Teacher Appreciation DAY! Whether you studied to be a teacher or SUDDENLY woke up a teacher today, or you have gray haired educational experience… you are a ROCK STAR!! This is for YOU! What’s on Sale? 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 StudiesBest SellersTime Capsule WritingMath JokesMother’s DayLife skillsand 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!
Renewable Energy Freebie This is a free SAMPLE of my Renewable Energy Unit. Included: Solar powerWhat can be powered by the sun? Looking for more? …Read More »
DIY Geology Crate 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 GOODIES TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR KIT **Geology Mini-lesson Printables Rock and Gem Hounding Tool Set Book: Super Earth Book: The Street Beneath My Feet Nat Geo Rock and Mineral Set Nat Geo Break your own Geode! Geology lab Pad Activities Rock Chest Geology mini-lessons 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! Geology tools that “rock” Super earth Stories make all learning better! Rocks and minerals What’s inside? Cool lab All rock hounds need a cool box! HOW DO THESE DIY CRATES WORK? Easy! Open the DIY Crate/Bag plan of your choiceGrab and download the Printable Mini-Lessons that go with the Hands-on goodiesClick and add ALL the items into your cart on Amazon or from other vendors.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
Godly Women and Homeschool Godly women are amazing. Just look at that Proverbs 31 woman? She’s up before dawn, goes to bed after dark. She’s cooking, sewing and even buying vineyards. I bet her To Do List was impressive. Do you ever look at your list for today and wonder how on earth will you squeeze time in for the Lord on top of all the things you need to get done? Is it really practical to put God first in your life? …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? … Read More »
Why you should teach your kids to gossip Inside: Good Gossip Rules to read with coffee, teach your kids, and hang on your fridge. Did you hear the one about Kelly? Something in our heart either leaps or panics when we hear someone whisper those words. Gossip is delightfully delicious, contagious and bad. Right? I love what John Courson has to say on the subject of gossip. “between friends”, by Seth Doyle A gossip, or talebearer, hurts three people: the person he talks about, the person he talks to, and himself. First, in a very real sense, people are who we say they are, regardless of whether what we say is true. People will either be lifted up or put down in the estimation of others by what we say about them. Jesus draws a direct parallel between murder and the tongue because we have the power to kill another person’s reputation with our words (Matthew 5:21-22) Second, telling tales, or gossiping, hurts the person who listens because it affects the way he or she will view the person being talked about. Finally, gossip hurts the talebearer himself because every time we gossip, we become smaller and smaller. As has been wisely said, great minds talk about ideas or ideals; good minds about events; small minds about people. In which company are you? … Read More »
Days of Creation Bible Study Learn about the 6 Days of Creation with these hands-on activities for your kids. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth! Children love the creation story. Light, Sun, Moon, Starts, beasts of the field, grass, animals of the air and sea… It’s irresistible! The 6 days of Creation pack includes: 6 Days of Creation posters, bookmarks, foldable booklets, readings and more. Everything you need to bring the Creation story to life for your K-5th graders NKJV and NIV versions of text used. Worship song suggestion: Hippopotamus
Science is Curiosity and Discovery ABW012 Scientific method, observation, exploration, experimentation, data collection, analysis, and discovery It is important to explore scientific topics with your children so that their minds are stretched and they become problem solvers. Do not get hung up on trying to figure out which areas to focus and what ideas need to be learned. Simply explore this world from a scientific perspective. Be prepared to dig deeper where there is interest! Mini-Units Included: Scientific Method Geology: Earth Science Renewable Energy and Environmental Issues Mitosis: Cell Cycle Flip Book Boomerang Ants Bees Spiders Butterflies Medieval Science Dancing Popcorn Complete Apple Unit All About Snow Related Reading: Why do we teach science? Insects and Spring: The perfect homeschool pair What does a spoon have to do with science? Science: Water Rocket Ants and Homeschool What does relaxed homeschooling look like anyway? Science: Learning about cells Creativity and Boredom
Best Sellers: Homeschool and Teaching Mini Units and Lessons ABW013 A collection of your favorite resources all in one place. math, science, writing, resources, life skills and more Included in this mega-bestseller bundle: MLA Citation, plagiarism and paraphrasing Mother’s Day Craft and Keepsake Star Wars Multiplication Honeybee Unit Multiplication Fact Families Geology: Earth Science Medieval Science Mitosis- Cell cycle flip booklet Movie Response Sheets: Turn any video into a learning exercise All About Snow Homeschool Guide for Real Families- eBook Ants Unit Budgeting 101 Text Wars: Game about the dangers of texting and driving Place value and number sense Cooking Camp Bundle Renewable Energy Bundle Mosaic Craft” Byzantine Empire Calendar and To-do lists for kids Homeschool Reference Sheets {Printable for parents} New: Christmas no prep Advent Activities All I want for Christmas is $250,000 Fine Motor Skills Pack From moms and teachers like you…
