Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.7.2, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # 200 Fingers & Toes Practical Tips & Tools that Help Parents Homeschool Successfully from Beginning to End ## Posts ### [Blog](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog/) **Published:** March 17, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ### [Shorter School Days & Meaningful Playtime Summer Elective Hack](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/summer-elective-hack-more-meaningful-play/) **Published:** June 21, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* No matter how many kids you are homeschooling, the time is never enough. I have an elective hack that saves us time in our school day and gives us extra meaningful play in summer. Let me share about it, but first, let me introduce myself. Hello! If you are new here, I’m Amber. I teach multiple levels of kids in our homeschool. It is one of the challenges of being a homeschool mother of ten. Did you know that one year, we had a literal K through 12 school. We had kindergarten through 12th grade, we were only missing a sixth and ninth grader. Imagine it for a minute. K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th 11th and 12th. This is why I know how to save time and help you skip to the front of the learning curve. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_7078-scaled.jpeg "IMG_7078 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Electives Add to the Fun ##### Summer homeschool mom Hack Series We’ve always had to be attentive about how we have met the individual needs of our children’s grade level work, and creative in how we oriented them together in groups. By doing several subjects together as a family we could streamline our homeschool day. That meant that we could get through the work we needed to do together and the truth is, we had a really good time while doing it. I’ve learned some great tricks along the way. I wanted to share the ones that are especially useful in a quick reading summertime series. I broke us some longer talks I’ve done into quickly digestible posts. Most of them will serve as reminders of things you have probably done at one time of another in your homeschool, but with busyness, work demands and a growing family, you might have forgotten. Other ideas might be new to you. Either way, I hope they are a great help to you and give you more peace and productivity. ### This week’s focus is on my Homeschool Mom Elective Hack: hold back some assigned tasks and do them in summer. ## Subscribe for the Summer Series Be encouraged, empowered and learn how to maximize your summer with me. EmailSubscribe # Elective Hack for Summer Learning A few years back I was frustrated because we had several craft kits and a modeling project left over from the school year. There was never a good time to do them. We were busy with assignments in the CORE subjects that are required during the school day. Evenings were busy with running the older boys to wrestling practices and tournaments. We loved their pursuit, but it filled a chunk of our free time. ## Take advantage of summer’s slower pace. Summer is less structured, but I still have plenty to do. Keeping the kids working on some fun activities was a great way to use those leftover kits. Now, I intentionally hold back a few of the regularly assigned elective games, projects or studies and use them in the summer when we have more time to enjoy them. Do you have a schedule for your current curriculum? You can choose to simply check them off. I did this last year to free up more time for us. It feels amazing to take control of your schedule. Look at you, already ahead for the year! It might seem like a small thing, but it feels really good to give yourself some margin, especially if you are just beginning to homeschool. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000117-1024x769.jpg "P1000117 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000121-1024x769.jpg "P1000121 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000112-1024x769.jpg "P1000112 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Sonlight has great [learning kits](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-history-tools-for-multiple-learner-families/). They make a great elective hack to coordinate with your learning. We loved using this kit when we were [learning about China](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-now-is-the-best-time-to-study-china-in-your-homeschool-eastern-hemisphere/). The kits are easy to grab and use when you have a free chunk of time. They make a great summer learning tool. Using elective kits and tools in summer not only saves us time in our homeschool, but we have been able to really focus on those electives instead of feeling rushed to “get it done.” Nothing make learning a NEW skill less fun than having to rush through it or as a parent knowing you are getting frustrated when it SHOULD be fun! Alleviating the element of time constraints gives you back the freedom to mess up. Suddenly, it is ok to undo a few lines of crochet, paint over a poorly drawn line or even do a fun experiment over one more time. ### Can You Use This Summer Elective Hack? Do you have an elective kit or project that you set aside because there wasn’t enough time in the school day? Let summer be your casual learning season. Is there a topic your child really showed interest in? Use this summer season to dig deeper. You can also look ahead and introduce a topic that will be covered in depth NEXT homeschool year. Stay tuned for more tips and ideas to make your summer great and get you ready for a great homeschool year! The Homeschooler’s Guide to Summer Success Course & Workbook $60 End this summer feeling refreshed and productive. You can create great work habits, help your kids learn to work independently and create more wiggle room in your homeschool day next year. - Three Convenient 40 Minute Video Lessons - 30 pg. Workbook Guide - Full of Lesson Support, Encouragement, and Fun Pages too! [Sign Up Today](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Summer-Success-Ad.jpg "Summer Success Ad › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke's Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) **Published:** July 15, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you’re looking for an honest **Yesteryear review**, you’re probably wondering whether Caro Claire Burke’s much-discussed tradwife novel lives up to the hype. After finishing *Yesteryear*, I found myself thinking less about social media and more about identity, motherhood, and the difference between romanticizing your life and actually living it. ### What do I say in a *Yesteryear* review? It is Fatal Attraction, but the main character is in love with herself. If Glen Close played Natalie, the insta-famous tradwife, it would make a lot of sense. The scene would open with her boiling the fluffy Scottish Highland calf after neglecting its care. Then, she would claim to make ethically sourced leather from her secret, family-crafted recipe. Afterward, she’d sell it to you at a substantial markup with a BIG smile for the camera. *Yesteryear* is not so starkly forward, but in ways still subtly unveils the darker side of playing a tradwife for a live audience. Is a life lived to be observed, actually lived at all? ## Readers are asking, is Natalie all that bad? Is she a trailblazing solo-preneur with a failing support system? Is her voyeuristic lifestyle driven by circumstance, pressure, or pride? Then there is the underlying question: is social media performative, perverse, or an adult-playground form of peer pressure? Will it be our fatal attraction as we become increasingly glued to our favorite insta-celebs? [![Book cover of YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke over a bakery scene of loaves and slices, with a review banner and star rating overlay.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Thought-Provoking-Look-at-the-Dark-Side-of-Being-a-Tradwife-683x1024.png "Thought Provoking Look at the Dark Side of Being a Tradwife › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Thought-Provoking-Look-at-the-Dark-Side-of-Being-a-Tradwife.png)Yesteryear review Natalie is a character who shines a light on the darker side of being a tradwife## I was curious after reading another Yesteryear review and seeing so many conflicting reactions. The promoted story feels familiar. My history as a homeschool blogger and pseudo-homesteader made me curious about the book’s premise. After all, I once owned a chicken tractor. We once butchered two hundred chickens with an assembly line of children in our backyard. I followed quite a few bloggers in this season of my life. As a new mom, small business owner, and someone thriving on a small pseudo-homestead, I found their stories a source of comfort and encouragement. These bloggers were part of why I started my own blog. As a lonely stay-at-home mother with few peers, I hungrily read new posts and indulged in lovely images of happy kids and farm-life antics. I also worked on our old 1900s house. We homeschooled, fed the chickens, and faithfully partnered with my husband in our marriage and business ventures. The difference – I was blessed to live in a time when the “other” world was still tethered to a plug in the office upstairs and not ever in my hand, calling for my attention. Blogging was a documentation of our days in the sunshine and mud, a way to share the projects with my sisters, not a million-viewer business. ## What Is *Yesteryear* About? *Yesteryear* follows the life of a popular lifestyle blogger. We quickly discover she is clearly and intentionally putting on airs about doing the hard work of being a homesteading wife, homeschooling mother, and businesswoman. She fails to show her army of help. Ignores her mental health struggles, and tucks reality right under her purchased-for-her thousand-dollar ornamental rug. Leaving viewers with the deceptive fictional persona she has created for the camera. While [in *Sweet Pea,* food was used to comfort ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sweet-pea-a-bookhousereads-review/ "Sweet Pea – A BookHouseReads Review")and build community, in Yesteryear, Natalie uses food to present an image that was never intended to nourish anyone. Her kids go hungry while she films and refilms the making of the perfect roast. [![Magazine-style article header with the title 'Serving Up the Darker Side of Being a Tradwife,' two-column text, decorative background, and a bright 'Yesteryear' book cover resting on plates at the bottom.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Dark-side-of-Being-a-Tradwife-683x1024.png "Dark side of Being a Tradwife › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Dark-side-of-Being-a-Tradwife.png)Natalie Mills is determined to show women how much they need her in their dreary sad lives## What Makes *Yesteryear* Different? #### These are crazy people, playing house with old money, and should not be mistaken for traditional – anything! The twist is revealed when Natalie finds herself on an actual 1800s farm, with all the trials, heartaches, and setbacks that come with it. The storyline was an interesting take with several unexpected twists and turns. It was NOT what I was expecting. The main character, Natalie Mills, is a polarizing human. She descends with an ever-spiraling narcissistic mindset, conniving from the very beginning of her story. At each turn, she wove her worsening circumstances into a fabricated life, one she convinced herself was truer with each day she wore it for her audience. ## What I didn’t Like About *Yesteryear* Natalie’s character felt like a caricature of all the worst aspects of influencer culture. I understand the author interviewed women from the Mormon lifestyle, Fundamental Christians, and traditional wives for insights. Yet, for all the research, Natalie felt like a cardboard cutout of an SNL skit mocking Mormon tradwives rather than a genuine self-promoter in too deep. We don’t get to see the foundation that built her psyche. But we are front row for the breakdown. I don’t mind reading a book with characters I don’t like. I loved [*The Poppy Wars*](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/), and the main character, Lin, behaves in anti-heroic ways. I don’t need to love you to love a book, but I would have liked to know where this self-aggrandizing voice entered Natalie’s mind. ## Major Themes in *Yesteryear* #### Unveiling the Darker Side of Being a Tradwife Don’t mistake, this author was being intentional with her hyperbolical characterization. Natalie’s character is grating and self-serving. This made it much harder to respond empathetically to Natalie’s trials and difficulties, because in some places, I felt she got what she deserved. Perhaps it takes a certain level of ego to raise a platform of millions of viewers. But Natalie’s open insincerity is available to us through the gift of the author’s internal dialogue. If our inner voice were broadcast, would we be this debased? Is our criticism fueled by her willingness to pander to the visual escape we desire? Is the reader a participant in the madness when we suspend our reality as well? Also, this husband! Ugh. Don’t even get me started on the magnitude of his character flaws. Enraging. ## My Final Thoughts on Yesteryear *Yesteryear* was a weird sidetrack into psychology and a deeper look at consumerism and the culture surrounding it. The story provides a space for commentary on the effects of social media and the fabricated reality it presents to viewers, especially the pressure it places on women to “have it all.” It felt like a neon CTA for public figures to be more circumspect in their narratives and hold the face they present to the public more honestly. This narrative exposes the unspoken dangers of crafted lives, creating expectations without acknowledging the hardships and trials that accompany these shiny, happy, polished lives. ## Discomfort? Reflection? Mission accomplished. With all that being said, *Yesteryear* was a thought-provoking book, and if that was the writer’s intent, then I understand! In that sense, Caro Claire Burke does a really good job of keeping her concepts in your hands a little longer, well after the book has been put away, and to that I say kudos. [![Cracked white plate on a green patterned background, with a handwritten quote about influence and addiction; the word 'addicting' is circled in red.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Quote-683x1024.png "Yesteryear Quote › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Quote.png)Yesteryear Review Like share pin ironic right[Haven’t read it yet? Grab a copy](https://amzn.to/4ppUXcH) and tell me what you thought. You can leave me a DM [@thebookhousereads on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thebookhousereads/?hl=en). This is where I share my personal reading for the year. I’m on book 57 for 2026 so far. ## If You Enjoyed This Review If *Yesteryear* captured your attention because of its themes of identity, family expectations, and the stories we tell ourselves, you might also enjoy reading the reviews for: - *[Sweet Pea](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sweet-pea-a-bookhousereads-review/ "Sweet Pea – A BookHouseReads Review")* - *[Broken Country](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/nostalgia-loss-and-love-broken-country-book-review/ "Nostalgia, Loss and Love: Broken Country Book Review")* - *[Jade City; Green Bone Sage](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/jade-city-book-review-a-powerful-story-of-family-loyalty/)* - *[The Bone Shard Daughter](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=82258&action=edit)* ## Are you a reader like me? I’d love to connect. I love to share real books I’ve actually read and sometimes leave a video commentary on Instagram. I then agonize over it because I usually don’t get ready or do my hair for a quick video. In other words, like 200 fingers and toes, it is just me – being me! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Book Reviews, Homeschool, Read **Tags:** reading --- ### [Why Most Homeschool Plans Fail (What to Do Now)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-most-homeschool-plans-fail-what-to-do-now/) **Published:** May 22, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you’ve ever created a homeschool schedule that looked great on paper but quickly fell apart, you’ve probably wondered why homeschool plans fail so often. You’re not lacking discipline or effort—most parents are working incredibly hard to make things work. The real issue is that many homeschool plans are built on structure alone, without the foundation needed to support real family life. When you understand what’s missing, you can finally build a plan that feels sustainable, flexible, and successful. --- ## **You Started With a Plan… So Why Isn’t It Working** At the beginning, you had a plan. You chose curriculum. You set a schedule. You felt ready to do this well. But somewhere along the way… Things started slipping. The routine didn’t stick. Your child pushed back. The days felt harder than they should. And now you’re wondering: **“Why isn’t this working?”** If you’ve asked that question, you’re not alone. Most homeschool plans don’t fail because parents aren’t trying hard enough. They fail because they’re built on the wrong foundation. --- ## **The Real Reason Homeschool Plans Fall Apart** Most homeschool plans are built around: - subjects - schedules - expectations But they’re missing something essential: **A foundation that actually supports your family.** When that foundation is missing, everything feels harder than it should. You try to fix it by: - adjusting the schedule - switching curriculum - adding more structure But the problem isn’t what you’re doing. It’s where you started. --- ## **Mistake #1: Starting With Structure Instead of Connection** It’s natural to think: “If I just get the routine right, everything will fall into place.” But if your child feels: - disconnected - pressured - misunderstood No routine will fix that. Connection isn’t extra. **It’s the starting point.** Without it, even the best plans feel like a struggle. If you end your homeschooling experience without a great relationship with your child, your time was wasted. It sounds harsh, but I stand by it. As a second-generation homeschooler who survived the 90s, I have seen countless parents prioritize all the wrong things. They don’t have a crowded table at Thanksgiving. They are waiting by the phone for kids who will likely never call. Relationships are vital for building trust. A kid who trusts that you have their best interests in mind is a kid who will follow through on a task because you asked. --- ## **Mistake #2: Copying a System That Was Never Meant for You** It’s easy to look at another homeschool and think: “That’s what we should be doing.” But what works for someone else: - fits their schedule - fits their child - fits their priorities When you try to copy it, it often creates more stress—not less. Because it doesn’t fit your life. Homeschooling was our opt-out from the system that failed to meet our needs. Your homeschool is a tool to help you reach the goals you have for your family. Your goals are different from mine. They are different from any other family, and that is the point. You get to create a learning system that fits all of you and helps you find daily wins! --- [![Quote: "Your why is what keeps your homeschool steady when things feel uncertain," with a butterfly at the bottom.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Your-WHY.png "Your WHY › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Your-WHY.png)Your WHY is what keeps your homeschool steady when things feel uncertain## **Mistake #3: Skipping Your “Why”** When things get hard (and they will), your plan needs something deeper than structure to hold it together. It needs direction. Without a clear “why,” it’s easy to: - second-guess everything - change course constantly - feel like you’re always behind Your “why” isn’t just a nice idea. **It’s what keeps your homeschool steady when things feel uncertain.** Can I let you in on a little secret? I wrote my homeschool WHY by accident. There was a window in the setup section of a record-keeping app I was using. It asked for your homeschool vision. I didn’t have one. The little window sat there blinking at me, so I made one up. That little statement has saved my life on so many days when I wanted to quit. I printed it and put it in my homeschool notebook. Trust me when I say, you need a why statement. --- ## **Mistake #4: Trying to Do Too Much** This is one of the most common traps. You want to do it well—so you try to do everything. More subjects. More structure. More expectations. But more doesn’t create better outcomes. [It creates overwhelm.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?p=82210) And overwhelm leads to burnout—for you and your child. Start smaller than you think. Start with fewer planned activities and hard timelines. Give yourself flexibility and space to make shifts both big and small. You can always add on throughout the year, but there is nothing more defeating than wasting money from the outset of your homeschool experience. Give your family time to learn about HOW they learn best. --- ## **What to Do Instead: Build From the Inside Out** If you want a homeschool plan that actually works, flip the process. Instead of starting with structure… Start with what matters most. --- ### **1. Start With Connection** Before you adjust anything else, strengthen your relationship with your child. Learning flows best when trust is present. --- ### **2. Define What Success Looks Like for YOUR Family** Not someone else’s version. Ask: - What do we actually want this year to feel like? - What matters most? - What are we willing to let go of? --- ### **3. Create a Simple, Flexible Routine** Not a rigid schedule. A rhythm you can return to—even when life gets messy. --- ### **4. Build a Plan You Can Adjust** Because things will change. And that’s not failure. That’s real life. --- # **If Your Current Plan Isn’t Working, Start Here** If you’re feeling like your homeschool plan isn’t working the way you hoped… Don’t scrap everything. Reset it. 👉 **The 5-Day Homeschool Reset Plan** walks you through exactly how to: ✔ Rebuild connection ✔ Let go of comparison ✔ Clarify your direction ✔ Simplify your routine ✔ Create a plan that fits your family You can download it here: --- ## **You Don’t Need a Better Plan—You Need the Right One** Most homeschool parents don’t fail because they aren’t capable. They struggle because they were never shown how to build something that actually fits their life. That’s why I wrote: ## ***The Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year*** This isn’t a rigid system. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you: ✔ Build a homeschool around your family’s values ✔ Strengthen your relationship with your child ✔ Create a plan you can actually follow 👉 Get your copy of [The Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year](https://amzn.to/4uS2CBM) now --- ## **Final Thought** If your plan isn’t working, it doesn’t mean homeschooling isn’t right for you. It just means it’s time to build something better. And you can. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Three Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) **Published:** July 8, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Every homeschool parent hopes for a calm, connected experience—but in reality, many are left wondering why it feels so stressful instead. If you’re longing for a peaceful homeschool year, you may be surprised to learn that peace doesn’t come from having the perfect curriculum or schedule.  **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Every homeschool parent hopes for a calm, connected experience—but in reality, many are left wondering why it feels so stressful instead. If you’re wondering how to have a **peaceful homeschool year**, you may be surprised to learn that peace doesn’t come from having the perfect curriculum or schedule. It comes from building a homeschool that aligns with your family’s values, rhythms, and relationships. When you shift your focus from perfection to purpose, you can create a learning environment that feels steady, meaningful, and truly sustainable. ## **What If Homeschool Didn’t Feel So Heavy?** What if your homeschool felt… Calmer. More connected. More like something you actually *enjoyed* instead of constantly managing? Not perfect, but peaceful. Because right now, for many parents, it feels like the opposite. There’s tension. Resistance. A constant feeling of trying to catch up. And underneath it all, a quiet question: **“Why does this feel so hard?”** We have felt these same feelings of overwhelm, fear, and frustration many times over the last twenty-five years of homeschooling. First, when we started homeschooling with seven little kids around our dining room table, starting felt so hard. Then, when we were young restaurant owners, balancing the demands of a small business while trying to raise our kids on one income, balance felt so hard. I’ll never forget the lessons we learned in the season when we had seven teens in the house, whew, that was a time for a strategy! A few years ago, when I started working part-time, even after years of homeschooling and having systems in place, it was so much harder than I expected. Peace is not a guarantee, no matter how long you have homeschooled. Anyone can use a reset! --- ## **Peace Doesn’t Come From Doing Everything Right** It’s easy to believe that peace comes from: - the perfect curriculum - the perfect schedule - the perfect plan But if you’ve been homeschooling for any length of time, you already know: Even when you get those things “right”… it doesn’t always feel peaceful. Because peace in your homeschool isn’t built on perfection. **It’s built on aligning your kids’ education with your family’s ever-changing need****s.** --- ## **What a Peaceful Homeschool Actually Looks Like** A peaceful homeschool isn’t: ✔ perfectly organized ✔ always on schedule ✔ free from hard days It *is*: ✔ a home where connection comes first ✔ a rhythm that supports your family (not controls it) ✔ a parent who feels confident leading—even when things aren’t perfect Peace doesn’t mean everything is easy. It means everything is leading toward your goals. --- If we haven’t met, I’m so glad you are here! I’m Amber, a homeschooling parent who wants the best for my kids. Get ready for some real homeschool encouragement from a parent who has been through EVERY experience with our ten kids and came out the other side with our relationships intact and some pretty great educational credits, too. ## **The 3 Shifts That Change Everything** If you want a more peaceful homeschool year, these are the shifts that matter most: --- [![Butterfly on the left beside a circular logo that reads 'From Pressure to Connection' with gear icons, set on a pale background with pastel waves at the bottom.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/connection.png "connection › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/connection.png)When homeschool feels tense, the instinct is to push harder. ### **1. From Pressure → Connection** [When homeschool feels tense, the instinct is to push harder.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-most-homeschool-plans-fail-what-to-do-now/) More structure. More expectations. More corrections. But pressure doesn’t create peace. Connection does. When your child feels: - safe - supported - understood Everything else becomes easier to build. If you leave your experience of educating your kids with NO relationships, without deep connections, you have missed the point of homeschooling. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/clarity.png "clarity › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/clarity.png)Comparison creates constant tension. ### **2. From Comparison → Clarity** Comparison creates constant tension. You feel like you’re behind. Like you’re not doing enough. Like you’re missing something. But peace comes when you stop measuring your homeschool against someone else’s… And start defining what success looks like for your family. I spent years observing what others were doing before I set our own clear, well-defined goals. These goals helped to set me free from comparing myself with others. Our family does not look like yours, nor should your homeschool. --- [![Butterfly silhouette over pink and orange hills with a circular emblem reading'From Complexity to Simplicity' at center.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/simplicity.png "simplicity › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/simplicity.png)Overcomplication is one of the biggest peace-stealers in homeschool. ### **3. From Complexity → Simplicity** [Overcomplication is one of the biggest peace-stealers in homeschool.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?p=82210) Too many subjects. Too many expectations. Too many moving parts. Peace grows when you simplify. When you focus on: - what matters most - what actually works - what your child truly needs I remember my whiteboard from our first year of homeschooling. It was full, complete with hourly activities and multiple subjects for each child. I don’t think we ever stayed on schedule. It wasn’t long before I found our rhythm and the best ways to teach my little crew. The board didn’t last, but when we simplified, we found a structure that fit our lives. --- ## **Why Most Homeschool Years Don’t Feel Peaceful** It’s not because parents don’t love their kids. It’s not because they aren’t trying hard enough. It’s because they’re building their homeschool without a clear framework. So they: - react instead of plan - adjust constantly without direction - feel unsure even when they’re doing their best And that uncertainty creates stress. --- ## **Peace Comes From Having a Plan You Trust** Not a perfect plan. A *clear* one. One that: - reflects your values - [supports your family](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-wanted-a-homeschool-routine-that-works-without-burnout/) - gives you direction when things feel uncertain Because when you trust your plan… You stop second-guessing every decision. And that’s where peace begins. --- # **Start Creating a More Peaceful Homeschool Year (Today)** If you’re ready for your homeschool to feel more calm, more connected, and more manageable… You don’t need to wait for a new year. You can reset now. 👉 **The 5-Day Homeschool Reset Plan** will help you: ✔ Rebuild connection with your child ✔ Let go of comparison ✔ Simplify your daily routine ✔ Create a plan that fits your family ***You can download it here:*** --- ## **If You’re Ready for a Peaceful Homeschool Year, Not Just a Better Week** A reset is a powerful start. But if you want a homeschool year that feels peaceful *in the long term*… You need more than a quick fix. You will want a personalized framework. ## ***The Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year*** This is where everything comes together. Inside the book, I walk you through: ✔ Building connection into your homeschool from the start ✔ Creating a plan that reflects your family’s values ✔ Leading your homeschool with confidence (instead of doubt) So you’re not constantly wondering if you’re doing it right. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Six-Keys-1024x1024.png "Six-Keys › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amzn.to/4uS2CBM)If youre longing for a **peaceful homeschool year** you may be surprised to learn that peace doesnt come from having the perfect curriculum or schedule [👉 Get your own copy now!](https://amzn.to/4uS2CBM) --- ## **Final Thought** A peaceful homeschool year doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built—step by step, with intention. And you are more than capable of building it. - [ ![Promotional book-review collage: the novel Yesterday Year with a rainbow gradient cover, a quoted blurb, and author Amber J. Smith with a 4-star rating.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Review-768x1152.png "Yesteryear Review › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) | [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) [ Read More Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-768x960.png "Books Like Jade City › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) ## [9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated Loyalties](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) [ Read More 9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated LoyaltiesContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) - [ ![Blog header image reading: Title '9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer' in bold green letters over a grayscale photo of a person reading, with a white strip showing 'BLOG' and '200FINGERS & TOES' on green background.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Quick-Ways-to-Get-Your-Kid-to-Want-to-Read-This-Summer-768x768.png "9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) ## [9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) [ Read More 9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This SummerContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) - [ ![Blog header image of a mother reading with her child under a blanket; headline reads '25 books that will teach kids courage, kindness, & compassion'.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Post-6-768x768.png "Courage Kindness and Compassion › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) ## [25 Books that will Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & Compassion](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) [ Read More 25 Books that will Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & CompassionContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Six-Keys-Funnel-Post-3-768x768.png "Six Keys Funnel Post 3 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-wanted-a-homeschool-routine-that-works-without-burnout/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) ## [I Wanted a Homeschool Routine That Works (Without Burnout)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-wanted-a-homeschool-routine-that-works-without-burnout/) [ Read More I Wanted a Homeschool Routine That Works (Without Burnout)Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-wanted-a-homeschool-routine-that-works-without-burnout/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Six-Keys-Funnel-Post-2-768x768.png "Six Keys Funnel Post 2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-most-homeschool-plans-fail-what-to-do-now/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) ## [Why Most Homeschool Plans Fail (What to Do Now)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-most-homeschool-plans-fail-what-to-do-now/) [ Read More Why Most Homeschool Plans Fail (What to Do Now)Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-most-homeschool-plans-fail-what-to-do-now/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, Homeschooling, parenting, tips --- ### [9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) **Published:** June 18, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Reading is the number one way to help your kids retain what they learned over the school year. But, how do you get your kid to want to read? We have raised a house full of readers, and it was not an accident. We applied these purposeful strategies and created an environment that helped us reach our goal of raising kids who want to read for themselves. There are nine ways you can help get your kids reading, too. ## Summer is a long break if you stop to consider it. What if you took three months off from work every year? Not only would you not want to go back, but you might never catch up on everything that had happened while you were out. [Summer is a perfect opportunity](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/summer-blog-Elective.jpg "summer blog Elective") to hone skills, work to catch up, or take advantage of the spare time to take creative courses your kids might not have time for. Your child’s brain is in work mode all school year. Summer is no time to let their learning mode go dormant. Reading is how we keep our kids learning over the summer months and avoid summer slide. ## What is Summer Slide? Testing shows that [kids lose up to 30% ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/avoid-summer-slide-with-reading-books/)of their learning over the summer months. Textbooks are filled with review material each year to help get everyone caught up. Kids without access to reading books lose up to 10% of their learning over the summer. ## Keys to Get Your Kid Reading This Summer We have all made our kids read for 30 minutes before they get to watch TV or play video games. Obligatory reading to gain privileges is a starting point, but how can we get closer to the goal of raising readers? [![Collage poster promoting summer reading for kids, with photos of reading scenes, a clock, gift boxes, and handwritten tips about making reading fun.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Summer-reading-683x1024.jpg "Encourage Summer reading › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Summer-reading.jpg)Getting kids to read this summer is a task parents can actually help make easierHere are a few ways we helped our kids make reading a daily habit in summer. ### 1. Make Tech Boring We didn’t have streaming at home until the kids were all older. We rotated through a stack of DVD’s. Our shows were low action, educational, or well-loved. The weekly flurry of new shows on Netflix, Hulu, and Peacock was not a factor. Without an influx of new input, movies became a place to settle in rather than being charged up. Movie nights were saved for family time. In this way, we created times to look forward to as a family. ### 2. Parental Control for as Long as Possible Watching a DVD was something we allowed in the afternoon each day before quiet time or when I was prepping dinner. When the kids were younger, using a DVD was a great choice because it had a clear, final ending. Of course, the kids have watched all the behind-the-scenes features and played every interactive game offered, but at some point, these lost their appeal, and the TV got shut off. When we did get streaming in our house, I quickly discovered that these services are designed to keep you watching. With streaming networks, each show leaps into the next without a pause or break. YouTube scrolls for an eternity. I wish I could install a quarter slot on our TV so it would shut down on its own. Adding these services required a ton of policing and was way less fun for me. Fortunately, we already had well-established boundaries for TV time. We used an internet filter (at the time, Circle) with a timer that would shut off the internet. The filter made the rules easy to keep. The point is, keep control of the remote for as long as possible. This gives you kids time to build reading habits and gain an appreciation for boredom, creativity, and quiet. ### 3. De-Centralize Entertainment Placement of your TV is powerful. Back in the formative years, we had ONE small, sad TV. It was placed in the smaller sitting room. A room we didn’t use much. I didn’t want the TV to be central in our spaces. Placement is meaningful. When we finished the basement, we set up a large TV and a huge couch for family movie nights. We made room for the Wii for game nights. The focus was clear; this was a family space. TV was for connecting. Of course, the kids became teens. Some of the older teens got jobs and purchased TV’s for their rooms for gaming, but this was long after healthy habits were established. Going backward is harder, so take advantage of the lessons we learned while you kids are still younger. ### 4. Creating Plush, Appealing Reading Environments Make the reading spaces in your house the most appealing spaces to sit and enjoy. Add pillows, snuggly blankets, and great lighting. Give shelving a priority and add the kids’ favorites for easy admiring. Pile in together to read often. Reading together creates a warm association for your kids. Make reading their favorite activity while they are small. Give the kids great reading nooks in their rooms, and prioritize creating reading spaces in outdoor areas like the backyard or front porch. ### 5. Establishing a Quiet Time as a Routine If there is one thing I learned from YMCA camp as a kid, it is to value FOB time. **Flat On Back** time is a habit the whole world could benefit from. Every camper was required to hit their cots midday and rest. Most of us napped, some read, and the counselors scheduled clandestine meetings in the woods. It was good for all of us. As a homeschool mom, my number one priority was getting all the kids down for a nap at the same time. As the kids got old enough to skip sleeping, this became their FOB time. Everyone on their own mattress, silence in the house for an hour. It was bliss and a habit we maintained throughout their homeschool lives. We need to learn to appreciate silence, cultivate quiet, and surrender to rest. These must be practiced. The only activity allowed during FOB time is reading. We had different hours as a homeschool family full of restaurant kids. We stayed up late to see Dad and slept in so Mom could work on the computer before the school day started. This meant that sleeping time was later – bedtime was not. Everyone still had to go to bed at 8 or 9, but I didn’t care what you did as long as I didn’t hear you. The kids thought they were SO sneaky to read late into the night, but I knew what I was doing. I was winning at the reading game. (let them think they are being sneaky, but keep them well supplied in books they love, too!) ### 6. Getting the Older Kids Reading Connecting with a topic that they are interested in right now. Look for unconventional reading books. Cookbooks, instruction manuals, How-To guides, and nonfiction books are great sources for kids to explore on their own. ### 7. Strewing a pile of books on a specific topic. When the kids were younger, I would go to the library and pick up a pile of books on a topic we were interested in. This is great for subjects we didn’t have time to dig into during the school year. One season, it was ships. I bought a ship puzzle and a pirate coloring book. We had a book basket filled with books related to the topic and let the kids browse them over the few weeks. Sometimes, it would be a pile of books about famous artists or sports biographies. We matched the books to the kids’ interests and activities to reach them at peak interest to encourage reading. ### 8. Make Books a Favorite Gift and Reward Make giving books a regular habit. Every November, each of our older kids looked forward to the new release from their favorite authors. The holidays are a prime time for publishers to get out new books, and we would anticipate what the new release would be. We would usually have a book that we planned to [read aloud as a family.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Resilience-Post-5-Pin-2.jpg "Best Read-Aloud Books for Families") I loved building a small library for each of my kids. They have loved taking their books to their adult homes and adding to their collections. Classics are a great gift to add to Christmas traditions, or a favorite author in hardcover for a birthday. Even when our budgets were tight, I would hit the half-price bookstore for off-season bargains so books could be part of our gifting traditions. ### 9. Pay for Reading by the book Look, the truth is, your kids are going to spend the whole summer asking you for money. Whether for activities or for food, their hands will be out all summer long. Fund their activities and cravings by paying them to read and report to you. Biographies, leadership, and self-help books are great choices for older teens. They are going to think they are winning by getting paid to read, but you got them to read all summer and hand over their OWN cash, so who is so smart? [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/12DD859B-2801-47E3-B9FC-EA655357C704-1024x1024.jpg "Raising Readers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/12DD859B-2801-47E3-B9FC-EA655357C704.jpg)You can buy all the books but if you dont establish a reading habit it is money wasted## Model the Reading Habit These habits are instrumental in building a block for raising readers. The truth is, readers raise readers. Make sure your kids catch you reading. Make time for reading in your life. Read to the kids at bedtime, nap time, on vacation, and when they ask you to. The only way your kids will make reading a priority in their lives is if they see it as a value to you first. Make the library your best friend. We celebrated each child’s learning to read as though it were their birthday. We headed to the library and got them their own library card. They had a book basket in their room for their own books. We celebrated reading for the amazing gift it is. As parents, we understand that the number of books a child reads is linked to future success in their education. Reading is an investment that costs us so little and offers such a vast and bountiful return. I hope these tips help you on the way to raising your own readers. ## Looking for reading suggestions for the whole family? - [ ![Promotional book-review collage: the novel Yesterday Year with a rainbow gradient cover, a quoted blurb, and author Amber J. Smith with a 4-star rating.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Review-768x1152.png "Yesteryear Review › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) | [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) [ Read More Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Funny-Sci-Fi-768x768.png "Funny Sci-fi Books › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [Funny Sci-Fi Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud (Even If You Don’t Read Sci-Fi)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/) [ Read More Funny Sci-Fi Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud (Even If You Don’t Read Sci-Fi)Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/) - [ ![Quote graphic about expectations shaping identity, author Amber J. Smith review with 4-star rating and book cover image on the right.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Bone-Shard-Daughter-768x960.png "The Bone Shard Daughter › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-bone-shard-daughter-review-a-stunning-fantasy-about-identity-magic-and-family/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [The Bone Shard Daughter Review: The Search for Identity, Magic, & Family](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-bone-shard-daughter-review-a-stunning-fantasy-about-identity-magic-and-family/) [ Read More The Bone Shard Daughter Review: The Search for Identity, Magic, & FamilyContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-bone-shard-daughter-review-a-stunning-fantasy-about-identity-magic-and-family/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The-Vegetarian-768x960.png "The Vegetarian › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-vegetarian-one-womans-self-imposed-dissapearance-a-book-review/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) ## [The Vegetarian: One Woman’s Self-imposed Dissapearance: A Book Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-vegetarian-one-womans-self-imposed-dissapearance-a-book-review/) [ Read More The Vegetarian: One Woman’s Self-imposed Dissapearance: A Book ReviewContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-vegetarian-one-womans-self-imposed-dissapearance-a-book-review/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HomeschoolRoom-Cover-768x768.png "HomeschoolRoom Cover › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) | [Parenting](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/parenting/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [9 Readaloud Books that will Help Kids Learn From Failure](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/) [ Read More 9 Readaloud Books that will Help Kids Learn From FailureContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/second-World-768x1152.jpg "second World › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) ## [Why The Second World is the Funniest Sci-Fi I’ve Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/) [ Read More Why The Second World is the Funniest Sci-Fi I’ve ReadContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [25 Books that will Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & Compassion](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) **Published:** June 16, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Children learn far more from the stories they love than we often realize. While academics are important, most parents hope their children grow into adults who are kind, courageous, compassionate, and willing to stand up for what is right. One of the most powerful ways to nurture those qualities is through great books. These **25 books that teach kids courage, kindness, & compassion** give children the opportunity to walk alongside unforgettable characters, experience life through someone else’s eyes, and develop empathy in ways that lectures rarely accomplish. Whether you’re looking for books that teach kindness to elementary students, stories that build courage in middle school readers, or thought-provoking novels for teens, these recommendations will help you use the power of story to build character, strengthen family literacy, and raise thoughtful young people who care deeply about others. ## Why Books Are One of the Best Tools for Teaching Character > “Children learn empathy when they experience the world through someone else’s story.” > > – 200fingersandtoes.com ### Books Demonstrate Qualities We Hope to See in Our Children As parents, we spend a lot of time thinking about academics. We help our children learn to read, master multiplication facts, write essays, and prepare for whatever opportunities the future may hold. But if we’re honest, the qualities we hope define our children have very little to do with a transcript. We hope they become kind. We hope they show courage when standing up for what is right. We hope they notice when someone feels left out. We hope they learn to persevere through difficulties without losing compassion for others. In other words, we hope they [become people of character.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/more-confident-kids-with-middle-school-books-about-resilience/ "More Confident Kids with Middle School Books About Resilience") One of the most powerful ways to nurture those qualities is through stories. The best books that teach kids courage, kindness, and compassion allow children to step into someone else’s shoes, wrestle with difficult choices, and experience the consequences of compassion, bravery, and integrity before they ever face those situations themselves. Stories help children understand not only what is right, but why it matters. --- > “The books our children read today help shape the adults they become tomorrow.” > > 200fingersandtoes.com ## Why Stories Shape Character So Powerfully Children learn values best through experience. Stories create those experiences. When children see characters: - choose kindness when it would be easier to walk away - act courageously despite fear - stand up for someone who is hurting - learn empathy through mistakes - persevere through challenges They begin to understand what these qualities look like in real life. Books provide a safe place to explore difficult situations and complicated emotions. Through reading, children learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes. And empathy is often where compassion begins. --- ## Books That Teach Courage, Kindness, & Compassion by Age [![Collage poster featuring multiple book covers with a white card center reading 'Courage Kindness & Compassion for ages 8–11' and 'Stories That Teach' above it.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Compassion-Kindness-8-11-683x1024.jpg "Compassion Kindness 8-11 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Compassion-Kindness-8-11.jpg)Elementary is a great age to learn about how other people live #### **books that teach empathy to children – Ages 8–11** ### The 100 Dresses by Eleanor Estes A timeless story [about bullying, regret, and the courage](https://amzn.to/4aj78S1) to stand up for others. This book helps children understand the impact of small acts of kindness—and small failures to act. Spring for the hardcover, because this is a forever book. ### El Deafo by Cece Bell A humorous and [heartfelt graphic novel](https://amzn.to/4xjC7aI) that helps readers understand differences, friendship, and empathy through the author’s experience growing up deaf. (Available on [FREE in Comixology Unlimited](https://amzn.to/3Sa949b)) ### Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt A beautiful story about[ learning differences, self-worth](https://amzn.to/4gbM3wu), and discovering hidden strengths. You can also [purchase a study guide](https://amzn.to/3PQssaJ) by [Super Summary](https://www.supersummary.com/about-us/). I love their site for helping me get the most out of the books we read in our homeschool. ### Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly A story of friendship, courage, and learning that [every person matters](https://amzn.to/4dVmtdZ). ### Rules by Cynthia Lord An unforgettable story about family, [disability, acceptance,](https://amzn.to/4ocZLRT) and seeing people for who they truly are. ### Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan A deeply moving story about [grief, belonging, resilience,](https://amzn.to/3Q7IfSn) and finding community in unexpected places. --- [![Promo image for a free book list about compassion and courage; collage of four book covers (Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Esperanza Rising, Posted, We Are Not Broken) with site URL at bottom.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Compassion-and-Courage-11-14-683x1024.jpg "Compassion and Courage 11-14 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Compassion-and-Courage-11-14.jpg)Reading stories can help children activate kindness and compassion#### **Middle School Books about Compassion and Courage – Ages 11–14** ### Wonder by R.J. Palacio Perhaps one of the most powerful modern books about empathy and kindness ever written. Readers learn how [small acts of compassion can profoundly change someone’s life.](https://amzn.to/4oetZ7a) ### Ugly by Robert Hoge An inspiring memoir about growing up with facial differences and [learning to embrace who you are](https://amzn.to/4et3do7). ### Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñon Ryan This book opens the door for meaningful conversations about [gratitude, identity, and compassion](https://amzn.to/4uwj3n2). ### Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson A touching story about friendship, gratitude, and [honoring someone who made a difference.](https://amzn.to/4e3IZA0) ### Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk A powerful story about [courage, truth, and standing up for what is right](https://amzn.to/4dVmrCT), even when it comes at a personal cost. ### Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lai A moving novel-in-verse [about immigration, identity, resilience](https://amzn.to/4x9uCTr), and belonging. ### Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli A memorable story about prejudice, friendship, and [crossing social divides](https://amzn.to/4azqfax). ### Posted by John David Anderson A timely look at communication, bullying, and [how words impact](https://amzn.to/4vssUuK) relationships. ### We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson A thought-provoking story that explores [friendship, race, and understanding people whose experiences differ from our own.](https://amzn.to/43h27Wn) A great read for understanding more about children raised by other family members. George M. Johnson captures the unique experience of growing up as a Black boy in America through rich family stories that explore themes of vulnerability, sacrifice, and culture. --- [![Collage of teen and children's book covers with a speech bubble about courage, kindness, and compassion.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/kindness-High-School-683x1024.jpg "Teaching Kindness in High School › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/kindness-High-School.jpg)Stories are powerful tools for communicating with teens#### Books for older teens – Ages 14+ ### The Giver by Lois Lowry A powerful exploration of truth, responsibility, and the courage to think independently. ### The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas A compelling story about [justice, courage, identity](https://amzn.to/43gwIDv), and using your voice when it matters most. ### The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky A thoughtful exploration of friendship, [belonging, mental health, and compassion](https://amzn.to/3PQec1I). ### The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne A moving story that [challenges readers to consider prejudice](https://amzn.to/4xfHLKQ), humanity, and the consequences of hatred. ### The Midnight Library by Matt Haig A thought-provoking [novel about regret, choices, hope](https://amzn.to/4axcdGo), and the value of a life well lived. Themes of suicide ### Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens by Sheri Van Dijk [A practical resource that helps teens](https://amzn.to/3PZyOVf) develop emotional resilience, self-awareness, and healthy coping skills. --- [![Collage of kids' books with banners reading Teaching Kids, Courage, Compassion, and Kindness; promotes a list of children’s books.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kindness-683x1024.jpg "Kindness › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amzn.to/4xg7Qt0)[Pin for later](https://amzn.to/4xg7Qt0)## Questions to Ask After Reading ### How to Reinforce These Lessons Through Conversation Stories become even more powerful when we talk about them. After reading, try asking: - What choice did the character make? - Was that choice easy or difficult? - What would you have done? - How did their actions affect others? - What did this story teach you about kindness? - What did this story teach you about courage? These conversations help children connect what happens in books to what happens in real life. --- ## Build a Library That Strengthens Character If you’re looking for more stories that help children grow in courage, compassion, resilience, and empathy, I’ve gathered many of my favorites into a FREE Resilient Readers Book List. [👉 Download the FREE Resilient Readers Book List](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Middle-school-book-list-819x1024.jpg "Resilient Readers book list › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Middle-school-book-list.jpg)Download the list and never guess when you are at the book storeInside, you’ll find recommendations for elementary, middle school, high school, and family read-alouds that help children develop both strong minds and strong character. --- > “Character isn’t built in a single moment. It’s built one story at a time.” > > 200fingersandtoes.com ## Frequently Asked Questions About Character-Building Books ### What are the best books that teach kindness and empathy? Books like *Wonder*, *The 100 Dresses*, *El Deafo*, and *A Long Walk to Water* help children understand others’ perspectives and develop empathy through story. ### How do books help children develop compassion? Stories allow children to experience situations through another person’s eyes. Reading about characters facing challenges helps children understand emotions, relationships, and the importance of kindness. ### At what age should children start reading books about character? Children can begin learning about courage, kindness, and compassion through picture books in the early elementary years. As they grow, chapter books and young adult novels offer deeper opportunities to explore these themes. ### Why is reading important for character development? Reading helps children develop empathy, resilience, and emotional intelligence by allowing them to experience different perspectives and situations through story. [![Collage of colorful book covers arranged in a grid on a teal background, many titles visible about courage, kindness, and compassion.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/25-Kindness-Books-683x1024.jpg "25 Kindness Books › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/25-Kindness-Books.jpg)The Book List for every age## How to Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & Compassion Character is rarely built in dramatic moments. More often, it grows quietly. One conversation. One decision. One story at a time. The books our children read today help shape the adults they will become tomorrow. That is why great stories matter. And that is why helping children fall in love with meaningful books may be one of the most important investments we make as parents. ## Looking for More Books That Build Character? I’ve created a FREE Resilient Readers Book List filled with stories that help children develop perseverance, courage, compassion, and resilience. The list is full of the best books that teach kindness and empathy at every age. Whether you’re homeschooling, building a family read-aloud tradition, or simply looking for meaningful books your children will love, this list is a great place to start. [👉 Download the FREE Resilient Readers Book List](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) ## Keep It Up! Click the Titles for More Related Reading ### [📚 Books That Teach Kids Resilience](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/ "Best Books That Teach Kids Resilience (Why Children Need Stories About Struggle)") Perfect follow-up for readers interested in helping children persevere through challenges. --- ### 📚 P[icture Books That Teach Kids Perseverance](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/6-great-picture-books-that-teach-perseverance-to-kids/ "6 Great Picture Books That Teach Perseverance to Kids") A great resource for parents of younger children learning how to handle frustration and failure. --- ### [📚 Books That Help Kids Learn From Failure](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/ "9 Readaloud Books that will Help Kids Learn From Failure") Explores stories that teach children that mistakes are part of growth. --- ### 📚 [High School Books That Teach Resilience and Strength](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/five-high-school-books-that-teach-resilience-and-strength-now/ "Five High School Books That Teach Resilience and Strength Now") Ideal for parents of teen readers looking for meaningful literature. --- ### [📚 Read-Aloud Books That Help Families Grow Strong Together](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/best-read-aloud-books-for-families-to-grow-strong-together/ "Best Read-Aloud Books for Families to Grow Strong Together") A collection of family favorites that create connection and meaningful conversations. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated Loyalties](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) **Published:** June 21, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Sometimes you finish a book and immediately start searching for another one that gives you the same feeling. That’s exactly how I felt after reading *Jade City* by Fonda Lee. It wasn’t just the jade-powered magic system or the clan warfare that kept me turning pages—it was the family dynamics, the loyalty, the complicated sibling relationships, and the characters who were constantly trying to figure out who they were meant to become. If you’re searching for more books like *Jade City*, you’re probably looking for stories filled with power struggles, family expectations, rich worldbuilding, and characters who feel incredibly real. These fantasy books deliver all of that and more. ## If you loved Jade City, you’re probably not just looking for fantasy. You’re looking for something specific. Something with: - strong family dynamics - complicated loyalty - power struggles that feel personal - and characters who don’t always get it right I was sucked into the story because Jade City isn’t just about jade or clans or power. It’s about people trying to live up to expectations… and sometimes failing before they figure out who they really are. So if you’re wondering what to read next, these are the best books like Jade City. These books are winners because they carry the same weight, energy, and emotional pull. ## What books are like Jade City? Books like Jade City often feature family-driven conflict, political tension, and character growth within a richly built world. Popular recommendations include The Poppy War, Six of Crows, and The Lies of Locke Lamora. ## Books Like Jade City (Quick List) - The Poppy War - Six of Crows - The Lies of Locke Lamora - The Fifth Season - Black Sun - The Bone Shard Daughter - The City of Brass - The Sword of Kaigen - Red Rising ## Search for Identity, Family Conflict, Found Family, and a Cause to Fight for All Right Here ### 1. The Poppy War This one is intense. It explores power, identity, and the cost of survival in a way that feels raw and unfiltered. Much like Jade City, it doesn’t shy away from difficult choices or the consequences that follow. 👉 Start here if you want darker themes + high emotional stakes --- ### 2. Six of Crows A group of characters brought together by circumstance… each carrying their own past. The relationships here are what make the story shine—loyalty, trust, and the slow building of something that feels like family. 👉 Start here if you love ensemble casts + found family --- ### 3. The Lies of Locke Lamora This one leans into crime, loyalty, and clever strategy. It has that same sense of navigating a dangerous world where alliances matter—and betrayal is never far behind. 👉 Start here if you love wit + high-stakes plotting --- ### 4. The Fifth Season This is powerful, layered, and deeply character-driven. It explores identity, survival, and what it means to belong in a world that doesn’t always make space for you. 👉 Start here if you want depth + unique storytelling --- ### 5. Black Sun This one builds tension through multiple perspectives, weaving together stories of power, prophecy, and identity. Like Jade City, it’s about how people navigate the roles they’re placed in. 👉 Start here if you enjoy layered storytelling --- ### 6. The Bone Shard Daughter This story combines political intrigue with family dynamics in a way that feels very familiar to Jade City readers. It’s about power—but also about understanding where you come from. 👉 Start here if you like family legacy + mystery --- ### 7. The City of Brass Rich world-building and strong character development drive this story. It explores identity, belonging, and the complexity of navigating different worlds—both literally and figuratively. 👉 Start here if you want immersive world-building + culture --- ### 8. The Sword of Kaigen This one is emotional. Deeply rooted in family, expectation, and identity—it carries that same weight of responsibility and personal growth that makes Jade City so compelling. 👉 Start here if you want emotional impact + family focus --- ## 9. Red Rising While more sci-fi, it carries that same intensity and struggle for power. It’s about proving yourself, rising through a system, and challenging everything you’ve been taught. 👉 Start here if you want action + underdog energy --- [![Three fantasy novels fanned on a brown couch, with the center green Jade City cover featuring geometric circuitry and silhouetted figures.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_9744-1024x1024.jpeg "Jade City › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_9744-scaled.jpeg)Character driven fiction with strong family ties that will keep you reading## Why Readers Love Books Like Jade City Because they’re not just about power. They’re about: - family expectations - identity - loyalty and the cost of stepping into who you’re meant to be And those are the kinds of stories that stay with you. ## FAQ: Books Like Jade City ### What should I read after Jade City? The Poppy War is one of the most recommended follow-ups. ### Are there fantasy books like Jade City with strong family themes? Yes—The Sword of Kaigen and The Bone Shard Daughter both explore family dynamics deeply. ### What fantasy books are character-driven like Jade City? The Fifth Season and Six of Crows are great options. ## Final Thoughts If Jade City worked for you, it’s probably because the tension, the family dynamics, and the pressure to create success for each character felt real. Not simple. Not clean. But real. And these books? They carry that same kind of weight. **🔗 Keep Reading** [👉 Jade City Book Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/jade-city-book-review-a-powerful-story-of-family-loyalty/ "Jade City Book Review: A Powerful Story of Family & Loyalty") [👉 Reader Guide for Teens – Jade City](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-a-jade-city-reader-guide-help-you-know-your-teen-better/ "How Can a Jade City Reader Guide Help You Know Your Teen Better?") Follow Along for Upcoming articles…[](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/jade-city-book-review-a-powerful-story-of-family-loyalty/ "Jade City Book Review: A Powerful Story of Family & Loyalty") 👉 Character-Driven Sci-Fi Books 👉 Books Like The Martian ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Funny Sci-Fi Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud (Even If You Don’t Read Sci-Fi)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/) **Published:** June 5, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My reading list has been improvement-oriented, meaning I haven’t had a good laugh in quite some time. This is why we need a funny sci-fi book right now. Trust me! The world is stressful. Reading about the planet getting blown up, attacked by aliens, or run by robots can change your perspective. Is gridlock really all that bad? ## Isn’t Sci-fi, like Sciency and Technical? Do you consider yourself a purposeful reader? My reading tastes usually fall into several veins: fiction with cultural struggles, self-help, business, personal development, and historical fiction. Really, I am so much fun to be around, but I tend to like reading books that feel like mental work. You need this article because I forgot how good it feels to read for fun! The last month of reading funny sci-fi books has been a welcome respite from heavy thinking and implementation. Some sci-fi can be deeply technical, full of science knowledge, and yet feel authentic, captivating, and engaging. Everyone is loving Hail Mary right now. It is full of science facts, lovable characters, and humor. When I read *[The Second World](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/ "Why The Second World is the Funniest Sci-Fi I’ve Read")*, I was reminded of how much I love reading funny sci-fi books. The last time I laughed out loud while reading a book was when I read *The Martian* by Andy Weir. Another hilarious sci-fi. If you have only seen the movie, you need to read the book. I don’t think the movie captured half the humor the book delivered. This happy feeling sent me into a three-month hiatus during which I read nothing but sci-fi. I found so many great new authors and books that made me laugh, touched my heart, and refreshed my soul. It felt so good to have a complete genre change. Sci-fi was the first genre of books that got me reading as a teen, and I am so glad I found it again. ## Are you still hesitant about reading sci-fi? Sci-fi doesn’t have to be serious. It doesn’t have to be dense, complicated, or filled with words you feel like you need a science degree to understand. Sometimes… it’s just *fun*. Sometimes it’s the kind of book that makes you[ laugh out loud in the grocery store](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/ "Why The Second World is the Funniest Sci-Fi I’ve Read") while people slowly back away from you (yes, speaking from experience). If you’re looking for **funny sci-fi books** that are easy to read, wildly entertaining, and still surprisingly meaningful, these are the ones I’d hand you first. --- ## **What are the funniest sci-fi books to read?** The funniest sci-fi books combine humor, strong characters, and imaginative settings without overwhelming the reader with technical detail. Popular funny sci-fi books include The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Martian, and *The Second World* by Jake Korell. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/email-1024x576.jpg "The Martian is such a great read for anyone. › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/email.jpg)Sci fi reading for fun## **Best Funny Sci-Fi Books (Quick List)** - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - The Martian - Good Omens - Ready Player One - The Second World - Redshirts - Automatic Noodle (Kindle Unlimited) --- *Click [HERE](https://amzn.to/4x5BNfg) for my Amazon Media Lists for quick access to all the books in my articles. I love my indie bookstores and shop there whenever I can, so shop local when you can, too. If you like these articles, I earn a tiny commission from sales like these, which encourages me to keep writing new ones.* --- ### **1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy** This is *the* classic when it comes to funny sci-fi books. It’s ridiculous in the best possible way—full of dry humor, absurd situations, and lines you’ll want to quote forever. 👉 If you think sci-fi is too serious… start here. --- ### **2. The Martian** Yes, it’s about being stranded on Mars. But it’s also one of the funniest survival stories you’ll ever read. The humor comes from the main character’s voice—sarcastic, resilient, and somehow still cracking jokes while trying to stay alive. 👉 Proof that even high-stakes sci-fi can be hilarious. --- ### **3. Good Omens** This one leans into fantasy *and* sci-fi—but the humor alone earns it a spot here. It’s quirky, clever, and full of characters that feel just a little too human for an end-of-the-world scenario. 👉 If you like witty humor and unexpected friendships, this one shines. --- ### **4. Ready Player One** This book feels like stepping into a game—and having a lot of fun while doing it. Between the nostalgia and fast pacing, there are plenty of moments that feel light, playful, and entertaining. 👉 A great option if you want **fun sci-fi without heavy commitment**. --- ### **5. The Second World** This one caught me completely off guard. I expected sci-fi. I did *not* expect to be laughing out loud in public. Flip Buchanan’s story—second child, second-best, trying to finally prove himself—unfolds in the most chaotic, hilarious way possible. And somehow, it still manages to be about friendship, identity, and growing up. 👉 If you love: - coming-of-age stories - ridiculous humor - characters that feel real This one is a must-read. (Read my full review here → *[The Second World Book Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/ "Why The Second World is the Funniest Sci-Fi I’ve Read")*) --- ### **6. Redshirts** This is sci-fi humor with a twist. It plays on classic sci-fi tropes in a way that’s clever, self-aware, and honestly intuitively funny. 👉 Perfect if you already know a little sci-fi and want something that pokes fun at it. --- ### **7. The Murderbot Diaries** Yes, it’s about a security robot designed to protect humans. But it’s also one of the funniest and most relatable stories about wanting to avoid people that you’ll ever read. Murderbot would rather be left alone to watch its favorite shows than deal with human emotions, but somehow, it keeps getting pulled into situations where it has to save the very people it’s trying to avoid. 👉 *Proof that even an antisocial security robot can become an unforgettable hero.* --- [![Funny Sci-fi books for audio listeners](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_2564-768x1024.jpeg "IMG_2564 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_2564-scaled.jpeg)Road trips are better with funny sci fi books to listen to### **8. Dungeon Crawler Carl** Yes, it’s about surviving an alien-run dungeon that has been turned into the most ridiculous reality show in the universe. But it’s also one of the funniest, most creative, and unexpected sci-fi adventures I’ve listened to. [The Audible Exclusive](https://amzn.to/4nWAxHc) is 100% worth the subscription for this production. I used my credit to listen to this on a trip with my husband. At 9 hours of listening time, it is perfect for a Midwest road trip. Carl and his cat, Princess Donut, navigate impossible challenges, absurd enemies, and nonstop chaos while somehow building friendships and finding reasons to keep going. Fair warning – this series is a little more crass than many of the books on this list, with stronger language and more mature humor. 👉 *Start here if you want laugh-out-loud action, nonstop adventure, and don’t mind a little rough-around-the-edges humor.* ### **9. Automatic Noodle** Yes, it’s about [a noodle shop run by robots.](https://amzn.to/49AMBbq) But it’s also a surprisingly warm and funny story about friendship, community, and finding your place in a world that doesn’t always know what to do with people who are different. Martha Wells called it the story she didn’t know she needed right now. When a group of former service robots comes together to open a restaurant, they discover that building a business (and a family) is a lot more complicated than making noodles. Along the way, they navigate questions of freedom, purpose, and what it means to create a life for yourself. 👉 *Proof that some of the best sci-fi stories aren’t about saving the world, they’re about building a community worth living in.* --- ## **The Go-To List of Best Funny Sci-Fi Books Authors** - Douglas Adams – The Founding Father of Sci-fi Humor - John Scalzi – Wide range of books to choose from - Martha Wells – Deep Sci-fi feels with great story lines - Andy Weir – Characters you will love - Matt Dinniman – Giving 90’s reality TV game show energy! --- ## **Why Funny Sci-Fi Books Are Perfect for Beginners** If you’re new to the genre, humor makes everything easier. Funny sci-fi books: - feel more approachable - keep you engaged - balance complex ideas with entertainment And most importantly, they remind you that reading should be *enjoyable*. --- ## **FAQ: Funny Sci-Fi Books** ### **What is the funniest sci-fi book to start with?** The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is widely considered one of the funniest sci-fi books ever written. The series contains plenty of books to keep you reading. Goodness, Douglas Adams takes up seven of the top ten spots of the Goodreads [Best Comedic Fiction Books for Sci-Fi](https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/569.Best_Comedic_Science_Ficttion_Books?page=1). ### **Are funny sci-fi books good for beginners?** Yes—funny sci-fi books are often easier to read because they focus on character and humor rather than heavy science. ### **What funny sci-fi books are like The Martian?** Books like *The Second World* and Project Hail Mary combine humor with engaging storytelling. --- ## **Final Thoughts** If you’ve been hesitant to try sci-fi, this is your way in. Start with something that makes you laugh. Because once you realize sci-fi can be this entertaining… You might just find yourself reaching for more. --- ## **Next Read** If you’re new to the genre, don’t miss this: [👉 **Best Beginner Sci-Fi Books: Where to Start**](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/beginner-sci-fi/ "Beginner Sci-fi") [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Orange-Bold-Blog-LinkedIn-Post-1024x1024.png "Orange Bold Blog LinkedIn Post › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Orange-Bold-Blog-LinkedIn-Post.png)Grab the books to get you into sci fi right now ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Book Reviews, Read --- ### [The Bone Shard Daughter Review: The Search for Identity, Magic, & Family](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-bone-shard-daughter-review-a-stunning-fantasy-about-identity-magic-and-family/) **Published:** June 11, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* How much of who we become is shaped by the expectations of others? That question sits at the heart of *The Bone Shard Daughter* by Andrea Stewart, a captivating Eastern-inspired fantasy novel filled with political intrigue, family conflict, and one of the most unique magic systems I’ve encountered in recent fantasy. In this *The Bone Shard Daughter* review, I’ll share why this character-driven fantasy stood out to me, how its themes of identity and self-discovery resonated deeply, and why readers who love books like *Jade City* and *The Sword of Kaigen* should absolutely add this series to their reading list. I love a good book recommendation. So, when my daughter recommended [*The Bone Shard Daughter* by Andrea Stewart](https://amzn.to/4o9dx7W), I didn’t need much convincing. > Sometimes the greatest discoveries aren’t about the world around us, > they’re about ourselves. > > – 200fingersandtoes I have always been drawn to [stories inspired by Eastern cultures](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/jade-city-book-review-a-powerful-story-of-family-loyalty/ "Jade City Book Review: A Powerful Story of Family & Loyalty"), especially those that combine rich worldbuilding, family dynamics, and unique magic systems. Add political intrigue and a cast of compelling characters, and I’m usually all in. Thankfully, *The Bone Shard Daughter* delivered on all of those fronts. ## What Is The Bone Shard Daughter About? At its outset, The Bone Shard Daughter is the story of Lin, the Emperor’s daughter, and her relentless pursuit of something she has never truly received: her father’s approval. Lin lives within an empire powered by bone shard magic, a mysterious and powerful system that animates constructs and creatures using magic harvested from the empire’s people. As she secretly trains in this dangerous art, she competes against a rival heir for the chance to become her father’s successor. But Lin’s journey is about much more than earning a position. It’s about discovering who she really is. Alongside Lin’s story is Jovis, a wandering smuggler and trader who is desperately searching for his missing wife. What begins as a personal mission gradually grows into something much larger as Jovis finds himself becoming a reluctant hero to people who need him far more than he ever expected. Their stories eventually intersect, creating one of the most enjoyable partnerships in the novel. ## Themes of Identity and Self-Discovery One of the strongest themes throughout The Bone Shard Daughter is self-discovery. Both Lin and Jovis begin the story with firm ideas about who they are. Lin believes her worth is tied to earning her father’s acceptance. Jovis sees himself as a husband on a mission, searching for the woman he loves. But as the story unfolds, both characters are forced to confront truths that reshape their understanding of themselves. I found this especially compelling because it reflects something we all experience. Sometimes the person we think we are and the person we are becoming are not the same. Growth often requires letting go of old expectations and embracing a future we never planned for ourselves. By the end of the novel, neither character is where they started—and that’s exactly what makes their journeys so satisfying. ## The Characters That Bring the Story to Life While Lin’s journey is the emotional backbone of the novel, Jovis quickly became one of my favorite characters. His self-deprecating humor, internal commentary, and witty dialogue bring energy and warmth to every scene he enters. He is the Tina Fay of the narrative, looking into the camera and catching us off guard with his quick comments directed at the reader. His quips are so well-timed that even in difficult circumstances, he manages to inject humor into the story without undermining its emotional weight. **And then there’s Mephi.** Mephi is one of those magical side characters who steal every scene he’s in. He adds charm, mystery, and just the right amount of humor throughout the book. His interactions with Jovis provide some of the most entertaining moments in the story and help balance the heavier themes. The supporting cast throughout the novel is equally strong. Whether they appear briefly or remain throughout the story, they all contribute to the growth of the main characters and the development of the world itself. There are enough favorite characters to go around. (and enemies, too) ## A Fantasy World That Unfolds Naturally One thing I particularly appreciated about Andrea Stewart’s writing is how naturally she reveals the world. There are multiple points of view driving the narrative, and each one contributes important pieces of the larger story. Despite the complexity, the pacing never feels slow or confusing. The world unfolds gradually as the characters experience it. Instead of overwhelming readers with information upfront, Stewart allows us to discover the empire, its magic, and its secrets alongside the characters themselves. As someone who enjoys fantasy but doesn’t necessarily need pages of exposition before the action begins, I found this approach incredibly refreshing. There are a few areas where I had to suspend my reality checker because the facts were unclear. The islands are sinking, and we don’t know why. It felt unrelated, but Stewart brings the fact into play throughout the rest of the series. Though the first book is complete, this is a three-part series best read in its entirety. ## The Relationship Between Lin and Jovis One of my favorite aspects of the story was watching Lin and Jovis slowly learn to trust one another. Neither fully understands the other’s motives at first. Both are carrying secrets. And both have reasons to be cautious. Yet over time, necessity turns into respect, and respect slowly becomes trust. Their partnership adds depth to the story and provides some of the most rewarding character moments in the novel. ## Why I Recommend The Bone Shard Daughter Whether you’re a fantasy veteran or simply looking for a well-written story with strong characters, The Bone Shard Daughter is an easy recommendation. ### It Offers: - A unique magic system - Strong character development - Eastern-inspired worldbuilding - Political intrigue - Adventure and action - Meaningful themes of identity and purpose The pacing keeps the story moving, while the emotional depth gives readers plenty to think about long after the final page. [![Bone Shard Daughter Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Bone-Shard-Daughter-819x1024.png "The Bone Shard Daughter › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Bone-Shard-Daughter.png)The Bone Shard Daughter review if you are looking for books like Jade City## The Bone Shard Daughter Review: Final Thoughts If I had to sum up my experience with *The Bone Shard Daughter* in one idea, it would be this: Sometimes the greatest discoveries aren’t about the world around us—they’re about ourselves. Lin and Jovis both begin their journeys believing they know who they are. But by remaining open to change, challenge, and unexpected opportunities, they discover something far more valuable than the futures they originally imagined. They discover who they were truly meant to become. And that’s what makes *[The Bone Shard Daughter ](https://amzn.to/4o9dx7W)*such a memorable fantasy novel. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy, Eastern-inspired settings, unique magic systems, and stories about stepping into your destiny, this is absolutely a book worth adding to your reading list. ## Looking for More Like The Bone Shard Daughter Review? - [ ![Promotional book-review collage: the novel Yesterday Year with a rainbow gradient cover, a quoted blurb, and author Amber J. Smith with a 4-star rating.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Review-768x1152.png "Yesteryear Review › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) | [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) July 15, 2026July 17, 2026 We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.If you’re looking for an honest Yesteryear review, you’re probably wondering whether Caro Claire Burke’s much-discussed tradwife novel lives up to the hype. After finishing Yesteryear, I found myself thinking less about social media and… [ Read More Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Funny-Sci-Fi-768x768.png "Funny Sci-fi Books › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [Funny Sci-Fi Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud (Even If You Don’t Read Sci-Fi)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/) June 5, 2026June 11, 2026 We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.My reading list has been improvement-oriented, meaning I haven’t had a good laugh in quite some time. This is why we need a funny sci-fi book right now. Trust me! The world is stressful. Reading… [ Read More Funny Sci-Fi Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud (Even If You Don’t Read Sci-Fi)Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The-Vegetarian-768x960.png "The Vegetarian › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-vegetarian-one-womans-self-imposed-dissapearance-a-book-review/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) ## [The Vegetarian: One Woman’s Self-imposed Dissapearance: A Book Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-vegetarian-one-womans-self-imposed-dissapearance-a-book-review/) May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.The Vegetarian by Han Kang My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book challenged me. On the surface, it was a grueling story of a woman, Yeong-hye. I catch the impression that she is a… [ Read More The Vegetarian: One Woman’s Self-imposed Dissapearance: A Book ReviewContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-vegetarian-one-womans-self-imposed-dissapearance-a-book-review/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Book Reviews, Read --- ### [How to Guarantee 30% Gains in Your Young Child's Reading Scores](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/avoid-summer-slide-with-reading-books/) **Published:** June 18, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* It is common for students to lose as much as 10% of their newly acquired skills over the summer break. Reading books helps kids retain what they learned. Getting your child to read this summer could help them enter the next school year with up to a 30% gain over those who DID not read. Kids who don’t continue summer reading show declines in learning on standardized tests at the beginning of the year, relative to where they ended the previous spring. This drop in reading scores and other test scores is commonly referred to as the summer slide. Open any textbook, and you will see evidence. It is common for textbook publishers to begin the year with a large chunk of review time because of this phenomenon. The good news is that you have the power to destroy Summer Slide! ![Literacy Advocates](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_1492.jpg "Prevent Summer slide › 200 Fingers & Toes")FirstBook is a huge literacy advocate They are working hard to get books into the hands of at risk kids## We Need Every Kid to Read Over Summer, but How? #### We are our Kids’ Literacy Advocate As parents, we can stop this with as little as reading six books to our kids over the summer break. As homeschool families, continuing to learn means we can skip the first boring chapters and review pages. Summer break can be a magical time when we change gears, have time to chase inspiration, and build new love for subjects we don’t have time for in the grind of the school year. What do your kids love? Make time for it this summer. Chase down their interests [by being intentional](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/embrace-you/) about their summer reading choices. ## Acknowledge That You are Responsible #### Summer is the time to improve reading scores For years, we did school year-round. With eight children under nine, free time was our enemy. A few weeks without structure was all we could endure. Now that the kids are far more independent, we can enjoy longer breaks during the summer reading season. We might not be in school, but that does not mean we aren’t taking time to learn. ![New Tan](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_1486-1024x1024.jpg "Little minds seek inspiration › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Books We Picked for Specifically for Summer Reading These will help you get some ideas rolling. A ton of these books or similar titles are available at the local library. If your child loves it and you want to add it to your personal library, you can always add it to your wishlist. I have a whole list on Amazon just for when I get a bonus card or a payment for a writing assignment. (Will work for books) Click this link for the FULL Amazon List of books mentioned in this article: https://a.co/d/01GLWOZR ### Any title from the **Little People, BIG DREAMS** Series. They have really done a great job with this series. The length is perfect for little ones, but the stories are very honest. Kahlo had a devastating accident, and Curie lost her true love. These are not downplayed but presented as part of their life story. My children empathized with each of their hardships and were more endeared to these women as a result. ### Follow Their Curiosity My nine-year-old is in love with Amelia Earhart. We bought the Little People book instead of borrowing it last year because it is beautifully illustrated, library-bound with thick pages, and the text is just right for a new reader. It is a “keep” book, the only kind I purchase. The kids watched “The Who Was Show” on Netflix and learned about [Marie Curie](https://amzn.to/2LXacWg), [Frida Kahlo, ](https://amzn.to/2JPyqFy)and several other historical figures, so we picked up a few more books in the set for their summer reading. ### Growing Readers Need More Difficult Books I mentioned my adventurer, since she wanted to learn more about Amelia the flyer; I thought this [DK ](https://amzn.to/2tf71By)[biography ](https://amzn.to/2tf71By)was just the book for her. Don’t be afraid to level up with high-interest books. Since she has made several reading-level gains over the school year, this book should be just right. Since she wants to know more, the text won’t stop her, and there are plenty of pictures to satisfy her curiosity. DK books are the best for curious readers. They are full of information from edge to edge on every page. This one would be great for a strong 3rd-5th-grade reader. ![Ahoy](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_1483-495484861-1529354199145.jpg "Ahoy › 200 Fingers & Toes")Inspire the Spirit of Adventure with Biographies### Biographies Inspire Kids to Dream Bigger Summer is a great opportunity for exploration. While you read, you can explore the possibility of traveling to locations from your historical figure’s life or go see examples of their work. For now, shoot me some biography suggestions of your favorites in the comments below. Who inspires you right now as an adult? Don’t forget to add books that tie into themes from your biographies. This is especially relevant during passive learning periods, such as summer. We have the battle-worn copies of the DK books “How Things Work” and “Flying Things” to learn more about airplanes. Since I prefer the kids to lead themselves during break times, I usually just put the books out in our main room at the beginning of the week, then encourage the kids to check them out during quiet time. Now, flying week it is. ### Next week, we are jumping into more fun reading! You can catch a preview of the books we are using on our Instagram @thebookhousereads, where we share book recommendations for the whole family. Follow it for a looking glass into our life and say hello, for sure, I love to follow fellow homeschool teachers, parents, and entrepreneurs. If you like the same, you will love my friends on Instagram. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Books, Homeschool, Homeschooling, literacy, literacy advocate, raising readers, reading, summer, summer reading, summer slide, tips --- ### [Best Read-Aloud Books for Families to Grow Strong Together](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/best-read-aloud-books-for-families-to-grow-strong-together/) **Published:** May 19, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* In a world filled with distractions and busy schedules, one of the most powerful ways to build connection, character, and a lifelong love of literacy is surprisingly simple: reading together. The **best read-aloud books for families** do far more than entertain children—they create shared memories, meaningful conversations, and opportunities to help kids grow in courage, compassion, and resilience. Whether you are homeschooling, building stronger family rhythms, or simply looking for books that bring everyone to the couch together, these family read-aloud books can quietly shape both relationships and character for years to come. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Resilience-Post-5-Pin-2-683x1024.jpg "Best Read-Aloud Books for Families › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Resilience-Post-5-Pin-2.jpg)Books That Bring Families Together We loved the classics, but some of the books in this article have different paces and lengths. You are sure to find a perfect book for your family to read together. --- ## Why Reading Together Still Matters There are seasons in family life that pass more quickly than we expect. One day, your children are piled beside you on the couch, asking for *just one more chapter*. And before long, they are taller than you, busier than you imagined, and growing steadily into lives of their own. But even as children grow, reading together remains one of the most powerful habits a family can build. In many ways, it matters even more. Because read-aloud time is never just about books. It creates: - connection - shared language - meaningful conversations - memories that quietly shape a family culture And often, stories open the door to conversations that might otherwise feel difficult to begin. That’s why I believe some of the best **read-aloud books for families** become more than stories. They become part of the emotional foundation children carry into adulthood. One of our daughters is graduating this year. As we were driving home from her friend’s public school graduation, she was quiet. I asked her what she was feeling, and she told me she was thinking about all of us snuggled together, reading books for school. This is her favorite memory and the thing she will miss the most. As a homeschooling parent, I am very glad. I will never regret the time we spent reading the thousands of books over the last eighteen years of her life. Make the time while you have it, and you too will not have regrets when your child graduates. --- ## Why Stories Bring Families Together When families read together consistently, stories become something deeper than entertainment. They become: - conversation starters - windows into courage and hardship - opportunities to build empathy - shared experiences that create belonging A good story gives children space to explore big ideas safely. Through characters and adventures, they begin wrestling with questions about: - courage - loyalty - sacrifice - kindness - resilience - what it means to do the right thing And sometimes the conversations that follow the chapter’s end become the moments children remember most. --- ## Read-Aloud Books That Build Character Here are a few meaningful favorites that have shaped countless family reading nights in our home and others. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Resillient-Readers-Post-4-Pin4-683x1024.jpg "Best Read-Aloud Books for Families › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Resillient-Readers-Post-4-Pin4.jpg)Books to Read Together That Teach Courage --- ### *[Little Britches](https://amzn.to/4sPvPg1)* *Series* by Ralph Moody The story of a young boy growing into responsibility as his family faces hardship and change as they learn to become ranchers in Colorado. Few books capture perseverance, family loyalty, and quiet determination quite like this one. --- ### *A Wrinkle in Time* by Madeleine L’Engle A story filled with courage, truth, love, and the importance of standing firm even when the path feels uncertain. --- ### *The Hobbit* by J. R. R. Tolkien A timeless journey of unexpected bravery, growth, and discovering strength you didn’t know you possessed. --- ### *[Caddie Woodlawn](https://amzn.to/3O5jKEz)* by Carol Ryrie Brink A wonderful story of curiosity, independence, and learning to navigate both adventure and responsibility. --- ### [*Understood Betsy* ](https://amzn.to/41Ns3rI)by Dorothy Canfield Fisher One of the most beautiful stories of confidence and transformation I’ve ever read. Quietly powerful and deeply encouraging. A must-read if you have an “I can’t” child. --- ### *[The Redwall Series](https://amzn.to/3Ogqway)* by Brian Jacques A rich world where courage, sacrifice, loyalty, and good triumph over evil through unforgettable adventures. Our family’s fondest read-aloud memories are tied to this series. There is something magical about journeying together through all 22 books—sharing laughter, suspense, victories, and beloved characters along the way. Those evenings become part of your family story. > I did almost all of the reading to the kids before Red Wall. But, I could NOT do a scottish accent (not that it is necessary). Dad read for one night and did all the accents. After that, the kids were hooked. Sometimes ALL ten kids would pile on the couches and listen to the book for hours. Then BEG for more. > I am so thankful that they found a book to read with Dad. > > Amber @200fingersandtoes --- ## Why Read-Aloud Time Matters Even for Older Kids Many parents stop reading aloud once children can read independently. But older children still deeply benefit from shared stories. In fact, some of the richest family conversations happen during middle school and the teen years. ### Don’t count the BIG kids out. Our curriculum circles American History, World History, and Ancient History several times. Some of the books I read to the kids in elementary school are on the same topic that the older kids are studying. I can not tell you how many times I have started reading to the younger kids, and I will end the reading time with ALL the kids (including the high school kids) gathered in the room to listen. They will all talk about their favorite parts of the story and how much they loved it as little listeners themselves. #### Reading together gives families: - shared experiences - common reference points - natural discussion opportunities - moments of connection in busy seasons And for reluctant readers especially, read-alouds remove pressure while still building a love of literature. --- ## How to Make Read-Aloud Time Meaningful You do not need a complicated homeschool plan or literary analysis guide. #### Simply: - read consistently - pause and talk naturally - let conversations unfold #### Ask simple questions like: - “What would you have done?” - “Why do you think that mattered?” - “Was that character brave—or just scared but willing?” These small conversations help children process larger ideas in a safe and relational way. And often, the discussions become more important than the reading itself. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Read-alouds-for-Families-683x1024.jpg "Read-alouds for Families › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Read-alouds-for-Families.jpg) Reading together helps families grow stronger. These read-aloud books spark meaningful conversations and build character in children of all ages. ## A Simple Way to Start Building a Family Reading Culture If you’re looking for more meaningful **read-aloud books for families**, I’ve created a **FREE Resilient Readers Book List** filled with stories that encourage courage, perseverance, compassion, and character. 👉 [Get the FREE book list here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) #### Inside you’ll find: - picture books for younger children - middle school favorites - meaningful teen reads - books that help families grow together --- ## Final Thought The time you spend reading together may feel small in the moment. A chapter before bed. A few pages on the couch. A family laughs over a favorite character. But over time, those moments build something lasting. Connection. Understanding. Shared memories. And a foundation of character rooted in story. And years later, your children may not remember every lesson you tried to teach… But they will remember the stories you shared together. --- ## 📌 More Help for Raising Resilient Readers - [Picture Books That Teach Kids Perseverance](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/6-great-picture-books-that-teach-perseverance-to-kids/ "6 Great Picture Books That Teach Perseverance to Kids") - [Books That Help Kids Learn From Failure](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/ "9 Readaloud Books that will Help Kids Learn From Failure") - [High School Books That Teach Resilience and Strength](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?p=82195&preview=true) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Five High School Books That Teach Resilience and Strength Now](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/five-high-school-books-that-teach-resilience-and-strength-now/) **Published:** May 20, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* *Stories That Help Teens Navigate Real-Life Challenges*. High school is a season when life begins to feel more real, and the stories teens read during these years matter more than we often realize. The right **books that teach resilience** can help shape how young people respond to challenges, setbacks, and uncertainty. When we intentionally place **high school books about resilience** into their hands, we’re giving them more than something to read—we’re giving them examples of courage, perseverance, and strength that they can carry into their own lives. ## When the Stakes Feel Higher As children grow into their teen years, the challenges they face begin to feel more real. Friendships become more complex. Decisions carry more weight. Failures feel more personal. And quietly, teens begin asking deeper questions: *“Can I handle hard things?”* *“Who am I becoming?”* As parents, we don’t always hear these questions out loud. But we see them in hesitation. In frustration. In the moments when confidence feels just out of reach. This is why the stories they read matter more than ever. Because during these years, stories don’t just entertain. They **shape identity**. --- ## Why Teens Need Books That Teach Resilience High school students don’t need stories that avoid difficulty. They need stories that reflect it. Stories that: - acknowledge real hardship - show emotional resilience - wrestle with difficult decisions - demonstrate courage in imperfect ways These are the stories that help teens understand something important: **Strength isn’t about having it all together. It’s about continuing forward—even when things feel uncertain.** --- ## High School Books About Resilience That Stay With Teens Here are a few meaningful, time-tested books that help teens build resilience and strength: --- ### *The [Outsiders](https://amzn.to/4tqBdGo)* by S. E. Hinton A powerful story of identity, belonging, and navigating a world that doesn’t always feel fair. Teens see what it looks like to wrestle with hardship and still choose who they will become. --- ### *[Wonder](https://amzn.to/47Fjcf8)* by R. J. Palacio A deeply moving reminder that courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like showing up, being kind, and choosing empathy even when it’s hard. --- ### [*The Giver* ](https://amzn.to/41dkHxC)by Lois Lowry A thought-provoking story that challenges teens to consider truth, responsibility, and the courage it takes to stand apart. --- ### *[Number the Stars](https://amzn.to/4dyBtPb)* by Lois Lowry A story of quiet bravery that shows how courage often looks like small, faithful decisions in difficult circumstances. --- ### *It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood* A story of quiet bravery that shows how courage often looks like small, faithful decisions in difficult circumstances. This book is available in several formats, making it a great family read. Parallel reading by the whole family can lead to better discussion time and can help you, as the parent, facilitate conversations about topics that are important to young people. When talks occur in the context of discussing a book you are both reading, it is disarming and helps teens feel comfortable in conversations about sensitive topics like racism, abortion, and poverty. Here is the link to the right version for every reader: teen, adapted for Young Readers, and [for whole family listening on Audible.](https://amzn.to/4ffgul6) --- ### *[The War That Saved My Life](https://amzn.to/4maCdMn)* by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley A deeply personal story of healing, growth, and resilience in the face of hardship. **“I love Ada’s bold heart…Her story’s riveting.”***—Sheila Turnage, author of Three Times Lucky* [](javascript:void(0)) --- These books don’t ignore struggle. They walk through it. And that’s exactly what makes them powerful. --- ## Why These Stories Stay With Teens Teens don’t just read stories—they internalize them. The characters they connect with often shape how they: - respond to difficulty - understand courage - process failure - view their own struggles A teen who reads high school books about resilience begins to think: *“Maybe I can handle this too.”* And that quiet shift in thinking can make all the difference. --- ## How to Use Books That Teach Resilience in Your Home Even independent readers benefit from conversation. You don’t need to turn it into a lesson. Just ask simple questions: - “What was the hardest thing this character faced?” - “What would you have done?” - “Did they handle it well—or learn along the way?” These conversations build something deeper than comprehension. They build **wisdom**. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Resilient-Readers-At-Every-Age-683x1024.png "Resilient Readers At Every Age › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Resilient-Readers-At-Every-Age.png)Get the list of resources to raise resilient kids of every age## Build a Reading Life That Strengthens Your Teen If you’re looking for more high school books about resilience, I’ve gathered them into a **FREE Resilient Readers Book List**, organized by age and theme. [👉 Download the FREE book list here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) Inside, you’ll find: - books for younger readers - middle school favorites - powerful teen reads - parent resources to guide meaningful conversations --- ## Final Thought Teens are not just learning facts. They are becoming who they will be. And the stories they read during these years often become the framework they carry into adulthood. So we place good stories in their hands. We give them books that teach resilience. And trust that, over time, those stories will do their quiet work. --- ## 📌 Related Reading - [Books That Teach Kids Resilience](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/ "Best Books That Teach Kids Resilience (Why Children Need Stories About Struggle)") - [Books That Help Kids Learn From Failure](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/ "9 Readaloud Books that will Help Kids Learn From Failure") - [Jade City Reader Guide for Teens](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-a-jade-city-reader-guide-help-you-know-your-teen-better/ "How Can a Jade City Reader Guide Help You Know Your Teen Better?") [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/sci-fi-for-younger-readers-683x1024.jpg "sci-fi for younger readers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/sci-fi-for-younger-readers.jpg)Looking for something exciting for your reader [sci fi for younger readers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/sci-fi-for-younger-readers.jpg "sci-fi for younger readers") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool, Parenting --- ### [I Wanted a Homeschool Routine That Works (Without Burnout)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-wanted-a-homeschool-routine-that-works-without-burnout/) **Published:** May 30, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Creating a daily rhythm that sticks can feel like one of the hardest parts of homeschooling, especially when life never seems to go as planned. That is all I wanted in those first years of homeschooling. If you’ve been searching for a **homeschool routine that works**, you’ve likely tried schedules that felt too rigid, too complicated, or impossible to maintain. I kept following other people’s plans, but the problem was, they didn’t fit our family. The good news is that a successful routine doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to support your real life. With the right approach, you can build a simple, flexible routine that reduces stress and helps your homeschool day flow naturally. --- ## **Why Your Homeschool Routine Feels So Hard to Maintain** You’ve probably already tried to create a routine. Maybe more than once. You set a schedule. You had good intentions. You started strong… And then life happened. Someone slept in. A lesson took longer than expected. Your child resisted. You got behind. 9:00 … 9:30 … 10:00. This was our schedule written on the white board with so much hope and determination. And suddenly the routine that was supposed to help… **Started to feel like pressure instead.** If that sounds familiar, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’ve just been given the wrong kind of routine. --- ## **The Problem With Most Homeschool Routines** Most routines are built to look good on paper. They’re: - too detailed - too rigid - too dependent on everything going “right.” But I quickly discovered that homeschool doesn’t happen in perfect conditions. It happens in real life. With real kids. Real interruptions. Real emotions. That’s why most routines don’t last. Not because you lack discipline— **But because the routine doesn’t fit your life.** --- ## **What a Homeschool Routine Should Actually Do** A good routine doesn’t control your day. It supports it. It should: ✔ Give you a starting point ✔ Reduce decision fatigue ✔ Create a sense of rhythm ✔ Flex when life shifts If your routine creates stress instead of support… It’s time to simplify. --- ## **Step 1: Start With an Anchor (Not a Schedule)** Instead of planning your entire day… Start with one consistent point. 👉 A simple beginning. This could be: - breakfast together - morning reading time - starting school at the same general time each day This “anchor” signals: **“This is where our homeschool day begins.”** Everything else can flex. --- ## **Step 2: Focus on Fewer Subjects** Trying to do too much is one of the fastest ways to lose your routine. Instead of packing your day… Choose: - 2–3 core subjects per day That’s enough to move forward consistently—[without overwhelm.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/start-homeschooling-without-overwhelm-a-simple-plan-that-actually-works/) You can rotate or layer in other subjects throughout the week. --- ## **Step 3: Build in Breaks (Before You Need Them)** Most routines fail because they ignore energy. Your child’s—and yours. Breaks aren’t distractions. They’re what make focus possible. 👉 Try this: - 20–30 minutes of work - Short break - Repeat Simple rhythms work better than long, stretched-out expectations. --- ## **Step 4: Leave Space for Flexibility** Here’s something that might feel freeing: **Your routine doesn’t need to be followed perfectly to be successful.** In fact, it shouldn’t be. A working routine allows for: - slow days - unexpected interruptions - changing needs If your routine only works on your best days… It’s not the right routine. --- ## **Step 5: End With Something That Builds Connection** Don’t let your homeschool day end in frustration. Even if the day felt messy— Close it with something simple and positive: - reading together - talking about something they enjoyed - acknowledging effort This reinforces something important: **Your homeschool is not just about what gets done. It’s about how it feels.** I call this having a “win” and I try to make sure the kids experience at least one of these. On especially hard days, we create space for a win. This is the power of homeschooling. You can make room for your child to experience success, even in the middle of a hard day. Can you imagine the impact of little wins every day for the whole school year? --- # **🎁 Want a Simple Routine You Can Actually Follow?** If you’ve been trying to build a routine that works—but nothing seems to stick… You don’t need a more detailed plan. You need a better starting point. 👉 **The 5-Day Homeschool Reset Plan** will help you: ✔ Rebuild your daily rhythm ✔ Simplify your routine ✔ Focus on what actually matters ✔ Create a plan that fits your life You can download it here: --- ## **You Don’t Need a Perfect Routine** You need one that works on your real days. The tired ones. The interrupted ones. The ones that don’t go as planned. That’s the kind of routine that lasts. --- ## **Ready to Build a Full Plan Around Your Routine?** If you’re ready to go beyond just the daily routine and build a complete homeschool plan… ## **📘 *The Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year*** This will walk you through: ✔ Creating a routine that fits your family ✔ Building connection into your day ✔ Designing a homeschool you can sustain 👉 Get your copy of the[ Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year](https://amzn.to/4uS2CBM) and start having your best year now. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Six-Keys-1024x1024.png "Six-Keys › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Six-Keys.png)## **Final Thought** A good routine doesn’t make your homeschool perfect. It makes it possible. And that’s more than enough. ## Read the Rest of the Series [👉 *How to Start Homeschooling Without Overwhelm* ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?p=82210)[👉 *Why Most Homeschool Plans Fail*](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-most-homeschool-plans-fail-what-to-do-now/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, Homeschooling --- ### [Start Homeschooling without Overwhelm (A Simple Plan That Actually Works)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/start-homeschooling-without-overwhelm-a-simple-plan-that-actually-works/) **Published:** May 18, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Starting homeschooling can feel exciting… until the overwhelm sets in. If you’re wondering **how to start homeschooling without overwhelm**, you’re not alone. Many parents step into this journey full of hope, only to feel buried under curriculum choices, schedules, and the pressure to “get it right.” The truth is, homeschooling doesn’t have to feel confusing or stressful. With a simple, relationship-first approach, you can begin with clarity, confidence, and a plan that actually fits your family. ### **When Homeschool Feels Heavier Than You Expected** You thought this would feel different. More meaningful. More connected. More… right. But instead, it feels overwhelming. You’re second-guessing your decisions. Wondering if you’re doing enough. Trying to piece together schedules, curriculum, and expectations—and somehow it still doesn’t feel like it’s working. And underneath it all, there’s a quiet fear: **“What if I’m not giving my child what they need?”** If that thought has crossed your mind, you’re not alone. But more importantly, you’re not failing. You’re just trying to build something important without a clear starting point. Let’s fix that. --- ## **Why Most Homeschool Plans Feel Overwhelming** Most homeschool advice focuses on *what to do*: - Which curriculum to choose - How many hours to school - What your schedule should look like But that’s not where homeschool overwhelm begins. Overwhelm starts when you try to build your homeschool **from the outside in**. You look at what others are doing… Try to recreate it… And end up with something that doesn’t fit your family. That’s where frustration grows. Because you’re working hard—but not in the right direction. --- ## **A Simpler Way to Start Homeschooling** **without Overwhelm** Instead of starting with structure… Start with clarity. Instead of asking: *“What should our homeschool look like?”* Ask: *“What does our family actually need?”* When you shift that question, everything changes. And that’s exactly what this simple plan will help you do. --- ## **Step 1: Reconnect With Your Child First** Before you fix anything else, start here. Connection is the foundation of your homeschool. When your child feels: - seen - supported - understood Learning becomes easier. When they don’t… Everything feels like a struggle. **Try this today:** Sit beside your child during their work. Ask a question without correcting. Spend 10 minutes just being present. It might feel small. It’s not. --- ## **Step 2: Let Go of Comparison** One of the fastest ways to lose confidence in your homeschool is to compare it to someone else’s. But here’s the truth: **Your homeschool is not supposed to look like anyone else’s.** Not your routine. Not your curriculum. Not your pace. You are building something unique—because your family is unique. The sooner you embrace that, the sooner things begin to feel lighter. --- ## **Step 3: Define Your “Why”** Every strong homeschool has a clear direction behind it. Not a perfect plan. A purpose. Ask yourself: - Why did we choose this? - What matters most at the end of this journey? - What kind of relationship do I want with my child? Your answers don’t have to be perfect. They just need to be honest. --- ## **Step 4: Build a Simple Routine** This is where many homeschool parents overcomplicate things. You don’t need a packed schedule. You need a repeatable rhythm. Start with: - A consistent starting point - 2–3 core subjects - Breaks built in - Space for flexibility That’s enough. Consistency matters more than complexity. --- ## **Step 5: Create a Plan You Can Actually Follow** Not a perfect one. A usable one. A plan that: - adjusts when life happens - reflects your priorities - supports your child—not pressures them Because the goal isn’t to “keep up.” It’s to move forward with intention. --- # **🎁 A Simple Way to Reset Your Homeschool** If this feels like what you’ve been needing… I created a guide to walk you through it step by step. 👉 **The 5-Day Homeschool Reset Plan** It will help you: ✔ Reconnect with your child ✔ Let go of comparison ✔ Clarify your direction ✔ Build a simple, workable routine ✔ Create a plan that fits your family #### You can download it here: 👉 Download the [FREE Simple 5-Day Plan and end homeschool overwhelm.](https://expert-thinker-7811.kit.com/9147da0917) --- ## **You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone** Homeschooling is too important to spend years feeling unsure. Not because you’re doing something wrong— But because you deserve a clear path forward. If you’re ready to go deeper and build a homeschool designed specifically for your family… ## **📘 *The Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year*** This is the framework I wish every parent had at the beginning. It walks you through: - building connection - creating a personalized plan - leading your homeschool with confidence [👉 The Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year](https://amzn.to/3RJpkh6) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1A4C3C98-2A5D-43DF-88F2-FFC5EF6A5E50_1_105_c-300x300.jpeg "Six Key to Your Successful Homeschool Year › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amzn.to/3RJpkh6)One familys story ten different kids six common keys to help you start homeschooling without overwhelm--- ## **Final Thought** You don’t need to do everything today. You just need to take the next step. And you’re already doing that. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool, Parenting **Tags:** Homeschool, Homeschooling, parenting, tips --- ### [The Vegetarian: One Woman's Self-imposed Dissapearance: A Book Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-vegetarian-one-womans-self-imposed-dissapearance-a-book-review/) **Published:** May 16, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489025-the-vegetarian)[The Vegetarian](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489025-the-vegetarian) by [Han Kang](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4119155.Han_Kang) My rating: [4 of 5 stars](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7937623384) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_0017-768x1024.jpeg "IMG_0017 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_0017-scaled.jpeg)The Vegetarian is a book that I was first repelled by Then I read it in total Now I am still thinking about it This book challenged me. On the surface, it was a grueling story of a woman, Yeong-hye. I catch the impression that she is a victim of horrid abuse and exposed to the gory realities of life and violence at an impressionable age. Her husband calls her unremarkable and says she asks for nothing for herself. The Vegetarian is her, slowly disappearing. In response to this and the growing unease she feels, she begins to exert control over her world through her diet. The only place she has total power. She chooses to become a vegetarian, but that isn’t enough. Throughout the book, her dietary restrictions grow along with her family’s concern, frustration, and their eventual violent opposition. What troubled me was that they never sought to help the woman in trouble. They sought to control her behavior. Often for reasons apart from her health. I guess this is where the allegory lies. It gets far worse. Creepers creep, family hounds, Yeong-hye slides further away from reality. It is complex, sexually fueled, and made me pity Yeong-hye. There are so many nuances this book brings to mind. First, Yeong-hye herself is never presented as a victim. She is passive and even complicit in the violence against her. Her passivity is taken for permission, but her state of mind is clearly compromised, shattered. Her birthmark becomes a point of obsession for her brother-in-law. A mark she has nothing to do with and has never shown to anyone. In the latter part of the book, it is revealed that she was not even aware whether it was still visible. This obsession is nothing of her doing. Yet it is a part of her undoing. The theme of passivity, in contrast to the strong-willed adherence to Yeong-hye’s self-imposed dietary restrictions, reveals the confusion in her life and comments on the lives of those without power, protection, or compassion. The Vegetarian is a book to read, then think about, and perhaps read again. I was first repelled. Then I read it in total. Now, I am still thinking about it. You’ve been warned. Let’s Connect on Goodreads [View all my reviews](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9886801-amber) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Book Reviews **Tags:** literature, Nobel Prize --- ### [9 Readaloud Books that will Help Kids Learn From Failure](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/) **Published:** May 13, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Failure is one of the hardest things for children to face. We all fail, but younger children can have a hard time internalizing these BIG feelings. As parents, it is our job to help kids navigate the pain and embarrassment that comes from making mistakes. One of the best ways we can create open conversations is to read books to help kids learn from failure. Fear of failing can lead to perfectionism and risk aversion, but openness, humor, and empathy can create a child who is resilient, secure, and brave. ## Helping Kids See Failure Differently It can feel personal. It can feel permanent. And to a child, it can feel like the end of the story. As parents, we see it in small moments: A paper crumpled in frustration. Tears over something that felt easy yesterday. The quiet words: *“I’m just not good at this.”* And in those moments, we want to fix it. We want to step in, smooth the path, and make things easier. But what if instead of removing failure, we helped our children understand it? What if they began to see: **Failure is not the end. It’s part of learning.** --- ## Why Learning to Fail Well Matters Children who never struggle often don’t learn how to recover. But children who are gently guided through failure begin to build something far more valuable than success: - perseverance - problem-solving skills - confidence rooted in effort, not perfection This is the foundation of resilience. Not avoiding difficulty—but learning what to do when it comes. --- ## Why Stories Are So Effective We can tell our children: “Failure is okay.” “Just try again.” But those words don’t always stick. Stories do. When children watch a character: - try and fail - feel discouraged - pause and rethink - try again - grow stronger They don’t just hear the lesson. They experience it. Stories make failure feel normal. And more importantly, they make perseverance feel possible. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Middle-school-book-list-819x1024.jpg "Middle school book list › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Middle-school-book-list.jpg)Middle school book list## **Books That Show Kids Failure Isn’t the End** Here are a few meaningful books about failure for kids that help reshape how children see mistakes: --- ### Hana Hashimoto, 6th Violin This is a [beautiful picture book](https://amzn.to/4dfSXhm) about courage and perseverance. Hana, a new violinist, has an opportunity to perform in her school talent show, but is discouraged by her brothers for being a beginner. This is a great story that shows how success can take many forms as we learn and grow. --- ### *The Most Magnificent Thing* by Ashley Spires There is an old Edison quote that says, “I didn’t fail to make a lightbulb, I found 100 ways not to.” In [this story,](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/41Nklhg&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1778628866756457&usg=AOvVaw1ZL3p3nJXynrk22gaE-1lW) we follow our little inventor as she fails, then tries again… and again. A powerful and relatable story of frustration, persistence, and learning to step away before trying again. --- ### The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett [A gentle story](https://amzn.to/3Rimm32) of a girl famed for never making a mistake. The deeper tale of perfectionism and risk aversion. But, Beatrice, like all of us, makes a mistake and learns to laugh about it and even live to risk again. --- ### *Fantastic Failures* by Luke Reynolds Bite-sized doses of failures and successes that any [family could read](https://amzn.to/4u6P4Cx) to build confidence. Real-life examples of people who didn’t succeed at first—but kept going anyway. --- ### *The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* by William Kamkwamba When William’s village faced a devastating drought, he turned to the science books from the local library for a solution. A powerful true story of determination, creativity, and solving problems in the face of real obstacles. This book is being made into a Netflix movie and is available in both [young reader](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/4mfwHbG&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1778628866757772&usg=AOvVaw065KIB3ElWaYy8WbGk9xA8) and[ picture book](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/4v9s8DH&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1778628866757853&usg=AOvVaw3IBfsM2JjhEHTg9v8V2dTI) formats, making it great for a homeschooling family. These stories remind children that failure is not something to avoid. It’s something to move through. --- ### Counting on Kathrine [Counting on Katherine](https://amzn.to/4d8U1ET) is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of the moon landings but also saved lives and made enormous contributions to history. She was a girl who loved numbers and fought hard against many obstacles to find her place in history. --- ## How to Talk About Failure With Your Child Reading is only the beginning. The real growth happens in the conversations that follow. After reading, try simple questions like: - “What went wrong for the character?” - “What did they do next?” - “Did they give up or keep trying?” - “What would you have done?” These questions help children process failure in a safe and thoughtful way. Over time, they begin to develop a new mindset: **Mistakes are not something to fear. They are something to learn from.** --- ## A Simple Way to Reinforce This at Home You don’t need a complicated system. You just need to surround your child with stories that normalize: - struggle - effort - growth over time And then give them space to try again in their own lives. This is one of the quiet ways we build confident learners. --- ## Build a Library That Strengthens Your Child If you’re looking for more books like these, I’ve created a **[FREE Resilient Readers Book List](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/)** filled with stories that help children grow in perseverance, courage, and character. 👉 Download the Resilient Readers Book List Inside, you’ll find: - picture books for younger children - meaningful reads for middle schoolers - powerful stories for teens - parent resources to guide the journey --- ## Books about failure for kids: Final Thought Failure doesn’t define a child. What they learn from it does. And sometimes, the safest place to learn that lesson… is inside a story. --- ## **Learn From Failure: Parents Reading Resource Shelf** We can all use a little help learning how to cope with failure. It is so hard to watch our kids struggle, fail, or make poor choices (which is totally expected). It would be unkind of me not to suggest a few great books for parents to read to help you prepare for these times and bolster you in the middle of them. These are straight from my personal parenting shelf to you. ### [Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year](https://amzn.to/4tCyklJ) If you haven’t read my story, you will be comforted by the human element, as I share how we have overcome the six biggest challenges to homeschooling families (but really ALL families). We have failed in some pretty big ways. My kids challenged me, and I had to learn how to be the best version of myself for them. It took intention, work, and kindness/forgiveness from each of us along the way. But we’ve done it. We have raised ten kids who love their parents, come to us in their struggles, and aren’t afraid to tell us when they mess up. If you want to do better for your kids than you did in your own life, I wrote [this book for you](https://amzn.to/4tCyklJ). ### [In Praise of Failure](https://amzn.to/4wsRj4M) Failure does not get the praise that it deserves. This book is a little on the philosophical side, but it is deeply helpful in understanding the teaching power of experiencing failure. Humility, perspective, grace, and self-evaluation can all result from failing. We live in a world that tries to avoid failing at all costs, yet we fall short regularly. This book helps you reshape your view of failure into an experience we all need to learn from. ### [Resilient Kids by Kathy Koch](https://amzn.to/4d4upsQ) Kathy is an amazing resource when it comes to raising resilient kids. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing her and attending her workshops. This book is a quick [4-hour listen on Audible](https://amzn.to/4d4upsQ), so there is no reason to neglect learning how to support your kids in difficulty and learning how to respond to failure in the way they need you to show up instead of the way you learned. [Download the FREE Raising Resilient Readers Guide](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) ## 📌 Want More Help Raising Resilient Kids? [Picture Books That Teach Kids Perseverance ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/ "Best Books That Teach Kids Resilience (Why Children Need Stories About Struggle)") [Middle School Books That Build Character ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/more-confident-kids-with-middle-school-books-about-resilience/ "More Confident Kids with Middle School Books About Resilience") [Books That Teach Kids Resilience](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/6-great-picture-books-that-teach-perseverance-to-kids/ "6 Great Picture Books That Teach Perseverance to Kids") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool, Parenting, Read **Tags:** failure, kid literacy, Kids, kids books, resilience --- ### [Why The Second World is the Funniest Sci-Fi I’ve Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/) **Published:** April 8, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you’re looking for a funny sci-fi book that still delivers heart, *The Second World* by Jake Korell completely surprised me. A book like this one reminds me that I’ve always had a soft spot for sci-fi. Read for The Second World book review and follow along for more to come. In fact, it was the very first genre I fell in love with when I started reading independently in high school. Somewhere along the way, I drifted more toward literary fiction, but when I had the opportunity to listen to an advanced reader copy of *[The Second World](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G54JBMPJ?bestFormat=true&k=the+second+world&crid=1I6U89NLIY8U3&sprefix=the+second+world&linkCode=ll2&tag=200fingandtoe_requiredreading07-20&linkId=c28d23d0276ec4cd43adf7fac06e2607&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)* through [NetGalley](https://www.netgalley.com/member/dashboard), I was genuinely excited to return to a genre that first made me a reader. And honestly? I forgot how much fun sci-fi can be. > **“I was literally laughing out loud in the grocery store while listening to this audiobook.”** ### What *The Second World* Is About (Spoiler-Free) *The Second World* follows Flip Buchanan — second child, from the second-best family, living in the second world (Mars). And Flip wants one thing more than anything else: To finally be first. Life on Mars might sound futuristic and wildly different, but in many ways, it isn’t. There’s still political tension. There’s still questionable leadership. And there are still all the complicated, messy dynamics of growing up. Flip navigates friendships, family expectations, identity, and the deep desire to prove yourself. Sometimes, very badly! This book leans fully into that contrast by providing a completely imaginative setting paired with deeply familiar human experiences. And it does it with humor. A lot of humor. ### Why This Sci-Fi Story Made Me Laugh Out Loud This book is *funny*. Not just mildly amusing. I mean genuinely, unexpectedly, laugh-out-loud funny. I was literally standing in the grocery store, earbuds in, laughing to myself like a crazy person during the final scenes. The ending is completely outrageous. It pushes the boundaries of believability in a way that, in another book, might not have worked for me. But here’s the thing: because of the careful buildup, the character development, and the tone set from the very beginning, it absolutely lands. Instead of feeling ridiculous, it feels earned. And honestly? It might be one of the most entertaining finales I’ve read in a long time. ### Themes in *The Second World*: Friendship, Identity, and Growing Up At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story wrapped in a sci-fi setting. Watching Flip navigate early adolescence, family tension, first love, and friendship dynamics. This felt incredibly familiar, even against the backdrop of life on Mars. His core friend group, in particular, stood out to me. The way relationships shift, fade, and sometimes return mirrors real life so well. We all have people who are central to our lives for a season… and then aren’t. And sometimes, they come back again. That thread of evolving relationships felt authentic and grounding. There’s also a strong undercurrent of identity throughout the story. Presently, there is a struggle to remain true to yourself while still figuring out who you are. Add in themes of loyalty, pressure, and the desire to outgrow the expectations placed on you, and it becomes something deeper than just a humorous sci-fi adventure. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/second-World-683x1024.jpg "second World › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/second-World.jpg)The Second World Book Review This is the laugh out loud book I really needed### The Pressure to Prove Yourself One of my favorite moments comes right at the beginning. Flip’s entire identity is shaped by being second — second child, second-best, second place. And the pressure he feels to redeem his family name and finally come out on top is both hilarious and deeply relatable. Because honestly… Aren’t we all trying, in some way, to prove we can do better than what came before us? That tension plays out in both comedic and meaningful ways throughout the book. ### The Audiobook Experience: Why It Works So Well Jake Korell’s writing — [especially presented in audio](https://amzn.to/4daEjJs) — was such a highlight for me. The tone reminded me of *Stand By Me*, with that nostalgic, reflective storytelling voice… but layered with the absurd, self-aware humor of *Mars Attacks*. It’s an unexpected combination, but it works beautifully. What I appreciated most was that the story’s deeper emotional weight doesn’t fully hit you until later. You’re laughing. You’re enjoying the chaos. And then suddenly, you’re looking back alongside these characters as adults, realizing just how much those messy, ridiculous, formative years shaped everything. ### The Moment That Stayed With Me The final scenes are unforgettable. Not just because of the absurdity and chaos — but because Flip finally steps into himself. There’s a moment where he leans into his moral compass with honesty and bravery, and it feels like everything has been building toward that point. It’s satisfying. It’s meaningful. And yes — it’s still hilarious. ### The Second World Book Review: [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=82121&action=edit#)Final Thoughts *The Second World* is a sci-fi coming-of-age novel that reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place. It’s imaginative, ridiculous, heartfelt, and surprisingly reflective. It balances humor with real emotional depth in a way that sneaks up on you — and then stays with you after the final chapter. If you enjoy sci-fi with personality, coming-of-age stories, and books that don’t take themselves too seriously while still saying something meaningful, this is absolutely worth picking up. And for me? It also served as a reminder that maybe it’s time to bring a little more sci-fi back into my reading life. ### Related Books Readers of The Second World Would Enjoy - [The Martian](https://amzn.to/4sVfhU5) - [Project Hail Mary](https://amzn.to/4mlN5Hw) - [Ready Player One](https://amzn.to/4c1PtQ8) - [Dungeon Crawler Carl](https://amzn.to/41myimk) - [David Star: Space Ranger](https://amzn.to/4bYzkej) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IfThen-683x1024.jpg "IfThen › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IfThen.jpg)If you loved any of these titles you will love The Second World for the honest humor adventure it is### Is *The Second World* Worth Reading? *The Second World* by Jake Corel is a funny sci-fi coming-of-age novel set on Mars. It combines humor, friendship, and identity struggles with a fast-paced and entertaining storyline—perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven sci-fi with heart. Totally worth reading and a book we’re going to read more about this year, for sure. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Book Reviews **Tags:** Jake Korell, The Second World --- ### [6 Great Picture Books That Teach Perseverance to Kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/6-great-picture-books-that-teach-perseverance-to-kids/) **Published:** April 4, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you’re looking for **books that teach perseverance to kids**, picture books are one of the most powerful tools you can use. When children are young, their world is small—but their emotions are big. They feel frustration deeply. They feel failure quickly. And often, they don’t yet have the words to process those feelings. That’s where **picture books about perseverance** come in. Stories help children *see* what perseverance looks like in other people’s lives. They make an abstract idea—*keep going, even when it’s hard*—concrete and memorable. In our family, we use storybooks to show our kids what perseverance looks like in real-life situations. I’ve found that using picture books that feature children is the best way to get your child into the story faster. Children naturally identify with kids they see in books. Through simple stories and relatable characters, children begin to understand something that will shape them for years to come: - It’s okay to struggle. - Struggle is often where growth begins. If you’re building a home library with **[books that build perseverance, grit, and resilience](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/)**, picture books are a wonderful place to start. --- [![Examples of Picture Books That Teach Perseverance to Kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Post-1-A-683x1024.jpg "Post 1 A › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/)We love using picture Books to teach perseverance to kids in our house## **What to Look for in Books That Teach Perseverance** **to Kids** Not every “cute” story builds character. When you’re choosing **picture books that teach perseverance**, look for characters who: - Try something difficult - Fail or get stuck - Feel frustrated - Try again - Discover a new way forward These patterns give children a framework for handling their own challenges. Over time, kids begin to recognize: *This is hard… but I’ve seen this before in a story. I know what to do next.* --- ## **Picture Books That Teach Kids to Keep Going** Here are some of our favorite **picture books that teach kids perseverance** and resilience in fun, age-appropriate ways. ### **1. Stuck by Oliver Jeffers** Perseverance can even be modeled in a silly story. In **[Stuck](https://amzn.to/3POCxo6 "Stuck")**, a little boy gets his kite trapped in a huge tree. To get it down, he tosses other objects into the tree to try to knock it loose. Soon, more and more objects are piled up in a hilarious jumble, threatening to topple the whole thing. It’s wonderfully silly, but the core lesson is clear: when your first attempt fails, you can try again—and again, and again. In the end, his little kite finally comes tumbling down. Triumph at last. This is a great **perseverance picture book** for younger kids who love humor. ### **2. Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett** **[Sam & Dave Dig a Hole](https://amzn.to/4sLtnHu "Sam & Dave Dig a Hole")** is a fantastic picture book about teamwork and perseverance. Sam and Dave dig…and dig…and dig. They search for treasure and narrowly miss it with each twist and turn. The illustrations are beautiful, with little visual clues and surprises unfolding in each scene. This book quietly shows children that sometimes effort doesn’t look the way we expect—and that staying curious and persistent still matters. ### **3. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds** **[The Dot](https://amzn.to/4shQsAy "The Dot")** is a simple, powerful story that shows how one small step can build confidence and creativity. A child who doesn’t believe she can draw is encouraged to “just make a mark and see where it takes you.” That tiny act of courage leads to growth, pride, and new possibilities. This is a wonderful choice if you’re looking for **books about growth mindset and perseverance**. ### **4. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires** In **[The Most Magnificent Thing](https://amzn.to/41Nklhg "The Most Magnificent Thing")**, a young girl sets out to build something amazing. But things don’t go as planned. She tries. Then, she fails. Finally, she gets frustrated. She wants to quit. With time, space, and a fresh perspective, she decides to try again—and discovers a new way forward. This book is a perfect example of what it looks like to: - Try - Fail - Take a break - Try again with new ideas It’s one of the best **children’s books about perseverance** for kids who get easily frustrated when things aren’t perfect on the first try. ### **5. Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams** **[Galimoto](https://amzn.to/4sLQx0t "Galimoto")** is a beautiful story of determination and creativity. A young boy dreams of building a toy vehicle, or “galimoto,” out of wire. He spends his day collecting scraps, facing obstacles, and pushing past discouragement. Using only what he has, he eventually creates his own toy. In this story, this book highlights resourcefulness, patience, and the quiet kind of perseverance that shows up in everyday life. ### **6. Manjhi Moves a Mountain by Nancy Churnin** Inspired by a true story, this powerful picture book follows Dashrath Manjhi, a man who refuses to give up when a huge mountain stands between his village and the nearest town. With nothing but a hammer and chisel, he chips away at the rock day after day, year after year. Manjhi’s determination shows kids that even the biggest obstacles can be faced one small step at a time, making this an inspiring choice for families looking for books that teach perseverance to kids. **[Manjhi Moves a Mountain](https://amzn.to/4maeAUo "Manjhi Moves a Mountain")** shows us that even the biggest problems can get smaller when we keep going, one small step at a time. --- ## **How to Use These Books in Your Home** Reading **books that teach perseverance to kids** is the first step. Talking about them is where the real growth happens. After you read, ask simple questions like: - “What was hard for the character?” - “What made them keep going?” - “Have you ever felt like that?” These questions help your child connect the story to their own life. Over time, they start to recognize that they, too, can: - Try again after a mistake - Ask for help - Look for a new solution Following this pattern, picture books quietly build perseverance, courage, and emotional resilience. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/200fingersandtoes-683x1024.jpg "200fingersandtoes › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/)6 Great Picture Books That Teach Perseverance to Kids ## **Build a Home Library That Strengthens Your Child** If you want more **books that teach perseverance to kids**—along with stories that build courage, resilience, and character—I’ve created a FREE **[Resilient Readers Book List](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/)**. It’s filled with picture books that: - Model perseverance and grit - Show kids how to handle frustration - Encourage creativity and problem-solving [👉 Download the FREE Resilient Readers Book List here.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) Use it as a guide as you build a home library that supports your child’s heart, not just their reading level. --- ## **Final Thought** The goal isn’t to prevent your child from ever feeling frustrated. The goal is to help them learn what to do *when* frustration comes. Sometimes, that lesson begins with a simple picture book—and the right **books that teach perseverance to kids** can stay with them for years to come. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool, Read --- ### [The Gardening Revolution is Now: Tiny Gardens Everywhere Reviewed](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-gardening-revolution-is-now-tiny-gardens-everywhere-reviewed/) **Published:** March 16, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I received an ARC audiobook copy of ***[Tiny Gardens Everywhere:](https://amzn.to/4uO18se)** The Past, Present, and Future of the Self-Provisioning* *City* by Kate Brown. The book description reads: From the eighteenth century to the twenty–first, the surprising history and inspiring contemporary panorama of urban gardening: nurturing health, hope, and community. > This manifesto for the next food revolution by acclaimed environmental historian Kate Brown speaks to nature lovers, food activists, social–justice warriors, urban planners, WOOFers, and the climate–concerned. > > Ever since wage labor in cities replaced self–provisioning in the countryside, gardeners have reclaimed lost commons on urban lots. They composted garbage into topsoil, creating the most productive agriculture in recorded human history, without use of fossil fuels. The ecological diversity they fostered made room for human difference and built prosperity, too: in Nazi Berlin, working–class gardeners harbored dissidents and Jews; in Washington, DC, Black southern migrants built communities around gardens and orchards, the produce funding homeownership. > > Grafting contemporary experience and concerns onto every historical chapter, Brown creates a mesmerizing hybrid past and present, archive and experience, showing how down–to–earth gardeners can reap abundant harvests while fostering mutual aid and political engagement. ## A Quick Historical Primer of Growing Tiny Gardens Everywhere covers the historic era when open grazing was popular. Families grazed their animals on shared tracts of land year-round. Commoners gathered the food they wanted from nearby woods and communal forests. Tiny Gardens explores the lasting change that happened when communal land was closed. Families and small farmers could no longer depend on it. The book traces the ripple across history and into today’s farming and land management practices. Whole communities transitioned from trade and barter to labor and farming. The loss of leisure and self-reliance was sweeping, and people have been looking for a way back ever since. ### Growing Food is Not a Luxury [Tiny Gardens Everywhere](https://amzn.to/4uO18se) provides a deep dive into the culture of growing our own food. Both historically and from the perspective of those who sought to control access to and the ability to grow it. My main takeaway is that growing your own food is an act of rebellion! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Food-is-rebelion.jpg "Food is rebelion › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Food-is-rebelion.jpg)Tiny Gardens Everywhere Growing Your Own Food is More Than SustenanceIt has been controlled in every culture by ordinances, regulations, and condemnations. I deeply enjoy the stories of communal growers in countries outside the United States and of cooperative gardening in the United States. These practices are making room for cultural connections. More people are finding creative ways to grow the foods they desire without chemical and economic overreach. Tiny Gardens Everywhere is a great gift for a passionate community grower or small-scale grower. The effect of this book is twofold: I want to join my community garden and [get seeds in the ground](http://www.theadequategardener.com "get seeds in the ground") immediately. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** projects, Read **Tags:** Book Review, Garden, History --- ### [Jade City Book Review: A Powerful Story of Family & Loyalty](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/jade-city-book-review-a-powerful-story-of-family-loyalty/) **Published:** April 20, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* A thoughtful Jade City book review exploring family dynamics, clan warfare, and identity. Discover why this fast-paced fantasy by Fonda Lee stands out. I was drawn to *Jade City* (part one of the three-book [Green Bone Saga](https://amzn.to/3QdhFaq)) for a few very specific reasons—and honestly, it delivered on every one of them. First, I love stories set in the eastern hemisphere. In addition, I love a story with complicated family dynamics. Lastly, I love clan warfare. And if you add in a unique magic system? I’m completely in. So going into this book, I already had high expectations—and I was genuinely excited to see how it all came together. And what I found was a story that didn’t just meet those expectations—it *built something bigger*. > **“If you love books about family dynamics, clan warfare, and character-driven fantasy, Jade City is one you don’t want to miss.”** ### A City, A Clan, A Power Struggle At the heart of *[Jade City](https://amzn.to/4mMwAEK)* is the Green Bone culture, where jade isn’t just ornamental—it’s power. Two clans fight to control it, and we step into this world through the city of Janloon, primarily with the No Peak clan. Lan, the current leader, is exactly what you’d expect—strong, capable, and poised to carry on the family legacy. But when an unexpected turn of events removes him from that role, everything shifts. And that’s where the real story begins. Shea—who has intentionally walked away from the clan—and her younger brother Hilo are suddenly pulled into leadership roles neither of them fully expected… or felt prepared for. Shea returns to the No Peak Clan feeling like a failure. Hilo steps into a position no one quite believes he can handle. And watching them navigate that? That’s where this book really shines. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-819x1024.png "Books Like Jade City › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5.png)If you love books about family power and character growth Jade City is a must read ### Themes That Drive the Story Family is everything in this story—but not in a simple, idealized way. This is about expectations. Pressure. The weight of legacy. Jade City is about what happens when roles are left empty and others are forced to step in—ready or not. And how, in moments of tragedy or instability, people either rise… or reveal who they really are. There’s also a strong thread of growth woven through every character. No one stays static. They’re all shaped by their past mistakes, their responsibilities, and the expectations placed on them. And that evolution feels earned. ### The Story That Stayed With Me Shea’s journey stood out to me the most. She’s a woman who *didn’t want this life*. She left the clan. Tried to build something different. And returns carrying the weight of what she sees as failure. But over time, she begins to discover where she actually fits—and what she’s capable of. What I loved most was that she wasn’t forced into strength alone. She was supported. Positioned. Guided by the people around her in ways that allowed her to step into her strengths more fully. And that’s something I always love seeing in a story—people being helped into who they’re meant to become. ### The Writing & Pacing: Fonda Lee Jade City Fonda Lee has a way of building a world without slowing the story down. There’s no long, drawn-out setup where you’re waiting to understand what’s going on. Instead, the world unfolds *as the action unfolds*. You’re learning while things are happening—and it keeps you completely engaged. The pacing is strong. The energy doesn’t drop. And the characters are introduced in a way that feels natural, not overwhelming. You’re always moving forward. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/6-819x1024.png "6 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/6.png)Review of Fonda Lee Jade City### Jade City Book Review: Final Thoughts If I had to sum up my experience in one sentence, it would be this: **Jade City is a story of the tearing down and rebuilding of a dynasty—family member by family member.** This is a fast-paced, character-driven story with strong themes of family, identity, and power. If you enjoy science fiction or dystopian-leaning stories with layered characters and high-stakes dynamics, this is absolutely worth picking up. It also introduced me to an author I’ll definitely be returning to. When a writer can build a world, develop compelling characters, and keep the story moving all at once. That’s something special. ### **NOW AVAILABLE: JADE CITY READER GUIDE** [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Jade-City-Guide-MocUp-819x1024.png "Jade City Guide MocUp › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Jade-City-Guide-MocUp.png)Jade City Guide MocUp## NEW **[Jade City Reader Guide (Digital Download)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-a-jade-city-reader-guide-help-you-know-your-teen-better/)** Turn [Jade City ](https://amzn.to/4tEd8ff)into meaningful conversations your teen will actually engage in. A ready-to-use Jade City Reader Guide for homeschool families, book clubs, and reading parents who want deeper thinking—not just finished books. ### Get the [Jade City Study Guide](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/jade-city-book-club-questions-homeschool-study-guide) Instant Digital Download Download it today, and you’ll receive: - Pre-reading discussion questions - Post-reading theme-based discussions - Symbolism and motif exploration - Essay prompts - Interactive leadership activity - An additional low-ink version is included to save you costs Read [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-a-jade-city-reader-guide-help-you-know-your-teen-better/) for the full details. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Book Reviews --- ### [How Can a Jade City Reader Guide Help You Know Your Teen Better?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-a-jade-city-reader-guide-help-you-know-your-teen-better/) **Published:** May 6, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Turn [Jade City ](https://amzn.to/4tEd8ff)into meaningful conversations your teen will actually engage in. A ready-to-use Jade City Reader Guide for homeschool families, book clubs, and reading parents who want deeper thinking—not just finished books. 👉 Get the [Jade City Study Guide](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/jade-city-book-club-questions-homeschool-study-guide) Instant digital download • Use it today --- ## **You finally finish a great book together…** …and the conversation goes something like: “Did you like it?” “Yeah… it was good.” And that’s it. No deeper thinking. No real discussion. No connection to the bigger ideas in the story. It’s not because your teen *can’t* think critically— It’s because they haven’t been given the right prompts to get there. **That’s exactly why this guide exists.** The *Jade City Study Guide* gives you everything you need to turn reading into real conversation—without hours of prep. ## Your Teens Are Going to Choose Their Own Books As your teens get older, they are gaining more and more autonomy, as they should. You can [help this transition](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/helping-young-readers-build-discernment/ "Helping Young Readers Build Discernment") in their tastes and judgment. Expanding their reading selections to include more adult-themed titles is a natural part of this transition. Jade City is a great book to suggest to help them experience these heavier themes (racism, loss, addiction, crime, and violence), filled with vivid imagery and remarkable characters. There is plenty of martial arts action and family conflict to capture every reader’s interest. You can read the [FULL Jade City REVIEW here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/jade-city-book-review-a-powerful-story-of-family-loyalty/ "Jade City Book Review: A Powerful Story of Family & Loyalty"). ### They will be hooked on great reading when you share it with sincere interest. I loved hearing about my older teens reading books. Over the years, they have shared the characters they loved, the drama they found intriguing, and the story lines they found outrageous. In those conversations, I learned about my kids. They revealed their heart in those unguarded conversations. ### As parents, it is our job to create spaces for connection. This guide is not a product to add to your teen’s workload. This is an opening to their world. Use it as a tool to hear about their take, draw a little more from them, and engage them in a conversation about a book you can both love. --- ## **Inside the Jade City reader guide, you’ll find:** **Pre-Reading Questions** Start strong with prompts that build curiosity and help teens connect to the story before they even begin **Post-Reading Discussions (Themes)** Explore big ideas like loyalty, leadership, power, and family dynamics in a way that teens can actually engage with **Symbolism & Motif Questions** Help your teen move beyond plot and into deeper literary thinking **Essay Topics** Encourage critical thinking and structured analysis (perfect for homeschool or enrichment) **Interactive Leadership Activity** A unique *“Pillar’s Decision Matrix”* exercise that challenges teens to evaluate high-stakes decisions and think like a leader --- ## **Without this guide:** - Conversations stay surface-level - You’re guessing what to ask - Your teen finishes the book… and moves on **With this guide:** - Discussions feel natural and engaging - Your teen forms opinions and backs them up - Reading becomes something you *explore*, not just complete Instead of wondering what to say next… You’ll guide conversations that actually matter. --- ## Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside: - Thought-provoking discussion questions - Themed analysis sections - A hands-on leadership decision activity --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/12-1-819x1024.png "12 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/12-1.png)12## This study guide is perfect for: ✔ Homeschool parents teaching literature ✔ Teen book clubs ✔ Parents reading alongside their teens ✔ Independent teen readers who want to go deeper **This is especially ideal if:** - Your teen can read well but struggles to *analyze* - You want stronger discussions without creating materials from scratch - You value critical thinking over busywork --- ## **Jade City Reader Guide (Digital Download)** You’ll receive: - Pre-reading discussion questions - Post-reading theme-based discussions - Symbolism and motif exploration - Essay prompts - Interactive leadership activity - An additional low-ink version is included to save you costs **Format:** Printable PDF **Access:** Instant download after purchase **Price:** $5 [👉 Download the Jade City Study Guide now](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/jade-city-book-club-questions-homeschool-study-guide) --- ## **A Quick Q&A** **What age is the Jade City Reader’s Guide for?** Best suited for teens (roughly 15+), especially those reading *Jade City* independently or in a group. This book covers more mature and difficult topics: Addiction & Substance Abuse, Gender & Feminism, Leadership, and engaged discussion is encouraged. **Do I need teaching experience to use this?** No. The guide is designed to be open-and-go, with clear questions and structure. **Can this be used for a group or co-op?** Yes—it’s perfect for book clubs, upper high school homeschool groups, or family discussions. **Is this a physical product?** No, this is a digital download you can print or use on a device. --- ## You don’t need to guess your way through meaningful discussions. This guide gives you a clear, thoughtful path to help your teen think deeper, speak more confidently, and engage fully with what they read. [👉 Download the $5 Jade City Reader Guide now](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/jade-city-book-club-questions-homeschool-study-guide) ## Are you looking for more great books you can share? You can follow here for more articles that include reading books for the whole family. I have two great series going right now. One shares books to help your child build resilience, including recommendations for every age and parent resources. In the second series, I am sharing sci-fi books to help every reader fall in love with the genre. This series will give you plenty of great books to share with your teen. Jade City is part of [The Green Bone Saga](https://amzn.to/4tEd8ff), which includes two more titles. Listening together over a trip is one great way to share these stories over the summer. - [ ![Promotional book-review collage: the novel Yesterday Year with a rainbow gradient cover, a quoted blurb, and author Amber J. Smith with a 4-star rating.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Review-768x1152.png "Yesteryear Review › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) ## [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) [ Read More Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?Continue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - [ ![Blog hero: girl on a swing with large teal title '3 Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year' and a white banner reading BLOG | 200FINGERS & TOES](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Peaceful-school-year-post-4-768x768.png "how to have a peaceful homeschool › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) ## [Three Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) [ Read More Three Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool YearContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-768x960.png "Books Like Jade City › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) ## [9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated Loyalties](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) [ Read More 9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated LoyaltiesContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) - [ ![Blog header image reading: Title '9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer' in bold green letters over a grayscale photo of a person reading, with a white strip showing 'BLOG' and '200FINGERS & TOES' on green background.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Quick-Ways-to-Get-Your-Kid-to-Want-to-Read-This-Summer-768x768.png "9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) ## [9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) [ Read More 9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This SummerContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) - [ ![Blog header image of a mother reading with her child under a blanket; headline reads '25 books that will teach kids courage, kindness, & compassion'.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Post-6-768x768.png "Courage Kindness and Compassion › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) ## [25 Books that will Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & Compassion](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) [ Read More 25 Books that will Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & CompassionContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) - [ ![Quote graphic about expectations shaping identity, author Amber J. Smith review with 4-star rating and book cover image on the right.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Bone-Shard-Daughter-768x960.png "The Bone Shard Daughter › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-bone-shard-daughter-review-a-stunning-fantasy-about-identity-magic-and-family/) ## [The Bone Shard Daughter Review: The Search for Identity, Magic, & Family](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-bone-shard-daughter-review-a-stunning-fantasy-about-identity-magic-and-family/) [ Read More The Bone Shard Daughter Review: The Search for Identity, Magic, & FamilyContinue ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-bone-shard-daughter-review-a-stunning-fantasy-about-identity-magic-and-family/) ## Listening is how I am reading more books this year This might be a great time to get or renew your [Audible subscription](https://amzn.to/4exyV4i) and pick out a few great books for a road trip. I listen to an audiobook while I drive for work and throughout the work day. If you have a commute or spend time on the treadmill each week, audiobooks should be a part of your life. Not only fiction. I listen to business, personal development, and history books in between the great fiction and sci-fi. Listening to books has been the key to my reading 40+ books this year (and it is May 1st). If you have a library card, you can download the Libby App to your phone and start listening to your favorite books for free right away. The public library has saved me so much money and introduced me to so many fabulous new authors I would have never found on my own. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [35 Sci-Fi That Spark Imagination and Build Brave Hearts](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/35-sci-fi-for-young-readers-teen-scifi/) **Published:** May 1, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Sci-fi books explore the vast array of human experiences, challenges, and capacities. That is why sci-fi for teen readers is a place for authors to explore the future, technology, and human civilization. **Sci-fi for young readers** offers a way to experience these challenges alongside characters they will remember fondly for the rest of their lives. Because you don’t just want *space* or *technology*. You want stories that feel: - adventurous - meaningful - and just a little bit magical The truth is, some of the best sci-fi books for young readers aren’t about science at all—they’re about **growing up, asking questions, and figuring out who you are**. That’s exactly why many classic titles for YA audiences focus on character, identity, and big life questions alongside imaginative worlds. And honestly? Those are the stories that stick. --- > **“If you want a child to fall in love with reading, give them a story that makes them feel brave.”** ## **Where to Start with Sci-Fi for Young Readers** The best sci-fi for young readers and teens doesn’t overwhelm with technical jargon – they invite readers in. It pulls them into a story first… and lets the science come second. Here are some of the strongest starting points—books that balance imagination with heart. --- ## Now, you’ll have to try to get them to stop reading! Get the FREE Guide & List We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime. [Built with Kit](https://kit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ## **How to Choose the Right Sci-Fi Books** When choosing a sci-fi book for your child, it’s easy to look at the recommended age range and stop there. But age is only one small piece of the puzzle. Two kids the same age can have completely different reading experiences—one may breeze through a fast-paced story, while another prefers something quieter and more reflective. Instead of focusing on age alone, it helps to look at how your child actually engages with books. ### **Reading level** is a great place to start. The goal isn’t to challenge them so much that they feel frustrated, but to give them a story they can move through with confidence. When a child can follow the story comfortably, they’re more likely to stay engaged and enjoy the experience. If they’re stopping every few lines to figure out what’s happening, it can quickly turn reading into a chore instead of something they look forward to. ### It also helps to pay attention to your child’s **interests**. Some kids love action and adventure, while others are drawn to mystery, relationships, or emotional stories. Sci-fi is a wide genre, which is a gift—it means there’s something for every kind of reader. A child who isn’t interested in spaceships might still love a story about friendship, identity, or survival… even if it happens to take place in a futuristic world. ### And then there’s **pacing**, which can make a bigger difference than most people expect. Fast-paced books, especially ones with short chapters and lots of momentum, are often perfect for reluctant readers. They create that “just one more chapter” feeling that keeps kids turning pages. On the other hand, some readers enjoy a slower build where they can settle into the world and characters over time. When you take all three of these together—reading level, interest, and pacing—you start to see a clearer picture of what will actually work for your child. And when the book feels like a good fit? That’s when reading starts to click. ## **The Best Sci-Fi Books for Kids and Teens (Beginner-Friendly List)** ### **A Wrinkle in Time** This is where wonder begins. It’s imaginative, a little strange, and full of heart. At its core, it’s about courage—about stepping forward even when you don’t feel ready. I love giving young readers the option of a series. As a reader, I love getting to know characters and am not ready to let them go after just one book. 👉 *Perfect for readers who love adventure + meaning* --- ### **Ender’s Game** This one pulls younger readers in quickly—and then makes them think. It’s about pressure, leadership, and what it means to carry responsibility at a young age. It’s gripping, but also deeply reflective. This book was the first book to surprise me with the ending. I was not expecting it, and it was so good. This book will have your young reader cheering. 👉 *Perfect for readers who like strategy + high-stakes decisions* --- ### **The City of Ember** This story starts small… and grows. It’s about curiosity. About asking questions when something doesn’t feel right. And about having the courage to search for truth—even when it’s uncomfortable. I love the innovative problem-solving and leadership attitudes in this series. 👉 *Perfect for readers who love mystery + discovery* ### **Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment** This one pulls you in fast—and doesn’t slow down. It’s high-energy, a little chaotic, and full of that “we have to figure this out right now” feeling. But underneath all the action, it’s really about found family, loyalty, and what it means to protect the people you love when everything is stacked against you. This series is a perfect first romance for younger teens. I preread this for my advanced reader when she moved into the YA section of the library. Light Love interest, intense action – government agents hunting down genetically modified kids. 👉 *Start here if you want fast-paced + action with heart* ### **Cinder** This one feels familiar… and completely new at the same time. It takes a classic story and gives it a futuristic twist, blending technology, identity, and belonging in a way that’s easy to fall into. Beneath the sci-fi elements, it’s really about figuring out where you fit—and what you’re capable of. 👉 *Start here if you want fairytale + futuristic + strong character growth* --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/144c8-a62e-4072-a2c2-506bc265e_AC__SX1200_SCLZZZZZZZ_-821x1024.jpeg "144c8-a62e-4072-a2c2-506bc265e_AC__SX1200_SCLZZZZZZZ_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://a.co/d/0iN5yLBv)Click to find the FULL Amazon list with more books being added by our top reader comments### **The Maze Runner** This one starts with confusion—and pulls you forward from there. You’re figuring things out right alongside the main character, which makes it impossible not to keep reading. It’s fast, tense, and full of that constant question: *what’s really going on here?* 👉 *Start here if you want mystery + nonstop momentum* --- ### **Hunter Series** This series has a quieter strength. It blends sci-fi and fantasy in a way that feels grounded, focusing on responsibility, connection, and stepping into a role you didn’t necessarily choose. There’s a strong sense of purpose running through it that builds over time. 👉 *Start here if you want thoughtful world-building + character growth* --- ### **Divergent** This one pulls you in with a simple question: *Where do you belong?* Set in a world divided by identity and expectation, it follows a main character who doesn’t quite fit—and has to decide whether to hide that… or step into it. It’s fast-paced and gripping, but underneath it all, it’s about courage, choice, and learning to trust who you are. 👉 *Start here if you want identity + high-stakes decisions + strong character growth* --- For even more books, check out the full list [HERE](https://a.co/d/02Kvq2vO) ## **Why Sci-Fi for Young Readers** **Matters** Sci-fi gives kids something unique. It lets them: - imagine different worlds - question what’s possible - and see themselves as part of something bigger Studies and reading lists consistently highlight how science fiction can spark curiosity and interest in science, technology, and big-picture thinking in young readers. We have used science fiction in our homeschool to explore new worlds and the world inside us for the last twenty-five years. It is more than action and battles. Sci-fi offers a broader vocabulary, access to technology, and earlier exposure to scientific theory. But more than that? It gives them stories where: - being different is an opportunity - asking questions is encouraged - and growth comes through challenge --- ## **The Real Goal Isn’t Sci-Fi** If you read these books, you will find a common thread. Great sci-fi stories are about connection. You’re not trying to turn a child into a “sci-fi reader.” You’re helping them find: - a story that excites them - a character they relate to - a world that makes them curious Because once that happens? They’ll keep reading. --- ## **Final Thought** If you’re introducing sci-fi to a young reader, start simple. Start with heart. Start with a story that feels *real*—even if it’s set somewhere completely different. Because the best sci-fi for young readers doesn’t feel like science fiction. It feels like a possibility. It feels like a world apart from the one they know, with heroes that look like them. ## What are the best sci-fi books for young readers? The best sci-fi books for young readers are engaging, easy-to-follow stories that focus on adventure, character growth, and imagination. Popular options include A Wrinkle in Time, The Maze Runner, and Cinder. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/6-683x1024.jpg "6 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://a.co/d/06Ie8ueJ)Share the pin for later and share with a friend## **FAQ: Sci-Fi Books for Young Readers** ### What are the best sci-fi books for young readers? The best sci-fi books for young readers are engaging, easy-to-follow stories that focus on adventure, character growth, and imagination. Popular options include A Wrinkle in Time, The Maze Runner, and Cinder. --- ### What age is appropriate for sci-fi books? Sci-fi books are available for all age groups, from middle-grade readers (ages 8–12) to young adults (ages 13+). Choosing the right book depends on reading level, maturity, and interest in themes like adventure, identity, or dystopian settings. --- ### Are sci-fi books good for reluctant readers? Yes, many sci-fi books for young readers are fast-paced and plot-driven, making them ideal for reluctant readers. Books like Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment and The Maze Runner are especially engaging. --- ### What are some easy sci-fi books for beginners? Beginner sci-fi books for kids and teens include The City of Ember, A Wrinkle in Time, and Ready Player One. These books are accessible and focus on story over complex science. --- ### What sci-fi books help build imagination in kids? Sci-fi books encourage creativity by exploring new worlds and possibilities. Titles like A Wrinkle in Time and The Midnight Library help young readers think beyond their everyday experiences. --- ## Now, you’ll have to try to get them to stop reading! Get the FREE Guide & List We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime. [Built with Kit](https://kit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ### What are good dystopian sci-fi books for teens? Popular dystopian sci-fi books for young readers include Divergent, The Maze Runner, and Red Rising. These stories explore identity, survival, and societal structure. --- ### How do I help my child get started with sci-fi? Start with books that match your child’s interests—adventure, mystery, or emotional stories. Beginner-friendly sci-fi books with strong characters and clear plots are the best entry point. --- ### Why are sci-fi books important for young readers? Sci-fi books help young readers develop imagination, critical thinking, and curiosity. They encourage readers to ask questions, explore possibilities, and see themselves as part of a bigger world. #### Are you a sci-fi reader? If you are curious about what to read next, you will love these articles ## Get hooked with your next FAVORITE read… - [Start here (your sci-fi list is inside 🚀)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/start-here-your-sci-fi-list-is-inside/)DateApril 23, 2026 - [These 9 Books Will Make You Fall in Love with Sci-Fi](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/nine-best-beginner-sci-fi-books/)DateApril 15, 2026 - [Funny Sci-Fi Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud (Even If You Don’t Read Sci-Fi)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/funny-sci-fi-books-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-dont-read-sci-fi/)DateJune 5, 2026 --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/sci-fi-for-younger-readers-683x1024.jpg "sci-fi for younger readers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/sci-fi-for-younger-readers.jpg)Sci fi for young readers captured readers imaginations and hearts ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool, Read --- ### [Start here (your sci-fi list is inside 🚀)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/start-here-your-sci-fi-list-is-inside/) **Published:** April 23, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Book News, & Some Fun Hey Reader, How do you feel about sci-fi? Recently, I read a couple books that reminded me why I fell in love with this genre as a teen. Do you have a favorite sci-fi author yourself? (If not, I've got a few great suggestions to get you started) Reading books I read as a teen felt like a step backwards. I think that was part of the reason I was hesitant to pick up sci-fi again, but was I ever wrong! I forgot how fun sci-fi books can be. As a... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Book News, & Some Fun Hey Reader, ​ How do you feel about sci-fi? Recently, I read a couple books that reminded me why I fell in love with this genre as a teen. Do you have a favorite sci-fi author yourself? (If not, I’ve got a few great suggestions to get you started) ​ Reading books I read as a teen felt like a step backwards. I think that was part of the reason I was hesitant to pick up sci-fi again, but was I ever wrong! I forgot how fun sci-fi books can be. As a literary fiction fan, the books I read trend toward being heavy with the weight of human emotion and social issues. ​ Sci-fi offers these same themes but with galactic battles, outrageous overlords and socially divided societies. ​ In the [blog](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/nine-best-beginner-sci-fi-books/), I share nine sci-fi books that will get any reader to love the genre. ​ Don’t forget to grab the l free printable list. Throw it in your bag for a trip to the library or used book store. I love wandering to find a new book, but I really love leaving with a known winner even more. If you’ve ever felt like sci-fi just wasn’t for you… this list might change your mind. 👉 \[[Download your list here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/nine-best-beginner-sci-fi-books/)\] If you’re not sure where to start, use the quick descriptions to pick the one that feels the most like you. That’s usually the right one. ​ Talk soon, Amber ​ ​ ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/2QxWzsMU5ph7hgQoFfkn9V/email?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop) ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/ah4vCRan3uEj2LDN5b6qrz/email?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop) ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/pLT8YBQvHmmz4AVwm4w9iD/email?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop) ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/sBtDG5gMtPMgt7QCvYj34R/email?ar=16%3A9&fit=crop) P.S. I am working on a list for younger readers. Look for it next Monday. PO Box 337, Osceola, IA 50213 ​[Unsubscribe](https://preview.kit-mail3.com/unsubscribe) · [Preferences](https://preview.kit-mail3.com/preferences)​ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [These 9 Books Will Make You Fall in Love with Sci-Fi](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/nine-best-beginner-sci-fi-books/) **Published:** April 15, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you stuck in a genre rut? Historical fiction, dark academia, literary fiction, and self-help fill my bookshelf. There are a few books that have tipped the scales toward sci-fi for me. Now, I am a committed Sci-Fi reader, digging into the genre and loving what I find. Are you looking for great beginner sci-fi books? Here are 9 approachable, funny, and meaningful sci-fi reads perfect for readers who don’t usually love the genre. ## What are the best beginner sci-fi books? The best beginner sci-fi books are stories that focus on character, humor, and emotional depth rather than heavy science or complex world-building. If you were to ask me, popular beginner-friendly options include The Martian, Ready Player One, and *The Second World* by Jake Korell. These books are easy to read, engaging, and perfect for readers new to science fiction. > **“I was literally laughing out loud in the grocery store while listening to one of these audiobooks.”** > -About The Second World, by Jake Korell Best Beginner Sci-Fi Books To Start ## If You Don’t Usually Read Sci-Fi, Start With These 9 Beginner Sci-Fi Books Let me just say this upfront: If you think you don’t like sci-fi… you probably just haven’t found the *right* sci-fi yet. Because here’s the truth—**the best beginner sci-fi books don’t feel like sci-fi at all.** They feel like stories about people. Relationships. Survival. Identity. Growth. They just happen to take place… in space. I say this as someone who started with sci-fi, wandered off into literary fiction, and is now finding my way back again—realizing I’ve been missing out on some of the most *fun*, *thought-provoking*, and surprisingly *emotional* books out there. I wasn’t a “space” reader until my father-in-law left me his copy of The Martian. It sat on my shelf forever. But I picked it up during a reading slump. Before I knew it, I was laughing at this crazy guy and his humanure (you read that right) experiments. Space wasn’t the main thing. Andy Weir created an outrageous situation, provided a witty, human character, and then let us watch him figure it out. The book was a colossal hit because great stories work no matter where they are set. So if you’re a reader who: - loves character-driven stories - wants something a little different - but doesn’t want to feel lost in technical jargon These are the **best beginner sci-fi books** to start with. --- ## 1. The Martian by Andy Weir If you read *one* sci-fi book, let it be this one. It’s survival. It’s humor. It’s one man… alone on Mars… refusing to give up. But what makes this such a perfect entry point is how *readable* it is. The science is there, but it’s explained in a way that feels accessible, even fun. And the main character’s voice? Completely unforgettable. If you like: - humor under pressure - problem-solving stories - characters you root for immediately Start here; this book hooked me. --- ## 2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams If you’ve ever thought sci-fi takes itself too seriously… this book will fix that immediately. It’s absurd. It’s ridiculous. It makes no apologies for either. And somehow, underneath all the chaos, it still manages to poke at life’s biggest questions in a way that feels surprisingly clever. If you like: - dry humor - random, chaotic storytelling - books that don’t follow the rules I had read this in my early twenties and have added it to my list to read again. You’ll love this. --- ## 3. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir This one surprised me in the best way. Yes, it’s about saving the world (no big deal), but at its heart, it’s about connection. Friendship. Trust. And honestly? It made me emotional in ways I didn’t expect from a sci-fi novel. If you like: - character-driven stories - emotional depth with a fast pace - unlikely friendships This is a must-read. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_9810-1024x1024.jpeg "IMG_9810 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_9810-scaled.jpeg)IMG 9810## 4. *The Second World* by Jake Korell This is the book that reminded me sci-fi can be *fun* again. It follows Flip Buchanan—second child, second-best, living on Mars and desperate to finally come out on top. And it is *hilarious*. I’m not exaggerating when I say I was laughing out loud in the grocery store while listening to this audiobook. But beneath all the chaos, it’s also a story about: - growing up - figuring out who you are - and the friendships that shape you along the way If you like: - coming-of-age stories - humor with heart - a little bit of ridiculous mixed with something real You’ll want this on your list. (You can read my full review here 👉[ *The Second World Book Review*](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-second-world-book-review/ "The Second World Book Review: The Funniest Sci-Fi Story I’ve Read in Years")) --- ## 5. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline This one feels less like traditional sci-fi and more like stepping into a game. It’s fast-paced, nostalgic, and packed with pop culture references—but underneath all of that, it’s still about identity and escape. If you like: - gaming - 80s nostalgia - fast, immersive reads This book is a really easy entry point into the genre. --- ## 6. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig This one leans more speculative than traditional sci-fi—but it belongs on this list. It explores the idea of alternate lives—what could have been, what might have been—and why we end up where we are. If you like: - reflective, emotional stories - “what if” questions - books that make you think about your own life This is a beautiful place to start. --- ## 7. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch This is sci-fi with tension. It’s fast. It’s gripping. It makes you question everything. And yet—it never loses sight of what really matters: love, family, and the life you choose. If you like: - thrillers - high-stakes plots - books you can’t put down [Dark Matter](https://amzn.to/4mkLbHf) is one will hook you quickly. ## 8. Red Rising by Pierce Brown This one is for when you want sci-fi with a little more intensity. *Red Rising* drops you into a brutal, hierarchical society on Mars where everything is about power, control, and survival. But at its core, it’s still deeply human—it’s about identity, injustice, and what someone is willing to risk to change their world. I’ll be honest—this one feels bigger and heavier than some of the others on this list. But if you’ve ever loved a high-stakes story where the main character has everything to lose, this pulls you in fast. If you want to get to know your characters, if you want to love them and cheer for them as you read, this IS the series for you. This is my #2 favorite series of all time. I loved the audiobooks so much that my best friend bought me the whole set for Christmas. If you like: - underdog stories - fast-paced, high-stakes plots - books that feel a little like *The Hunger Games*… but darker This is a great next step once you’ve dipped your toes into sci-fi. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_9815-1024x1024.jpeg "Jump in to Sci-Fi with both feet › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_9815-scaled.jpeg)Red Rising is my top read in 2025 This series offers you characters with deep stories and a world that unfolds as you read I cheered and cried ## 9. Annihilation (*The Southern Reach Series*) by Jeff VanderMeer This one is… different. In the best way. *Annihilation* isn’t your typical sci-fi story—it’s quieter, stranger, and a little unsettling. It follows a group of scientists entering a mysterious, unexplainable area where the rules of nature don’t quite apply. It’s not about clear answers. It’s about atmosphere. Questions. The feeling that something isn’t quite right. And honestly? That’s what makes it so compelling. If you like: - slow, thoughtful stories - a touch of mystery and unease - books that make you pause and think This is perfect if you want sci-fi that feels more like literary fiction. --- ## Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Be a “Sci-Fi Reader” You don’t need to understand physics. You don’t need to love space. You don’t need to read complicated world-building. You just need a story that pulls you in. And the best beginner sci-fi books do exactly that—they meet you where you are and take you somewhere unexpected. If anything, this little return to sci-fi has reminded me of something I think we forget as readers: Sometimes the stories that feel the most unfamiliar… end up being the ones that connect with us the most. So if you’ve been on the fence? This is your sign to try one. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_9810-1024x1024.jpeg "IMG_9810 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_9810-scaled.jpeg)There are so many varieties of Sci Fi books for beginners## FAQ: Beginner Sci-Fi Books ### What is the easiest sci-fi book to start with? The Martian is one of the easiest sci-fi books to start with because of its humor, simple writing style, and engaging survival story. ### Are sci-fi books hard to read? Not all sci-fi books are complex. Many beginner sci-fi books focus more on story and characters than science, making them very accessible. ### What sci-fi books feel like literary fiction? Books like Annihilation and The Midnight Library blend emotional depth with speculative ideas. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Read **Tags:** Sci-Fi Books, Sci-Fi Review --- ### [More Confident Kids with Middle School Books About Resilience](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/more-confident-kids-with-middle-school-books-about-resilience/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you’re searching for **middle school books about resilience**, you’re in exactly the right place. These years are tough to navigate, and as parents, we need all the conversation starters we can get. Reading these books together can open up conversations that can otherwise feel forced. Resilience comes from first learning other people’s models. The middle school years are a turning point. During this season, kids begin to: - Question themselves - Compare themselves to others - Face more complex challenges - Experience deeper emotions This is also when they start forming deep beliefs about who they are and what they can handle. The **books middle schoolers read about resilience, courage, and grit** can quietly shape those beliefs for years to come. Well-chosen **middle grade books about resilience** don’t just entertain—they give kids language, examples, and hope for their own real-life struggles. --- ## **What Middle Schoolers Need in Stories** At this age, kids don’t need perfect characters. They need real ones. The best **middle school books about resilience** feature characters who: - Face hard situations - Make mistakes - Wrestle with fear, shame, or doubt - Grow through difficulty These kinds of stories remind middle schoolers they are not alone. They show that: - Hard things are normal - Courage grows over time - Failure and struggle can lead to growth When tweens read about characters who keep going, they begin to wonder, *“Maybe I can keep going too.”* --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Kid-Lit-Post-2-819x1024.jpg "Kid Lit Post 2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Kid-Lit-Post-2.jpg)Kid Lit Post 2## **Middle School Books About Resilience and Courage** Here are a few powerful **middle grade books about resilience** to add to your child’s reading list. ### **Holes by Louis Sachar** A story of consequences, friendship, and unexpected growth. In **[Holes](https://amzn.to/3OzxWWw)**, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a mysterious camp where boys spend their days digging holes in the hot sun. As the story unfolds, readers see how injustice, family history, and personal choices intersect. This book explores resilience, loyalty, and the idea that someone who feels powerless can still make a difference. ### **A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park** A powerful reminder of perseverance in the face of real hardship. Told in alternating perspectives, **A Long Walk to Water** follows Salva, a boy displaced by war in Sudan, and Nya, a girl who walks long distances each day to collect water. Their stories show the reality of survival, hope, and determination. This is one of the most impactful **middle school books about resilience**, especially for opening kids’ eyes to challenges faced by children around the world. ### **I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)** A true story of courage and standing firm in what matters. **[I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)](https://amzn.to/41nZt05)** shares the story of Malala Yousafzai, a girl who spoke up for girls’ education and refused to be silenced, even after facing violence. This memoir helps middle schoolers see what it looks like to be brave, hold to your convictions, and keep going when it would be easier to give up. ### **Fantastic Failures by Luke Reynolds** Stories of well-known figures who experienced failure before success. In **[Fantastic Failures](https://amzn.to/4u1FhgT)**, readers meet real people—artists, athletes, scientists, leaders—who failed many times before achieving what we now admire them for. This is a great book to read as a family, one chapter at a time, and to connect over how others (and you can share your own stories, too) have responded to failure in their own endeavors. This collection reframes failure as part of the path to growth, making it a great pick for kids who feel pressure to get everything right the first time. --- ## **Why These Middle School Resilience Books Matter** When children read **middle school books about resilience**, they begin to understand that: - Hard things are a normal part of life - Courage is something you practice, not something you either have or don’t - Failure is not final These are lessons they quietly carry into their own lives—into friendships, schoolwork, sports, and family challenges. The right **middle grade resilience books** help kids: - See themselves in characters who struggle - Learn new ways to respond to difficulty - Build a sense of hope: *“If they can get through that, maybe I can too.”* --- ## **For Parents Who Want to Go Further** If you’re building a reading list that strengthens your child’s character, you don’t have to start from scratch. I’ve gathered more **middle school books about resilience**, courage, and character in my FREE [**Resilient Readers Book List**.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/ "Grab Your Free Book List: Stories That Help Kids Build Resilience") It includes: - Picture books, chapter books, and middle grade titles - Stories that model perseverance, empathy, and grit - Books that open up meaningful conversations at home 👉 Get the full Resilient Readers Book List here. Use it as a guide as you choose **resilience-building books for your middle schooler**. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Middle-school-book-list-819x1024.jpg "Resilient Readers book list › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Middle-school-book-list.jpg)Resilient Readers book list## **Final Thought** Middle schoolers are quietly asking: - “Am I capable?” - “Can I handle hard things?” The right **middle school books about resilience** can help them begin to answer, with growing confidence: “Yes.” ## Related blogs in this series… - [Best Books That Teach Kids Resilience (Why Children Need Stories About Struggle)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/)DateMarch 15, 2026 - [Five High School Books That Teach Resilience and Strength Now](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/five-high-school-books-that-teach-resilience-and-strength-now/)DateMay 20, 2026 - [25 Books that will Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & Compassion](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/)DateJune 16, 2026 ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Nostalgia, Loss and Love: Broken Country Book Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/nostalgia-loss-and-love-broken-country-book-review/) **Published:** April 4, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This Broken Country book review explores the deeply entangling ties of love, loss, and the dangerous pull of nostalgia. ## The Quick Take… Beth and Frank are salt and pepper, a hard laboring matched pair, working like a perfect machine on their farm. Unfortunately, a tragedy in the past keeps them from truly being open like they once were. Beth reveals more about her past when Gabriel Wolfe, the love of her last year of high school, arrives unexpectedly. Frank, Beth, and Gabriel wrestle with their interwoven past and how it is changing their future. [Broken Country](https://amzn.to/3Q2bVA0) had me shocked at several turns of events. I was NOT expecting them and could not put the book down for the last chapters. I needed to know how things ended for them all. Themes of escape, depression, and the loss of a relationship after a tragedy are front and center. Life is always full of twists and turns. Broken Country, in part, is about still trying to see around the corner twelve years too late. I was not happy with Beth’s decision, but the end was one I would have never expected. ### The Deep Dive I first picked up *Broken Country* after seeing it recommended several times on Instagram — especially alongside books I had already loved, like *First Wife* and *Dark Country*. That kind of recommendation trail usually tells me I’m about to step into something emotional, layered, and a little bit haunting. This one absolutely was. At its core, *Broken Country* is about the survival of a marriage after tragedy — the kind of tragedy that quietly erodes intimacy that once felt effortless. It’s also a story about secrets… the kind that don’t stay buried. The past doesn’t simply fade here — it seeps into the present, reshaping everything the characters thought was stable. And when it finally surfaces, it changes everything. ### The Emotional Weight of This Story When I finished this book, I just sat with it for a while. I felt shocked. But more than that — I felt a lingering sadness. The kind that comes from seeing all the ways a life *could have* unfolded differently. This story carries a quiet reminder that life can be incredibly cruel, and the choices we make don’t just affect the moment — they echo far beyond it. That emotional weight stayed with me. ### Themes That Hit Close to Home One of the strongest threads throughout *Broken Country* is the fragility of long-term relationships. Marriage here isn’t romanticized — it’s tested, strained, and at times, nearly undone. There’s also a powerful pull toward nostalgia — especially first love. When life becomes heavy with grief and difficulty, it’s so tempting to look backward instead of leaning into what’s right in front of us. This book captures that tension beautifully. But the theme that resonated most deeply with me was this: **When things fall apart, we often stop communicating with the very people we need most.** There’s a quiet temptation to retreat — to imagine an alternate life instead of working through the one we’re living. And this story doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of that. Loss, in this book, isn’t just personal — it’s relational. It fractures connection. It reshapes identity. And in many ways, it threatens the very foundation of marriage itself. ### The Characters That Stayed With Me Beth is a character I kept thinking about long after I finished. She’s deeply conflicted — someone who never fully steps into ownership of her own life. There were moments where I wished she had stronger support, better guidance, more clarity. But at the same time, you can see how the circumstances around her shaped those limitations. It’s not simple. It’s not clean. And that’s what makes her feel real. Frank, on the other hand, surprised me. His decision to step in and take responsibility was a turning point — and the secrets that followed completely reshaped how I understood him. It added layers to his character that I didn’t expect, and it made me pause and reconsider everything I thought I knew about their relationship. ### A Story Told Through Symbol and Memory One of my favorite elements in this book was the use of the oak tree as a recurring symbol. It quietly anchors the story — representing the relationship between Frank and Beth in a way that feels both steady and fragile. The oak’s dying is a critical turning point in the story. It’s one of those literary touches that doesn’t shout for attention but adds depth the more you notice it. [![Broken Country Book Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Broken-Country-9-683x1024.png "Broken Country › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Broken-Country-9.png)Follow bookhousereads on Instagram for more book reviews### The Audiobook Experience I listened to this as an audiobook, and it added so much to the experience. The narration — especially with the native accents and the distinction between male and female voices — brought an added layer of authenticity. The pacing was excellent. Nothing felt rushed. The characters were given space to unfold, both in their past and in the present conflict. And because of that, you truly feel the beauty of their lives. Which makes what happens to them all the more devastating. ### Final Thoughts *Broken Country* is not a light read — but it is a meaningful one. It’s a story about grief, love, regret, and the quiet unraveling that can happen when communication breaks down and the past refuses to stay buried. It asks hard questions about commitment, about identity, and about what we do when life doesn’t turn out the way we imagined. If you’re drawn to emotionally rich stories that explore relationships in all their complexity — especially ones that don’t offer easy answers — this is a book worth picking up. And if nothing else, it might leave you with this quiet reminder: **The life we build is fragile — and the choices we make within it matter more than we realize.** You can find more reviews of the books I am reading on my bookstagram account @bookhousereads. Find book suggestions, classics, new fiction, sci-fi, and more. Fun books for thoughtful reading parents. > [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWn-5_YER4X/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Book Reviews **Tags:** Book Review --- ### [22 Essential Reader Gifts to Show You Love Them](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/22-essential-reader-gifts-to-show-you-love-them/) **Published:** March 14, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you looking for a way to show you love a reader in your life? Here are my favorite essential reader gifts I use daily. Showing your love is about letting a person know you see them and support their interests. Loving a reader is not for the faint of heart. Readers are known for packing their carry-on luggage with (non)essential reading materials. They are bothered when you remind them to look up from a new book to experience the scenic drive. They definitely don’t love it when you get home unexpectedly early on their day off. I mean, we do, but this chapter was just getting good! Readers are fun to love, though. We are always on the hunt for a great story, connecting with readers, and asking for book recommendations. Readers love a comfy chair and a fuzzy blanket, but serious readers are like professional athletes; we need the right equipment to be our very best. If you know a reader and want to help them win, this list would rocket you straight to the top of their favorite person list. ## **Essential Reader Gifts Include New Tech Tools** ### **Good Night with a Red Light Book-light** This little light is the essential reader gift for late nights when only one of you is tired. Personally, I love reading in bed after everyone is asleep. As a mom, it is the ONLY time I do not get interrupted by questions, news flashes, and lost-item alerts. This[ lightweight booklight](https://amzn.to/4rZWtTb) has three brightness settings and is soothing to tired eyes, relieving eye strain. Great for limiting exposure to blue light in the evening hours. It is no limp noodle! The clip is strong, non-marring, and holds the featherlight lamp without flopping around. The only problem is that the battery life is long that no one makes me go to bed! I can keep this little booklight tucked in my purse when I travel. I use it on the plane and in the car during my trips. It was so much better than the overhead lights in both cases. No neighbors were disturbed, and I could read all I wanted to. ### **Travel Ease with a Kindle Reader** I love my books, but there are times when the simplicity of an e-reader is a better option. When traveling, my [Kindle Paperwhite](https://amzn.to/4ltIUsS) is easy to handle in tight spaces. The built-in lighting is also easier to see without needing overhead lighting or dome lights on a car ride. I don’t like having to turn on the cabin light on a late flight to read. On a plane, a booklight is one extra thing to juggle, so I leave mine packed for the hotel or rental and use my Kindle. I pay for [Kindle Unlimited](https://amzn.to/47EnALf), so I have a slush pile of NEW books to read at my fingertips. My Unlimited Library shelf holds 20 books at a time, so I swap them out when I read a few or when I see something I want to grab for later. Amazon offers great prices on ebooks, so I can always find books at a great price. ![](https://theadequategardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/33634397-74CD-49DF-882A-46731FF42DD5_1_105_c-edited.jpeg "› 200 Fingers & Toes")Essential Reader Gifts are PersonalizedDon’t forget to order a [cute cover](https://amzn.to/40snimV) that fits the device you purchase. It is a great way to personalize your gift. I love my cover, and it helps me spot my device at a glance from across the room. Having a cover also protects the device, keeps your screen clean, and wakes it when the cover is opened. I have a cover that lets me stand my reader on a surface, and it has a strap to slide over my hand for secure reading. ### **Get Cozy with an E-Reader Stand** Does your beloved reader have it all? Think again. I recently ordered an [e-reader stand](https://amzn.to/47yAxGn) with a remote page turner. Don’t judge me, I had real reasons for ordering this. I HATE being cold. One thing about reading in bed in winter is having cold hands, arms, and shoulders. I don’t like it one bit. If your beloved reader wants to be tucked in and cozy, but also wants to read, this is an essential reader gift. Enter the hands-free Kindle holder, or you can purchase the [remote page-turner](https://amzn.to/47yAxGn). The floor-standing or the desk-mounted stand has a neck that adjusts to fit your comfortable position. The clicker turns your pages and lets you go back with a simple click. Any device from 5 to 10 inches wide will fit the universal bracket. The best part is: your book lover stays tucked in and cozy! I purchased a floor stand, but you can also get a model that can clip onto your bedside table. Our bedside tables are actually an old record player and speaker set from my husband’s childhood, and there is no place to attach the generous clamp. #### Find a Fit for Your Reader You could also use the [smaller table-based stands](https://amzn.to/4um3orm) to hold their device and order the clicker to turn the pages. I use a little tablet top stand for my phone. It is great for taking calls while I am working at my desk (and it might make a couple rounds of Mahjong more comfortable, too). My husband benefits because I move way less, no light from the bedside table, and no turning pages to wake him up at some unreasonable hour. It is the gift that keeps on giving. The steel neck on my e-reader stand is strong and flexible, making it easy to wind up and put away when you want to, but why would you want to? ### **The Wonderboom Speaker Follows Me Everywhere** This is a gift the whole family can enjoy. I use my [Wonderboom](https://amzn.to/4beTsal) speaker all the time. I take it outside when I am working in the garden to listen to a good mystery book like [*The Housemaid*](https://amzn.to/46PitI0), or to the kitchen while we make breakfast, listening to Gregory Alan Isakov with the family. My favorite place to use it is in the bathroom, where I listen to a book while I take a long soak in the tub with some delicious soothing salt soaks from [Flewd](https://www.flewdstresscare.com/pages/magnesium-bath-soak). (If you are looking for gift ideas – I am trying to help you out as much as possible.) ## **Essential Reader Gifts Support Their Physical Existence** ### **Gotta Stay Hydrated and Have Lots of Options** Every reader needs cozy drinks for the journey. I love this [little cup](https://amzn.to/4rwUiW2) with the funky handle and a lid to keep your beverage warm (and to keep ladybugs out if you live out in the country, like I do). [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Give-Me-Drinks-2-819x1024.jpg "Give Me Drinks › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Give-Me-Drinks-2.jpg)Essential Reader Gifts for Your Bookish Friends Can Be PracticalAnother essential reader gift is a huge tumbler. After all, water tastes better when it is a [bookish-themed tumbler](https://amzn.to/3N1scEp). Everyone has their preferences, and the BIG-name brands cost more, but that makes them a great gift for the reader who can then spend their spare cash on books. I have my water favorite bottles at my bedside and desk. I love [BKR](https://amzn.to/3Pn4GSV) water bottles because they are all glass, so I can add essential oils if I want to. BKR bottles are made sturdy with a silicone sleeve for easy grip. I’ve ordered replacement bottles and sleeves in a new color to reduce waste. I’ve had the same three bottles for years, so they are worth the expense. ### **Reader Gifts to Keep Them Comfy** Reading in bed is a delight like none other. The house is quiet, no worries about being interrupted. It is a peak reading experience, but it can be less than comfortable if you don’t have the support you need. If I could list a couch-shaped headboard, that would be at the top of this list. Short of that, [an adjustable wedge pillow](https://amzn.to/4bujQxd) is a great gift for a late-night reader. Mine is a two-part set, but this handy set on Amazon is a three-part set that velcros in place for a secure hold. It offers flexibility, so you can prop your feet or head over to the couch. The main pillow has a built-in handle to make it easy to set up your space. ### **Give Them a Reading Buddy** If you think a weighted cow is silly, I would totally understand. Then, I snuggled under my grandsons’ weighted dragon and was completely sold on the idea of a weighted buddy. My kids gave me a [weighted Highland cow](https://amzn.to/4sct7Bb) for Christmas, and I absolutely love it. It is ridiculous! I was the NO-stuffed-animal mom, so it is truly insane that my kids gifted me a stuffed animal, but grandkids change a person. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/12264D3C-56AC-4B0A-9FE3-C8B5D61D9033_1_105_c-edited.jpeg "12264D3C-56AC-4B0A-9FE3-C8B5D61D9033_1_105_c › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/12264D3C-56AC-4B0A-9FE3-C8B5D61D9033_1_105_c.jpeg)Essential Reader Gift Nothing like a heating pad that looks this cute to make you feel better on a rough dayThis weighted reading buddy is now my essential reader gift. Mine has a removable pouch that can be frozen or microwaved to provide added comfort. The pouch has a reactive indicator that shows when it is too hot, which is great for younger readers. There are so many options. My grandkids have dinos and dragons, but I saw so many varieties. A great option to personalize to your book lovers’ favorite creature. ### **More** **Essential Reader Gifts They Will Appreciate** ### A couple of extra essential reader gifts that they will immediately love you for. - [Sticky Notes](https://amzn.to/47kF6nZ) for Annotations - Colorful and [Beautiful Pens](https://amzn.to/4rGRTII) - [Slippers](https://amzn.to/4d6dpmz) that Won’t Kill You on the Stairs - A [Tote Bag](https://amzn.to/3P96Fu7) with Books in Mind - [Assassin’s Apprentice](https://amzn.to/4lqyQk6) by Robin Hobb (a enthralling series with gift possibilities for a whole year plus!)) - [The Wedding People](https://amzn.to/41633eW) by Alison Espach, a hilarious read for anyone who is stressed out Loving a reader is easy. Showing it only takes a couple of clicks. You really don’t need a reason to grab a little something to show them you see them and support their book habit. What would make you top the list of essential reader gifts? Send me a DM on Instagram @bookhousereads, and I’ll add it to the list. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** projects, Read **Tags:** Books --- ### [The 5 Smartest Reasons for You to Choose Homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-start-up-smart-reasons-to-home-educate/) **Published:** March 8, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** I created this mini-capsule series at my homeschool podcast, In Due Season with you in mind. We are going to explore the fast track to homeschooling setup and re-start. This first episode talk about what kind of parent is choosing to homeschool. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Maybe you are casually searching or you are looking to begin your homeschool start-up for the first time. No matter where you are in your journey, I am so glad to meet you. This blog a close transcript of our new homeschool podcast **In Due Season**. It is full of resources for you and your family. I know you’ll find plenty to give you confidence in your ability to make the best choice for your family. Is homeschooling for you? Maybe you are struggling with whether you can continue homeschooling. Can you create a plan for a better year of schooling at home? Yes, you can. I will help you find the resources, tools and clearly affirm your core reasons for homeschooling your child. ## Parents of Struggling Students are Looking for More than Passing Grades Right now, it is spring in Iowa, but maybe you are on the other side of the world and are looking at the beginning of a new school year. Two common things are happening in the lives of students and parents at this time of year that are causing you to search for homeschool help. One, your struggling student is showing signs that they are not improving in this second half of the school year. Dread is beginning to set in. I know the thoughts. You might be asking, “Are we going to waste another school year.” The thought of losing another year including all the course work that is piling up is overwhelming. ### The System isn’t a Fit for Every Child There are great schools out there and teachers are not given enough credit for the work they are doing, but some kids don’t fit the system. The truth is that there are some systems that aren’t living up to their own standards too. Maybe your district is not making the cut for your child. After you’ve jumped through all of the hoops, had all of the meetings your child is still failing. You know they are capable of learning more and even thriving in their school work. Homeschooling can look like a bright ray of hope or a life preserver you are hoping to reach in time. Take heart dear parent, I was a “second-semester blues” student. I was removed from public school (involuntarily) in the middle of this same second-semester slump of my sophomore year. Be assure that, I understand firsthand, the struggle in the transition from public school to homeschooling for the parent and the student. ### Did You Start Homeschool for an Urgent Need The second reason for searching up “homeschool help” is due to burn-out. We all experience some form of it. Late winter, February in the US, is the peak season for parents to consider giving up on their homeschooling ideals. The struggle can feel overwhelming. As parents, we carry the weight of our children’s education personally and every set back can feel like a personal judgement on your abilities as a teacher and as a parent. Many times parents have to skip planning and move right to homeschool start-up because of an external factor. If the necessity of the moment made planning impossible, you could find yourself struggling. Be encouraged; a few minor adjustments could have you back on the way to a great school year. The problem could be a simple one, like choosing the wrong type of curriculum. It takes time to figure how you and your students learn best. Stepping back to reevaluate your progress is a great way to gain clarity and plan for a better outcome next semester. ### Homeschooling Through Difficulty Maybe you are experiencing major life changes. A move, financial upheaval, illness or a new baby can throw off the best of intentions for a productive school year. There are deeper reasons why school at home could not be working, suffering with postpartum depression, leaving an abusive relationship, navigating an unwanted divorce, trauma or the tragic loss of a family member can send your school year into a tailspin. For some families, these are times to fall back on traditional schooling and rebuild as a family. Healthy relationships means raising children who know that our first priority is their health and well-being. This goes far in telling kids about their priority in our life. *I will never advocate for homeschooling at the cost of your relationship with your child or at the cost of your health.* That said there are times when choosing homeschooling has the greatest benefits for family growth. The individuality it offers gives opportunities for building resiliency and giving space for recovery in a loving and nurturing environment. Homeschooling allows a family to have a flexible schedule, to travel or maintain academics throughout travel, sickness or other disruptions. ### Take School with You When Disaster Strikes I was so thankful for the fact that we were homeschooling when we experienced a [six month long displacement](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-displacement.html) during a whole house renovation. In fact I wrote a longer blog post about what helped us homeschool while displaced to share families suffering from the recent major hurricanes. I’ll leave the link to it in the ***show not*es** for the companion podcast episode. ### Focus on What Really Matters Another point of pain I hear from parents is in the relationships with their children. Often when a parent brings a struggling student home for school, there is already frustration on both sides. You child might have a preconceived disposition toward “school.” This can create a struggle when parents give up paying jobs and personal goals to help their struggling student. Gratitude is not often the common language of the teenager. Understanding that this is a difficult transition for your child is key to listening to their heart. This is a time when the full scale school model might need to move to light duty to give space to strengthen relationships, building trust, love and mutual respect. ### Rebuild Parenting from the Foundation If the early work or creating strong boundaries, schedules and clear expectations has not been done, by twelve, you are going to have a struggle. There is no way to fix this but by humbly acknowledging that there is going to be a rebuilding of your family as you know it. I highly recommend reading anything by Dr Henry Cloud and John Townsend; the authors of [Boundaries](https://amzn.to/3cdwKjy) and many other books, as well as Jim Fey from the Love and Logic institute; author of [Parenting Teens with Love and Logic](https://amzn.to/2VsiVb8). Whatever is causing the struggles in your homeschool, know that you are not alone. You’re not the first homeschool parent to feel like they were failing their kid. You have to remember your goals. It will help you get back on track and remember the reasons you chose to homeschool. ## What Do Families Who Start Homeschool Look Like? First of all, you may hear that not many people homeschool but it is a growing demographic. You’re in good company. Homeschooling growth is exploding. There were are [2.3 million homeschooling children ](https://www.homeschoolmarketer.com/demographics/)[in](https://www.homeschoolmarketer.com/demographics/)[ 2016](https://www.homeschoolmarketer.com/demographics/), with five year annual growth of 6%. It is the fastest growing model of education right now. So if you’re thinking of homeschooling you are not alone and NOT weird. ### So what does this growth mean to us as a homeschool community? Well, it means quite a few things. One thing it means is more support for homeschool families like you and me. [Companies are creating tools](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/language-arts-tools-homeschool-curriculum-review-handwriting/) that we can use. Communities are growing, not just online but in the world around you. Homeschool Co-ops, community groups and support is readily available in your own state and likely in a town near-by. ### Five Reasons Homeschool is the Best Model of Education I recently [read an article by Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-homeschooling-is-the-smartest-way-to-teach-kids-today-2018-1#students-dont-deal-with-cliques-or-bullying-4). It cited 5 reasons why homeschooling is the best model to educate your child. #### 1. Personalized learning is the best method to teach a student What does that mean in real life? It means that in our homeschool, we can direct our learning experience to make sure that it fits each individual student. This is something that a classroom can never offer. Not only do I homeschool but I homeschool ten children. Now, my students are very different in not only in the way they learn but the way they communicate and the way that they’re like to express themselves in their education. By homeschooling I have been able to [use the same curriculum in dynamically different ways](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-our-family-used-the-same-curriculum-ten-different-ways/) to meet each one of their educational needs without losing my mind. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_0203.jpg "IMG_0203 › 200 Fingers & Toes")This is missing the two oldest boys I wouldnt trade the early busy years when I schooled our kids ages 12 1Now every time I tell people that I homeschool 10 kids they think I am highly organized or very structured. I am not the most organized. I struggle with our ever changing structure. Still, I am glad to be able to homeschool because it [meets my kid’s educational needs in the best way](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-multiple-grades/) that I know how. In our homeschool we can give our kids the opportunity to study the things that they’re interested in which brings me to the number two reason that Business Insider said homeschooling is the best choice. #### 2. Homeschooling lets your children go deeper in the subjects they care about I have seen it in our own homeschool and I’m sure you can imagine what that would look like if you let your child’s interests become creditable. What if they’re interested in coding, computer sciences, games technology. Could you give school credit for your child learning how those things work? I have! What if they could get credit for their interests? Are they interested in music, gardening, design or art? If you’ve read [Outliers; by Malcolm Gladwell](https://amzn.to/2HXS5iZ) you’ll be aware of how many leaders like Bill Gates who were able to help or have a large window of concentrated studies in their area of interest. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_1873-300x225.jpg "IMG_1873 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Dad had a month hiatus so everyone learned how to build a outbuilding from you tube That is the kind of opportunities you can take when you choose to homeschoolOur daughter is a writer. We were able to explore online communities, and a Nanowrimo had all kinds of different ways to get her interested and engaged beyond writing reports. When your students are learning about what they care about they’re willing to go further and dig deeper than they ever were before. #### 3. Social Media gives kids a way to create and develop friendships. This is an area where I was hesitant to allow my children to explore. I’m not saying that I would turn over a digital device and let your child talk to anybody online. But, what I am saying, is that the online community world is growing and changing. And it is a place where your kids can actually meet other homeschooler and teachers. A place to make tangible relationships and lifelong friends. • Be sure to subscribe to the email list because I am creating a blog post about the kinds of online tools we use in our homeschool life, and I will go deeper on this subject there • Don’t let me miss the next post: Subscribe Me Now, it’s an area where I went hand in hand with my students. We have lots of instruction and ground rules, but online friends and communities were a part of the experience. #### 4. Students don’t have to deal with cliques and bullying I understood having sensitive students and how difficult it is to have them form relationships and thrive in the public school setting. There are times that leaving public school all together is the only option. Homeschooling has been a great way to help those students create vibrant and healthy relationships with people who are their peers in a way that the public schooling pace does not allow. Are we shunning friendships? Isolating our children? In our home we are making room for real relationships. I would like to help dispel the socialization myth. As adults when is the last time that you sat in a room with 30 other 42 year old’s and were forced to become best friends? ![Starting With Graduation in Mind](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_2238-1024x1024.jpg "Starting With Graduation in Mind › 200 Fingers & Toes")You will not be limiting your childs ability to attend the college they want by homeschoolingFrom the [Huffpost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/homeschooled-students-wel_n_1562425) and more studies I’ve read doing research online, I’ve discovered that homeschoolers are better adjusted socially than their peers on entering college. This is greatly due to larger amounts of time spent with adults doing research and connecting with others in their communities. They’re actually more adept at talking with their professors…better at communicating and better prepared for their coursework. In fact, even in national surveys, homeschool students do better than their public school peers in college retention rates (even outranking parochial/private schools.) I can definitely advocate for the 5th reason that homeschooling is the best way to lean… #### 5. Schooling is not set apart from the real world Unlike public schooling where you’re children are in a building from 8am-3pm everyday homeschooling can be done in a multitude of ways, locations and experiences. You’re not stuck in the middle of four walls. What has homeschooling allowed us to do? So many opportunities happen between the hours of 8am-4pm. The advantage for us is that we can take those field trips when the crowds are away, museum visits where adults have time to talk with our kids about the exhibits, classes, extended lessons and opportunities that we can fit in because we’re not cramming everything into one day or visit. ## What are other reasons families choose to homeschool? Relationship building is the FOUNDATION of our choice to homeschool. Honestly, education comes second to building a relationship with your child(ren). If this is an area of struggle for you I constantly give the advice to parents bringing their kids home from public education to spend the majority of their time on rebuilding their relationship with their child. If you spend the time and do the work to lay this foundation and recover the relationship to build, love and respect between one another and good communication that will go far in your homeschooling experience. ### Advice for New Homeschoolers? Many times I read questions from parents who are having trouble with their 12-15 year old who won’t listen, won’t respect or do the work that their parent is requesting of them. And often I wonder if they invested the time to develop the foundation within their relationship that is necessary. If I could go back in time I would tell those parents to spend the early years building mutual respect and love with their child. Practicing discipline in a way that creates trust develops better relationships. This is the greatest thing about homeschooling is that you can build a relationship with your child that will last FOREVER. ### When I homeschool I like to remind myself I am raising my peers. From raising the people that I will work with someday I am raising the people who will be around me. These people will relay the news, share their insights, who are going to develop my future. These are the kinds of people whom I want to be around. When I deal with my small children I want to remember I am raising my peers. How do I want them to treat me when we’re side by side? I understand that I’m a parent and that discipline within that relationship is important. But if we can cultivate loving respect between one another it will go far in your homeschooling future. > ***Honestly, I believe relationship building is the greatest opportunity availing homeschool parents today.*** > > – Amber Smith, 200fingersandtoes.com ## Homeschooling Lets You Build Your Life Another important aspect of desiring to homeschool is that it can fit your lifestyle. We have been in the restaurant business for 25 years. If you’ve worked within that field you understand that the hours can be borderline ridiculous. My husband was a busy Chef. Many of the early years of having children he would be gone from 6am-midnight. It wasn’t uncommon for me to load up 5 kids and go sit at the tables at the restaurant at 9:30pm and hang out with dad while he closed down. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/7248D562-E48F-467F-941A-D3FF2722D113-1024x1024.jpg "The early years of Homeschooling › 200 Fingers & Toes")Busy Hands and Hearts fullThe beauty of homeschooling was not having to have everyone ready for the bus at 6:30 the next morning. We had the flexibility to live life on our own terms. Hours in the day were whatever we needed them to be. ***In fact, isn’t that exactly what entrepreneurial families are trying to accomplish?*** To break out of the 9-5 narrative and live life on their own terms. It makes sense that homeschooling is an extension of that very mindset. It flexes according to your needs. We are developing within our children to think outside of the box and find creative ways to problem solve. ## Another reason to choose to homeschool is the educational outcomes. Even though I am an ardent Christian/blogger that is not my reason for choosing to homeschool. My core reason [for choosing to homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-do-we-homeschool/) is based on my educational experience. I do want my children to inherit my beliefs and I don’t believe the public system is the best place to instill the heart that I desire for my children, but I chose homeschooling because the public system did not work for me. Even though I was a smart kid I failed out of high school. I did not succeed within the public system. When my kids were old enough to enter the educational system themselves I knew I would most likely have some who learned like I did. I did not want to see the same failures handed down to them. Yes, I could be involved and yes, I could guide their education. But I knew by homeschooling that I could create an environment that would give them the best opportunities to succeed and excel. With ten students I have run the entire education gambit. I had children who learned to read as early as three and as late as nine. There is no standard for learning. There are goals and outcomes that we hope for. But to determine that a child must learn a certain skill set to exit a grade level or time frame is not always conducive to their education. ![Why are parents choosing to homeschool? With 2.6 millions kids, the population is growing and more diverse than ever. The 5 top smart reasons & more..](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_2965-1024x1024.jpg "Text Books for Lit Lovers? › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Do you want to learn more about who is choosing homeschool? Homeschool families are… - A broadly growing demographic of caring parents - Concerned about the development of their kids, top being peer influence and academic success - As diverse as their kids - Excited about educational choice and the opportunity to study subjects that are of interest - Ready to escape an environment of clichés and bullying - Want to go deeper within educational models - Desire to create deep and lasting relationships with their children, friends and family All of these are common ties among homeschoolers. Your relationship with your child is your number one priority. Homeschooling provides an excellent environment to repair/develop your relationship with your child. Maybe fitting your lifestyle is necessary and homeschooling provides a place for that. Perhaps you are hoping to achieve educational outcomes that are different from your personal experience. ## Follow to the In Due Season Homeschool Podcast for More to Come… I created a mini-capsule series on the new homeschool podcast, ***In Due Season*** just for you. We are going to explore the fast track to homeschooling setup and re-start. Our New podcast features a quick homeschool start-up guideIn this first episode we talked about the reasons a parent would choose to homeschool. Episode two will talk about what to do before choosing a curriculum. The kinds of things that you need to know before you start and what you can wade through and discover. In episode three we will talk about what you physically need in order to homeschool. Pencil and a notebook, check. We will share our favorite resources and tools. ### Are you overwhelmed with the decisions that you are trying to make? Do you think that it will be too expensive or detailed? You can do this. I will encourage you along the way. Any family living on any income can choose to homeschool affordably. I will show you how we have done it and other tools/opportunities as well. In the fourth episode of our homeschool podcast, I will share how high school is nothing to fear. One of the biggest reasons that causes many parents reject the idea of homeschooling is teaching high school. They are afraid they will get through elementary ok, but hit high school and not know what to do. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2D948E11-652B-4754-9531-942EFE924684-300x300.jpg "2D948E11-652B-4754-9531-942EFE924684 › 200 Fingers & Toes")There is no limitation that you can not purpose to overcome to meet your childs needsListen, I am a high school dropout. I made it halfway through my Sophomore year, yet I successfully completed my college degree. You won’t have to teach rocket science. High School teaching is not an insurmountable obstacle. There are curriculum out there that will make giving your child the education that your child deserves and you want to provide easier and obtainable. Episode four will provide the tools and encouragement that will let you know beyond a doubt that you can succeed in teaching high school without fear. Could you identify with one of these reasons. Did this podcast stir up that desire to explore homeschooling deeper or encourage you to dig deeper and reset your school year. I hope so. Stay tuned for the next three episodes of our fast track startup and we will get you started. I hope you are encouraged. Feel free to ask me your questions, maybe I’ll create an episode just for you. – Amber Smith ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/200FT-IDS-Logo-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C700&ssl=1 "In Due Season Episode Post › 200 Fingers & Toes")Serving you better with our blog and Homeschool Podcast ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool Helps, Homeschool Start-Up, podcast show notes --- ### [How to Give Your Student the Edge with Current Events Resources](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-give-your-student-the-edge-with-current-events-resources/) **Published:** January 7, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* No matter how you handle social media, current events is a part of living in a world with the sound on. Little kids hear broadcasts across the gas station and in the car. They catch what grandma and family members are talking about after dinner. They understand something big is happening when we parents stop to listen to the details. ## History is Tied to All of Us As instructors we need to give kids the right tools. So, they can discern what they hear from the radio and other sources. Kids are hungry to hear what is happening in the world around them. Especially if you are doing your job as an educator. Connect them with helpful sources so they can discover current events for themselves. This is the next step we take to introduce them to a world much bigger than their own. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_3612.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "IMG_3612 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Kids Are Ready for Truth at Every Age In raising our children I have learned to talk about big subjects much sooner than I think we need to. I’m not just talking about stranger danger and body safety. Though, those need to be approached much sooner than we think too. Right now, I am talking about historical events that are big news in the human scale. Current events that shatter our trust or make us weep for the people who are suffering. These stories are part of all of our lives. I want my children to have a solid understanding of how media works as early as possible. ### World View Begins in the Book We Read Our homeschool is nearly all literature based. Many parent are taken back when they discover that the first grade books discuss subjects like homelessness, bullying, Nazi raids. They met Dear Granny Han who broke her leg ended her mission work serving Jesus while bed-bound. It is in those stories we get to love come alive too. Granny continues to write letters for years with the same zeal she used while she was traipsing around China. In *[The Family Under the Bridge](https://www.sonlight.com/AA20.html)*, they learned how the most unsuspected people can become family when need designates it. Stories teach us about being brave. We find God in adversity in books like *Twenty and Ten,* and [the story of Corrie ten Boom](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/children-bible-biography-kingdom-files/). Lessons about resilience and forgiveness can be learned from a challenging books. *100 Dresses* told the story of determination and kindness that read like a historical fact. [![Sonlight Curriculum](https://www.sonlight.com/images/banner-full-468x60.gif)](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) ### Connecting World Events Geographically We begin from kindergarten, with a steady diet of the stories of humanity. There has been no transition need to the real world. Our kids have been lovingly immersed in it their whole lives. When the tsunami struck Fukushima, we were right in the middle of a year of studying the Eastern Hemisphere. Our students had a world map of reading to give them context. Because they were familiar with the location, they wanted to know who, where, and how the residence were affected. The kids read the news articles and learned about the science and humanity. They grow a deeper connection through news feeds and web searches. The faces and location are connected to our homeschool experience, because we are not bound to our own corner of the world. World News and current events bring the world to you. ### Giving Kids Power to Learn Independently In sixth grade we transition to more independent work. Current events becomes a regularly assigned subject. First, I began looking for ways to give my kids more flexibility to search for and discover news on their own. In the process of finding our way, we discovered great tools that give parents and students choices about where they get news. The following are a few of the places we use for our homeschoolers to get their news and current events. These are presented in a format structured for students to gain the greatest understanding. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/classroom.jpeg "classroom › 200 Fingers & Toes")Create a free account and gain access to video lesson plans and more ## Government & History C-SPAN Classroom is a good source for current government and historical news. I signed up for a free classroom account which gave me access to the site. They also send a great package about the presidents and elections. They offer some great resources. You can create short lessons with their Bell Ringers. Create complete lesson plans with video clips, study questions and vocabulary words. MYC-SPAN CLASSROOM is an area within the site for you to keep lessons and articles to use with your students. You can search the site easily to supplement your current curriculum. You can search and filter contents by CONTENT TYPE, CONTENT AUTHOR, GRADE LEVEL, and TOPICS. With election year upon us this is a great resource to help you answer questions. Your students can follow along with the system that has set us apart as a Nation. ## Current Events ### We are big fans of [WORLD Magazine](https://world.wng.org) ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/world-kids.jpeg?fit=1024%2C915&ssl=1 "world-kids › 200 Fingers & Toes")The WORLDkids dashboard is full of interactive encouraging young readersWe have been subscribers to the magazine for a decade. I love that world is a bi-weekly digest. That means it is still current when it comes to our doorstep. It is a Christian publication. I do not feel the same structuring news events to fit a point of view like I see in the mainstream media. In reporting there is always a slant. Reporters are driving us to a conclusion, but with WORLD, the news is well reported and thorough. I feel like I am not lead to a closed minded idea. The reader is allowed to come to conclusions of their own. Digital subscribers and many of reviewers spoke of the clarity and less hyped or slanted reporting on Amazon. ### You can Subscribe to Digital for Accessibility We have subscribed to the digital format in recent years. The student versions are priced reasonably at $35 and are discounted 20% ($29) if you are already a WORLD subscriber. A WORLDteen annual membership includes **six** print issues, interactive online content updated every weekday. It also includes bonus materials (teaching guides, reading comprehension quizzes, additional activities) to reinforce learning. I recommend print versions if you are one who likes to strew learning materials for a more natural approach. The student versions come less frequently ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/WorldTeen.WorldArticles.jpeg?fit=1024%2C693&ssl=1 "WorldTeen.WorldArticles › 200 Fingers & Toes")Get News Outside of the US for a Rounded World View WORLDteen has quite a bit of self paced material and reader interactive tools online. If you intend on digging in and making Current Events a semester long course it would be all the materials you need. WORLD magazine is an investment for the whole family. The magazine is available in app format in Gooogle Play, The App Store and in Kindle format. It features interactive pages with live linking. When all of the kids got Kindles we switched to the digital format. We read it read more often when we received the print version in our mailbox. ### Do you have Alexa in your home? You can enable “WORLD radio” which is a podcast from WORLD about everything in it. You can ask Alexa, “What’s my flash briefing?” and she will give you the daily update. This is a new interactive device at our house. I want to find all of the ways it can be relevant and useful. I don’t want to have to listen to “Daddy Shark” over and over. The Flash Briefing would be a good breakfast exercise to start the day. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/World-Teen.jpeg?fit=1024%2C663&ssl=1 "World-Teen › 200 Fingers & Toes")The Easy to Navigate Clean Design Makes it Easy to Use ### World Offers Variety for Young Readers. World offers variety for your readers. Three online offering are accessible on their website even as a guest. God’s World for the littlest readers, World Kids for those who are reading independently and World Teen. These offer current topics at appropriate context and reading levels. There is an abundance of material on their site, so go check it out. You will know what you are looking at before you subscribe. ## Newsela Offers Current Events for Every Reader in the House Are you looking for a way to present the same current event article over several reading levels? I have used [Newsela](https://newsela.com) to find articles in a variety of reading levels. Every article is created with five reading levels, (570 to 1210). Every readers in your house can join in the discussion. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Newsela.Homepage.jpeg "Newsela.Homepage › 200 Fingers & Toes") The site is created for teachers. The ability to create classrooms, share articles and assign is limited to those with an educational account. I have a call scheduled to introduce myself. I want to talk about the needs of home educators. It is important to share about the increasing market we represent. In the meanwhile, you can access all of the articles and reading levels in the main site online. You can also share the articles to a Google Classroom if you have created one. ### Making Mobile Devices Work for You You can read articles on the Newsela app as well. The articles are kids friendly, relevant and geared for students. I like the GOOD NEWS section and the FOR KIDS sections. Do you feel like current events is a dark and depressing topic? Newsela can help with balancing the positive with the negative. I am always looking for ways to help my kids make their phones a tool that assists them in their goals, less of a distraction. By adding learning apps and creating school time to use them, I hope that we are modeling skills they will continue. I do nearly all of my work; outside of writing copy, on my mobil device. We can create an attitude that views tech as creative and useful tools, but it takes being intentional. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Newsela.article.jpeg "Newsela.article › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Plenty of Information for Easy Searching Each article is immediately identified by author, source and who did the adaptation. The date published, and word count are visible too. These can help you sort quickly through articles to find relevant or appropriate lengthen for your reader. There is also a general recommendation for reading level and age of audience. The site is searchable and you can also choose to hide an article. Your discretion is still the deciding factor in what you want to use for discussion topics. Each article has corresponding activities which include reading comprehension writing assignments and quizzes. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Newsela.activities.jpeg "Newsela.activities › 200 Fingers & Toes")Easy Activities Help Develop Reading Comprehension SkillsI hope this gives you some easy places to start. Let me know if you have a favorite place to gather articles for Current Events reading in your homeschool. I will add them to my list of resources. > [How to Guarantee 30% Gains in Your Child’s Reading Scores](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/avoid-summer-slide-with-reading-books/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** current events, elementary socialstudies, homeschool news, News --- ### [11 Books That Will Help You Define Your Personal Vision](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/11-books-that-will-define-your-personal-vision-in-2020/) **Published:** December 6, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Readers know that we need to add new books to inspire personal vision and growth from time to time. I am always reading to learn and grow. This year I collected a few new favorite writers like, Jeff Goins, Brian Dixon and Jen Wilkin. I also added to my collections of leadership books by writers I have been following for years like; Jon Acuff, Ruth Soukup and my adopted (he doesn’t know it yet) grandfather, Bob Goff. It has been a good reading year. I have really expanded my vision in ways that challenge and scare me. I need all the encouragement I can gather. It was not a record breaker in the numbers department for me. Typically, I read about eighty books a year. I had set my [GoodReads](https://www.goodreads.com/) goal for 120 and then failed to log back in all year, sorry friends! I started working away from home and reading took a backseat. Though it might have been the worst reading year by volume, the books contain some of the most useful and applicable content books to inspire personal vision and developing my leadership skills. ## Business and Personal Growth I’ll give you the basic categories so you can find your favorites. Even though the list is small, the growth was huge. I am amazed how much each of these visionary leaders has impacted me and how many times these separate authors intersected with one another in my personal-growth reading and podcast listening. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_3162.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Get motivated in your business, life and writing › 200 Fingers & Toes")There is more from Jeff GoinsLike *Real Artists Dont Starve* ### Wrecked – Jeff Goins [Jeff Goins](https://goinswriter.com/about-me/) is a writer, speaker and pod caster. I heard about him from the wise and industrious Seth Godin. The first book I read of Jeff’s was ***Wrecked***. You can read his 2010 manifesto, *[Wrecked for the Ordinary](https://goinswriter.com/writers-manifesto/)*, *A Manifesto for Misfits*. I was intrigued at his desire for purposeful living and the dissatisfaction with the status quo and I was hearing his name everywhere I turned. Wrecked would be a great book for every graduate you know this year. Goins writes passionately about living a life of purpose from right where you are. ### You Are A Writer – Jeff Goins Next, I picked up *[You are a Writer](https://amzn.to/38ewjDF)* *(so start acting like one)* In it, Goins shares the most important thing that will propel you into your dream of becoming a writer. The first is knowing you are a writer and the second, getting back to the practical act of actually writing. Not reading about writing, not purging you emails, but writing. In it he gives clear ideas to help improve your writing and offers steps to build a strong platform. He wants his readers to get published and puts them in the drivers seat of their passion with his advice. He has more than proven his ability to do every one of these things he writes about. ### The Art of Work – Jeff Goins Not a writer? Then start with Goins 2015 offering *[The Art of Work](https://amzn.to/369yUNq)* *(a proven path to discovering what you were meant to do)*. Jeff shares that sometimes pursuing your passion is really following the path that is left after everything else fails. In The Art of Work, Goins shares the stories of people who have taken the tough turns life has handed them and recreated them into the gifts that gave them the life they now love. Meaningful work is available to everyone, do you believe that? The question Jeff poses in the book is; could you challenge yourself to live it out, that is what Goins is doing right now. Goins is a truly generous leader. He offers quite a few practical resources free from his beautiful and relevant website [goinswriter.com](https://goinswriter.com/) You can sign up for his latest news and get his latest book *[Real Artists Don’t Starve](https://dontstarve.com/)* for FREE. ### Do It Scared – Ruth Soukup This was a book I had on preorder back in 2018, long before it came out. A proven author with five New York Times best sellers, Ruth’s writing is thorough and well thought out. She is an amazing researcher, analyzer and she has a great way of explaining complex ideas in a way the reader can easily digest. She has been my go-to Guru for all things blog related since day one, but she has so much more to offer on her blog [Living Well, Spending Less](https://www.livingwellspendingless.com/) ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_5420.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Flutter › 200 Fingers & Toes")Ruth is one of the clearest teachers I have ever followed[*Do It Scared* ](https://amzn.to/2Plr2BD)digs into seven “Fear Archetypes.” Ruth discovered these seven core reasons people succumb to fear through her years of working with entrepreneurs and of course some very intense research. Knowing what fears drive you will help you to plan around them. If you liked Gretchen Rubin’s ***Better Than Before***, this would be a great companion book. Ruth advocates for her readers to make the commitment to “Do It Scared.” Yes, identifying our fear type is valuable, but fear can not impede action. ***Do It Scared*** is a book for those who want to get their dreams and plans into action. ## **The** Next Right Thing – Emily P. Freeman When you are faced with two great options how do you choose. In *[The Next Right Thing](https://amzn.to/2sfx7Yj)* Emily offers so much more than throwing a dart at the board or making a pro/con list. She walks through a series of exercises to help you invision with clarity, the next right thing to do. She helps readers define their focus and goals to give clarity and confidence. I appreciate Emily’s calm and methodical approach to needling out the best from the good. You can learn more about living a life that puts you closer to your goals by listening to Emily’s podcast, [The Next Right Thing](https://emilypfreeman.com/podcast/) where she shares more insight and tips for clarifying your focus and achieving more. Her calm and quiet manor is a beautiful change from many overly energetic or giggly podcasters I have sifted through. She is also a cofounder of Hope\*Writers, an online community where writers can get real tools and teaching that will get them published. You can take the free assessment to see what stage of writer you are [HERE](https://www.hopewriters.com/a/8794/75QYS6xf). ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/51EEA413-B53F-49DA-B00C-74E70F1BF061.jpg "51EEA413-B53F-49DA-B00C-74E70F1BF061 › 200 Fingers & Toes")books to inspire personal vision in leadership and business planning### Start With Your People – Brian J. Dixon Once you have defined your goals and clarified your vision, Brian Dixon helps you lead by serving your people. If there is a common theme from EVERY great leadership book I have ever read it is you have to serve your audience. Brian gives practical steps for doing that. He shows how leaders start growing by finding the best ways to help others succeed. This book had me rethinking every post I write. If you start with the authentic desire to help your readers, community, or team you will gain traction and become the leader your people need. ### Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell I am curious about resilience. How can children endure trauma and yet, grow up to be well adjusted citizens while others continue the cycle of destruction. I’ve spent the last few years unraveling many different personality distinctions and types. [Outliers, The Story of Success](https://amzn.to/36qWYLOhttps://amzn.to/36qWYLO), is a different book altogether. It walks you through the case study of several game changers in history and breaks down how they came to the level of fame, accolades, or success that was unheard of until their time. From industrial revolution visionaries, to rock stars and silicon valley computer brats, Gladwell breaks down the factors common to those who reached breakthrough level in their field. #### What propels some people into a place where they seem to be genius? Is it simply brain power alone? ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_0324-e1576194152558-1629452227-1576202273495.jpg "You are starting school too! › 200 Fingers & Toes")We all need to read books to inspire personal visionGladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point, sees more to these great success stories than high IQ or super powers. Position in time, birth year and season, resources at their disposal and the 10,000 hour rule are all leading factors in the case studies he highlights. As a parent, this helps me consider how I structure my kids learning choices and even their learning hours. If you are curious about what makes success possible, if you are interested in the story of unlocking human potential and expanding your own creative vision, then this book is one you should grab. I just added Gladwell’s latest book to my [audible](https://amzn.to/38BHjLN) library, [Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know](https://amzn.to/2t4oxMu). I’m looking forward to seeing how this fits in with my quest for understanding human behavior. I really do want to respond to individuals effectively by understanding what they need to hear from me. That is the one thing that I have noticed in the gospels, Jesus answered people with the exact answer that got to the meat of whatever they were saying to Him. If I had a super power it would be to always say exactly what I mean in the way that the hearer would receive it. So far, I hope a lifetime of reading helps. ## **Inspiration** and **Spiritual** Growth ### Everybody Always – Bob Goff *[Everybody Always](https://amzn.to/2YFgxxs)* is about finding the path to living a liberated life; free from worry, fear and constraint. The key, Bob surmises, is to love, without distinction, and without limits. I have never fallen so instantly in love with an author as I have with Bob Goff. (Bob if you read this, please adopt me as your honorary granddaughter) With so many Christians ringing their hands wondering how to respond to a world that seem to oppose the core values, Goff’s answer is simple; Love. #### Who do we love? Everybody, Always. Even witch doctors! Bob’s story telling is unrivaled and he shares the extraordinary journey he has taken to show love in big, real, tangible ways. If you a podcast listener you will want to subscribe to his ***[Dream Big](https://dreambigframework.com/podcast)*** podcast. Bob keeps the conversation going by talking with his friend and fellow visionaries, about how they live their big dreams. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bob-Goff-Pod-Cast.jpg "Bob-Goff-Pod-Cast › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://dreambigframework.com/podcast)Check out what is new with Bob over on his site and on Instagram It is a partyIf life feels small and dark you need to read the book from Bob Goff, the ballon guy, author of *[Love Does](https://amzn.to/2rp7ZP7)* and [Love Does for Kids](https://amzn.to/2LHd4ZQ). ### Women of the Word – Jen Wilkin If you are asking, “How do I study the Bible on my own?” Then I would hand you *[Women of the Word](https://amzn.to/2YyUAQq)*. The ‘Women’ part of the title is simply book publishing, market semantics. Jen is a well learned and high achieving Bible teacher and has earned the right to teach on the subject of Biblical literacy. As I writer and storyteller, I can be drawn into creating Biblical story based narratives that may illustrate **my** point, but can possibly draw away from the intentional focus of the text. I desire a foundation of Biblical literacy for every article I write. Jen guides readers to begin to study with five P’s in mind. #### Study with **Purpose, Perspective, Patience, Process** and **Prayer** These are the skill she unpack for her small groups at her home church. The same tools she teaches at academic lectures and speaking engagements as well. I had the pleasure of having [Jen Wilkin](https://www.jenwilkin.net/) as the Key speaker at [the One Conference](http://www.theoneconference.org/blog/2016/3/17/cj41b667fxcmn9zyrnz5q0x333s2l5), and was moved by the depth of her Bible knowledge and teaching. You can sit in on her teaching from the [Flower Mound Women’s Bible Study](https://jenwilkin.podbean.com/) on PodBean podcast player as well as on [Knowing Faith](https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/vd4wa-59473/Knowing-Faith-Podcast), which has become one of my favorite podcasts for my drive times. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_5417.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")Jen wants all readers to be solid in the teaching of the Word### Inspired – Rachel Held Evans I came across the book Inspired by way of the modern miracle of Amazon marketing. *[Inspired](https://amzn.to/34cTew9)* was in my recommendation list back in 2018. Probably because I bought *[The Very Worst Missionary](https://amzn.to/38sgSrx)*, by Jamies Wright, the month before (which had me laughing to actual tears). I had reached peak cynical stage, in my recovery from a Fundamentalist/Evangelical ideology background and needed to hear some new, fearlessly-honest, fresh voices speak into my life. Inspired touched me because Rachel was so honest about there being parts of the Bible that caused her discomfort. Places where God’s character seems incongruent, places where she was unsure where to plant the flag. She was bothered by the need for certainty that is demanded of Christians, but at the same time contradicts what faith asks of us. > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl4Dqqugq7S/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) [Pool side for the last free community pool swim night. Thank God for free fun that includes me reading a book in the sun for an hour. I got paid from a sponsored post recently and was able to click buy on my little Amazon book pile. I basically work so that I can read. It is a winning arrangement. I love reviewing books when it helps to get awesome products into the hands of just the right people. But I am in love with brave writers who produce amazing, bright, warm, thought provoking stories. Please keep writing. Tell your story. I need to read it. #writersofinstagram #writerslife #reading #amreading #inspired #rachelheldevans #poolside #summer #myreadinglist](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl4Dqqugq7S/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) > > A post shared by [ Amber Smith](https://www.instagram.com/200fingersandtoes/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) (@200fingersandtoes) on Jul 30, 2018 at 5:27pm PDT #### *Inspired* is a book about a journey of faith. It began in religion; where every doctrinal question had a specific, correlating index card reference to answer it. The problem that Rachel, and many of us along our faith walk experience, is that the path gets messy when you throw in your life and real people with needs and troubling problems. In the discomfort, Rachel decided to allow the answer, “I don’t know.” In confusing spaces of dessert treks, genocides and law driven stoning, Rachel redirects us to the bigger narrative; God came down and lived among His creation. He wrote a story, in the story of men, about Himself. If you follow the vein of scarlet you find a story of redemption and love that overshadows all of the questions you can throw at the text. Through allowing discomfort and questioning, Rachel fell back in love with the Kinsmen Redeemer revealed in the words of the Biblical narrative. #### Rachel’s comfort in agitation was a healing balm. I was raised to believe there is an answer for every faith question, but in the recent years I have learned to appreciate the lack of total clarity I have about God. I’m a believer, but I don’t know answers to questions that aren’t spelled out in scripture. God knows our tendency to get tunnel visioned. Rachel reminds us to pull up and get that beautiful, cinematic, sweeping landscape shot of the redemption story. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_0324-e1576194152558-1629452227-1576202273495.jpg "You are starting school too! › 200 Fingers & Toes")I began looking for more books by Rachel and was looking forward to following her writing journey. In May of 2019, Rachel died suddenly, after a brief and rapidly advancing infection. She was just 37, leaving behind her husband, Dan, and two young children. It is hard to be unaffected by the tragic loss of a beloved voice that reached so many by writing honestly from her own heart. She is well remembered for her work and for being a mighty Woman of Valor. ## Send Recommendations for My 2020 Reading List A quick scattering of a few more of my top favorite visionaries from 2019 are: - Daring Greatly, Brené Brown - Better Than Before, Gretchen Rubin - Outer Order Inner Calm, Gretchen Rubin - The Road Back to You (enneagram), Cron & Stabile - The Sacred Enneagram, Heuertz - Girl Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis - Imperfect Courage, Jessica Honegger - Finish, by my favorite person on the internet; Jon Acuff I would love to hear about the book you read that changed you this year. Friend me on GoodReads too. My plan is to do a better job on adding my books. I’ve begun using the scan option ands that helps me be more diligent about adding the books I am reading. I love seeing what my friends are reading. It is an effective way to get to know a person and find great reads. ## [Amber’s books](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9886801-amber?shelf=read&utm_medium=api&utm_source=grid_widget) [![The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320463338l/122751._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122751.The_Modern_Library_Writer_s_Workshop "The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction") [![The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1437275269l/32533._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32533.The_Art_of_Fiction "The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers") [![Delicious!](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404478598l/18167006._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18167006-delicious "Delicious!") [![The Wisdom Of God: Seeing Jesus In The Psalms And Wisdom Books](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369818143l/11680961._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11680961-the-wisdom-of-god "The Wisdom Of God: Seeing Jesus In The Psalms And Wisdom Books") [![The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369818704l/11119453._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11119453-the-promised-one "The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis (Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament)") [![Unbored: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339196682l/13538790._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13538790-unbored "Unbored: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun") [![It's a Punderful Life: A fun collection of puns and wordplay](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390433151l/20601426._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20601426-it-s-a-punderful-life "It's a Punderful Life: A fun collection of puns and wordplay") [![Rest and Rise - A 4 Week Bible Study: Be Refreshed In Your Work](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519616183l/38750641._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38750641-rest-and-rise---a-4-week-bible-study "Rest and Rise - A 4 Week Bible Study: Be Refreshed In Your Work") [![Braving the Wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505604543l/35720081._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35720081-braving-the-wilderness "Braving the Wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone") [![Letters to the Church: Study Guide](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535687096l/39835827._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39835827-letters-to-the-church "Letters to the Church: Study Guide") [![The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504109539l/33098676._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33098676-the-sacred-enneagram "The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth") [![You Are a Writer](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458409561l/23649862._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23649862-you-are-a-writer "You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)") [![Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349028271l/13585813._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13585813-wrecked "Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life") [![You Are A Writer](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1334942684l/13610173._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13610173-you-are-a-writer "You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One)") [![Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552497295l/43610217._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43610217-everything-happens-for-a-reason "Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved") [![Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550607364l/40591267._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40591267-girl-stop-apologizing "Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals") [![The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549631297l/42244997._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42244997-the-next-right-thing "The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions") [![Start with Your People: The Daily Decision that Changes Everything](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563013910l/42771931._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42771931-start-with-your-people "Start with Your People: The Daily Decision that Changes Everything") [![Don't Juggle Bees! And Other Useless Advice For Silly Children](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327827449l/13270720._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13270720-don-t-juggle-bees-and-other-useless-advice-for-silly-children "Don't Juggle Bees! And Other Useless Advice For Silly Children") [![Paper Things](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415586683l/22747802._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22747802-paper-things "Paper Things") [Amber’s favorite books »](https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9886801-amber) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Afraid To Homeschool This Year? Take These Steps Now!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-start-homeschooling-iowa-steps-now/) **Published:** August 24, 2022 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* No matter what the circumstances that brought you to this search, this is the year you actually do it! You are going to homeschool your child for the very first time. You are probably feeling a mix of being afraid to homeschool and elated to experience the freedoms you have heard about from others. Your family is on the cusp of educational freedom like you have never experienced it before. You are all about to experience the benefits of homeschooling, but you want to know the details. about how to start homeschooling in Iowa. # You Have Important Questions! Are you asking how to exit the local school districts the right way? Do you want to know how do you get started homeschooling while making sure you have covered all technical and legal requirements? At the outset of the homeschool experience, you will have questions. Those questions might be keeping you from saying “yes” to homeschooling. This article will give you a clear guide to the best way to begin homeschooling in Iowa or anywhere in the United States, today! Knowing what you need to do will help you feel confident, assured and no longer afraid to homeschool. ## Breaking Down the Homeschool Facts The best way to overcome being afraid to homeschool is asking questions and getting clear answers! Let’s break down some of the most common questions I hear from families. So many times, facts can dispel fears and help you on the way to a confident start. The truth is that, we are all nervous when we first consider homeschooling. Even teachers are anxious about each new school year. This doesn’t mean we aren’t meant to homeschool. It could mean that you are going to do what it takes to makes sure you do the work to be a great homeschool leader. That could work to your advantage. [**Use the heading list to navigate to your desired topic**.](#back-to-top) - [Check Your State Laws](#laws) - [Choose ONLY the Service You Want](#choose-serices) - [Create Your Homeschool Calendar](#create-calendar) - [Knowing Your Why](#know-why) - [Consider Your Child’s Current Learning Style](#learning-style) - [Set Up Attainable, Measurable Goals](#set-goals) - [Start Smaller Than You Think](#start-small) ### Check Your State’s Homeschool Laws Home School Legal Defense [HSLDA](https://hslda.org/content/) and National Home Education Research Institute [NHER](https://www.nheri.org/) are both great resources to locate your state’s information and begin creating a plan for how to communicate with the appropriate agencies. Many parents are afraid to homeschool because they don’t know their rights and the laws of their state. You don’t have to be ignorant of the law and there are many organizations that are partnering to strengthen and uphold your rights. We homeschool in IOWA which has had some major success in alleviating the burden of excessive or invasive oversight. The great place for a breakdown of your startup options is provided by [Homeschool Iowa](https://homeschooliowa.org/start-homeschooling/). Their site is one they should be bookmarked for every Iowa based homeschooler and is a good resource for anyone trying to navigate how to start homeschooling for the first time. Their yearly Homeschool Convention is a great resource for curriculum choices and encouragement. The have [printable forms and sample documents](https://homeschooliowa.org/iowa-law/iowa-homeschool-forms/) to help you know exactly what you need to provide to your school district. ### Choose the Service You Want Are you needing services from the local school district? College courses online, speech therapy, theater, band or [athletics](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschooler-heads-to-the-well-for-state-wrestling-tournament/)? Depending on your state laws, your students may be able to access these services while homeschooling. Don’t fret if you are barred from using public school services in your state. Homeschooling families have created their own network of resources and sport teams. Check with [your state homeschool support group](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/) for a list of resources near you. #### WE USE A COMBINATION OF SERVICES We choose several options. If you are just beginning it might sound more confusing for me to tell you how we do it. Each depends on the services you want to use from the local school, if any at all or none. The simplest version is we are **open enrolled** to a neighboring school district. Iowa recently changed their laws to allow parents to choose enrolling their child for services in the district of their choice. We are dual enrolled for athletics, therefor we choose Competent Private Instruction (CPI) option 2 with opt-in reporting. To satisfy the “reporting” element; you may choose to submit standardized test results, a portfolio evaluation by a licensed Iowa teacher, or you may submit an end of the year report from an accredited correspondence school in which your child is enrolled and send it to the district at the end of the school year. Homeschool Iowa has [this handy chart](https://homeschooliowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Side-By-Side-Legal-Options-Chart.jpg) to help you see your options clearly. If you were ever afraid to homeschool, spend some time on their website. They offer plenty of resources to help you start homeschooling in Iowa, but have tons of information on their site that can help anyone. Some of my other students are open enrolled but are NOT using services from the school currently. For these students, I send an Independent Private Instruction (IPI) form to the district in which those children are enrolled ONLY if they request one. I do not have to report to the district about those students work or test results. This is all you need to do to fulfil the legal requirements to start homeschooling in Iowa. ## Create Your Homeschool Calendar Depending on your state laws for attendance, you can now begin to get an idea of how you want to schedule your homeschool day. In Iowa, we must meet the minimum requirement of meeting for 148 days per calendar year, at least 37 days each school quarter. I divided 148 school days by five days a week, for a result of roughly 30 weeks of “class” time. That leaves 20+ weeks for summer, Holiday, Travel, and well-deserved breaks. Homeschooling allows you to use your days as you need them. I started a part-time job in October of 2018. I work 20-25 hours a week away from home. The younger kids were already using a [four-day school ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/)schedule and using day five for elective studies and personal projects. To help us cut down on our workload through the week we opted to keep our four-day week. Now, three days are hands-on instruction and one day for online work, elective and personal work. This means we do school a little longer, 38 weeks out of the year. We still have 14 weeks’ worth of time to distribute throughout the year for breaks and vacation. ## Are You a Working Parent? You Can Choose to Homeschool! You can join a co-op with other homeschool families and share the teaching load. Be flexible and swap school days for weekends, swap teaching days with your partner, or another homeschooling parent. I say all of this to let you know that you can still consider homeschool as a working parent. Homeschooling is a great fit for entrepreneurial families like mine. Our school hours as restaurant owners were always unconventional. There were years when the only way the kids saw Daddy, was when I tucked all of us in the car and headed over to the restaurant to hang out until after closing time. I am so glad I made the effort to stay connected as a family. I don’t know if we would have beaten the odds and made it twenty-six years and business owners and lovers if we hadn’t made “US” a priority. Homeschooling allowed us to prioritize family. We would not have chosen late nights with Dad if the kids had to be up for the bus at 6:30 in the morning. We were blessed to get to experience things like Daddy coming home for lunch and the kids going to work with Dad. Do you dream of living a life that is more family oriented? Homeschooling can give you this if you are willing to make it a priority. ### Questions I will ask if you are considering homeschooling… - Would homeschool be the best education model right now? - Would it be the best fit for your family, or most importantly, your child? - If the answer is yes, the rest is just details. I’ll help you sort those out. ## Consider Homeschooling: Know Your Why On hard days, and we all have them, you will need a reminder of the most important thing, why you’re choosing to homeschool. Here is where you get deeply personal about your reasons. These are not boxed reasons. No one gives up their personal comfort, a good paying job, a clean house; and endures the occasional ridicule of strangers in the grocery checkout line without a deep motivation. Is your child struggling? Do you feel like you are losing connection as a family? Maybe you want to learn together and explore the world with enthusiasm. All of those are great reasons to homeschool. You need to know your why to help you build a plan that fits your goals. I created a [free mini-course to create your own “Why Page”](https://indueseason.mysamcart.com/checkout/build-your-homeschool-why) that will keep you on track for years to come. I’ve created a “Why” page for our family that has served me for all fourteen years that I’ve been homeschooling. ## Consider Your Child’s Current Learning Style When we first began homeschooling our kids were all very small. In facet here is a picture of our first official day of table subject school. I had a 7, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1 and was six months pregnant. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Started-Homeschooling-2007.png "Started-Homeschooling-2007 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Started-Homeschooling-2007.png)There is no little to really make you afraid to homeschool as you learn and understand that you will grow with your kidsDuring that season of life, what we did well was nap. Sleeping was a huge focus of every day, play, naps, food, and bedtime was pretty much it. We did do a ton of reading when everyone went down for a nap. I was very intentional about wanting my kids to love books, so when the baby fell asleep, I gathered everyone upstairs on the bunk beds and pulled out the trundle, where I would read while they all dropped off one by one. Doug, my husband, would come home for a mid-day break to find all of us sleeping away in a dog-pile. I was an amazing time. ### Afraid to Homeschool to Living a Literature Rich Life When I started thinking about how to start homeschooling, I knew I wanted to keep doing exactly what was working for us AND get school credit for it. So, I searched for a Literature Based Curriculum, one with full length books that I could read aloud covering many of our core subjects for the day. In the end, a friend recommended a curriculum she was using. Now, we use Sonlight Curriculum and have from the start. It fit our learning goals and is perfect for multi-student families like mine. We wanted to build a library that we could keep coming back to year after year. Being rural, I like having everything we need delivered to our door at the outset of the school year. The question of how to start homeschooling can not be covered without talking curriculum. “How should I teach?” is not a question I ever answer based off what we use. Our curriculum fits us for the unique set of circumstances and goals we established for our family. ## How Will We Learn? #### FINDING homeschool resources THAT FIT YOUR FAMILY’S LEARNING STYLE Here are a few ways I help new homeschooling families narrow down the HUGE selection of homeschooling materials and define what their family needs most. ### LITERATURE BASED CURRICULUM - [Sonlight](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) My top [Literature Based Bundle](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/) pick for great content and price - Memoria Press Classical Subjects Latin, [Greek](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/raise-smarter-kids-greek-homeschool/), Logic & Rhetoric, Streaming - [Veritas Press](https://veritaspress.com/store/?awraf=4D3982035D431C8BB8378) Classical Subjects, Language Arts, Live & Online too - [Beautiful Feet](http://bfbooks.com/?tap_a=30494-e48ebf&tap_s=570195-e93827) Lighter reading workload with a study guide - [Notgrass ](https://history.notgrass.com/how-it-works/) Stories all in one or two big books with guide and readers optional - [Ambleside Online](https://amblesideonline.org/) Free classical literature book links and individual lesson plans or purchase the year lesson plan - [Timberdoodle](https://timberdoodle.com/collections/curriculum-kits/products/2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kit) Another of my top favorites. [We used this last year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/). Less reading and more hands-on activities for your child. There are tons of Homeschool teaching styles. I have a friend who only uses textbooks and workbooks. She is confident in knowing that all the information she needs to cover is in one book for the year. If a textbook is overwhelming to your or your child, there are some providers that break up the whole year into packets with ten workbooks for the year for each subject. That said…textbooks make me want to cry. Sorry, friend, but to each their own. I want you to find your best fit for your famiy, so here is a list to get you started with a search. ### TEXTBOOK BASED PROGRAMS HOMESCHOOL Here is the best of the bunch if you crave structure and assurance. - [Abeka](https://www.abeka.com/Homeschool/WhyAbeka/) Trusted leader in Textbook style, offers Video and Full Online Instruction - [Alpha Omega AOP](https://www.aop.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwm4rqBRBUEiwAwaWjjKGTfEgW7QLwWl-mvUYErXQsFDS7WqlyUJd9wGVTRBdNS-V21SVgsBoCeaoQAvD_BwE) Teacher Led Textbooks, [self-directed workbook](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-the-best-resources-for-faster-homeschool-start-up/), digital and full online - [Saxon Math](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/math/saxon-math?event=AFF&p=1191175) Clear, time-tested, and not too much repetition, solid test prep - [ACE Core Paces](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/ace/ace-core-pace-only-kits?event=AFF&p=1191175) A series of workbooks covering four subjects systematically. ### OTHER RESOURCES I USE… - [Timberdoodle](https://timberdoodle.com/) for games and [learning toys](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/) - [Christianbook.com](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool?event=AFF&p=1191175) for great prices on personal studies, Bibles and text books - [My Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AEYQPIXMZMD2ASNTUQWLNAPIBZJA?ref=idea_cp_gtp_ov_d) Recommendations Page Many of these curriculum providers have developed some form of online instruction, either in a live streaming an actual real-time class, or using an online go at your own pace program. Almost every one of these publishers and curriculum creators has a huge resource library, a newsletter and FAQ page that are full of helpful information. Many have blogs ad Facebook groups to follow and learn new things from all the time. > Here is the thing about starting to homeschool, you are all going to be learning at the same time. Welcome back to school! > > – Amber @200fingersandtoes ## Continue With What is Working We kept a literature-based program because it was what was working in our life. We had a groove with reading, and I didn’t want to change that. I am still a little taken back when a parent posts the question, “Which curriculum should I choose?” to a room full of strangers. There is so much I would want to know before I could even begin to narrow down suggestions that I think you might find useful. That is why as a homeschool veteran, I offer consultations. Not to make money, but to narrow down the sea of options for you. Paying for [a consult is an investment](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about-me/homeschool-consultation/), paying for a curriculum you hate six weeks from now, that is a waste. But how do you find a good fit? ## If I were going to give you a consultation, I would ask these four questions… ### What is prompting you to homeschool - Is there a problem you are trying to solve? - Has your educational philosophy changed? - Is your child struggling academically, emotionally, relationally. Is there a sickness of disability? - Do they have special needs that require accommodations in your home? - Do you want to create a different orientation around family life for you all? Your family’s needs and any potential problem must be considered and planned for in your homeschool method and reflected in your homeschool curriculum choice. ### What are the ages and learning abilities of your children? Time for gut level honesty. You need to take the real facts into account to make a real plan. To get a clearer picture your students can take placement tests in many of the curriculum on the market to find a best level. #### Placement Tests Can Help You DISCOVER… - If your child is reading below grade level, - Need work in specific topics, like failing to thrive in subjects like math or science, - If they need to change pace to meet graduation requirements - Discover if your students are ahead in school and need more challenging material - Know levels will help you to group students to save teaching time ### How is your relationship with your child? Listen, I would rather you choose a soft workload and spend the year building up a loving relationship built on trust and mutual respect than have you both butting heads trying to leap forward three levels in reading. Family is the core of homeschool, this is where you must begin. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/E1CFA698-F97D-4B8F-AE2F-E9487854BA29-768x1024.jpeg "E1CFA698-F97D-4B8F-AE2F-E9487854BA29 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/E1CFA698-F97D-4B8F-AE2F-E9487854BA29-scaled.jpeg)### What does your kid love? Find a way to make it count for school in a positive way. Homeschooling allows you to let areas they excel in shine. My son was a gamer. I challenged myself to allow his passion for games to count as a real skill. When I did, I saw thousands of things he was learning from cooperative gaming. He even joined the competitive electronic gaming team at the University he attended for his undergrad program. Knowing your child’s passions can go a long way in creating a homeschool that helps your child develop a love of learning. My daughter is a writer, so we jumped into NaNoWriMo and wrote 50k words one November. We both completed the challenge and ended the month with rough draft of a novel, and a great experience as mother and daughter. You know your child best. Find ways to connect real life skills they currently have, or ones they want to learn with learning experiences in your homeschool. Learning can be relevant, experiential and personalized in your homeschool. ## Set Up Attainable, Measurable Goals Once you know what curriculum you are going to use you are ready to start homeschooling in Iowa. Now, you will want to be clear about what you want to accomplish this year, find a way to make it measurable. Is there an academic struggle you can do a pre and post-tests for record keeping. Do you want to have more actual fun with your own kids. Could you keep a scrapbook of your year. Plan for a way to measure your goals. Let older kids set some academic goals for themselves too. I go over our year end test score with my older boys, so they see in real context where they need to put in more work and where they are doing well. ## Start Smaller Than You Think Doing anything from start-up is hard. It is natural to be afraid to homeschool. If this is your [first-time homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-2-keys-to-your-most-successful-how-to-planning-homeschool/), acknowledging that it will be a season of fine tuning will help you. You will plan on using this year for finding your way. Give yourself permission to start smaller and make changes sooner. When we begin the school year we typically start in August. I give us a month to come up to full steam. We begin with just our core subjects, Math, Reading (our reading book subjects cover History, Social Studies, Geography and can even Science), Language Arts. By September, we incorporate Bible, Writing assignments, current events, and the [full science curriculum](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/). By reading great books we sneak in a lot of learning time. We all work from 10 to 2pm most school days. There is plenty of time to play and pursue other interests if they get right to work and stay on task. If they give me my school hours, I generally promise not to take their free time. I can keep my word because there is no homework for us to do at night. ### Can You Set Your Own Hours? My school hours are different. I choose to fit my needs because I am a mother of ten, and a writer. To continue working as a writer, I have always kept mornings as my personal quiet time and writing hours. You don’t have to conform to the traditional school setting. Homeschooling doesn’t mean you have to give up your personal and business goals. You can actually help your entrepreneurial life grow while you homeschool. “School hours” are set for the adults working in the field of education. It is conducive to operate their business while parents are also working. It serves the community best, so it works. If you work during the week, a monday-friday school week might not serve your family best. You cna change your school hours to fit your family. There are tons of options. Four day weeks, block schedules, schooling on the weekends or evenings. All of these are possibilities that are acceptable for you to choose. We began with school year round, which enabled my oldest children to graduate early and earn a ton of credits. As our schedule changed and we did more outside activities, we switched to a traditional school year. Even before I began working outside of the house, we switched to a four day schedule. We used our day FIVE, for Science Labs, outside lessons, batting and pitching practice and electives. Now, we keep that day open for catch up and independent work. ## Now it is Your Turn to Research I hope this gives you some places to do more research. If you decide this is the year for you to begin your homeschool journey, let me know. You don’t have to be afraid to homeschool for another minute! I want to cheer you on! If you have any other questions drop me a comment. The [200 Fingers & Toes blog ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog-2/)is for you. It is full of resources, encouragement, reviews of tools and curriculum that we used in our home so we could share it with you. Consider it a welcome to homeschooling gift to you from me. ##### click [here](#back-to-top) to Jump Back to the Top of the page ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [How to Homeschool - Create a Plan for your First Year Homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/) **Published:** August 8, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Find everything you need to begin your first year of homeschooling in one place with links to resources you will need **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you asking, “How Do I Homeschool?” If you are pulling your child out of school mid-year or are just beginning to research the idea; if you are a working mom, parent of a child with special needs, or parents wanting to hit the reset button on family life, this post has everything you need to answer your questions about getting started homeschooling and so much more… It still might feel like your toes are on the edge of the great unknown. Whatever the circumstances that led you here, I have good news, there are plenty of tools and resources that will answer your questions, ease your fears and lead you to the homeschool style that will fit your unique family and learning needs. I’ve linked to a ton of them in this east to bookmark post. Consider our blog, 200 Fingers & Toes as your guide to help you find the way to your best homeschool year ever. So where do you start… ![Getting Started Homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/B0003957.jpg "B0003957 › 200 Fingers & Toes")This was our very first school room fifteen years ago mostly used for lots of play type learning## ## Check Your State’s Homeschooling Laws Home School Legal Defense [HSLDA](https://hslda.org/content/) and National Home Education Research Institute [NHERI](https://www.nheri.org/) are both good resources to locate your state’s information and begin creating a plan for how to communicate with the appropriate agencies. We homeschool in IOWA which has had some major success in alleviating the burden of excessive or invasive oversight. A clear resource for a breakdown of your start-up options is provided by [Homeschool Iowa](https://homeschooliowa.org/start-homeschooling/). Their site is one the should be bookmarked for every Iowa based homeschooler and is a good resource for anyone trying to navigate their first year of homeschooling. The have [printable forms and sample documents](https://homeschooliowa.org/iowa-law/iowa-homeschool-forms/) to help you know exactly what you need to provide to your school district. We choose from several options according to our students needs, when you are just beginning it might be a little confusing for me to tell you how we do it. There are lots of terms and form references that can sound confusing, but a few simple questions to your state’s support group will have you feeling confident. The simple version is this; we are open enrolled (we had to apply to our own district and the district we wished to attend in April of the previous school year, so a heads up if you are thinking of going out of district, this step takes advance planning) to a neighboring school district. ### Check With Your State For School Athletics Laws Two of my sons are dual enrolled at that school for athletics, (we had baseball players and now wrestlers, each state has different rules regarding sports access, so contact your local district if you have a student athlete to be clear about your state’s laws) therefore we choose *CPI (Competent Plan of Instruction) option 2 with opt-in reporting*. You may choose to satisfy the “reporting,” by choosing to submit standardized test results, OR a portfolio evaluation by a licensed Iowa teacher, OR you may submit an end of the year report from an accredited correspondence school in which your child is enrolled, and send it to the district at the end of the school year. Homeschool Iowa has [this handy chart](https://homeschooliowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Side-By-Side-Legal-Options-Chart.jpg) to help you see how all you options clearly. ![a quick at a a glance comparison](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Side-By-Side-Legal-Options-Chart.jpg "Side-By-Side-Legal-Options-Chart › 200 Fingers & Toes")Above is a quick breakdown of options for Iowans from Homeschool IowaThe rest of my homeschooled students are open enrolled, but are not using services from the school at this time. For these students, I send an IPI (Independent Private Instruction) only if and when the district in which those children are enrolled requests one. I do not have to report to the district about those students daily work or test results. Depending on your state laws for attendance, the next thing you can do is schedule your school year. In Iowa, we must meet the minimum requirement of meeting for 148 days per calendar year, at least 37 days each school quarter. I divided 148 school days by five days a week, for a result of roughly 30 weeks of “class” time. That leaves 20+ weeks for summer, Holiday, Travel, and well deserved breaks. ![200 Fingers and Toes at our house and all of them are homeschooled](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_1829.jpg "IMG_1829 › 200 Fingers & Toes")There is a curriculum for every family and learning type Keep reading to help you with your homeschool start up## ## Your First Year Homeschooling: Build a Plan that Fits Your Actual Life Homeschooling allows you to schedule your school days as you need them to be. There is no need to replicate the Monday through Friday, 8 to 4 schedule. You are not getting paid for a fourty hour work week, teachers are. You can school for the amount of time it takes you to complete the studies for the day and you can schedule school for the day that you are available to teach. After 19 years of being a stay at home partner in our business, I started a part-time job. In October of 2018, I became a working homeschool mom, working 20-25 hours a week away from home. The younger kids were already using a four-day school schedule and using day five for elective studies and personal projects. To help us cut down on our work load through the week we switched everyone to a four-day week, with three days of hands on instruction and one day for online work, elective and personal work. This means we do school a little longer, 38 weeks out of the year. We still have 14 weeks’ worth of time to distribute throughout the year for breaks and vacation. ### Homeschooling Means Making Family Central to Life I say all of this to let you know that you can still homeschool as a working parent. Homeschooling is a great fit for entrepreneurial families like mine. Our hours as restaurant owners were always unconventional. There were years when the only way the kids saw Daddy, was when I packed all of us in the car and headed over to the restaurant to hang out until closing time. looking back, I am so glad I made the effort to stay connected as a family. Homeschooling gave us the flexibility we needed, I don’t know if we would have beaten the odds and made it twenty-three years as business owners and lovers if we hadn’t made “US” a priority. I would have chosen late nights with Dad if the kids had to be up for the bus at 6:30 in the morning. Homeschool helped us create a closer family. ## ## The Next Step to Being Sure… Do you believe homeschooling would be the best education model for your family right now? Would it be the best fit for your family, or most importantly, your child? If the answer is yes, the rest is just details. I’ll help you sort those out. ## ## Staying On Course: Knowing Your Why On hard days; and we all have them, you will need a reminder of why you’re choosing to homeschool. Here is where you get deeply personal about your reasons. These are not boxed reasons. No one gives up their personal comfort, a good paying job, a clean house; and endures the occasional ridicule of strangers in the grocery checkout line without a deep personal motivation. Here is a hard truth: Being mad at the teacher, wanting to look religiously righteous, trying to protect you children from sin, are all reasons that will lead to failure and frustration. Your heart must be for your child and their education. Homeschooling is never a punishment, it’s not an insulator, nor can it offer a guarantee your child will be safe in this world, it is a tool to help educate your child in a way that they will be able to bring their best self to the world when the time comes to step out from your leadership. Homeschooling is a commitment and should be weighed honestly against your reasons. ### So, what are good reasons to Homeschool? - Is your child struggling in their education? - Are you are losing connection with your children and as a family? - Do you want to learn together and explore the world with enthusiasm? - Is your child [missing opportunities to dedicate time to a true talent](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-athletes.html) because school takes too long? All of those are great reasons to homeschool. Over the last ten years, homeschooling is the fastest growing education sector. This means; you are not alone. [Home school enrollment statewide increased by an estimated 4.63% from 2017-18 to 2018-19 after increasing by 6.1% from 2016-17 to 2017-18. ](https://www.journalpatriot.com/news/home-school-enrollment-rose-by-in/article_d3e2d816-b4b5-11e9-97de-3b041d85cea4.html) Parents are discovering that there is another approach to education, homeschooling is actually the way children have been learning throughout history. Homeschooling is personalized and responsive, so it meet the learners needs at every learning level. ### What is your reason? Write it Down… I created a “Why” page for our family. It is an anchoring statement for us. I read it during hard times, at the beginning of every school year and when I just need to be reassured that we are on track. This same vision statement has served me for all fourteen years that I’ve been homeschooling. I want you to create your own Why page. Hop over to [free mini-course to create your own “Why Page”](https://indueseason.mysamcart.com/checkout/build-your-homeschool-why) and build a statement for your family that will keep you on track for years to come just like I did. ## Consider How you Child is Learning Well Right Now When we first began homeschooling our kids were all very small. In fact here is a picture of our first official day of table subject school. We had a 7, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1 and I was six months pregnant. ![B0003967](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/B0003967.jpg "B0003967 › 200 Fingers & Toes")We let our oldest set the pace for beginning table subjects![B0003966](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/B0003966.jpg "B0003966 › 200 Fingers & Toes")You dont have to be in a hurry to look like school you are always learning together if you are talkingDuring that season of life, what we did well was nap. Sleeping was a huge focus of every day, play, naps, food and bedtime was pretty much all we did. We spent time reading when everyone went down for a nap. I was very intentional about [wanting my kids to love books.](https://blog.sonlight.com/reading-five-years.html) When the baby fell asleep, I gathered everyone upstairs on the bunkbeds and pulled out the trundle bed. I would read while they all dropped off one by one. Doug would come home for a mid-day break to find all of us sleeping in a dog-pile. It was an amazing, beautiful, story filled time. ### How does your child like to learn? What are some tools that they enjoy already OR tools you want them to learn to use. We can be very intentional about helping our kids learn to love learning if we keep an end goal in mind. I raised a crop of readers, because it was my number one priority. ## ## What Type of Instructing Do You Like? I know alot of questions are going to be geared toward you children but it is important to know what kind of tools you work best with. Some people (like me) love clear instructions and boxes to check off. Others do not like being hemmed in to a specific plan for the whole year and want more flexibllity. There are families who take a unit study approach and gather materials from the library and online sources to deeply explore one subject or theme at a time. You have options that will fit your personality and learning style too. ### Many Curriculum Providers Have Learning Guidelines for Each Level You can use general guidelines online for year by year expectations, if you feel like you need to stay current with what schools are expecting, or you can not. I’ve never looked up what a fifth grader should know, because every one of my fifth graders was different and we schooled in a way that met their needs and complimented their capabilities. We will explore a few of the types of teaching tools you can use, this is only an overview to get you started. ![Mini-Unit Homeschool Refresh](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3112.jpg "Digging Into Greek History › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sometimes a Mini Unit is Just the Thing to Sweep the Winter Blues Away### ### Literature Based Homeschool Programs When I started thinking about homeschooling, I knew I wanted to keep doing exactly what was working for us AND get school credit for it. I searched for a Literature Based Curriculum, one with full length books that I could read aloud covering the majority of our core subjects for the day. We settled on Sonlight Curriculum and have used it from the start. It fit our learning goals and is perfect for multi-student families like mine. We wanted to build a library that we could keep coming back to year after year. Being rural, I like having everything we need delivered to our door at the outset of the school year. - [Sonlight](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) My top Literature Based Bundle pick for great content and price - [Memoria Press](https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=163) Classical Subjects Latin, Greek, Logic & Rhetoric, Streaming - [Veritas Press](https://veritaspress.com/store/?awraf=4D3982035D431C8BB8378) Classical Subjects, Language Arts, Live & Online too - [Beautiful Feet](http://bfbooks.com/?tap_a=30494-e48ebf&tap_s=570195-e93827) Lighter reading workload with a study guide - [Notgrass ](https://history.notgrass.com/how-it-works/) Stories all in one or two big book with guide and readers optional - [Ambleside Online](https://amblesideonline.org/) Free classical literature book links and individual lesson plans or purchase the year lesson plan ### ## Tools for Every Teaching Style and Student There are tons of Homeschool teaching styles. The important thing is to find your family’s best fit. I have a friend who only uses textbooks and workbooks. She is confident in knowing that all of the information she needs to cover is in one book for the year. If a textbook is overwhelming to you or your child, there are some providers that break up the whole year into packets with ten workbooks for the year for each subject. That said…textbooks make me want to cry. Don’t be sorry for knowing what you like friends, to each their own. When I started blogging at 200fingersandtoes.com I wanted to encourage parents who were looking for an alternative in education. Over that year I realized we only used one curriculum and a few supplements, because we love them. You might not love them like I do. That is why I have used a lot of materials over the last few years that I would not have chosen for myself. Our reviews and links are the best of the bunch. ### Why I Write Reviews If you crave structure and assurance check out the textbook providers. I don’t review materials to find what fits me best. For over two years, we were reviewing curriculum with [The Old Schoolhouse Magazine](https://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/tag/amber-smith/), so I could serve homeschooling families better. We want you to find your best school year and that means we cover all the tools to find ones that you will love. Are you looking for something specific in a program; the next thing you can do after reading this article is to search 200fingersandtoes.com and over 200 reviews and articles we created to help you plan and succeed in your homeschooling endeavors. One easy article that will help you find more reviews in one place is [23 Great Teaching Tools for Language Arts in Your Homeschool.