Thrift Schooling

  The  Bear Soapstone Carving Kit  found through Timberdoodle is another incredible hands-on activity for active learners. The front of the box states that this project will take 90 minutes to complete. While this may be true, you can absolutely stretch this out over several days (or even weeks if only working on it a day per week) as a continuing activity when you need some busy work for your older child to work on independently.  It is targeted at ages eight and up, and I agree that children younger than that might not have the attention span for such a long project. That said, if you are looking for a handicraft activity to encourage skills such as filing, sanding, and stonework, then this is the perfect fit for your child—regardless of the age of your boy or girl.  Working with soapstone is a rewarding craft. I even saw some other family members ask my son to work on it for a little while. The filing and sanding process is broken up into several parts—and ta...

  Exploring World History  is a full year-long high school history course by Notgrass History . This course can be counted as credit on your teen's high school transcript for Bible, English, and History. This quality course takes your student on a deep-dive into the history of our world beginning with focusing on worldview. Many Christian curriculum companies begin world history with Creation—which I respect and look for in a homeschool history class—but Notgrass goes the extra mile to lay a biblical foundation first. Even before discussing the Creation of the world, hard questions are addressed for an entire chapter such as understanding God, our world, and our place in the world.  Once a biblical framework is established—the text dives not only into historical facts and landmarks but discusses creation, sin, and questions from Genesis. I love how each chapter of this curriculum concludes with a Bible study from Eternity Before Creation to Eternity After This World. With...

 April is right around the corner and if your spring is starting out anything like mine—it's filling up with plans—fast. Our winter has been pretty slow but as soon as the first crocus started peeping out from underground I knew homestead life was ready to be in full swing. From planting over a hundred marigold seeds to repotting tomato plants—life has been busy—and won't be slowing down any time soon.  For busy moms like me, I have a quick and easy April meal plan printable so you can begin to prepare for the busy month ahead. With Palm Sunday, Easter, and possibly a spring break—now is the time to plan your meals. Simply print out the calendar below and fill in your desired meals. Need inspiration? Take a look at my Savory Pinterest board . Looking for low-carb meals? I also have a Keto Pinterest board with loads of casseroles for the busy mom. 

  I took a five-minute bathroom break. Big mistake. When I arrived back on the scene, I was greeted with a roomful of markers that my eighteen-month-old had dumped out, a pile of flashcards that my three-year-old accidentally spilled, and a puddle of water from a cup that had spilled off the table.  Nobody was particularly malicious; it was just when I left to go to the bathroom, my older kids and I were on the edge of our seats, wondering what was going to happen to the Merrimac in an intense history lesson. I tend to get into history sometimes. Maybe a little more than I should. Nevertheless, I was anxious to get back to the story and share the suspenseful tale with my older kids only to be distracted by, well, distractions.  It is in these moments that I ask myself, “am I cut out for this job? Am I cut out for homeschooling?” Onlookers and critics often say that they could never homeschool because they simply don’t have the patience. But do I? When I feel like I am at ...

All About Reading Level 3  is an incredible program that is part of Timberdoodle's Second Grade Kit . Don't let that fool you though. If you have homeschooled for any length of time—or talked to anybody who has—you know that the grade level on a curriculum does not matter. As the teacher, you have the option to choose exactly what your child uses based on his needs—which is beautiful. I have to admit, I thought I was pretty good at teaching reading because my older three were avid readers at a young age. I was wrong. They just picked it up and were excellent learners. Now that I am teaching a struggling learner how to read—it is a completely different ballgame—and it is all about having the right resources and dedicating the time to implement them.  After I had done a Google search for the best homeschool reading curriculum for dyslexia and All About Reading popped up in the top ten—I knew that I had to try it. I did and I have been hooked ever since. Level 1 was a struggle bu...

