Wordless Wednesday: Snoopy Ornaments

 

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Learning Year Round: Christmas Homeschool Plans

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The month of December affords homeschool families with a lot of wonderful opportunities for holiday homeschooling. Learning year-round takes on a special meaning for the Christian homeschooler at Christmas time. We can set aside our normal routine and books and spend time focusing on Jesus and Christmas. 

Making Small Changes 

If you aren't ready to put away all the homeschool books during December, you can start adding in small changes. Swap out the books in your morning basket or at read-aloud time with Christmas ones like A Christmas Carol, Christmas in the Manger, or Bear Stays Up. 

In addition to books, change out the music you play during the week. We often listen to music during art or while working on independent projects. During this time of year, we listen to my different Christmas playlists. 

What do you do during lunchtime? Our children watch either Minno or RightNow Media or listen to me read aloud. During December, I break out our box of Christmas-themed holiday DVDs for lunchtime. Some of our favorites include: 

• The Muppet Christmas Carol
• VeggieTales: The Toy That Saved Christmas
• The Year Without a Santa Claus
• White Christmas

Fun Activities 

If you are looking to incorporate more Christmas activities while learning year-round, you can look at art lessons from SchoolhouseTeachers.com that focus on Christmas themes. Or you can work on crafts, cards, and gifts. 

Another feature of SchoolhouseTeachers.com that I enjoy is the holiday-themed worksheets. This year, I printed out one about Advent, where our children will write a poem and some coloring sheets, but there are more options, including ones for math! 

Switching Up the Entire Day 

There are a couple of options left to you if you want to holiday homeschool the entire month. You can keep working on normal subjects but with a Christmas twist from unit studies. For example, Homeschool Complete offers a Christmas Unit Study (K-6). Lessons include reading, mathematics, arts and crafts, and more. Another option would be the White House Holiday Unit Studies offered by Silverdale Press LLC, which includes a Christmas-themed one.

You can also ditch all the subjects and work on relationships. Prepare the house for Christmas by cleaning and decorating. Bake Christmas cookies and prepare yummy treats and treasures as gifts. Go ice skating, skiing, or participate in other winter sports. Learn Christmas hymns or carols and sing or play them for others. There are many options available. 

As a family, select from things to do in your area. Go see Christmas lights, drink hot chocolate, or choose a new hobby (or return to an old one). Spending time together during December is a wonderful way to learn during the Christmas season. 

What are some of your favorite ways to homeschool during December? 

Wordless Wednesday: Star Wars-Themed Christmas Ornaments Part 2

 

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Be sure to check out my other Wordless Wednesday posts to see more ornaments on our tree including Star Wars-Themed Ornaments Part 1 and Favorite Ornaments. 

Journaling through the Bible: Christmas Season

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Our family has focused upon a few different aspects of Bible reading during the month of December. During the evenings, we have read through an Advent reading plan at dinner time, which took us from the genealogy of Jesus through his birth. My husband has been reading through an Advent book with the children at prayer time before bed. Personally, I have been finishing up a reading plan on YouVersion, which includes readings from the Book of Isaiah. December has allowed me to welcome readings from all parts of the Bible. 

Countdown to Christmas 

We are using an Advent plan I had found online several years ago. It takes us through 25 readings from John 1: 1-18 to Revelation 22:17, 20-21. We have had to make some adjustments over the years because several of the readings were too long for our youngest when they were little. There are also a few typos, but in general, this plan has served us quite well. 

"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." 

John 1:9-11

Reading a New Book 

My husband picked up An Advent for the Cosmos by Jeffrey Pitts to read with the children this year and in future years. It is a 72-page paperback book with color illustrations for each day of Advent with a Bible memory verse, introduction, a Bible reading, and more. To help you and your family dig deeper, there is a summary and discussion section with questions. Each day's readings finish with a prayer, and then you can listen to a song or songs that relate directly to the day's readings. While most Advent reading plans focus upon the birth of Christ, this book also brings us the message that God sent his son to redeem the world. It brings everything together. 

