Easy Survival Tips for Living with a 12-Year Old Boy Inside: The secret to surviving life with your hormonal 12-year old boy and 3 must reads if you’re raising boys. {PLUS Free Raising Sons Cheatsheet} My 12-year old boy almost died today. That’s right, I almost killed him. … Read More »
Creativity and Boredom Inside: Free boredom Buster Ideas {Printable} My dad always said creativity and imagination lived just on the other side of boredom. I used to think that was so stupid. Sorry, dad. Then I grew up. … Read More »
40 Creative Writing Projects for Kids who Hate Pencils Inside: Free printable with 42 fun writing prompts plus creative writing ideas! He sat slumped in a chair glaring at the blank page; his freedom held captive by the writing assignment taunting him. The instructions read, “write a paragraph describing the weather.” He snorts. “Who cares about the weather, I just want to see if I can get to the next level on my new video game. In the old days, we’d call this a polaroid- a simple snapshot of a moment in time. The image is so typical- child sits at table with a stomach ache, a headache, a bad attitude or their 14th broken pencil. All because a stupid writing prompt is giving them the evil eye. Subscribe to A Better way to Homeschool on YouTube We want to raise up writers, not kids who mangle the English language- but how? Right now two of our five sons are chopping wood with their dad. They were driven to a dark scary piece of land with a borrowed trailer attached to our SUV. Once far off the beaten path they were directed to the freshly cut giant. My husband enthusiastically wielded a chainsaw and cut the trunk into manageable 500 pound pieces. Maybe, they were lighter. I couldn’t tell you for sure. I was delegated to watch the boys “hump the logs” out of the wood. (That’s men talk) Those very heavy logs were carefully brought home. Enter my hero: My husband. He takes the boys to the hardware store and buys a couple of axes. While my husband looked the other way, each son looked at me with pleading eyes. “Save me mommy.” I said nothing. I trust that my husband- a manly man- is much more equipped to teach boys how to be men than I am. Plus, I had a cup of coffee to enjoy with my bon-bons. An hour later, the door bursts open and my wood-chopping sons walk in with a very distinct swagger. Lumberjacks in training. They were all wearing sawdust covered jeans, work boots and flannel shirts. You could taste the testosterone in the air. “Mom, that was AWESOME!” Funny how being taught to do something challenging and dangerous leaves a “lovely glow” on the face of a growing boy. Our young men need to swing axes. Even if it’s metaphorically speaking. I wish it were that same for basic writing skills. Writing is one of those skills that many of us have been forced into against our wills. But we need to STOP grouping writing into the same category as forcing our 11-year old sons to shower daily. (I swear my kid believes that water will melt his manliness.) After 25-years of teaching and homeschooling, I’ve found the secret sauce to teaching kids to write. The 3 Know Knows of Writing Believe in yourself. You can teach your kids to write. Believe in your kids. They have it in their hearts to become excellent writers. Believe in fairies. Because fairies make life magical. So what is the trick to teaching kids to write? Take their pencils away. Send them into the woods to chop wood with their dad. Read a book together and them buy a HUGE tub of popcorn and go see the movie version at the theater and watch them discover there is a BIG difference. Read funny product labels at the grocery store. Watch them do something they love and create questions to ask them later about the activity. Collect jokes, riddles, and hilarious and nonsensical songs to share at random and unexpected times in the day. Read aloud to them daily and leave them hanging in the story– begging for you to read “one more chapter”. Collect memories, experiences, and opportunities for excitement. Teach them to brainstorm. When my sons came back to the school table after chopping wood, we filled up our white board with all the words and phrases about chopping trees and wielding axes TOGETHER on our 4 x 6 whiteboard. I held the marker and drew an axe in the hand of a stick figure. The axe was 2x larger than the man, and then I wrote “The day I almost died” on the board. The boys laughed and then I asked them to describe their day in detail. “Slow down,” I can’t write that fast! The following day, we sat in front of the white board and I whipped out my 40 types of writing list and had the boys each choose how they would capture their day in the woods on paper. 