Teaching children to be thankful does not require a grandiose act of generosity, sacrifice, or service. Instead, it has everything to do with how you live your day to day life, as children are constantly watching and reflecting as they play, grow, and learn. How do you show you’re thankful? Take a moment to think […]
Special Event at Michael’s Craft Stores
November 7, 2013 by
Are you on Pinterest? Do you find yourself pinning creative craft projects, but rarely finding the time to actually DO them?? If so, you will want to know that Michael’s has created a special Don’t Just Pin It, Make It Your Own Event going on in select stores across the country this Sunday, November 10th […]
Books about Healthy Eating
October 30, 2013 by
Halloween is quickly approaching and with it comes the inundation of many of our homes with candy, candy, and more candy. During this time, it’s easy for kids to get distracted by all the sugary goodness in their trick-or-treat bags. Here are 8 great children’s books about healthy eating for you to explore with your […]
Estimating with Halloween Goodies
October 14, 2013 by
Halloween can be a fun time of year, filled with pretend play, decorating, and an over-abundance of candy. Why not put the candy to use, with a little learning exploration? Here’s a fun Halloween math activity that you do can do with just a bag (or two) of candy and a few glass jars. […]
5 Books about Feelings
October 11, 2013 by
Are you in search of high quality children’s literature to accompany discussions and lessons regarding feelings and empathy? Check out my 5 favorites listed below. Books about Feelings The Way I Feel by Janan Cain In this delightful rhyming story, children of all ages will relate to the whimsical illustrations and real-life situations described in […]
Basic Squash Soup Recipe and Easy Variations
October 4, 2013 by
Fall is here and Butternut Squash will be abundant shortly. Yay! Butternut is one of our very favorite veggies and I’m always looking for a new way to feed it to my family since it is high in Vitamin A and C. Soup has got to be one of the easiest ways to prepare it […]
The Elements of a Perfect Book Nook
September 29, 2013 by
One of the best ways I encourage reading at my house is to make a cozy place where my kids can curl up with no screen in sight. A kid sized spot, where books are always handy and the lighting is always good. Book nooks are easy to create with things you have on hand. […]
Apple Taste Test and Graph Activity
September 17, 2013 by
Using seasonal favorites is something I do a lot of in homeschooling. Each year we do something with apples, then pumpkins, then turkeys, then snowflakes and so on. It creates a rhythm of the year that the kids can rely on. I love teaching my kids with food related themes, so right now, it’s all […]
Apple Themed Mini Unit
September 16, 2013 by
I love fall, especially since it means fresh, crisp apples! Every year we visit our local orchard to pick apples and I wanted to do a quick apple themed day beforehand to get the kids excited about picking apples. Planning a week long unit can be daunting but creating a mini unit is simple and […]
Back to School $25 VISA Gift Card Giveaway
September 6, 2013 by
Do you still have school supplies on your shopping list? Thankfully, my friends from Crayola offered to sponsor this fun giveaway for a $25 VISA gift card for your last-minute back to school shopping needs!! (Thanks, Crayola!) Crayola also supplied me with a $50 VISA gift card to help with some of our back to […]
A Year-at-a-Glance Calendar for Your Homeschool Year
September 2, 2013 by
We all have great ideas for our kids school year as homeschoolers, but if we tried to start every great idea on day #1 of school our kids (and us!) would burn out very quickly. For this reason, I started to use this year-at-a-glance calendar to plan the things I want to get to this […]
End of Summer Time Capsule
August 26, 2013 by
Summer is coming to an end whether you are sending your kids off to school or keeping them home for school. More than likely, their friends are going to want to know all about their summer, so why not reflect on all the summer fun by creating an end of summer time capsule. Not only […]
Structuring Your Homeschool Day
August 23, 2013 by
Figuring out a homeschool schedule can be a challenge. Should you focus on reading and math? What about the other subjects? Are you doing enough in a day? Will they eventually get it? Once your homeschool year begins, it sometimes takes a few weeks to figure out what works for you and your family. Here […]
Creating Inviting Learning Spaces
August 19, 2013 by
As the start of a fresh new school year approaches, I find myself turning my attention to our surroundings. Our living spaces. Of course there are a lot of choices to be made concerning planning and curriculum, but I know that the spaces in our home have the potential to make or break our school […]
6 Simple Discovery Bottles
August 12, 2013 by
I’m getting ready to start the homeschool year with my rising first grader and preschooler. I really needed a quick and engaging activity to keep the baby occupied for a few minutes while I assist my daughters with their schoolwork. These simple discovery bottles were the way to go! I already had all the materials […]
Planning Your First Year of Homeschooling
August 9, 2013 by
You’ve taught your little one his alphabet. You’ve made sensory bins, explored with play dough, and even made a light table. Now it’s that time for your little one to venture to Kindergarten — but instead of sending them to school, you’ve decided to try homeschooling for a few years. But where do you […]
The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Homeschooler
August 5, 2013 by
Homeschooling is becoming a popular choice. It gives the children a flexible schedule and allows the curriculum to cater to the individual child. Is homeschooling the right choice for you? Well, that all depends. I was brought up in the public school system. K – 12 I went in and out of a school house […]
Learning in an Instant: Scissor Skills
August 2, 2013 by
I know many families are preparing for the upcoming school year by setting aside a little time to let their kids practice some of the basics before they go back. Practicing scissor skills can be one of the easiest activities to encourage. And it can be fun! You don’t even have to have an end […]
