Thanksgiving Week November 22, 2014 By Bekki 14 Comments This content may contain affiliate links.I am not sure where this year went, but it is actually Thanksgiving week. It is a bit bitter sweet for me, because our oldest son is actually not going to be able to make it home for the holiday. sniff, sniff. (He is blessed to go visit his sweet girlfriend’s family!) Many years ago I gave up trying to get much school done during Thanksgiving week. Instead, we clean, decorate for Christmas, bake and truthfully just bask in the goodness of God. My Secrets to Thanksgiving Success I begin to thaw my 25 pound turkey on Sunday. I Decorate for Christmas. (Why do I decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving?) Hang Outside light. The kids are being trained to be good husbands and daddies someday, so we have been teaching them how to do this task for the last two years. Put up our tree. (Yes, its an artificial one . But it is Gorgeous!) We string the lights and place the ornaments under the tree until after Thanksgiving. Decorate the house. My mom gave me a sweet Christmas scene that I always put out each year, this too goes out before Thanksgiving. I Plan School for the two weeks in between the Thanksgiving Holiday and our Christmas break and the first week back after the New Year. I do not know about you, but I need these few weeks to be light and preplanned. All copies need to be made long before I need them! If I do not have these key weeks planned out, we do not do school. I bake pies and breads on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday I pull out clean and label all my serving dishes and utensils. I put little post its on each dish with the name of the entrée or side that is destined to be placed there on Thursday. Nothing is worse than finishing your gravy and having to look for your gravy bowl right before dinner. Pull them out ahead and you will be more relaxed. Pulling dishes and labelling is a great kid job! Thursday. Thanksgiving Day. This will be my 30ish time cooking and serving Thanksgiving Dinner. We have had years when we celebrate two times so everyone can make it. Here is my staple Thanksgiving Menu! Have a Wonderfully Blessed Thanksgiving! Bekki I am excited to share some of my learning packs with you! This freebie has some easy and fun Thanksgiving Activities. Great for K-1 graders. The Pilgrim packet above is full of activities that are great for 2nd-4th graders. Color by Divisibility is a fun 4-6th grade activity pack. Here are three of my newest packets. 15 Advent and Christmas Activities Easy Practice for Order of Operations Learn and practice the hardest multiplication facts with this fun game A fun collection of Christmas themed activities
Crystal Green says November 23, 2014 at 4:59 am Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too. Thanks for these resources for adding to our #homeschool lessons this #holidayseason. I am always looking for additional ideas. Reply
Lisa Nelson says November 23, 2014 at 12:36 pm Wow. That sounds like a lot of fun. I bet my kids wished they lived with you. Tomorrow is going to be 60 outside, so I bet we will be going outside for the day. However Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent doing math, grammar, writing, phonics, and Spanish. It's not as fun as in your house, but this baby is coming – no question. We gotta get through it. Thanks so much for linking up with us! Reply
Bekki says November 23, 2014 at 5:26 pm Lisa, having had five children myself, I have had my share of survival seasons! Blessings and have a safe delivery!! Reply
Latonya Mo says November 23, 2014 at 8:23 pm We also take a break the week of Thanksgiving. I am going to use your tips, and plan for those weeks in between Thanksgiving and Christmas break. Thanks for the activity packet links! Reply
Bekki says November 29, 2014 at 5:00 pm Latonya, I just finished planning through January. Huge relief, but it was an all day task. Did you get yours planned? Reply
Julie S says November 24, 2014 at 5:35 pm It is great to have family traditions and start teaching them young 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving! Reply
Stefanie Nicholas says November 25, 2014 at 4:12 pm Sounds like a nice thanksgiving 😀 Such a joy of homeschool – I know as a kid I was so happy to have holidays BEFORE Christmas and just get to share that family time. I think kids will always be learning, whether they're doing school or not! Reply
Bekki says November 29, 2014 at 4:59 pm I agree Stefanie. I don't know about you, but I believe that the no school lessons are the most important! Reply
Holly (2 Kids and Tired) says November 25, 2014 at 4:18 pm We don't homeschool, but our boys are out all week, which is so nice. It used to only be Thursday and Friday. Thanksgiving prep has to start early or it can be a nightmare. This year, we're going to my mom's house, which is all of a mile away. I'm doing Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad, Stuffing and a Dutch Apple Pie. I am thinking that I need to get the boys to put up the outside lights though. We had 8 inches of snow last week and freezing temps. This week it's warmer and I think we should take advantage of it! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Reply
Bekki says November 29, 2014 at 4:57 pm Holly, did you boys out uo the lights? My husband and I are always looking for ways to have the boys do "manly" work. It sure helps me, but it is incredible what it does for them!! Reply
Holly (2 Kids and Tired) says November 29, 2014 at 5:08 pm Today, hopefully. We've had some rain this week! I agree on finding them work to do. We are the same way. Reply