40+ Types of Writing to Teach Your Kids Get your FREE Printable here Text messaging Facebook posts Twitter tweets Instagram Descriptions Linked in Profile emails Friendly letters Grocery lists Birthday cards Comics strips Write to a prompt Letters to their Future Self Recipes Directions to the zoo Instructions for making the perfect cup of coffee Review a play Word webs Speech Writing Book Report Alternatives Cornell notes Outlines Essays Research Papers Poetry Music lyrics Mentor Sentences Newsletter Books Short stories Journal entries Captions for pictures Resumes Job applications Cover letters Paraphrasing MLA citation Works Cited pages Blog Script writing Autobiography Comparison Chart Scattergories! Teach writing without pencils Experience first! Kids need to touch, taste, see, smell, fear, hear, and experience something first. Then, they need to practice brainstorming everything they can think of about that topic. What did it feel like? Smell like? Sound like? You hold the pencil. The most important part of writing is brainstorming wrapped in a real life experience. Now, Go give your kids an axe. These also make great additions to your emergency file. (Also known as “mom is sick and needs you to work independently today”) Download your 40+ Writing Ideas {Printable} Download your guide to teaching Kids to NOT be thieves (MLA Citation) Grab your “Friendly Letters to Me” Pack Thanksgiving Writing Prompts worthy of making their way to the “keep me” pile. A Writing Lesson without Pencils? Me: Everyday, we should choose a new creative word to describe the water. Without hesitation, my 18-year old said, “serene”. Driving to college, I repeated for the 113th time, “always comment, always notice, always see the little things; because life is made up of little things. And it’s those little things that matter.” We drive by this water’s edge every single day on our way to the college, and every single day the face of the water is different. And we comment.Gorgeous, calm, glassy, row-able, turbulent, choppy, moving, rushing, flowing, and today… SERENE. Because we want to raise our kids to cherish the little things. But I also cheat. Don’t miss what’s happening (and for the love of Pete, don’t tell my kids what I’m doing) Vocabulary building on the road!!!((Insert high 5 here)) We want our kids to notice the water every single day. Because it’s gorgeous: True. If you don’t have a water view, exchange it for something you see everyday and now take for granted too: a mountain view, an endless sky, a majestic tree, open range, or whatever is in your backyard. Teach your kids to notice, by doing your noticing out loud. Daily. Stretch their vocabulary, tell related clean jokes, invent an imaginary creature who lives in the scene, challenge them to a new word a day contest. Because at the end of our homeschool journey, we want kids that says things like, “Lord, You’re just showing off today with those colors in the sky!” or”I love how serene the water looks when it’s slack tide.” Today, embrace the beauty and give it a label. Because it’s the little things that matter!! How to Build vocabulary from everyday sights 1. Today: Brainstorm as many words as you can to describe water with your kids. Challenge them to come up with 50 before revealing the truth. (you hold the pencil and write word they call out to you) 2. Tomorrow: Peek at the 1000 words to describe water: https://describingwords.io/for/water 3. Then give them a prompt and challenge everyone to write the rest of the story. 4. When you’re done, have a readers theater where everyone reads their ending! Prompt with the picture: The day started serene. The water playfully reflecting the homes along its shoreline.A cheerful seagull bobbed up and down on the gentle current enjoying the break of a new day.No one would have guessed what happened next… The GOAL of all writing is clear communication. Free Printable
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 »
Secret to Successful Homeschooling: Simplicity Inside: 9 Secrets of Successful Homeschooling from me to you. I was a new homeschooler once. I had a 5th grader, a kindergartener with major medical issues, a toddler and I was pregnant. Ah, those were the days. Trying to manage two of different grades of school Trying to keep the baby safe Hoping to get dinner on the table at the right time. Trying to walk without pain from a very difficult pregnancy Voila! I was a mess. A pregnant hot mess. I was so concerned about the academic part of homeschooling that I almost buried my poor 5th-grader in schoolwork. I stressed I worried I panicked What if I messed his education up? … Read More »