Monthly Bible Reading Plan 

In order to read the Bible in a year for 2020, I chose to follow twelve monthly plans from YouVersion. I chose the "Let's Read the Bible Together" plan, which is a 12-part series where the participant will read the entire Bible in 365 days. Each month, there were readings from the Old and New Testaments with the Psalms scattered throughout the months. November included the books of Song of Solomon, Ezekiel, Hosea, and Revelation. December featured the books of Isaiah, Micah, First Peter, Second Peter, First John, Second John, Third John, and Jude. My only complaint is that without referring to the month or plan description or scrolling through the days, I did not know which book was going to be up next. I did like that the plan mixed things up, rather than a straight reading of the Bible from cover to cover. 

In 2021, I plan on reading through the Bible chronologically using an item that I will be reviewing soon on A Mom's Quest to Teach. I received The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible by Tara-Leigh Cobble to review from Bethany House Publishers. This is a sturdy, hardcover book that provides 365 days of readings taking one through the entire Bible in a year in chronological order. Readers are taken through the Scriptures as they were written. I have not tried this approach to reading the Bible in one year yet, and I am looking forward to this endeavor.

I love that the Christmas season offers so many ways to journal and reflect upon Bible readings. Whether we read through the birth of Jesus in the book of Luke or we find His story in the other Gospels, there is so much joy brought by the story of His birth. So many Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled when our Savior was born. I have been able to read and enjoy God's Word this month while listening to Christmas music.

Favorite Christian Christmas Songs

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'Tis the season to start playing Christmas music. There is a great variety of Christmas music available to purchase and many places from which you can stream your favorite Carolers. We use a variety of digital methods to listen to our favorite Christmas songs – both Christian and holiday-themed – as well as the less traditional way of listening using CDs and – gasp – even cassette tapes on the rare occasion. Over the years, my Grandmom had collected a great variety of Christmas cassette tapes and then CDs, all of which I inherited. My husband also has a large collection of Christmas music, so there are many favorites among our collection. 

O Come All Ye Faithful 

I have enjoyed this song for many years. It was the first song sung by the senior choir at my high school as we entered the auditorium holding light-up candles. We would sing the first verse in Latin as we walked down the aisles, continue on to sing the first verse again in English, before moving onto the second verse. By then, we were all on the stage and ready to sing the next song. We never really sang many traditional Christmas songs – religious or secular – beyond a few. Our choir director always picked obscure songs from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance for us to sing. So, this one was a particular favorite of mine. 

What Child Is This? 

This was a favorite song of my mom's. Knowing this, I learned how to play it on the electric organ that my Grandmom had at her house. It was one of those instruments for which the books had the keys numbered and not actually listed by the real notes. So, all my practice learning how to play it did not translate to anything else. 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 

Can I share a secret? I love singing this song, too. There is something about the way the music swells that stirs my heart. Whether I am listening to Frank Sinatra sing about the angels singing or I am enjoying Ella Fitzgerald sing about peace on the earth, I enjoy the melody and message behind this beautiful Christmas song.

The First Noel 

I particularly love the way in which this song captures the story of Christmas. Whether Jesus was actually born on a cold winter night or not, the imagery of the birth of the King of Israel is stunning. As I write this post, I am listening to Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams all sing their own versions of this classic Christmas song. Do you have a favorite artist who sings The First Noel? 

Silent Night 

Lastly, I want to include Silent Night on my list of favorite Christian Christmas songs. I would love to think that the night of Jesus' birth was silent and calm. As a mom, it is wonderful to recall those first hours after the birth of my own children. Even though there was so much going on, there was a special calm. I love that heavenly hosts helped to announce the birth of Christ the Savior.  I am so thankful that Jesus was born. 

Wishing You a Merry Christmas 

I hope that no matter what your favorite Christmas songs may be – whether you prefer traditional artists, classical versions, instrumental versions, or maybe modernized, rock versions of Christmas Carols – that you have a very joyous holiday season as you listen to your favorite songs. As we approach the New Year, I hope that you have a wonderful time with your family. 

Wordless Wednesday: Star Wars-Themed Ornaments

 

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Be sure to check out my other Wordless Wednesday posts to see more ornaments on our tree including The Nutcracker Ballet Ornaments and some of our favorites. 

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Ornaments

 

Sharing a few of my favorite Christmas Ornaments this week. 

