Gifts for the Homeschooling Mom

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What Items Would Be Perfect for the Homeschooling Mom?

Am I the only mom who uses gift cards to purchase items to use in the homeschool or items for her children or family? While I may purchase one item that I want, I often end up using most of the gift card – especially if it is a gift card for Amazon – to purchase items I want to use with our children or something I think my husband might like off his own wishlist. So how can you ensure you get a gift for the homeschooling mom herself? Well, you could buy her her preferred brand of tea, coffee, or wine. There might be a new book published by her favorite author, or perhaps you heard her gushing over a sweater or scarf while shopping with her, but she didn't pick it up. But what if you wish to help her school her children? Then there are so many options that I can share with you! 

Subscriptions to Curriculum Sites 

SchoolhouseTeachers.com – This is one of our favorite sites as it offers access to over 400 courses for Preschool to Twelfth Grade for your entire family for one price. As a member of SchoolhouseTeachers.com, you will also receive access to a variety of videos, holiday-themed activities and lessons, monthly menu ideas, and more! 

My Teaching Library – This is a wonderful resource for the homeschool mom. There is a Facebook group and a newsletter available for subscribers and non-subscribers. One year's subscription is $60 for a year as of 2023. This will give you access to hundreds of resources, from language arts unit studies to algebra. You can also see a sample of products when you visit the website. 

Super Teacher Worksheets – This is another resource perfect for the homeschool mom looking for ready-made worksheets on various subjects for her elementary-aged homeschool children. Thousands of worksheets are available for math, reading comprehension, spelling, social studies, history, science, and more! Plus, you can make your own worksheets for your homeschool lessons. If you want to learn more about Super Teacher Worksheets, please visit my review here: Printables for your Homeschool Classroom. 

Reading Material 

Many homeschooling moms are always looking for reading material. They love reading alongside their children to model a love of reading. Depending upon their particular homeschooling style (DO I HAVE A WEBSITE ON THIS), you may find one of these books might suit them better than another. Or you could also subscribe your children to a favorite magazine.

   

Helping to Bring Learning to Life 

Homeschool families love going on field trips. While many libraries offer museum and zoo passes, there may still be locations that homeschool moms would like to visit that the library cannot provide. When gifting a membership to a local museum, historic site, or zoo, it would be best to ask which would the homeschool mom would prefer. 

Another way that you can help a homeschool mom bring learning to life is by gifting her family science kits, history kits, and (OTHER IDEA/IDEAS). While many curriculum packages offer hands-on learning opportunities, there may be something extra that might be fun to include. Perhaps she wants to raise butterflies with her children or have their family try their hand at a new handy-craft like glass blowing or soap carving. So, kits or classes would make for a wonderful gift for homeschool moms.

   

My Favorites 

There are so many great resources that I would love to add to our homeschool lessons. There probably isn't enough time in the day! Over the years, I've added art history lessons from ARTistic Pursuits, stargazing with a free astronomy app, and history-themed projects from Sonlight.  

I've been looking at the Greek language resources from Memoria Press for our daughter (although she wants to learn French), as well as their literature and poetry sets. And I have my eyes on several history curriculums from Notgrass History, including America the Beautiful and From Adam to Us. 

And, of course, as a homeschool mom, I love gel pens, notebooks, sticky notes, and notecards! These are all tools that help me homeschool and are also fun to use.

Book Club: Book Review of Can Science Explain Everything?

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I received Can Science Explain Everything? as a gift after my husband and I watched John C. Lennox on Takeaways with Kirk Cameron. I mentioned that I wanted to read a book by Lennox or learn more about his ideas to my husband, and he surprised me with this introductory book.

I think I did Can Science Explain Everything? a disservice by not reading the front flap before digging into the book. I thought I would be walking away from my time reading with a firmer set of arguments to share with those who think science and God do not belong in the same sentence. I ended up disappointed as I read through the book, but that was my own fault. John C. Lennox states in the very beginning: 

"I hope you enjoy reading this introduction to the question of science and the Christian faith, and that it stimulates you to approach this question in a scientific way; that is, open to what the outcome may be and prepared to follow the evidence where it leads." 

He even addresses this idea in the preface, stating the book was written for young people and adults who asked for a more accessible book than God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? I can allow thinking that I was distracted by real-world problems when I failed to take into account Lennox's explanation for the book.