5 Free Recipes to Empower Your Kids In the Kitchen Inside: Teaching kids to cook the easy way, {5 free recipes- Printable}, and Cooking Camp for Kids Mama, Picture this. Onions being diced by an 11-year-old. Broccoli being steamed by a 13-year-old. A mouth-watering, oh my goodness I cannot believe he just made that, sauce being whipped up by an 18-year-old. All to the soundtrack to your favorite movie playing in the background. Recently, I had minor surgery on my foot that has required me to be off my feet for about three months. Three painfully slow months of no standing, no driving, no walking. And you guessed it, no cooking. Did you know you need to stand to cook? My husband wisely decided that each of our five boys would take over one meal each week to help feed our wonderful family. Yes, he’s a brilliant man! … Read More »
3 Insanely Simply Secrets to Teaching Kids to Write Inside: Simple Secrets to teaching kids to write plus 44 Writing Ideas and a tool to help take the guesswork out of grading writing. There I was, trapped in the back of the car, seatbelted and wind-whipped. I was terrified because the teenage jerk behind the wheel thought it was hilarious to speed down the road at over 100 miles an hour. Out of control, scared and trapped, I tried everything but couldn’t get him to slow down. … Read More »
Should I Homeschool: Am I a Good Enough Teacher to Homeschool My Kids? I wrestle with feelings of insecurity when it comes to homeschooling our boys. Sometimes I wonder if I am the best teacher for my children… Am I alone? Last week I picked up the novel my son was reading to help him with comprehension. He is reading Call it Courage. As I read the first chapter I realized that this book was not about a boy’s struggle with war. (That’s right! I never even noticed the cover) Good Lord, help my children! … Read More »
Teaching Math Doesn’t Need to be Boring Inside: everything you need to teach your kids their math facts! When our oldest son was in 5th grade my husband tricked me into homeschooling. “Just give it a year“. That was ages ago, and I’m still teaching my younger kids around the kitchen table. I remember our first real day of homeschool. I arrogantly sat across the kitchen counter from my son and ran a quick “teacher like” math fact drill. photo by aaron burden He didn’t know his math facts! … Read More »
Astonishing! What Does a Spoon Have to do with Science? Inside: How simple household items can be the breakthrough you need to teach science. My son was staring at his spoon. It was strange. “Mom, I’ve always wondered why my reflection is upside down in my spoon. What’s even more confusing is that when I turn it around, my reflection is right-side-up.” I laughed aloud. Not at him. … Read More »
3 Proven Ways to Homeschool LAZY Boys without Losing Your Mind Photo by Agnieszka Bladzik Sitting by a warm fire. Drinking coffee. In my jammies. Jealous? Don’t be. I just don’t feel like doing anything today. I have my lazy turned up to high. Since I am not characterized by being lazy, my family is simply pleasantly surprised that I am “chilling”. They are curled up with books or movies in this same room. Heaven. When dinner comes around, I will not win friends and influence people if I say, “I forgot to make dinner” though will I? Not in my house full of men. They want to eat:). Laziness is one of those strange things. It is so appealing on a rainy afternoon, like today as I write this. But laziness to the point that responsibilities are neglected is simply intolerable. photo by Seth Doyle Now three things personify laziness: A male lion lazing in the shade, An overfed house cat, And a 12-year-old boy…. Read More »
What do comic books have to do with learning? Spiders and bug spray were meant to be introduced. Don’t you think? Sure, we need spiders. Lots of them in fact. Why? Because spiders eat flies. That’s why! I hate flies almost as much as these 8 legged wonders. OK, I don’t HATE spiders. I think they are pretty amazing. I just do not want to share the same space with them. Is that too much to ask? But what do spiders have to do with anything homeschool related? My boys would roll their eyes at us and scream, “Spiderman!”