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/language-arts-tools-homeschool-curriculum-review-handwriting/) ### Text Book and Packet Based Programs - [Abeka](https://www.abeka.com/Homeschool/WhyAbeka/) Trusted leader in Textbook style, offers Video and Full Online Instruction - [Alpha Omega AOP](https://www.aop.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwm4rqBRBUEiwAwaWjjKGTfEgW7QLwWl-mvUYErXQsFDS7WqlyUJd9wGVTRBdNS-V21SVgsBoCeaoQAvD_BwE) Offering teacher Led Textbooks, self-directed workbook, digital and full online - [Saxon Math](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/math/saxon-math?event=AFF&p=1191175) Clear, time-tested and not too much repetition, solid test prep - [ACE Core Paces](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/ace/ace-core-pace-only-kits?event=AFF&p=1191175) A series of workbooks sets covering four core subjects systematically ### Other resources I use… - [Timberdoodle](https://timberdoodle.com/) - [Christianbook.com](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool?event=AFF&p=1191175) - [My Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AEYQPIXMZMD2ASNTUQWLNAPIBZJA?ref=idea_cp_gtp_ov_d) Recommendations Page - [Schooling Inspired](https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/schooling-inspired/) on pinterest ### Use These Resources and Read More… Many of these curriculum providers developed some form of online instruction. Many have either in an live streaming an actual real-time class, or using an online go at your own pace program. Also, almost every one of these publishers and curriculum creators has a website. They are a huge resource library, newsletter and FAQ pages that are full of helpful information. Subscripe to those that appeal to you, follow their blogs. After fifteen years of homeschooling, I learn new things from these all the time. Here is the thing, it looks like you are all going to be learning at the same time. Welcome back to school! My best advice is to become a learner. If you are considering homeschooling, I imagine you are already someone who likes exploring new ideas and challenges. If not, you soon will be! ## ## Continue With What is Working We kept a literature based program because it was what was working in our life. We had a groove with reading and I didn’t want to change that. I am still a little taken back when a parent posts the question, “[Which curriculum should I choose](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-our-family-used-the-same-curriculum-ten-different-ways/)?” to a room full of strangers. There is so much I would want to know before I could begin to narrow down suggestions that I think you might find useful. That is why many homeschool veterans offer consultations. Not to make money, but to narrow down the sea of options for you. Paying for a [consult is an investment](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about-me/homeschool-consultation/), paying for a curriculum you hate six weeks from now, that is a waste. ### If I were going to give you a consultation I would ask these four questions… #### 1. What is prompting you to homeschool - *What specific problem you are trying to solve?* - *Is your child struggling academically, emotionally, relationally?* - *Are you coping with a sickness or disability that make schooling from home necessary?* - *Do you want to create a different orientation around family life?* Needs like these must to be taken into account and addressed in your school planning. #### 2. What are the ages and learning abilities of your children? Time for gut level honesty. If they are reading below grade level, failing math, behind on graduation requirements, you need to take the real facts into account to make a real plan. Are they ahead in school and need to be let loose, they can take placement tests in many of the curriculum on the market to find a best level. Ages are important to consider too. [Can your kids be grouped together to save teaching time on some subjects?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-our-family-used-the-same-curriculum-ten-different-ways/) #### #### 3. How is your relationship with your child? Listen, I would rather you choose a soft work load and spend the year building up a loving relationship built on trust and mutual respect than have you both butting heads trying to leap forward three levels in reading. Family is the core of homeschool, this is where you have to begin. #### 4. What does your kid love? Find a way to [make it count for school in a positive way](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/honor-gifts-interests/). Let areas they excel in shine. My son was a gamer. I challenged myself to allow his passion for games to count as a real skill. When I did I saw thousands of things he was learning from cooperative gaming. My daughter was a writer so we jumped into NaNoWriMo and wrote 75k words one November. I would encourage you to find ways to connect real life to learning experiences. ![Homeschooling the Analytical Thinker](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2116.jpg "Homeschooling the Analytical Thinker › 200 Fingers & Toes")The more kids you have the more personalities you have to deal with## Set Up Obtainable and Measurable Goals Once you know what you want to accomplish this year, find a way to make it measurable. Is there an academic struggle you can do a pre and post-tests for. Do you want to have more actual fun with your own kids. Could you keep a scrap book of your year. Plan for a way to measure your goals. Let older kids set some academic goals for themselves too. I go over our year end test score with my older boys so they see in real context where they need to put in more work and where they are doing really well. ## Start Smaller Than You Think What you are going to need the first year is a whopping dose of grace, humor, openness, humility, coffee and Jesus. Doing anything from start-up is hard. This is your first time homeschooling. Acknowledging that it will be a season of fine tuning and finding your way gives you permission to start smaller and make changes sooner. When we begin the school year we typically start in August. I give us a month to come up to full steam. We begin with just our core subjects, **Math**, **Reading**, (our reading book subjects cover History, Social Studies, Geography and can even Science) **Language Arts**. By September, we incorporate Bible, Writing assignments, current events and the full science curriculum. By reading great books we sneak in a lot of learning time. ![Pew Pew](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3114.jpg "Pew Pew › 200 Fingers & Toes")Choose what you love too### We Don’t Sit at Desks From Eight to Three People alway wonder how we get done with our work so quickly? Are we cheating, slacking off? The real question should be why is the school week five, eight-hour days? School is forty hours a week…because teaching is a job. Teachers are employees and our work-week, payment structure is built on forty-hour work weeks. If every class in a seven period rotation, has thrity minutes of solid instructing time, that’s 210 minutes. That is just three and a half hours, about what our school day takes to teach. We don’t have an hour bus ride, changing classes, announcements, but your could throw on some tunes and have a pep rally if you need it! ### Schooling Your Way Means Setting Your Own Hours We all work from 10 to 2pm most school days. There is plenty of time to play and pursue other interests if they get right to work and stay on task. If they give me their best durring school hours, I generally promise not to take their free time. I can keep my word because there is no homework for us to do at night. Why so late of a start? Because I am a working mom of ten and a writer. I have always kept mornings as my [personal quiet time and productive hours](https://blog.sonlight.com/pursuing-passions.html). You can create a life that fits ALL of your goals. Homeschooling truly is a whole famly deal. ### The Biggest Factor in Succeeding is Deciding to Start Through research, planning, plain trial and error, and a ton of grace, we have made it through fifteen years of teaching at home. Our three oldest graduated in 2017 and are grateful for the opportunity homeschooling gave them to persue their interests, graduate early and prepare for college. They are thriving and doing great in school. This could be your future too. ![IMG_3668.JPG](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_3668.jpg?ssl=1&w=3024 "Raising Them on Sonlight › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Let This Article be the Spring Board to Learning More If you got this far it is clear you are tipping toward deciding to begin your homeschool journey, your next step is to let me know. I want to cheer you on! If you have any other questions you can always drop me a comment or email me at amber@200fingersandtoes.com. 200 Fingers & Toes blog is for you. It is full of resources, encouragement, reviews of tools and curriculum that we actually used in our home so we could share it with you. Consider it a welcome gift to you from me. Blessings, Amber [click_to_tweet tweet=”What you are going to need the first year of homeschooling is a whopping dose of grace, humor, openness, humility, coffee and Jesus. -200Fingersandtoes.com” quote=”Click to tweet and share this article… What you are going to need the first year is a whopping dose of grace, humor, openness, humility, coffee and Jesus.” theme=””] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Best Middle School Curriculum to Prep for High School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/ehe-best-middle-school-curriculum-high-school-prep/) **Published:** September 2, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** I believe that the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer (EHE) core is the transitional linchpin of the entire Sonlight catalog. No other set gives you more prep for upper level work. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Now, today, I want to talk specifically about Sonight’s H/B/L **F**, which includes history, Bible and literature. This H/B/L F is also referred to as Eastern Hemisphere Explorer. I believe that the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer (EHE) is the transitional linchpin of the entire Sonlight catalog. Oftentimes, this transitional core is overlooked because it seems unfamiliar. This lack of familiarity is actually the highlight. This curriculum spends an entire year covering the Eastern Hemisphere of the World. Normally, I don’t spend a lot of time speaking about specific curriculums. My goal is to help homeschool families find the best tools to fit their specific needs. If you’ve listened to the podcast before, then you will know that I use a literature based curriculum provided by a company called Sonlight. ![Making a smooth transition to High School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21-1024x1024.jpg "9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21 › 200 Fingers & Toes")If you are coming out of public school and want to get ready for high school right there is one curriculum that has you covered. ## The Unsung Hero of the Sonlight Catalog Is Eastern Hemisphere Explorer – HBL F Now, I am looking forward to our third run through Sonlight’s H/B/L F. In my opinion, it’s the unsung hero of the sunlight catalog. It is the doorway through which your child will pass from primary education to secondary learning. The stepping stone to a higher level of critical thinking. There are several vital reasons that this year long program is critical for any home scho ol. Whether you’re using Sonlight’s traditional H/B/L format, using the books on their own. Or if you might be reading through the them as a suggested list. You could use the secular version of Sonlight’s curriculum through Book Shark. Either way, your whole family will benefit in several areas that I will share more fully in this blog post. ## Record Keeping and Creating Accountability The first place your child will benefit from Eastern Hemisphere Explorer is by moving to independence as a student. The greatest transition begins with our instructors guide in the Sonlight curriculum. The Instructor’s Guide (IG) is a large binder that we refer to every day. It breaks down our reading assignments neatly into a Monday through Friday work week. Each book and chapter selections are written in daily grids for us to go over in the morning. We get an overview, then proceed through the work in the order we determine best for our school day. ![What if everything could be in one place for anyone to look at](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0583-1024x1024.jpg "Talk about a curriculum work horse › 200 Fingers & Toes")This binder has seen us through three classes of kids and hundreds of read aloud booksThis year, I am handing over the reins of the instructor guide to my students. In the past, I, as the parent did all of the planning and prepping for the school day. It is not a lot of work for me because the Sonlight Instructor Guide is a well oiled machine. In the four inch binder you will find organized schedules of daily history, Bible and literature readings. Included are notes, discussion questions, map activities and much, much more. ### The Instructor’s Guide Has You Covered This year, as we begin our work, I show my child the inner workings of the instructor guide. We look at how the notes are organized for each day. Together we explore the reference section and the appendices. Gaining familiarity with locations that contain resource materials as well as additional instructions for written work and reading assignments. In this transition, I’m giving my children more than just the responsibility to look up their assignments for the day; I’m giving them ownership of their learning experience. This step might seem like a small transition. As we’ve raised Sonlight students with this high school curriculum we have seen them become independent students. They are prepared to look at a college professor’s syllabus and know what’s expected of them from day one. There is no need for our kids to make a transition to college study skills. They have been responsible for their own assignments. They have the ability to negotiate their workload throughout their entire high school career. Eastern Hemisphere Explorer is where this process begins, and it is a beautiful gift to offer your student. ## Transition to High School Level Work The next place that they benefit from Eastern Hemisphere is that your students learn to keep their own records. Using the IG binder themselves, our children are check off their daily work. Each time they finish a reading segment or their discussion questions they go to the next thing. I created a simplified schedule you can download below. In it my kids can write in their daily work to create accountability for a weekly check out. [DOWNLOAD THE FREE SCHEDULE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/free-schedule-download-huge-home-teaching-resource-list/) This helps our children see exactly what they’re supposed to do each day. Keeping their own records is a fundamental skill that they are going to need as they cross over into adulthood. I know that my son, in his junior year, worked for a carpenter. He needed to log his own hours to be sure to get paid. Keeping records is an important thing that our kids need to learn. Being accountable for their schoolwork is a great way to begin the transition of being responsible for their time frames. ## Honing Computer Research Skills Eastern Hemisphere creates students who are ready for upper level learning. In the HBL they learn the foundational research skills they will need in their high school career. The Eastern Hemisphere Explorer Guide is a self-titled book by Sonlight. It guides your child through a companion notebook full of exercises. As your child reads through Eastern Hemisphere Explorer, they discover each new country and the rich history surrounding them. In the companion notebook journal, they write information as they seek out the facts they need to learn. This helps them mine more information, to research for longer reports and how to look for information in a text. ## Moving Into Non-Fiction & Higher Level Content This is the first time that our junior high students are going to be moving into a “text-type” book. This is a great way to ease the transition for them and help them to be preparing for textbooks like those from Apologia Science or a higher level textbook that they’re going to use in their high school work. Eastern Hemisphere Explorer does this in a fun and creative way. They’re learning about new cultures and places and touching on a huge number of people groups along the way. Eastern Hemisphere Explorer starts in China and moves systematically through the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere, ending in Polynesia. ### Let Your Kids Take the Lead Another gift of Eastern Hemisphere Explorer giving our students the ability to be creative and to take ownership over their learning. Using the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer notebook, our Children are asked to decide on some of the countries they’re most interested in to create a longer and in depth report. This helps them articulate and share the information they’re reading in a textbook. They progress rom reading, to gathering in a notebook and then correlating information into a full length report, they’re beginning the process that they will be using in their upper high school work. The same process that my sons and daughter have used in their college level work. ### Watch Reluctant Writers Blossom This is a great year to take a reluctant writer and help them transition because the structure is very strong. They don’t have to guess about what they’re writing. All the information is in front of them, so it’s easy for them to gather what they need to make a well written paper prepared for you. This is a great time for your students to work on computer research skills as well. In the earlier versions of Eastern Hemisphere Explorer, we used the World Book Encyclopedia online. Now, we use the Eastern Hemisphere Guide book created by Sonlight, but that doesn’t mean that your child can’t take the opportunity to research online about the places that you’re reading about in the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_3346-1024x1024.jpg "IMG_3346 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Using HBL F Eastern Hemisphere Explorer is the way to hone research skills aThis would be a great opportunity to check your library and see if it makes World Book Encyclopedia available to you for free. Many resources are available through my local library, and World Book is one of them. There are tons of research tools and great mapping tools for your child to learn online. This transition into working online is sometimes the first place that our kids are going to be moving from games and activities to actual in depth research. This is also a time that I help introduce my children to keeping note cards next to them while they work on the computer. This is where they write the names of pages that they’ve gotten information off of, to research and where they’re going to keep track of Web links so that they can come back and see what information they’ve gathered that is useful for a report. ### Record Keeping and Documentation This habit of creating written documentation is going to help your children not only be responsible with their online time but help them create the documentation they need when writing papers for research. This is a skill that will take them all the way through college level and beyond. As a researcher and freelance writer today, I keep meticulous notes of articles that I’ve used as a reference as well. This is a skill they’ll use no matter what they do for a living. In H/B/L F, we also experience a transition from story oriented learning, to fact based learning models. Now we’ve been experiencing nonfiction books all the way from our first pre-K homeschool experience. But H/B/L F gives our children an opportunity to read texts at a more difficult reading level. EHE carries more non fiction reading to prepare them for the high school level. There are also more difficult reading passages, but they aren’t too difficult for your junior high student. The depth of the subject matter discussed in the text is more mature and the amount of information is presented at a higher level to prepare them for that next stage in their workload. ### Did You Pull Your Child From Public School? EHE is a great way to prepare students for high school text, and this is why I constantly suggest that any parent who is removing their student from public school at the high school level use H/B/L F and the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer Project as a great way to lay a foundation for research and high school level work. Our children have already gotten a strongly developed imagination from their reading in the past years with their Sonlight curriculum. This is why it shows a literature based curriculum in the first place, because the strong connection to their mind through reading aloud and reading themselves. ## Raising Fact Finders & Critical Thinkers Eastern Hemisphere Explorer is also preparing them with the critical thinking skills they’ll need. We share the discussion questions provided in the IG. We have used these every year, but as they grow the discussion questions help our children have great conversations. One thing I have heard from my former home school students as they have become college students is that they are almost always in the small handful of students who participate in the discussions in their classroom. I directly attribute this to the comfort level they have achieved by using discussion questions in our daily reading. Throughout their entire Sonlight career, our children have been talking about what they’ve been reading. When a professor asks for input from a reading passage, our kids are not embarrassed. Nor did they think it’s odd or different to give their input on what they think about the subject. Sonlight has been training them to do that for years now. Eastern Hemisphere Explorer helps our students mine for facts as they’re searching through the text. They’re looking for the information that’s asked of them, developing study habits and developing the ability to find what the question is really asking for. We’re no longer looking for the bold term or a list of vocabulary words. They are looking at a section of texts and translating that into an answer for the Eastern Hemisphere Explorer Notebooks Study guide. They are developing skills that they’ll use in their entire high school career. ## Looking for a Non-North America Centric Program Now, one of the things I really love about Sonlight as a company is that they strive to avoid being North America centric. They got their start creating curriculum packages for overseas missionaries, so they made having a broad worldview a core value from the start. Oftentimes, American students spend a short period of time studying other cultures and don’t get a chance to dig deep in other parts of the world. We’re spending a solid year studying the Eastern Hemisphere, and still that is barely enough to scratch the surface. The depth of history, the broad spectrum of people groups and the valuable things they will learn from different cultures and people will shape how my kids see their world. I want them to learn the many things other cultures have provided for our society today and identify the origins of ancient cultures and their modern counterparts. ![middle school Prep with high school success in mind](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IDS.EP008.EHEALT.-476x1024.jpg "IDS.EP008.EHEALT. › 200 Fingers & Toes")Pin this for later or share with a friend### Shape How Your Children See the World The development of higher learning came from the far East and it is one of the gifts we’re giving our children. When we dig into studying the Eastern Hemisphere, it is not a thing I take lightly. Given the racial atmosphere this world is experiencing right now, I would say this study is vital. This is our Children’s opportunity to dig into cultures they haven’t met, meet people, groups they’ve not heard of and an opportunity to find people groups around them today. This year you can identify where they have not reached out to other cultures or taken the opportunities to connect in their life in your neighborhoods. Eastern Hemisphere is a great time to stretch your capacity and expand your connections with the people around you. Overall, Eastern Hemisphere Explorer is a great core to use if you’re entering home schooling today. If you want to lay a foundation for a high school level, work if you want to lay a foundation to help your child research on their own through high school, sit with them this year, work with them through the research projects and use the ability to look up the answers online and in the workbook as a way to train your child to find the answers themselves. This is the skill they’re going to need not only for a successful high school career, but to be a successful student and successful in life beyond now. ## Want Help Getting Your Own Homeschool Plan? That’s a little bit of what I wanted to share about Sonlight’s, H/B/L F and the Eastern Hemisphere explore. There are many curriculum providers that provide literature based homeschool curriculums. I have a curriculum guide and reference list in my [Home School Quick Startup Guide](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/the-homeschool-quick-start-up-guide) and that is available at www.InDueSeason.net. Our Homeschool Quick Startup Guide contains everything you need to answer your immediate questions and get you a strong start in your first home school year. ![Get everything you need to have a great homeschool start up all in one place](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Homeschool-StartUp-Image1-791x1024.jpg "Homeschool StartUp Image1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")This Homeschool Start Up Guide has you coveredMaybe you’re making a transition from public school to homeschool, and you’re not quite sure where to begin. This guide has all the answers, plus live links to any of the locations that I talk about. If I talk about a curriculum, I will have the link for it in the home school guide so you can click and find everything you need with one simplified resource at your very hands. You can download it today [HERE](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/the-homeschool-quick-start-up-guide). ### Thank you for joining me for this blog post. ### I appreciate your time. Check out the podcast for the latest episodes [HERE](https://anchor.fm/indueseason). As always, would you “Like” and subscribe and share our podcast with a friend who is transitioning to homeschooling right now and help them get connected with the resource You can also read the show notes for the transcript notes and any links to what you might be looking for. I appreciate you, have a great day. ![](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/1161942/1161942-1584901387570-473e992ba6235.jpg) ## Counting the Cost to Homeschool[ ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) – [ In Due Season Homeschool; Your Guide to Living Well Throughout Your Homeschool Journey ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog) Parents are leaving the public school in mass. With the local districts establishing the rules for access to extracurricular activities, some parents find their access barred. There are questions about the right to access field trips, prom, and graduation ceremonies. Before these parents demand their rights, I would love to propose a conversation. Firstly, we need to establish a clear picture of the cost of homeschooling and the powerful deterrents districts will use to stem the loss of students from the rolls. Secondly, we are poised for the most significant opportunity homeschooling has experienced in a decade. The influx of energy, creativity, and numbers to build a vibrant, thriving community could be what homeschoolers need to meet these needs in a way that compliments our values and family-oriented goals. Join me for the beginning of an ongoing conversation… 1. [ Counting the Cost to Homeschool 23:58 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) 2. [ EP11 Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to Know 22:12 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP11-Homeschool-Graduation-Facts-You-Need-to-Know-e28if0q) 3. [ EP10 – Managing paper in your homeschool 17:22 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP10---Managing-paper-in-your-homeschool-e2881f6) 4. [ EP09 Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool 16:30 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP09-Developing-Organization-Skills-in-Your-Homeschool-e27tsjf) 5. [ EP008 – What We are Using in Our Homeschool This Year 17:31 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP008---What-We-are-Using-in-Our-Homeschool-This-Year-eitt4c) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** HBL F, Research Skills, World View --- ### [Your Homeschool Binder: One Tool to Keep You Headed in the Right Direction](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/one-tool-to-keep-your-homeschool-headed-in-the-right-direction/) **Published:** March 19, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Over the years we developed many great practices. For relationships, discipline, planning, and streamlining our day. As I began teaching about homeschooling, I needed a way to teach the habits we cultured organically over eighteen years. I created The Accountability Bundle in our homeschool binder as a way to give parents a concrete way to implement habits and create accountability to follow through for the long haul. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have you ever floated in a large lake or the ocean? Then you know drifting is a serious threat to our safety. It can be the same in our homeschool. In our Homeschool we need direction. Don’t drift, instead use your homeschool binder to stay on course, know where your headed and know when you have arrived. My Homeschool Binder is where I keep the top priority papers, schedules and teaching plans. The habit started years ago, back when I began homeschooling. I created a [homeschool “WHY” page](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/build-your-homeschool-why) for my homeschool to satisfy the requirement for an app (ha ha, apps didn’t exist, it was a hard-drive, downloaded to the actual computer, kind-of program) I was using. I had to write my homeschool vision before I could click through to the next screen. ## Keeping Renewal in Sight My homeschool was in need of direction, so I gave it some thought. I really did want to be intentional about our vision. Little did I know, that piece of paper would follow me for all of the last eighteen years of our homeschooling. Every time I pulled my “WHY” page out of my homeschool binder, I was stirred by the words I wrote. My vision for my children, was alive and active. It reassured me, redirected and encouraged me. It was a paper pep-talk. Over the years we developed many great practices. For relationships, discipline, planning, and streamlining our day. As I began teaching about homeschooling, I needed a way to teach the habits we cultured organically over eighteen years. I created [The Accountability Bundle](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/30-days-to-homeschool-renewal) as a way to give parents a concrete way to implement habits and create accountability to follow through for the long haul. ## Worksheets in the Bundle include… - **My Skill Inventory Worksheet** - **Relationship Goal Worksheet** - **Homeschool overwhelm Helper** - **Growth, Resilience & Honesty Worksheet** - **Multi Grade Homeschool Tips** - **Student Daily Accountability Log** ## Keeping it All Together: My Homeschool Binder Back in the beginning of my homeschooling days I had a fancy trapper keeper monster with the zipper. It kept all my papers, pens, and my most current reading selection. Recently, I have been using [these slim binders with tabs and folio type pockets](https://amzn.to/3cK8J4R) to keep my children’s papers close at hand. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Folio24-1024x1024.jpg "Folio24 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Accountability is Easy When I am Consistent I like being able to tuck my accountability sheets for each student in the pockets. I keep our schedule, notebooking pages. I keep my current teaching notes and still have room to keep a few tabs open to tuck my own work away in a few of the slots. Creating a system that is easy for me to check on and use is the key to success. Being consistent is the only way to check on your progress. This means I keep coming back to this homeschool binder for working papers every day. This is an important key to keeping your goals in front of you. You need to see them often. ## A Technical Homeschool for New Direction Even a Vision Board becomes furniture after a while. Having a working binder is one way to keep your goals fresh in your mind every week as you homeschool. This year I am trying my hand at a [new tech tool from Rocket Book](https://amzn.to/2OKZs4o). I had a friend recommend it. He knew that I write notes for everything. It is one of the ways I process information. I am sick of the stacks of notebooks I have to sort through to coordinate with different purposes. [![](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cnbIjYKwSkKQ6EZOUr7Owg-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Homeschool Direction › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cnbIjYKwSkKQ6EZOUr7Owg-2.jpg)I have a notebook for church notes, personal Bible Study, Business Teaching, Podcast Planning, Homeschooling and books I am reading. Rocket Book has pages I can scan to upload to each preprogrammed document file. The notebook is made of erasable pages, so I can reuse it over and over again. You can check it out [here.](https://amzn.to/2OKZs4o) The price dropped on it recently so I went ahead and grabbed one “for my year end planning.” You can grab the Homeschool Accountability Bundle as a standalone purchase from our course site or you can enroll in the companion course:[ 30 Days to Homeschool Renewal](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/30-days-to-homeschool-renewal) and get four weekly video lessons, showing you how to use each worksheet to it fullest in your homeschool. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/30DayRestartCourse-1024x1024.jpg "30DayRestartCourse › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/30dayrenewalhomeschool)## Looking for a course re-correct for your homeschool? In 30 days your homeschool could be back on track and you could be experiencing peace in your home again. How do I know? Because that is exactly what happened when I got serious about being accountable myself. In the [30 Days](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/30-days-to-homeschool-renewal) course, I will teach you exactly how I did it and I will provide the exact worksheet I use to stay on track all year long. #### Maybe you need more than a reset. Do You need a guide? My master course: [The Six Keys to Your Best Homeschool Year](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/six-keys-to-your-successful-homeschool), is more in depth, talking about your goals, vision, relationships, learning styles, time management and identifying your children’s need in your homeschool. Each topic is covered in four weekly sessions, each with one weekly (personal) journal page where you answer questions about your family, building a Road Map that is unique to your needs. You will find out the questions you need to be asking to get the answers you need in your homeschool instead of spinning your wheels again. ### Get Started with Building Your Homeschool Binder Whether you need a Reset or a Full Redirect, I would love to help you create your own homeschool binder and start building a better homeschool for your family. You can start right now but creating your Homeschool WHY page. Use this link to gain access to a FREE unit from the Six Keys Course: [WHY PAGE](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/build-your-homeschool-why), as my thank you for being a reader. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool help, Notebooks --- ### [Best Books That Teach Kids Resilience (Why Children Need Stories About Struggle)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/) **Published:** March 15, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Your children need stories about struggle and courage. Learn how to use books that teach kids resilience—and [download a FREE book list](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) for parents. As parents, our natural instinct is to protect our children from struggle. When they feel discouraged, frustrated, or overwhelmed, we want to step in and make things easier. That instinct comes from love. But while we cannot remove every obstacle from our children’s lives, we **can help prepare them to face those obstacles with courage**. One of the most powerful tools parents have to help children develop resilience is surprisingly simple: **Books**. Resilience can be borrowed from the **BOOKS we read.** Stories of challenge and struggle are the very books that teach kids resilience. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Read-About-Characters-Who-Struggle-724x1024.png "Read About Characters Who Struggle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/)Great books that teach kids resilience include picture booksStories give children the opportunity to experience struggle, perseverance, and growth through characters they grow to love. In the pages of a book, children discover an important truth: **Struggle is not the end of the story. It is often where the story begins.** ## Why Children Need to Experience Struggle Character rarely develops in comfort. Children grow stronger when they encounter challenges that stretch them. When they face disappointment, solve problems, and try again after a failure. In those experiences, they begin to develop the emotional strength that will serve them throughout their lives. But today, many children have fewer opportunities to experience healthy struggle. “Let kids fail” is not a great slogan for a movement. But failure is an experience we ALL face in our lives. How we respond can change everything. Failure can sneak up when we least expect it. In high school, our son took a welding course. Growing up, he was convinced he wanted to be a welder. Halfway through the semester, he knew welding was NOT for him. He struggled through the class, frustrated with his results. If not for that failure, he might have pursued a career he would not have liked. ### Failing can teach us. Parents naturally want to help. Teachers want to support. Adults step in quickly to solve problems. While these actions are well-intended, they can sometimes prevent children from developing the perseverance that comes from working through difficulty. There is a safe place to experience failure and learn the lessons it offers. [Books that build character](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/kids-reading-great-literature/) in children provide a safe place for them to experience struggle and growth. #### Through stories, children watch characters face: - rejection - failure - fear - difficult choices - setbacks that require persistence And as they read, they begin to understand that **difficulty is a normal part of life—not something to fear.** ## Books That Teach Kids Resilience Better Than Lectures Parents often try to teach resilience through advice. We tell children things like: “Don’t give up.” “Keep trying.” “You can do hard things.” But stories allow children to **experience those lessons emotionally**, not just intellectually. Many homeschool families discover that **[literature-based learning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/literature-based-learning-beloved-paddington-bear/ "Literature Based Learning with the Beloved Paddington Bear")** is one of the most effective ways to teach values and curiosity. Stories naturally spark conversations about courage, kindness, and perseverance. When a child reads about a character like [Caddie Woodlawn](https://amzn.to/3PdJVck) or Betsy from *Understood Betsy*, they admire how the character faces a challenge; their imagination allows them to walk through the experience alongside the characters they grow to admire and love. Choosing great books means that parents don’t have to choose between fun stories and meaningful lessons. In fact, some of the [best books for kids combine adventure with historical learning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/history-reading-kids/ "How to Pack Good Stuff in Your Kid’s Reading Books {Rush Revere Review}") and character development. Teaching resilience through reading bypasses the opposition to a parental voice and helps kids to internalize a positive message. They feel the disappointment. They experience the struggle. They celebrate the perseverance. That emotional connection is what makes stories so powerful. [click to Grab Your free book list to build resilient readers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) ## Strong Characters Shape Strong Readers This is why we offer children’s books about overcoming challenges. We read and then offer books filled with courageous, imperfect characters that give children examples of resilience. Our children will face many challenges, including those we have not prepared them for, but we can offer them [books with strong moral character](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/kids-reading-great-literature/) to show them what healthy responses look like. #### In great stories, children encounter characters who: - fail but keep trying - make mistakes and learn from them - face fears in order to do the right thing - discover strength they didn’t know they had [Biographies and historical stories](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/children-bible-biography-kingdom-files/ "The Biography Series That Brings Bible Characters to Life") are especially powerful because children can see how real people faced fear, failure, and difficult decisions. Over time, these stories shape how children interpret their own challenges. Instead of thinking, “I’m not good at this.” Children begin to think: “I just haven’t figured it out yet.” That shift in thinking is the **heart of resilience**. ## The Stories Children Carry Into Adulthood The stories we read as children stay with us. *The Little Engine That Could*, the friends from the 100 Acre Wood, precocious Anne Shirley, and the curious Pevensie siblings in the *[Chronicles of Narnia](https://amzn.to/4sQ1dLe)* all come to live inside us through stories. They shape our imagination. They influence our courage. They help us interpret difficult moments in our lives. When children regularly read stories about perseverance, bravery, and growth, they slowly develop emotional muscles that help them face life’s inevitable challenges. A child who reads stories about courage today may remember those characters years later when they face a difficult moment of their own. [Reading great literature](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/kids-reading-great-literature/) brought me comfort as a young child, in the tales of Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Dickens. So many of their stories were filled with adversity. Children can have trouble articulating their own experiences, but they can borrow strength from characters they read about. As a dreamer and a wanderer myself, I saw characters like Anne Shirley and Nattie Gan as heroes who persevered against all odds and remained true to themselves. Stories shape us, and sometimes that memory whispers: *If they kept going…maybe I can too.* This is the power of books that teach kids resilience. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Resilient-Readers-At-Every-Age-683x1024.png "Resilient Readers At Every Age › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/)Get your list of books that teach kids resilience## A Free Book List for Parents If you’re looking for stories that help children build courage and resilience, I’ve created a **FREE book list filled with memorable characters who face real challenges and grow stronger because of them.** These are the kinds of books children love to read again and again—stories that quietly shape perseverance, courage, and character. #### **[👉 ClicK HERE to Get the FREE Resilient Readers Book List](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/)** Inside you’ll discover stories that help children understand that struggle isn’t something to fear. It’s part of the journey toward becoming stronger. --- ## Final Thoughts: The Right Books Can Change a Child’s Story When we place powerful stories in a child’s hands through books that teach kids resilience, we give them more than entertainment. We give them examples of courage. We give them models of perseverance. We give them stories that help them understand their own struggles. The right book at the right moment can shape how a child sees challenges for years to come. And sometimes the courage a child needs tomorrow begins with **the story they read today.** [Grab Your free book list to build resilient readers ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) ### Readers Become Story Tellers Themselves When children read powerful stories, they often feel inspired to create stories of their own. Encouraging creativity and storytelling is another way to help children develop confidence and resilience. Here is more about [helping your kids create their own stories.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/do-this-to-make-creative-writing-fun-for-your-homeschool/ "Do this to Make Creative Writing Fun for Your Homeschool") ## Want More Help Raising a Resilient Teen? Are you interested in building resilience in your teen and helping them develop a successful relationship with failure? You can gain access to my workshop by clicking below ## Read More with Related Articles --- - [Are Your Kids Reading Great Literature?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/kids-reading-great-literature/ "Are Your Kids Reading Great Literature? {review}") - [Literature Based Learning with Paddington Bear](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/literature-based-learning-beloved-paddington-bear/ "Literature Based Learning with the Beloved Paddington Bear") - [How to Pack Good Stuff in Your Kid’s Reading Books](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/history-reading-kids/ "How to Pack Good Stuff in Your Kid’s Reading Books {Rush Revere Review}") - [Do This to Make Creative Writing Fun for Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/do-this-to-make-creative-writing-fun-for-your-homeschool/ "Do this to Make Creative Writing Fun for Your Homeschool") [Send Me the Book List with Parenting BookS for Raising resilient kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, parenting, reading --- ### [Literature Based Learning with the Beloved Paddington Bear](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/literature-based-learning-beloved-paddington-bear/) **Published:** August 15, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I am a huge advocate for literature-based learning. [Paddington Bear](http://www.picturebookexplorers.co.uk/paddington-bear.html) was one of the two beloved bears of my childhood, so I was happy to order a new copy for our review of the Picture Book Explorer Series by [Branch Out World](http://www.picturebookexplorers.co.uk/). The week-long study was the perfect amount of hands-on work for my group of 6- to 9-year-olds. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/paddington-.jpg "Paddington Bear Picture Book Companion Learning › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1875-768x1024.jpg "Paddington Bear Helps Us Explore the World › 200 Fingers & Toes")Literature Based Learning for the Little Reader## A Perfect Start for Little Readers This nearly 50-page set of printable PDFs was a perfect jumping-off point for those transitioning to a new homeschool routine. The focus of our set was the picture book about Paddington Bear. I love [literature-based learning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/) sets to help us maximize our experience. Since my nine-year-old is reading, I also ordered a set of chapter books for her, but the simple picture book, based on the first two chapters, holds a younger child’s attention very well. ## Not too Long, Not too Short, Just Right The Explorer walks you through 5 days of activities. This is the perfect length for younger students. They like familiarity and repetition, but too much of it, and they get bored. Each day, you explore a new concept. There are three or more activities for each day. Everything is scheduled, and a supply list is provided so you know exactly what you need for the week. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1872-768x1024.jpg "Coloring Flags and Making Maps › 200 Fingers & Toes")Geography is fun when you can follow the characters from the book you are reading**On day one**, you explore the setting. Since our little bear travels from Peru and is found in Paddington Station in the UK, we explored those countries. Flags, maps, and additional books from the library helped us get a sense of where the story took place. We also discovered more about the world we live in because little ones are always asking questions. **Day two**, we explored words. I love vocabulary building in all shapes and sizes. The kids made a vocabulary pocket for the new words they added and drew pictures of the meanings before tucking their cards away. **Day three** is for exploring pictures. Taking time to really look at and discuss the picture book’s artwork, and making our own pictures. **Day four**, exploring Science, had us looking up all kinds of bear facts and adding to our Andean Bear habitat notebooking page. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1877-768x1024.jpg "Pack Your Bage for Fun › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Day Five** brought us back to train tracks and a little math work. We talked about and made parallel (like train tracks) and transverse (not like train tracks) lines with rulers and protractors. We also packed our suitcases to work on our spatial awareness. (Some of us could use some work, or just need a bigger suitcase. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1879-e1534358461828-225x300.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes") ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1880-225x300.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes") ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1878-300x300.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes") There are just enough activities in each day of the Picture Book Explorer that you would never be hard-pressed to get all of them in if you wanted to, but you are free to pick and choose. Just like I did when I chose NOT to do the shaving cream activity. We just got over the slime craze, and I am not going to tempt the kids with half a can of shaving cream. ## Great For a Sitter or Grandparent to Use We had a sitter for a women’s bible study for a time, and this would have been a fun activity for the kids to do weekly. In our homeschool, the kids did science at Grandma’s house, and this would also be a good guide for the little ones to have a class too. I have even considered having my older kids take turns teaching another “class” like this one for a weekday as part of our school time this year. ## Worth The Price if You Are Looking For Some Help Overall, I liked the clear, simple format of Paddington Bear: Picture Book Explorer. The five-day time frame gave us plenty to choose from without being overwhelming. The price can seem a little high for this set at almost $12 (US), but I am also a vet homeschool mom. I know now that I could have paid for that in my first years to help me get some structure and have the activities pre-planned for me. This set doesn’t skimp and does give plenty of value. The projects were peaceful, which is saying a lot. There are plenty more Picture Book Explorer sets from [Branch Out World,](http://www.picturebookexplorers.co.uk/) and they are priced lower. If you are not sure, you could try one of the smaller sets for under $8, which also includes Linked Lap Books for a combination of print and online experiences. I am looking at the Lab Book for Marco Polo and think I might just have to check it out for ourselves. Facebook: [www.facebook.com/BranchOutWorld](http://www.facebook.com/BranchOutWorld) @BranchOutWorld Pinterest: [www.pinterest.com/belzibow](http://www.pinterest.com/belzibow) @belzibow Instagram: [www.instagram.com/belzibow](http://www.instagram.com/belzibow) @belzibow Twitter: [www.twitter.com/belzibow](http://www.twitter.com/belzibow) @belzibow Check them out on your favorite social channels, and, as always, click the link below to see how other families used this Picture Book Explorer in their homeschools. [![Paddington Bear {Branch Out World Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Branch-Out-World-Picture-Book-Explorers-Paddington-Bear-REVIEWS.png)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/paddington-bear-branch-out-world-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** early elementary, hsreview, literature, little learners, Paddington Bear, Picture Books, reading, Unit Studies --- ### [Are Your Kids Reading Great Literature? {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/kids-reading-great-literature/) **Published:** May 2, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* When people ask us how we get our kids to read classical literature, we end up sharing how [Lamplighter Publisher](https://lamplighter.net/)s’ Books have been a part of our children’s entire lives. Books like [The Secret Bridge](https://store.lamplighter.net/secret-bridge-the-p2590.aspx) have given our kids a taste for classical literature, with great stories that span any era. #### Here is a secret I always share: read over your kid’s heads. Many people wait to read great books. They want to wait until their child is at the text’s reading level, but don’t wait that long. Don’t allow the difficulty of the words to be confused with the ability to comprehend the material. My son’s favorite book at the age of six was Moby Dick. Not because he could fully comprehend the text, but because I read it aloud as an exciting and sometimes hilarious story. We have always read over our kids’ heads, and now, as teens, they read at a college level with ease. I credit a great part of that to the fact that we were never afraid to read a book that was a bit “over” their heads. #### Once established, that love of great books will continued into their teen years. Even though my teens will devour most of the books in the YA section of the library and my oldest son is a Manga mini-novel enthusiast, they have maintained their love of classic books. Because we introduced great reading to them at an early age, they know what a great book looks like. They are not put off by unfamiliar syntax and Old English usage. They have all scored above the high school level on vocabulary tests. Why? We have learned words from context while reading more challenging books. When the books offer a great story, our kids love reading them. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_2141-300x300.jpg "Lamplighter Publisher › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/kids-reading-great-literature/new-tan-2/)Keeping Classical literature close at hand#### Don’t wait to introduce your child to great literature that goes beyond school assignments The biggest challenge is finding great books to read to your kids. Where can you turn for books that go beyond the “Classics” section in the local bookstore? Where can you find books that instill the same values and Christian worldview you would like for your children to embrace? This is where Lamplighter passes the test. Their books hold the reader’s interest with compelling stories and engaging characters. As a publisher, they seek stories that demonstrate strong moral character. > Books filled with courageous characters help children develop perseverance and strength. If you’re looking for [**great literature for kids that emphasizes strong moral character**,](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/) you might also enjoy this guide to [**stories that model courage and integrity**.](_wp_link_placeholder) #### Where can we see Godly character modeled? This is the aim of Lamplighter Books Every title has a message, whether it is courage, family connection, compassion, honesty, or walking out Christian values with integrity. Each book leads with a story that can enchant your reader and lead them on an adventure. Lamplighter Ministries’ focus is to develop Godly character and reinforce moral values by sharing stories in which role models demonstrate such character or face the consequences of their poor choices. Either form is carried out in a story that is engaging and vibrant. There are many book sizes, so there are plenty of shorter books to introduce these stories without overwhelming a younger student. *Teddy’s Button* or *The White Dove* have been some of our long-time favorites. #### Why I would rather read these out loud to my younger children The language is older; this book was published in 1899. If your teen has only read selections of their choice at the library, they might be uncomfortable with the vocabulary. If that is the case, there is also no better time to introduce your teen to higher-quality, more varied English-language reading selections. Although this book scores 4.6 on the Flesch reading scale, it is not beyond the reading level of most teens. The back page of the book includes a link to comprehension and character quizzes, a bonus from Lamplighter Publishing. #### So what book did we read? This month, my older teens and I read The Secret Bridge by Amy Le Feuvre, and it did not disappoint. The story begins with Bridget returning to England, orphaned and alone. As a young woman, penniless and without prospects to turn to for her care, she is utterly without hope, yet she longs to put her trust in God even in her bleak circumstances. Can He reveal Himself to her even in these lowly and trying times? A kindly gentleman passenger is intrigued with Bridget, and as he learns of her heart and her dire situation, he offers an unlikely scenario to bring an end to Bridget’s predicament. Would you marry a stranger? Her choice leads to an unraveling of buried family secrets and to keeping a huge secret of her own. #### How can she serve God and keep her secret? Bridget struggles to keep her promises and be honest with the people she encounters every day. The strain is almost too much to bear. Will Bridget lose hope before the truth is revealed? These questions kept us turning the pages and longing for a happy end to her troubles. As always, the end was worth the anticipation. With school in full swing, it has been a while since I have read from our collection. I had forgotten how much I love [Lamplighter Publisher](https://lamplighter.net/). With graduation approaching, I would gladly select a few from their collection as gifts for the students I love. *Ishmael* is a favorite for a graduation gift around here. Lamplighter also offers a line of beautifully illustrated storybooks for younger readers as well. So there is a book for every reader in your family. You should order a catalog to see the book descriptions. If you look forward to your yearly book orders as I do, you’ll all be so glad to have your name on their mailing list. > [Best Books That Teach Kids Resilience (Why Children Need Stories About Struggle)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/books-that-teach-kids-resilience/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** character, Homeschool, Lamplighter Publishing, literature, Review, what we are reading --- ### [Last day of the early access VIP Pass price...but you can still view the whole summit for FREE!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/last-day-of-the-early-access-vip-pass-price-but-you-can-still-view-the-whole-summit-for-free/) **Published:** February 22, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** a quick note from Amber at 200fingersandtoes.com Your Lowest Price for a VIP Pass Ends at Midnight...if your are still thinking I wanted to send a quick final reminder Reader, Life Skills Leadership Summit was created for you. . . and I have a private invitation, just for you. We want to help you prepare your kids for real life! It's a completely free online event (February 23-27, 2026): five days and 50+ sessions. Get help from experts who are (or have been) in the trenches with raising kids... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/u5kHZXF3JZRKvmBgtAhNJf) ### a quick note from Amber at 200fingersandtoes.com ## Your Lowest Price for a VIP Pass Ends at Midnight…if your are still thinking ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/iRAzj5dJteoU81L6BDReRg) I wanted to send a quick final reminder Reader, **Life Skills Leadership Summit** was created for you. . . and I have a **private invitation**, just for you. We want to help you prepare your kids for real life! It’s a completely free online event (February 23-27, 2026): five days and 50+ sessions. Get help from experts who are (or have been) in the trenches with raising kids to lead & influence, real life skills, homeschooling, parenting, cooking. For some reason my family keeps wanting 3 meals a day. 😮😮😮 ​ ​ **Come be refreshed and recharged,** ready to raise your kids to be ready for real life. I have a private invitation, just for you.📜 The event kicks off today, Sunday, February 22 at 5pm CENTRAL with Kerry Beck, your hostess for the **Life Skills Leadership Summit**. She wants to kick off the week with some encouragement. ​ ​ You can still catch the replay! In her talk tonight you’ll discover: -How to be a great leader when your followers rise up against you -What leaders should do to strengthen themselves in the Lord -To find out how to get the most out of the Life Skills Leadership Summit -To get a plan for the week, so you use your time wisely -To discover the world’s most powerful leadership principle -To get the schedule for the week -To discover how to prepare your kids to lead and INFLUENCE with the #1 strategy -Practical ways moms can offer real life skills to their kids ​ After her encouraging words, she will let you know what to expect next week at the Life Skills Leadership Summit **Register for the event FREE by clicking here and you won’t miss anything!** ​ [Grab Your FREE pass now](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls26-basic/61f96bf6ee0fc/)​ ​ PS. If you [upgrade to the VIP Package](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls-2026-vip-15/), email me a screenshot of your receipt in a reply to this email and we’ll zip over the private link to watch my workshop on Managing Personal Property with a Large Family. Watch anytime you want! ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/a1dAZCwtUPSF6m5iB5UNPh/email) ​IN this workshop: No more nagging and your kids will argue less. Help your kids develop a sense of ownership and responsibility with the ideas you will learn in this workshop. BONUS: Cleaning a room in under 30 minutes is explained in detail in less than 5 minutes! ​ This is my favorite week of the school year! See you in the Summit next week! Blessings, Amber [![facebook](https://functions-js.kit.com/icons?icon=facebook&foreground=ffffff&background=3b5998&shape=square&v=3)​](https://facebook.com)[![twitter](https://functions-js.kit.com/icons?icon=twitter&foreground=ffffff&background=0c85d0&shape=square&v=3)​](https://twitter.com)[![instagram](https://functions-js.kit.com/icons?icon=instagram&foreground=ffffff&background=e1306c&shape=square&v=3)​](https://instagram.com)[![spotify](https://functions-js.kit.com/icons?icon=spotify&foreground=ffffff&background=1DB954&shape=square&v=3)​](https://spotify.com)[![youtube](https://functions-js.kit.com/icons?icon=youtube&foreground=ffffff&background=cc0000&shape=square&v=3)​](https://youtube.com) PO Box 337, Osceola, IA 50213 ​[Unsubscribe](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/unsubscribe) · [Preferences](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/preferences)​ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [All in One Readiness for Your New Reader? {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/reading-readiness-starfall-education-homeschool/) **Published:** February 26, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Who failed to teach her kids the months of the year and how to count by fives, this lady! Not to worry, [Starfall Education Foundation](http://www.starfall.com/) has me covered with [The Starfall Home Membership](https://store.starfall.com/membership/home-membership). Being an unconventional homeschooler is great, but there are always gaps. Like my experience with the months of the year. Sometimes, you don’t even realize you have missed a pretty important fact. With this educational learning game, they play, learn, and reinforce what we have already covered in our school time and more. [![Starfall](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/screen-shot-Starfall.png)](http://www.starfall.com/)The Educational Game That Has You Covered Starfall Education Foundation is an app-based learning program designed for little learners. It has been a fun reward educational “game” for my kids to play during our transition times in our homeschool day. My first and second-grade kids get to play while they learn. I appreciate knowing they are covering important milestones simultaneously. Just ask them about the “days of the week song.” They didn’t even know they were learning while they were singing, but they know spaghetti day is Tuesday and soup day (Wednesday) follows it. And I know I have that fact covered. Check! ![Kids Love Games, Give Yourself a Win](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_2980-1024x1024.jpg "Little Learners Love to Play › 200 Fingers & Toes")Rewards are easy now that we have Starfall## Math Facts and More Seriously, beans, balls, cars, whatever you use, manipulatives are sometimes a mess. Take a break from the clutter and chaos, and focus on simplified learning. Starfall makes learning fun and provides your kids with the visual cues they need to make learning easier. ![Stop Losing Your Beans](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0280-1024x768.png "Counting, Place Value, Money and More... › 200 Fingers & Toes")Starfall makes it fun to learn and gives your kids visual cues to make learning easier## The Learning Game That Gives Your Child Math Success Kids love educational games as much as they love winning. No one wins in a math booklet. It is just a fact. I am not saying that kids should toss math workbooks out the front door, but we could add more wins to their day. Games make learning fun and reinforce what you teach throughout the day. If you have a visual learner, interactive games are a great way to finally get a breakthrough with a difficult concept. I wish we had a visual game like this when I taught my second son about borrowing in subtraction. It ended with his older brother offering to teach math (14 months older), and I said yes. \[Tweet “…kids shouldn’t toss math workbooks out the front door, but Starfall could add more wins to their day”\] ![Worried About Missing Something?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0276-1024x768.png "Starfall Learning Covers Everything You Want › 200 Fingers & Toes")Did I mention that I failed to teach my kids how to count by fives Yep It is nice to have a program to fill in the gaps## Reading Readiness: Before You Are Ready? Is your child showing readiness to read, but you aren’t ready to begin formal teaching time yet? My son taught himself to read with a much smaller game at the age of four. Starfall is a great way to get a jump on learning while making it fun. Sight words can be reinforced with play, and your child can click on any word to have it read to them. My children have already doubled their sight-word recognition. You can feel good about their screen time. You could even have a few minutes to make lunch or catch up on the bill pile. Speaking of the bill pile, you are going to love the fact that Starfall Home Membership is not going to put a dent in your budget. You can get access for a whole year for $35. For less than a pair of sneakers, you can have access to their expanded pre-k to 2nd-grade reading and math learning tools. That is not all you will have access to. The new [Starfall Parent-Teacher Center™](https://teach.starfall.com/lv/) is available free for everyone, and it includes supplemental custom worksheets, curriculum downloads, informative guides, the latest Starfall news, and much more for parents. ![Reading Readiness at Their Fingertips](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0277-1024x768.png "Starfall can read to your littlest readers › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sight words and letter recognition can start with a click## More Than Matching and Colors Look at all of the things your little student can be learning in their first few weeks. You can let them play the educational games independently or follow the parent/teacher guide and lead them. You can also order physical books to make Starfall a robust total-curriculum choice. I love little books, and they have adorable character tie-ins you can order as well. It is great to have this much flexibility in a product. You can really choose how you want to use it. ![Starfall covers it all.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0279-1024x768.png "So Much More... › 200 Fingers & Toes")Look at all of the things your little student can be learning in their first few weeks## The Educational Game You Won’t Be Sorry for Purchasing I love learning games, but so many have left my kids or me frustrated. They need coins to play. They don’t last long or fail to challenge. Starfall Educational Foundation is none of those things. I am thankful we have access to this educational game for a full year, as I know we will be able to use it throughout. And, everyone is going to learn the “months of the year” song, just in case I missed anyone else in the family! Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/starfall.education](https://www.facebook.com/starfall.education/)Twitter: Pinterest: Instagram: ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/raise-smarter-kids-greek-homeschool/SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Educational Games, Homeschool, Learning Games, Starfall --- ### [How to Pack Good Stuff in Your Kid's Reading Books {Rush Revere Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/history-reading-kids/) **Published:** June 21, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Limbaugh weaves a swiftly moving story with historical events and characters in a format that is easily palatable to a junior high student. Like black bean brownies: if they taste too good to put down, your kids will eat 'em. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You know when you are holding a high-quality book in your hands, that was what I felt as I unboxed the Adventures of Rush Revere #1,[ New York Times Bestselling Book Series by Rush and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh](https://amzn.to/4kNxrUI), a part of the Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series. #### **These Books Will Stand The Test of Time** They aren’t just pretty. The high level of quality didn’t end at the beautifully illustrated book jacket. It extended beyond the library-bound, cloth-covered hardcovers, onto the glossy, heavyweight, parchment-toned, high-quality paper. Quality. It was poured into every aspect of this series. The stories between the end pages matched the quality I was looking forward to from an author as passionate as Rush Limbaugh. Whatever you might think about his radio persona, the man loves history and is crazy passionate about getting it into the hands of young readers. The characters and locations he and Kathryn chose for each book carry us through the entire series. They even led us to the Two If By Tea [website](http://www.twofibytea.com) to answer some fun trivia questions about the first book. #### **Why Choose Historical Novels if We HAVE Already Read Our History** Recently, I had brownies at my mom’s house. She wanted to make sure we all tested them for her because it was a new recipe. After we confirmed how delicious they were, she told us their secret ingredient: black beans. I know the health benefits of black beans, and so does my mother. They’re filled with vitamins, loaded with this healthy, heart-loving fiber, and micro-nutrients your body needs. I also know that brownies do not carry the same nutritional pedigree. Since my mom’s black bean brownies were as tasty as they were nutritious, I was thrilled to add the recipe to my list. Historical novels like the [Rush Revere](http://rushrevere.com/AdventureSeriesBooks/index.html) books add fiber and nutrients to your child’s leisure reading time. Limbaugh weaves a swiftly moving story with historical events and characters in a format that is easily palatable to a junior high student. Like black bean brownies: if they taste too good to put down, your kids will eat ’em. #### **Not Every Book Should Be For Learning, Create Balance for Your Kids** I know I have failed by being too strict with our reading in the past and by overloading my kids with educational materials. We can also get it from the same ditch when our children read nothing but fiction and teen drama. If your heart’s desire is to lead your child to love reading good books with valuable information, then you have to give them stories they will love. ![Ahoy](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_2489.jpg "Ahoy › 200 Fingers & Toes") This series is a great way to turn the tide in their leisure reading. Each book is beautifully illustrated with just enough pictures per page to capture a young reader’s interest and keep them turning pages to see what comes next. There is a great variety of graphic components. Illustrations, historical documents, and photographs of artifacts are scattered throughout the stories. You can also head to the Rush Revere website to [download free resources](http://rushrevere.com/AdventureSeriesBooks/index.html) and comprehension guides. ![Sparkle](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_2490.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes") Though the storylines are familiar from our history lessons, telling them in this firsthand, personal narrative format gives the reader a sense of being present in historical times and places. This series guides readers through the events leading up to and during the American Revolution. The titles cover the subjects of The Brave Pilgrims, The Star-Spangled Banner, The First Patriots, The American Revolution, and The Presidency. Reading them all would give your kids a well-digested version of American history, showing what children like themselves would see if they had their own time-traveling historian with a passion for people and places. #### **Looking A Gift Horse Right in The Mouth** I asked my son to share his thoughts on the books. When he mentioned a talking horse that led children back in time, I had to stop him. He just turned 13, so I wanted to know what he thought; if it seemed silly. He said, oddly enough, the way it was written made perfect sense. It was not a distraction; it was actually a great way to carry the story across the different historical events. We all know and love C.S. Lewis, so bring on the talking horses. ![Sparkle](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_2491.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### **Making History Everyone’s Favorite Subject is the Aim of These Books** I appreciate the desire to present history in a way that is appealing to younger students, without compromising the authenticity of the historical facts and struggles that settlers of that time faced. The [Rush Revere Series](https://amzn.to/4aDzGVU) has broad appeal, making it a smart buy. I will read them aloud to my 7- to 9-year-olds next year as we cover [American History](http://rushrevere.com/AdventureSeriesBooks/index.html). My 11- and 13-year-olds were able to read the books independently and enjoyed the series very much. You can find more information about the whole series and other projects Rush Revere is working on at [Facebook,](https://www.facebook.com/rushrevere) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/rushrevere), and YouTube, and you can read more reviews in the link below. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** historical novel, History, History Reading for Kids, Homeschool, hsreview, Rush Revere, TOS Crew Review --- ### [Are you looking for a few new books? New reviews on the blog](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/are-you-looking-for-a-few-new-books-new-reviews-on-the-blog/) **Published:** February 15, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschool News, & Some Fun Hey Reader, Are you a reader? I've been blogging at 200 Fingers & Toes for over ten years. I shared about our lives while we were ten kids deep in our homeschooling experience. We are still homeschooling, and I still love sharing tips, tools and resources with parents who are looking to use homeschooling as the tool to help their kids succeed. Personally, I am an avid reader. Like, a wide-range, google sheet creating, teetering-TBR-pile,... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschool News, & Some Fun Hey Reader, Are you a reader? I’ve been blogging at 200 Fingers & Toes for over ten years. I shared about our lives while we were ten kids deep in our homeschooling experience. We are still homeschooling, and I still love sharing tips, tools and resources with parents who are looking to use homeschooling as the tool to help their kids succeed. Personally, I am an avid reader. Like, a wide-range, google sheet creating, teetering-TBR-pile, reader. We have built a home library with over 100+ feet of book shelves. Daily, I use my amazon bookshelf, audible subscription, kindle unlimited or my smoking library card to listen while I work or read before bed. ***Are you a reader too?*** Would you like to connect over your favorite books and find a few more? I have been sharing my book habits over on instagram under the handle [@bookhousreads](https://www.instagram.com/bookhousereads/) and writing reviews on my blog. ​ [![video preview](https://functions-js.kit.com/playbutton?play=%233197e0&accent=%23ffffff&src=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.convertkit.com%2Fassets%2Fck-video-poster-default.jpg&width=480&height=270)​](https://api.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/gc2MiBEWyg2A7FYfqSVTvL/player) ​ As the kids have grown, so have I, but our love for great stories has never changed. I am looking forward to adding another facet of our world to the already robust volume of content on the blog. ​ Blessings, Amber J. Smith P.S. If you are on instagram follow me @bookhousereads and @200fingersandtoes. I’d love to follow you back too! Talking to myself is lonesome and the point of this platform is to connect with real friends, readers and parents who deeply care. PO Box 337, Osceola, IA 50213 ​[Unsubscribe](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/unsubscribe) · [Preferences](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/preferences)​ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Sweet Pea - A BookHouseReads Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sweet-pea-a-bookhousereads-review/) **Published:** February 11, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I received *Sweet Pea* as an advance reader copy through NetGalley, and from the very beginning, I was drawn in by the description — especially of Paulette herself. She was hungry with hope, for the love and future she kept dreaming up each time Denton swaggered into town. There was something in their love affair that hinted at longing, misjudgment, and growth. I love stories that explore the gap between who we thought we were and who we actually become. And *Sweet Pea* does exactly that. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sweet-Pea-671x1024.png "Sweet Pea › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sweet-Pea.png)Sweet Pea is a story about heartbreak stubborn love and the value of kindness Paulette is a young Black woman in Europe whose life quietly fractures after a tragic accident reveals that her unrealized fiancé was not who she believed him to be. What follows isn’t dramatic in a flashy way — it’s ordinary life. But it’s the kind of ordinary life that slowly exposes our illusions, our pride, our tenderness, and our blind spots. What struck me most after finishing the book was this: **food builds more than human bodies.** Food builds connections. Shared meals bridge wounds. Cooking for others nourishes belonging. Kit De Waal weaves food throughout the story in such a thoughtful way. Meals become markers of time. Recipes carry memory. The table becomes a meeting place where cultural and social differences soften. Food is the quiet thread stitching together moments of heartbreak, growth, and reconciliation. It felt deeply human. ### “I love stories that explore the gap between who we thought we were and who we actually become!” Kit De Waal weaves food throughout the story in such a thoughtful way. Meals become markers of time. Recipes carry memory. The table becomes a meeting place where cultural and social differences soften. Food is the quiet thread stitching together moments of heartbreak, growth, and reconciliation. It felt deeply human. ### Themes That Stayed With Me One of the strongest themes in *[Sweet Pea](https://amzn.to/4rLz2wr)* is the contrast between youthful passion and mature understanding. When we’re young, we often define good and bad too narrowly. We cling tightly to our expectations. Paulette does this — and she pays the price for it. What I appreciated so much is that De Waal allows Paulette to be wrong. She lets her be hopeful, misguided, loving, proud, vulnerable — sometimes all at once. Another theme that resonated deeply with me was family — especially the idea that **the family we expect and the family we receive are often very different things**. As Paulette grows, she learns to see people more clearly. She learns to love beyond blood. And in doing so, she discovers that chosen connection can be just as powerful — sometimes more so — than what we’re born into. I was also challenged by the socioeconomic contrasts in the book. Watching two teenage boys in the same school experience completely different realities reminded me how deeply background and circumstance shape opportunity. It’s easy to forget how profoundly our environment influences us — and how compassion requires that we remember it. ### The Characters That Lingered Birdie stayed with me long after I turned the final page. He is a teenage boy in desperate need of kindness and stability, yet he responds in ways that hurt Paulette deeply. He’s frustrating. Tender. Complicated. Real. And perhaps that’s what made him unforgettable. One of my favorite moments in the story was when Birdie’s family came to Paulette’s aid when she needed them most. It was a quiet but powerful reminder that when we pour into others, it is never wasted — even if we don’t immediately see the fruit of it. There were small frustrations too. Birdie’s grandfather felt slightly underdeveloped. I found myself curious about him, wanting more. But at the same time, I didn’t mind that he remained in the background. He wasn’t the heart of the story. Paulette was. ### The Writing Itself Kit De Waal’s pacing is fantastic. The characters feel crisp and distinct without being exaggerated. Her writing is refreshingly clear — not cliché, not overly indulgent in description, yet rich with a strong sense of time and place. I especially appreciated how she avoided unnecessary detail while still giving each scene weight. The story has a memoir-like quality that made it feel intimate and grounded. I love ordinary-life fiction when it’s done well, and this absolutely was. ### My Final Takeaway If I had to sum up my experience in one sentence, it would be this: **Food is a powerful tool to nourish the people we love.** But perhaps even more than that, *[Sweet Pea](https://amzn.to/4rLz2wr)* reminded me that loving someone — especially a child who is not born of your flesh — is both costly and transformative. Paulette’s struggle to commit to raising and loving a teenage boy challenged me in quiet ways. I would absolutely recommend this book to readers who appreciate stories of growth, personal generosity, flawed characters, and hopeful love. It’s especially meaningful for anyone willing to explore lives and experiences that don’t mirror their own. And that’s ultimately what I hope you feel when reading this review — inspired to step into stories beyond your own experience. Because we grow when we do. > [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUosPGbjdZJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** projects --- ### [Easy Tips to Reduce and Manage Homeschool Paper](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/easy-tips-homeschool-paper-organization/) **Published:** August 19, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** educe your workload, get your kids to manage their work better and save time at the end of the homeschool year. The first step is reducing the amount of paper you deal with on a daily basis. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* In this article, we will cover six places to apply practical tips and ideas to improve homeschool paper organization. You will reduce your workload, get your kids to manage their work better and save time at the end of the homeschool year. The first step is reducing the amount of paper you deal with on a daily basis. Think about all of the paper you manage and sort through right now. ##### *When you buy something recommended here, I may get an affiliate commission — but it never affects your price or what I recommend. I use the products and tools in our family and share my honest review.* Schedules, maps, printable handwriting sheets, worksheets, notes pages, and more. It can all add up to a huge pile and a mess to sort through at the end of the school week, let alone school year. It doesn’t take many changes to become a homeschool paper organization expert. We have managed it with ten kids, that proves – anyone can have a peaceful in-box. ## Simple Tips to Reduce Paper in Your Homeschool [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Manage-Paper-Social-Post.png "Manage Paper Social Post › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Manage-Paper-Social-Post.png)managing homeschool paper by reducing the amount YOU have to deal with daily### A Great Way to Reduce Homeschool Paper: Make Digital Notes The best way to improve homeschool paper organization is to reduce the amount of paper you have in the first place. We have easy access to the digital version of paper for math practice problems. We use[ a digital tablet](https://amzn.to/3P65Lw4) we got from amazon for $15 in many different ways throughout our school day. The little ones like it for letter practice, since it still has a pencil feel. We added it to our homeschool supplies for math solving. There is plenty of room for even an advanced math problem to be solved. When they are done, a simple click of the button resets the display. This pairs great if you are using an online homeschool curriculum. Your child can confirm their answer in the program before they erase. Last year, we purchased more digital resources. We added a [digital pencil and writing tablet ](https://amzn.to/3QGqU0U)that connects to the school computer directly. The kids can write on the tablet and it is displayed on the screen in the “scratch pad’ page of Teaching Textbooks. My daughter also uses this for her art elective work. She can work in Adobe Procreate while she follows a tutorial or a class in [Skillshare](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teens-are-learning-new-skills-better-with-high-school-electives-homeschool/ "New Skills Faster with High School Homeschool Electives") in another tab on screen. This helps save on art supplies and allows her to be creative while still in our homeschool space. ### Using Digital Programs for Correcting Papers for You In the theme of reducing homeschool papers, one of the reasons I wanted to reduce the amount of paper was that I was not able to keep up on the grading of individual work. One year we had ten students in different levels of math. That is a lot of homeschool paperwork to go over each day. Some of my kids (one in particular!) liked to keep moving forward in his/her workbook. If I didn’t get the corrections made, that student would keep going right along with the same mistakes for several lessons. The student was FRUSTRATED, I was FRUSTRATED. We solved the problem in a better way. Since I couldn’t multiply myself to get another homeschool mom, I did the next best thing, I purchased a digital program that did the corrections for me. I paid no more than I already had for a textbook and workbook, but it freed up a ton of time of my homeschool schedule. At the end of the year we moved to [Fascinating Education, an online science ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/can-teach-chemistry-home-fascinating/)program as well. Choosing a digital product is one way working parents are able to choose to keep homeschooling! There is NO shame in streamlining your homeschool to fit your needs. #200fingersandtoes.com [Tweet](http://twitter.com/share?&text=Choosing%20a%20digital%20product%20is%20one%20way%20working%20parents%20are%20able%20to%20choose%20to%20keep%20homeschooling!%20There%20is%20NO%20shame%20in%20streamlining%20your%20homeschool%20to%20fit%20your%20needs.%20%23200fingersandtoes.com&url=https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/easy-tips-homeschool-paper-organization/&via=) Digital and online programs are available in abundance. They are time savers and give working parents an opportunity to share the teaching workload with another adult. You can read about the [39 Tech Tools ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-23-tech-apps-to-help-you-homeschool-better-smarter/)we have used over the years. It is a great idea to do some looking to find some tools that fits your families goals. Using a subject or full curriculum that has online lesson plans and testing is a great place to reduce paper clutter in your homeschool and reduce your workload as a homeschooling mom. ## Spiral Bound Workbooks for Built-in Homeschool Paper Organization Speaking about science, we use [Apologia Science.