This book is meant to be a primer for your studies in science and Christian faith. And the author even suggests other works, including his own, where you can find out more information. He does a great job providing an introduction demonstrating that science and religion can mix.

About the Book 

Can Science Explain Everything? is a 127-page paperback book with ten chapters, a preface, an introduction, and a list of books for more reading. Each chapter moves through different arguments as to why science and religion can mix and why the common viewpoint that you can't be a scientist and believe in God is wrong. 

Lennox provides quotes and examples discussing C. S. Lewis, Galileo, Hawking, Newton, and more to examine worldviews and reconcile how scientists can believe in God. He tries to correct people's incorrect viewpoints of historical events and people. Lennox also provides real-world examples of conversations he has had with atheists and others during his lectures and travels. 

In the book, there are also definitions of faith and science and a look at how Daniel uses the scientific method in the Bible. Lennox looks at the beginning of the world and the miracles of Jesus to help his readers better understand the connection between science and the Christian faith. 

My Thoughts 

After taking a step back from my mistake, I really enjoyed this introductory book. I think it is very well-written and highly accessible. And it makes me want to read more by Lennox. I loved the points he made, such as the one refuting that the world of the early Christians was pre-scientific. 

"To suppose that Christianity was born in a pre-scientific, credulous, and ignorant world is simply false to the facts. The ancient world knew the law of nature as well as we do, that dead bodies do not get up out of graves. Christianity won its way because of the sheer weight of evidence that one man had actually risen from the dead." (79)

I think it is very sad that in today's world, people are ready to believe in psychics, haunted mansions, luck, and coincidences, but the idea that miracles happened as described in the Bible is easily dismissed. Why? "When a miracle takes place, it is the laws of nature that alert us to the fact that it is a miracle" (81). Why is the Christian faith so easy to dismiss? 

I would recommend Can Science Explain Everything? for those who wish to start exploring how science and faith actually are "good friends" and that we can "enjoy and benefit from both of them." 

Art History for All Ages: A Review of Have I Got a Story For You! Downloadable Art History Video Series (Renaissance)

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this digital download from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Are you looking to incorporate art history into your homeschool curriculum? We found Have I Got a Story For You! to be a wonderful way to introduce art history curriculum into our homeschool lessons without too much muss and fuss. And because Have I Got a Story For You! is designed to be used with children across multiple age ranges, I am able include both our children in the lessons. 

"Mrs. Beth and her animated drop of paint, Gasfy, will introduce your students/children to artists that influenced these art periods. Through creative storytelling and silly antics, Mrs. Beth and Gasfy make the artists and their masterpieces come alive."

About Have I Got a Story For You! 

There are four different art history curriculums from Have I Got a Story For You! available through Timberdoodle, including the Renaissance Series, the Baroque Series, the Impressionist Series, and the Post-Impressionist Series. We were able to review the Renaissance Series in our homeschool. 

The Renaissance Series includes:

• One introductory video, "Who Needs a Flea Collar?" 
• Five videos on da Vinci
• Four videos on Michelangelo
• Two videos on Raphael
• 12 lesson plans that align with the videos 
• "Name that Artist" PowerPoint Game
• Downloadable Flashcards (da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, instructions for the Flashcards, and Flashcards cover)

How We Used Have I Got a Story For You! in Our Homeschool 

I have introduced this art history curriculum into our daily routine a few days a week. We watched the video one day and worked on one of the suggested art activities. I then choose other activities in the lesson plan to do throughout the week. 

Our Thoughts

I remember taking an art history course in college to fulfill my art requirement. We studied ancient art from prehistory through Roman history. We spent a lot of time reading about the pieces, but I don't really remember a lot from the course itself. The things I remember the most are those which brought life to the art pieces, which included two field trips that students took on their own to local museums (without the teacher).

Have I Got a Story For You! art history course jumps to life with the powerful stories shared by Mrs. Beth and Gasfy. Even though our children are not seeing the Renaissance works in person, they are seeing a variety of pieces through the video lessons, and we have the opportunity to further research using the lesson plans. 

I also appreciate the fact that this course is not just about art history. There are also plenty of opportunities for our children to learn new art techniques and put those skills into practice. For example, one of the first activities we did was to draw pictures after we learned about perspective. 