. While I try to teach them the abilities of arachnids, they would be trying to invent that cool webbing stuff that comes out of Peter Parkers wrists that enables him to swing through New York above rush hour traffic. But now that I have the boys’ attention, I’m going to try to keep it. Why not find some way to science and comics? When I heard there were comic books that could help my children learn science, I was excited. My kids love comic books and the magic of Manga learning tools seem like a perfect fit! What is Manga? It’s a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children. Why does it matter? And what does it have to do with learning? I’ve discovered this tremendous resource for teaching kids science and all about the human body. Rather than a dry text and diagram textbook, concepts are covered in a story-based format that’s also visual, so learners of all kinds have more to glom onto, and it’s easier to recall. Sort of like our trusted and true pal Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus, but for a slightly older children depending on the book. Last but certainly not least – it makes learning fun! Imagine if your child requested to re-read a science text book. That’s what these amazing books can inspire. We started on the Survive! Inside the Human Body series, and even I am learning! Topics covered in this book series about the human body: Human Body (anatomy), Digestive System, Circulatory System, Nervous System, Personal Wellness, Effects of Food on the Body, Medicine & technology, and Genetics. But there are also advanced topics in this format like the Universe, Physics, Linear Algebra, and more available from Shockingly Awesome Learning on Educents.com. See inside the books in this cute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmpxhYmBAaM (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);
Reading and Hammocks- A Match Made in Heaven My brilliant husband is in the process of outfitting all five of our sons with hammock for relaxing and backpack camping. What a delight these hammocks have been. The biggest benefits of hammocking so far have been: Fellowship. The Boys LOVE hammocking and will spend hours together “hanging” out. Relaxing. Nothing defines chilling out better than a hammock. Reading. This one caught me by surprise. The hammock has become the favorite reading spot at home. Big brother has turned it into special cozy and read-aloud time too. My husband has hooked the boys up with Special gear to make their hammocks easy to hang. Here’s his gear list so far: The Ultimate Hang (book- Because we homeschool… There’s a book for everything:)) Hammocks- Hennessey Hammock Expedition Asym Straps- To extend the distance between trees Carabiner hooks Snake Skins– These make set up a synch! For kicks and giggles, you can enjoy all about hammocking with our favorite hammocking YouTuber Shug Emery. Former Ringling Brother Clown and all around funny guy, he loves to share all about the art of hammocking. So if you, like me, are always on the lookout for new ways to encourage reading, I would suggest looking into getting a hammock for your kids. What a fun, quiet place to curl up with a great book!
Hindsight: 18 Years of Homeschooling If I could rewind the tape and begin homeschooling my kids today with the benefit of my 18 years of experience, what would I do differently? 1. I would spend the first 6-12 months to a year organizing my home, working on establishing a daily rhythm, and study my children. 2. I’d go to the library at least once a week allowing them to choose books that interest them, and hand picking random books for me to read aloud. I would be watching for what they are interested in, what makes them excited, what they find boring, etc. 3. I would rely on my husband more in creating a vision for our children, rather than trying to figure out what everyone else is doing. I wouldn’t waste a second trying to make what works for your kids work for mine. I’d keep my husband in the loop about our daily escapades and accept his advice more quickly. I mistakenly thought that because he worked outside the home all day he would be unable to see what the kids needed. This piece of humble pie would have been better to consume early in homeschooling. 4. Rather than spending countless hours worrying about this curriculum or that, I would begin with the family goals we have now: Put the highest priority on sharing our love for Jesus with our children. To insure the kids know their math facts inside and out. Period. Forget learning them, they need to over learn them. To inspire a love for literature by exposing the kids to a steady flow of great books. (I would read aloud daily no matter what their ages). I’d be picking the brains of the veteran homeschoolers, librarians, and authors that are in my sphere of influence for suggestions and I would prioritize a daily reading habit. I would focus all learning to develop excellent written and oral communication skills. I would find my children pen pals so they could perfect the friendly letter. I would have them do copy work from the masters and discuss why the sentences, paragraphs, essays, or stories are so great. I would understand that excellence in writing really comes from being well read and practice, tactics, practice. 