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. Visit Ivy Kids Kits here 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. 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 »
Will You Kids be Ready to Leave Your Nest? Inside: If you’re hoping your kids will live with you forever, don’t read this. In the old days, children were given a suitcase for their 18th birthday. That’s right. “When you graduate, be ready to hit the road, Jack!” photo by Mike Birdy Take my dad.… Read More »
Ready for Geology? We are going to have 1 or two kids studying geology this year. We haven’t quite decided yet. In preparation I’ve been studying all about rocks, minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and the like. Can I just confess that science isn’t my subject. Well, I love science, I just don’t do so well at teaching it. And then I created an Oreo lab for plate tectonics. OREOS. You know, the cookies? Ok, I’m in now. (As long as there’s milk too…) Although I am nowhere near ready for school, I am ready to jump into geology with at least one son. That’s a start! Are you ready for school? Are you teaching geology this year? You may want to take a look at this resource. Download your FREE “Science is Curiosity” {Printable}
Welcome to A Better Way to Homeschool!! 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!! Life is busy in my neck of the woods, so I can assume it is for you as well… But we must never be so busy we can’t pause and say hi and share the advantages of homeschooling! Oh, not every time. More than once, I’ve passed dear friends with a smile that said, “I see you but don’t have time to pause.” Don’t you love friends like that? If you’re new here, I’d love to learn more about you. Are you still changing diapers or teaching teens to drive (or both?). Do you love homeschooling, coffee, or board games? There are no rules here, I poured myself a cup of coffee and am ready to listen. Just hit reply. When you come to my house for the first time, I will give you a tour and show you every room. As an introvert, it gives me something to do with confidence and the walk around gets the conversation started. I’d love to give you a guided tour:). Who Am I? One of the only Professional Nerf Bullet Dodgers on the Planet! Opening the Front Door Let me give you a tour to my online home:) A Better Way to Homeschool is the location of our homeschool blog. We’ve been living here for over ten years. It’s filled with memories, pictures, ideas, activities and resources. In the old days, I’d have you write the address in the black address notebook you carried in your purse, today I suggest “bookmarking” the page. We’ve been homeschooling for over 20 years and still have five healthy, intelligent, wonderful sons. And that’s me and my husband, still smiling… Pretty cool, huh? Five sons. It’s as crazy as it sounds. Here is rare footage of what it’s like feeding teenage boys. {14 second video} Ask me! If you need something specific, just ask. With that much time under my belt, I likely have just what you’re looking for! I’ve met some of the best homeschooling bloggers/coaches along the way too. I promise you, If I don’t have what you need I will know the person who will and I’ll introduce you! You can reach me at abetterwaytohomeschool@gmail.com While you’re here I want to point out a few of my newest articles Typing for Kids made Easy A Secret list 97 Simple and Inexpensive Ways to Teach Math Surviving the 12-year old son Buffet Style Eating. We usually serve guests from a buffet-style spread. It’s just more comfortable. I have a buffet for you too, filled with way too much for you to actually digest in one sitting, but here are the favorites from other homeschool moms. Homeschool Mom’s Huddle: A Wonderful group of homeschool moms who meet twice a month online to learn about a focused area of homeschooling, teaching, or parenting. Established in August of 2018, new huddle members gain instant access to all the previous videos and printables shared during the huddles. The best part? When you join the huddle, you get instant access to ALL of the past huddles! Topics like: Praying for our kidsHow to teach kids to writeHands-on activities for mathHow to teach kids mannersInternet SafetyCommunication skills and so much more! The huddle is a subscription that gives you 2 huddles (LIVE and comes with forever replays), printables from each new huddle and a growing community of homeschool moms ready to make this special “club” specialer. (Yes, I was taught to create words like Dr. Seuss!) Join the Huddle here. My Favorite Hangouts Home! It is truly my favorite place on Earth. Facebook: A Better Way to HomeschoolFacebook: Our Lives as Homeschool MomsYouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/BetterWay2Homeschool/Pinterest!!! So many homeschool goodies My Hobbies ArcherySharing what I know with other homeschoolersCreating classes for homeschoolers and moms: Inside Out Homeschooling, Make and Sell Printables on Teachers Pay Teachers, and My newest Class Starting an Online Business for Absolute Beginners (Presale. Class is still under construction)Partnering with other BIG homeschool bloggers to bring wonderful resources to you!! Now… About you. I read every single email from my wonderful readers and I try to reply to most. But I would LOVE to hear from you. Find one of my emails in your inbox and simply hit reply!
