeschooling with Confidence {free}
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. Related: Age-Appropriate Chores List {freebie} Even though our boys are now teens (or older), they still have an unbelievable ability to create chaos and disorder. To combat the life-threatening danger of being buried alive by dirty laundry, we divide and conquer our home. Translation– The boys do chores. While chores can be controversial, we have found that our kids love it when they work together for the good of the team. Benefits of assigning age-appropriate chores to children: by the Flander’s Family Chores “give children a sense of belonging, a sense of ownership in the world.” Chores “teach responsibility and independence.” Chores “enable kids to meet the challenges they’ll face through life.” Chores help “develop self-esteem and prepare children for the future. It takes a lot of training to become a competent adult. When are they supposed to learn this?” Chores “teach teamwork.” Chores teach children “how to manage their time and be accountable for themselves.” Chores give children “the joy of doing a good job and of helping others. Children who know they are helpful to those they love are ones who understand that they can make the world a better place.” Chores combat “laziness, self-centeredness,” and “feelings of entitlement.” Chores “turn children into good, productive, hard-working citizens.” Chores make kids “feel important in the family structure.” Chores give kids an opportunity to “learn through participation. Children gain confidence by mastering new skills, especially skills they perceive as ‘grown-up.’” Chores give children “hands-on job training for life!” Chores serve to “instill a strong work ethic. Children are more capable than a lot of people think.” Chores show children “they can be competent and can do tasks well. We should teach them that while they’re young — they won’t magically learn it when they grow up.” Setting up chores can be overwhelming. I personally needed help. I couldn’t figure out where to begin. How many chores are acceptable? What kinds of chores? Should the kids do EVERYTHING? Photo by Catt Liu … Read More »
Raising a Son to be a Man is Scary for Mom Letting dad take the reigns, can be a bit unnerving for me. But it’s a beautiful thing… Boys are a different breed of animal than girls. The world can try to convince us to raise boys and girls the same way, but why? Boys and girls are beautifully and wonderfully made and so different from one another. I’m thankful for my manly man that takes raising sons to be men seriously. If it was left up to me, they’d never risk life and limb to have a good time. Not my husband. He introduces the boys to fun, adventurous and dangerous things all the time. The boys LOVE it. I’m confident that a boys dictionary would define dangerous differently than girls. I can’t even watch my kids ride their bikes without getting that roller coaster feeling in my tummy. A girl’s dictionary wouldn’t contain different kinds of mud either. Just sayin’. My husband has exposed and infected our sons with something called Hero Dirt. (yes, it’s a real thing) Just the name itself causes each and every one of my sons perk up like a dog who believes you just said the word, “walk”. … Read More »
15 Advent and Christmas Math and Reading Activities 15 Advent and Christmas Activities Math and Reading 3rd-5th Grade I just finished my first advent/Christmas Activity pack. I had a hard time finding graphics that I loved, but I am really excited about this pack. 5 Advent readings for you to use in your weekly Christmas activities, or as your family advent devotionals. 3 language activities using vocabulary from the history of Jesus’ birth. 4 fun math activities that are Jesus/Christmas focused. I made this pack specifically for my fourth grader, but the older kids are already begging to do some of the activities. I have included an advent calendar and a Countdown to Christmas Chain. We always write “prayer requests” and “thanksgiving to God” on our chains. Each day as we tear off a link, we thank god for a specific blessing or lift up family and friends in prayer. The kids love this!! Hope you enjoy this activity pack! Homeschooling with Confidence {free}
Simple Advent Activities that Add Holiday Spirit to Teaching Inside: Christmas and Winter Wrapped into Learning Activities Snow begs to be played in, candy canes plead to be enjoyed, and kids refuse to focus… Crazy Snowman Photo by Matteo Paganelli Sounds like the holidays to me. If you thought is was hard to get your kid’s attention during Thanksgiving, wait until you try during Christmas! I always switch to holiday themed activities during the holidays. Beginning today, let’s snuggle with our kids and slow down. In the flurry of decorations, shopping, and potential holiday madness we need to take the time to share “what really matters” with our kids. … Read More »
Advent Activities 15 Advent and Christmas Activities Math and Reading 3rd-5th Grade Are You ready for Advent? 5 Advent readings for you to use in your weekly Christmas activities, or as your family advent devotionals. 3 language activities using vocabulary from the history of Jesus’ birth. 4 fun math activities that are Jesus/Christmas focused. I made this pack specifically for my fourth grader, but the older kids are already begging to do some of the activities. I have included an advent calendar and a Countdown to Christmas Chain. We always write “prayer requests” and “thanksgiving to God” on our chains. Each day as we tear off a link, we thank god for a specific blessing or lift up family and friends in prayer. The kids love this!! Hope you enjoy this activity pack!