Lesson Plans 

What do the lesson plans bring to this art history curriculum? They are a valuable part of this fun video series! 

• Great table of contents in the Lesson Plans PDF 
• Objectives included for each episode
• Multiple art and extracurricular activities to pick from (including group activities and activities for advanced students) 
• Vocabulary word list (great for spelling lists) 
• Critical thinking questions that could even be developed into essays
• References to the HiGASFY Pinterest board in the activities 

Art and Extracurricular Activities 

Just what types of activities can you find in this section of each plan? How can you incorporate these questions into your homeschool day? 

• For those students who want to practice art skills, there are multiple art activities, including drawing, painting, sculpting, and even creating a fresco! 
• Hands-on activities are included, such as creating a buckler, making paper airplanes, and more. 
• History-related research projects
• Geography 
• Science activities that ask your students to make their own play dough, make a slingshot, or examine the illnesses of the 15th century. 
• Writing activities that include critical thinking questions with each lesson.

Video Component 

One of the best parts of this particular art history curriculum are the videos with Mrs. Beth and Gasfy. They are delightful and engaging. The videos are clear and easy to watch. I previewed the first several ones before sharing with our children. I found that the second time I watched them, I picked up more information. I love homeschool curriculum that allows you to learn more the second time you go through it. 

Final Thoughts 

Our children are really enjoying this art history curriculum from Timberdoodle. They think Gasfy is just the cutest thing. I really appreciate that Mrs. Beth is introducing difficult topics (studying the Black Death is no easy task in elementary school) in an interesting way. Our children have been able to learn about the Renaissance time period while incorporating new art techniques into their repertoire. 

I would recommend Have I Got a Story for You! (Renaissance Series) for families who are both homeschooling and those who have children in public or private school. The work is fun and interesting while teaching art history. The lessons are easy to add into your regular homeschool schedule, or they would be perfect for a summer break where you want to continue schooling on the light side. Your children will learn more than they realize by watching the videos and completing activities you assign them. This is a very easy art history curriculum to make your own. 

Book Club: Book Review of The Time-Saving Mom

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Everyone wants to be more productive during their day. How often do you turn off the lights at the end of the day and think: I wish I had time to clean the living room, fold the laundry, or take the car for maintenance today? (Or whatever tasks did not get checked off on your list.) Crystal Paine shares insight into how she manages her time to be more productive in The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most. 

About the Book 

The Time-Saving Mom is a hardcover, 248-page book published by Bethany House. There are eleven chapters, including an introduction and an appendix of practical tools for the Time-Saving Mom. Those chapters are further subdivided into four steps: pray, prioritize, plan, and prep.

At the heart of The Time-Saving Mom are practical tips described with specific examples from Paine and followers of her website and Instagram account. The 4-Step Plan involves: 

1. Pray: Starting each day with prayer, recognizing how much she needs God each day. 
2. Prioritize: Looking at long-term goals and mapping them out using her 6 x 2 Priority System.
3. Plan: Paine uses a Google Calendar and a written to-do list to plan her days and weeks. 
4. Prep: Pain discusses putting together morning and evening routines that work. 

Sprinkled throughout the book are time-saving tips and quotes pulled out from the chapters, and each chapter ends with Two Truths for Time-Saving Moms and Time to Pray sections. So after reading the book, you can easily navigate each chapter to find just what you are looking for. 

About the Author

If you are not familiar with Crystal Paine, you can find out more about her at MoneySavingMom.com or in her other books: Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, Money-Making Mom, and Love-Centered Parenting. She also has a popular Instagram account (@themoneysavingmom) that I have been following for a while with a business account, and I now follow her with my blog's Instagram account. 

While reading The Time-Saving Mom, you will learn a little more about Paine's life as she shares about raising multiple children, including a medically fragile foster child, running her business, and staying active in her church and community. Paine really offers a unique perspective as a mom who is very busy.

My Thoughts 

I was very excited to read The Time-Saving Mom. After all, who doesn't want to save time? I also enjoy following Paine on Instagram and getting a look into her life and her family's life. And while I feel that this book is very well-written and well-organized, I don't think it is the right fit for me. I will be pulling a few tips from it for my own life, but at this season of my life, many of the tips are not practical. 

