Tag Archives: homeschool

A Tough Row to Hoe

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You know something I struggle with? Not getting my own way. {smile} But you know what’s REALLY hard? Compromising what I want for what I know is right–and things are STILL not easy. For some reason (Christian immaturity, probably!) I feel like when I submit to God in something, the clouds should break open and sunshine should pour through and everything should become rainbows and roses and suddenly I’m on easy street. I mean, I’m doing the Will of God–that means it should be easy, right? Ha! Not so much. … Continue Reading…

How To Make Relaxed Summer Learning Plans

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I already introduced you to why we make summer learning plans. Today I’m going to share simple steps for creating your own simple, relaxed summer learning plans. I did this for the first time in 2012 and it worked great–even though we were not strict about sticking to it. It’s an outline, not an itinerary. In 2013 I did less pre-planning and I feel like we got less out of it as well. So I’m going back to my first-year concept. I’m not done (obviously–since I pretty much just started last week!) … Continue Reading…

What ARE Relaxed Summer Learning Plans?

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I’ve gone back and forth for several years not knowing where I fit with homeschooling (since we don’t homeschool full-time) and finally embraced the fact that we do homeschool–just not full-time. But I am–we are–intentional, teaching parents and we create a constant learning environment at home. Well, we try, anyway. {smile} So this week I’ll be sharing some of my planning process and what our summer calendar looks like. But first I’d like to share some thoughts on why I go through the trouble of making summer learning plans, and how we … Continue Reading…

25 Adventure Series Chapter Books For Young Boys

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Well, it’s been 70 degrees for a few days, so we’re starting to think about summer plans around here again–and part of that is summer learning plans. Summer is a great time to work on some fun family unit studies as well as some local field trips. I was also spurred on by finding 16 books in The Sowers Christian Biography series at our local thrift store for only $4.00!! What a treasure! The kiddos can’t wait until we dive into a few for read-aloud! I’ve started reviewing our little playroom … Continue Reading…

Real Life Homeschooling…Learning by Adopting a Soldier

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Real Life Homeschooling is about busy momma’s sharing ideas for how you can be intentional about teaching at home, even if it doesn’t look like traditional school-at-home. Last month I talked about how down time can play a key role in developing a supportive learning environment in your home. This month I’d like to talk about another activity our family participates in that has opened wide doors of learning for us…Adopting A Soldier. I mentioned our recent “adoption” the other day while taking about care packages. This is the third time … Continue Reading…

10 Books for RUBY…Valentine Surprises

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If you follow us on Facebook, you might have seen my post the other day about finding a book with Speedracer’s name in it. His real name, I mean. It’s a treasure, and a tough find! I love finding books with our kiddos names in them because it makes them really connect with the character–which also makes having good stories especially important! It’s something that’s going to stay on their shelves long past the age when they appreciate the story. It’s a love gift more than a literacy gift. Which is … Continue Reading…

Real Life Homeschooling…Learning with Down Time

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Real Life Homeschooling is a monthly blog hop with 20 other blogging mommas that I’m part of. It’s all about the non-traditional face of homeschooling. What it looks like when it doesn’t look like “school-at-home.” We took a short break over the winter months and during the busy holiday season, but you may remember that previously I posted about our love of all things Nature Study, and then some of the ways we packed our family camping trip with learning and even how we use just every day conversations while we’re … Continue Reading…

Momma Does the Chores and a Farm Year ReCap…the Daily Farm Adventures

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The crew is off visiting their Grandma and Grandpa Oliver for the last few days of their Christmas break, so Mr. Fix-It and I have been doing up the chores in the mornings and evenings while they’ve been gone. I’ll be glad when they get back home! I have to admit, I’m a little out of practice. {smile} Most of the time these days I’m more of a supervisor and emergency assistant than a chore-er for the daily stuff. Our little farm-hands keep the daily chores well in hand alone. … Continue Reading…

Nature Encounters…The Great Horned Owl

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Have you noticed how much hustling about there is right now out in the world of wildlife? Everyone’s scurrying around to find new homes and territories and stock up their dens and burrows and bellies for winter. Seems like the squirrels around here are having a festival of foolishness around the roadside ditches. Mr. Fix-It and I were off for a walk, alone, the other day (how often does that happen!!) and collected a bunch of turkey feathers and an empty turtle shell to take back and show the kiddos. … Continue Reading…

Resources for Studying Jamestown

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In honor of Columbus Day, I thought I would share something about explorers, but not at all about Columbus! {smile} We have been reading and studying and talking and learning about Jamestown and early Virginia colonization and woodland Indians for several weeks now. It started this summer when we started reading Blood on the River together as a family read-aloud. I had been collecting Jamestown resources for most of the spring and fall to put together one of our mini unit studies. You know, stalking Amazon for price drops, haunting … Continue Reading…

Real Life Homeschooling — Teaching Through Everyday Conversation

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Real Life Homeschooling is a monthly blog hop with 20 other blogging mommas that I’m part of. It’s all about the non-traditional face of homeschooling. What it looks like when it doesn’t look like “school-at-home.” Previously I posted about our love of all things Nature Study, and then some of the ways we packed our family camping trip with learning. Today I’d like to share what some of the learning has looked like around here over the last couple weeks…conversation. If you’re paying attention, there are a million learning moments in … Continue Reading…

Children’s Atlas of God’s World — Book Review

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As you know, we love to read together around here for family time and it’s one of our favorites ways to incorporate home learning even if we don’t formally “homeschool” together. So I was super excited to be invited to join the Moms of Master Books review team! We receive one brand-spankin’ new book a month from New Leaf Publishing Group to review (free of charge) and share with you. I won a copy of the Big Book of Earth and Sky at the Titus 2:1 Conference and my kiddos … Continue Reading…

Real Life Homeschooling — Learning While Camping

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Real Life Homeschooling is a monthly blog hop with 20 other blogging mommas that I’ll be participating in this summer. It’s all about the non-traditional face of homeschooling today. What it looks like when it doesn’t look like school-at-home. Last week my introduction post touched on our love of nature study and family read-alouds. This week I’d like to touch on the idea of learning everywhere, all the time. I’ve been writing about our camping adventures lately, and I think that’s a perfect example of how we can surround our … Continue Reading…

5 Days of Summer Reading {Make Reading Fun For the Whole Family}

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This week I’ll be part of a 5 Days of Summer Series and I’m talking about 5 Days of Summer Reading. Each post comes with recommendations for how to choose good books, tips to encourage a love of books, and ideas for how to enjoy reading as a whole family–as well as a book list, so be sure to check them all out! MONDAY: 5 Days of Summer Reading {For the Homestead} TUESDAY: 5 Days of Summer Reading {For the Boys} WEDNESDAY: 5 Days of Summer Reading {For the Girls} THURSDAY: … Continue Reading…

5 Days of Summer Reading {Tips For Encouraging the Reluctant Reader}

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This week I’ll be part of a 5 Days of Summer Series and I’m talking about 5 Days of Summer Reading. Each post comes with recommendations for how to choose good books, tips to encourage a love of books, and ideas for how to enjoy reading as a whole family–as well as a book list, so be sure to check them all out! MONDAY: 5 Days of Summer Reading {For the Homestead} TUESDAY: 5 Days of Summer Reading {For the Boys} WEDNESDAY: 5 Days of Summer Reading {For the Girls} THURSDAY: … Continue Reading…