5. I would find opportunities for my kids to stand and share in front of others, whether it is during a family BBQ or performing with the local theater- giving them the skill and confidence to speak in front of others. 6. I would view curriculum, tests, quizzes, and state tests as resources to help me customize each of the kids education, not the substance of their learning. 7. I would relax more. I’d let the kids get dirtier. I would get dirtier. We would play in the rain, build in the snow, chase rainbows, cloud watch, visit the farm, play at the beach, collect more leaves, examine more bugs, watch more plays, attend the theater, interview our doctors and dentists, locate inspirational guests like missionaries, mechanical engineers, artists, poets, and ace mechanics to share their passions with the kids. I would put a map of the US and the world under glass or plastic across my kitchen table and every single time we read or heard about a place we would locate it on the map and discuss how close/far it is from us. 8. I would hide the duct tape… 9. I would do it all over again. And again. And again. I know my children so much more intimately because of homeschooling. I am forever grateful for the vision my husband was given for our family. How about you? What are the top few things you would change if you could rewind the tape and homeschool those beginning years with the wisdom you have today? Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
Science: Water Rocket I pretty much fail at teaching science. I try. I really do. But we just can’t be great at everything. On my list of “Things I am not great at Doing” is teaching science. My saving gracing, besides Jesus, is childhood ingenuity. With the help of a teacher friend, my 8th grader not only made a water rocket, but launched it successfully. While I may not be the best “science teacher”, but kids are the best independent learners! Here are some easy instructions for building your own Water Rocket. Be safe, and have a “BLAST”! New from my Store: Buy now Download your FREE “Science is Curiosity” {Printable}
Insects and Spring: The Perfect Homeschool Pair Spring has sprung! We live in the Pacific Northwest and there is no doubt that spring is in the air (Ah-choo!).While everything is covered in pollen so thick that you leave footprints in the yellow, the boys are in heaven. Sunshine Warmth Birds Bees Flowers Trees Take advantage of the spring in your area and do a unit study on one or more aspects of God’s Creation. This is a read along video about BUGS! Great for emerging readers! Unit Study on Insects Insect Documentary 50 Art Projects for Spring! Science Experiments! Have Fun! Download your FREE “Science is Curiosity” {Printable}
Science: Learning About Cells-Mitosis We stumbled into a unit on cells this week. Don’t you love the freedom of homeschooling? We happened to be able to gain access to a microscope, some plant cell slides, and a science teacher all at the same time… excitement was born! While all I could say was, “That slide looks neat,” the teacher was able to share his love for cell division with the boys. In five minutes, the boys transformed from boys trying to use a microscope, to biologists trying to identify the different stages of cell division. God’s creation is truly amazing! Here’s how I helped fuel the flames of excitement: First: We watched a few videos on cell division: We loved Crash Course: Mitosis (He a fast talker, but does great overviews!) We also loved Bozeman’s “Phases of Mitosis” Although these video’s are targeting high schoolers, my boys caught the main ideas without a hitch! Then I stayed up waaay too late creating a Cell Cycle Flip Book kit for each son (for both plant and animal cells). The boys have been busy today coloring, cutting, arranging and flipping about cells. It’s been a fun and productive morning! I posted my cell flip book kit for anyone to grab a copy just a while ago. ***Be the first to comment on this post AND send me an email saying “I would love a Cell Flip Book for my Kids” and I will email you a free copy!