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! I didn’t think much about what he was doing. I was enjoying the warmth of his shoulder resting upon mine as he typed away at the computer. And then I glanced at his screen and almost spit out my drink. My son has dyslexia. Not a big deal for a confident homeschooling mom like me. We see dyslexia as a gift. Stephen is ecstatic to another great dyslexic mind. Albert Einstein, Walk Disney, Leonardo DaVinci, and so many others are in good company. What are the typical signs of dyslexia? Depending on the age, dyslexia can be spotted through a variety of signs. Because he didn’t read until he turned 10, his spelling is atrocious. Difficulty recognizing the spelling of a word- check! The student quickly forgets how to spell the words he reads- check! Makes a lot of spelling errors-check! Is your child behind? https://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/behind.mp4 Imagine my surprise when I glanced over my shoulder and read… William stood there holding wood for a campfire while watching his home burning to the ground, too stunned to do anything. Screaming came from the house, his mothers and baby sister. William dropped the wood and ran towards the house just as the image went black. “Will, Will! Wake up” William jolted awake “Your turn for guard duty. This time you’re on the wall today, ”Said, Cornelius, his bunkmate. “K.” William jumped out of bed and quickly got in his armor. He didn’t want to get lashes again for being late. I kept reading. Mesmerized by the story that unfolded before my eyes. WHEN DID HE LEARN TO SPELL? I spied on Stephen as he wrote. He flipped back and forth between a few tabs on his computer. What a brilliant little stinker. The 13-year old had found the secret. He unlocked his ability to write without tripping over his spelling. With Tools. I’ve watched Stephen work on his story many times now. He opens the same four windows every single time. Apparently, he’d been paying attention. A CORE lesson in our homeschool has been: There are only two kinds of information. Stuff you know off the top of your head, like your phone number Things you need to learn The key is knowing where to look for the second kind of information. Once you know WHERE to look, a whole world of learning opens up for you. I never taught Stephen to open multiple tabs on his computer to help him overcome his spelling and grammar. Dyslexia taught him that! Instead, we taught him to problem solve. WOW! 4 Tools for Overcoming Poor Spelling and Grammar All from the problem solving dyslexic mind of 13-year old 1. Grammarly “Grammarly makes sure everything you type is clear, effective, and mistake-free.” My blogging coach introduced me to Grammarly about 2 years ago. This powerful little tool is like my own personal editor and has saved me from more than one terrible typo. I remember my husband suggesting that I sign our son up, so it can help his spelling. It helps more than a little! When I asked him about Grammarly, Stephen replied, “It’s awesome.” So much for creative speech. He was saving the “bigger thoughts” for his manuscript. Homeschool Hack: Grammarly is free. This is one of those “no-brainer” add-ons for your devices. 2. Thesaurus This should have been an obvious suggestion, but again, Stephen found it on his own. As he writes he keeps Thesaurus.com open and flips back and forth as he’s writing. Big becomes gargantuan Invisible transforms into Unseeable dyslexic becomes gifted 3.Google Drive Google drive is where we do all our writing and storing of files. Stephen LOVES that it auto-saves his work and then tucks it away in Google’s cloud. I love that it’s free. 4. Google Search Window for Vocabulary Again, I’m dumbfounded by his brilliance. As he is writing his story, he keeps a web browser open to help him find the appropriate vocabulary. Today, this forth tab was open to Titles of Medieval Nobility. I can’t tell you that your child will overcome their spelling challenges simply by installing Grammarly on their devices. But it will help. Remember: In homeschool, the only behind is the one your child is sitting on! <br /> Homeschooling with Confidence {free}
Why didn’t anyone tell me this BEFORE I started Homeschooling? I was TERRIFIED as I stepped into homeschooling. I never taught anything but Sunday school before. Why didn’t people rush to tell me: Curriculum has nothing to do with homeschooling success Showers are optional and overrated No amount of knowledge looks beautiful on someone with a terrible attitude Coffee is one of the major food groups Children’s shirts have four clean surfaces: Front, back, inside front, and inside back Feeding kids chicken nuggets and corndogs doesn’t make you a bad mom The Lord will lead the way in raising and educating my kids That’s why I’m here today… Homeschooling with Confidence {free}
Homeschooling Through the Holidays Inside: Five Secrets to Homeschooling During the Holidays. My boys will be thrilled that I am reminding you that there are only 26 days until Christmas. But there aren’t. There are actually almost 12.75 days until Christmas. But who’s counting? … Read More »
Homeschooling when all the kids want to do is JUMP on the sofa Inside: Free 70 Creative Ideas for Homeschooling when the Kids would rather JUMP on the sofa Now, when I say “Indians” I mean my three youngest sons, not the wonderful Native American people of this country. Just Sayin’. The boys were bouncing off the walls. I tried to get them to sit and listen to the story of Native Americans from a book they affectionately called the Boring Book, but they would much rather pounce on each other like cats with those red “pointing lasers”. Desperate to get their attention, I said… “Let’s make ketchup cookies!”. … Read More »
What to Give Your Teen After an Epic Failure By the time our kids reach high school, we will be tempted to “let them go” and “cut the cords”. But don’t. My son stood before the crowd. He looked sharp. Before leaving for the speech competition, he discovered how to create the coolest known knot for his tie by searching YouTube. Sharp. Poised. Confident. Ready to win this competition. … Read More »