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  We have just entered our third year of running Garnet Creek Farm located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the growing area of Bassett, VA—and we are not slowing down. Our goal is to help new and established homeowners beautiful their landscape with edible plants, vines, and trees that will flourish, grow, and provide benefits to families for years to come. Take a look at our 2025 plant list and contact us to reserve your order today! UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 12:  Bassett Spring Craft Fair OPENING DAY APRIL 17:  Ferrum Farmer's Market   (Attending select Thursdays and Second Saturday of each month.) APRIL 26:   Spencer Penn Center Pig Cookin' BBQ OPENING DAY MAY 5: Fairystone Farmer's Market  (Attending select Mondays)   and more.

It was my job to order, copy, and organize all the activities for the preschool curriculum for the Sunday School in our church. There was a rotating schedule of five couples who taught. They were all parents of children in the class who wanted to help because they were thankful there was care provided for their children during the service.  For them, sacrificing one week a month to make this happen was worth it. The only challenge was they had no teaching experience so they were intimidated at times. I did my best to present the material in a simple, fun and engaging way. I provided them with all the materials and lesson outline to help them get started.  It was at this point that I realized that not everyone was like me when it comes to teaching little ones. Not everyone feels comfortable working outside the lines of the presented curriculum. One time, the lesson mentioned bringing in a tent for the kids to use during the lesson. I spoke with the parent a week in advance and ...

  A strong reader makes a strong writer—which is challenging as a homeschooling mom of many. We all have responsibilities both in and outside of the home on varying levels but it is important to take some time out to refresh and recharge. Recently I have been doing that in the form of reading.  This winter, I grabbed some easy reads:  Becoming Free Indeed  and  People Pleaser  by Jinger Duggar Vuolo, a more difficult book with challenging vocabulary:  The Hidden Hand  by E.D.E.N. Southworth, and a relevant resource book:  How to Teach Kids Theology  by Sam Luce and Hunter Williams. Jinger's books hit home for me in a way that I was not expecting. As a fan of the show as a new homeschooling mom, I remember going to a Valentine's Day event with my husband to hear her parents speak. I remember leaving the event encouraged, refreshed, and inspired to keep on homeschooling my three little ones all under the age of five! Those were challengin...

Welcome to the Nixplay Giveaway This giveaway is part of an incredible  Spring Gift Guide  that several of my blogging friends have created . I don't know about you but spring has NOT sprung in our neck of the woods. Spending some down time enjoying some spring treats is just what the doctor ordered! Explore an exciting collection of must-have products and incredible giveaways. Stop by now for your chance to win and discover the season’s best finds! As the industry leader in digital picture frame design and software innovation, Nixplay delivers a seamless, high-quality way to showcase your favorite moments. Stay connected with loved ones and bring your cherished photos to life with the best in smart display technology! One Winner will get their very own Nixplay Digital Photo Frame ! Enter now for your chance to win this must-have smart display and showcase your favorite memories in style. Don’t wait—enter today! *Sponsor has changed the number of winner...

Compass Classroom offers four years of history courses with Dave Raymond's History Series . Choose from American History, Modernity, Antiquity, or Christendom.  One high school student said, “ I love it! It doesn't describe history as just dates and events. It gives context as to why events took place and the people behind them. ” The four years of history courses cover American History, Modernity, Antiquity, and Christendom, providing context and understanding of the world we live in. If you are looking to switch up your homeschool curriculum, give this series a try today!

  Now why in the world would you grind your own wheat when there is a perfectly good grocery store down the road with bread in stock? I know that I can pick up a loaf of bread for around a dollar and with a family of seven, I need several loaves for the week. Yet, when we make our own bread, from the wheat that we grind into flour ourselves, we need significantly less bread than normal. Why? Because the bread we make is dense, rich in nutrients, and fills us up way more than traditional sandwich bread. I still remember the first time I tasted Ezekiel bread from the local health food store in college. My friend had made sandwiches for us while we were on a picnic, and after I took my first bite, I remember saying, “What IS this stuff?” I had never tasted anything like it in my entire life. I was so used to traditional sandwich bread that the first time I had “real” bread my senses were thanking me. I was much fuller after the sandwich and didn’t feel heavy or tired afterward. This b...