Hindsight: It is Worth Repeating If I could rewind the tape and begin homeschooling my kids today with the benefit of my 16 years of experience, what would I do differently? 1. I would spend the first 6-12 months to a year organizing my home, working on establishing a daily rhythm, and study my children. 2. I’d go to the library at least once a week allowing them to choose books that interest them, and hand picking random books for me to read aloud. I would be watching for what they are interested in, what makes them excited, what they find boring, etc. 3. I would rely on my husband more in creating a vision for our children, rather than trying to figure out what everyone else is doing. I wouldn’t waste a second trying to make what works for your kids work for mine. I’d keep my husband in the loop about our daily escapades and accept his advice more quickly. I mistakenly thought that because he worked outside the home all day he would be unable to see what the kids needed. This piece of humble pie would have been better to consume early in homeschooling. 4. Rather than spending countless hours worrying about this curriculum or that, I would begin with the family goals we have now: Put the highest priority on sharing our love for Jesus with our children. To insure the kids know their math facts inside and out. Period. Forget learning them, they need to over learn them. To inspire a love for literature by exposing the kids to a steady flow of great books. (I would read aloud daily no matter what their ages). I’d be picking the brains of the veteran homeschoolers, librarians, and authors that are in my sphere of influence for suggestions and I would prioritize a daily reading habit. I would focus all learning to develop excellent written and oral communication skills. I would find my children pen pals so they could perfect the friendly letter. I would have them do copy work from the masters and discuss why the sentences, paragraphs, essays, or stories are so great. I would understand that excellence in writing really comes from being well read and practice, tactics, practice. 5. I would find opportunities for my kids to stand and share in front of others, whether it is during a family BBQ or performing with the local theater- giving them the skill and confidence to speak in front of others. 6. I would view curriculum, tests, quizzes, and state tests as resources to help me customize each of the kids education, not the substance of their learning. 7. I would relax more. I’d let the kids get dirtier. I would get dirtier. We would play in the rain, build in the snow, chase rainbows, cloud watch, visit the farm, play at the beach, collect more leaves, examine more bugs, watch more plays, attend the theater, interview our doctors and dentists, locate inspirational guests like missionaries, mechanical engineers, artists, poets, and ace mechanics to share their passions with the kids. I would put a map of the US and the world under glass or plastic across my kitchen table and every single time we read or heard about a place we would locate it on the map and discuss how close/far it it from us. 8. I would hide the duct tape… 9. I would do it all over again. And again. And again. I know my children so much more intimately because of homeschooling. I am forever grateful for the vision my husband was given for our family. How about you? What are the top few things you would change if you could rewind the tape and homeschool those beginning years with the wisdom you have today?
Am I a Good Enough Homeschool Teacher? I wrestle with feelings of insecurity when it comes to homeschooling our boys. Sometimes I wonder if I am the best teacher for my children… Am I alone? Last week I picked up the novel my son was reading to help him with comprehension. He is reading Call it Courage. As I read the first chapter I realized that this book was not about a boy’s struggle with war. (That’s right! I never even noticed the cover) Good Lord, help my children! OK. I am not the most literate adult I know. In fact I did not read one book in high school. I was that student that could scan and skim, gather the right information and quotes to get an “A” in the class while never really having to read anything. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot of this tiny little book my son was reading, yet it made me question my ability to lead him. How could I possibly teach this child when I couldn’t even scan a book in advance to know it was about an island culture and their worship of courage? How could I look myself in the mirror and be confident in my ability to help my son love learning? After about three days of feeling bad, I realized my son’s interest had awakened as he read about and drew the setting of the story: an island surrounded by a beautiful coral reef. I picked up a Coral Reef book filled with fantastic photographs and we began exploring the complexity and delicacy of these living structures. Oh my, we were and continue to be captivated! In our research we discovered a new creature: The mantis shrimp. Holy smokes! This little guy is fantastic. Supposedly this creature has the fastest movement in the animal kingdom as it punches its prey. We had to learn more… A quick internet search, led us to one of my favorite YouTube Channels “Smarter Every Day” and viola, there was the beautiful, powerful, and astounding mantis shrimp. This one is worth watching with your kids! So there you go. A ride on my homeschooling merry go round. First I allow my son to read a book that I know nothing about. second, I form an opinion about the book strictly by its title. Then, I am struck “dumb” as I read to catchup with my son. next I see an opportunity to follow a rabbit trail down an area of interest. Then, we become engrossed and amazed in a little creature we didn’t even know existed. Yep, a successful homeschooling week I’d say. Of course, I failed again when I fell for the “Finding Nemo is all about a coral reef”: hook, line and sinker. How about you? Do you ever struggle with feeling like you fall short as a homeschooler?