Favorite Holiday Christmas Songs

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In addition to the beautiful music written specifically to glorify the birth of Jesus, there is also a great collection of music that relates to secular reasons that people celebrate during the same period. I must admit that my Christmas music lists often have a mixture of both types of songs, as I love it all. Yes, there are some songs that I will not listen to, but in general, I like to have a mixture of songs by a mixture of artists. 

White Christmas by Bing Crosby 

I love to listen to songs sung by Bing Crosby. Some of my favorites include: 

• Don't Fence Me In 
• Something's Gotta Give
• Dream a Little Dream of Me
• Well Did You Evah? 

Christmas songs I also enjoy by Bing Crosby: 

• A Marshmallow World 
• Twelve Days of Christmas (with The Andrew Sisters) 
• Do You Hear What I Hear? 

My favorite Christmas song by Bing Crosby has to be White Christmas. Combine that with the movie, and I have a perfect afternoon spent with my family. I love the fact that the movie also stars Danny Kaye – another favorite singer of mine. I do wonder what the movie would have been like if Fred Astaire had not dropped out, though.

A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra 

So, this is not one song in particular. I have only recently begun to appreciate songs by Frank Sinatra. I am quite pleased by the wide selection of Christmas songs that I can add to my playlists performed by this talented singer. I really enjoy The Christmas Song, I'll be Home for Christmas, and Jingle Bells. The album was originally released in 1957, but I have been listening to the remastered 50th anniversary edition. I love reading that it was reissued on vinyl in 2010. We still have quite a few records, and I think it is wonderful that they are making a resurgence.

Sleigh Ride 

For several years, I was in the choir at my high school and the band always played Sleigh Ride. This song was my Great Uncle's favorite that they played. Now when I hear the song, I am reminded of him and my aunt coming to my concerts every year.

There are many different versions of the song. I have versions from Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle, & The Modernaires, Andy Williams, and Ella Fitzgerald on my one Christmas Playlist. I am not really sure whose take I enjoy the most. They are all equally good, as are the others that I have heard on the radio and on other compilations of Holiday music.

  

Frosty the Snowman 

I think the reason why I really like this song is that it reminds me of watching the 1969 cartoon by Rankin and Bass. So many of the Rankin and Bass productions were part of my childhood that I love hearing songs or stories that remind me of their tales. Whenever I hear the song, I can't help it; seeing Frosty first waking up and saying, "Happy Birthday!" brings a smile to my face.

Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley 

This song is another one that reminds me of a favorite Christmas cartoon. In the Year Without a Santa Claus, the children are sad – they will have a Blue Christmas – because Santa is staying home. This is my all-time favorite Christmas special from Rankin and Bass. I even have the Frost Miser and Heat Miser Christmas ornaments and figures from the cartoon to decorate for the holidays. Of all the versions of the song, I really enjoy Elvis Presley's the most. 

What Is Your Favorite Holiday Christmas Song? 

Do you have a favorite holiday Christmas song? Maybe it is one that makes you smile every time you hear it. Or perhaps there is one that you just have to sing along to, no matter where you are. Do we share any similar favorites?

Book Club: Christmas-Themed Books for Children

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I love sharing holiday-themed books on my blog, A Mom's Quest to Teach. Children's Christmas-themed books can provide a mixture of stories. One can find stories that focus upon the birth of Jesus to those that share about Santa, Charles Dickens' The Christmas Carol, or spending the holiday with ones' family. Personally, I love that there is such a great variety because we then make many happy memories reading Christmas-themed books in the weeks leading up to Christmas. 

Christmas in the Big Woods 

To experience a typical Christmas in the early 1870s in Wisconsin, Christmas in the Big Woods is the perfect book to read with your children. The story is adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Renee Graef. The simple story certainly gets one in the mood for a family-focused Christmas. There are cookies to bake, molasses candy to make, and even snow angels to make outside. And the simple gifts in the stockings provide a perfect talking point for appreciating the small gifts we are given and what we can gift to others. 