I also am concerned about relying so heavily upon an electronic calendar – especially the Google Calendar. I prefer pen-and-paper for numerous reasons. I do realize that many enjoy the ease of having their tasks and schedules online so they can share them with family, but that isn't for us. So while I won't be using the Google Calendar, the tip to "develop the habit of writing down everything that comes into your mind that you need to do or remember" (81) is a great one. I can do this in a notebook or a planner. 

Another piece of advice I liked was when Paine compared a schedule and a routine. "A routine, on the other hand, can seem more like a helpful personal assistant, there to serve you and provide a framework for your success. It helps you stay on track but doesn't cause you to feel stressed" (155). How many times have our to-do lists or schedules stressed us out? Too many for me to count, personally. 

And the biggest piece of advice I am taking away from The Time-Saving Mom? "Don't live hoping for the next season or trying to survive until that thing you're hoping for happens, or think, I'll finally be happy when..." (174). One of the things that often talked about while taking care of my mom during her final year with Alzheimer's was, "I'll have more time when this is all over." Do I actually have more time now that she has died? No, not really. I have new tasks ahead and problems to solve. All I did was exchange one set of responsibilities for another. As Paine said, "The only life we have to live is this one." 

If you are looking for a book to help you better organize your time, figure out your priorities, and be more productive, The Time-Saving Mom is one you should check out. It would be helpful for moms in a variety of seasons. I really believe that Paine wants you to succeed. 

Book Club: Book Review of What Happens Next

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

I share often about extremely good books. Books that I can't put down because they are page-turners. I recently had this same experience with What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson. I received the book in the late afternoon and started reading it that night. By the next day, I had finished the book. Such a great novel!

"Everyone has a story, and maybe everyone needs a little help toward healing." 

What Happens Next tells the story of a popular podcaster, Faith Byrne, who is suffering. She may feature individuals on her podcast who have overcome tragedies, but she is facing a number of difficulties herself and struggling with how to overcome them. She is facing a summer without her daughters as they are going to Hawaii with her ex-husband and his new wife. She is also facing tragic news. She learns of the disappearance of Heather Crane. During the summer of 1987, Faith and her family stayed in Deep Valley. She was befriended by Heather during the summer. They were inseparable until Faith and her family moved before the start of the new school year. It was shortly after that move that Heather disappeared. And Faith was never told of her friend's disappearance. Sadly, she thought Heather refused to answer any of her letters. 

Faith is approached by Heather's older sister, Brooke, to assist in putting closure on the disappearance. Dora Crane, the girls' mother, did not handle the disappearance of her daughter well. In fact, it tore the family apart. By the present day of the book, we learn that Heather's brother, Greg, has moved away and not returned home. Heather's father, Paul, has left Dora. While Dora keeps Heather's room as it was the day she disappeared, the rest of the family is trying to move on with their lives while still being respectful of their lost family member.

We learn about Faith and Heather's friendship through flashbacks shared from Heather's point of view, as well as Faith's own memories shared with the other characters. The details are also filled in by Dora, Nathan (who had been a friend of Faith and Heather during that summer), the original detective on the case, and Faith's grandmother.

The novel is written from three different perspectives. The chapters of What Happens Next change from Faith, Dora, and Heather as we learn more and more details about the night Heather disappeared. This is done in an easy-to-follow manner as the title of the character is featured at the end of each chapter. 

What Did I Think? 

This was another book I picked based on the cover. It looks like an ideal summer day. A purple child's bicycle is tossed in the path. Perhaps its owner is enjoying a hike through the woods or a swim in the nearby stream. As a reader, you don't know that the bike belongs to Heather until many chapters into What Happens Next.

I felt that Christina Suzann Nelson provided a wonderful sense of suspense as I read from chapter to chapter. I wanted to know what happened to Heather. I felt her come to life in the book. I was eager to know if she had come to harm or had merely gone off on her own. The title of the novel is very appropriately named! 

The characters were all very believable. I felt the sorrow and agony of Dora, the hurt and pain of Paul, as well as the hope of Faith. The hope was that she would be able to help the Crane family. They made her welcome during that summer. She wanted to return the favor to them by providing closure. 

I would recommend What Happens Next to those who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction. While the characters' relationship with God was not central to the story, we can see how each reached out to God to find their way. This would make a great gift for those who enjoy mystery and suspense Christian novels. 

Read my review of More Than We Remember here: Book Review.