I Wasn’t Ready for a Fire… Are You? Please pass this on to everyone! We were so lucky… Life happens. I have heard this saying before, but yesterday it caught up with me in a very forgiving way. We had a neighborhood emergency and it revealed that our family does not have an emergency plan in place. I am writing this as a way to get my mind around t we should do in an emergency, but also to warn you. We were very lucky. I pray we are never tested on our new plan, yet I want to be ready just in case. Early in the morning we smelled smoke. It was a none threatening smell. Actually, it smelled wonderful, like someone was burning some wonderfully aromatic wood in their fireplace. It was relaxing. It was too warm for us to start a fire, but the smell did make us check the temperature just to make sure. Yes, it was too warm for us to burn a fire. We had a lovely morning. We talked about everything from pumpkins to raising chickens. I remember even talking about the fact that I was not willing to get up in the middle of the night to check on baby chickens. Random, I know. My husband commented that they make warmers to keep baby chickens warm. Even more random… Or was it? I went for an hour and a half walk with one of the kids. When I stepped back onto our front lawn I smelled the fire smell again. Mmmm. Smelled like fall. I went inside and commented to my husband that it must be a fireplace, because I could only smell it here. I sent the kids outside to play and they came bursting back inside within 5 minutes… “Mom! There black smoke right out front. I think it’s the neighbor’s house!” I walked outside (Not sure I believed the kids…) and saw the smoke and the flames… our neighbor’s yard was on fire… Throw all reason out the door. I called to have my son bring me the phone and dial 911. My husband was in the shower and I did not even think to go tell him. I was working on less than rational thought. I had no logical trains of thought, just OMGoodness, that fire is close. Fast forward about an hour. The fire was out. No one was hurt. The only loss was a… CHICKEN COOP! Can you believe it? We learned a few lessons that morning. We don’t have an emergency plan We can’t think rationally in an emergency We should trust the Lord’s whisper of a voice (He was trying to tell us the chicken coop was on fire!) So I have to ask you. Are you and your children ready for an emergency? As a homeschooler, this is my responsibility to equip my children. We are currently forming our official plan and we will be practicing weekly for a while, then monthly. Do you have a plan? What would you and your kids do if there was a: Fire Earthquake Tornado Flood Hurricane National Disaster If your family was separated, Where will you meet? Do you use cell phones and cordless handheld phones? They do not work when cell towers go down and power outages happen. Do you have one of those “old fashioned” phones that simply plug into the wall? You’ll want one! Start garage sale shopping. Do you have a list of emergency contacts in your wallet? Do all of your children? Do your kids know how to make collect calls from a pay phone? (Don’t laugh. When I taught my then 18 year old he tried to tell me there were no pay phones in our town. He was so used to cell phone technology that he didn’t even see them!) My day yesterday showed me that even though I love my Scarlet O’Hara mentality of “I’m not going to worry about that today, I’ll worry about that tomorrow”, if I do not have a plan to follow then I will be up a creek without a paddle in an emergency. Need a starting point? Here is a great Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book by FEMA Here is FEMA’s Make an Emergency Plan Site Our family feels like the Lord protected us in our little emergency. It could have been so much worse! All the trees within 5 feet of the fire are crispy dry. We are all surrounded by fires favorite food, dried brush. The wind is notorious in our town, we even have one of the largest wind farms! We could have lost everything. We are thankful for our neighbors who never hesitated! They knocked the fire down from a 30 foot wall of fire, down to about a foot by the time the fire department arrived! If you do not have a plan, set aside school work for a few days this week and develop one with your children and start drilling! The year-round support and guidance you need to succeed in your homeschool journey. Welcome to The Homeschool Sisterhood! Learn more…