It's Christmas 

An "I Can Read" book for reading alone, It's Christmas by Jack Prelutsky and pictures by Marylin Hafner, is a mixed bag in my opinion. I had great hopes for this slim book as the chapters are short and they rhyme, which makes reading it aloud easy, but as I read more and more of it, I found myself wanting to put it down. The child has a LONG list of wants for Christmas, the father refuses to pay for a tree so they go hunting for one in a forest, Santa Clauses abound as the family goes from place to place, and Auntie Flo buys her niece and nephew underwear. I wish I had read the book before reading it to our children. I learned again the importance of previewing materials we share with our children. 

On Christmas Eve 

Having enjoyed Goodnight Moon and Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown, I was happy to check out On Christmas Eve from the library. This lovely tale about children sneaking downstairs on Christmas Eve was illustrated by Nancy Edwards Calder. I really like that the children snuck downstairs, saw the beautiful tree, and did not touch anything. While we were reading On Christmas Eve, our daughter kept saying, "No, they should not go downstairs. They are going to get in trouble." I love that she was worried about them doing right or wrong.

Christmas in Italy 

One of my goals for homeschooling our children is for them to learn about different cultures and customs. Reading Christmas in Italy by Jack Manning allowed us to talk about how important the birth of Jesus is to the celebration of Christmas in Italy. There were even directions to make an ornament at the of this short non-fiction book.

The 12 Bugs of Christmas 

Our children have seen a few episodes of Mac Lucado's Hermie & Friends. So, I thought maybe they would enjoy reading The 12 Bugs of Christmas (especially since they love the traditional version of the Christmas song). This is a cute little board book where each day brings more bugs joining in the story. By the end, 12 caterpillars join the story and are praying. This is a fun sing-along-song for the whole family.

From Christmases of the past to singing Christmas songs, there are many options to include Christmas-themed books into your homeschool day. I think it is a wonderful idea to read one Christmas book a day leading up to Christmas with children. What a great way to spend time together and spread some Christmas cheer! Does your family have any favorite Christmas-themed books that you read every year? Or perhaps you have another tradition involving Christmas stories? I would love to read about them!

Wordless Wednesday: The Nutcracker Ballet Ornaments

 

These ornaments are favorites from my childhood! 

  

Book Club: The Gingerbread Pirates

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I love reading children's Christmas books. There is a great deal of excellent choices and so many retellings of famous stories, too. Our library usually puts out books for each holiday on top of the children's bookshelves but for Christmas they have so many that they displayed them in a book rack. How exciting to pick through the books to find new ones to read with our children!

Our son picked out The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup and illustrated by Matt Tavares. This story is about Jim and his Pirate cookie captain that he creates with his mom. Jim and his mom bake cookies for Santa but instead of regular Gingerbread Men, they make pirate cookies!

During the night, on Christmas Eve, Jim's favorite Pirate cookie captain goes on an adventure and meets Santa. In the morning, Jim finds a wonderful new Pirate ship with a wooden captain with a cutlass and a peg leg to pilot the ship.

There are number of fun ways to expand upon the reading of the story with your children.

Baking

This year why not be creative with your cookie decorations? You can make unique characters instead of just regular Gingerbread men. Make pirates, ninjas, astronauts, cowboys and cowgirls, and all kinds of "people" using your cookie cutters.

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Crafts

Using the same basic Gingerbread cookie cutter, you can create your very own pirate salt dough ornaments.

We made our own ornaments using:

• 1 cup flour
• a little more than 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of salt 

We stirred the mixture till it formed a dough and then used a rolling pin to roll out the dough on wax paper. I recommend sprinkling a little extra flour so that the dough doesn't stick to the wax paper or the rolling pin.

I didn't bake the ornaments right away but let them air dry for a day. I finally baked them at the lowest setting on my oven checking them every half hour. I let them bake for about 2 hours.

One of the characters in the story is called Dots. 

The next day we painted them and finally added the ribbon so we can hang them from the tree! 

Family Discussion Time

After reading The Gingerbread Pirates, use the following questions to spur conversation with your children:

• What was your favorite toy or present to find under the Christmas tree? 
• What adventure would your Gingerbread men go on? 
• What type(s) of cookie(s) do you leave for Santa? 
• What are your favorite type of cookies? 

Do you have a favorite Christmas story to read with your little ones?