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/high-school-science-success-enjoy-audio/) You can listen to the podcast to hear why I think Apologia prepares student for college level learning and read my review of [Apologia Marine Biology](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/). Their Student Journal is one of the items we added to our homeschool to help me manage paper in several ways. For one, all of the pages are in one place. No loose papers or 3-ring notebooks means no lost papers. Second, I can open their Journal and know where my student is at in their daily tasks at a glance. I don’t have to find a binder or sort through a lot of stuff to get a snapshot of my child’s work. This grab and go ability helps me to do a much better job keeping my kids accountable. If it is easy for me to do, I am more likely to do it. You are probably the same. Lastly, the Student Journals have a strong spiral binding and are very well made. I have not had one fail over a school year. Rifling through a bucket or bin of cast off school work, looking for a lost lesson is not my idea of an evening of fun. Workbooks are BIGGER than a piece of paper. They are far less likely to get lost than a single sheet of paper. If a subject doesn’t offer a workbook consider getting a pile of lined paper spiral bound with a plastic cover and having your child make a cover page for their own “Journal.” ### When in doubt, buy the workbook. Workbooks save you tons of time and the cost of printing. They usually last the full school year. The only exception to this was [First Form Latin from Memoria Press](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=636124). These student workbooks did not hold up throughout the full school year and the teaching notebook lost several pages. The program, however, is well structured, easy to follow and fairly easy for high schoolers to get the hang of. A failing workbook in the middle of the school year is NOT a problem. When we ordered Second Form Latin, (you can read my [review of third form in this post](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/dont-scholar-include-latin-homeschool/))I simply took the student workbooks to the office supply store and had them spiral bound for a couple bucks. Problem solved with little effort or dollars. ## Simple Tips for Homeschool Paper Organization [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Manage-Paper-Social-Post2-.png "Manage Paper Social Post2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Manage-Paper-Social-Post2-.png)Make it easy to find the records you need with a simple computer search### Create a Digital File for Each Student Records Create a document for each student and save it to google drive. In this keep your attendance records, homeschool records, compliance forms and any thing you filled out for the school district or state you live in. At the end of the year, add the homeschool curriculum you used each homeschool year. This is vital for you when you go to create transcripts for your older children. When I record curriculum used, I include: title, publisher, edition, year published and any notes about their progress. Keep this transcript in your files, forever. You never know when a child might need it for employment or continuing education. Information about creating a [transcript can be found at Homeschool Iowa](https://homeschooliowa.org/high-school-transcripts/). ### Establish a Homeschool Paper Turn-In Location To win at the game of homeschool paper organization, you have to declare “NOT IT!” You do not want to be responsible for any homeschool paper before they are turned in as completed work. Establishing a Turn-In location stops kids from handing you random Greek History papers on your way to the coffee pot. I can not be held responsible for paper handed to me BEFORE coffee. > Also, I have NO idea where that paper went to this day! > > -every homeschool parent at some point Choose a place and make sure everyone know where it is. It can be a hanging folder, a basket on top of your filing cabinet or any designated spot. As long as everyone knows that it is the only place for important papers to go! Having a turn-in location is the easiest way to transfer the responsibility from you, to your students. This rule goes for younger children too! If it is not in the turn-in bucket, it is not done. After I started working out of the house a few days a week, [we needed to create some serious accountability again.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/one-tool-to-keep-your-homeschool-headed-in-the-right-direction/) Work was not getting completed, followed up on or checked. I needed some systems to help me. One of those systems was our Friday check out policy. ### Homeschool Paper Organization Needs Accountability to Work It goes like this. If you want to have plans on the weekend, everything on our expectation sheet MUST be completed and turned in to be checked out by 4pm on Friday. If you didn’t get it done, not a problem. We can simply hang out this weekend and try again next week. You won’t nag, cry, or rage. Nowadays, I don’t even try to make the weekend miserable, though it might not be a bad idea to overhaul the organizational system while the kids are home with you! I do try to make sure they have some appealing options that they are missing if it becomes a habit. One year when the kids were younger, we had a friday ice cream run. I knew the kids would scramble to be able to go. having a set event helped to motivate the children, and get them to wrap up school at a decent time for me. ### Does It Work? Yes! Before this system, I was battling, begging, ranting and still work was not getting done. We sat down and had a meeting. I lined out their school and chore expectations and was clear about what would happen if these were not done by an appointed checkout time. It took exactly TWO missed football games for my kids to start making sure their work was done by Thursday! We created a lot of peace in our home by learning to be more organized. You can find our favorite [homeschool organization ideas in this blog post](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/help-my-homeschooler-get-organized/) and listen to the [NEW In Due Season Homeschool podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-due-season-homeschool-your-guide-to-living-well/id1502155155) episode. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Manage-Paper-Social-Post3.png "Manage Paper Social Post3 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Manage-Paper-Social-Post3.png)Homeschool paper organization needs to extend from parent to child## Laminate Important Homeschool Paper We have a weekly schedule that the kids use to stay on task. [You can grab it FREE here.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/free-schedule-download-huge-home-teaching-resource-list/) I found that printing their homeschool planner for the day was always a hold up on busy Mondays. We rewrote it to be fillable and laminated ONE copy for each student in our homeschool. This helped reduce paper in our homeschool in a huge way. They can fill in the blanks with the chapter or pages read. After our check out meeting on Friday, they simply erase the marks from this week and are ready to start again on Monday. ## What are your Sources of Homeschool Paper? Take a look at your homeschool bins, boxes or file folders. This will help you see where the source of the most paper is coming from. You can get creative using some of these tips to reduce the amount of waste, clutter, overwhelm and redundancy. ![](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/1161942/1161942-1584901387570-473e992ba6235.jpg) ## Counting the Cost to Homeschool[ ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) – [ In Due Season Homeschool; Your Guide to Living Well Throughout Your Homeschool Journey ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog) Parents are leaving the public school in mass. With the local districts establishing the rules for access to extracurricular activities, some parents find their access barred. There are questions about the right to access field trips, prom, and graduation ceremonies. Before these parents demand their rights, I would love to propose a conversation. Firstly, we need to establish a clear picture of the cost of homeschooling and the powerful deterrents districts will use to stem the loss of students from the rolls. Secondly, we are poised for the most significant opportunity homeschooling has experienced in a decade. The influx of energy, creativity, and numbers to build a vibrant, thriving community could be what homeschoolers need to meet these needs in a way that compliments our values and family-oriented goals. Join me for the beginning of an ongoing conversation… 1. [ Counting the Cost to Homeschool 23:58 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) 2. [ EP11 Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to Know 22:12 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP11-Homeschool-Graduation-Facts-You-Need-to-Know-e28if0q) 3. [ EP10 – Managing paper in your homeschool 17:22 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP10---Managing-paper-in-your-homeschool-e2881f6) 4. [ EP09 Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool 16:30 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP09-Developing-Organization-Skills-in-Your-Homeschool-e27tsjf) 5. [ EP008 – What We are Using in Our Homeschool This Year 17:31 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP008---What-We-are-Using-in-Our-Homeschool-This-Year-eitt4c) Do you have a great tip? Leave me a DM on your favorite social channel @200fingersandtoes PS. One last tip. I have used [Chatbooks](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/one-click-to-get-those-kids-pictures-printed/ "One Click to Get Those Kid’s Pictures Printed") for my photo printing. If ART and PORTFOLIO papers are a source of the paper pile, a simple idea is to take great pictures and keep them in an album on your phone or computer. At the end of the school year you can print an anthology of your child’s or your whole homeschool work for under $15. The books are beautiful and they even have a child-proof paper option. They stack up beautifully and are one of my favorite things to put out when we host family gatherings. (not an affiliate link – just a fun tip!) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Puzzles are the Best Homeschool Anatomy Study Aid](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-anatomy-study-help-with-livingston-puzzles/) **Published:** December 22, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As a young artist, I spent hours poring over head, hand, and other anatomy studies in human drawing books and scientific textbooks. [Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzles](https://timberdoodle.com/products/dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzle-the-human-head?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7) take anatomy studying to a whole new level. We never considered using puzzles as a homeschool anatomy study aid, but we are loving these. I will be reviewing the entire [seven puzzle set](https://timberdoodle.com/products/dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7) over the next few months. Our family does puzzles over the winter months, especially at Christmas and over the New Year. When I saw that this set was available for review I was thrilled to upgrade our puzzle game. So long unicorns, kittens and flowers! Say hello to vital organs, blood vessels, rib cages, spinal cords and more. #### Dr. Livingston Human Anatomy puzzles are a deeply detailed depictions of different systems of the body These detailed puzzles focus on a different anatomical structure. Volume 4 – The Human Right Arm: focuses on the musculature of the arms. Likewise, Volume 5 – The Human Left Arm: shows the skeletal structure of the arm, from the shoulder ball-and-socket joint down to the fingers’ many hinge joints. By using these medically accurate human anatomy jigsaw puzzles, we can keep our winter tradition and get an in-depth study of human organs, the human skeleton, and the rest of the body. These anatomy puzzles give a cross-sectional view of many parts of the whole body. From the concourse of blood vessels to a clear view of the entire rib cage. Using these puzzles as a homeschool anatomy study aid is a great way to get school credit during our break. That is a deal that all moms can love. ##### From New School of Architect and Design: The sound two materials make when they’re joined together, the scent of a certain solvent, the vivid color of a particular plant leaf – these all become[ easy-access sensory “bookmarks”](https://newschoolarch.edu/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-hands-on-learning/) for bringing the memory to the surface when it needs to be reviewed. Play and learning are more powerful when combined! [](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) ## Why Learning Aids? #### Using Visual Aids in your homeschool Helps kids retain new information Faster and better Research indicates a link between student engagement with a subject (typically defined as attention to the area of focus, active participation in learning, and time on task) and student achievement. These correlations remain strong for all levels of instruction, across all subject areas, and for varying instructional activities. Hands-on components multiply the learning experience. [Mini games for School ⤅](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/) ## Homeschool Play that Teaches too! Our first puzzle is: [The Human Head](https://timberdoodle.com/products/dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzle-the-human-head?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7). It’s a whopping 441 piece puzzle that measures 23×18 inches long when completed. The first thing I noticed was the sturdy, beautifully printed, box with a magnetic flap for sure closing. The detailed image on the inside reminds me of the old medical posters I’ve seen in vintage shops. The medically accurate details, presented at 200% magnification caught the eye of my college student who is currently taking a level 200 biology course. She found many of the anatomy terms she was memorizing for her college tests. These puzzles aren’t the type that you will want to toss on to the resale shop when you are done. If you have a big family who homeschool, plan to use these over and over again. Especially as your kids hit Anatomy and Physiology in middle school and again with biology in high school. The Human Head Anatomy Puzzle is a part of the complete [6th Grade Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle Co.](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2021-sixth-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7) and The Complete Human Thorax puzzle is part of [Timberdoodle’s 11th Grade Curriculum Kit](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2021-eleventh-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7). [Click here for a fun resource to learn the Human Body Systems.](https://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html) ## A Whole Family Affair Grab a couple of puzzles to tuck away this winter and imagine a few long chilly nights with an activity already planned fro you. Here in Iowa the winter days can be dark and cold. With windchills getting down to -30 below zero, there are always a few days when I am not pushing the kids to get outside to play. Quiet evenings are a nice turn, but too much free time with no set activity can create mayhem. I just saw the Junior Dr. Livingston Puzzles, so there is a puzzle that is just right for everyone in the family to get involved in. You can order the individual puzzles, or if you are already sold on the idea of using these as a study aid, you can purchase **The Set of 3 Original Anatomy Puzzles**, featuring the human trunk: The Human Head, The Human Thorax with crosscuts of the sternum, and The Human Abdomen. Giving a in depth view of the brain, muscles of the neck, large intestines, pancreas and digestive track with medically accurate cross-sections of the human body. You can also take the Anatomy Challenge and get **[the whole set](https://timberdoodle.com/products/dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7)**. When done you will have an impressive human body made of over ten feet of puzzle pieces. - [Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzles – Set of 7](https://timberdoodle.com/products/dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7) - [Dr. Livingston’s Anatomy Jigsaw Puzzle: The Human Head](https://timberdoodle.com/products/dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzle-the-human-head?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=dr-livingstons-anatomy-jigsaw-puzzles-set-of-7) ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3-x-3-in.png "3 x 3 in › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Time Saver Tips:** When working on a large puzzle, make sure to prep your workspace. Wipe and dry the surface where you will be working to avoid sticky surprises. Don’t allow any drinks in the work area. (We may have lost a puzzle digit in a tragic water glass incident) Grab a set of [puzzle sorting trays](https://amzn.to/4iqIhyz) to help move loose pieces between participants. You can use two pieces of poster board, taped together from the inside, to create a large portfolio. Now you can slide the finished puzzles into this as you complete them. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/45F3CDF4-9A3B-48A4-95B6-900630BBF4A1.jpeg "Anatomy Puzzles › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/C790AF3B-FF5B-4BF5-8953-609FEE13B61A.jpeg "Plie › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/E10FCAFC-85A0-4A74-B464-3EB9EC5775FC-576x1024.jpeg "Plie › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Schedules, Giving and Gratitude for Your Life right now!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/schedules-giving-and-gratitude-for-your-life-right-now/) **Published:** November 21, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschool News, & Some Fun Hello dear friends, I hope you are doing great,Reader. We are getting closer to our favorite season of our homeschool. Elective season! You can read about how we MAXIMIZE the busy holiday season on the blog. Set Your PACE for the Holiday Season But first, don't miss out on a few quick updates before you go: two new blog posts and a podcast interview! Getting Real About Gratitude Habits to Build It Gratitude is not a natural state for... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschool News, & Some Fun Hello dear friends, I hope you are doing great,Reader. We are getting closer to our favorite season of our homeschool. Elective season! You can read about how we MAXIMIZE the busy holiday season on the blog. [Set Your PACE for the Holiday Season](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/81492-2/)​ But first, don’t miss out on a few quick updates before you go: two new blog posts and a podcast interview! ## Getting Real About Gratitude [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/u6Lo73Rv4qyQTVGyw7GK2m)](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6169dbc0eaae9/) ### Habits to Build It Gratitude is not a natural state for children. We all tend toward selfishness and my kids are no different. In this interview with Kerry, I share gratitude builders we have implemented over the years with our tribe of ten kids. [Listen to the Podcast Here](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/162) [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/wzM28Wzc9sqUeK2dKu8Zsp)](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) ### Gratitude Challenge Run your own gratitude challenge any time of year with the **FREE** printable and don’t miss the chance to enter the giveaway for some great prizes for you. [Sign Up FREE Gratitude Challenge & Giveaway (value $910.37)](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/61392b0b8c7f3/) [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/ddCxVP9s9CkiqTnPK5Lzto)](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6723bfead0952/) ### Build Gratitude by Giving Saying “Thank You” is the last step in the gratitude chain of events. On November 30th my guest post will share how to build gratitude this giving season. I share great ideas everyone can use with their kids this Christmas. [Read ALL the Guest Posts Here](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/68ffb55eda986/) ​ During the [30 Days of Gratitude Challenge](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/) a new author contributes a fresh article about gratitude for you. Reader, it is not too late to catch up by reading a few each day. My article will post on November 30th! Don’t miss it. It will be prefect for the gift giving season. ​ Blessings, Amber J. Smith PS. Don’t miss. I’ve posted a few new quick articles on the blog:[ 4 Habits for a Schedule You Can Be Thankful For](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/four-habits-homeschool-schedule-youll-be-thankful-for/) and [How to Be Prepared for a Bad Homeschool Day.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/5-quick-activities-to-save-a-bad-homeschool-day/)​ PO Box 337, Osceola, IA 50213 ​[Unsubscribe](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/unsubscribe) · [Preferences](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/preferences)​ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Easy 4 Steps to Plan for a Restful Homeschool Holiday](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/81492-2/) **Published:** November 24, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Holiday season got you scrambling? I know the feeling all too well. A few years ago, I realized that we had forgotten to pray at our Thanksgiving celebration! Blame it on having five grandbabies, ten siblings, three significant others, and a partridge in a… you get it! The place was crowded, but we missed the chance to show our gratitude… on Thanksgiving. Setting my PACE changed the chaos to a restful homeschool holiday, even during the holidays.. Have you been there, too? Stop rushing, prepping, and missing the main thing, again. After that year, I decided we had to make a change. No more rushing through the Holiday Season. My heart desired to be intentional about Christmas. I wanted to set aside time to focus on Christ before Christmas Eve. ## Are you looking for a restful Holiday Season too? I shared with the readers of [The Homeschool Minute](https://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/thm/november-29-2023-a-holiday-season-of-rest/), about how I found a way to be intentional during the holidays and reach your goals, find rest and get to the New Year with a little more peace. We set the **PACE** for the Holiday Season, rather than letting the season run us. Setting the PACE is a simple four-step process I used to help us refocus, define our goals, and stay on track all December. My goal is to focus on the meaning of Christmas, but you should avoid getting derailed from your homeschool plans. This season, maybe you want to be a more organized host or spend the break focused on your family time. Either way, setting your PACE will help you have a restful homeschool holiday and all year long. No matter what your goal, setting the **PACE** will help you reach your goals. #### Grab the printable above with the step-by-step reminders to help you create a December plan. ## A Restful Homeschool Holiday in Four Easy Steps ### P – Principle Focus What is your Principle Focus this December? Knowing your goal will help you create a plan unique to your family. What left you feeling rushed, frustrated or disappointed over the last holiday rush? Knowing what you DON’T want to repeat can help you make great changes this December. Choose ONE principle focus this year. ### A – Activities There are four week in December. Choose an activity for each week that will support your goal in a meaningful way. In the past, to help my family focus on Christ in December, I purchased Advent cards to read together. What Activities can help you reach your goal. Think about including the whole family and making it fun for them to help you. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Advent-Tree.jpeg "Choosing Meaningful Activities to match your goals for a restful homeschool holaday › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Advent-Tree.jpeg)Choosing your Activity to help you have a restful homeschool holiday### C – Calendar Picking an activity is not enough. I learned that the first year I purchased Advent cards. The problem was, I did not create a clear plan to use them in an intentional way. To my frustration, most days they were forgotten or rushed through. Last year, I purchased a beautiful [Advent Tree](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-add-discipleship-to-your-homeschool-holiday-celebrations/ "How to Add Discipleship to Your Homeschool Holiday Celebrations") for the dining room table. I showed the kids the tree and set it up in the main room. I shared with the family about my goal of focusing on Christ throughout December and asked them to help by participating with the tree at our evening meal time. Sharing a set time to do the activity was a game changer. Some days, when I was not home, I returned to see that the ornament for the day was hung up on the tree. It felt so good to know that the whole family was coming along to help me with my goal. That December truly was a season of joy and gratitude, because we set aside time to act on our goal. ### E – Evaluate No plan is complete without evaluating. In our homeschool, we have a set [check out procedure](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/fall-obstacles-opportunities-making-changes-mid-year/ "Obstacles to Opportunities: Making Changes Mid-Year for Students"). When I neglect this meeting time, the kids almost always slip a little more behind than normal. Evaluating helps us be honest about how we executed the plan. Don’t be frustrated if you fell short of your goal. When we failed to read the Advent cards I bought. I assessed why that was not enough to help us. The next year, I made the changes of setting a specific time, and inviting the kids to participate with me. It took two years for my goal of a Christ centered December to become a reality, but if I had done nothing, I might still be frustrated. Instead, I’ll be unpacking our new family tradition and looking forward to adding some new activities this year. ### As always, I wish you a Restful Homeschool Holiday and hope you set your PACE this year! I look forward to sharing more articles in the New Year about evaluating your homeschool year and getting back on track from the Holiday Break! If you want to stay informed of new articles be sure to subscribe to get them first! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Four Habits = Homeschool Schedule You'll Be Thankful For](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/four-habits-homeschool-schedule-youll-be-thankful-for/) **Published:** November 20, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Gratitude and peace go hand-in-hand. Your Homeschool Schedule can help you have more of both. In this article, I will share the TOP four tips I’ve learned over twenty years of homeschooling. ## 1. Write Out Your Monthly Homeschool Schedule. Review your notes and calendar for the last few months. Then, plot out all events, appointments, and expected interruptions to your school routine in advance. **Blocking these days out** will help you plan for slower days when you can’t make homeschooling the primary focus. ## 2. Have a General Daily Skeleton Schedule In our homeschool, we schedule a start time, a family meeting time, a break, and a cleanup time. I plan around our **hinge points** that occur each day. These are places where we can check in and get back on track with the day. The enormous white board with hourly subject headings and reading assignments helped me when the kids were really small, but it became more useful when used as a check-off list. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Vertical_Sarah-1024x522.webp "Build a Schedule For Your Family › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Vertical_Sarah.webp)Homeschool Schedule Tips Assess Plan Flex and Review## 3. Practice Flexibility in your Homeschool Schedule You need to practice flexibility if you are going to be a successful homeschooler. It is one of the **[Six Keys to a Great School Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sales-page-2/ "In Due Season Courses")** that I talk about. Flexibility helps to identify and make regular adjustments to your schedule. Your family’s needs are constantly moving. Changes like a new sports season or a new baby can significantly alter your school day. Creating the habit of observation and change can help you regain your footing quickly when life throws you a curveball. ## 4. Lastly, create time for reflection. Set aside time to review the month’s calendar of events. Was it too much? Too little? As a homeschooling mom, I understand how easy it is to transition from one busy season to the next without taking a break. Reflection means creating an intentional pause that can make a huge difference in your school year. These habits can help you create a schedule that fits your family’s needs while leaving room for life to happen all around you. So, what do you do when life throws you a curveball and you aren’t going to get to do school today? You are going to plan for [a bad homeschool day](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/5-quick-activities-to-save-a-bad-homeschool-day/ "5 Quick Activities to Save a Bad Homeschool Day") and have supplies on hand to make the most of them. You’ll be able to read about how in this article. > [5 Quick Activities to Save a Bad Homeschool Day](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/5-quick-activities-to-save-a-bad-homeschool-day/) ## Are you looking for more homeschool help? Grab your [30-Day to Homeschool Confidence Guide](https://expert-thinker-7811.kit.com/56391ccd10) and work your way through daily articles, podcast episodes, and recorded workshops to help you find encouragement, hope, and confidence for your homeschool. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/30-Day-Plan-to-Grow-in-Homeschool-Confidence-with-In-Due-Season-791x1024.png "30-Day Plan to Grow in Homeschool Confidence with In Due Season › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/30-Day-Plan-to-Grow-in-Homeschool-Confidence-with-In-Due-Season.png)More at indueseasonnet ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [5 Quick Activities to Save a Bad Homeschool Day](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/5-quick-activities-to-save-a-bad-homeschool-day/) **Published:** November 18, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Our top 5 activities that help us when we are having a bad homeschool day, and what to have on hand so you will come out looking like a genius to your family. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The best way to avoid a bad homeschool day is to plan for it ahead of time. We all have BAD days. The heater quits, the freezer melts, the baby is sick, and so it goes. You can overcome these setbacks by having a plan in place for bad days. In this article, I will share our top 5 activities that help us when we are having a bad homeschool day. I’ll share what to have on hand to be ready for your own bad day, so you will come out looking like a genius to your family. ## 1. Make Time for Games Nothing can get your family back on track like a quick game. We keep a pile of [mini-games](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/ "Better School Day Transitions with Mini-Game Breaks") handy for transition times in our school day. Have you ever called the kids for a lesson and found a straggler keeping you all from getting started? Instead of kicking the couch in boredom while they are waiting for their sibling to finish the last few math problems, I toss them a mini-game. ### Mini-games are great for several reasons. One player means fewer arguments. The last thing any homeschool mom needs is a problem solver that creates another problem. Playing alone is a great way to build confidence. Many games, such as our family favorite, [Rush Hour](https://amzn.to/3XBZk76), have multiple levels of play within the game. I can customize from beginner to difficult to fit each child. For my younger kids, I would select a pile of challenge cards and ask them to solve those puzzles while they wait. Also, I look for games that can have an extended lifetime of play. Rush Hour offers extension packs to increase the level of difficulty for your kids as they play. #### Some Similar Games To Get You Started - [IQ Circuit Game](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/ "Better School Day Transitions with Mini-Game Breaks") (8+, click the link for my review) - [IQ Fit](https://amzn.to/4peXViy) (6+) - [Little Red Riding Hood](https://amzn.to/4peXViy) (Preschool) - [Hide and Goat Seek](https://amzn.to/48k1jTQ) (3+, ordered to play here with grandkids) - [Candy Grams](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/here-is-a-valentine-gift-for-your-homeschoolers/ "A Lasting Valentine’s Day Gift for Homeschoolers") (great Valentine gift) - [Asteroid Escape ](https://amzn.to/47YhnJy)(8+) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IQ.FB_-1024x1024.jpg "IQ Circuits for Fun Breaks › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/)Mini Games for the win in your homeschool dayThese games are a great choice because they are small, quick to play, and for one player. The bonus for me is that most of these games are intended for travel, so they come with their own case to carry them in. ### Games for the Whole Family When you need a more extended break, you can still build the skill of cooperative play. A game time is a great way to recover from a bad homeschool day. We have favorites, such as Apples to Apples, Into the Forest (which is now discontinued), and [Snake Oil](https://amzn.to/3K0mXDk). Snake Oil is still a favorite memory among our twenty-year-olds. Our older kids moved on to Catan and Risk, and the oldest loves winning at Monopoly (now everyone else hates it!). Games can last so much longer than an hour or two of playtime. Playing games helps to build bonds within your family, strengthening ties and creating memories that can help alleviate stress in times of difficulty. You might not *feel* like playing games, but adding them to your schedule can benefit your whole family. ## 2. Build Togetherness with Puzzles One way to get the whole family involved in an activity is with puzzles. We had a season where we put together several Dr. Livingston [Anatomy Puzzles](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-anatomy-study-help-with-livingston-puzzles/ "Hands-On Anatomy Study Aid with Dr. Livingston Puzzles") as part of our high school curriculum. It led to great conversation time with our teens. The puzzles are connected to create a model of the body systems that spans over seven feet in length. It was a fun project, but NOT for a house with little ones around. For a younger homeschooling family, I suggest arranging puzzles for various age groups and abilities. We had a wooden box with four small puzzles that the kids loved for years. Young kids like repetition; you would be surprised how many times they will rebuild a puzzle and still be entertained. Puzzles are a great activity to pull out when you have a meeting or need to create some calm after a bad homeschool day. Having a bad day happens to all of us sometimes, but bringing calm, peace, and fun back into the house is an intentional act that parents must initiate. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/45F3CDF4-9A3B-48A4-95B6-900630BBF4A1.jpeg "Anatomy Puzzles › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/45F3CDF4-9A3B-48A4-95B6-900630BBF4A1.jpeg)Dr Livingston Head Puzzle for a Bad Homeschool Day## 3. Hone Skills in the Kitchen When your homeschool day is taking a turn, you all still have to eat. You can step back and take the opportunity to tune into the kitchen for an alternative teaching experience. The promise of something tasty to eat can entice the most annoyed teen to come and help you with the task. Cooking connects, and as parents, we can use it as a tool in our homeschool. ### Cooking is a great way to end a bad homeschool day Math, science, communication, and reading are happening in the kitchen. Including your child in meal prep and cleanup should start as soon as they can walk, but during difficult times, there is something about doing a task together that helps break down bad attitudes and initiate fresh conversation. You can make a favorite dish, a special dessert, or let your teen plan a meal and shop for it. Eating together has been one value we have held fast to over the years of homeschooling. We ate dinner around the same table at least five nights a week. Crazy schedules and hectic work habits can make it hard to do this. Still, [kids who eat at the dinner table](https://www.parents.com/recipes/tips/unexpected-benefits-of-eating-together-as-a-family-according-to-science/) have healthier eating habits, improved communication skills, and higher empathy for others. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_5576-1024x1024.jpg "Ramen Everywhere › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_5576.jpg)Helping teen thrive means buying ramen and adding creativity### Got Teens? Make a TikTok Dinner. If you don’t know what I am talking about, bless you, you do not have a teen. Those of us with older teens with phones know all about the crazy food combinations and requests that come from TikTok. It can be downright ludicrous at times, but there are some great suggestions out there, and teens are willing to try them out. Don’t miss the opportunity to build fundamental cooking skills with these new foods. Because of TikTok, my teen son is a champ with the air fryer, and my daughter is a ramen connoisseur. As I see it, they could be learning worse things from the internet. Next time your day is tanking, engage with your kids and cook some of their favorite foods. Plan ahead to have them help you when sports or appointments shorten your homeschool day. ## 4. Step Away for a Field Trip There are times in your homeschool when you need a change of pace. We underwent a [full-house renovation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2015-06-07-20.53.15.jpg "10 tips from our whole house renovation") that required us to relocate for part of the school year. One of the ways we coped was by taking lots of mini-field trips. You can choose from day trips to local venues, parks, or museums to help you recover from a bad homeschool day. Get out and run around. Choose the location based on your needs—parks to run off extra energy, museums for quiet reflection. Likewise, you can follow your child’s interests and find a location that they will love if they are having a difficult season. ### Homeschool isn’t ALL at Home Mobility and flexibility are among the most significant benefits homeschooling offers your family. Get up and go, because you can! [Field Trip Iowa](http://fieldtripiowa.com) provides resources and ideas for Iowa homeschoolers to find an adventure for the day, the weekend, or the whole week. We followed a four-day school week for years. This schedule gave us more flexibility in our week for errands, lessons, and field trips. Now, if you are feeling crushed for breathing room, changing your schedule can help you regain your freedom. ## 5. Easy Access to Craft & Art In our homeschool, we made space for creativity. When the kids were small, we had a little art table and a cardboard box filled with recycling for projects. I tossed in interesting bits all the time for them to create with. Depending on their age, I added crayons, markers, or washable tempera paint to their supplies. As our kids got older, I looked for ways to build their personal skills in Arts and Craft projects. We have purchased kits, [subscription boxes](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-i-now-love-subscription-boxes-what-changed-my-mind/ "Why I NOW Love Subscription Boxes. What Changed My Mind"), and enrolled in [online courses](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-23-tech-apps-to-help-you-homeschool-better-smarter/ "Top 39 Tech Apps to Help You Homeschool Better & Smarter"). Creativity is a healing agent and a way for kids to express themselves when even they aren’t sure what is going on inside. Having supplies on hand is a great way to be prepared for a bad homeschool day. Breaking out the diamond art supplies while you read, or letting a child sew a project, can bring focus. The purpose of this article is two-fold. One, to let you know that bad homeschool days are a part of the package. We all have failures, frustrations, and interruptions. Secondly, having some supplies on hand and a plan goes a long way in helping your family get back on track and learning together faster. ## Related Posts… - [Four Habits = Homeschool Schedule You’ll Be Thankful For](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/four-habits-homeschool-schedule-youll-be-thankful-for/)DateNovember 20, 2025 - [Schedules, Giving and Gratitude for Your Life right now!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/schedules-giving-and-gratitude-for-your-life-right-now/)DateNovember 21, 2025 - [Lesson Planning Than Covers Your Whole Planet From Homeschool Planet {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/lesson-planning-covers-whole-planet-homeschool-planet-review/)DateJune 23, 2017 ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Launch Your Homeschool Year with a Strong Start](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/launch-your-homeschool-year-with-a-strong-start/) **Published:** November 9, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Over the last fifteen years, I’ve created numerous resources, articles, and workshop recordings to support homeschooling families. This month, I am sharing a [30 Day plan to a Confident Homeschool](https://expert-thinker-7811.kit.com/56391ccd10), to help you get started, back on track, or restart with a new goal in mind. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/if-not-now-when-1024x1024.png "Confidence is 30 days away › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://expert-thinker-7811.kit.com/56391ccd10)Who is investing in you## Let’s talk homeschool life. Are you trying to find your way into the homeschool life you envisioned, but aren’t sure how to get there? Do you wish you had the confidence, but you are worried about failing your kids, messing up their education, or worse, your relationship? You landed in the right place. The good news is that we all feel that way at times in our homeschool experience. First, I would be worried if you didn’t care. Secondly, I’ve got some resources to help. ## Who will this plan help? - New Homeschoolers looking for a clear roadmap and confidence to begin. - Mid-season Moms just needing a refresh or structure to get back to joyful homeschooling. - Busy Families balancing homeschooling with work or summer transitions. - Parents seeking encouragement and practical wisdom, especially through community and real-life application. [YES, I want Homeschool Confidence!](https://expert-thinker-7811.kit.com/56391ccd10) ## What do you need to complete the 30 Day Plan? Right now, I’ll send you the workbook with a daily prompt checklist. In the workbook, I will provide links to the YouTube videos, podcast episodes, and blog posts. Then, you can use the FREE **Quick Start Up Guide**, or you can choose the In Due Season Course that fits your situation best to maximize your success. **The Homeschool Reset** course walks you through 30 days of action items with recorded weekly workshops to get your whole family back on a routine, following a realistic schedule, and shouldering their responsibilities. The **Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool** Year is a longer course to help NEW homeschoolers dig deep into their vision, motives, learning styles, and curriculum needs before they make mistakes, waste time, or money. In the course, you will write a master guide to keep your whole family on track for the entire homeschooling lifetime. The course is hosted online, with weekly email reminders, so you won’t waste your money by forgetting about it. Weekly journal prompts help you build an action plan with no fluff or wasted generalities. Every week moves you closer to knowing exactly what your child and family need to meet their goals. ## Use the 30 Day to Confidence, and y**ou choose the course that works best for you.** Depending on where you are in your homeschool experience, there is a resource that will lead you to the answers you need now. Money should NOT exclude you from homeschool success! As a fellow homeschooler, I know price is always a consideration. I homeschooled on a single income with a family of twelve, and I remain hesitant to waste money. At In Due Season, cost is not a factor in your success, for as little as free, or for the same price as a math textbook, you can build a roadmap that will lead you from the first day to graduation. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/invest-in-you-683x1024.png "invest in you › 200 Fingers & Toes")](expert-thinker-7811.kit.com/56391ccd10↗)Investing in homeschoolers since 2016 indueseason and 200fingersandtoesI know it can seem like an EXTRA expense, but you deserve tools to help you as the leader and teacher in your homeschool. It is time to invest in yourself! If you are ready for your best year, leave a comment and let me know you’re in. Then follow here for new resources to help you. You can click the button below for your 20-page guide and get started. Your best year is 30 Days away! [YES, I want Homeschool Confidence!](https://expert-thinker-7811.kit.com/56391ccd10) #### You can find the In Due Season Homeschool Podcast here for quick access to the recommended episodes over the 30 Days to a Confident Homeschool. ![](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/1161942/1161942-1584901387570-473e992ba6235.jpg) ## Counting the Cost to Homeschool[ ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) – [ In Due Season Homeschool; Your Guide to Living Well Throughout Your Homeschool Journey ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog) Parents are leaving the public school in mass. With the local districts establishing the rules for access to extracurricular activities, some parents find their access barred. There are questions about the right to access field trips, prom, and graduation ceremonies. Before these parents demand their rights, I would love to propose a conversation. Firstly, we need to establish a clear picture of the cost of homeschooling and the powerful deterrents districts will use to stem the loss of students from the rolls. Secondly, we are poised for the most significant opportunity homeschooling has experienced in a decade. The influx of energy, creativity, and numbers to build a vibrant, thriving community could be what homeschoolers need to meet these needs in a way that compliments our values and family-oriented goals. Join me for the beginning of an ongoing conversation… 1. [ Counting the Cost to Homeschool 23:58 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) 2. [ EP11 Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to Know 22:12 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP11-Homeschool-Graduation-Facts-You-Need-to-Know-e28if0q) 3. [ EP10 – Managing paper in your homeschool 17:22 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP10---Managing-paper-in-your-homeschool-e2881f6) 4. [ EP09 Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool 16:30 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP09-Developing-Organization-Skills-in-Your-Homeschool-e27tsjf) 5. [ EP008 – What We are Using in Our Homeschool This Year 17:31 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP008---What-We-are-Using-in-Our-Homeschool-This-Year-eitt4c) 6. [ EP007 – Why Now is the Best Time to Study China in Your Homeschool 13:04 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP007---Why-Now-is-the-Best-Time-to-Study-China-in-Your-Homeschool-eiraoo) 7. [ EP006 Is a Great Education Really within Reach of Every Student? 19:47 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP006-Is-a-Great-Education-Really-within-Reach-of-Every-Student-ee3r5r) 8. [ EP005 – What is So Scary About Homeschool, High School? 22:28 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP005---What-is-So-Scary-About-Homeschool--High-School-ecnplh) 9. [ EP004 – My Top 39 Tech Apps to Help You Homeschool Better & Smarter 27:46 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP004---My-Top-39-Tech-Apps-to-Help-You-Homeschool-Better--Smarter-ecabib) 10. [ EP003 – Get the Best Resources for Faster Homeschool Start-Up 21:33 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP003---Get-the-Best-Resources-for-Faster-Homeschool-Start-Up-ebitj8) Want to learn more about In Due Season Homeschool? You can find a more detailed description of our courses [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sales-page-2/). Check out 200fingersandtoes. It will be a go-to resource for you in your homeschool. We have over 300 posts, articles, videos, and podcast episodes to help you stay encouraged and reach your goals. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [The Top 2 Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Planning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-2-keys-to-your-most-successful-how-to-planning-homeschool/) **Published:** March 16, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** A Successful year needs a little homeschool planning. There are two things that will help you more than any others. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Wondering what to do next to create your homeschool plan now that you have concluded that it is the best choice for your family. Typically, parents ask, “What curriculum should I choose?” That can wait! There are several key points to consider before making a purchase. This blog post and companion podcast cover how to lay the groundwork for **successful homeschool planning**. The kind that will last year after year. ## The 2 topics you want to make sure you cover for a successful homeschool plan: #### First, creating clear goals for you and your student Knowing what you want to accomplish in your first year of schooling as well as how you want to transfer that knowledge will help you to know what kind of tools you are looking for. #### Secondly, I want you to take some time to think about the learning styles of your children and yourself These play a huge role in how we receive information. Knowing more about how your child learns will shape the kinds of materials you will choose. ## Let’s Talk About Creating Practical Goals There are many goals you might need to address in your plan to homeschool. Some of your goals will be education or academics driven. Do you have a student who is missing foundational skill-sets. This can cause them to have trouble learning in specific areas? Missing concrete reading skills or early math skills can cause learning to come to a halt as soon as the workload excellerates. ![early literacy builders](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2732-1024x1024.jpg "Basic Skill can hold a smart student back from their potential › 200 Fingers & Toes")Assessments and common milestones can help you see where you can be the most help in early homeschooling This is not an uncommon occurrence, even with gifted students. Children who can easily navigate the school system with advanced intellect can sometimes need a time of remediation and skill building when they are moved into more advanced course work. I hear from parents whose child is advanced in mathematics, struggling with the transition to higher level math. Often the struggle lies not in math essential knowledge, but instead in the fact that the child is meeting with difficulty for the first time. ### Mastery of Self and Problem Solving One vital skill to intentionally work on could be building patience with problem solving. *Forcing a child to slow down is as vital as excellerating*. Education is not a race to the finish. The goal of education is mastery of self and the development of an appetite for learning that lasts the child’s life. Successful homeschool planning is observational. You need to assess each of your students to determine their individual needs. You’ll need to create a plan for remediation to relearn those crucial skills. Building foundational skills will help you in the long run of your homeschool, and sometimes we must take the time to lay a firm foundation before we jump into core academics. Knowing what skills you plan to work on will help you choose a curriculum and learning tools that address those areas. Especially because there are many tools to choose from. Most curriculum companies have placement tests that you can print or administer online. You could have an assessment test done at a local agency or through your public school. There are skill assessments and guides in many books, online, and often you can find these at your public library. In the early years, I read many books like Ruth Beechick’s [Three R’s ](https://amzn.to/2PJFTXy)and [Language Wars](https://amzn.to/3arfjKM) to help me become familiar with common expectations for early childhood learning. ## You are Also the Student Surprise! Successful Homeschool Planning means learning and relearning. You are now an educator; it is time to get an education of your own as well. There is absolutely no subject that you can not find another parent or expert has written about. I am convinced that there has never been a better time in history to be a homeschooling parent. The only drawback is the overwhelming amount of information available to us. If you’re not confident about a subject or topic, start conducting your own research. That is how I became confident in my ability to educate my own kids. ### Slowing Down & Speeding Up, Both Are Right Now another academically driven goal may be one you have to make with a student who wants the freedom to work at an advanced level. You might now be looking to change Their pace or find where they actually need to be placed educationally. This is an important time to do some research in teaching a gifted child. Take the time to do some research for materials and the teaching methods that will help your child learn best. An online search will find resources a multitude of resources that will help them learn the skills they need to advance to where they are challenged. The beauty of homeschooling is that you can allow your child to work at the level that they’re capable of in each subject. Now, I’ve had students who were great readers and terrible in math. I’ve had students who are great in math and absolutely hated writing. The nice thing about homeschooling is there’s not a grade that they have to be across the board in. I was able to determine what level they began in each subject for the school year, and we accelerated through one year’s work at whatever pace and the level that they were in. By doing this, you allow a student to advance in the subject areas that interest them, and you don’t hold them back from places they’d like to explore more deeply and pursue further. ## Create a Plan to Educate Your Whole Child Are you creating relational goals? If you are schooling at home for the first time, you are going to be creating a whole new life for all of you. That is a huge transition. Take the time to recognize that. Children are resilient and flexible, but it is a good thing to consider what this change might feel like to them, even if they were the ones who initiated the idea of homeschooling. ### Do You Need to Create a New Routine? Homeschooling is a great time and place to gather together as a family and regroup through transitions or changes of schedule. Maybe the kids are older and you are adding part-time or even full-time work. You could be getting to know a new city with a recent change of environment. Have you moved? These are times when we could need to step back from a heavy academic schedule and give time to a lighter education model so that we can adjust as a family to new changes in our life. This can also be to your advantage during a lengthy sickness or an extended recovery. Homeschooling allows you to focus on your core subjects and eliminate some extra subjects that you don’t need to work on right now. **When creating a plan for your homeschool be sure to give room for academic and non academic goals alike.** ## Learning Style & Curriculum Choice When we’re making our goals, [we should consider learning style](https://homeschooliowa.org/teaching-skills-to-empower-different-learning-styles/). Now, this is not just your child’s learning style, but this could be your learning style as well. What does your child like to learn and where are they struggling? These are important things, and if you don’t have the input from the school, you might need to spend some time studying your child and see how they connect best to learning materials. Now, there are lots of learning styles. There’s visual, aural, which is auditory, verbal, physical, logical, solitary, and social. Between those, there’s varying degrees that children respond to materials that come to them in those modes. Knowing your child’s learning style and the way that they respond best will help you choose materials that will lead them to better learning activities. Now, I say consider your child’s learning style, but this is the thing. You’re going to be the one doing the teaching, and your learning style needs to be taken into consideration. > [Help for the Homeschool Mom Who Hates Science Experiments](https://blog.sonlight.com/mom-hates-science-experiments.html) Read about how I make experiments easier for a non-hands on mommaYes, you might have a hands-on child, but there are ways that you can create hands-on tools that don’t create more work for you. I’m not a particularly hands-on mom. Most of our learning materials are free-play and free-learning with very few structured hand-on activities. It works best for me because I don’t enjoy those kinds of things, but I make sure my kids have access to those in a way that they can use them best. Now, I’m an auditory learner. I learn best by hearing things spoken out loud. I love podcasts. I love learning online. Some of my kids learn that way best, and we chose a curriculum that has a lot of read-alouds as part of the subject. My second group of kids are not as strong in the auditory category, and so we’ve had to change the way we school. Knowing about your child’s learning style can help you transition, change and make decisions that will serve your family best with your education. > [Hands-On History Tools for Multiple-Learner Families](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-history-tools-for-multiple-learner-families/) Getting hands-on just got easier for me and my big family.A good way to discover your learning styles is how do you like to be productive in your everyday life? Do you like creating workflows? Do you like accountability? What kind of level of instruction do you expect in learning materials? Those are good things to look at when you’re looking at curriculums for your family that you will have to use every day. ## How to Get a Deeper Picture: Temperaments One way that I have explored the kind of materials that work best with me is by understanding more about my personality. I suggest taking an in-depth temperament analysis. I had mind done by my local pastor and it was a great advantage in the early years of my marriage. More recently I’ve taken the [Four Tendencies](https://amzn.to/39IGbGj) test from Gretchen Rubin’s same titled book. I am discovering the [Enneagram](https://amzn.to/2TZQ8Iy) and [Strength Finders](https://amzn.to/2wOc9SV). All of those things reveal more information about who I am. And when we understand ourselves and the choices we make, we can make better decisions about the kinds of materials we want to use to help us stay accountable and on task. That information can help us be a better parent and homeschool leader. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_0324-e1576194152558-1629452227-1576202273495-1024x1024.jpg "You are starting school too! › 200 Fingers & Toes")What skills are you worried about or need to sharpen## Goals Assessment: Got Skill, Need Skills Now, another thing we can look at in our everyday life for our productivity, is our educational deficits. Now, when planning our school year, one thing that makes parents shrink back is to say they don’t have enough knowledge in a specific area. But I’m here to tell you, homeschooling materials are made with parents as teachers in mind. The publication authors know and understand that parents need leading and guiding during the teaching times. The materials are made for you to be able to teach and for your child to be able to learn. > [The Best Gift For the Life Long Learners](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/) I use Skillshare to refresh my own skills and be creative in my homeschool as well.What if you do have a deficit in your area of education, what can you do? Well, do what I do. I’ve learned ahead. I’ve done tons of reading and study in specific areas where I felt like I was inadequate or not prepared. You can find the resources you need. You can even take a course online if you wanted to. You can have confidence in the materials you’re teaching by planning ahead, by knowing the materials, and by finding a curriculum that teaches in a way that you understand. ## Using What You Discover Before you find a curriculum, I want you to create some measurable and obtainable goals for you and your children. Now we can do this in our academics, in our personal, relational and skill type of settings. What does this mean? Well, we can make goals about where we want to be educationally. Yes, we want to progress through a year of math. We want to learn how to spell. We may want to end a curriculum book or begin another. Those would be academic goals. We may have personal goals in our homeschool time. Maybe we want to practice some practical skills, household skills or relational skills. Maybe there’s a relationship you want to build, or to help your child develop relationship skills. We’ve done things like overcome shyness by helping our children to buy things at the store on their own. These are skills that you can write down because they’re measurable. You can see at the end of the year whether you’ve accomplished these goals. ## Making Room for Skill-Oriented Goals These are things like, do you want your child to learn how to ride a bike. Do you want to build something together? The beauty of homeschooling is that you can create goals that you can build into your educational plan. Another way you can create measurable and obtainable goals is to be very clear about why you’re choosing to homeschool. These things that made you choose homeschooling are exactly the outcomes that you want to see produced in your family and in your child’s life. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Homeschool-Why-Lesson.jpg "xrdDAFbKKBsTAk36j47362453373t23022102 › 200 Fingers & Toes")xrdDAFbKKBsTAk36j47362453373t23022102Now, I have created a mini-course that will help you create a free why page. This is a one-page sheet that you can refer to, reminding you of exactly why you chose to homeschool in the first place. I often use my ‘why’ page when I’m frustrated or when I lose sight of a goal. Usually, I want to check in and be re-inspired about why I chose to homeschool my family, and my ‘why’ page does precisely that. Here is the link where you can download a free template to ***[create your own ‘Why’ page.](https://indueseason.mysamcart.com/checkout/build-your-homeschool-why)*** Now, another thing we want to look at is what is working for your kids. I do this in my homeschool because my goal is to find a win for them every day. I take time to observe and get to know what they like. And don’t make a judgment about interests. My son loved gaming and I was not a fan, but when I took the time to really explore his interests, I came to find there were things that he was learning in his game time. I understood that group communication and communication skills were being developed. ## Find a way that you can incorporate their interests into your school. When I had an open mind to his interests, I was able to actually see them with a different point of view, and see the educational input that he was getting at the time. Maybe your child has an interest in music or art. Research how to use these skills and interests, and maybe where they’re used in life. I was interested to find out that when my son studied about gaming, one are the ways that gaming is commonly used is to train brain surgeons, because their fine skills can be honed with game play. Now, create opportunities for exploring new skills or lessons and online courses. A few of my kids don’t quite have a skill picked out yet, but I try to continually bring opportunities to them to learn new things. They might not play piano, they might not play tennis, but by presenting opportunities of them to learn new things, we might find something they want to learn along the way, or we might just build skills that they’ll take into life through other opportunities. ## Using What You Discover One of the benefits of identifying your learning style and how you receive information best is that, when you begin to explore a curriculum, you can find one that matches your whole family. I had a friend who introduced me to Sonlight Curriculum. It’s the curriculum we’ve been using for almost twenty years. But ironically, the friend who introduced it to me did not like lots of instructions. She does not want to be told what to do, and having a curriculum that told her every day, precisely the steps she needed to do, she found disconcerting, and actually gave up the curriculum after one year. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0583.jpg "Sonlight for Big Families › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sonlight works for every learning style if you know your childs needsFor myself, I call my binder my mom. I love it. I love opening the binder and knowing exactly what’s expected of us every single day. Every day I check off the things I want to do. I have flexibility within that to move things forward or backwards. But I love knowing that I can go to my plan and it’ll have everything laid out for me. Now, knowing what you like will help you to decide the kind of curriculum and the level of input you need to make you feel happy. ## Choosing The Best Fit For Your Family The beauty of homeschooling is that as we’re choosing curriculum, we can make sure to incorporate more of what we love. We want to create a school that inspires learning. We want to dig deeper and give our kids opportunities to create memorable learning experiences. That means maybe exploring new patterns of learning. Classroom sitting and reading is not the best way to explore new material. Maybe we can look outside of the box at ways we can learn. When we read the book Carry On, Mr. Bowditch a few years back. It sparked an interest in sailing for my kids. So we got to dig up materials about sailing at the library. We watched videos on sailboats and movies about sailing. We dug deeper because we had the opportunity to go in depth on a subject, because we were still interested after the book was over. That is one of the best things about homeschooling; you don’t have to close the book and walk away from an interest. You could carry that on as far as your child wants to go. ## Give Credit for What They Love Another thing about homeschooling is you can make your child’s interests creditable, not only at the elementary level, but at the high school level. My daughter’s music lessons became part of her college transcript. **Their interests can be made measurable, obtainable, and creditable**. And what that does for your child, it shows that their interests matter. Their interests not only matter, but are important and valuable, and that goes a long way into raising our child’s self-esteem, our child’s wellbeing, and respect for their own interests and values in the future. Now, as we create our goals and values coming into our school year, this will lay the groundwork for a school year that will meet your family’s needs in a way that’s beyond picking out a book, at a risk of purchasing a curriculum that you regret. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool Planning, Homeschool Start-Up, In Due Season, Learning Style, Personality Type, podcast show notes --- ### [Need Homeschool Encouragement? 4 Quick Gratitude Podcasts](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/need-homeschool-encouragement-4-quick-gratitude-podcasts/) **Published:** November 7, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Everyone can make time to listen to a Gratitude Podcast. It is incredible how much a good word can impact my day. I am sure you are no different. Gratitude is the topic of discussion while the **[30 Days of Gratitude Challenge](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tired-of-the-complaining-our-own-included-try-this-transform-your-home-with-one-simple-daily-habit/ "🙏 Tired of the complaining? (Our own included) try this… | Transform your home with one simple daily habit")** is taking place with Kerry Beck from How to Homeschool My Child. Are you involved? Don’t miss the chance to [sign up for the Challenge](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/61392b0b8c7f3/) and receive daily encouragement, plus much more. Each day, a new author is contributing an article for you. I will be posting mine in the last week of the month. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you. Here is a hint: I’ll be sharing about gratitude and gift-giving. While you are reading a new article each day, you can get even more gratitude ideas and encouragement with a new gratitude podcast. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/30-gratitude-challenge-leaderboard.png "30-gratitude-challenge-leaderboard › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/)Listen while you drive, walk, or do mundane chores and bring some life to the ordinary. Kerry has [several previous episodes](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/68ffb55eda986/) of her podcast, Homeschool Coffee Break, with gratitude as the focus. ## [Listen to Episode 160 with Kerry](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/6723bfead0952/) Gratitude Podcast Episode: ✅2 practical activities you can do to go from complaining to gratitude ✅3 real gratitude examples that prove thankfulness changes everything ✅The 5-minute kitchen table practice that pulled me out of a breakdown and into peace ✅Scientific proof that gratitude increases joy, decreases anxiety, and improves sleep ✅How to raise grateful kids who are more satisfied, happier, and mentally healthier ✅Daily thankfulness practices you can start today to shift your family’s atmosphere from complaining to contentment ## [Listen to Episode 113 with Kerry](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks-challenge/68ffb547da985/) Gratitude Podcast Episode, you’ll discover: ✅ 3 practical gratitude tips you can use with your family, no matter your kids’ ages ✅ 2 resources that kids can use to increase their thankfulness ✅ What moms need to do to encourage a grateful spirit in their kids ✅ What we all must do, especially when circumstances are falling apart ## [Episode 162 with Amber J. Smith (that’s ME!)](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/162) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/a9e85cba10d7496aa29e4a87f2eedad6.jpeg "a9e85cba10d7496aa29e4a87f2eedad6 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/162)Episode Drops on November 11th 2025Gratitude Podcast Episode: (Drops November 11th) ✅How cultivating joy through simple habits like “good morning” changes your family atmosphere ✅The power of speaking life over difficult children instead of defeat ✅Why remembering where you’ve come from creates gratitude in overwhelming seasons ✅Practical gift-giving traditions that build thankfulness (including a hilarious “most beautiful of women” story!) ✅How to find community and fill your tank when you’re running on empty [And as a special BONUS replay, my interview with Amy Sloan at Humility and Doxology](https://www.humilityanddoxology.com/amber-smith/) Whether you’re a new homeschooler just beginning your home education adventure or a veteran homeschooler looking for some encouragement at the beginning of the new homeschool year, this is the episode for you! Amber Smith and I discuss the importance of prioritizing relationships and family culture, the value of reading aloud and modeling lifelong learning, the significance of setting boundaries and expectations, and more. This is a conversation you’ll want to share with your friends after you enjoy it yourself! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Keys-to-a-Successful-Homeschool-Year-Amber-Smith-Homeschool-Conversations-interviewjpg.webp "Keys-to-a-Successful-Homeschool-Year-Amber-Smith-Homeschool-Conversations-interviewjpg › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.humilityanddoxology.com/amber-smith/)I hope you are encouraged by daily articles, podcast episodes, and BONUS items from the Sponsors and contributors of the 30 Days of Gratitude Event. We hope this makes an inpact on your homeschool for the better! Blessings, Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [🙏 Tired of the complaining? (Our own included) try this... | Transform your home with one simple daily habit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tired-of-the-complaining-our-own-included-try-this-transform-your-home-with-one-simple-daily-habit/) **Published:** October 31, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** from 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschooling News and Something Fun How is your gratitude tank looking, Reader? Mine could use a top off for sure. I have a coffee date with some girlfriends tomorrow and I've texted my topic for discussion: Is menopause making my cranky? I have been leading the complaining charge at our house and I, for one, need a reset! I am sorry if that is TMI, but we all need support when we are not feeling our best. Good friends and coffee is my number one suggestion!... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # from 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschooling News and Something Fun ​ How is your gratitude tank looking, Reader? Mine could use a top off for sure. I have a coffee date with some girlfriends tomorrow and I’ve texted my topic for discussion: Is menopause making my cranky? I have been leading the complaining charge at our house and I, for one, need a reset! I am sorry if that is TMI, but we all need support when we are not feeling our best. Good friends and coffee is my number one suggestion! **Do you need a gratitude boost?** My second suggestion is to break the pattern. I am sending this quick message to let you know that tomorrow is the start of the [**30 Days of Gratitude Challenge**](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/gratitudechallenge?affiliate=amber4). The challenge involves several helpful components for the whole family to help break the complaining cycle and get thankful. That means, everyone can get a gratitude adjustment and step into the Holiday season with your hearts ready! **Here’s what you’ll get:** Two printable calendars (one with prompts for younger kids, one for older kids and you), Daily blog posts throughout November with practical ideas to grow thankfulness in your home. ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/tJ3mAz7JVhoysZQFphxkeg) Tie it to meal time and watch how 5 minutes a day can transform your family atmosphere. **What if you get busy and forget about it?** Last year, I set a reminder in my phone and read the articles as part of my nightly wind down time. I was encouraged, humored and inspired by the daily blog articles. Thirty bloggers and authors contributed NEW articles, focused on gratitude building and I anticipate more great ideas for my family to use. When you sign up, you can enter the **Grand Prize Giveaway** too. This year’s package is tipping the $900 mark. I’m already wishing for the Astronomy Bundle and Variety Show Bundle. What fun tools to use in your educational time, but also fun to share as a family. ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/sZKJokUKSmBPoL516y5yMe/email) ​I’ve added a physical copy of my homeschooler’s gratitude journal and gel pen set ($35) to the giveaway. You can enter to win on the signup page [HERE](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/gratitudechallenge?affiliate=amber4). Printables are great, but years ago I stopped [chasing loose paper](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/easy-tips-homeschool-paper-organization/) to help us get organized. Having a book format helps us check progress and hold my students accountable. My kids like having a space to write their favorite memories each day. That makes these a treasure instead of a workbook I will toss out at the end of the year. ​ Blessings, Amber J. Smith ​ P.S. 1: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.” (1 Thess 5:18) This challenge helps you live that out practically with your kids. Free printables sent instantly when you sign up! [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/wzM28Wzc9sqUeK2dKu8Zsp)](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/gratitudechallenge?affiliate=amber4)​ ### Fill Your Own Gratitude Tank [I want this!](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/gratitudechallenge?affiliate=amber4) PO Box 337, Osceola, IA 50213 ​[Unsubscribe](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/unsubscribe) · [Preferences](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/preferences) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Why we love Homeschooling with Our Marketing Unit Study](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-we-love-homeschooling-with-our-marketing-unit-study/) **Published:** October 8, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** This year we are using our Marketing Unit Study to focus on business topics, hone skills, raise productive, responsible, self-directed teens, and instill a great work ethic. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## The 2025-2026 school year is shaping up to be very different from years past. This year we are using our Marketing Unit Study to focus on business topics, hone skills, raise productive, responsible, self-directed teens, and instill a great work ethic. This is a huge change from our regular approach, but we are excited and the kids are responding well to the changes. In this article I will share what we are doing this school year and more about building unit studies yourself. First, we only have THREE kids in school. That feels like no one. With our ninth-, tenth-, and eleventh-grade students working fairly independently, I feel like I’ve been promoted to upper management. For instance, instead of working along side the kids all day, I create tasks and ensure the teams are running as scheduled. As a result, the kids are handling the day-to-day operations. With this newfound responsiblity, we are excited to be using our new Marketing Unit Study to build on these blossoming real world skills. ### This year, I only step if they “fail to meet their quotas.” I my new role as management, I step in if we have missed work or slacking off on chores. We simply hold a staff meeting and create a new game plan. Disciplining high schoolers is way different than little ones. We’ve come a long way from the day when we had [ten kids under twelve](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-multiple-grades/ "How To Homeschool Multiple Grades At The Same Time") in our little playroom. I miss being needed in a more direct, hands-on way, but also love the independence and the topics we get to cover now that the kids are older. With a house full of high schoolers, we are looking to the very near future prospect of employment. I want our kids to start thinking of business ideas and learning the inner workings of, well, WORK. We maximize work in our homeschool and [turn those hours into credits for high school](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/turned-teens-summer-job-high-school-credits/ "How I Turned My Teen’s Summer Job Into Six High School Credits") too. Building the right homeschool curriculum is the ideal tool to use in achieving this goal. Unit studies are a great way to focus on specific topics, hone skills or fill gaps in your homeschool schedule. One of the best things we can do for this world is raise productive, responsible and self directed individuals. As business owners for the last thirty years, we have seen a rapid decline in work ethic and personal responsibility. As a result, I created this Marketing Unit Study to help us instill these ethics while we work. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Back-Cover-791x1024.png "Back Cover › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Back-Cover.png)Give teens real life skills with the new Business and Marketing Unit Study guides Coming soon## Creating a Marketing Unit Study to Focus on Real Learning Drawing on my past homeschooling experience, combined with an understanding of our children’s learning needs, their established foundation, and the desired outcome, we are creating our own **full year marketing unit study** for the first time. Over the last four years, I’ve taught workshops, teaching parents how to build their own unit studies for their homeschool in online conferences. Consequestly, these short unit studies are great for keeping other families on pace during the holidays. In our homeschool, we create shorter unit studies to fill the busy month between Thanksgiving and Christmas because our standard curriculum suffered from our lack of focus. Consequently, we needed more flexibility than our curriculum provided. Thus, I started using short unit studies to help us stay on track without getting frustrated or behind. > For the first time, I released a recorded workshop from our Youtube vault. You can watch the full 45 minute wotrkshop about **building unit studies** for your homeschool. The video covers everything from choosing the length of your workshop, to how to build a learning plan from scratch. ## You can be building unit studies tomorrow In the workshop, I share how you can use unit studies even when you have a regular curriculum. For example, unit studies are my greatest learning ally in the summer months. They help me get work done and keep the kids sharp. This video covers how I share how we sneak learning in with the kids interests and more. Building unit studies is a skill every homeschooling parent needs to be comfortable with. Grab the link at the bottom of the article and be sure to bring your note pad. As a speaker, I never teach a workshop that wastes your time. You and I don’t have the luxury of that kind of bandwith. Therefore, my workshops are actionable, clear, orderly and worth rewatching to get the most out of them. ## Why are We the Using Marketing Unit Study? As small business owners, we appreciate the flexibility and freedom our personal business provides. We have brought each of our kids to work as restaurant owners for the last thirty years. Now, my high school daughter is helping me with my delivery route one day a week. I want to work WITH them this school year by using a Marketing Unit Study to share what I know about business. For the 2025-2026 school year, I decided to help our high school teens learn about the business of blogging. I’ve been a freelance writer and speaker for the last ten years. I am moving into a place where I have more margins of time to pursue my passion more deeply. Using the Marketing Unit Study gives us a great scaffolding to help us teach about business and marketing concept in an orderly fashion. Students need accountability and I need orders. I am not good at winging it. It helps to know yourself and your weaknesses as a homeschool parent. Building a clear and ordered unit study ensures that all of our needs are met. In learning about marketing, we could pretent to build a business, we could even speculate and create new ventures, but I wanted to get us on the fast track to learning with an existing product. ### What better way than to adopt an existing blog to work on together? When I learned that the owner of [Field Trip Iowa](https://fieldtripiowa.com/) was looking to retire and wanted to pass her work on to a family that could continue her work, I knew we had found the right project for our family. We became the proud new owners of the site this summer and have been working behind the scenes to transfer ownership and prepare the back end for new articles. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-08-at-63053-PM.png "Screenshot 2025-10-08 at 63053 PM › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://fieldtripiowa.com/)Iowa field trip resource and more# What Should a Great Unit Study Include? ## **First, lots of great reading books!** My number one desire in a curriculum was that it was literature-rich. We have been a Sonlight family for the majority of our homeschooling life. With Sonlight, our kids read about eighty books a year—deep, meaningful literature. Laughter-inducing fun stories, quality, purposeful classics, and many challenging characters. Our kids have become book lovers. We affectionately refer to our house as #TheBookHouse. In all those years, their dad and I have been avid readers too. I am turning to our personal library to share the books that have influenced and impacted us in our individual, business, and spiritual lives. ### **Second, a way to help me stay on task each day.** I affectionately [call the Sonlight binder “My Mom”](https://www.humilityanddoxology.com/amber-smith/) because it tells me what to do. If I were to create a curriculum for us to follow, it would have to follow a set plan and be clear and straightforward to follow. While building unit studies, I want the same clear plan to follow. After gathering book selections, I chose the spine book that would be the core of our year-long unit study of business and marketing. Over the summer, I wrote a workbook to accompany the text. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_8781-819x1024.jpeg "Marketing Unit Study for Homeschool › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_8781-scaled.jpeg)Marketing Unit Study for Teens with In Due SeasonI used ChatGPT to help me break down the topics and create clear steps for specific projects that I wanted the kids to develop from the readings. You can use AI tools to help with your workload as a homeschooling parent. I follow up by checking sources, cross-referencing, and reading the chapters to ensure the work fits with the subjects covered in the book. ## Giving Students the Tools to Learn Instead of using a pre-printed schedule for each student, as we have in the past, we are meeting on Friday and break down the workload for the next week’s assignments. I want the kids to understand how to navigate their workload personally. Helping them write their schedule [gives them experience with true planning](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/podcast2024/02-feb/078-independent/) of their work. This will help them be able to look at a college sylibus or a work task and break it into parts with skill. For our curiculum the students read one fiction and one business-related non-fiction in two week cycles. (Book list to follow in the next post) They also complete worksheets for their main reading textbook, and a follow it up with a week-long marketing project. We break down every step with them for the first few weeks. Teens still need your guidance. I bought each of the kids a student planner, and they are using them as a required part of their schoolwork. To fill their schedule, we opened the table of contents of their reading books to divide up the chapters over the ten school days. We then fill in the assigned reading chapters for their other subjects; science, Bible, and any other school reading. ### Each Friday we check out and write the next week’s plan. These Friday meetings are keeping us all [accountable](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/accountability-study-skills/ "Accountability Study Skills"). Do you know someone who you wish were taught to use a planner in school? My hope is that this will help them develop a lifelong habit of planning and time management in the future. ### We are heading into week four, and so far so good. We are testing the Marketing Unit Study workbook that I created and making sure it is easy to follow. I will share more about it and the full book list when we have worked out all the bugs, and I am sure it supports the robust workload that satisfies a high school credit requirement. ### The great news is that homeschooling is full of options. There are hundreds of curriculum choices to meet your family’s needs. If you have a specific desire or circumstance, homeschooling offers the flexibility to help you create the tools to solve your problem and help your child learn. We love building unit studies for any time lenght and topic to fit our needs. You can too. **What problem are you hoping to solve this school year?** Could you use some encouragement and support? You are in the right place. I can’t wait to share this school year with you. If you are interested in learning more about how we use unit studies in our homeschool and how to create your own, watch the workshop recording below. You will learn everything you need to build unit studies for your homeschooler right away. Building unit studies made easy. Every step and details right here. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Is Friday Night Family Dinner in Your Future?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/is-friday-night-family-dinner-in-your-future-2/) **Published:** February 21, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** As young restaurant owners, my husband and I had two days off together. We spend Sundays at my parents' house having supper between morning and evening church services. Little did we know that those afternoons in the golden sunlight were the highlight of our family memories. My parents moved away a few years later and divorced as they neared thirty years of marriage. Growing your skills is vital for the life of your family. Reader don't let your lack of personal development cost your family... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As young restaurant owners, my husband and I had two days off together. We spend Sundays at my parents’ house having supper between morning and evening church services. Little did we know that those afternoons in the golden sunlight were the highlight of our family memories. My parents moved away a few years later and divorced as they neared thirty years of marriage. ​ **Growing your skills is vital for the life of your family.** ​ Reader don’t let your lack of personal development cost your family their future. ​ Doug and I continued our life as restauranteurs and raised ten kids despite long hours and high demands. We were determined to learn and grow in every aspect of our relationships and business. We saw the painful effect of ignoring difficulty and skipping personal development and discipleship. We chose growth every day because we wanted a different outcome. I am writing you this quick note over the sounds of chaos downstairs. Two of our adult kids are here with six grandbabies in tow. The five young adults and our three teens are getting ready to scarf down dinner, but until then, they are laughing, connecting, and sharing their stories from the week. This is our regular Friday dinner. Every week, they pile in, and it fills my heart to see it. This could be your house. Building a family culture does not happen by chance. It requires a lifetime commitment, but you can fast-track your growth by learning the skills you need from experts. I speak and learn at the [**Life Skills Leadership Summit**](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-vip/) every time. I’ve been a speaker for the last four years, and it is my favorite conference. I can watch the sessions from home in my pajamas, pause as needed, or rewatch a favorite. Getting a[ VIP Pass](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-vip/676db8cfbb6ec/) with lifetime access is one way to speed up your growth, bolster your weaknesses, and show your family they are worth investing in. The best part is that $40 is way less than you will spend on family dinners. So, you could save money, but do you want to eat alone? ​ If you want family dinner in the future, say YES and click here to get your VIP Pass. I have to go, Reader. A third kid came up here to make sure I would join the family for dinner. ​ Choose change for all of you, *Amber J. Smith* PS. Get your [VIP Pass this Sunday, February 23](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-vip/676db8cfbb6ec/), and use code **200F&T$5** for a $5 discount from me. ​ ​ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Is Friday Night Family Dinner in Your Future?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/is-friday-night-family-dinner-in-your-future/) **Published:** February 23, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** You are building a legacy every day. As young restaurant owners, my husband and I had two days off together. We spend Sundays at my parents' house having supper between morning and evening church services. Little did we know that those afternoons in the golden sunlight were the highlight of our family memories. My parents moved away a few years later and divorced as they neared thirty years of marriage. Growing your skills is vital for the life of your family. Reader don't let your lack of... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You are building a legacy every day. As young restaurant owners, my husband and I had two days off together. We spend Sundays at my parents’ house having supper between morning and evening church services. Little did we know that those afternoons in the golden sunlight were the highlight of our family memories. My parents moved away a few years later and divorced as they neared thirty years of marriage. ​ **Growing your skills is vital for the life of your family.** ​ Reader don’t let your lack of personal development cost your family their future. ​ Doug and I continued our life as restaurateurs and raised ten kids. Despite long hours and high demands, we were determined to learn and grow in every aspect of our relationships and business. We saw the painful effect of ignoring difficulty and skipping personal development and discipleship. We chose growth every day because we wanted a different outcome. I am writing you this quick note over the sounds of chaos downstairs. Two of our adult kids are here with six grandbabies in tow. The five young adults and our three teens are getting ready to scarf down dinner, but until then, they are laughing, connecting, and sharing their stories from the week. This is our regular Friday dinner. Every week, they pile in, and it fills my heart to see it. This could be your house. Building a family legacy does not happen by chance. It requires a lifetime commitment, but you can **fast-track your growth** by learning the skills you need from experts. For the last four years, I have spoken and watched to learn at the [**Life Skills Leadership Summit**](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-vip/). It is my favorite conference to be a part of because each workshop is filled with real SKILL builders. Since it is online, I can watch the sessions from home in my pajamas, pause as needed, or rewatch a favorite. You can get a[ VIP Pass](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-vip/676db8cfbb6ec/) with lifetime access, which is one way to speed up your growth, bolster any weaknesses, and show your family they are worth investing in. The best part is that $40 is way less than you will spend on family dinners. So, you could save money, but do you really want to eat alone? ​ If you want family dinner in the future, say YES and click [here](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25vip-15/) to get the best deal on your VIP Pass. I have to go, Reader, dinner is waiting. ​ Choose change for all of you, *Amber J. Smith* PS. Don’t wait; the price goes up on Monday. Get your [VIP Pass this Sunday, February 23](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-vip/676db8cfbb6ec/), and use code **200F&T$5** for a $5 discount from me. ​ ​ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Want Independent Learners? Focus on these Skill Builders.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/want-independent-learners-focus-on-these-skill-builders/) **Published:** February 16, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Too many parents ask for a “hands-off” curriculum for middle school and even elementary-aged homeschooling children. While I understand the need to continue working or the fear that you “don’t know enough” to homeschool successfully, homeschooling is a serious commitment for your whole family to consider. The truth is, a truly hands-off curriculum does not exist, and that is great news! Homeschooling is all about strengthening families and developing the skills you all need for life. If you want your child to learn and develop excellent work habits, focused study skills, and growth in their problem-solving skills, they will need your guidance to become independent learners. Independence is the fruit of applying skills. Life skills like assignment planning, time management, self-discipline, study habits, and research skills were learned in elementary school. The better the foundation, the more likely your students will be ready to be independent learners. Some students need you as a guide and a guardrail for longer. Your job is to ensure they have access to the skills they need each year you homeschool. In this article, I will share some skills to help your teen transition to working independently. --- Want to hear me speak on the topic? You can watch my workshops [HERE](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-basic/61f96bf6ee0fc/) at the **Life Skills Leadership Summit.** (My talks will be available LIVE at 10 a.m. and forever with a [VIP PASS](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-vip/676db8cfbb6ec/) upgrade.) I speak a few times a year and love creating actionable materials to connect with new and veteran homeschooling families like yours. [Grab Your free pass here](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls25-basic/61f96bf6ee0fc/) --- ## Provide Study Skills to Grow Independent Learners ### First, help them understand HOW their school book works. Identify things like the instruction box, expected vocabulary words in **bold**, where the glossary is, using indexes, etc. Walking through the materials at Innovation will help your child feel confident in handling more independence. Answer the question of where to go for specific information. We forget that we had to be taught how to find Figure 1.3 in our textbooks back in the day. Don’t take for granted that your child knows how a textbook works. Going through the first few chapters together is a great way to gauge how the material is presented, the layout, and how your child is responding to the text. It is OK if they are a little underwater in the beginning, but they need your support and assurance to help them build the skills they need to meet the assignment’s requirements. Don’t be afraid to allow them to experience difficulty, but support them in finding answers to their problems and setting themselves up to succeed. Ask questions like, “Why do you think you were unable to complete this assignment?” “What can we do differently next time to have a better outcome?” Let them come up with some ideas. You will be surprised at how much more responsive they are to their own suggestions. Questions = Less Nagging +More Success [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Independent-Learners-1.png "Independent-Learners-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Independent-Learners-1.png)Do you desire to grow as an independent learner### Secondly, help them use their notebook. Build the habit of keeping all of their work in a notebook. Create a tab for each subject they are learning, and place lined paper for note-taking. Expect notes to be taken. Ask to see them. Teach them about what information should be written in notes. Spending a few months developing good study skills, note-taking, and organization skills is never wasted. You can print prompts for the subject you are studying for younger children to help get them started. These skills lay the foundation for growing independent learners and support your students. ••• They need clear expectations in their school work, and you are the source ••• Your middle schooler needs to grow their tool chest with foundational study habits to help them dig deeper. Reading is another foundational skill your child must master to become independent in their lessons. How do you ignite the reading habit? You can [read this](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/strengthen-the-reading-habit-in-your-homeschool-now/ "Strengthen the Reading Habit in Your Homeschool Now") for more ideas. # How Much Independence to Expect? Homeschooling in the early years is a hands-on endeavor. There are many options for parents today, but your children will need you. Even if you choose an online curriculum, you are responsible for getting your students set up and ensuring they are logged in and in the right location/time/site. You will continue to follow up with assignments and field questions, find resources, buy glue sticks, and so on. ### You can NOT be completely hands-off in your homeschool. I would go so far as to say WHY would you? Your kids are amazing, intelligent, funny, inquisitive, and inspiring. If you are beginning homeschooling, you are in for a treat. Your kids NEED you. You are the most critical person in their life. They are looking to you for clues about responding to the world around them. The lessons you learn together will live with them forever, not like the area of a triangle, but the overall scope will become the fabric of their future personality. That is a weighty demand. You are going to lead. However, you can equip your children to **be prepared to work independently** as they mature. As a CEO knows the company’s direction, you know your homeschool’s end goals. You will set up projects that help your homeschool reach these long-term goals. You are in staff training for the world to come and the Kingdom in which you already reside. Well-trained employees are a pleasure to work with, and well-trained students are fun to teach. Skip training, and… well, you know what that feels like, it is no fun. ## What are realistic expectations? Elementary students can come to school time prepared for the day. Focus on creating personal hygiene routines and rhythms in your day. Building anticipation for the NEXT thing to do will help younger children transition throughout the day. ### What work can independent learners do? **Elementary students** can do **daily copy wor**k after being fully instructed on handwriting. Your child can have a creative corner to do **artwork** independently, followed by cleaning up and putting away supplies. Your child can read to a sibling, the family pet, or you while you do light chores (fold clothes, dishes, food prep). An elementary student can do time challenge worksheets with simple math problems. Games and physical activities are an excellent addition to this age group. You can play with them until they show understanding. **Middle school students** can keep a daily checklist of expected work and a list of work to do independently. They can choose from these activities when they are busy or when they have completed their tasks. Options for their independent work include [reading chapter books](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/strengthen-the-reading-habit-in-your-homeschool-now/) for their core subjects, [Lapbook](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/history-lap-booking-not-complicated-really/), LA workbooks, [online topics or lessons](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/), [Science workbooks](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/), [electives](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teens-are-learning-new-skills-better-with-high-school-electives-homeschool/), art, games, handwriting, and any item you have completed giving instructions for. In the middle years, I schedule check-in times for each student **daily,** and we have a **weekly** check-out plan in place so they know what time they are expected to be free for weekend plans. ## Build Accountability with Clear Expectations ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/9.jpg "9 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Click [HERE](https://expert-thinker-7811.ck.page/16033ccdbb) to Grab your FREE Accountability Pages from My Own Mom Binder ## Give them Choices Allowing middle schoolers to influence their homeschool curriculum with areas of study and elective choices balances these growing academic demands. Read this series next for even more help; we discuss in depth [how to build accountability](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-develop-accountability-for-students-homeschool/) for kids of every age! Don’t forget to grab your **Accountability Sheets** from my **[30 Days to Homeschool Renewal Course](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/30-days-to-homeschool-renewal)** and create a new standard for your homeschool today. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [New Parents Are Learning the Untold Cost of Homeschooling?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/new-parents-are-learning-the-untold-cost-of-homeschooling/) **Published:** November 17, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* What is the untold cost of homeschooling? Are parents prepared to stand as the doors to public school activities slam in their faces? As the number of homeschoolers rises, some schools embrace the homeschool community, while others draw clear lines of demarcation. Currently, homeschooled students are denied participation in field trips, dances, and graduation ceremonies. Still, even students who are filed as dual-**enrolled** in the district are being dismissed from participating. What is your line in the sand? For some, it is beloved sports, band, or high school-level classes. Other parents have seen their children suffer enough in the system that no longer serves them. As homeschoolers, I hope that we can not be bought cheaply! ## Founding Members of the Homeschool Movement Understood the Cost & Risked Jail to Homeschool While new homeschoolers are shocked, veterans expect to see stronger resistance from districts as they write their rules. If homeschooling continues to grow, districts will fight to keep students tied to the system. The offers might become tempting, but at what cost to the homeschool community and your family? [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HMSS.Email_.ad_.Banner-1024x171.png "HMSS.Email.ad.Banner › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success)## This leads to bigger questions. One, are new homeschooling parents willing to pay the high cost to choose homeschooling if resistance continues to escalate? Are a few dances and a graduation ceremony enough to pull you from your convictions, or is it the equivalent of the work pizza party, too little for too much? Secondly, is the new wave of homeschooling families precisely the energy, motivation, and numbers we need to build genuinely vibrant communities that meet needs while sharing our values? ## Before we start demanding services from the school Let’s discuss the genuine and present opportunity to build a vibrant and welcoming homeschool community that meets your family’s needs and connects to create a lasting community. Listen as we start the conversation in Episode 12 of season 2 of the In Due Season Homeschool Podcast. ## Counting the Cost to Homeschooling. The price might be high, but the cost of staying in a broken system is higher. Choosing to homeschool is worth the minor losses, and you stand the most significant opportunity to gain a relationship with your child and to become a leader in a NEW world! ## Free Quick Start Guide Begin homeschooling confidently, save money and time with a little help from a homeschool friend! Download We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time. [Built with Kit](https://kit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Grab this FREE Gratitude Resource for YOU](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/grab-this-free-gratitude-resource-for-you/) **Published:** November 9, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have you tried being grateful AND prepping your house to feed thirty people? It is a challenge. Are you in the midst of Holiday Season prep? We are already starting the list of chores. The bathrooms are getting cleaned, random, forgotten piles are being sorted and put away, and the porch is getting cleaned again! With the dusting, sweeping and “directing”, gratitude is a little hard to come by! You need a gratitude resource that help you get back to your priorities. It never seems to end, and we will need to do it all over again by Thanksgiving. We are so busy with the way things will look on Thanksgiving Day that we can forget to focus on the internal works of gratitude. I like to use prompts, activity sheets, and unique reading books to help us focus on a topic in our homeschool. We do the same in our spiritual life. I have been reading the [30-Day Gratitude](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6723bfead0952/) blog posts this month at **How to Homeschool My Child**. Each day, a new homeschool parent shares an article for you to read, learn from, and refocus on. These articles include fun activities for the family, encouraging stories for homeschooling parents, and a chance to peek into the lives of your fellow homeschoolers. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/practicing-gratitude-1-square-1024x1024-1.png "practicing-gratitude-1-square-1024x1024-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/practicing-gratitude-1-square-1024x1024-1.png)Today, you can read my article about the value of relationships. Gratitude can’t happen in a vacuum. Are you feeling isolated? Or, are you feeling comfortable in your “little” circle? Let’s talk about the unique way community builds gratitude in our lives. Then, you can grab my FREE gratitude resource. Print it out and take time to reflect on Psalm 103. There is so much about gratitude in this chapter to help you refocus. You can [read the full article here.](https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/practicing-gratitude/) Enter to win the [GRAND PRIZE](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6723bfead0952/) for the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge too. It is valued at over $1000. You can enter when you sign up for the challenge. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/unnamed-1024x807.png "unnamed › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/unnamed.png)## Don’t have 30 days? That’s not a problem. Take a smaller challenge each month. Print the FREE calendar and plan to do a week each month with your family. Make the activities fit your family, but don’t forget to read the NEW articles each day. I would hate for you to miss a fun activity with the kids. I hope you find a few memories-making activities, a few encouraging nuggets, and a fresh wind of gratitude this November with all of us who are making the 30-Day Challenge possible. I also hope you find a few new homeschooling bloggers and moms to come alongside you this year. No matter where you find it, start building your homeschool community. You will have a ready support team in place before you NEED it. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/gratitude-journal-freebee-ipad.png "gratitude journal freebee ipad › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Purchase a Homeschool Gratitude Student Journal Make the habit of recording a short gratitude entry [Purchase now](https://amzn.to/4fby46J) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** gratitude --- ### [Feeling Bleehhhh? Let's stop for a gratitude reset](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/feeling-bleehhhh-lets-stop-for-a-gratitude-reset/) **Published:** November 1, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschool News, & Some Fun Practicing gratitude can be a lifeline, especially when feeling a little off. This last month has been full of disappointments and frustrating struggles. It might not be as BIG as the recent disasters others in the United States are facing, but I've been feeling a bit low nonetheless. It is a good thing that I signed up to participate in the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge with my friend Kerry. As I wrote my post, scheduled to post on... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # 200 Fingers & Toes Updates, Homeschool News, & Some Fun Practicing gratitude can be a lifeline, especially when feeling a little off. This last month has been full of disappointments and frustrating struggles. It might not be as BIG as the recent disasters others in the United States are facing, but I’ve been feeling a bit low nonetheless. It is a good thing that I signed up to participate in the [30-Day Gratitude Challenge](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) with my friend Kerry. As I wrote my post, scheduled to post on November 10th, on [How to Homeschool My Child](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/), I was reminded about how much “practicing” gratitude can do for us. ## About Gratitude [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/i5q5WqZfe8rv3KedE7GyEE)](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6169dbc0eaae9/) ### Gratitude Bible Study It’s a word study on “eucharisteo”, the Greek word for thanks. There are a few questions about eucharisteo in the beginning and then a chart for all the verses where this word is used in the New Testament. [Grab Your Bible Study Guide](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/wzM28Wzc9sqUeK2dKu8Zsp)](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) ### Gratitude Challenge Each person in your family should have their own printable. Choose a time each day to let your kids write what they are thankful for that day. [FREE Gratitude Printable](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/j54gVD7Uv8kdZPaDVM65rX)](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6723bfead0952/) ### $1018.46 GRAND Prize Be sure to enter our Grand Prize Giveaway ($968.47) by following the opportunities in the raffle. There are so many ways to enter. You can rack up some entries to win. [Sign Up to WIN](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6723bfead0952/) Every day in November, a new author contributes a fresh article about gratitude for you. Be sure to read one each day. My article will be posted on November 10th! I’ll share some of my favorite gratitude articles in the next email. ​ Blessings, Amber J. Smith and all of our 200 Fingers & Toes PO Box 337, Osceola, IA 50213 ​[Unsubscribe](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/unsubscribe) · [Preferences](https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/preferences)​ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Outdoor Play Gift Ideas That Parents Really Want](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/outdoor-play-gift-ideas-that-parents-really-want/) **Published:** December 4, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* It might be winter, but this is also the season when we free up some extra spending dollars to get a few of the outdoor play items we might not have in the budget the rest of the year. This Christmas give the gift of outside fun to your family. Check out these great ideas to create a vision for the way you can use the space you have. By adding some of these fun, high quality kid-activators they will be using that forgotten corner of the yard or lonesome tree. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_1924-1024x1024.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_1924.jpg)SparkleWhile you are at it, get everyone in on it too. At our house the grandparents are always asking what they can get for the kids. Don’t squander this precious opportunity to double your Christmas wishlist coverage. You can use this guide to create a plan for hundreds of hours of sundrenched play time in your own yard and as you will see, some of these gifts can be used inside over winter or year round for a great play space. ## Your FREE Inspired Giving Guide I’d love one We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime. [Built with Kit](https://kit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ### Next time you wonder what kids really need.. They need to be tired! You know it. I know it. The only ones who don’t know it are the kids themselves. This is why we have to be extra sneaky about getting them outside in the sunshine and fresh air. Sure, it is good for them, but the truth is; play is the only way to tire those kids out. Summer days are long and well tired kids sleep in sometimes. Having some new fun things waiting for them makes the transition to outside after a long winter an anticipated event. Our kids could not wait to get their HugglePods outside as soon as the weather turned last Spring. Many of these ideas can be modified for the indoors, apartment living and city life too. A quick search of Pinterest gave me some great ideas for hanging a hammock indoors and found the [perfect brackets](https://amzn.to/36HKySR) for HugglePod reading nooks in the basement. If you can imagine it, you can create it. ## Get Them Playing Outside…Longer! In 2012, we got our first Slackline from Slackers. So naturally, we ordered the [Slackers Ninja Line](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&mid=2920&u1=200fingersandtoes&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hearthsong.com%2Fp%2F732119) from Hearthsong to add to our outdoor activity spaces. It was sold out for months, but as soon as we got it, we set up between two sturdy trees. You can change the arrangement of the holds to increase or decrease the difficulty. My kids have gotten so tall that I need to set it much higher than I thought. They’re catching up on me. I had to get the stepstool, and no I am not good at it at all. I guess I need to get in line with them. You can add [a timer](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&mid=2920&u1=200fingersandtoes&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hearthsong.com%2Fp%2F732801) and create a challenge course that will keep the kids striving to beat their own time. ![outdoor play](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/P1020588-1024x769.jpg "P1020588 › 200 Fingers & Toes") [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/P1020589-1024x769.jpg "P1020589 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/P1020589.jpg)![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/LKC4nxs3QFizOWwkAwr8w-768x1024.jpg "LKC4nxs3QFiz+OWwkAwr8w › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Outdoor Play Zone Ideas - sand and water play area - family garden, veggies and flowers - hard surface for bike and ball play - club house, treehouse or fort - imagination stations; pretend kitchen, garage - art station - playset, slide, swings - yard games station - zipline, tree swing, rope course We have added to our outdoor play areas as the kids have grown. Now we have basketball, volleyball, cornhole and a firepit with our grown kids and the older teens can host their friends. Big or small, you can have fun together outside in every stage. ## Getting Outside Means Kids Get Moving If you are like me, you know that tired kids make for a happy mama. They have less energy for arguing and less drive to procrastinate at bed time when they have played outside in the sun all day. As we transition from summer to winter, we moved the [HugglePods](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&mid=2920&u1=200fingersandtoes&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hearthsong.com%2Fp%2F728614) from the tree they hung in all summer, under the cover of the house. I ordered some [heavy duty brackets](https://amzn.to/37nsbSo) on Amazon and we are going to hang them up as a reading nook in the basement. I’ve see them installed in an older child’s bedroom as well. These are great for a child who likes to get away and have more quiet than the others. My daughter likes to read in hers all summer long. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/outdoorhangs.jpg "outdoorhangs › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/outdoorhangs.jpg)![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cargo-net-hearthsong-931x1024.jpg "cargo net hearthsong › 200 Fingers & Toes")### Build Years of Fun Adventures This cargo net from Hearthsong is going to be the ladder to our treehouse project. We are working on a huge suspension bridge. The telephone poles and cables are up, but the wooden steps are going to have to wait until spring. This will be a fun way to get up to the main platform for scrambling kids like ours. This net can also be set up between two trees as a climbing wall. It would be just right for smaller kids to work on crossing while not getting too far off the ground. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_1920-1024x1024.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_1920.jpg)setting the poles for our bridge with a little help from our friend who is a lineman ### We Love Our Classic Slackline too We have yet to have a child develop the skills shown in the instructional video, but that doesn’t stop us from breaking out the [Slackline](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&mid=2920&u1=slackline&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hearthsong.com%2Fp%2F731949) year after year; trying to get across the two inch wide strapping without using the provided guide rope overhead. We got it from Hearthsong in 2012 and it has been in use every summer since, with all ten kids. It stays out in all weather. I check it every year for wear, but it still looks as good as the day we got it. All you need is two trees. You can set it fairly low to the ground, especially if your kids are lighter, then the rope sags less. ![#7 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/91OZkUYYawL._SL1500_-973x1024.jpg "What is a slackline. Fun in a box. › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Children Need Unstructured Play Time to Build Their Creativity ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/mudkitchen-931x1024.jpg "mudkitchen › 200 Fingers & Toes")Whether you let your child create a homemade Mud Kitchen like our girl did or if you would like a cleaner approach, like this premade [kitchen from Hearthsong](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&mid=2920&u1=mudkitchen&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hearthsong.com%2Fp%2F868313), the result is the same; a child who creates. #### Outdoor Play is formative & FREE play is essential Summer is the best time to give the kids places to express themselves and explore how to relate to others. “Around the House” play is where kids learn and practice interpersonal skills and explore things like conflict resolution, sharing, friendship, quiet and wonder. It is so much more than mud and water. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_3579-1024x1024.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_3579.jpg)Giving the Kids Creative Spaces and a few Tools can Spark Their Minds for Outdoor Play Time## What Are We Playing Outdoors… - Cornhole - Horseshoes - Volleyball - Basketball - Nuke ’em - Wiffle Ball [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cornhole-1024x988.jpg "cornhole › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amzn.to/3ga1l3U) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cornhole-lights-1008x1024.jpg "cornhole lights › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amzn.to/37DQKKD)## Dreaming Big, Scaling to Fit You You don’t have to be independently wealthy to get home court advantage. We live out of town in a hundred and fifteen year old farmhouse. With a bit of saving and some ingenuity we were able to build a basket ball court and a small patio for a fire pit for under $2000. That includes the in ground hoops, pit and balls. We had two 24’ concrete silo pads in the back yard from when it was a working farm. There was a gap of about fifteen feet between them that we decided to fill in with concrete to make one large, playable surface. I used an concrete calculator app to figure the math. All a needed to know was the cost of a yard of concrete in my area. The concrete needed for the court was a truck and a half. We decided to order two full trucks use the excess to create a small 10×10 patio space off of our garage to use for a fire pit we picked up early in the spring. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/img_2766-9-768x1024.jpg "img_2766 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/img_2766-9.jpg)We dug out the dirt the old fashion way; with a shovel and sweat. Then, we prepped the space by framing it with leftover lumber scraps. Next, we laid the wire grid for under the concrete. Finally, floated the concrete smooth and brushed the surface for texture ourselves to save on costs. With five teens still in the house we wanted to give them some place to hang out where they could feel some independence and autonomy. The older boys have a few friends who come over a shoot hoops in the summer and all the kids love to have a little fire going on fall nights when they can. Although it is usually us parents and our adult kids at the fire pit. Outdoor play [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2846-1024x1024.jpg "New Tan › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_2846.jpg)Setting up the long awaited basketball court It took some planning and saving, but in the end it has been worth the expense and with three kids still waiting to become teens, I feel like this will get used for quite some time to come ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** christmas, fun stuff, gifts, grandparents, homeschool electives, outside play --- ### [3 Ways Your Pennies Can Grow Significant Christmas Dollars](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-ways-your-pennies-can-grow-significant-christmas-dollars/) **Published:** November 13, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Christmas can be a struggle for single-income families like mine. Three things help me save all year and now, I have $500 in my Christmas fund. Each little deposit was made without me thinking about it. Could you use some passive savings that add up to significant Christmas dollars? Christmas spending has always been an area I want to be intentional and responsible. Even with a budget of $50 per family member, the Christmas celebration was a considerable stretch for our family. Let me share the two simple apps have been lifesavers for our family of twelve. Since using them, I have had the peace of knowing my Christmas fund is growing all year. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_7532-473x1024.png "IMG_7532 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_7532.png)## Watch Your Change Grow with Acorn In **Acorn**, I have a digital change jar. Do you ever lug a loaded change jar to the bank? When we were newly married, we threw our change in a “Vacation Fund” jar. We accumulated over $250 when it was full, though we rarely took the vacation. A blown tire or broken appliance would more likely be handled with the extra savings. We don’t use cash like we used to, the physical change jar is a thing of the past, but the digital change jar isn’t. With Acorn, I choose which bank accounts, debit and credit cards that I want to add to a digital **round-up** to. Each time I spend money, the change is added to my balance. ### Round it Up for Good! Say I pay $20.75. My payment is rounded to $21, and Acorn adds .25¢ to my account. Instead of several nickel-and-dime withdrawals, Acorn makes a deposit when I reach my chosen threshold of $5. I depended on my Acorn account for years to save enough for our kids Christmas gifts. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Acorn-Promo-1024x1024.png "Acorn-Promo › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Acorn-Promo.png)Earn significant Christmas dollars all year long with pocket changeNow that I am also working, our income is more flexible. I choose to make a **recurring monthly** **investment** in our fund of $40. Acorn invests my deposits all year. I am earning a significant rate of over 10% interest right now! Start with a tiny Acorn, and grow your financial plan into a mighty oak by learning about your finances, financial planning, and investing. I watch the **Learn with Acorn videos** in the app. They are digestible, informative, and a quick way to learn more about how your money works. Grab the app for free and start learning with Acorn now. Save more with partner offers and you can upgrade to gold to invest in your kids future, get bonus matching investments, complimentary will services and more. Click [HERE](https://acorns.com/share/?shareable_code=TJW8BUS&first_name=Amber) to start saving with a **$5 BONUS f**rom Acorn right away. [Grow Your investments with acorn](https://acorns.com/share/?shareable_code=TJW8BUS&first_name=Amber) ## Get Paid to Fill Your Tank Do you know where the cheapest gas in your neighborhood is? Every time I get gas, I check my **Upside app** for the deals near me. Right now, I see the stations near me are offering .11¢-.13¢/gal cash back on regular. I have my credit or debit card that I use to pay for gas linked to the app. Each time I get gas, I claim an offer, click the I PAID button and that is it. The best part is the more gas I get the better the offers I get. Sharing with your friends is also a bonus opportunity that keeps on giving. You get a 1¢ bonus each time they fill their tank AND you will both get a 15¢/gallon BONUS on your next tank of gas too. With Upside, I have saved $150 toward our Christmas fund. I can deposit the cash whenever I want to. This week, I moved my **cash back bonus** money into my Paypal account to Christmas shop. You can also purchase digital gift cards in the app for 25+ different stores and sites. You can send your long distance loves a digital cuppa or a trip to Target! That is as easy as it gets. Click this [link](https://upside.app.link/AMBER89933) or use promo code **AMBER89933** to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus the first time you make a purchase. Then share your personal code to earn even more. With Upside, you will get something back every time you fill your tank! [Get Upside Deals and Save](https://upside.app.link/AMBER89933) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/4D4B3BA4-E056-482A-AA66-252BB080A974-1024x1024.png "4D4B3BA4-E056-482A-AA66-252BB080A974 › 200 Fingers & Toes")]()Saving significant Christmas dollars can be done in little bites all year long with tools you are using right now## Check Your Credit Card Rewards Policy Be sure to check the website of your debit or charge cards. We have a business card for gas since we drive trucks. Every month credit card companies select offers on different types of purchases. Sometimes it is groceries, club purchases or gas. Make sure you are saying yes to those offers. You can be earning cash back on purchases you are already making regularly. Also, check your card policy for bonuses that are offered year round as well. Many card companies offer deals on rentals, travel or hotels. We don’t travel much, but holidays are one of those time when we do. ## Maximize Your Rewards for Significant Christmas Dollars Stores like Sams Club offer rewards dollars on purchases. Check your rewards balances and be sure to use them up for the holidays. We were able to apply over half of the cost of our last shopping trip to rewards cash. You might have some significant Christmas dollars waiting for you right now. Christmas dinner, paper goods and desserts are an added expense in December. It is nice to know you have a little bit of the cost of Christmas covered, but with some strategic planning, disciplined savings and the right tools, your next Christmas will be covered without having to think about it. ## Got a hint? What are you favorite way to save significant Christmas dollars incrementally throughout the year? Let me know and I will add it to my tweets! Find me @ https://x.com/200fingers\_toes ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** christmas, Holiday, parenting --- ### [Join the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge Today](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/join-the-30-days-of-gratitude-challenge-today/) **Published:** November 1, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Practicing gratitude can be a lifeline, especially when feeling a little off. This last month has been full of disappointments and frustrating struggles. It might not be as BIG as the recent disasters others in the United States are facing, but I’ve been feeling a bit low nonetheless. It is a good thing that I signed up to participate in the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge with my friend Kerry. I wrote my post, scheduled to post on November 10th, on *[How to Homeschool My Child](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/)*. As I did, I was reminded about how much “practicing” gratitude can do for us. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/30day-challenge-solid-t-1024x807.png "30day-challenge-solid-t › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/30day-challenge-solid-t.png)**You can grab the link to the FREE 30-Day Challenge printable [HERE](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) and start with the whole family today.** ## Let’s back up to the reason we focus on gratitude. #### Before I share the challenge, read the words of Kerry, the challenge’s creator. I remember a time that I felt like my life was falling apart. Everything was going wrong . . . or so I thought. I knew I had to get control of those audio reels in my head; the ones from the enemy. So, I grabbed a piece of paper and sat down at the kitchen table. I started writing anything and everything I could thank God for. Before I realized it, I was writing down who God is to me, His steadfast character qualities. In less than 5 minutes, my attitude changed from self-pity to thanking God for so many things. Before you start the [30 Days of Gratitude Challenge](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) as a family or individually, choose a Bible verse to memorize during the month of November. Practice it each day at a meal. Tie your new memorization habit to a habit you already do, such as eating a meal. ### God’s Word tells us we should have a spirit of thankfulness. Thus, it is God’s will for us to show gratitude and teach our kids things to be thankful. > *In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.* > > I Thessalonians 5:17 Show your kids that focusing on giving thanks moves their “entitled-me” attitude from themselves to God. Taking our [30 Days of Gratitude Challenge](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) is a daily reminder to give God thanks and focus on Jesus. The 30-Day Challenge Participants put together a great GRAND Prize for one lucky winner. [CLICK HERE TO Join the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/61392b0b8c7f3/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/unnamed-1024x807.png "unnamed › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/unnamed.png)One lucky winner will receive … - Photography Class: Self-paced ($75) – This is a semester-long course that uses fun assignments to teach the fundamentals of photography. This online class is for homeschoolers in grades 7 – 12 and is self-paced and parent-graded. - 1 Year of Blue Manor Academy ($300) – Get a FULL YEAR of access to Blue Manor’s Christian Homeschool Academy! Includes curriculum, memory tools, parent resources, printables and live Zoom classes! - Where in the World? Interactive Geography Course ($25) – “Where in the World? is an interactive geography course that will take your homeschoolers on a journey to 8 places across the world that they’ve probably never heard of. This course comes with 118 printable pages to create a fascinating interactive notebook filled with information from their “travels.” - A Gentle Thanksgiving ($25) – Bring your whole family together for a delightful study of thanksgiving and worship for the month of November! A Gentle Thanksgiving includes 24 days of Charlotte Mason-inspired family-style lessons, activities, and Scripture journaling to focus hearts and hands-on service, gratitude, and praise. - Download of All Jim Hodges Audio Books ($347) – Download every unabridged recording of Jim Hodges Audio Books! Over 100 recordings with over 750 hours of family-friendly listening! G. A. Henty historically accurate adventure novels, Classic Literature, Children’s recordings, Overtly Christian recordings, along with Old Time Radio Shows. All yours! Family friendly listening for ages 5-65! - Miles Standish book and The First Year at Plymouth Book + Printed study guide for Miles Standish ($27) -Two primary source books featuring the history of the pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation. - Literary Adventures Readers’ Guild Membership ($40) – The Literary Adventures Readers’ Guild is an all-in-one membership designed to engage children of all ages in exciting, interactive literature studies. With nearly 200 online book clubs, live workshops, and instructor support, it simplifies homeschooling by offering a comprehensive curriculum that fosters a love for reading. - Celebrate Thanksgiving ($25.50) – Meredith shares meaningful family traditions, devotions, poems, and prayers that will restore the reason for the season. She will help you inspire your family to be filled with gratitude for all God’s blessings. There is even a chapter on Thanksgiving books to read alone or aloud that expresses the true meaning of this holiday. We didn’t forget music, crafts, and food–you find easy projects and mouth-watering recipes. - Adulting Unplugged Book, E-book & Workbook ($25) – In homeschooling your teen, you’re already giving them a personalized education. ADULTING UNPLUGGED builds on this foundation, helping you go beyond academics to teach your teen real-world skills and emotional intelligence. Whether your teen is navigating friendships, managing stress, or preparing for future challenges, this book offers clear, actionable advice for growth and self-sufficiency. - Christmas Cookie Cafe Pretend Play Shop and Woodland Learning Pack ($25) – The Art Kit’s Christmas Cookie Cafe Pretend Play Shop and Woodland Learning Pack make learning fun for children. Includes nearly 100 pages! - Art History Through the Ages – Volumes 1-3 ($27.99) – “Many of us find it difficult to add art and art history into our homeschool day. It just seems like there’s not enough time! That is where Art History through the Ages can help. It is designed to blend seamlessly into your history program, helping your children to learn how art, history, religion, culture, and politics all fit together for the Northern & Italian Renaissance, Baroque & Rococo, and Neoclassicism (1400s-1830).” - “The Role of Pharmacy Technicians in Healthcare Advocacy” e-course ($25.99) – This course is designed to explore the crucial part pharmacy technicians play in advocating for patients and promoting better healthcare outcomes. We will delve into the definition and importance of healthcare advocacy, the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians in healthcare settings, and the vital role they play in advocating for patient. - High School Transcript Builder Course ($49.99) – The High School Transcript Builder Course is designed to make it simple and easy for parents of traditional learners…and non-traditional learners to create a quality high school transcript. The participants spent their time and money to make this giveaway possible for you. [Please take the time to enter ](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6723bfead0952/)each option listed. Besides, you’ll have a better chance of winning using all the entry options. [EnTer the 30-Day gratitude Giveaway](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/thanks24/6723bfead0952/) If you’re committed to making this, the year you practice thankfulness with your family, then grab our free printables to be ready for our 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge that starts on Friday, November 1. If it’s after November 1st, then start today! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [How To Homeschool Multiple Grades At The Same Time](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-multiple-grades/) **Published:** March 9, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Our blog’s name, 200 Fingers & Toes, is a testament to our unique challenge in homeschooling a house of ten kids. Yes, you read that right. Ten kids. Planning a homeschool day for such a diverse range of ages is no small feat. The older children have a more significant academic load, and the younger ones have unique needs that must be met. But, the truth is, you can have a successful day as you homeschool multiple grades, even if you’re essentially running a small K-12 school. # A Multi-Age Homeschool Schedule As an experienced homeschool mom of a large family, I’ve learned that each family must find its own rhythms and routines. The key to success in homeschooling is finding what works best for your family. Let me give you a glimpse into a year of homeschooling all ten kids. In this example, all ten kids were actively engaged in academic learning, a testament to the success of our homeschooling journey. The younger children were in K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. The Middle schoolers were in 7th and 8th grade. Finally, a group of high schoolers were in 9th, 11th, and 12th grade. ## Your Home is Perfect to Homeschool Multiple Grades Our real-life experience taught us that the homeschool setting is the best way to teach different ages of children working at different grade levels. So read more for our best tips for homeschooling with the whole family. [Make the most of your space.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tips-for-quick-homeschool-set-up-for-your-1st-year/ "Tips for Quick Homeschool Room Setup for Your 1st Year") We have changes our schooling area almost every year. The needs of our family change with each additional child, baby and NEW student. We gave up our master bedroom to make it into the school room. It was a full scale library for many years. Use your space to the best of your abilities and get creative. For many years the baby dictated the school hours. When they little ones got older they played in a pack and play right along side of the other kids in the school room. They moved from there to the play saucer and then off to a nap after they were fed. I made sure to have a comfy chair for myself so I could read to the kids while I read aloud to the other kids. ## Choose Your Schedule Our school day begins with a family meeting at 10 am. Everyone does their chores, eats breakfast, and takes care of their personal needs before school starts. We have used every variation of schedule from year-round to four-day school weeks, You can always change to fit life as it changes, and it will! The elementary kids usually get up early, have time to play, and burn off some energy, while the teens generally roll straight out of the kitchen at ten sharp! The later start time gives me time to care for the little ones’ needs. If you have a newborn, this gives you plenty of time for morning feedings and runs right up to the first nap time. When we had mostly younger children, we did school as soon as the littlest ones went down for a nap. On a side note: we continued quiet reading time while we homeschooled multiple grades. When littles napped, the oldest kids did their reading. It gave ME a calm space to regroup and taught the kids to be comfortable in silence. The side benefit is that the older kids became avid readers because of this habit. ## Break Your Multi-Age Homeschool into Groups After our Morning Time Meeting, the day starts with me doing bookwork with the young children. Individual reading lessons take about 15 minutes each, including the handwriting in *Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons* book. The older siblings check their lesson plans and follow the schedule in the Sonlight binder. They do their assigned reading and get on the computers for Math right while I am working with the little kids. When I finish lessons with the little ones, I have one-on-one time with the middle schoolers. We go over their schedule, read assignment instructions, and confirm a clear checklist for the day. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_0566-1024x683.jpg "200 fingers and toes right here › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_0566.jpg)You can Homeschool Multiple Grades This is our K 12 homeschool group and they are all our own# What Are We Using as a Big Homeschool Family? #### The oldest (Sr. 17, Jr. 16, Soph. 15) are the “Bigs,” serving as the leaders and role models for the rest of the homeschooling group They are using their 5th high school core (400) and are graduating. The two youngest will have one math credit left to complete. They chose to dual enroll at the local [high school to take AP](https://blog.sonlight.com/advanced-placement.html) and online college classes. You will see that their ages is a stretch of the “advised” age span. All I can say is do what works. Our youngest was a bright girl who was reading and writing before four. Even though she was out of the advised age range, she would not be shaken from joining her brothers’ school time. We tried to ditch her. She was so fiercely competitive when she was younger that she forced herself to keep us. Her strong writing and language skills are to be credited for completing five high school cores at fourteen and attending university before she could drive. They have already completed HBL 100, and we combined Sonlight HBL 200 and 300 last year because I did not want to skip church (200) history. The past year was a massive workload, with hours and hours of reading, but we are all glad it is behind us. Their reward is a mountain of high school credits that they earned. ### Do you have an advanced student that is longing to be unleashed? Our oldest daughter was living on the University campus before she could legally drive. You know your child and can gauge their maturity, graduating early is not for every advanced student, but you can read more about how to [help your student graduate early](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-a-homeschooler-graduate-high-school-early/). ## Be Willing to Make Changes #### My 8th grader (14) was not an excellent fit for Sonlight Multi-grade homeschool does NOT mean one-size-fits-all. There is always that one kid that makes you dig a little bit deeper, work a little harder, and maybe cry more in the shower. Rest your heart if you are in those years right now. As homeschooling parents, we all experience students who challenge our current curriculum choices. My middle son was not a strong reader, and Sonlight’s load in the early HBLs was too much reading for him to stay on task. We found our way and still use the Sonlight by keeping the **Language Arts Readers** as assigned reading for him. Make school time meaningful to your student. We chose to connect with what he loves in his independent work time. He is my computer kid. He has been in love with the beeps and flashes of a screen since he was little. This year, we ordered [KidCode](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschooler-edge-computer-tech-2/)r from Sonlight to help him gain fundamental hands-on computer knowledge during his unit studies. For the rest of his school day, we use a combination of online classes from Discovery K12 and Schoolhouse Teachers.com. These online platforms have been a lifesaver. I was desperate to get this kid to love learning, and choosing a different direction has been a great way to meet his needs. He is digging back into school work and telling me what he reads in his lessons. With an active kid like him, I ensure we remember to get outside by including a nature study and adding field trips to our calendar. Those adjustments are making a huge difference in his attitude. ## Homeschool Multiple Grades By Taking More Time to Cover the Material #### My next Group (7th-12, 5th-11, 4th-9) the “Middle-Littles” We are using HBL D/E Condensed and taking our time. With a large group, we might stretch it over a year and a half. There is a ton to do in the condensed HBL plan—plenty to keep an older kid busy independently. The [Hands-on History boxes](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/history-lap-booking-not-complicated-really/) are an excellent resource for your morning basket or quiet reading time. The kids can work on a project while I work with the older kids or check individual work with a sibling. We are jumping into the computer a bit more to search for facts. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/F201362E-D750-453C-8C1D-0384EA65DE82-1024x1024.jpg "Hands-On History Kits for the Win › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/F201362E-D750-453C-8C1D-0384EA65DE82.jpg)They are also [exploring some elective classes](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teens-are-learning-new-skills-better-with-high-school-electives-homeschool/) on SchoolhouseTeachers.com to supplement their afternoons when I check out the older kids. I encourage independent learning time in the afternoons and am on the lookout for games or kits to help them explore individual interests throughout the school year. Sometimes, I forget that one of the main reasons I chose to homeschool was that I wanted my kid’s education to look different. Homeschooling allows me to individualize and meet different students’ needs. #### Then the “Littles” are K-age 5, 1st-age 6 and 3rd-age 7 Again, this group will probably need some adjusting down the road, but while most of the reading is on me, I choose a broader age range than is typically recommended to keep my groups down to a minimum. The truth is that no matter what the recommended age on the box is, you must make the curriculum work for your family. ## If you love your curriculum, could you make it fit you? That is what we have done here. They use HBL B; everyone is finishing Teach Your Child t**o Read in 100 Easy Lessons.** This book is my FIRST school book for everyone. I have taught every child to read using that same book, so it is by far the best $25 I have ever spent. A few weeks ago, I bought a replacement copy for $2 at the half-price bookstore; and I could not have been more excited if they were passing out free cappuccino. We do a little reading and bookwork in the morning. They copy their reading lessons, do a little math, and then we do life together. They learn a ton just by being around everyone else, learning, and reading. # Homeschooling a Large Family Can Be Affordable Each additional child brings a new element to our school—and more expenses. However, homeschooling can be affordable for families of any size. We used many hacks to save when the kids were little. - I always checked the reprinting permissions on workbooks, ensuring I could reproduce copies for our immediate family members. - I often purchased the digital version and only printed copies of the needed pages. - We used page protectors and wipe-off markers to extend the life of worksheets that could be used for practice. - We also did tons of drills out loud. This tradition was passed down from my homeschooling mother. She thrilled my younger siblings with “Skittle Drills.” Every child got a chance to answer questions at their skill level for a candy prize. - Listen to the podcast episode [HERE](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep006-is-a-great-education-really-within-reach/id1502155155?i=1000474760622) about How Every Child Can Get a Great Education By Homeschooling. - Another cost-saver for our family is that we can learn together by reading great books. Reading out loud together means that even though we have more grade levels, our school takes the same time to complete. - By reading together, I can also be a hands-on homeschool mom. I never desired to have my kids in front of a computer all day. - Don’t feel bad for passing up digital learning and games. The truth is that we could not afford the majority of online offerings when we began homeschooling. - Search for deals and discounts. I bought our curriculum second-hand from Ebay for years. - When we found a curriculum we loved, we prioritized purchasing it in our budget. - We set aside our tax return for homeschool expences. # Suppliments and Workbooks Now that the kids are older and we are reusing Sonlight HBLs for the second and even third time with the younger children, we have added a few online and supplimental resources. Because we have a multi-age homeschool, for Math in the upper grades, we use **Teaching Textbooks** because, seriously, who could grade all of that and still even be a human? We are trying **Life of Fred** for the first time, but I’ve been inconsistent. My favorite math recommendation will always be **Singapore Math** for elementary grades. It prepared our younger kids to think mathematically. We use workbooks for LA because I like to keep my older students busy when I am working with others. A couple of workbooks fill the time when I read to either of the younger groups. We loved **Keys to Good Language and Grammar Ace** from Sonlight and **Spectrum** Series LA books. Tracking paper work is a HASTLE in a multi-grade homeschool. I like workbooks for their ability to keep papers in one pace. We just received a copy of Apologia’s **Reader in Residence,** and you can read the full review [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/help-buried-writing-assignments-dug/). ## Choose a Four Day Schedeule for Electives & Science Lastly, God Bless my Mother, who has taught high school Science with [Apologia](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/) for the last two years. It has been a huge help to lift one class off of my list of responsibilities. This would be a great setup if you can trade with a friend. Science is a topic that can easily be taught over a broad age and grade levels. We do science on Fridays. Moving science to one school day and using the **four-day schedule** helps streamline our week without changing our daily routine too often. The kids like working in one subject area for longer lengths of time so they can focus and get the work done in one session while the information is fresh. Plus, they love the labs. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3561-rotated.jpg "IMG_3561 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3561-rotated.jpg)Every year, order the [Science Kit from Sonlight](https://blog.sonlight.com/mom-hates-science-experiments.html) because they are pure geniuses. Before them, if a science book said we need a button battery and I didn’t have one in the house…science was over. I am that kind of person. These kits were made with people like me in mind. Sonlight Science kits are the Hot Mess Momma’s dream come true. If you are using Apologia in the upper grades you will make you look like a genius, and your kids will get to do the science experiment in the book instead of you saying, “We just read it; what more do you need?” Because, who has a red balloon lying around, and where even are the “brads” in this place? # Multi-Grade Means Multiple Ways to School AND Be Together There is no limit keeping you from schooling your family if that is what you feel led to do. It is overwhelming at times, but so is any other job. This morning as I was working in the office, I heard a shuffle. I popped my head out to see one of my “littles” wrapped up in a blanket, wide-eyed from a bad dream. As I scooped her up, I tucked the blankets around her. As we snuggled on the couch, I was reminded why I was so thankful that I get to do this. I get to be here with my kids. I get to teach them, read with them, and live life with them every day. It is an extraordinary privilege, one we have willingly made many sacrifices for, and one I will continue to help support with any wisdom I can share with readers like you and your friends. What is the limiting fear that makes you think you CAN NOT homeschool? I would love to hear from you. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** A Day in the Life, curriculum, Education at Home, Homeschool, Homeschool help, homeschool tips, Literature Based Learning, Multiple Grades, tips --- ### [Top Personal Property Hack To End Your Kids Bickering](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-personal-property-hack-to-end-your-kids-bickering/) **Published:** July 23, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you listened to my talk at the Homeschool Super Hero Summit on July 25th, you heard about my most fantastic parenting hack to solve the never-ending job of the property manager. Are you sick of navigating who’s got whose personal property? I was, too! You need this toy storage hack in your life now. ## Time for Ownership of Personal Property When the kids were small, our playroom was full of communal property. Items like books, coloring materials, small toys, and blocks belonged to the house. We hosted bible studies, small groups, and friends, so sharing was highly encouraged. It was an attribute we actively worked on intentionally with our kids with the shared toy set-up. As the children grew older, they became more interested in individualized matters and needed to learn the value of personal property. The question was, where do we keep their items safe and away from little hands? ## Time to Give Ownership Back to the Kids My solution was a perfect toy storage hack. We purchased a large [toolbox](https://amzn.to/4bUNWbk) online and a [combination luggage lock](https://amzn.to/4cPGU9d) for each of the older children. The 20-inch toolbox was just enough size to keep their items protected without creating a war chest horde. The moderate size helped them decide what they valued, what they did not want to share, and what they were willing to allow others to play with. The best part was that keeping personal property safe was no longer my job. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Summer-Success-Ad-2.png "Summer-Success-Ad-2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success-guide-book)You can grab my Summer Success Course at half price during the conference for only $20## Do you have an excellent property management tip? Share it with me by sending me an email at There are so many other super tips for you online at the Homeschool Superhero Summit. It might be short notice, but you still don’t have to miss the [Homeschool Super Hero Summit](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls24-basic/61f96bf6ee0fc/) talk. I am sharing on 7/25 and 7/26, and you have 24 hours to watch the replay. With this one-time offer link, you can also [grab a VIP Pass](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls24-15min/) at a discount and get lifetime access to all the speakers’ sessions and access to the sessions in Podcast format for listening anywhere. One of my favorite speakers, Andrew Pudewa, speaks on Tuesday. Special Needs speakers share each day; Ellen Nash is talking about Dyslexia. I will share my toy storage hack and share about personal property in depth too. On Wednesday, Julie Ross will discuss Charlotte Mason Education, and I will discuss Building a Marriage to Last at 7 p.m. Planning and Organizing Your Homeschool on Thursday. Lynna Sutherland will cover Sibling Conflict at 1 p.m., and Bonnie Rose Hudson will share how to Teach Your Children About Persecuted Christians and Unreached People Groups. Are you looking for Transcript help? On Friday, Sarah McCubbing will walk you through creating a Transcript, and Jill Pike will cover Reading Help for Struggling Kids. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_7044-922x1024.jpeg "IMG_7044 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_7044.jpeg)Personal property Homeschooling Help and so much more at the SummitAt the Homeschool Superhero Summit, you will surely find a speaker who shares what you need most for your homeschool right now. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [A No Fail Guide to Your First Summer Homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-no-fail-guide-to-your-first-summer-homeschooling/) **Published:** June 8, 2022 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Getting your work done while the kids are at home this summer **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* How will you get through this summer vacation now that you are ALL home for your first summer homeschooling? You just got your school routine down, [and WHAM, summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/keep-your-peace-this-summer/)! The shift can have you wondering if you have made an enormous mistake. You are not alone; it isn’t only the new homeschool families affected. Summer is challenging for experienced homeschoolers as well. We’ve been homeschooling for years and are discussing jumping back into our school schedule if summer attitudes don’t improve. I’ll be able to help you with this quick summer homeschool guide article. ## **Summer: Time to ReEvaluate, Regroup and Plan** If you are wondering HOW in the world you are going to manage to reduce screen time or if the only reading your kids is going to do is in their video games, the concern is real. However, summer is not at all something to dread. It is the time you need to do necessary groundwork. Your first summer homeschooling is an excellent time to evaluate your previous year and prepare for the new school year. Now, you can create a game plan now so you can avoid repeating the same missteps you made last year. Could you give yourself some space to reflect this month? Use this article as you r summer homeschool guide. We have learned to thrive in the summer. It is now one of our more productive homeschool growth seasons. I always[ take courses for myself](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/) in the summer months. I work on my own writing projects in the summer. My goal is to write a bulk of my end-of-year blog posts in the summer. You get more work done with a clear Summer schedule. > *The kids are still here and need all the things, so how do we find a happy middle ground in the summer months?* > > – every NEW homeschool parent right now! ## **Create a Structured, Summer Learning Plan** School might be over, but as a homeschool mom, we know learning never ends. The best thing about summer is that learning can be way more exploratory, self directed and less structured. This means kids can do more on their own. Let’s face it, getting through your FIRST year homeschooling is hard work. No one wants to skip the break you need because the kids need help for an activity that I hoisted upon them when I was more energetic. Don’t over structure your first summer. Instead, use this perfect time to create a LIGHTER summer learning plan that give the family enough structure but still frees you up to reboot and get some [fresh perspective on your homeschool plan for next year. ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-the-best-resources-for-faster-homeschool-start-up/) Here are a few was I’ve handled the summer time in the past… ### Summer Homeschool Help in Your Schedule Look at your life and the things you need to accomplish this summer. Include your personal work schedule. What are packets where the kids need down time AND you need quite? We had quiet reading hour for most of our kids lives. Because we homeschool I choose to be in the presence of my children 24 hours a day 7 days a week for years! I am no saint, this mama needs some down time. Without regular breaks and pockets of peace, this is a crazy commitment. I needed to recharge during the day, and quiet reading hour helped me get the quiet time I need too. #### Create an established expectation As soon as the little ones went down for naps and the older kids were FOB; (flat on backs) a beautiful term I learned from YMCA camp. They know how to help young counselors survive ten campers, so why not use this idea for first year homeschooling moms too. The children know that for an hour they needed to be quiet. They could read, sleep and do whatever was quite for that time. Find a great book series like [The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/young-reader-adventure-hidden-scrolls/) or classics like Little House on the Prairie. We tried allowing LEGOs, but seriously, have you ever listened to a kids sift through a bucket of LEGOs for and hour? It a slow and tedious death I wish on no quiet hour. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2131DCC0-2274-4A9D-8FC3-9A5D2B2F53A7-1024x1024.jpeg "2131DCC0-2274-4A9D-8FC3-9A5D2B2F53A7 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2131DCC0-2274-4A9D-8FC3-9A5D2B2F53A7.jpeg)Your first summer homeschooling can seen like a step backwards for your goals without a good plan #### Schedule time for your work You can schedule your Zoom calls over this hour as soon as the kids are used to it. You might be asking if you can really get your kids to do it. I had a parent come over to pick up their child during this hour once and they were amazed at the silence in a house with ten kids. They asked me how I got all the kids to nap at the same time. I told them, honestly, it was my highest priority of the day. That is why it got done. If you are higher energy and want to pack the kids out and be on the go several days a week, plan for early bedtimes and get those kids good and tired. Savor a few hours of quiet to recharge in the evening. I get up extra early to do my work and let the kids sleep late. The point is, find the schedule that is already working in you life and maximize it. Keep shifting and fine tuning until you are feeling like everyone in the house knows what to expect for the day. This will help end the chaotic feeling summer can lead to. ### First Summer Homeschooling Ideas You can try a “Homeschool Light” version if you like. Introduce a few pages from a workbook like this one on [Lady Bugs](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/ladybug/) or a new Topic of the Week. Educational poster from the local teaching supply are cheap and lead to great conversations. Follow your kids lead too. Was there a topic that they were excited about this school year? Capitalize on their enthusiasm this summer. You can also capture the NEED for screens and use it to your advantage. There are plenty of online teaching programs, like [Reading](https://www.readingkingdom.com/?cref=38353839377c416d626572)[ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/reading-program-and-strategies-for-struggling-reader/)[Kingdom](https://www.readingkingdom.com/?cref=38353839377c416d626572), that offer Math, Reading and Spelling Lessons all in one place with game based learning. Kids often “win” play time on a short internal game. Often these programs seemed like a treat to my kids because they feel like a video game. We have used a handful of [online learning tools](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-23-tech-apps-to-help-you-homeschool-better-smarter/) over the years for many different skills. You can use them in your first summer homeschooling as an incentive or reward. #### **Life Skills** Summer is a great time to work on life skills. Look up a list of age appropriate life skills online and see if there are a few basic skills that you can cover this summer. Many can be learned in household chores, crafting, building a fort, painting an outside project. Get creative about how they can gain new skills. Let the kids give you input for summer break projects they might want to complete with their free time. Make cooking a priority. Do it younger than you think. One of the greatest blessing as I have transitioned to a working mom, is the fact that one of my older children likes cooking and knows how to make quite a few meals. She has helped me reach my personal goals and has a skill that will serve her in life. #### Independent Learning If you child is reading independently, they can take off on their own learning adventure. Head to the library and gather up a few books that cover their interest. I’ve created several independent unit studies for my kids as they developed a passion for a topic. It is easy to create a unit study of you own. We have covered [Math](https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/6PVYKIR4KD7A?ref_=wl_share), Pirates, Greek Myths and more short sessions lasting a few weeks. I created a [Government & Economics](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/econ-government-unit-study-for-multi-age-homeschool/) unit when could not find one to fit the age range I was teaching. My [Homeschooler’s Guide to Summer Success Course](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success) includes a full guided video lesson on creating a unit study from scratch and how it can help save time in your homeschool. Letting the kids lead and keeping the time frame short help keep interest high for the duration of the study. I don’t grade these. They are just an exploration. We hope to spark an interest or give a taste of a topic that is coming up. Or like with Greek Myths, I wanted to share a topic I love with my kids. #### Creative Writing Creative writing takes a great deal of time and focus. Can I make a confession? During the school year, when we have ALL of the subjects going, I find it really hard to do a good job on correcting or even keeping up on creative writing assignments. Summer is a great time to make a fun writing project. Have the kids [create a comic book](), write a short story or create a poem a day before they can use the screens. Be creative. We looked up creative [writing prompts online](https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Journal-Entry-or-Quick-Write-Bingo-3332046?st=bbfd999cc57ee888f7c4406cb4c0d832). I love TeachersPayTeachers as a printable resource. My oldest son loved the BINGO styled prompts. When it came down to why he hated writing as a subject we concluded he did not like choosing what to write. Prompts helped eliminate this issue and he could choose to do the ones that interested him first. NOT having to fill out the whole page (just getting a BINGO) felt like win. We have been using such things as the [My Year of Writing Journal ](https://timberdoodle.com/products/my-year-of-writing?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kitRDr) in our homeschool this year to win the creative battle. The kids like the fact that the spaces are smaller, the prompts are fun, clear and sometimes silly. You can read the whole post about [How to Make Creative Writing Fun in Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/do-this-to-make-creative-writing-fun-for-your-homeschool/). Timberdoodle also carries a [Draw Every Day](https://timberdoodle.com/products/how-to-draw-almost-every-day?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kit) book as well. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_7011.jpeg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FB-General-Graphic-4.png) ##### Are you Looking for support in your Homeschooling and Family life? ### 40+ Speakers are Lined Up Here is what moms are saying about the summit. “Homeschool Heroes Week is educating me on how to learn, adapt, and be more effective with my children. I was really look forward to you are enough. I really struggle with having confidence in my abilities.” **Cinda** “How to do assessments was so helpful. I almost started this year without any hard-core goals for.my.five learners!! I’m so thankful I have a month to remedy that. The peacemaking session was also so encouraging. I would listen to her every week if I could!” **Katie** Join us July 22-25th by clicking the link for your FREE Pass, and you will share in these encouraging comments “It helps keep me focused and shows me different options for curriculum and projects.” **Cheryl** [Grab Your FREE PASS to the Homeschool SuperHero Summit](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls24-basic/61f96bf6ee0fc/) ## **Year Round Schooling** Our first summer was a great break…for about three weeks. Without a weekly schedule the kids were going off the rails. We went from highly structured with our core curriculum to total freedom. Mostly because it sounded like the best option with a newborn, a 2 year old, a 3 year old, a preschooler, and a child in 1st grade and 2nd grade: this mama was tired. Instead of a three month long break, we ended up going back to our regular school year schedule. “Summer school” was filled with more free time than our regular school year. We buffered our summer schedule with more short breaks, a four day week and regular Friday field trips during the summer months. ### A Few Longer Breaks When school started back up after summer break, nothing changed for us. It was very peaceful for our large family to keep our routine and school all year long. If you choose to continue schooling year round. There are a few factors that you will need to know to determine your schedule. Check your state homeschooling laws to see how many days you need to record teaching and how those days need to be represented in your records to [comply with state law](http://hslda.com). In Iowa, I am required to school for a minimum of 148 calendar days in the school year. We school more days than that but we always show the recorded minimum to comply with state law. This is 30 roughly weeks of book work. Our kids grew up as Sonlight users (you can read my [Sonlight articles](https://blog.sonlight.com/author/amber-smith)) which use a 36 week schedule. We worked through the program as it was and logged our credits accordingly. ### Extra Time for a Subject or Interest You could look at this time as bonus school. When I started working away from home two days a week, I needed to make some changes to our schedule. I anticipated I would be working out of the home the year before, so we shifted to a four day school week. We also added online classes and continued with online math classes. These moves helped streamline our schedule and free up more of my time, but getting core work for two grades of kids was still a challenge. I ended up taking the advice from the [Timberdoodle Schedule](https://youtu.be/OmBlzmZ7asA) and pulling quite a few elective materials and holding them back (without and guilt, it was suggested by the experts at Timberdoodle afterall) for the summer season. This summer the kids can complete all the fun ELECTIVES that we didn’t have the time to focus on like we wanted to. Maybe you have a subject that keeps getting pushed off and doesn’t get the time it really deserves. Does your child has an interest that they really want to explore further, but the school year is full of “have-to-do” subjects that are a higher priority? Summer is your chance to dive deep into interests and desires your child has expressed all year. My son has been sharing ukulele videos on youtube with his cousin all year long. For summer I [ordered a Uke ](https://amzn.to/3Mrtz8U)and paid for 6 months of [Fender Play online lessons](https://www.fender.com/play). It was under $200 for everything. Consider it a class and keep your receipts for tax season. You might be able to [claim those expenses next April.](https://homeschooliowa.org/tax-credit-for-homeschooling-in-iowa/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Neutral-Brown-Floral-Illustrated-Printable-Checklist-791x1024.png "Neutral Brown Floral Illustrated Printable Checklist › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.canva.com/design/DAFDCGkka1Y/UFRPsi6I4xQNBaRT25Y6XA/edit?utm_content=DAFDCGkka1Y&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton)Summer Homeschool Guide to fun What Gets on the Fridge Gets Done [Grab your FREEBIE](https://expert-thinker-7811.ck.page/5b9e406611)### Summer Bucket List Are you afraid that if you continue school you will miss all the fun of summer? Download and fill out this [SUMMER FUN IDEAS](https://expert-thinker-7811.ck.page/5b9e406611) bucket list. Ask the whole family for input. You can find more information about the full 30 page Homeschooler’s Guide to Summer Success included in the full course at InDueSeason.net. #### **Things to Create:** an overnight blanket fort, treehouse, fairy garden, reading nook or a better learning space for next year. Decide on what things you have the resources to do now and which will need some planning. #### **Things to Eat:** In Iowa this is easily the list of foods we want to try at the Iowa State Fair. Is there a people group you learned about in your homeschool year and now you want to try the food you have read so much about. A quick Google search will turn up the closest places to try, or the ingredients you need to purchase to make authentic dishes at home. #### **Places to Go:** Your first summer homeschooling will have you seeing trips in a while new “educational” light. We had a season (back when you could afford gas) where we drive to a small town in Iowa every Sunday afternoon. We visited the square, any local historical sites and ate in a local Mom & Pop Restaurant. The history lessons were widely varied. We’ve been to the birthplace of John Wayne and Mamie Eisenhower and to the birthplace of wrought iron lampstands (or something). Think local and shop small. As independent restaurant owners, we loved supporting other small restaurateurs. The kids loved the sites and a new park every week. The places you go don’t have to be big ticket destinations. We are not Disney Land people, if you are, limit big items list to one or two big event and challenge yourselves to think small events. Often when we focused on big goals or events, we missed enjoying the in-between times. These are where we live the most so use this summer to maximize your right now time! #### **Big Event:** Do you have a Wedding your family is traveling to? Maybe the big family reunion or your family vacation. Create anticipation and include these things as part of your summer adventures. You might HAVE to go to your sisters third wedding, but your family can have a great time if you create the event with your family in mind. ### Avoid Summer Slide Year round schooling insures that your kids won’t [experience the 30% loss of learning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/avoid-summer-slide-with-reading-books/) that typically happens over a long summer break. If you stick with the year round homeschooling for a few years you will find that you can skip the first few chapters of any text book with a quick overview. Most of these are created with summer losses in learning in mind and the first chapters are full of review. Your students can always skip straight to the test and test out of the chapter to fully skip it and get on with NEW material. Reading in summer is my top advice for a summer homeschool guide. Sign up for reading programs and hang the local library calendar on your fridge. Make reading goals and choose a series to finish before summer’s end. It is more fun if the whole family is reading, so be an active example of the power of books. ### Allow More Free Play If you do school year round, you can confidently allow for more free play during the week. We typically school from 10am-2pm with NO evening work. The kids enjoy their mornings to play and explore outside, take care of animals and complete chores. I use this time for my own office work. With 22 weeks of NON-School time to distribute, we worked for three weeks and then followed with a week off. You can do six week and two weeks off if that is a better fit. This still leaves you with ten weeks of vacation and Holiday time to distribute into your calendar. ## **Educational Opportunities in Summer** There are plenty of activities to catch around your city this summer. You can look at FB events to find out what is going on around you. Here in Iowa, [Homeschool Iowa ](https://homeschooliowa.org/)members get an email update every two weeks with a calendar of events around the state. If it is your first summer homeschooling… #### Some more ideas at a glance - **National Parks** - **Summer Classes** - **Foreign Language** - **Board Games** ### Head to a National Park Plan a trip to the National Parks. They are in every state and often have plenty of done for you activities in Nature Centers and DNR Facilities. This is a great way to avoid burnout and keep the learning alive. The [Jr. Ranger program](https://www.nps.gov/kids/become-a-junior-ranger.htm) is a great way to engage your kids while visiting the parks. They offer badges and certificates of completion for participating Jr. Rangers. I wish we had done this when the kids were younger, as we travel very little and missed adding this to our Colorado trips when the kids were all young. ### Summer Classes You local YMCA, University Extension Offices and 4-H offer a wide arrange of camps for kids to attend. Check their sites to discover what is being offered where you live. Check the Science Centers, Children’s Museums and your local library for their summer kids programs. They are wonderful resources for homeschooling families. They work very hard to keep kids reading and learning all year long. ### New Language Your first summer homeschooling is a great time to play with a foreign language to your child’s learning. Elementary school is a great time to add languages, but because they are only required in high school they are often overlooked. Younger children usually learn languages very quickly and are adept at using technology tools to learn. We have used Rosetta Stone, DuoLingo, and app called Chineasy, and free classes through our library’s portal. All of these need a computer and internet access. If you live in a larger population, you can find a language club or co-op classes for live teaching. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_5378-1024x1024.jpg "Suji › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_5378-scaled.jpg)Games are a great resource for your first summer homeschooling### Board Games Games are school. They teach so many life skills. we use board games, [mini-games](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/here-is-a-valentine-gift-for-your-homeschoolers/) and even online games as a part of our school on a regular basis. There are game that cover the full range of topics that you cover in a school year. When we taught Government & Economics we used [Cash Flow for Kids](https://amzn.to/3xzLTZu) to solidify economic concepts the kids were learning. Having a game station set up with a variety of homeschool tools for the kids to grab and take to their seat has helped make transition times smoother. I like [MINI GAMES](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/) for a couple of reasons. First, I like that they are created for a single player, so there is no arguing about who has won while another child is trying to do long division. This also means that they get rotated through the kids, for some reason limited accessibility means it is more desirable. Secondly, most mini games have a broad age range for the challenges. My 13 year old enjoys them as much as our 8 year old. Games are smart, they teach thinking skills on the sly while it looks like kids having fun. I love that the kids think they are taking a break from learning but I know better. ## Maximize Your First Summer Homeschooling There is so much more to learn about maximizing your first summer homeschooling. The ***Homeschool Summer Guide*** is one click away! You’ll be able to grab my full course, the Homeschooler’s Guide to Summer Success. The course includes three 40-minute video lessons designed to help you maximize summer hours. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/3487d8c3-537d-400f-9cbc-a832fa737936-684x1024.jpg "3487d8c3-537d-400f-9cbc-a832fa737936 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success)The Summer Success course will help your students gain independence. You will organize your own personal work and add learning activities in the summer months with electives and unit studies. The 30 page workbook will help you implement every idea with guide pages to help you generate your own ideas. You also get the Summer Bucket list as a bonus. Have more fun and be intentional with you summer. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [11 Best Middle School Accountability Builders for Your Homeschooler](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/11-best-middle-school-accountability-builders-for-your-homeschooler/) **Published:** January 13, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* What are the best middle school accountability builders to support your children where they are at in their development? Middle schoolers are in the age of discovery. Academically, they are discovering where they excel and feeling the challenge of their weaknesses. Yet, they lack the capacity to foresee long term consequences of their choices. They need your support and encouragement more than ever. Here are some of the best ways we have help encourage autonomy, responsibility, and realtionship in our middle schoolers while homeschooling. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cute-Minimalist-To-Do-List-576x1024.png "Cute-Minimalist-To-Do-List › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cute-Minimalist-To-Do-List.png)## 1. Build Accountability By Personalizing Your Homeschool Adding classes to reflect your child’s interests and capitalize on their strengths can help your students “buy-in” with a measure of enthusiasm and interest. This middle school accountability builder establishes feeling of collaboration can go a long way with your homeschooler. When planning for the school year, ask your child for input about the topics they would like to study. Even if you are using a curriculum with a specific yearly plan, your child can choose their electives, add unit studies or choose a language study. Asking for input reinforces the fact that they are beginning to have a say in their education. In homeschooling, your students input is valued. Helping your child lead is a very important part of the transfer of responsibility that will come in the high school years. ## 2. Build Accountability Through Exploration of New Topics Middle school is a great age to explore new topics of study. You don’t have to make a big purchase to do it. Choose options like shorter unit studies to introduce new topics and event languages. We have had a great time studying Greek Myths with a unit study and used [Hey Andrew, Teach Me Greek](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/raise-smarter-kids-greek-homeschool/ "One Way to Make Sure You Raise Smarter Kids") to play with a foreign language in the elementary years. It was great to get to do this language study without the pressure of having to commit to a language for high school credit just yet. My youngest son learned a ton of Chinese characters using a game on my phone. [Tech tools like the ones in this article](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-23-tech-apps-to-help-you-homeschool-better-smarter/ "Top 39 Tech Apps to Help You Homeschool Better & Smarter") can make learning fun as a break of reward in the middle of the school day. When considering middle school accountability builders, remember that your middle schooler has less self-control than an adult and we are still prone to distraction. If games are a struggle or your child doesn’t have access to a phone, I am prone to give the advice to avoid them for as long as possible. ## 3. Rekindle a New Love of Learning Through Exploration & Play Your middle schooler might be done playing store and has given up her doll house, but they aren’t done playing. Learning through play looks different now. Think outside of the box for topics that will spark a desire to learn more. We love[ mini-games](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/ "Better School Day Transitions with Mini-Game Breaks") and have used then in many different ways throughout our homeschooling years. Connection and laughter are also strong middle school accountability builders. Look outside of the scope of “school” for learning. Is there a community theater? Does your child want to take music lessons? You don’t have to tell your middle schooler that riffing on the electric guitar is school, but you sure can count those lessons as a class and give them full credit! ## 4. Develop Accountability By Granting Your Student Independence. Our major role as parents is in helping our middle schoolers respond to the developing need for autonomy in healthy ways. A great place to start is by transferring the responsibility of following the daily schedule over to your child. Begin by having them read it and then tell you what they are to do for the day. Navigating the daily school schedule in middle school will lead to a high schooler who doesn’t need to ask you what to do when they have down time. Create this habit well and your child will become a favorite at University because they actually read the syllabus and then followed it! Trust me, I know this first hand with two of my kids who chose to pursue higher education. For your child to learn accountability in middle school you will need to also [include regular checking of their school work for completed assignments](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/help-my-homeschooler-get-organized/ "25 Ways to Help My Homeschooler Get Organized"). They are growing older, but your child will need your steady guidance. I have spoken to countless parents who were devastated because they caught their child cheating through math or slacking on a subject that they normally excel in. Too much freedom, without structured check points can be a recipe for shortcuts and bad habits. Create a check out routine and make sure your child knows what DONE looks like to you. Also, let them know ahead of time the limits they will have to accept if they done have their work completed. At our house, if work is not completed by friday afternoon, the kids aren’t available for weekend activities. It is no fun to have to set boundaries, but we need to be trustworthy, even when it is hard. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Middle-School-Accountability-2.png "Middle-School-Accountability-2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Middle-School-Accountability-2.png)11 Great Middle School Accountability Builders## 5. Maintaining Your Relationship is a Key Middle School Accountability Builder Often the culprit in the struggle between parent and child is found in the desire for independence. Middle schoolers are discovering their first taste of autonomy and possess a deep desire for a sense of self. This desire to be separate can lead a child to push their boundaries. This can manifest in poor choices in self directed studies and a neglect of responsibilities. Understanding that this is a natural and part of child development is vital in keeping your cool and responding with the love your child needs from you. Growing up is hard, but it is not personal. I can say that but you know as well as I do that as parents, we tend to make a lot of our teen’s actions personally. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/gratitude-journal-freebee-ipad-1024x1024.png "gratitude-journal-freebee-ipad › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Get our free gratitude journal ### When you sign up for updates & news > The single greatest gift homeschooling has to offer you is the relationship you develop with your child. > > – Amber J. Smith Make a habit of stepping back and listening with understanding. Take time to engage with your child outside of school hours. It may seem counter intuitive, but homeschoolers spend the greater amount of time with their kids in instructive mode. Make time for relationship building time as a counterbalance. ## 6. Deepen Your Personal Faith Habit If you understand that separation is a part of natural growth, you can help your child get back on track with your relationship intact. Maintaining a good relationship requires a ton of personal growth from you as the parent, but the benefits have never been more tangible. It can be hard to navigate this separateness, but helping your child develop a healthy view of their self and their role in the family is vital. Raising my children has often left me at the end of my own ability. That is ok, because that has led me to prayer, over and over. Create ways to strengthen your faith. Find yourself a faith community, a small group or circle of friends who can help you grow through every challenge. ## 7. Create Your Own Community Don’t be afraid to seek out new community. As you can imagine, as a mother of ten kids, many of my friends have been made through different sibling groups. Our playdate friends have changed over the years. We have moved churches and grow sweet friendships. In every stage, I sought out a community for support and encouragement for myself. I knew homeschooling was hard and that I was not going to do it well all on my own. When difficulty comes, having a community that you have committed to and loved well is the single greatest investment you can make. I see my adult children now building their own communities for support and fellowship and I am so thankful that they have other men and women to support them in life. I do not have the capacity to meet all of their needs alone. Their extended community brings me security. Show your children the value of friendships while they live with you. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Middle-School-Accountability.png "Middle-School-Accountability › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Middle-School-Accountability.png)## 8. Do the Deeper Work to Parent Well I did the deeper personal work needed to help me be the best version of myself, for my kids. Creating accountability for your pre-teen begins with healthy parenting skills. If you are seeing habits that you don’t like, seek out how to change them now. Live out what you believe in from of your children and allow them to see your struggles and failings. Ask for forgiveness when you fail and be generous with your forgiveness too. If you didn’t learn them in your family of origin, you are fortunate to live in a day and age where there are plenty of resources available to you. You can click this link to find [my favorite parenting resources](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mother-of-10-shares-top-5-time-tested-books-for-parenting/ "Mother of 10 Shares Top 5 Time-Tested Books For Parenting"). ## 9. Build Middle School Accountability with Age Appropriate Responsibility Share the load in household chores. I will go further in depth with this full article. The best way to avoid setbacks in work habits is to create clear expectations for each child with check out meetings for the end of the school week. Regular check-ins, like a chore chart, checklist or daily meet up appointments keep your child from getting too far behind. This also helps avoid the temptation to find shortcuts for unfinished work. You middle schooler can care for their own personal items. They can do their laundry, plan their breakfast and lunches, clean their room and share in household chores. Creating the perception of teamwork is important. If everyone is doing their part it is easier to build a spirit of cooperation. ## 10. Establish a Schedule & Regular Checkpoints to Build Accountability Don’t EXPECT what you don’t INSPECT. This is a great rule in homeschooling. Set regular meeting times to check in on instructions for the week and progress along the way. Never assume work is getting done [without a visual assessment](https://homeschooliowa.org/evaluate-homeschool-student-progress/). As adults, we tend to do the work that we know someone is going to check up on first. Our kids are no different. If you want to keep progress moving forward in your homeschool, set up regular check points to talk about their work daily. Let your kids tell you about what they are learning in your casual conversations too. Not every book need a book report. Sometimes a conversation about the struggle a character is going through is a much better way to dig deeper into a book or passage. ## 11. Lead With Cooperation As the parent, you need to remain present and involved. You child will value your homeschool as much as you do. If you find distractions are keeping your family from being focused, set a clear schedule that is realistic for you all. You can read about my phone and how it [didn’t make the homeschooling cut here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/show-love-by-giving-time/ "Show Love By Giving Time | In Due Season Vol. 1.2"). We school from 10am-2pm. In the twenty years that we have schooled at home we have been able to accomplish our goals and duties within this timeframe. Assess your family’s best working times. As they grew older, my teens prefered to work in the evenings. If you child has a suggestion for improving their homeschool, be open. We had all schooled together for years when my oldest asked to do school in his room. The little ones were distracting and he could concentrate better there. I agreed to a trial period if he agreed to keep checking in with me regularly. In the end it work great for him. Because I was willing to listen to him, his homeschooling experience was improved. We want our kids to cooperate with us but the truth is, cooperation goes both ways. When we lead with cooperation, we benefit the most. ## Follow along with the series. Next up… #### [Building Accountability By Partnering in Household Chores (the deep dive)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/chores-teach-accountability-your-homeschooler-need-to-succeed/ "Chores Teach Accountability Your Homeschooler Need To Succeed!") The Homeschooler’s Guide to Summer Success Course & Workbook $60 End this summer feeling refreshed and productive. You can create great work habits, help your kids learn to work independently and create more wiggle room in your homeschool day next year. - Three Convenient 40 Minute Video Lessons - 30 pg. Workbook Guide - Full of Lesson Support, Encouragement, and Fun Pages too! [Sign Up Today](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Summer-Success-Ad.jpg "Summer Success Ad › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Simple Ways Goals Help to Evaluate Our Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/simple-ways-goals-help-to-evaluate-our-homeschool/) **Published:** April 19, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Evaluating is only part of the year-end plan for our homeschool. Setting goals is the beginning, but the great news is this can be done at any time **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You can not improve what you do not measure. Goals are a clear standard to hold your progress against to reveal where you are making progress and where you might need more work. At the end of each school year, I take some time to gather up our workbooks, schedules, and my MOM binder full of written goals for my kids. While the school year is fresh in my mind, we evaluate our homeschool year. I want to get a fresh picture of where we are compared to the beginning of the school year. ## What if you don’t have any clear homeschool goals? You are actually in the right place. Evaluating is only part of the year-end plan for our homeschool. Setting goals is the beginning, but the great news is this can be done at any time. Reading about how to evaluate your homeschooling goals can help you to set clear, actionable, and meaningful goals, right now. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Homeschool-goals.png "Homeschool-goals › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Homeschool-goals.png)evaluate our homeschool with goals## What is the point of a goal in the first place? - Goals can help ensure that you are meeting state standards. - Setting specific goals can help you to be intentional in your planning for the school year - Goals offer a way to personalize your homeschool to individual students. - Written goals help you measure progress over short and long periods of time. # Tips for setting academic goals for homeschool parents ### Work from Accurate Information. If you are unsure what grade level your child should be placed in a curriculum, have them take a placement test provided in your curriculum website. These placement tests can be a helpful evaluation of your child’s education level. Make a note of where the test was taken from, or better yet, print two copies and place this in your MOM binder for the end of the year. Having your child take the same test at the end of the year should give you a good picture of their grasp of the materials and a general idea of their retention of the materials. You can order year-end testing materials from HSLDA or [your state homeschool support organization](https://homeschooliowa.org/resources/homeschool-testing/). We use these to satisfy our state requirement for dual -enrollment. These tests can be used for personal evaluation as well. The test scores provided by professional testing sites is easy to read. Taking the same test each year is a great way to gauge academic progress, even if you haven’t covered the same materials as the general population. ## Use Your Information Wisely Use the feedback from assessments and past performance to establish goals for the coming school year. Make [SMART](https://specialedresource.com/best-homeschool-goals/) goals for your child. Smart goals are – SPECIFIC, MEASUREABLE, ATTAINABLE, RELEVANT & TIMEBOUND. Your goals are great when they CAN be measured easily. What does “doing betting” in math look like? What would you consider an improvement? A measurable goal would be something like achieving an average of 80% on assignments and tests throughout the school year. While letter grades are a common measurement, a goal in science might be to complete at least half of the experiments in person and watch the remaining together on YouTube. If you want to see improvement keep samples of work from last year. Work from early in the school year can also help to show your child’s progress over the school year. When you evaluate, create clear feedback and give your child room to give you a self-assessment. Self-assessments are a great tool for the middle of the school year. Use your feedback from the homeschool year to create a plan for next year. What you learn from their progress can help identify your child’s strengths as well as weaknesses. Both should be accounted for in next year’s lesson plans. ## Set Personal Goals for Your Family Now Evaluation time is a great time to look at life skills that you want to improve or introduce to your family. Academic evaluations can get into the minute details and personal goals can look at the big picture. In this space, I evaluate things like family culture, sibling relationships, and our performance as homeschooling parents. In the goal-setting process, I might look at the social skills my children are developing. Do we need to take a more active role in the community to create opportunities to work on relationship skills? I consider my family’s needs for community and connection as well as our individual child’s needs. We might just need to make having FUN a goal in our homeschool. We could set a goal of having more field trips. A better goal would be to schedule one field trip for each month of the school year. This is a great small step toward success. Making goals that you feel like you can achieve will help you to want to stick to them. ## Grab Your Year End Cheat Sheet Subscribe to get our latest content by email. ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/eXdJhMDVEhFrVTXgD4SqTy/4cfdfN6Bow3ocYJDShbzWq) Subscribe ​ Are you buried in scraps of paper, wondering what to file, toss, or save? ​ With this checklist, you can end your homeschool year with a system that will organize and prepare you before the next school year starts. ​ ​ We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time. [Built with ConvertKit](https://convertkit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ### Set goals as a family is a good habit. Setting goals for yourself and your children is a great way to get everyone on the same page. Let your child see the goals you have written for the next school year. Make a mix of big and small goals. Make sure you split up your short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals are a good idea for young children because it helps them see the finish line. The whole family will be more willing to help achieve big goals when they understand that goals help all of you do your best. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Paper-Blog2.png "Paper-Blog2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Paper-Blog2.png)## Keeping it All Together I keep a MOM binder with a tab for each of my kids. In it, is a place for our long term and short term goals for the year and our homeschool vision. These pages help me to stay organized. They also help me to stay on top of our relationships. ### Are relationships important to you? They are the most important thing that homeschooling offers you as the leader of your family. Next week, I will be sharing about helping your children to mature in their faith as well as how we, as parents, can help our children when they are struggling. I’d love to personally invite you to an extraordinary online event that promises to breathe new spiritual vitality into your life – the Vibrant Home Life Summit! From April 29 to May 3, 2024, this five-day summit will ignite a collective passion for living a Christ-centered life anchored in God’s boundless love and grace. Throughout the event, you’ll be blessed to hear from renowned Christian speakers and authors as they share uplifting messages designed to strengthen families like yours in their faith journey. I am blessed to join them for the week. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Blog-General-graphic-4-1024x576.png "Blog-General-graphic-4 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Blog-General-graphic-4.png)## Each day offers its own inspiring theme: - Monday – Nurturing Family Bonds in God’s Presence - Tuesday – Living a Missional Life: Impacting the World as a Christian Family - Wednesday – Navigating the Cultural Agenda as Christians - Thursday – Evangelizing the Culture as a Christian Family - Friday – Maturing Into Christian Adulthood Through these powerful sessions, you’ll gain biblical wisdom, practical strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose for fostering a vibrant home life that brings glory to God in every area. Spaces are limited for this life-changing event, so we encourage you to [claim your spot today](https://vibranthomelife.thinkific.com/?ref=c2fa43). Let’s experience the abundant life Christ promises together as a community! We can’t wait for you to join us at the [Vibrant Home Life Summit](https://vibranthomelife.thinkific.com/?ref=c2fa43). Prepare to be inspired, equipped, and set ablaze for cultivating a truly vibrant life in Christ. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/30-Days-Course.png "30 Days Course › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Get Your Homeschool Back on Track Now Build accountability for the whole family starting with you. In 30 days you could be having a great homeschool year. You can lead with confidence and leave frustration behind for good. [Find Out More](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/30-days-to-homeschool-renewal) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [A Reason For Base Skill Builders](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-reason-for-base-skill-builders/) **Published:** April 11, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Does sloppy handwriting and careless spelling make you cringy? Me too! As a middle school mom, I’m here with tips on getting the right tools to rebuild base skills like handwriting and spelling with daily drills. A Reason For Handwriting and A Reason For Spelling make it easy for all of us to build base skills back in no time. At the end of the school year, we like to walk through some evaluation steps. You can’t assess what you haven’t measured. I will share my homeschool evaluation tips next week, but I want to discuss where to find a great base skill builder for handwriting and spelling if you are like me and have some room for improvement. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6437-1-1024x1024.jpeg "Natural › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6437-1-scaled.jpeg)Natural## What are Base Skills? Two base skills in homeschool life are handwriting and spelling. You use these skills every day. Base skills need to be worked on constantly in the formative schooling years. Even a little time away from these habits can reveal a decline in previous skills. Whether in your year-end evaluations or any time in your school year, you might discover that your older child needs to remediate their handwriting skills. Is your child turning in text-styled homework answers? As homeschooling parents, we can let things slide for a season. Spelling and Handwriting are common daily practices that can fall off the radar as your child nears middle school age. I’ve done it too. After all, my kids are in middle school; do they need to practice handwriting? ### You know if they do! When you know, you want a tool that will help AND one the kids will want to use each day. This year, handwriting declined as we moved to more reading material and fewer workbooks. You might see the same thing if you move to more computer-based programs. I need a reliable way to help my older kids get handwriting practice to keep their skills sharp. I knew we needed to add base skill builders for handwriting that didn’t feel like busy work or have too much drill. ## When things are off course, I recommend asking, “When was the last time this was going well?” - What was your routine like? - What tools were you using? - Are there any major differences going on now? - What do we need to focus on the most? - How we get back to EXCELLING as quickly as possible? As I asked those questions, I had to think back to our first round of homeschoolers. I was a much stricter homeschool mom. It was my first turn at homeschooling, and I was definitely less distracted. Now, I am working, sharing homeschooling duties with my husband and we have older kids. No matter what has changed about our homeschool, my care about how my kids learn has not changed. I want them to build their base skills and grow each and every year. In our evaluation, I decided we needed to focus on handwriting and spelling the most. I thought about what worked best for us in the past. When we first started homeschooling, I did a ton of research on handwriting. There were several programs to choose from, but after looking at the options, I chose **[A Reason For Handwriting](https://email.areasonfor.launchpreneur.org/c/eJxs0c1q3DAUBeCnsXYy-rMlLbRICVNIZ9FJUpiuBv1c2Sa25crypNOnLx5KySLby_3gcI6_DMEM59OzGKXnb7--5den76zrMgrGkdZZicBQSZlqNZUKwWSH8TLButoOdvv85XB8PL7Q24_NNRx-Pp0eX_99ldsC5j3ltzim9w-3nQnGNNPa4lYyi0UrJVZKOhx428aW21ap8JGsBZbd8aiBtyJgJ6XGgseAnbMUE8U1E5QrST2C-TrkNE8wF7PkFDZfhjSj3nBFHVOBeKa8jERrxwAsFU2jafREocEwwgQRlDLSaK5qpakLDScuOhc1bSpBbAa7pjmmXI92m32_ZJhhy3XKHRpNX8pS8YeKHSp2mLq-1D5V7GAnB5kRNKZ75V_F1N1G-ee0_H54IfoM5-MVTVD6FIxdBpTNHVSCMELiMHeQVzuHkmCtfZrQmrbswdwbwsN6xXvPkFExPk2XTwctBsrl_xzF7Ek-i_E3AAD__xuurfU)** for the kids. As a new homeschooling parent, I liked that a teaching guide was available. After all, I had never taught handwriting before, and since Handwriting is a base skill, I wanted to do it right. ## A Reason For Handwriting has a Unique Setup. The books begin with instructions according to the level. Letters are introduced, and their construction is modeled on a pre-lined paper for the student. After the instruction portion, the lessons repeat for four days of practice, leading to a final draft page. The final draft page is surrounded by outlined black-and-white artwork your child can color in. This final day’s page can be colored and displayed, but we love to send it to distant family members. The teaching guide has a ton more suggestions. We [sent it to our legislators before Capitol Day](https://homeschooliowa.org/letters-to-lawmakers/), to pastors, and to friends who loved receiving it in the mail. The feedback the kids got from their letters of encouragement helped them to care about the work they were doing. It truly gave them **A Reason For Writing.** ## If a tool IS working in your homeschool, don’t change it. Since **A Reason for Handwriting** was a great choice to help us get back on track for handwriting, I jumped at the opportunity to use A Reason For Spelling to help my middle schoolers get some spelling practice before summer. Spelling words are challenging, but they are repeated each day of the week to gain mastery. The giving of the tests is quick, and we check them right away, so there is NO correcting for me to do later. I like that a lot! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6435-1024x1024.jpeg "Natural › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6435-scaled.jpeg)A Reason For Handwriting is a Base Skill Builder## What I like about using a program from the same publisher… - Using a familiar format means less time getting set up and learning another program. - A Reasons daily drills help build core skills quicker - Teaching Guides are a great resource for me of me older students to stay on track - Workbooks for the win in [taming the paper beast!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/easy-tips-homeschool-paper-organization/ "Easy Tips to Reduce and Manage Homeschool Paper") - Biblical foundation in both books - Parallell lesson formatting for maximized retention - The kids create a chain of actions: do one – do the other ## Base Skill Builder: **A Reason For** & a Discount Every year, we need to sharpen some base skills. If you need help getting back on track with Handwriting or Spelling, you can use my code **Amber20** for 20% off of your order when you click [here](https://email.areasonfor.launchpreneur.org/c/eJxs0c1q3DAUBeCnsXYy-rMlLbRICVNIZ9FJUpiuBv1c2Sa25crypNOnLx5KySLby_3gcI6_DMEM59OzGKXnb7--5den76zrMgrGkdZZicBQSZlqNZUKwWSH8TLButoOdvv85XB8PL7Q24_NNRx-Pp0eX_99ldsC5j3ltzim9w-3nQnGNNPa4lYyi0UrJVZKOhx428aW21ap8JGsBZbd8aiBtyJgJ6XGgseAnbMUE8U1E5QrST2C-TrkNE8wF7PkFDZfhjSj3nBFHVOBeKa8jERrxwAsFU2jafREocEwwgQRlDLSaK5qpakLDScuOhc1bSpBbAa7pjmmXI92m32_ZJhhy3XKHRpNX8pS8YeKHSp2mLq-1D5V7GAnB5kRNKZ75V_F1N1G-ee0_H54IfoM5-MVTVD6FIxdBpTNHVSCMELiMHeQVzuHkmCtfZrQmrbswdwbwsN6xXvPkFExPk2XTwctBsrl_xzF7Ek-i_E3AAD__xuurfU). Are you ready to wrap up your school year? Here are some more tips to [help your homeschooler get organized, too.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/help-my-homeschooler-get-organized/ "25 Ways to Help My Homeschooler Get Organized") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [How To Develop Accountability For Students - Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-develop-accountability-for-students-homeschool/) **Published:** November 21, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** In this five part series, I will share the habits and tasks to develop accountability for students from toddlers to teens **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Almost every time I have been frustrated with my homeschool, it was my own doing. By having unrealistic expectations, or being underprepared, I contributed to my own difficulties. I have learned to take an honest look at my role as leader. If your kids are behind, it is on you. I understand that that is hard to hear, but I give myself the same honest talk. The good news is that you are in charge of you. You can make the changes you need to support you kids in the way they need and deserve. Most parents who follow me here at 200 Fingers & Toes are using the tips and tools to equip them in areas where they are feeling less than confident. I’ve been there too. I depend on the resources I receive from the wise women and men who have homeschooled before me. Now, I am doing the same for new homeschoolers. I speak about, building relationships, creating accountability and making space for your personal goals. When I prepare a workshop, I make sure they are actionable. I create supportive documents and an action plan to help keep you on track. When you need more structured help, I’ve created courses to help get your whole family back on track. You can find them in the courses tab above. Don’t miss out on the help you need the most. **Subscribe now to get every part of this 5 part series about creating accountability in your homeschool.** ### Part 1 – Homeschooling is Building Skills for Life ## Am I too late? Ideally you would begin to establish independent work skills from early childhood through the late elementary years. It takes a lifetime to become a well rounded and functional adult. Helping your children become accountable will actually ask a great deal from you. Successful students begin with us as parents. > ### I have a talk that is titled, ” It everything is not working, it is probably me!” > > – Amber J. Smith Are you [new to homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teens-are-learning-new-skills-better-with-high-school-electives-homeschool/ "New Skills Faster with High School Homeschool Electives")? Do you have a tween or high school student that you are starting on the homeschooling path together? Take heart, many adults learn the skills they need to be successful in life well after school is over. You might find areas you need to learn with your kids. After twenty years of homeschooling, I can confirm that this is a great deal of my homeschool experience. Consider it the “on-the-job-training.” I have learned most of the skills I needed to parent my children on the job. You can get the skills you need to have a great end of the school year. I didn’t have great modeling as a child. I did have a mother who found Jesus, admitted her shortcomings and always thought the highest for me. You can begin with acknowledging that you will be learning how to do this together. Let your teen know that you are going to make mistakes and they will to. Promise to give each other grace and learn as you grow together. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Accountability-Blog1.png "Accountability Blog1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Accountability-Blog1.png)Develop Accountability for Students with grace ## How do you develop accountability for Students to do their school work at every age? In this series, I will share what habits and tasks develop accountability for students of every age. If you have toddlers to teens, stay with me because the same patterns apply. It is much easier to make the transition if the foundation is laid early, but not impossible to build at any time. If you’re reading this, you care about helping your child be successful. That alone is the first factor in your success. I will give you all the tips I can to help. In this series, I will share a post for elementary age, middle school and high school. You can use the links to jump right to the post that benefits you homeschool the most first, but if you are starting out, each age will have ideas you will want to implement. Know a struggling homeschooling parent? Share a post with them and encourage them today. We need our community to help us have a great homeschool. ## What makes me qualified to give you my advice? We have walked out every bit of advice I share with the ten kids in our immediate care. My husband and I have been in children’s ministry since the early years of our marriage, and childrens church leaders, youth leaders and jr. high teachers. Some of my best friends are fifth graders. Kids have always been a part of my life. With ten kids of our own, we have five times the experience of the national average family! What I know is this: building relationships is the greatest gift homeschooling has to offer you. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Accountability-Blog2.png "Accountability-Blog2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Accountability-Blog2.png)Develop Accountability For Students at Every Age with A Good Plan and Hand On TimeDon’t get distracted from your role as the **central relationship builder** in your child’s life. There as so many demands academically, and those demands canmake it easy to get misdirected, frustrated or discouraged. My goal is to help you make relationship building a regular part of your homeschool. In the end, I hope that after years of homeschool life, you experience Friday night dinners like ours. With your grown kids, older and younger siblings engaged and connected, grandkids running all over the place, it’s chaotic, loud and looks a lot like what I always imagined love looks like! Follow along for the next instalment of this series, **[Best Early Elementary Habits to Develop Accountability in Your Homeschooler](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/best-homeschool-habits-for-developing-accountability-in-early-elementary/ "Best Homeschool Habits for Developing Accountability in Early Elementary")**, [Accountability Habits for the Middle Schooler](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/11-best-middle-school-accountability-builders-for-your-homeschooler/ "11 Best Middle School Accountability Builders for Your Homeschooler"), and [Chores Teach Accountability That Your Homeschooler Need To Succeed!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/chores-teach-accountability-your-homeschooler-need-to-succeed/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Accountability, parenting, Study Skills --- ### [Chores Teach Accountability Your Homeschooler Needs To Succeed!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/chores-teach-accountability-your-homeschooler-need-to-succeed/) **Published:** February 10, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Household chores teach accountability and are a vital tool in every household, but are even more important structurally in a homeschooler’s home. It is highly likely that one parent is choosing to leave full-time employment to homeschool, but now more than ever, many parents are working and homeschooling. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Household chores teach accountability and are a vital tool in every household, but are even more important structurally in a homeschooler’s home. It is highly likely that one parent is choosing to leave full-time employment to homeschool, but now more than ever, many parents are working and homeschooling. Doing this takes a family working as a team to get all of the chores done. Chores are so much more than sharing the workload of the home though. Chores are one way you can help your child grow in confidence, and develop a sense of meaning and community. Let me share a few ways chor00s help homeschool students in life. ## Chores are Meaningful for Your Child --- ### Chores teach your child that they are a member. Kids want to be a vital member of the family. Chores help each member feel like they play a vital role. Chores can also help your child to learn to empathize. It is easy to throw dishes into the sink over and over, but when they serve the family as dishwashers for the week, they quickly learn how frustrating this habit can be. ### Chores help you child feel confident. Your children are far more capable than you might expect. In a big family, independence is fostered early by default. As a mother, I wanted my children to be confident and self assured. Giving them jobs like ordering and paying for their own snacks at the counter, making peanut butter sandwiches for their friends, or having an older child run into the store for bread help them learn life skills. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Chores-Community.png "Chores-Community › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Chores-Community.png)Chores Teach Accountability and Lead to a Sense of Community### Daily chores teach accountability and responsibility. We have some chores that are non-nagging chores. For instance, in our house, the kids do their own laundry. They do so from about the age of eight. I don’t nag about laundry. If they have plans and their laundry is not done, they don’t get to go. If there are no towels, they don’t get the shower they planned on. Whenever I can, I let the natural consequences of their actions be the teacher. They can be mad at me for asking them to do laundry, but when they don’t have pants because they didn’t get to the wash in time, the target is not on mom. They begin to learn that they are responsible for their own personal care. The same goes for showers. (to an extent..a mom has her limits) It only takes a few instances of a tween being left at home to shower because they failed to “remember ” that they were asked to take one the night before. Instead of nagging, I let the chores teach accountability! Are you falling into the nagging habit? I hope you are encouraged to make a quick reset. Need more help with big parenting changes? You can find the Love & Logic Institute teaching [HERE](https://www.loveandlogic.com/pages/about-us). I am not affiliated with them in any way. Their teaching helped me lead my family with less anger and frustration and more real life problem solving. ##### Ready for More Skills to help you ### 40+ Speakers and Leaders Join the Life Skills Leadership Summit week and add real skills for your whole family. This event is FREE to watch the daily workshops for some of the TOP homeschool speakers, leaders and committed parents like you. I’ll be speaking about preparing your kids for independent work. Grab your PASS learn with me… [GRAB MY FREE SEAT](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/lsls24-vip/) ## Chores don’t have to be a battle ground. --- ### You teach people HOW you want to be interacted with. Can you sit with that thought for a minute. Since learning this, I stopped yelling and nagging. (for the most part, as I am still a human and fail on the regular) When the kids mess up, and they DO, I simply reply with, “Not a problem.” When my kids mess up. I don’t get mad. We skip the yelling. I simply let them know that I am really bummed that they will have to miss out, but I hope they remember next time. I learned this great phrase from Jim Fey from the Love & Logic Learning Center. Another is, “ I am sad for you,” said without being condescending, but with sincerity. Following up with keeping my word is hard, but raising a spoiled brat is harder. I love my kids enough to disappoint them a few times, to help them learn about managing their personal needs and doing chores in a timely manner. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Chores-Battle.png "Chores-Battle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Chores-Battle.png)Chores teach accountability and teamwork### Make Doing Chores More Fun Provide all of the tools to do the job well. A few years back I joined Grove.co for natural cleaning supplies and bleach free feminine products. They had these great little buckets with a handle. I ordered one for each bathroom. I ordered a tub and tile cleaner, toilet cleaner and a spray bottle for some general purpose concentrate. It revolutionized the participation level of bathroom cleaning. Kids love tools. Look at the chores you are asking your kids to do. What are some obstacles to getting them done? Sometimes it is something as simple as a step stool or crate for supplies that makes the job easier to do. In our house sweeping is on the chore list. We are always doing laps in the house looking for a broom. Frustrating! Buying a broom for each level and one for the kitchen made a huge difference. Sick of chore charts? Read this article about how [one large family navigates thier chore system](https://blog.sonlight.com/chore-charts.html) on the Sonlight blog. (my curriculum for the last 20 years) ## Chores Teach Accountability, but it isn’t all hard. Got a load of towels? Gather all the kids and have them fold while you read. Have older kids read while you do lunch prep. Being present can make doing a chore so much easier for your child. I have adopted saying, “let me help you” and jumping in. My hope is that the phrase catches on with each child and they are more willing to lend a hand to myself or others. Don’t wait, grow resentful or take on all the household tasks. Skip the mom guilt, knowing that chores teach accountability to your kids in ways words just can’t. We lead by example in the middle school years and the better example we are of a willing heart and cheerful spirit, the more likely our kids will pick this up! ## Are you looking for more ways to help your child grow into an accountable and responsible teen? #### You can read the whole Accountability Series on the blog. [Building Accountability in Elementary Ages](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/best-homeschool-habits-for-developing-accountability-in-early-elementary/ "Best Homeschool Habits for Developing Accountability in Early Elementary") [Accountability Habits for the Middle Schooler](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/11-best-middle-school-accountability-builders-for-your-homeschooler/ "11 Best Middle School Accountability Builders for Your Homeschooler") Thank for following along! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, parenting --- ### [A Lasting Valentine's Day Gift for Homeschoolers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/here-is-a-valentine-gift-for-your-homeschoolers/) **Published:** December 31, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for homeschoolers that won’t get eaten in ten minutes? One that might last the rest of the school year and provide a little entertainment too. I love giving mini-games to my kids for holiday celebrations. Your children can leave a silly love note and have a couple of rounds of creative word play with [Candygrams](https://timberdoodle.com/products/candygrams?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kit), the colorful crossword game. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_0647-1024x685.jpg "IMG_0647 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_0648-1024x685.jpg "IMG_0648 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Don’t let the packaging fool you. This game isn’t just for younger kids, even if it is recommended for ages seven and up. It came as part of Timberdoodle’s 11th Grade Complete Curriculum Kit and we are using it in our transition time rotation. Do you have transition times in your school day where you end up spending more time gathering the kids back to the school area? Games are a great answer, but Monopoly can take the whole day. Mini games are the answer for us. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IQ.FB_.jpg "IQ Circuits for Fun Breaks › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Making Transitions In Your Homeschool Day Better ## A Better Way to Keep the Kids the School Room [read the full article ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/) ## Holidays Are a Great Time to Add Games Valentines Day is a fun day for our family. We always make little gift bags with a couple of self care items like face cleansers, mini masks, hair masks, lotion, chapsticks or fuzzy socks. We leave out paper and pens so that all of the kids can leave a note to their siblings telling them what they like best about them. I love seeing them share the things they see that are unique in one another. As a words of Affirmation person, this is one way that I teach the kids to speak my language in a practical way. ## Skipping the Candy With a big family I try to grab something that can be for the whole family. Games are a way for the older kids to play with the younger kids and spend some intentional one-on-one time. Valentine’s Day is a great day to give mini-games to the whole family. Candy is great, but I try really hard to help the kids eat healthy and make good food choices. We do have a little candy for everyone, but I prefer to purchase something that can last a little longer. That is why Candygrams caught my eye to set aside for a Valentine’s Day game. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_0649-1024x685.jpg "IMG_0649 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Holiday Fun in the Transition Basket As a homeschooler, we are susceptible to letting holidays pass by with little to no recognition in the school day. I am guilty of this. After all, we can get on with the celebrating as soon as math is over. I am not so sure the kids always see it that way so, I am trying to add more celebrating as a part of our school day. It might also be my awareness to [avoid falling into second-wind parenting](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/second-wind-parenting/) mode. Repeating all the things we have done before with two other batches of kids can seem redundant sometimes. I’ve have to plan ahead a little more with the youngest kids. That is why I am always on the lookout for a new mini game to add to our homeschool game basket. These let us celebrate the holiday during school and ### Giving for the Whole Family - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/59907681303__08D7BEA4-86AD-4FC7-A563-86E94A9EE382-scaled.jpg "59907681303__08D7BEA4-86AD-4FC7-A563-86E94A9EE382 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_5745.jpeg "IMG_5745 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_5378-1024x1024.jpg "Suji › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3136.jpg "Shine › 200 Fingers & Toes") Giving gifts for the whole family started as a way to save money when we were young parents. Between a mortgage and a business there was little in the way of extra funds. On holidays I packed up little individual gift bags with a personal stash of candy and a gift and for a bigger impact fixed up a big basket of gifts for the whole family. These usually included a big bag of chips or snacks, play-dough, craft supplies and a game. The games lasted longer so were worth spending a little more for. The rest of the basket usually didn’t cost more than $10 and everyone enjoyed getting to play together. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Best Homeschool Habits for Developing Accountability in Early Elementary](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/best-homeschool-habits-for-developing-accountability-in-early-elementary/) **Published:** November 27, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Elementary student accountability can begin with growing independent work skills. Supportive instruction can go a long way in teaching your child to think for themselves and make great choices each day. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## How do you keep your children moving forward in their school work? Ideally you would begin to establish elementary student accountability before school even starts. Elementary student accountability can begin with growing independent work skills. It takes a lifetime to become a well rounded and functional adult, but supportive instruction can go a long way in teaching your child to think for themselves and make great choices each day. Helping your children become accountable will actually ask a great deal from you. Teaching the elementary student accountability begins with the parent. We have to do our part by being prepared, having your materials on hand and organized. Write and [maintain a schedule of expected school work and assignments](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/free-schedule-download-huge-home-teaching-resource-list/). Communicate these in a regular meeting time. Being prepared does not have to take all week. Know yourself. If you are a planner, schedule some time each weekend to build a clear plan for the next week. I am not a planner. Knowing myself means purchasing a curriculum that does ALL the planning for me. I help execute the plan. Get the tools you need to help you be the most prepared for the week as possible. You children can not be held accountable for work of you can’t clearly give assignments or are inconsistent about deadlines. With the right tools and scheduled planning time, you will fall into a pattern. You are never too far behind to teach your child skills. Take heart, many adults have learned the skills they need to be successful in life after they are grown. You might find that there are areas that you need to learn right along with your kids. After twenty years of homeschooling, I can confirm that this is a great deal of the homeschool experience. I will share what habits and tasks taught our elementary accountability well with our family from the beginning. If you have teens, stay with me because the same patterns apply. It is much easier to make the transition if the foundation is laid early, but not impossible to build at any time. If you’re reading this, you care about helping your child be successful and I will give you all the tips I can to help. ## For your elementary students… ### Create clear routines to follow Children thrive with patterns, because they know what to expect. We use the early years to develop good habits. Personal hygiene, stewardship of property, and attention to their surroundings are all vital to academic success. Really, is brushing their teeth going to help my child with spelling? The purpose of these personal care tasks is developing the sense of what is expected of them each day and transferring the responsibility of those things to the child as they develop. For young children, that could be the simple task of brushing their teeth when they get up. We made a simple sign for the wall at the bottom of the stairs. The sign listed tasks the kids are responsible to complete BEFORE coming downstairs. Often, if these tasks didn’t get done before we started the day, they didn’t get done at all. ## To solve this problem, we made a sign… [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Morning-Checklist.png "Morning-Checklist › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Morning-Checklist.png)### Create Expectations for the Stewardship of Property Clothes go in the hamper! Dishes in the sink! Not only will your life be easier if your child learns this skill, but they will carry this self awareness into adulthood. Self awareness begins in childhood. As your child develops a sense of separateness from you, their parents, they also begin to learn about their connection to the world around them. They discover that they have an effect on the spaces they inhabit. This is a very hard lesson to learn if you (the parent) keep picking up after them. You are a vital agent in helping your child see their interactions with their environment. When they make a mess, you can help them a great deal by assisting them in cleaning it up. Give great, clear instructions. Do it cheerfully. The attitude you model while carrying out these tasks, is the pattern your child will repeat. ### Lead By Example For years, I helped clean up the playroom at the end of the day. I would hand each child a bucket of bin and ask them to gather the corresponding toys. It would have been much faster to sweep in and tidy myself, but I knew there was a longer game being played out in the chaotic jumble of toys. I didn’t want to be cleaning the playroom, or their bed rooms for that matter, for the rest of my life. This clean up time was a training practice. I was teaching them how to break up the task of cleaning up a cluttered space. By giving them the skills to navigate the playroom, they are able to clean their own room and now as adults their own homes. ### Break Large Tasks into Steps Help your elementary students learn to follow up on larger tasks, by breaking these tasks down into steps. Cleaning up the school room can be a daunting task. Whereas, gathering your workbooks when school is done is a task that can add up to a clean school room. Give your elementary student bite sized tasks. When you introduce a chore, go over every step it takes to get the chore done. We start with what DONE looks like, so your kids know what you expect. Begin with a clean room, bathroom, kitchen and show what part they have in keeping it that way. Simple tasks, like clothes in hamper, dishes on the counter of in the dishwasher as great starts to building accountability. We had a mud room that was a disaster area. No matter how much I nagged the kids to put things away, it didn’t get any better. One day I took a picture of the room with all of the coats hung up and the shoes in order. I printed the pictures and hung them over the coat and shoe area. It wasn’t perfect, but there was a big improvement when they could SEE what the space should look like. Help your child to meet your expectations by showing them what you expect clearly, step by step. These are the formative years for learning life skills we as adults can take for granted. ### Self Direction in the Elementary Homeschool Personal tasks are the best way to help your child develop responsibility. As the parent, you are teaching the majority of the homeschool material in the early years. You should be playing a very hands-on role to nurture confidence and to be able to make corrections on foundational skills. So where can you child learn to be responsible **without** your oversite? One way to develop independence and accountability in elementary students is to keep a list of things your child can do when you are occupied. Print the list in large letters and put it in a sheet protector or laminate it. I have also slid this sheet into the front cover of our daily work binder. Develop the habit of referring to the list when your child does not know what to do next. By doing this, you transfer the answering of the question to the schedule and not “you.” #### Choices for Your Elementary Age Child - Independent Reading - Handwriting - Online Learning Games (Reading Eggs, Brilliant, Phonics Museum) - Craft Kits (Kiwi, CodeWizard, CrateJoy…) - Kumon Skill Learning Workbooks - [Sonlight History Kit Activities](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-history-tools-for-multiple-learner-families/ "Hands-On History Tools for Multiple-Learner Families") - Poetry Books - Mini-Games ## Establish What to Do When You’re Unavailable Let your child know that if they reach a stopping place in their work and you are not available to meet with them for instruction time right away, they should do one of the listed activities. This helps your child in several ways. First, they learn to manage their productive time by continuing to work during school hours. Secondly, they also develop autonomy, by choosing what activities they want to do from the list. Allowing them to choose helps to give your child a feeling of contributing to their homeschool day. By setting clear expectations for them, you will help them move from one task to another with confidence. It can be hard to identify the level of instructions you child needs to do a task independently, but assume it is way more than you think. Being clear with instructions helps you in the long run. ### Don’t Let Your Child Guess about What to Do Next Getting frustrated with a child who has had to guess what to do next, breaks down trust and causes them to choose inaction over being wrong. I had a student that tested my patience in our homeschool. Every time I spent time instructing another student, he would disappear. As I looked deeper, I acknowledged that I had a lot to do with the problem. He didn’t have instructions for what to do when he was done and i was not ready to help him. Much of my search for [mini-games](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/ "Better School Day Transitions with Mini-Game Breaks") and craft kits was for him. Giving him choices and clear instructions about what to do next helped him move forward throughout the school day. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Elementary-Checklist-2.png "Elementary-Checklist-2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Elementary-Checklist-2.png)## Find Ways to Create the WIN for All of You Made your day a good day. One habit I have created is to look for ways to have a “win” every school day. Adding things you know your child will love is a great way to add this element into your school day. Other ideas can be ending school early, especially when you see the day is stretching everyone’s patience or choosing to spend school time on a favorite elective. [Building relationships](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/one-tool-to-keep-your-homeschool-headed-in-the-right-direction/) is the underlying thread of our homeschool. We try to include learning through play as a major part of early elementary school. Including games, imagination and manipulatives help you connect in homeschool time and give you more chances to smile at your child. Smile every day. It seems like a simple instruction, but it is a good practice. School days can be hard sometimes, but teaching your child these accountability builders will be worth it in the long run. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** tips --- ### [Fall Into Learning: October 10-13th](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/fall-into-learning-october-10-13th/) **Published:** October 4, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gratitude-Mac-Up-2.png "Gratitude Mac Up › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Beat the Winter Blues ## with Encouragement Winter happens everywhere and homeschoolers feel the changes in every way. The shortened days, cold weather and the looming busyness and distractions of the Holiday season can leave a parent feeling stressed. The Fall Into Learning Summit was created to encourage you and help you overcome all the challenges that fall blows in! [Get my Free ticket](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/) ## Sign up for the email list and get a FREE printable Bucket List with 20 Activities to Beat the Winter Blues Subscribe [Built with ConvertKit](https://convertkit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ##### At the Fall Into Learning Summit ## will be your guide *through the seasonal transition into autumn while offering tried-and-true solutions from more than 50 experienced homeschooling moms. And get you a whole heck ton of fall resources to boot!* - The summit will run from October 10-13th, 2023 - Each day will be packed with amazing speakers who are ready to help you homeschool into the fall and winter seasons - We’ve got a fun and BRAND NEW community that’s off Facebook where you’ll connect with other homeschool moms, ask the speakers questions, get doorprizes and enter giveaways, and whatever else we come up with! [ Sign me up for my FREE pass today. ](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/) ###### *I was up at 3 am listening. I don’t want the summit to end. This was an awesome week and I don’t want the summit to end!* ##### Danielle R . ### Courage With over fifty speakers, you are bound to connect with the warm, kind, engaging homeschool leaders and professionals with messages for you of encouragement and hope. ### Holiday Help Do the holidays throw your homeschhol groove off? Are you having trouble keeping Christ central in the business? The guest speakers are sharing time tested truth from the homeschool trenches with years of experience to save you years of struggle! ### Hope October 12th will focus on Faith & Gratitude. Be blessed with a homeschool community that encourages faith with providing practical ideas for increasing gratitude at home. - [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vertical-1.png "Vertical 1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/64fd0fff4b0f3/) ##### Fall Into learning ## You can attend the summit absolutely online in your pj’s! Not only that, but you can choose to grab the Lifetime VIP Pack at any time. The Lifetime VIP Pack will give you an all-access pass to the summit (meaning… - you get all 50 workshop videos for life, - tons of premium VIP bonuses of complete homeschool products, - private podcast so you can listen to the workshop on the go (and not be strapped to a laptop), - summit cheat sheets that will serve as your workshop companion with in-depth information over EACH workshop with EXTRA resources inside - an exclusive event just for VIPers called VIP Day that comes with its own set of unique bonus live workshops, doorprizes, and giveaways all the day long – a day dedicated just for those who get the VIP Pass (and valued at $5000!!! - In-demand workshops all about the holidays and activities so you can get some really spot on workshops on homeschool through the holidays and fall season - as well as some amazing resources from our speakers and sponsors including courses, workbooks, memberships, even more homeschool resources, products, and everything else you can probably imagine. ## Do you want over $5000 in BONUS materials? --- The Lifetime VIP Pass is currently being offered at a special price, and it will disappear for good once the summit is over, so start thinking about it now! (Plus the price goes up when the summit begins, so don’t dilly dally too much about it! It’s a no-brainer, Scout’s honor!) [Tell me about the VIP PASS UPgrade](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/64fd0fff4b0f3/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool, Parenting --- ### [How to Add Discipleship to Your Homeschool Holiday Celebrations](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-add-discipleship-to-your-homeschool-holiday-celebrations/) **Published:** October 11, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The Holiday rush is not so far off. It is time to get intentional about planning a few activities to help you celebrate the holidays in meaningful ways. Isn’t it funny how Thanksgiving and Christmas represent such deep, core-values and yet, some years the whole celebration seems to slip right past, and you missed the MAIN thing. I can’t be only me! Have you felt it too? Are you asking, how you can add discipleship to your homeschool holiday celebrations in a connected and meaningful way as a family? ## What can We Do to Be Intentional About Discipleship? ### Use Great Tools to Help You Reach Your goals **Unit Studies**, **guides** and **visual aides** help us focus. This helps me remember the MAIN thing through the busyness of holiday prep. Choose the tool that will help you to focus on a **specific topic**. It might be a character attribute or a specific quality that you want to bring into attention. Being narrow and specific can really help you to keep a clear focus. Even when you are a turkey and two pies deep in feast prep. Add discipleship to your homeschool holiday celebrations with purpose and not add busy work with clear tools. ### Gratitude Journal for Your Students Gratitude is a great topic to focus on around Thanksgiving. Thanks to God a topic central to the story of the early pilgrim’s flight from persecution. Their miraculous survival with the help of Native American allies led to an outpouring of gratitude for generations. Giving thanks is a life skill your young ones will have to try to embrace fully this giving season. Teach about and practicing gratitude now, is a great way to help your children prepare to give and receive with gratitude. We lead. As you know, [Thankfulness begins with mom](https://www.yellowhousebookrental.com/blogs/blog-1/thankfulness-begins-with-mom)! As you can read in a sweet post about thankfulness from my fellow speaker and blogger, Michell Osborn. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Get-into-the-gratitude-habit-with-this-791x1024.png "Get-into-the-gratitude-habit-with-this › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Get-into-the-gratitude-habit-with-this.png)I am speaking about gratitude at the [Fall Into Learning Summit](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/) this week. You can still grab a [VIP PASS](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/64fd0fff4b0f3/) to watch the replay if you read this after October 12th. One printable I created for the summit attendees is a [Gratitude Journal for your homeschool students](https://.to/3ZVD1dc). I am so excited to share that I’ve published it to make it available for everyone. In the beautiful, silky-smooth journal, there are 90 pages for your student to practice the simple act of gratefulness. Five lines each day give them a place to be thankful. There is also a place for their memory work daily, and memorable quote or fact from their reading. I even provide a space for their own memories or thoughts of the day. This [journal]() can serve as a spiritual workbook for the year and could end up being a treasured keepsake for them in the future. The price is affordable, allowing you to add discipleship to your homeschool holiday celebrations. Start every day with the student Gratitude Journal. ### Carve Out Your Own Celebrations Another way to help you share about discipleship in your homeschool is to choose to focus on a holiday you might not normally celebrate with a unit study. This year we are choosing to use the [Celebrate Reformation Day Unit Study](https://amber4--kerrybeck.thrivecart.com/reformation-unit/ "Reformation Day Unit Study"). Reformation Day, October 31st, 1517, was one of the turning-points in the history of the world. On that Halloween Day, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church, and with that deed the Protestant Reformation was born. Whether you are Protestant or not, this is a significant event in church history that should be studied. ### Why Reformation Day? Have you seen the stores? Halloween is a huge celebration all around your kids. Giving your child an understanding of the spiritual world they live in is the best way we can prepare them for the world they will meet head-on one day. Darkness does not win on October 31st, nor any other day if you know what the Bible has to say about it. ## Unit Studies Help You Get Focused on What You Want to By using a Unit Study, you can determine how in depth you want to go. Pressed for time? The best part is that with this study from Kerry Beck, you can watch the Reformation Day Workshop to learn all about the history surrounding the event. The unit study includes an Activity Guide, Printables, Reformation Party Ideas, Copy work, Reformation Day reading list and more. You could throw a whole party, or you can watch the workshop with your kids, do some copy work and talk about what it means to question your faith in a sincere way. World changers need to see other world changers in action throughout history. ### Unit Studies Can Run Parallel to Your Regular Studies Want a quick run through Christian History? We are reading *[The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History](https://amzn.to/3ZUOMRa)* this year in our homeschool. Each day, we read an event. The history of the Christian Church, from the fire in Rome in 64 A.D. to Wycliffe overseeing the English translation of the Bible (1380), to the explosion of the Chinese underground church in the 1960 to 70’s. The book is a sweeping brush over the history of the Christian church. It is a great place to get your bearings if you are coming across these events in your homeschool and would like a timeline narrative to help you see the bigger picture. ### Unit Studies can Help You Switch the PACE Fall Unit Studies are a great way to help your slow the pace of your homeschool and give you all more time to pause and celebrate your family, special holidays and the close of summer activities. You can find more Fall Unit Studies to help you fill in your homeschool schedule over the breaks and to fill in when the break is TOO LONG. (I am sure you know what I mean!) ## Setting Your PACE this Holiday in Four Steps A few years ago, I wanted to slow down and be intentional about Christmas. We host my extended family fro Thanksgiving and Christmas. On a regular Friday night, family dinner we run about 20-25 people. Christmas celebrations push out the seams of our house and we are in host mode for weeks. Because of this, we are a natural choice to host. Afterall, we already cook for an army and have three ovens. With the pace we had set, I realized I was not taking the time to savor the essence of the real meaning of Christmas. I purchased a set of Advent Cards in hopes to plug up my leaky leadership. I know you are shocked to find out that it did not solve the problem. What I needed, was an intentional plan. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Set-Your-Pace.png "Set-Your-Pace › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Set-Your-Pace.png)## How to add discipleship to your homeschool holiday celebrations…really! ### I applied the FOUR steps in my PACE plan I determined what my **PRIMARY FOCUS** was. Searching online, I found a beautiful book/advent calendar as my supportive **ACTIVITY**. We set up the pop up tree which is central to the book by Ann Voskamp, and explained it to the kids. With a set start date on the **CALENDAR**, we started off right. [Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas](https://partners.christianbook.com/affiliate/link_builder?action=Link+List#1685232) was a huge hit. Adding an ornament to the large pop-up tree was something all the kids looked forward to. The fact that the kids were invested and excites helped us keep up with the activity. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Advent-Tree.jpeg "Choosing Meaningful Activities to match your goals for a restful homeschool holaday › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Advent-Tree.jpeg)When I took time to **EVALUATE** how well we met our goals, I was so glad that we celebrated more intentionally as a family. ### Setting the PACE helped me reach my goals. What is your GOAL this Holiday season? If you want to add discipleship to your homeschool holiday celebrations in a meaningful way, I hope you found some help in this article. ## Looking for more? Are you interested in learning more about creating Unit Studies for your kids, do you want to help your students work independently and be focused to reach your personal goals? [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Summer-Success-Ad.jpg "Summer Success Ad › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Summer-Success-Ad.jpg)Check out my [Homeschooler’s Guide to Summer Success](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschoolers-guide-to-summer-success). It covers all three topics in three 40 minute video teachings and includes a 30 page textbook to support you while you implement the ideas from the workshop. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool --- ### [Strengthen the Reading Habit in Your Homeschool Now](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/strengthen-the-reading-habit-in-your-homeschool-now/) **Published:** October 10, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Do you hope to have a house full of readers one day? We refer to our house as “The Book House,” but growing up, I was not a reader. It was not until I was an adult that I discovered reading for pleasure. As a homeschooling mother, I wanted to ensure that my kids loved the printed page. The holiday break has always played a huge part in keeping enthusiasm about book high. In this article I will share three ways we used our breaks to ignite our kids’ reading habit. You can being creating a love for reading right away and strengthen the reading habit by the new year! ## Before the Holidays: Plan Ahead As winter break season approaches, I would always plan to incorporate reading into our plans. When the kids were younger, that meant choosing a collection of colorful picture books for family reading time. If your children are younger, it is easier to build a reading habit if you choose a specific time to read as a family. We read at bedtime to wind down after the busy day. When we began homeschooling, we read our “school” as soon as the babies went down for a nap. Whatever the time, choose one and strengthen the reading habit. The holiday break is a great time to establish this habit if you haven’t already. You can read about our [Summer Reading Tips](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/avoid-summer-slide-with-reading-books/ "How to Guarantee 30% Gains in Your Child’s Reading Scores") too. If you have older children, they are likely to have a favorite author or series they like. Our oldest children had favorites like the [How to Train Your Dragon series](https://amzn.to/3txeYVw), the [Percy Jackson Chronicles](https://amzn.to/46Iwm87) and Aragon. Authors of popular series often publish a new book in November. This is a great time to pick up a new copy, but DON’T plan of keeping it for under the tree if your child is a big fan. We made a tradition of giving a book as a gift for the Thanksgiving break. This ensures that your child does not read the NEWEST library edition before they get the book from you as a gift. Part of our planning ahead was that I wanted to create a library for each of our children as they grew up. Each Christmas I would choose one beautiful hardcover classic for my teens. They are usually available at a steep discount on holiday sales. By adding a book or two each year, plus their favorite author, each of my oldest kids have moved out with a well-stocked library for their future. It is a gift that bring me so much joy to see in their homes today. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ignite-reading-habit.png "Ignite-reading-habit › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ignite-reading-habit.png)## Pay Attention Much of creating and cultivating the reading habit is knowing what your child is interested in right now. As a homeschooling parent, we have the advantage of being closely involved in our child’s sphere of interests. Books are a great way to explore a topic further. > ### When I know my kids have an interest, I find books that can help them learn more. > > amber @200fingersandtoes It does not have to cost you anything. Most of our early years of homeschooling were done on NO budget. We used our tax return to fund our curriculum, because I saw great value in purchasing books for our home. The rest of our books came from the library for free. As we had a little more income, we could take a trip to the used bookstore to look for deals. The kids loved looking for missing volumes to their growing collections. Don’t forget books in [Holiday gift giving](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/ "The Best Gift For the Life Long Learners"). The children’s great grandmother always wanted to gift the children, but the distance made that difficult. She decided to send a gift card of $10 for each child and I could not have been happier. We made a big day of it, and I would treat everyone to a hot chocolate. I think she saw the efforts I made to strengthen the reading habit at our house and wanted to support it. In a time when NEW books were a rare treat, this was a huge blessing. #### Check Out the Latest Posts to Keep on Reading… - [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - [Three Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) - [9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated Loyalties](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) - [9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) - [25 Books that will Teach Kids Courage, Kindness, & Compassion](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/25-books-that-will-teach-kids-courage-kindness-compassion/) ## Model a Love of Books Your kids won’t grow the reading habit in a vacuum. Make time for reading in your schedule. In all honesty, we did not hook up our TV until the oldest kids were nearing their teen years. Back in the day, we watched one DVD as a treat in the evening. What we did establish was Flat On Back time (FOB). I learned about this while at YMCA camp. One hour of quiet, spent however you want to. The kids could sleep while the babies slept, but they preferred to read. That hour led to thousands of books read. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Strengthen-the-Reading-Habit.png "Strengthen-the-Reading-Habit › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Strengthen-the-Reading-Habit.png)#### Ways to Strengthen the Reading Habit - Model Reading by being a reading parent. - Share your love of books with others. - Read your childhood favorites - Read their favorites. - Listen to them tell you all about the plot of what they are reading right now. - Create to-read book lists. - Build a Good Reads profile for reviews. - Read a-loud together for as long as you can. ### You will never regret it! Keep building the reading habit in your homeschool all year long. Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Tips for Quick Homeschool Room Setup for Your 1st Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tips-for-quick-homeschool-set-up-for-your-1st-year/) **Published:** July 13, 2022 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The good news is that even though there is no specific “perfect” homeschool room setup, I do have some time tested tips for every family. First piece of advice is definitely to plan to step into schooling for a while before you make any major renovations or big purchases. This is a great way to see how you utilize the space you have and then get creative about how you make it your own customized homeschooling space. You don’t need an entire room to create a great work area. The most important thing is providing and organized place for homeschool supplies and comfortable seating for both desk work and reading times. What is you space like? Big open family room, unused kitchen table? Do you have a spare room or does the oldest child have room for a desk in their bedroom? Taking a closer look at your child’s needs is the key to the right homeschool room setup. I know many homeschooling parents who set up a reproduction of school in their home only to find the dedicated homeschool room sat unused for years before it became a guest bedroom or a home office. My husband came from a traditional classroom setting. When we talked about our homeschool set up, he was convinced that I would be teaching young children in desks. We did have a few desks, but most of the work got done at our kitchen table. ### How will Your Family Want to Learn How your kids learn will factor into your homeschool room setup. The best advice I can give you is; take time to get to know your family’s **learning style**. This will help you understand the learning spaces you want to set up. Do you all gather together to read aloud in the school day? Maybe a large room like your family room will be a picture-perfect homeschool space or could you really use a separate room for older children to work independently? Giving teens a dedicated space of their own helps them take ownership of their homeschooling journey. You can take a peek at my[ ](https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2TKYY2OOLR3MD?ref_=wl_share)[school room wish list](https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2TKYY2OOLR3MD?ref_=wl_share) and others I created to help you get ideas for your personalized homeschool setup. #### **Do the kids need to move or other special accommodations?** Are you aware of special needs like large whiteboards for vision issues, wiggle chairs for energetic littles or special learning tools and accommodations. Your child’s needs will shape your decision-making process of your homeschool work space as much as the general layout of your home. I knew I wanted plenty of sunshine in our homeschooling room to help with MY mood! I like to see outside and it reminds me to[ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/outdoor-play-gift-ideas-that-parents-really-want/)[get the kids out there more often](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/outdoor-play-gift-ideas-that-parents-really-want/) in the school day. Consider natural light in your learning environment, but good lighting in your reading spaces is a great thing to plan for right away! Movement is a big part of the school day. Make sure you have open space to spread work out or get into a project. You might even consider adding an outdoor area to your diy homeschool room setup ideas. Our kids love reading on the trampoline or in their [Huggle Pods hanging in from the tree](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/outdoor-play-gift-ideas-that-parents-really-want/) in our yard. #### Homeschool room Set Up can Help Big Kids Work Independently Homeschooling as a family is a great opportunity to develop independent work skills. Consider adding your child’s current interests to your school day. Are they a LEGO fanatic? Do they build models, whittle wood of craft? Great, make it school and encourage their creativity. We have used large sheet pans and shoved them under the couch to keep a project intact while we are working in it. A[ storage box](https://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-19608006-41QT-Underbed-Store/dp/B00FP13PZQ/ref=sr_1_23?crid=3FIMDPOQPHTW8&keywords=under+couch+sliding+storage&qid=1657666521&sprefix=under+couch+sliding+storage%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-23#:~:text=%3Ca%20href%3D%22https,margin%3A0px%20!important%3B%22%20/%3E) is a good idea that can help keep little ones out of building projects and help give your older kids some independence to work on projects in your sight. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/undercuch-storage.jpg "undercuch-storage › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/undercuch-storage.jpg)Plenty of storage is a big part of a great homeschool room setup If you haven’t homeschooled before it is going to take some time to do work up to independent learning. Creating a working space in your student’s bedroom is a great way to encourage independence by high school. You might take a few hints from the goals you would like to set for your family in the next school year. These will help you define your set up. ### Goals Define Your Learning Spaces Do you need to get caught up on workbook skills and hard-copy learning? Are things like getting back to good handwriting skills and[ organized math papers a part of your plan?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/brush-math-quickly-advance-life/) Look for a flat surface that is getting little use right now in your home and convert it to a learning space. Many families have a formal dining room that serves a better use as a school space during the day time hours. Can give up the dining room? Then you might be looking at a dedicated table workspace. This is the best way to work on handwriting skills and give your students plenty of room to lay out books, notebook and materials they need for the day. . [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/store_item_sku_48663782.png "store_item_sku_48663782 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/store_item_sku_48663782.png)You can include a desk for your teen in their homeschool room setup If you are purchasing a table, I like having an[ office table instead](https://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-19608006-41QT-Underbed-Store/dp/B00FP13PZQ/ref=sr_1_23?crid=3FIMDPOQPHTW8&keywords=under+couch+sliding+storage&qid=1657666521&sprefix=under+couch+sliding+storage%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-23#:~:text=%3Ca%20href%3D%22https,margin%3A0px%20!important%3B%22%20/%3E) of a standard dining room table, because office furnishings offer adjustable leg heights. I find that the dining table is a bit high for our younger students to sit comfortably at. #### Get Furniture That Grows with Your Family We have countered this in the past by using an adjustable height office chair to bring the student up to where they can have their elbows level with the writing surface. This is the proper height to learn to write without stressing the wrong muscle groups. Another great idea for your homeschool room setup with younger children, is to purchase a[ smaller play table](https://amzn.to/3nXkgE3). We have found them to be a great investment and the perfect size if you have little ones. We have been using the same one for years, and now the grand babies are using it to play at! It depends on your space available, and how long your child will need the smaller space. It did double as a play table and we sprung for the table that had a paper roll holder at the end for coloring and easy craft clean up times. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/99BC93F9-85CA-4644-83FC-793393C472EB-1024x1024.jpg "99BC93F9-85CA-4644-83FC-793393C472EB › 200 Fingers & Toes") Our computer station is set up on two cheap IKEA pine table tops with very basic legs. I got them from a moving sale and the price was right, but I don’t love how much they wobble. Young students love to lean on the table and tend to wiggle a lot. This makes it hard for the students on the other end to concentrate. This large table set up offers plenty of storage space for art supplies, lesson plans and all of the important things we need at hand during the school day. #### Be OK with Changing Year-to-year [We have reconfigured](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/furniture-can-tell-homeschool/) the two tables several times and have since moved upstairs. If I were to do it over again I would add an L bracket to help stabilize the table if it is set up against a wall. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/magazine-holder-1024x554.jpg?ssl=1) ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/caddy-1-1024x642.jpg?ssl=1) ![](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/playtable-1-1024x1024.jpg?ssl=1) ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/undercuch-storage-1.jpg?ssl=1) ## Divide and Conquer When working with multiple students, I also try to place each child at the end of the table and create a supply station in the middle as a buffer zone. you can see that we used[ magazine holders](https://amzn.to/3RvKAm7) above. You can get a set of five colored ones so each child can grab theirs quickly, (you can see who has forgotten theirs as quickly) for under twenty dollars. We have also used[ bathroom caddies](https://amzn.to/3yBEzeT) to hold supplies that move with the kids as they work. Get the ones with NO holes, so that the crayons and pencils don’t fall out the holes. Whatever you choose, add a buffer between students when possible. It helps minimize, well… everything they do when they can touch each other! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/store_item_sku_68118860.jpg "store_item_sku_68118860 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/store_item_sku_68118860.jpg)Getting Your Homeschool Set Up Right is About Comfortable Learning### Homeschool Room Setup with Comfy Reading Spaces We are couch and cushion homeschool family. By using a literature based curriculum, the majority of our dedicated class time is spent reading to the kids. We pile on the living room couches for our reading time. #### Think Comfort in your homeschool room set up Our homeschool set up includes [floor cushions](https://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-19608006-41QT-Underbed-Store/dp/B00FP13PZQ/ref=sr_1_23?crid=3FIMDPOQPHTW8&keywords=under+couch+sliding+storage&qid=1657666521&sprefix=under+couch+sliding+storage%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-23#:~:text=%3Ca%20href%3D%22https,margin%3A0px%20!important%3B%22%20/%3E). These are a huge plus if you don’t have a lot of couch space. I like them for myself, so I can move and change position. In our basement (where I thought we would do the majority of our school reading) we have a huge sectional couch. This allows everyone to have their own space to spread out and take notes of work while I read. In our basement school room we have a huge library. We installed 72 feet of open bookshelves as part of our remodel. You don’t have to commit to that much homeschool real-estate. Book are a passion of mine, as well as a way of coping with a book deprived childhood. Being rural homeschoolers means stocking our library a little better so we have access to great books when we want them. ### Smaller Scale Storage of Books In years past, we have put the years reading books in a crate and moved that to wherever we were doing school at the time. I used this crate method while we were[ homeschooling away from home](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-displacement.html) over an[ extended renovation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/10-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling-2/). This last year, I inherited an armoire from my sister. I wanted a taller furniture piece for my living room so we dropped it in a corner to see if it would work for us. That piece of furniture has earned its keep and then some. Converting a kitchen cabinet or TV cabinet is a great way to house your homeschool items in a small area. #### It Doesn’t Have to Be a Book Case We use an armoire in our homeschool set up to house our current school work for the year. it is the perfect space to house school i a small room. I have two “grades” so we divided them on the right and left side. Current reading books are lined up where they are easy to visually identify, quickly grab and easily put away each day. Checking to see that everything is organized each day is an easy way of keeping kids responsible and sharing the workload of clean up. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/58059E94-1CB5-4852-A8CE-BA25407C875F-1024x1024.jpeg "58059E94-1CB5-4852-A8CE-BA25407C875F › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/58059E94-1CB5-4852-A8CE-BA25407C875F.jpeg) The bottom shelf holds personal [work totes](https://amzn.to/3AOOv7A), a caddy for supplies and some manipulatives we have been using. There are two lower drawers that are perfect for our Sonlight curriculum. The first drawer holds the reading books for the rest of the school year. We store the books spine up so every book’s title can be read as you open the drawer. The bottom drawer holds our IG binders. #### Keep Working with 3-6 Week Bites We usually pull out a[ few week of the schedule](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/free-schedule-download-huge-home-teaching-resource-list/) at a time and keep them in a smaller binder for the sake of transportability. Having the binder within easy reach makes it available when I need to refer to a past lesson, need to pull out a map or reference materials from our binder. ### Quick Clean Up We have used open shelves to store our school in the past. All of the kids still have their own personal totes to hold their workbooks, supplies, and current work. One thing I love about the armoire is that the **doors close!** This allows us to feel like we are really done for the day because everything from the school day is tucked away, neatly where it belongs. ## Want More TIPS Can You Use for Your Homeschool? #### Tell Me More… What is one LARGE item that you can not do without in your homeschool set up space? Let me know in the comments. You can watch a quick BONUS video of storage ideas for school room set up on my YouTube channel. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** homeschool set up --- ### [Obstacles to Opportunities: Making Changes Mid-Year for Students](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/fall-obstacles-opportunities-making-changes-mid-year/) **Published:** October 1, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The fall season can bring an air of confidence in your homeschool. It can also give you the early warning you need to head off a hectic, frustrating school year. Are you hesitant to start making changes mid-year? I get it. Have you heard yourself say the following? I can’t throw out this curriculum, it cost too much. He only has one year left of jr. high. She won’t have “this” teacher next year. The trouble is, your child only has 12 school years to begin with. How many have you wasted hoping for change? It could be time to create the opportunities your child needs now. Making changes mid-year can save your child’s education. ## Where are you with your students? We are homeschooling the last few kids as we enter our last round of high school classes. This year, we have a 7th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade student as well as several teens still living at home. We were relieved when our last backordered items arrived. Now, we are finally using our full curriculum in our homeschool days. I am still combining our students into one class. So, Biology, Algebra 1, Grammar & Writing and my own unit study for Government & Economics is being used by everyone. We made some big changes with curriculum this year, but we have some good habits from last year to help us. We are using all of the tips and tricks from the last twenty years of homeschooling and tweaking them for this last crew of homeschoolers. As a working parent, I have had to make changes to our physical schedule as well as our curriculum. When I had an abundance of time at home we schooled with a literature based curriculum. I read about 80 books a year in our gathered schooling hours. I don’t do the reading anymore. We kind-of miss it. This is the first year I ordered our curriculum a la cart. I use [Rainbow Resource Center](https://www.rainbowresource.com/) for my curriculum needs when I order independent items. You can’t beat their prices. I did have to wait on a few items on backorder, but I did order WAY late in the season. They did not hold my order and sent every item that was available right away. ### Change is not bad! Choosing our own curriculum and building a unit study was a huge change for me. Even after twenty years of schooling at home, I was a little intimidated to work out what each child needed to meet their individual skills. I was excited too! It was time to use the freedom we have to choose our own materials. In the past, I liked having an all in one package, but with a smaller group of students and a HUGE resource library already built here at home, I only needed to add the basics for each student. Unit studies are a great way to meet the needs of a few subjects together and combine a range of student ages at the same time. We are using the [Government & Economics Unit Study](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/econ-government-unit-study-for-multi-age-homeschool/ "Need a Multi Age Economics Curriculum & Government Study?") I built a few year ago for my middle group of students. Right now, we are staying in close communication to see that it is the right pace for this group. ## What is Working for Us Right Now? Accountability for everyone! Even though these kids are at the age where they are working independently, they need to be kept on track. If your kids have a schedule, get a copy for yourself. I have a printed MASTER copy of the schedule they are using. I use it to mark the expectations for the week and their schedule is for logging when the work is completed. We have a “staff” meeting on Tuesdays (no school on Mondays for us) and cover any extra work, expectations, and weekend-plan-exit-requirements. In our meeting time the kids fill in ALL independent, expected work and we talk about any larger assignments, like papers and reports. Since they are using a unit study created for more advanced students, we also check in and see how the kids are feeling about the pace of our reading assignments. I would rather know it is too much right away and begin making changes mid-year, than have they be overwhelmed and give up because they got too far behind in the reading. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/know-your-Students-1024x1024.jpg "know-your-Students › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/know-your-Students.jpg)### Communication is vital for keeping the whole family on task. If you see things getting off in your school habits, making changes mid-year is a lot easier than waiting for later in the school year. You wouldn’t wait half the year before you corrected their math lessons, right? Same for school habits in general. I don’t let my newly independent workers get too far out on assignments without going over it and corrections. To save time, we check work as we finish it. Setting a time for all of us to correct work together saves time when you have multiple students. I have them write the corrections as we go over them so they have the correct answers to study for upcoming tests. Writing the corrections helps to reinforce the right answer in their mind too. ### Fall can also begin to expose trouble spots. This is the season when I hear from parents who are are interested in switching to homeschooling because the same problems from the last school year are cropping back up again. Are you there again this year? Academic decline or social withdrawal can be a sign that your student needs a change. Homeschooling provides a great opportunity for families that are looking for a way to get their child back on track and in love with learning again. Homeschooling can help you get them back up to grade level with individual attention and support that the school can not provide. So many parents are choosing homeschooling in record number, and you have to ask why? ### Are you thinking about homeschooling? When a flower does not bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows in, not the flower. This quote from alexander Den Heijer, reminds me so much of the opportunity homeschooling offers to us as parents. Homeschooling is like changing the soil for a plant that is failing to thrive. Is your child wilting under the pressures or environment? Change is possible. making changes mid-year could be the best choice for your family. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/101-Quote-Flower-1024x1024.jpg "101-Quote-Flower › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/101-Quote-Flower.jpg)## Choose the Change You Want Change can be drastic and swift, or it can be strategic and incremental. The only guarantee is that change happens to us all. Even a seasoned homeschool mom like myself, feels the shifting with each new year and child. In our homeschool, fall is the season when we discover that the math we chose this year is too easy, or the new program moves too fast. We have discovered that spelling can’t happen after lunch because no one can pay attention and that dictation is going to need a reminder in MY phone if it is going to get done! Changes are a natural part of finding your best “soil” mix for each of your students. We are making changes mid-year and all year long, to help us have a great experience all year long. ## Are you making changes mid-year with your child? Is there a problem you are trying to solve this school year? Homeschooling can be a great option. Is there obstacles holding you back? Write it down and brainstorm about what tools or resources you could use to help you make a confident choice to homeschool. Switching to homeschooling mid-year can actually be a smooth transition if you know your goals ahead of time. ### Are you new to homeschooling? Check out the blog for tons of tip, tools and resources to help you meet the needs of your family. From our 200 Fingers & Toes, **Amber** PS. Are you looking to get back on track or could you use some encouragement this season? Over 40 homeschooling experts will be sharing at the [Fall Into Learning Summit October 10-15th](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/). Tickets are FREE and you can hold your spot [NOW](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/fil/). I am a speaker too, I’ll be sharing about **increasing gratitude** and **alternative schedules for the holiday season** in your homeschool. I hope you get a chance to check out the speakers and topics in the community. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Accountability, High School, homeschool start up, making changes --- ### [New Skills Faster with High School Homeschool Electives](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teens-are-learning-new-skills-better-with-high-school-electives-homeschool/) **Published:** January 12, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As a homeschooling parent, you want your teen to be prepared for whatever life might bring their way. You want to help them find success, but you are also bogged down by keeping up with Algebra II and navigating Spanish. How can you possibly do more? Electives for homeschoolers are your secret super tool for helping your teen learn life skills. Elective courses prepare them for their future career while earning credits toward graduation. Not only can you use electives for credit, but they can make an impression to last a lifetime. On a transcript, they can earn your high school student impressive attention from colleges and universities as well. Knowing where to start is the big question. Some electives can cost a bundle, but the payoff could be huge for you student. Let’s look at some options and break down the choices and why you might start with one elective over another. ## What is the best electives to take in high school? Electives are a great way to explore topics not covered in core subjects in high school. Most high public and private schools require 20-25 elective credits applied toward graduation requirements. Often, these classes are used to fill the last two years of a students schedule as core class requirements are met. Electives are often overused as place fillers for real life learning. Homeschool families like you can create real life learning opportunities, building skills your teen can use forever. --- [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/08E83712-F934-47E5-B7CB-B1806B2566F1-edited-1024x576.jpeg "08E83712-F934-47E5-B7CB-B1806B2566F1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08E83712-F934-47E5-B7CB-B1806B2566F1-edited.jpeg)Consider Art or Graphic Design as a High School Electives### Consider Building Life Skills a Top Priority #### Personal Finance Your student will be dealing with finances for the rest of their life. It is a clear winner for a subject that should be added to every student’s portfolio. Speaking of portfolio, adding a course about investing and how the stock market works is a great idea for an entrepreneurial minded student. The best part is that you can learn together. We have enjoyed the writings of Robert Kiyosaki, the author of *Rich Dad, Poor Dad*. He has several books written specifically for teens. His Guide to Investing is written in approachable language and would be a great addition to your teen. He also offers several online courses about investing for [FREE](https://www.richdad.com/investing-classes) on his site. [![Computer Sciences are great as electives for homeschoolers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2.png "2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2.png)Computer Sciences are great as electives for homeschoolers#### Computer Sciences Computers are another area your child will always be coming in contact with. it would do them a great service to be familiar with the ins and outs of several standard operating programs. taking a class in Excel and Word should be standard for every high school student. I remember my dismay graduating from 2 years of graphic design school only to discover that I had no idea how to write a letter on my computer other than opening Adobe page maker the predecessor of Creative Cloud and building a document each time I wanted to type a simple talk on my computer. #### Public Speaking I’ve heard it said that public speaking ranks in the top five biggest fears. From that information I understand how important it is to give your child opportunities to speak in front of other people on a regular basis. Finding a co-op class that offers speech would be a great way to practice public speaking. If you do not have a class nearby, be creative about identifying opportunities for public speaking. Our church holds Youth Sunday each quarter. Often members of the congregation have an opportunity to preach part of the sermon, share during communion meditation or offer prayers at the beginning of service. These are great ways to practice speaking in front of a group. Finding small opportunities with familiar audiences will help your student become fluent, and even comfortable in speaking situations. ##### Look to Groups You are Already Involved In Giving presentations for their 4-H group or other organizations is a place to practice public speaking. If these opportunities can be found in regular intervals you could document these and create a class of your own. They can earn high school credits for speaking publicly in areas they are already involved in. As homeschoolers we have the ability to assign credits to active learning opportunities, especially with electives. You may not need to create a formal class, but you can read the descriptions in your local high school course handbook to give you an idea of topics that are covered in the course to make sure you are giving your student good coverage as well. #### Foreign Language Foreign languages offer lifelong benefits for your students. Not only is learning a second language a worthwhile life skill, but vital in many trades today. [Beginning foreign language in the primary years is the ideal time](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/is-your-child-ready-for-spanish/) because neuro pathways are being created in the brain at a much higher rate. These networks will serve as pathways for learning throughout your child’s entire life. Learning a second language creates more of these pathways that are unique for NEW knowledge. The brain literally makes up more room to store this new material. Even if the language moves out of that space and your 20 year old can’t even remember how to ask for “directions to the disco-tech” or “where the fat cat is,” he will still have this space to place newly acquired skills for his whole life. [![Looking to fill High School Electives for your Homeschool - Foreign Languages are a Solid Choice](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/elective-post-photo-option-edited.png "elective post photo option › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/elective-post-photo-option.png)Looking to fill High School Electives for your Homeschool Foreign Languages are a Solid ChoiceMost colleges also require two years of foreign language as a prerequisite for their degree programs. Also, if your child is planning on pursuing a career in the medical field, many schools require four years of foreign language, high school credits before applying to their program. Spanish is a standard option and valuable in many job places, home and abroad. There are many languages to choose from. Your child’s intended career, or interest in certain topics could help narrow the selection process. #### Look to Ancient Languages too! An hour home our first group of students took Latin in junior high and continued that to complete the required two years of college required credits. We used Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek and enjoyed one semester of Greek intro for a credit. You can read my full review about raising smarter kids with foreign language [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/raise-smarter-kids-greek-homeschool/). Fellow blogger Ana Willis from Simply Blessed, offers a10-week [online Hebrew course](https://theycallmeblessed.teachable.com/a/aff_nshthfjl/external?affcode=73637_jtp3hgef) for students or for moms who would like to get some language training of their own. There are many apps that your child can manage on their phone if they are already tech savvy. We have used Babel and Rosetta Stone over the years. My youngest love the game based app called Chineasy, which teaches Chinese character recognition. Sometimes, finding a fun introduction can lead to a desire to learn more. Never fear giving your kids small bites of subjects to explore. #### Business Writing Communication is the number one skill we are trying to get our children to understand before they finish the high school years. How often will they need to fill out a resume with a cover letter, write a letter to a business associate or fill out an essay for a college application. All of these take and understanding of formal business writing. It is a great idea to make sure our children understand how formal letters are formatted and how business communications are expected to be handled. Give them the professional edge by making sure they take some form of [business writing course](http://%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https//www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=519486%22%3EJensen%27s%20Format%20Writing%20Package%20(Book,%20plus%20DVD%20supplement)%3C/a%3E%3C/b%3E%20%20%3C/p%3E) during their high school years. Need some more ideas? Here is a list of [100 Homeschool Elective Ideas](https://homeschoolhideout.com/high-school-elective-ideas-for-homeschoolers/) from Homeschool Hideout to check out when you are done reading this article. ### Don’t Miss the Chance to add Active & Fun Electives Electives can spark creativity and challenge the mind as well as the body. It is a good idea to sign up for an art class at a community center, join a YMCA challenge or train for a marathon. I joined NaNoWriMo with my teen daughter and we both wrote 50 thousand words in November of 2016 and completed our novels! Follow the spark of interest when choosing new elective choices or throw out a series of new concepts. Where electives are concerned, anything goes! ## What’s the easiest elective in high school? Are you looking for some easy high school electives for homeschoolers that will help build independence or add some fun to their school year, here are some ideas. [![Electives for Homeschoolers - Make Some Noise!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1-edited.png "1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1.png)Electives for Homeschoolers Make Some Noise### Learn an Instrument If I could give my eighteen year old self one piece of advice it would be to learn guitar. As a busy mom of ten, there is little time for learning an instrument. It takes a great deal of time to practice. Something teens have an abundance of in comparison to a working homeschool mom. Learning an instrument as a high school electives can be a great way to fill the margin hours with purpose. ### Graphic Design I was surprised when I attended the local community college for graphic design. The world was turning to digital fast and computers were accessible to everyone. While I was in design classes, I couldn’t help but laugh at the projects we were asked to create as students. My little sisters had been using the homeschool computer for years and were turning out amazing design work for their thirteenth birthday party cards. You child can learn graphic design and be very successful. Adobe offers so many free courses in the Adobe Education Program which can be accessed by homeschool parents. ### Creative Writing Depending on your stand on technologie, there are a million places to read great writing. My daughter started writing short stories on WattPad. She found some writing friends to share her work. I am not recommending this site and we did A LOT of patrolling of communications, but her goal was to write so we found where young writers were. You could create a writing group or check with your local library to see if there is a teen group in your area. ### Check out the Community Theater Public speaking, music, community action all rolled into one big show! Could there be a more fun way to earn school credit than to be on the stage as an elective for young homeschoolers? [![Gather other homeschool families for a group Elective for High School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/6-edited.png "6 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/6.png)Join a challenge as a family to meet Physical Education credit requirements as a fun family elective### Physical Education What if your teen isn’t into sports? They can do personal strength and conditioning. You students can lead games at VBS and the after school program or kids church. Trust me, as a leader in each of those programs, I would have LOVED for anyone to lead games! It is a huge energy burner and directors could use their energy to run the rest of the events programming. ### Religion Is faith a regular part of your homeschool? We gave regular high school credits for the Bible portion of our curriculum and devotional studies the kids did throughout the week. Do your kids complete studies for FCA, Awanas, Youth Group or other outside of school activities. You can treat these as an elective course too. ### Personal Health and Early Child Development These courses are a life skill builder for sure. Learning about healthy habits, life skills and how to care for others is a great way to earn elective or high school credits for your student’s homeschool transcript. How you apply the credits can depend on what credits you need to satisfy your state science requirement. Taking a CPR or Babysitter Training Course can also be a great resource for health class hours. For more ideas about Health Courses read [this great article about electives](https://www.notconsumed.com/the-ultimate-list-of-high-school-electives-for-homeschoolers/) for homeschoolers from Kim Sorgius at Not Consumed. She covers the difference between an elective and an extracurricular activity. [![Health and Child Development are some of the courses you can add to your homeschool electives for homeschoolers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4-edited.png "4 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4.png)Heath and CPR are good ideas for High School Electives for your Homeschool## What kinds of elective subjects should be taught in homeschool? In your electives for your homeschool should achieve several goals. ### Electives for Homeschoolers Should Foster Creativity An elective can offer the opportunity to explore a topic with little risk. Let the child who says they have no art talent try an online class in [Zentangle](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-ways-i-make-sure-i-have-time-to-be-creative/) of speed sketching to stretch their limiting view of their ability. Explore other worlds, real and imagined. Is your child a reader? Take a Novel Class and dig deep in a specific genre that you never have enough time for. Read all about Viking culture or Greek Mythology and spark their minds with great story telling. ### Electives Should Develop Confidence Do you students like to dabble in software design? Are they always on their tablet doodling in Procreate? One of the best things about high school electives is that you can invest in some top level courses and give them real life skills to use to do what they love even better! Sites like [Udemy and Skillshare](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/) (my favorite) are great places to subscribe to and find high quality courses. Adobe offers many student challenges through their Adobe Education Program. Taking a college course is a great option, but will still cost hundreds of dollars. Why not invest in a course and give your child credit for it now as an elective. Online classes are a great way to outsource the teaching of a subject beyond your scope or abilities. I’ve used SkillShare to learn Hand Lettering, Water Color, Urban Sketching, Business Letter Writing, Cell Phone Photography and more. They have [so many classes for a LOW monthly price.](https://skl.sh/402uV20) ### Electives for Homeschoolers Should Promote Independence By the last two years of high school our students are working independently. One of the ways we achieved this is by giving control of their schedule over to them in middle school. A great place to work on this hand-off of power is in elective class work. There is less risk of your child falling irreparably behind in an elective. They usually have less course hours and can be scheduled weekly. This means fewer check in times for you and a manageable workload load for your student to handle. This means introducing new things without sacrificing learning experiences. ### Electives for Homeschoolers – Allow Failure without Risk You don’t HAVE to give school credit for all of the extra-curricular activities your child does in their homeschool. You can choose to take a challenge, and not fear failing. My son took a welding course at the local high school, his senior year. All his life he thought he would be a blacksmith. He was looking forward to welding and was intending on this class being his introduction to his life work. NOPE! Unfortunately, he discovered he hated welding. He could not get the knack for it. As he worked, he hated the helmet, the tools, and the heat. Although, he made me a pretty rad articulated scorpion, but that was all we both got out of the class. He was disappointed, but I pointed out that we learned some significantly important information from this class. Had he not taken it, he might have taken a job or committed to an expensive program only to discover then that he hated welding. This “failure” saved him a lot of time and money! ## What high school electives look good for college? Colleges are looking for students that have a well rounded resume. Electives and extracurricular activities such as volunteer work are an excellent way to help your student stand out from the average student. Any kid can take a semester of coding classes, but did your child build a coding club and compete in a local challenge? These are the kind of outstanding actions that show a student can lead and rise to challenges. [![Sorting out Electives for Homeschoolers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5-edited.png "5 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.png)Electives for Homeschoolers showcase your students individuality and giftings### Leadership experiences are not that difficult to come by. Many of them are already part of your life and faith community activities. Our family served at an afterschool program for all the years of high school. This led to a huge quantity of volunteer hours as well as leadership skills. Not only were they able to list these activities on their applications as extracurricular activities, but we used them to create a leadership and citizenship course. The older kids lead volunteer teams and created activities. This helped them earn leadership and citizenship credits in an elective course I created to document the skills they were learning. #### Does your child play an instrument? You can give them credit for performing at local nursing homes and in the youth worship band. Wouldn’t a public school student receive credit for Choral Band and Swing Choir? Your students’ activities are no less valid. Actually, they hold even more weight because they are usually self organized, self directed and done on the students own time. #### Do you have a student athlete? Our sons went to college on academic and sport scholarships. To stand out, make sure they are more than a butt on the bench. Find ways for your student to give back to the next generation of players. They can lead as volunteers of a sport camp, umpire tournaments and co-coach youth leagues you may be involved in as a parent. These extra curricular activities help your teen to stand out. Sports Management, Leadership, Health and Physical Health elective credits can be associated with these activities by adding some reading and parent led direction. ### Look for special focuses offered by your student’s chosen school. The University our oldest children attended offered an [additional STEM scholarship of $5,000 for students](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/stem-credits-technology-college-scholarships/) with an ACT score of 26 or higher in this category. They offered additional scholarship monies for Arts, Music and Theater focused students as well. The students needed to submit their portfolio digitally and commit to the specific department or Degree program. Often this offers a significant saving to a program a student is already interested in. Be open to offers too.The University of Iowa is offering a generous scholarship for a student willing to Major in the organ while studying music. No experience required! ## High School Elective Offer More Than You Can Imagine Homeschool electives are a great way for high schoolers to explore new subjects. Adding these classes are more than a way to pad the last few years or fill credits for a transcript. Electives can be an intentional dive into life skills your students will use in their chosen career path. By first, getting to know your child’s interests, you can choose High School Electives that help them hone their giftings and uncover underdeveloped talents. High school electives can also help your student gain independence as a student, but giving them low risk courses where they can learn time management skills. ### Electives Help your Teen Stand Apart from the Crowd Electives for homeschoolers can not only [prepare your child for college](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/checklist-to-earn-the-most-college-scholarship-money/), but can help the stand out as an excellent candidate on their application if you plan ahead and understand how to showcase their acquired skills on their high school transcript. You can also use homeschool high school electives to meet specific requirements set by individual colleges and universities. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** electives, Homeschool, Homeschooling, Skill Training --- ### [How Can a Homeschooler Graduate High School Early](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-a-homeschooler-graduate-high-school-early/) **Published:** August 26, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Do your find yourself wondering: can my homeschooler graduate early, and what does that really mean, you are in the right place. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Do your find yourself wondering: can my homeschooler graduate high school early, and what does that really mean for their future education. If you are homeschooling, you are in the a great plan to make meaningful choices for your student. Graduating a homeschooler early is a simple matter of earning the required amount of high school credit required. This requirement is made by the parent in their homeschool as a way to qualify that your student has prepared to earn their high school diploma. Homeschooled students are able to earn credits at a faster rate and with more ease then their public school peers. Graduating early is common among homeschool students. It is also common for homeschooled individuals to earn college credit while in high school. This can lead to students earning a degree in less time and at a significantly reduced cost. Let’s talk about what it means to choose to earn high school credits in your homeschool. In this article I will share some warning to consider and share tips about how to define your homeschool high school expectations. I will also share about my own widely varying experiences as a mother to six homeschool graduates. ## How Did We End Up with a Freshman High School Graduate? Our oldest three students were grouped together for their homeschool years. It happened to work out, that even though there was a four year gap, the bulk of their work could still be taught as one grade level. Since the youngest of the group was advanced in her written language skills, she had the advantage of staying in the older grouping instead of moving in with the younger students as I had intended. Due to this arrangement, she began doing high school level work in middle school. Since writing was her strongest subject, she continued to do high school level work through sixth, seventh and eighth grade. The following school year, her oldest brother was due to graduate. As we considered the direction of her following school years, we determined that having earned five years of high school level work, they should ALL advance to college or college prep level work. This side effect of schooling in a group led to the decision to graduate all three students at one time. At 15, 16 and 17 our kids were well prepared for college entry level work. Since this was our first students to graduate, we weren’t sure if our youngest graduate was up for the challenge of college work. She ended up taking AP classes and dual credit classes through the local high school. What we discovered is that our homeschool curriculum (we schooled with Sonlight) was quite rigorous compared to even the AP prep courses at the local public school. In hindsight, we would NOT choose to do that again. We would go directly to entry level college work with confidence. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Graduation-Blog1.png "Graduation-Blog1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Graduation-Blog1.png)Your childs temperament can be a factor in deciding to allow them to graduate high school early### Parents Know Their Student’s Temperament I am grateful for the opportunity to allow my daughter to move forward in her education, but I will add that her determination as a student is not common. Much of her success in education belongs to her alone. As the leader of our family homeschool, I simply provided the tools and the means for her to learn and earn credits. She did the work and continued in her studies with the same level of determination. For her graduating early worked. She was a mature student, but one of the biggest factors that I considered about sending her to live on campus at Graceland University, was the fact that her two older brothers were also attending the university. I would not have been able to drop her off at a large state school with the same confidence. You know the temperament of your child and their maturity level. You understand how they behave socially and can and should pace their education according to ALL of these factors. Knowing the credits they need to earn to complete high school is a great too for you as a parent. If your student decides they want to be DONE with high school, you can hand over the list of required credits and start helping them knock them off the list. I assure you that there will be a lot of growth for both of you along the way. A determined student might go ahead and double down, and get to work. Either way, your student will know what is expected of them and can rest in the knowledge that high school will end. ## Points to Consider About Early High School Graduation ### Who Establishes Graduation Requirements? In Iowa, you as the parent determine the credits required for graduating. You can discover the graduation requirements for all 50 states [HERE](https://www.ecs.org/high-school-graduation-requirements/), One way you can discover an average or credits required is to look up high school graduation requirements from several local schools in your area. This will give you a good idea of what is being covered in high school level work. When you are developing your four-year plan for your student, you can also read the course descriptions from local schools to help you determine what kinds of materials you will want to include when teaching on a topic. ### ​What Qualifies as a Credit? You student will earn one credit for completing at least 75-80% of a textbook written for the high school level, if is intended to be used over one school year. If a text is used for half a year (one semester) it earns a .5 credit. The textbook publisher or curriculum creator will provide a guide for parents with their materials. Remember, mastery is the goal in learning. If your student has mastered the material, and did not need to extra practice and pretests, it is still appropriate for them to earn the full credit for the material. You will learn what each student needs asa you work with them throughout the school year. You can also determine credits earned by the amount of hours the course work required. You can create your own course, mini-studies and unit studies over the full course of the school year. Logging hours is a good method to help you determine the actual high school credit earned in a subject area. You cam read more about determining credits for course work at *[HSLDA](https://hslda.org/post/3-ways-to-determine-my-teens-high-school-course-credit)*. #### Credits for CORE courses CORE courses (Math, Science, History, Social Studies and Foreign Lang.) require at least 150 hours to earn 1 credit. This is the equivalent to roughly five hours of homeschool hours over a 30 week school year. Science courses with a lab should log 180 hours for the 1 credit minimum. This can be met by adding one hour of lab each week for experiments. As a homeschooling family, you will find there is no shortage of ways to fill these hours with learning and that they are not a burden in the least. You don’t have to be huddled over a book for this time to count as learning. #### What about non-CORE classes? Music, Art, Physical Education and other elective type courses need to log 120 hours for a full credit or 60 hours for a .5 credit. Two hours of Art time a week would earn a .5 credit. Weekly piano, music theory and practice (at roughly 5 hours a week) would earn a full credit for your student. This is exactly how my daughter earned credits for Music Theory 1 & 2. #### Dual Credits from the local college Your student can also choose to enroll at the local or community college for classes earning dual credit at the high school and college level. When you student completes a 3-5 credit college level course in one term, you can apply this to their high school transcript for 1 credit in high school. Using this option is a great way to accelerate your child’s learning potential. #### College Credits for FREE You student can apply these credits toward earning their college degree while still in high school. outsource some of the teaching for an advanced student. You can check with the public high school to see if your student can take college classes for free. Often the minimum requirements are the completion of high school level courses and often your student does not have to wait for senior year. #### Stay Involved Through the Dual Credit Process Two of my students took classes through the University while dual enrolled at the local public school. We learned quite a few things and wish the school had been better prepared. Here are some [more pros and cons to consider.](https://www.verywellfamily.com/pros-and-cons-of-dual-enrollment-4589995) The program was new, the professor and my students were ALL new to the world of online courses. We had trouble seeing the professor’s notes on their assignments. It took some work from the high school counselor to discover that the University and the school did not use the same word processing program and notes were not being imported properly. Overall, it was a good experience, but I would have prefered to come into an established program if you can. ### What if Your Child Really Wants to Graduate at the Public School? Only the credits earned at the public high school can be applied toward public school students. Credits earned while homeschooling are NOT added toward credits earned for graduation at your local high school. This is important to be fully aware of before starting high school level classes. If crossing the stage with their peers is a high priority, you will want to check with your local school about programs they offer. You can still choose homeschooling. but your high schooler may need to do a combination of dual enrollment or use an outside source for tracking competed work and logging credits for you. In many states you can enroll in an accredited school or an umbrella school where they record grades and administer tests. As an outside source they verify your students work and in many states these credits can be applied toward graduation. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Graduation-Blog2.png "Graduation-Blog2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Graduation-Blog2.png)There are social factors to consider when choosing to graduate early You need to talk about these too### How Does a Homeschool Student get a diploma? When your student completes the required subjects established by you, the parent, they earn credit. These credits are applied to the [students homeschool transcript](https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-does-a-homeschooler-get-a-diploma-5076111) through the high school career. High school level courses do NOT have to be taken only after 9th grade. High school credits can be earned at any age if your student has mastered the materials. If your student has earned the required number of credits set by your state laws or if not by the state, then by you as the parent, they are qualified to graduate. You as the parent can issue a high school diploma for your student. This diploma, provided you have followed and adhered to the guidelines and laws in your state, caries the same weight as a diploma issued by the public high schools. We have ordered our diploma through HLDA. Last year I used the homeschool diploma templates in Canva to print my own on high quality paper. No matter where you get your diploma, it is a legitimate legal document and should be treated like it. With their diploma, your student can apply for higher education courses or trade schools. ### What About the Student Ready to Graduate High School Early? In the public high school, early graduation is less common. Students often take up to 25 credit hours of electives during their junior and senior year. I have met with students who have taken college courses only to find that the majority of the credits will not transfer or do not apply to their Major their. By homeschooling, you are allowing your student to pursue their academic passions. Instead of stalling out and languishing for years you student can take meaningful classes at the level they are ready to work at. Advanced students are often stressed to earn high marks in the public school. It is entirely MY OPINION that many gifted and mature students are retained to help plump up the public school test scores. A young student can dual enroll at the local community college or take online courses to begin earning a degree at a 4-year college. This can [save a significant amount of money.](https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/paying-for-college-infographic) Your advanced student can and will qualify for scholarships. A well prepared and documented transcript is college money and worth your spending the time to do your research on. By allowing your student to begin college level work earlier, they will accomplish the goal of graduating with a degree earlier. ### My daughter was ready to graduate high school early. She graduated in what would have been her freshman year, at 15. She had completed five years of high school level work. The next year, she took a gap year from homeschooling and took AP courses from the local high school and dual credits from Graceland University. At 16, she worked fully independently from her course syllabus at home and at the high school. There was no doubt that she was ready for the rigors for University level work. She proved our suspicions by maintaining a 4.0 and graduating with a double major at 20. Our homeschooled graduates were able to earn significant scholarships with their high school education, all done at home. I did not have any special talents. I have no history in education, or gift of teaching. We ordered a curriculum that worked for us and allowed the kids to explore their learning passions. I did some research on how to get a kid into college and have a few articles I learned about what I learned. - [Checklist to Earn the Most College Scholarship Money](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/checklist-to-earn-the-most-college-scholarship-money/ "Checklist to Earn the Most College Scholarship Money") - [Get Scholarship Money with STEM Courses](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-scholarship-money-with-stem-courses/ "Get Scholarship Money with STEM Courses") - [Don’t Miss STEM Credits That Equal College Cash](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/stem-credits-technology-college-scholarships/ "Don’t Miss STEM Credits That Equal College Cash") - [STEM success means College Money!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/0956CA85-8C85-4A24-ADE8-C5604AF3045A.jpeg "STEM success means College Money!") - [Brush Up on Your Skills Before Your SAT](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/0C16EAF1-88C3-47E1-9DE7-82D4DB3F5D7F.jpeg "Brush Up on Your Skills Before Your SAT") ### Why Shouldn’t My Student Graduate High School Early? Student who are good candidates to graduate early are ones who already hold academic aspirations. If your child doesn’t know what they want to do right now, that is totally normal. Most students fall into this category. Use all of the high school years for exploration. Allow homeschooling to ignite their love to learn and create opportunities for discovery. Don’t be tempted to take advanced courses too early, or overwhelm your student with advanced level work with dual credit courses. It is unfortunate, but these courses are a permanent GPA factor. Classes poorly done by your student will have to be made over if they desire to have a higher GPA later. Make sure your student is showing confidence in the topics they are pursuing before jumping into an early graduation and regretting it. Having and academic or occupational goal in mind will help keep your student on track and moving toward their goals. ### Find Ways to Develop Maturity & Character Maturity is a strong determining factor for your student to make the most of the advantages when they graduate early. How does your child behave around their peers, are they confident, do they have leadership skills? Do they seem easily influenced by others? These are areas I would rather bolster and work on with a few additional years of homeschooling. While you are still homeschooling, look for opportunities to build leadership skills with organizations like TeenPac, or a [volunteer position locally](https://www.onlineschools.org/student-volunteer-guide/). [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2241-768x1024.jpg "The First Batch Turned Out Pretty Good › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2241.jpg)### Your Child Can Graduate Early and Succeed You set and establish the requirements for your homeschool in accordance with your state laws. You also know your student best. Choosing to graduate your student can benefit them in academic pursuits, but is an option that needs to be weighed with an honest and open understanding of your child. Having a conversation about their goals for the future is a good place to begin. If your child is nearing high school age, familiarize yourself with your state credit requirements and set your own homeschool graduation requirements. High school students like to know what is expected of them and your requirements give them an exit plan if they determine that they want to graduate early. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [25 Ways to Help My Homeschooler Get Organized](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/help-my-homeschooler-get-organized/) **Published:** August 16, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Practical tips to help teach homeschool organization skills at every age in your family. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## Let’s Cover the Simple Ways to Teach Organization to Your Homeschool Kids at Every Age Homeschooling is about teaching your child skills that they will use for the rest of their life. Let’s face it, being organized is a life skill every homeschooling family needs. Do you need some ideas to help your homeschooler get organized? If you are lacking in this area, you know the pain of having to work extra hard to learn this on your own. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/d26e522b-cd7f-435d-9e19-859798afd647-14-1024x1024.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/d26e522b-cd7f-435d-9e19-859798afd647-14.jpg)Being an example is one way I can help my homeschooler get organized in their own lifeThe greatest benefit to keeping students organized is that you are helping them – help themselves. A new homeschool year is beginning, so we want to help my homeschooler get organized to keep our students accountable, keep their space tidy and to show up prepared for school work each day. *When you buy something recommended here, I may get an affiliate commission — but it never affects your price or what I recommend. I use the products and tools recommended in our home/school and share my honest reviews to help parents like you personalize your homeschool to fit your needs and goals.* ### My biggest goal is to help my students to solve their own problems. At every stage of development, we as parents can help our children respond to the world around them. Developing a habit of organizing their personal belongings and sharing the workload with household chores will translate to becoming an adult with the ability to use time management to complete tasks. If you would love for your child to grow up and be the adult that not only writes the grocery list, but remembers where it is and uses it to save money by staying focused, read on. ## What is the best age to teach organizational skills? ##### ##### The best time to begin teaching organization skills, is actually when your child is very young. -200fingersandtoes ### Habit and Patterns Teach Early Organization Skills If your child can dump out a bin of toys, they can scoop them up and put them in. The transition from infant to toddlerhood is a great window to include your child in the actions of daily chores. Don’t wait for the move to formal preschool to practice organizational skills, very early childhood is an even better place to begin. You child is watching you from birth. They are learning about how to respond to the world around them by watching you. The best way to learn to be a helper for a very young child is right around the kitchen table. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Organization-Blog1.png "Organization-Blog1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Organization-Blog1.png)help your homeschooler get organized before they even homeschool### You are teaching organization skills at meals time Each meal has a set of activities that the child grows to expect. They begin to organize them at a very early age. Does you little one start fussing as soon as you but a bib around their neck? Why? Because they know that food is soon to follow. They have learned to anticipate what is next already. As humans, we crave patterns and predictability. This is why before school age is such a great time to teach habits that lead to organization and critical thinking skills. You can incorporate small steps like establishing an organization system for their toys and books, and then involving them in cleaning up. Your child will learn from creating a simple system for meal and bedtime and look forward to the familiar routine. Young children learn cues from their parents and start to anticipate what comes next. Actively use this natural development to establish vital life skills with simple fun play. **ORGANIZATION SKILL BUILDERS** **FOR LITTLES** - Play by sorting toys and objects - Establish a clear location for their toys - Help them recognize cues for daily routines - Show the example of clean up - End playtime with clean up - Joining you for chores in their capacity If homeschool planning is still a little way off, you can still teach so many meaningful skills to your little one. I love watching my granddaughter pull out all the books from the shelf and “read” to herself. By her actions, I can tell that she loves being read to and that her parents share their love of books with her. Watching her toddle over with her arms full of board books and dump them back into the basket to help her mama clean up brings me even an overwhelming sense of joy. Why? Because I know that it will be such a blessing to have a youngster that can help clean up her own messes. Her mama won’t be overwhelmed by endless disasters that she has to clean up alone and my granddaughter will enjoy doing a helpful job to show her mama when she is done. We all enjoy the sense of accomplishment when we do a task well. Don’t believe me, you should see her clap for herself! She is pretty proud of her work already. ## Elementary School-Age Organization Builders Elementary students are wading through the discovering their autonomy and establishing their individualism. A great place for them to learn to be organized is in the management of their personal belongings. Giving your middle graders the reigns in the “HOW’ of household tasks is the ticket for achieving buy-in. Last year, they were bringing you flowers and this year they are writing playlists, giving input on their curriculum and picking up a bigger load in the share of upkeep and personal care. This season is often where your child will add extracurricular activities to their plate (and yours). Some of the best ways to help your child become organized in this season, is to create dedicated space for important items. Learning responsibility for cleats, gloves and practice times can be the source of a lot of frustration and anxiety if your child is not taught how to be responsible with these. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Organization-Blog2.png "Organization-Blog2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Organization-Blog2.png)homeschool organization help print a GAME DAY LIST laminate it and attach it the your childs bagHow many times have you had to look for the soccer shoes or baseball glove. One year, I created a checklist and laminated it for one son, who was having trouble making sure he had everything together. Looking over the list before we headed out the door was a great way to confirm that he had everything he needed for the game. ### Passing the torch of responsibility These years and when we have our kids take responsibility for their homeschool curriculum. My kids start using student planners and use our homeschool schedules as a guide for their day. They aren’t coming to me as the homeschool mom and asking me what to do each day. Instead, my students are looking at their homeschool planner and I am doing my part to make sure that I have a very clear to-do lists for them. My biggest homeschool organization help hacks are simply to support good planning by you. A solid daily lesson plan for you as the leader is vital. Make sure that you have ALL your homeschool supplies, art supplies and copies of sheet work printed and ready for the day. I like to keep a file folder for the week. This is nice if we want to get ahead. **HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATION HELP** **FOR MIDDLES** - Give them ownership of personal property - Responsibility in breakfast and lunch meal planning - Give them a daily planner - Transfer responsibility of personal health routines - Assign and execute weekly and daily chores - Transfer responsibility of homeschool materials ## Favorite Homeschool Organization Ideas for High Schoolers If you’ve been able to get a head start on your homeschool routine with your high school students, they should be well on their way to being organized young adults. But if this i[s your first year of homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/ "How to Homeschool – Create a Plan for your First Year Homeschooling") with high schoolers, be assured, they can learn organizational skills in their everyday homeschool life. Older teens often like to work away from the noise of younger siblings. if your are in a small space you might consider allowing your teen to work in their room, with the agreement that they need to check in and prove that progress is being made. You can help your high school student develop their organization skills by providing a dedicated learning space. You don’t need a school room. [You can homeschool quite well in small spaces](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tips-for-quick-homeschool-set-up-for-your-1st-year/ "Tips for Quick Homeschool Set Up for Your 1st Year"). You need to be creative, but you can still have neat and orderly spaces. (at least at a few key times in the day) A work space doesn’t have to be large for your teen. In fact they tend to prefer nooks and cubbies to a larger, shared homeschool space. One ways to help your teen get organized is to help them enjoy their work space. Additions like a lap desk for their bed or storage bins for their craft supplies and science experiments can go a long way. Provide great lighting for your night owl readers. Any organizational system that keeps them moving forward with less interruptions in their work day are a huge help. ### ​ Teaching Organization to Teens – Clear Instructions! Get everyone on the same page from day one. Display a daily schedule and a establish a clear, location – like a designated shelf to TURN-IN completed work. Teen with good organization often are following clear instructions. A few of the different ways I have helped my teen while supporting their independence it to create an EXIT document. In it, I define what DONE looks like. Line it all out for them. Assignments completed, chores done, school books putaway and so on. In high school I hand over the filing system to them. I don’t spend time looking for a child’s assignments, text books, library books, or last minute small items they might need. I’ve had a few kids purchase a new workbook for one they lost and another work off lost library books with odd chores. ### It is NOT personal Your teens are responsible for their materials. It can be frustrating when they lose or destroy a book they need for the rest of the year. Don’t give in to the temptation to nag or get mad. Simply resolve the problem in the most efficient was possible. Buy a replacement and have them work for the balance. What do I do if it shows up a month later? Let your teen sell the new copy on the local swap for half their money back. Let them learn the value of their time and labor. Do you have trouble getting frustrated? Why are you helping your homeschooler get organized in the first place? Remember the focus is on helping your teen to become the best, responsible adult possible. Getting mad at them doesn’t add anything to the equation. If you need to, imagine that you are employing this kid. How would you solve this problem? This can help you look for rational, natural consequences that would occur in their future life. I recommend connecting with the [Love & Logic Institute with Jim Fey](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mother-of-10-shares-top-5-time-tested-books-for-parenting/ "Mother of 10 Shares Top 5 Time-Tested Books For Parenting"). I have adopted his cheery mantra, “Not a problem.” Every incident is an opportunity to find a meaningful solution and give your kids a chance to make things right. Can you imagine if everyone developed this habit? The work world would sure be a better place! Resist the temptation to rescue them or to remove difficulty from them. Your teen can run to the store and inconvenience themselves if they forgot something. By high school we need to be giving some kind, but tough love. My rule of thumb is; If employers and professors aren’t going to fix it for then, neither am I. **HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATION HELP** **FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS** - Provide a space for their school supplies - Clearly express the expectation that they arrive for the school day prepared - Provide the ability to determine their school schedule with clear accountability - Transfer responsibility of personal care, tracking/making appointments - Provide a standard checkout procedure for school - Establish a habit of cleaning up at the end of the school day ## Homeschool Parents are in this together As the homeschooling mom, you are not responsible for all of your family activity. Your biggest challenge is going to be passing off your responsibilities to their NEW owners. The homeschooling days are short when it comes to teaching your kids everything they need for life, but helping them live an organized life by keeping track of assignments, sticking to the chore chart and knowing how to create a meal plan is going to help them in life. Field trips get forgotten, note cards and glue sticks get tossed, but the work you do as homeschool families lives beyond the new school year. Remember that as you help your homeschooler get organized. **HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATION HELP** **FOR THE WHOLE FMILY** - Provide clear expectations for every member - Clearly define what each job looks like when it is completed - Evaluate your spaces and homeschool setup - Consolidate and purge extra items - Get input from the whole family - Use the power of play in building organizational skills sorting identifying like items and such - Break down large tasks into manageable step by step operations - Create a printed CHEAT SHEET for larger jobs like kitchen and bathroom cleaning ## Are you a podcast listener? Listen to episode 2 about to get more homeschool organization help in your homeschool at the In Due Season Homeschool Podcast. ![](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/1161942/1161942-1584901387570-473e992ba6235.jpg) ## Counting the Cost to Homeschool[ ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) – [ In Due Season Homeschool; Your Guide to Living Well Throughout Your Homeschool Journey ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog) Parents are leaving the public school in mass. With the local districts establishing the rules for access to extracurricular activities, some parents find their access barred. There are questions about the right to access field trips, prom, and graduation ceremonies. Before these parents demand their rights, I would love to propose a conversation. Firstly, we need to establish a clear picture of the cost of homeschooling and the powerful deterrents districts will use to stem the loss of students from the rolls. Secondly, we are poised for the most significant opportunity homeschooling has experienced in a decade. The influx of energy, creativity, and numbers to build a vibrant, thriving community could be what homeschoolers need to meet these needs in a way that compliments our values and family-oriented goals. Join me for the beginning of an ongoing conversation… 1. [ Counting the Cost to Homeschool 23:58 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) 2. [ EP11 Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to Know 22:12 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP11-Homeschool-Graduation-Facts-You-Need-to-Know-e28if0q) 3. [ EP10 – Managing paper in your homeschool 17:22 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP10---Managing-paper-in-your-homeschool-e2881f6) 4. [ EP09 Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool 16:30 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP09-Developing-Organization-Skills-in-Your-Homeschool-e27tsjf) 5. [ EP008 – What We are Using in Our Homeschool This Year 17:31 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP008---What-We-are-Using-in-Our-Homeschool-This-Year-eitt4c) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [You Need the Homeschool Mom Summer Summit FREE Pass](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/summer-homeschool-ideas-mom-summit/) **Published:** June 7, 2022 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The [Homeschool Mom Summer Summit](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/hmss/) is filled with powerful, professional speakers. The five day event could not be timed better! It is exactly what homeschooling parents need right now. Tips, systematic plans, detailed explanations, summer learning ideas and TONS of encouragement for mom are getting served up every day. Summer break is a perfect time to improve your homeschool year and a great way to get ready for next year at the same time. I’ve been teaching at home for almost twenty years and I know one thing. There are few things I am more thankful for than to tuck away our homeschooling in summer and take a well deserved extra time. We hope for field trips to a National Park, summer camps and plenty of time for fun activities. The fact is, the anticipated transition doesn’t always come so easily. Afterall, you worked hard all year to develop a new routine, disciplines and expectation. Summer can feel like you are throwing it all out the window! Let’s build a summer homeschool schedule together. ## Maximize Summer Learning Opportunities Are your kids starting to fall into whiny behavior or the TV tube of no return? Are you ready to just start school up next week to get back to a familiar routine? WAIT! This summit will help you see summer as a time to take a different pace of learning. Maybe you need the summer season for credit recovery courses to get your new homeschooler caught up before next year. Touch up on reading skills, find fun ways to cover Social Studies in Summer Mode. Find out how to solidify Reading Skills and get ready for the new school year by taking a closer look at new ways to improve academic skills. Foreign Language, Math Review, Language Arts, Art Project, to Board Games and Summer fun. It is all here. Read the full list of topics covered [HERE](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/hmss/64327829e14fd/). It will blow you away. I bet there are five answers to your current struggles on the list. I am looking forward to hearing from Keynote speaker Ana Willis, who is a wealth of humble wisdom and established homeschooling community. Unlocking Your Child’s Creativity By Kristin Lehman is a session I want to listen in to help my younger girls find their talents with summer activities. The Homeschooling Family’s Guide To Community Science By Kelly Dowd & Sue Wenger has me curious as well. A co-op would be amazing, but someone has got to start one where I live. I might learn more about these now. Science with outdoor play sounds just right for summer days outside of the homeschool room. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/HMSS-Fun-Promo-Images-3-1-1024x1024.png "HMSS-Fun-Promo-Images-3-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/hmss/)Whether you are homeschooling through the summer or taking a break dont miss the Homeschool Summer Summit## Use this Summer to Intentionally Grow…all of you! Yes, we are homeschoolers, but we are real people too. [Summer is a great time for you to learn and grow as a parent, leader and as a homeschooling parent](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?p=80824). Is this your first year homeschooling? Let me be the first to say, “Congratulations, you made it!” I hope you achieved some of the goals you set out to accomplish with all that hard work. I hope you found the support you hoped for this year. This summer, let’s build on it and create a community together that helps others get to the top. ### Do you feel like you have a lot to learn? Can I let you in on a secret? We all feel that way. There are always areas of our homeschool that I don’t feel confident in. Each year there are places that I did not plan for as well as I thought I could have. For many years there were scary subjects like Chemistry and Latin. Things I had never done before, but I wanted to tackle really well for my kids sake. I’ve discovered that [I need to learn as much as my kids do](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/summer-play-mom/), maybe even MORE than they do if I want to be a great leader…AND I DO! I bet you do too. that is a great thing to want as a parent. ### Learn Together at the Homeschool Summer Summit The [Homeschool Mom ](https://homeschoolmomsummersummit.com/?aff=33)[Summer](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/hmss/)[ Summit ](https://homeschoolmomsummersummit.com/?aff=33)was created with you in mind. I can not wait to hear the different things from the 60 speakers who are going live during the event and those who have taken the time to record their teachings to give you five days of sessions full of the best summer homeschool ideas. With over 100 individual teachings, there is guaranteed to have so many things you are going to want to hear. #### The Summit is presenting on five topics: one each day. - Year Round Homeschool - Back to Homeschool - Summer Homeschool - All About Mom - Bible/Faith & Character Training The Summit is FREE to view each session and you will have access for 24 hours, so you can fit them into your day no matter what. Catch a few sessions at nap time or while the kids play games. You can grab your [ALL ](https://homeschoolmomsummersummit.com/?aff=33)[ACCESS](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/hmss/)[ PASS](https://homeschoolmomsummersummit.com/?aff=33) now. This is the first Summit [I am speaking at for Richie Sores](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/services/), but we have spoken together in the Homeschool SuperHero Summit and the Life Skills Leadership Summit. She is a tremendous innovator, a hard working mom of three littles and a fantastic homeschool leader. ## Make the Most of Your Summer Free Time This speaking lineup is full of Homeschooling super stars. (I am actually really excited to be invited with this great group) They bring so much homeschooling experience and expertise to this conference. The focus on Summer is what really sets it apart. Summer is an untapped resource for many of us and often a place where homeschooling families feel like they lose ground they fought hard for over the school year. This conference is full of ideas to help you keep homeschooling through the summer. Summer homeschool ideas can feel a lot like actual FUN! Don’t catch the Homeschool Summer Slide! Don’t miss out on a single session! Upgrade your homeschool summer months with the Homeschool Mom Summer Summit. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SQ-Podcast-7-1024x1024.png "SQ Podcast 7 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## I’ll Be Sharing in the Summer Summit too If you have enjoyed my teaching in the Top Picks community, on my FB page or from the podcast, you are going to love these sessions. I worked really hard to give you the most actionable and relatable content I’ve ever produced. The worksheets are going to move your school forward and give you MORE time in your day. #### MY **Workshop Session** **Reaching Your Goals this Summer with the Kids at Home** If you are a working from home parent that is homeschooling this year? Summer can come with an overwhelming need to be productive in your work. How can we still be our best as a parent AND kick our productivity up a notch when we need to? In this session Amber Smith, a homeschooling mother of 10, will share how she carves out space to work in the margins of her schedule. This GUILT free talk will help you make your priorities clear and redefine your goals to increase your output this summer. I can’t wait to see you in the FB community. You can join now and get the Early Bird week bonuses and conversations before the Summit. Many of the speakers will be in the group sharing their summer homeschool ideas, expertise and answering questions. See you June 19-25 at the [Homeschool ](https://homeschoolmomsummersummit.com/?aff=33)[Mom](https://amber4--richie.thrivecart.com/hmss/)[ Summer Summit.](https://homeschoolmomsummersummit.com/?aff=33) Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Need a Multi Age Economics Curriculum & Government Study?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/econ-government-unit-study-for-multi-age-homeschool/) **Published:** August 22, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you looking for a fast paced way to get Government & Economics covered in your homeschool. Maybe you would like a little more flexibility in your lesson plan to still cover your core subjects daily? Are you trying to cover material with multiple ages? A multi age Economics Curriculum and US Government can be covered in an easy to modify unit study. We found it to be the best approach for our family. With a multi age unit study we were able to get my teens credit requirements filled and include our elementary students too. ## Are you combining multiple high schoolers into one class already? I needed a multi age economics curriculum last year for my own family. My son was approaching his senior year and I knew we would need to teach Government and Economics before graduation. Have you already combined your high school students? I have combined my three high school students for years. This group in particular, has worked together for the last several years. The group we developed was working well and helping each other in good ways. When my oldest approached 12th grade, I didn’t want to break up the team. The idea of a unit study grew out of the desire to keep working in a way that was working well for the whole group. Also, I didn’t want to have to do Government and Economics for three years in a row. You can use the Government and Economics unit study to do it once. And do it well! ## You Can Include ALL your learners in High Level Subjects By teaching with a unit study, we could have the flexibility to add or take away from our weekly load. Have you considered teaching government to multi age learners? We touch on Government and money in the elementary years, so I can be done quite easily. We brought our younger children right along with a unit study for everyone. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0054-4-1024x1024.jpg "Leadership from the Roots Up › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0054-4.jpg)Reading plenty of book about History Government and Business LeadershipIn general, Govt’ & Econ is taught in the 12th grade. If you combine students, it may fall in the 12th grade for one student, but not all. Making our own unit study gave us the ability to choose what books we wanted to cover. We streamlined our reading selections to those that fit the whole group for reading out loud. Then I assigned individual books according to reading level. This also gave us the ability to teach to a broader range of ages. Assigning age appropriate reading books also freed up time to watch more supplementary online content. Speaking of online content; if you are working from home or away from the home for a portion of the school day, your teen can still keep working by assigning watchable content. This is one way I was able to keep working AND homeschooling. I will share more online resources later in this article. ## Using the Best of Several Sources We have used Sonlight Curriculum in the past, but it is a lot of reading. My most analytical son went through the full curriculum himself as a senior. After reading this the Idiot’s Guide to Government, he held it up and said, “You really could have skipped all the other book and had me read this one and we could have saved a lot of time.” A story told in a thousand words can also be just as satisfying in two-hundred. (This is what I tell my youngest daughter who like to tell me about her latest dream for an hour) My last group of students are hands-on, and definitely visual learner scued. I knew that if I kept the full curriculum as-is, they would likely lose interest. Since I was working part-time, I needed them to buy-in on the school year in a bad way. So, I got creative about the books we had used in the past. To save more time, I decided to make it a study for all ages. This meant ditching some larger books to streamline the reading and including resources for our younger children as well. Your younger kids can sit in on reading and learn with you. If they are reading at the fifth grade level, I assign them reading books of their own. ## Creating a Good Government Unit Study For a unit study to work you need to choose a “SPINE” book that covers the material in depth. For government our two main textbooks are *[The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Government & Politics](https://amzn.to/3sFVZny)* and *[Congress for Dummies](https://amzn.to/3yfmwcw)*. Both of these book are great at getting right to the point and covering what needs to be covered in a systematic fashion. The reading can be broken into smaller sized chunks of each book covering sixteen weeks, or larger reading selections from one book at a time for sixteen weeks depending on the needs of your reader We scheduled one book at a time to help our students focus and continue working on other core subjects like Math and Science.. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0055-1-1024x1024.jpg "Creating a Good Unity Study with a Strong Spine › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0055-1.jpg)These spine reading for the multi age economics and government curriculum cover everything you need in one place## Relatable Economics for Teens To complete the multi age economics curriculum of the Government unit study, our choice of spine reading books are *Rich Dad, Poor Dad* and *Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens*. I chose these two books because they are a must read for yourself and your teen. This is where the meat of meaningful homeschool economics discussions are going to come from. Robert T. Kiyosaki shares a wealth of wisdom about how to use money with forethought and intelligence. His work has stood the test of time and proved to be relevant in every market climate. As an economics leader, he has also shown that he practices what he teaches. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0051-1-1024x1024.jpg "Rich Dad for Economics › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0051-1.jpg)Multi Age Economics Curriculum Builders This makes for a relevant and important lesson in how to use money wiselyThe companion homeschool economics readings are scheduled over the rest of the school year. The “Uncle Eric” Books from Blue Stocking Press are written in a conversational language that is easy for anyone to understand. They are presented as letters from a wise uncle who wishes to impart what he knows to the next generation. The material covered is not child fluff, it is deep factual teaching, but the presentation makes it easy to digest. To have your students show they are digesting what they are reading I suggest reading together and having a discussion after each chapter. The chapters are short and digestible. You can also assign a reading notebook where the students can write a summary of each chapter as they read. They can add their questions and comments to report back each week. The book titles in the Uncle Eric series are; *The Money Mystery*, *Whatever Happened to Penny Candy*? and *Are You Liberal? Conservative? or Confused?* [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0050-1-1.jpg "Plie › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0050-1-1.jpg)Digestible conversational and timely## Character Building, Personal Growth and Bible We rounded out the selections of reading with a few of my favorite personal growth and business authors. Much of the teaching of Government and Economics revolve around the themes of Personal Liberties, Rights and Common Good. The kind of character we have, maintain and develop affect those around us. Personal grown, fiscal responsibility and a growth mindset all contribute to positive changes in society. Feel free to add your favorites too. We included… - John Maxwell – *[The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth](https://amzn.to/3AXTsHW)* - Malcolm Gladwell – *Outliers: The Story of Success* - [Albert L. Winseman – *Living Your Strengths*](https://amzn.to/2XPzRLZ) (Strength Finders) - Keller Papasan – *[The ONE Thing](https://amzn.to/384G4pb)* I also like Brian Dixon’s *Start With You People*. Emily P. Freeman *Do the Next Right Thing* and anything by Jon Acuff! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0056-1-4.jpg "Plie › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0056-1-4.jpg)Biographies Personal Growth and Business are great places to find books to grow with## Include Reading for the Whole Family For the Younger Kids we bought the entire *Tuttle Twins* series. This series was crafted by [Connor Boyack of the Libertas Institute.](https://libertas.org/about/staff/) He is a personal freedom advocate and has a deep interest in teaching about liberty, free market systems and personal liberties. The series takes content originally written for adults and recreates it as an adventure for the Tuttle Twins. Conor’s books bring the complex concepts of markets, personal liberties and government to elementary age students with surprising relevance and accessibility. The [books](https://bit.ly/GovandEconKids) include a note from the author of the original base work, a glossary of terms, discussion questions and an optional workbook with learning and fun activities. I was able to purchase [a bundle with the activity books included](https://bit.ly/GovandEconKids). You can subscribe the Connor’s site for updates, sales and news. Psst… They are hosting a [BIG black Friday Sale](https://tuttletwins.com/bf/?utm_medium=text&utm_source=attentive&utm_campaign=bf-early-access&externalId=LocUx) where you can grab the bundle for 75% off! Grab it NOW! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20210822_132307_703-1024x1024.png "20210822_132307_703 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20210822_132307_703.png)## Don’t Forget to Add Electives! We also added the [Cashflow for Kids Game from Rich Dad author, Kiyosaki.](https://amzn.to/2XNQQ1f) This is a fun game that teaches how money really works in the business world. Play and learn important lessons that you are already reading about in your school day. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cashflow-game.jpeg "cashflow-game › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cashflow-game.jpeg)### Learn About Marketing and How the World Sells Another fun addition to this study was the book about how advertising works and why you should know. It is called, *Made You Look*, by Shari Graydon and is a fully illustrated read for all ages. This book covers how companies often sell a negative image that only their product can correct. It is a great conversation starter and I highly recommend it. ## FREE Govt & Econ Schedule Send me the Schedule We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime. [Built with ConvertKit](https://convertkit.com?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ## Where Does Faith Play a Part on Gov & Econ? You can’t present these deeply integral topics without including commentary of how they affect our worldview. The fact that we have a faith in the God of eternity plays a huge role in how we see the world and our role in it. We have to give our teen reading selections that help them formulate their own world view based on truth, research and the active work of the Holy Spirit. To that end we added *[Money, Possessions, and Eternity: A Comprehensive Guide to What the Bible Says about Financial Stewardship, Generosity, Materialism, Retirement, Financial Planning, Gambling, Debt, and More](https://amzn.to/3j5dcDE)* a book by Randy Alcorn. He is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries, pastor, teacher and speaker. *[God and Politics](https://amzn.to/3kaI5ps): Four Views on the Reformation of Civil Government : Theonomy, Principled Pluralism, Christian America, National Confessionalism* by Gary Scott Smith helps navigate questions about how government should serve the people with a Biblical foundation at the core. These books rounded out our study and gave us the flexibility to have great discussions once a week around the topics in our main text. We also included [Current Events](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-give-your-student-the-edge-with-current-events-resources/) for all of the students. They were required to share about three news events each week. These could be logged in their journal, notebook or presented orally in our discussion time. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0053-1-1-1024x1024.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0053-1-1.jpg)What are they trying to sell you A vital part of an economics curriculum## Connecting All The Readers and Topics We also read the Tuttle Twin Books aloud or assigned them to the older elementary students with the workbook activities each week. I read many of the books and papers that were the inspiration for the Tuttle Twin books series, while the kids read the Tuttle Twin version. Not only did reading parallel books help us all learn together, but this is also one way to show your kids that we are all learning. We both know that, learning never stops even when school ends. I hope you find these suggestions helpful for creating your own multi age Economics and Government Unit Study for your homeschool. If you would like a [ready list of resources](https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3W2XWJRT3ZPNX?ref_=wl_share) you can click this link to my amazon list where all the books are listed in one place for you. If you make a purchase from amazon with the link I do make a small affiliate reward. This does not affect your price, but it does help make it purposeful to continue to write on these topics and share with you. Thank you for reading and happy learning! Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [The Right Reading Strategies for Your Struggling Reader](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/reading-program-and-strategies-for-struggling-reader/) **Published:** May 9, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you homeschooling a struggling reader? I’ve written several blog posts about declining literacy rates as well as the effects of reading in early childhood on overall educational success. I have also reviewed several different reading program for struggling readers. Are you looking for reading strategies for struggling readers? [Reading Kingdom](https://www.readingkingdom.com/?cref=38353839377c416d626572) is a tool you could use with new reader. You can use it with a 7 year old struggling with reading, or an older child who needs reading support. ### When the Tools You Have Loved Don’t Work I know what it’s like to raise skilled readers. I have kids who love books and wear the carpet down at the local library. So, imagine my surprise when my fourth child struggled to read. Even at the age of eight, he was not reading on his own. All the tools I had used before with my other children were unsuccessful at helping my son read at the same pace that his siblings had achieved before. [I was deeply concerned](_wp_link_placeholder) that if he didn’t start reading soon he would fall irreparably behind. ### Finding the Right Tools For Learning I recognized he had decoding problems and searched for tools that would help him learn. I strongly believe the key to successfully homeschool your children is being open to searching for the right curriculum tools and teaching methods. Instead of getting bogged down by trying to make due or butting your head against the same problem, focus on finding the tools that will help your individual child be most successful. [![Reading Kingdom](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Reading-Kingdom-fun-1000x1000.png)](https://www.readingkingdom.com/?cref=38353839377c416d626572)### Do Not Waste One More Year with Your Struggling Reader Reading kingdom was created with struggling readers in mind. The makers believe reading is the single most important skill that children need in order to be successful in life. In recent articles I discovered that SAT reading test scores have been steadily dropping in recent years and educators are scrambling to bring up a reading scores. We can beat the curve by ensuring that our young students have a strong beginning in reading skills and support their efforts with tools like reading kingdom. ### Research Based for Best Results Reading kingdom is not new but it’s actually an online program that was based on a patented system developed by experts in the field for over 40 years. The program is unique in the fact that it is the only system that customizes itself to your child’s learning ability. Do you have a 7 year old struggling with reading? Do not worry, this is very typical and it is actually a great time to get some new tools. Reading Kingdom is typically used with children ages 4 to 10 who are non-readers, newly familiar with letters, or just beginning to read, as well as struggling readers who need more support. ![IMG_1386.JPG](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1386.jpg "Sora › 200 Fingers & Toes")Is your 7 year old struggling with reading Reading Kingdom was developed by experts with 40 years of research behind it### Child Lead Learning Means No Parent Child Frustration There are time when student frustration can lead to teaching difficulty. When we are exasperated parents, we are poor teachers. Reading Kingdom is a great tool if you have reached a point in teaching where both of you are leaving the school day frustrated. I love having a tool that takes some of the pressure off of our parent child relationship. It is a hard balance as homeschoolers. Our relationships should always be stronger by homeschooling, not worst. If this is a tool that can help you find peace in your school day I highly encourage it. The first seven years should be about learning to love learning and building strong parent/child bonds. #### Are you homeschooling a struggling reader? When my daughter started program she was given a [simple assessment test](http://www.readingkingdom.com/?cref=ozikW6gsSSnL/Z). It was the longest session of the program and the only one that required my full attention to stay nearby and make sure she understood the instructions. The rest of the lessons parent interaction is discouraged. Though it is difficult to see your child struggle, the program needs to be able to identify areas where your child is having a learning difficulty. The beauty is, Reading Kingdom will design curriculum to support them in the areas where they are weak and will not bore them in areas where they are already finding reading success. ![reading kingdom](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/reading-kingdom.jpeg "reading kingdom › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Parents are Fully Supported by the Program Each lesson is also supported with worksheets printables, reporting and tracking. They are great tools. Since it is recommended that your child be working independently, you also be sent reports on a regular basis. If your child needs any sort of attention, you will get an update so your time is never wasted. What makes this accessible is that the reading program for struggling readers is set up in a game like format so your child learns through a series of different interactive learning games. There also fun and engaging audio visual cues and help them. The goal is reading success and interactions with the game very positive. Even if your child is incorrect; the game redirects them to the correct answer so your child is never left with a “poor grade” or the feeling that they have been defeated. ![Reading Kingdom.1](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Reading-Kingdom.1.jpeg "Reading Kingdom.1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Reading Strategies for Struggling Readers After the initial assessment your child is put in a reading level program that is deemed appropriate for their learning. The parent dashboard gives you the appropriate feedback as well as shows your child’s progress. You create a real reading strategies for struggling readers with the information you get in this dashboard. At first, level one seemed simple, but it is important to review. The program makes sure your child is solid on operating skills. The pace moves quickly after a few lessons if your child is not having much difficulty. With the mastery focus, the goal is adding on new sounds and reading tools with each lesson. You will see now only completed lessons but how they are progressing as well. Soon you will no longer be the parent of a 7 year old struggling with reading, but the parent of an independent reader. What is the first “favorite book” you will share with them? ### Check out their social channels here Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readingkingdom Twitter: https://twitter.com/readingkingdom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readingkingdom/ Take the 30 day free trial of this reading program for struggling readers at [Reading Kingdom](https://www.readingkingdom.com/?cref=38353839377c416d626572) and check out theri programs for Math and Spelling. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Homeschool Iowa Convention: The Time I Won a Community](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-support/) **Published:** February 20, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### You have a community of support waiting for you. I’ve been to my fair share of homeschool Iowa conventions, after all, I am a second generation homeschooler. My situation is unique though. I was involuntarily homeschooled. Take that to heart if you have a child that keeps you up praying at night at your own at home. Pulling me from the school system was the best thing my mother ever did for me, even if it took a few years for me to see it. After I married, I gave my life to Christ and I knew I wanted to homeschool my own children one day. The local homeschool convention became a regular part of my summer schedule. This continued for seven years; until I had kids. Many, many kids, all in a row with my super Chef husband. When I had 6 kids under six, survival was more important than any 20% off coupon, so I stopped going to the convention. Afterall, I was confident in the fact that I learned a ton. I had listened to all of the seminars, heck, I even had them on CD. There were several veteran homeschool mothers on my speed dial and I had a good idea what curriculum was going to be a good fit for my personality. I thought that I didn’t need to go any more support., but I discovered how wrong I was. #### Fast forward eight years. Early this spring, an ad for the local homeschool convention popped up on my Facebook feed. I was curious. The next week, a magazine for our statewide homeschool network; Homeschool Iowa, formerly NICHE, came in the mail. In the magazine was the schedule and speaker listings for the convention. The featured speaker was Tedd Tripp, of “Shepherding a Child’s Heart”, the author of one of [my top 5 favorite parenting books](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mother-of-10-shares-top-5-time-tested-books-for-parenting/). My interest was high, but even still, I am not a fan of creating a hassle for myself. The homeschool convention was on a tournament weekend during baseball season. If you have a kid in a sport, you will understand. If you are the driver, the season is all consuming. Yet, I knew God was knocking on my door. #### Get ready for a set up Are you a sucker for contests? I am especially a sucker for a contest for any place that already has my email. I don’t need a bigger email load for a free t-shirt, but the host of the convention was offering a whole family entrance for free. You know I’m gonna click that! And click, I did. A week later I found out that I had won. They might have said it was a random drawing, but I am still pretty sure it was my witty response. Either way it was becoming clear that I was going. I wasn’t sure what my purpose in going was yet. It was not like I had planned on attending in advance. I love my curriculum and was not going to change it. I do also love a discount, so I thought I would hunt for a deal and listen to the speakers I had chosen out of the lineup. #### There is something vital about sharing a common purpose and supporting others. From the first morning, as I hit the registration tables I was surrounded by amazing people. Fellow homeschoolers. Some had traveled from several states away since there are not many conventions near Iowa. As the day continued, I was enveloped in this community that I had all but forgotten about. I read about homeschoolers, I even write for homeschoolers, but there is nothing that can replace a physical community. \[clickToTweet tweet=”There is nothing that can replace being in a physical community. They confirmed my purpose. ” quote=”There is nothing that can replace being in a physical community. They confirmed my purpose.” theme=”style3″\] Over the next two days, I realized what my purpose was. First, I was encouraged more than I would have ever thought possible. Though I was not feeling particularly discouraged or even isolated, I left feeling repurposed and energized. Leaving the conference I remember thinking, “I am looking forward to next year.” I don’t remember saying that at the end of last year. [![It is beyond socialization, we are talking about support](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/fullsizeoutput_2c4-300x300.jpeg "Being a part of a great community makes every celebration better › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/winner-ways-thought-due-season-volume-1-22/fullsizeoutput_2c4/)You were not meant to go at this alone Homeschooling is a huge challenge You need your own tribe of friends so do your kids#### We were made for fellowship on a large scale as well as smaller ones. One year we missed the Fourth of July parade. The kids were bummed, so we told them to pull up a seat in the middle of the yard and we would make it up to them. We loaded a good stash of candy and water balloons. Slowly we drove around the yard throwing candy and every once in a while bombing the kids with water balloons. It was very funny to us as the drivers of the loaded van. We laughed at our slightly shady replacement parade. The kids were not fooled. They hadn’t chosen to skip the main parade for our little sideshow. They wanted the real thing. There is something surreal about being up close to the fire trucks, seeing the color guards and bands from every high school in three counties. Standing shoulder to shoulder with your community feels like a big family. It makes us proud of who we are and where we come from. In the same way, it is good for your heart to look across a packed auditorium at the Iowa Homeschool Convention and see a room full of people that are walking the same path you are. We all have many of the same questions and struggles. But, I feel support just knowing, we were all there for one purpose. We’re all striving to make this next school year the best one ever. Our desire to serve our children and educate them from our homes has made us a community. That is the inspiration behind the “In Due Season” series in the first place, walking along this road together. I encourage you to try to connect with a larger homeschooling group in your area. You can be encouraged and you can lend your courage to others at the same time. If you live in Iowa check out [HomeschoolIowa.com](http://homeschooliowa.com) for a support group or an event near you. You can join their FB support page [HERE](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209321904819143&set=gm.854895504643516&type=3&theater) Don’t forget to check out this year’s [Welcome Home 2022](https://homeschooliowa.org/conference/) Homeschool Iowa convention. Let me know if you are going, and I will see you there. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Community, fellowship, Find your Tribe, Homeschool, Homeschooling, HomeschoolIowa, NICHE, support --- ### [How to Teach Your Kids About the Presidential Primary](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-teach-your-kids-about-the-presidential-primary/) **Published:** December 21, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The time for the presidential primary is almost upon us. I would like to share the materials I have found for my homeschool to teach my kids about the whole election process. If your child is in Government & Economics right now, this article will provide a few resources for you to use as a supplement of to plan a whole course. Older teens can use these resources for independent studying. You will be well on your way to creating relevant assignments to teach about the Presidential Primary and the election process in general. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Newsela.Homepage.jpeg "Newsela.Homepage › 200 Fingers & Toes") Newsela is a current events and news site for students and teachers that offers many articles to help you get a good foundation. ### Create an Account and Start Assigning The site offers the ability to create your own classroom for your homeschool students. You can enter your information to create a teacher account, then create a class and add your students. You simply send students an invitation link that they can use on any device; school computer, or in the app on their phone or tablet. I chose a few articles about the foundation of the American system of government to help us leading up to the primary elections. Each article you assign your students has a short writing assignment to show understanding, and a four question quiz questions for reading comprehension checks. This makes it very easy to assure the reading is getting done. I usually schedule the reading weekly and have the questions due on Thursday. ![](https://demos.restored316.com/call-outs/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/10/note-icon-1024x1024.png "olivia-computer › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Note:** Turning work in on Thursday saves our Friday from being a big scramble or having to negotiate frustrated weekend plans because of unfinished work. If work is undone they have Friday to complete it…or stay home on the weekend. Need more accountability in your homeschool? You can check out our [Homeschool Accountability Bundle](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/accountabilitybundle/) that is part of our [30 Days to Homeschool Reset Course](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/30dayrenewalhomeschool/) ## U.S. Primary Elections Guides As parents, getting the latest news and headlines in a format that is both age and grade level appropriate for our children is always a challenge. Next, we must also consider the sources of the article. During the election season of 2020, we tried to help our children learn to become discerning by watching coverage from several different news outlets. Newsela helped us gather news in one place and decide what articles we wanted to assign to our readers. When diving into the elections, Newsela makes it easy to find material in their drop down menu at the top of the page. From there you will find plenty to read and to assign to your students. I have recently started to screen cast from my iPad to our home TV so we can read as a class. You can access the site on your smart TV as well to make it a more appealing presentation for your older students. ### Get Started Right Now with These Two Lessons [Issue Overview: How the U.S. Elect its Presidents](https://newsela.com/read/overview-how-the-us-elects-presidents/id/21068/) This is a beginning article for understanding the premiss of election basics. In Newsela you can choose the Lexile Reading Level (from 620 – 1210 or roughly 3rd through Sr High) and the article will reflect not only in the reading level but also in the delivery of the content and even the maturity of the subjects matter. [The Election Primer Unit](https://newsela.com/specials/election-2020/2000181678/2000181677) contains all of the information that students will need to know in order to understand the long road to electing a president. In this Unit, students learn about voting rights, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, the role of the Electoral College, the implications of money in politics, and many other important aspects of the presidential election. Each of these articles are accompanied by lessons that can help your students learn about the political process. Newsela also has a great unit on [Media Literacy](https://newsela.com/read/elem-spotting-fake-news/id/28726/) . It Is designed to help facilitate the discussion about using discernment while reading news from social media sources. ##### Some of my ## Favorite Tools & Resources I pulled together some of our favorite Government & Economics resources and created a homeschool curriculum guide to help us teach the same subject for multiple ages. You can download the FREE schedule, read the guide and learn more about how we taught Government & Economics in our multi-grade homeschool. [Government for Multi-grade teaching](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/econ-government-unit-study-for-multi-age-homeschool/) [](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) - [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Untitled-683x1024.jpg "Government & Economics Unit Study › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/econ-government-unit-study-for-multi-age-homeschool/) ## Ready for You – Lesson Plans & Video C-SPAN Classroom offers many lessons surrounding Campaigns & Elections. Each Lesson Plan contains several video clips to watch together, related article links and vocabulary terms. You can read the descriptions to determine if the material covered aligns with your curriculum’s assigned lessons to use as a supplement or build your own lesson plan based on the lessons offered in these resources. Using video is a great way to help teach presidential primary and election facts in a different format. ### Ready Made Questions to Assign Under the Procedures section you will find a **Graphic Organizer** for you to print for your students. This has an opening question, Review Questions for each video clip, questions related to the background articles and a place to define vocabulary words. This is a great already done for you resource. Your teens can use these as a weekly current events companion. Elementary students can grasp the concepts and push to learn more. ### Advanced Studies for Challenges and Research **Jigsaw Activities** offer an opportunity teach your kids to dig deeper in the selected clips and answer a reflection question based on the presentation. There are also Research and Comparison to help your students extend their research skills. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/classroom.jpeg "c-span classroom › 200 Fingers & Toes") C-SPAN is a cable supported network site, and though it may fall far right or left of your personal views, I believe it is vital for our children to hear the voices of all sides of the political argument and learn to articulate their views with intelligence and facts. This is the only way we will raise a generation whose voice will be heard where it matters. ### Add Quick Lessons Easily for Transition Times C-SPAN offers [Bell Ringer Video Assignments](https://www.c-span.org/classroom/document/?17875) that are 5 minute video clips with leading discussion questions to help you both articulate your views. You can sent your older teens the link. They are so phone savvy! Make them use it for school . Want to dig deeper? You can use the related article links to take your class room discussion further. ## Learn About Presidents Throughout History The Presidential Primary Source Project a great resource. It teaches about elections and the presidency. It’s easy to sign up for the PPSP, a free service, which is a partnership between Internet2, the National Park Service, and the National Archives. With the Presidential Primary Sources Project (PPSP), your homeschool class, co-op or small group can engage in live, interactive discussions and use primary source documents to understand our nation’s presidents. Transport your kids to places that helped shape past presidents’ lives. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/c-PPSP-No-gfx-1024x316-1.png "c-PPSP-No-gfx-1024x316 › 200 Fingers & Toes") You can watch archived lessons on their [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/internet2k20/videos). Sign up to watch the 2022 presentations with your students live as they are presented each Tuesday and Thursday at 11am or 2pm (EST) [REGISTER TODAY!](https://internet2.edu/community/community-anchor-program/presidential-primary-sources-project/) ### Talks From National Park Service Rangers See historical sites without leaving homes. Park Rangers will present live from historic sites about presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and George Washington. Your family can share the presidents’ stories with your students through primary source documents and interactive live video. ### The 2022 Presentation Schedule: #### 11am-12pm and 2-3pm ET - Jan 18 The War of 1812 - Jan 20 “The Johnson Treatment”: LBJ’s 1964 Campaign - Jan 25 Roosevelt and the World Today: Issues Then and Now - Jan 27 Lights, Camera, Action: 75 Years of The State of the Union on Television - Feb 1 Understanding Conflicting Primary Sources: When Hoover Met Hitler - Feb 3 Learning About President Ford and the 1970s Energy Crisis through Primary Sources - Feb 8 President Grant and Civil Rights - Feb 10 Lincoln’s Evolving Legacy in Washington, D.C.: Places as Primary Sources - Feb 15 President Kennedy and the Bill of Rights - Feb 17 Civic Literacy: Article II and The Presidency - Feb 22 Presidential Legacy through Portraiture - Feb 24 I Like IKE: Election Icon - March 1 1986 Immigration Reform - March 3 Memorializing Young Abraham Lincoln - March 8 Theodore Roosevelt’s “First Family” - March 10 How RBG Came to Be: The Process of Appointing a Supreme Court Justice - March 15 The Constitution and Presidential Powers - March 17 7th Street Challenge: Lincoln’s Commute - March 22 Rosalynn Carter: Partner-in-Chief - March 24 Who Started the Cold War? - March 29 Becoming Eleanor Roosevelt - March 31 Young Teddie - April 5 The Role of the First Lady ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3-x-3-in.png "3 x 3 in › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Time Saver Note:** Do you have programing or technical questions? For more information about the Presidential Primary Sources Project (PPSP) Therese Perlowski 734.913.4258 tperlowski@internet2.edu I have not yet used the **live** lessons, but I am signed up for them. Please be advised that each participating classroom will need access to videoconferencing software or a room system operating at a minimum of 384kbps. An optional videoconferencing test with our planning team is available to all classrooms. ##### Need Help with the news? ### Current Events Resources No matter how you handle social media with your children, current events is a part of living in a world with the sound on. Little kids hear broadcasts across the gas station and in the car. Make current events an intentional topic you discuss as a part of your school week. I have some great resources to help you. [read the article](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-give-your-student-the-edge-with-current-events-resources/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Using Word Roots to Improve ACT/SAT Test Scores](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/using-word-roots-to-improve-act-sat-test-scores/) **Published:** October 29, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We are using [Word Roots from Critical Thinking Co](), in our homeschool to prepare to college entrance exams. In homeschooling, we try to keep our end goals in site at planning times. When looking at curriculum for our three current high school students, prep for the SAT or ACT tests were a priority. One of the things that gave my oldest kids an advantage in testing was a familiarity with Latin root words. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FA92EC26-3A9E-471E-8987-E04ED05EE635.jpeg "FA92EC26-3A9E-471E-8987-E04ED05EE635 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FA92EC26-3A9E-471E-8987-E04ED05EE635.jpeg)Latin was their foreign language for high school. With this group of students, I wanted the same benefits, but without the full Latin curriculum. Word Roots Level 4, gives them the benefit of vocabulary recognition and improved spelling with daily lessons that build on each other for mastery in high school. Word Roots is part of Timberdoodle’s Tenth-Grade Curriculum Kit and is also available in their Nonreligious 2021 Tenth-Grade Kit as well. The large paperback workbook is reproducible, so it is a budget friendly choice for a large family. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/img_0098-768x1024.jpg "img_0098 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/img_0098.jpg)The lessons focus on teaching the students Latin and Greek prefixes, roots, and suffixes. This help your kids to be able to quickly determine the meaning of common English words and less common words that often are used in testing to gauge vocabulary scores. ## Root Words Build Vocabulary With my older group, all three students scored extremely high in vocabulary on their ACT tests. Each scored into the top ten percent. I attribute our literature based curriculum with the daily reading of great books and our study of Latin as direct contributors to those scores. [Root Words]() is highly awarded and endorsed both Homeschooling and traditional Education magazines. Mensa recommended Root Words by Critical Thinking Co. in their list of materials for gifted learners. ## Word Roots Book Includes - Pretest and Post-test to prove understanding and execution of each lesson - Individual Lessons and Reviews - A dictionary of Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes and root words elements for ease of reference. My kids do not like the repetition, but I argue that repetition gains mastery. To ease some of the repetitive nature, I offered to do the review tests orally as a group. You can get creative to help your student overcome challenges without throwing out a really great opportunity to gain large leaps in vocabulary scores. [![Making a smooth transition to High School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21-1024x1024.jpg "9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21.jpg)If you are coming out of public school and want to get ready for high school right there is one curriculum that has you covered## Root Words for Spelling Mastery Does you child have a hard time spelling? I added Latin study in elementary for my oldest kids because of the benefits it offered for spelling. Much of our English words are of Latin origin. Understanding the building blocks of English through Latin can help give a concrete foundation for better spelling. It helped my dyslexic son learn to spell by rules and familiarity. Understanding Word Roots gives your child an advantage in reading, spelling and in high school testing. Whether you are planning on college or are aiming for National Honor Society, the Critical Thinking Co, is a highly recommended resource. This is level 4, so your child could begin much earlier. You can watch our review of [Practical Critical Thinking Skills](https://timberdoodle.com/products/practical-critical-thinking-grades-9-12-bundle?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kit) from the Critical Thinking Co. and the unboxing of the 10th Grade Full Curriculum Kit. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Build Focus & Drawing Skills for Kids in 90 Days](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/build-focus-drawing-skills-for-kids-in-90-days/) **Published:** August 9, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I have a daughter who loves to draw. She loves cartoons and has a skill for drawing Anime style characters. I was happy to get the chance to review [Cognitive Drawing; Learning the Male Figure by Jason Brubaker](https://timberdoodle.com/products/cognitive-drawing?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=cognitive-drawing). Summer is a time for learning new skills Drawing is one that we don’t take the time to hone during the school year, but it can also be just as tempting to slip into the TV habit. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/B10A6CC8-648D-40A2-A3FA-A57275FBAECB-edited.jpeg "B10A6CC8-648D-40A2-A3FA-A57275FBAECB › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/B10A6CC8-648D-40A2-A3FA-A57275FBAECB.jpeg)Learning Practicing and Trying Again This is the Cognitive Learning Method Our son was a fan of the Anime cartoons too. He did a great job of discovering which ones the children could watch as a family. But the world of cartoons is not all child’s play. We have had to talk about being careful about what we watch and the messages that we are receiving. We set some clear boundaries to TV time and only give access to YouTube on the main television in full view of everyone. ## How can you get drawing skills offline? My daughter has a few favorite artists and will watch YouTube videos with drawing tutorials, but I have my own concerns about navigating YouTube. Cognitive Drawing is just the thing she needed to systematically learn how to draw the human figure. It is the foundation for great visual storytelling. Even more, Cognitive Drawing is teaching her how to use her eyes to observe the world around her. The book is written for your student to use completely independently. This is why I highly recommend it for an elective drawing course. Art never gets its full due at our house. It deserves a place in our homeschool. Even more so. Our young artists deserve to be supported with tools and resources that help them express their gifts. If we aren’t intentional, elective art classes won’t happen. With ten kids, I am always needed for something. Now, we have less kids but I have more jobs! Independent work is the great equalizer. Around 6th grade, kids can work independently with great success. You still have to check up on them, but they can easily read and follow directions. Even more so if it is a subject they truly enjoy. Our daughter can work at her own pace and get a real studio study type course. Using books from the [Cognitive Drawing Series](https://timberdoodle.com/products/cognitive-drawing?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=cognitive-drawing) is one way we are getting Art practice and more time to teach. ## About the Method [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/9B219C2B-965A-407E-9597-15EDACB7442A-edited.jpeg "9B219C2B-965A-407E-9597-15EDACB7442A › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/9B219C2B-965A-407E-9597-15EDACB7442A.jpeg)Learn the Male figure and three keys to retaining anything you learn better### The Cognitive Method uses three steps to help you develop drawing skills - The Testing Effect – Once you learn an ideas, practice it right away to get immediate feedback - Practice – Repeating the learned skill, several times with further accuracy and fluency - Memory Consolation – Sleep is vital to learning new skills, your brain needs time to sort and store new information. I love teaching my teens that sleep is a vital part of producing skills. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08E83712-F934-47E5-B7CB-B1806B2566F1-edited.jpeg "08E83712-F934-47E5-B7CB-B1806B2566F1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08E83712-F934-47E5-B7CB-B1806B2566F1.jpeg)C Just started this book but we cant wait to compare her before picture Each lesson shows their growth from beginning to end## About the Value of Rest Did you know that both Benjamin Franklin and Leonardo Da Vinci practiced altered sleep schedules. Da Vinci slept in intervals. He knew how powerful sleep was to cognitive performance. Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein also practiced different sleeping schedules to boost the power of their brains to do high intensity work. ## My main takeaway is that NAPS are GENIUS! Are you looking for elective ideas for your creative kid? [Cognitive Drawing is part of Timberdoodle’s 11th Grade Curriculum Kit.](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2021-eleventh-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=cognitive-drawing) Timberdoodle is where I go to get hand on learning ideas and the tools for electives that are meaningful for our homeschool. I am a member of their review team and will be adding more reviews of things we use in our homeschool all year long. Let me know if there is something you are looking for or a grade, age, subject you are looking for too. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Better School Day Transitions with Mini-Game Breaks](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-school-day-transitions-with-mini-game-breaks/) **Published:** September 15, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I love creative homeschool tools. Adding smart games like [IQ Circuit](https://timberdoodle.com/products/iq-circuit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=iq-circuit) is one of the ways we give the kids learning challenges during transition times throughout the homeschool day. This game has several levels of challenges, so all of the kids like taking part in a quick challenge while they wait for a sibling to wrap up their math assignment before we read together. The IQ game is also easy to keep track of with the compact case for grab and go play. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_0164-1024x576.jpg "Games in School? › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_0164.jpg)Play is A Great Way to Transition in the school DaySchooling as a group has huge advantages for us. We do a block of reading that covers much of the subjects required for the school day. One of the only problems I have experienced is that transition times can make it difficult to keep the kids nearby for the next subject. ## Keep Kids Attention With A Mini-Game Station Having a game station set up with a variety of homeschool tools for the kids to grab and take to their seat has helped make transition times smoother. I like the IQ Circuit game for a couple of reasons. First, I like that it is a single player game, so there is no arguing about who has won while another child is trying to do long division. This also means that it gets rotated through the kids, for some reason limited accessibility means it is more desirable. Secondly, it has a broad range of challenges so my 13 year old enjoys it as much as our 8 year old. It is a smart game, teaching thinking skills on the sly while looking like a fun little game. They think they are taking a break from learning but I know better. That is why I chose it. ## How to Play IQ Circuit The self contained game has interlocking parts that fit into the grid. Each part has an inlay of golden circuit running along two faces. This adds an extra layer of challenge as each side must be determined as well as placement. 1. Select a challenge from the IQ Circuit booklet provided 2. Each challenge shows 2, 4, or 6 dots. The object being to connect the dots with a path of golden circuit. For two dots there will be one path between them, four dots: two paths and for six dots: three paths. 3. The booklet is broken into levels with decreasing HINTS for each. STARTER: The shape of the path and the position a some of the pieces are shown. This helps younger players get a hang of how the game is played and reduces frustration. This is a great visual problem solving exercise. JUNIOR: The position and shape of puzzle pieces are shown, but not the shape of the path. EXPERT: The shape of the path is shown. MASTER: The shape and position of a few puzzle pieces are shown with only the dots indicated. WIZARD: Only the final position of the dots are shown. NO HINTS. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_0160-768x1024.jpeg "easy to transition with one player games › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_0160.jpeg)I love that IQ Circuit is a smart game in an easy to carry case## Progression Toward Mastery Even I could not just pick this game up and complete the WIZARD challenges immediately. This game takes some serious problem solving skills. Using it is a great way to help a child increase their concentration while waiting. For some children the prospect of waiting makes it difficult to be settled. Having these small game options have been a great way to occupy the kids without wasting time. No wonder Timberdoodle includes games in their Full Curriculum Kits. You can find [IQ Circuit ](https://timberdoodle.com/products/iq-circuit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=iq-circuit)included in their [9th Grade Curriculum Kit](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2021-ninth-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=iq-circuit). Read more about Timberdoodle’s full curriculum Kits in our upcoming review of the 10th Grade kits this school year. In the meantime, you can watch the unboxing of our curriculum on the latest youtube video below. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Do this to Make Creative Writing Fun for Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/do-this-to-make-creative-writing-fun-for-your-homeschool/) **Published:** November 20, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Journal prompts or small ungraded writing assignments are a fantastic way to make writing more fun and help your child explore the idea of being creative. Think of these journals as creative training wheels. We have been using the [My Year of Writing Journal](https://timberdoodle.com/products/my-year-of-writing?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kitRDr) in our homeschool with my high school kids with great results. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CE0FF1A8-3F18-4BA2-A3EA-8827FC4069AD-768x1024.jpeg "CE0FF1A8-3F18-4BA2-A3EA-8827FC4069AD › 200 Fingers & Toes")Making Creative Writing fun again## What Are Good Writing Results? What do I mean by great results? When I look in their books, they have writing in them! This is my main goal with adding the Year of Writing Journal. The number one goal of any independent learning tool is getting your kids to use it. The Second sign of success; some of their stories from the prompts are pretty funny. We both laugh I read the funny parts, or even better they actually seek me out to share a good one now and then. ## Win the Creative Writing Battle When I speak to homeschool families one reoccurring theme I discover is that writing is difficult subject for at least a few kids in every family. How do we win this battle? By realizing it is not a battle. It’s a party and the theme is creativity. What can we do to make writing more fun and less stressful on us as parents? ## Build a better invitation to Creative Writing - Good Writing Prompts - Less Glaring White Space - Lots of Choices - Less (no) Critique - Yes to Doodling, scribbles and imperfect - Do some Exercises Orally if Physical Writing is a Barrier to Success - Remember the Assignment: Creativity - [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/0766907E-258D-4A13-8EDB-3BF67609A8F8.jpeg "0766907E-258D-4A13-8EDB-3BF67609A8F8 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/0766907E-258D-4A13-8EDB-3BF67609A8F8.jpeg) - [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/28F10032-19C1-42AB-A45F-210D34115550.jpeg "28F10032-19C1-42AB-A45F-210D34115550 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/28F10032-19C1-42AB-A45F-210D34115550.jpeg) - [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/DCD05D17-CE59-44E9-B055-F0FDFBA74DF0.jpeg "DCD05D17-CE59-44E9-B055-F0FDFBA74DF0 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/DCD05D17-CE59-44E9-B055-F0FDFBA74DF0.jpeg) Fun Writing Prompts of various sizesREMEMBER THE ASSIGNMENT As homeschooling parents, we need to understand the assignment. A huge turning point in my teaching process came when I began asking myself, “What is the end goal of this lesson?” Is the goal grammar and spelling? I am going to make the needed corrections. If it is a science term, the spelling needs to be right, but I am not going to bust on my kids sentence structure in their lab notes. If you want to break a child’s enthusiasm for writing start marking up a story they shared with you on their own time. Nothing will make them stop sharing their ideas with you faster. If you have done this in the past and are just now seeing it as a creativity breaker; go and apologize to your child. Let them know that you want to be a safe place to hear their ideas and stories. Then mean it. Be someone they can trust to share their first drafts with. ## Creative Time is for Rough Drafts My Year of Writing journal I will get them used to being creative. Creative is fast paced. Creative is not structured. Creative is silly and outlandish. Creative is raw and honest. Creative time is where great rough drafts are built. Where a single ideas is born and where a great character is discovered. These things happen right next to a thousand other bad ideas, terrible rough drafts and dead ends. Give your students place to be these things in their school day too. - [How to Work and Homeschool with Film School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-work-and-homeschool-with-film-school/)DateSeptember 9, 2021 - [Easy Tips to Reduce and Manage Homeschool Paper](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/easy-tips-homeschool-paper-organization/)DateAugust 19, 2023 - [Make Electives Easy with a Homeschool STEM Kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/make-electives-easy-with-a-homeschool-stem-kit/)DateSeptember 7, 2020 ## What Do I Do if I See Grammar Issues? If you are reading your child’s journal entries and there are some reoccurring spelling issues, STOP, don’t do anything. This is your parenting test. Can you accept shortcomings and face the true learning curve? It is hard, but the good news is that your child is still your student. They will be learning for the rest of their lives. After all, I am still learning how to spell some words correctly. Though I finally have entrepreneur down! We are all students, let them know learning never ends. Next, get creative and build out lessons that address those issues in your English and Language Arts time. I am not saying to neglect great writing methods, spelling and grammar. I am saying to address this in the correct atmosphere. The lessons will be better received when they are presented here. ## Get into the Creative Writing Fun! The prompts in the [My Year of Writing Journal](https://timberdoodle.com/products/my-year-of-writing?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=2021-tenth-grade-curriculum-kit) have been so much fun that I picked up a creative journal for myself the last time I went to the bookstore. Maybe I’ll be sharing a story with my kids in the next few weeks. Wouldn’t that be a fun way to inspire your kids to write. The Year of Writing journal is part of the Timberdoodle 10th Grade Curriculum Kit the we are using with our three teens this year. You can watch some of your reviews and the unboxing on YouTube! Timberdoodle 10th Grade Kit Unboxing I’ll let you know how our family open mic night goes. Let me know what is working well to get your reluctant writer into action. Do you have some suggestions to make creative writing fun? [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/C6D7CD05-AABA-44A6-970C-CC4CA8EFFA72-768x1024.jpeg "C6D7CD05-AABA-44A6-970C-CC4CA8EFFA72 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/C6D7CD05-AABA-44A6-970C-CC4CA8EFFA72.jpeg)My Year of Writing is part of the Timberdoodle 10th Grade Kit ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [How to Work and Homeschool with Film School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-work-and-homeschool-with-film-school/) **Published:** September 9, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [Film School for Teens](https://timberdoodle.com/products/intro-to-filmmaking-classic?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=intro-to-filmmaking-classic) My kids watched *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom*, and it was an actual school requirement from Film School For Teens. This year we added a few online homeschool classes to our school day because I am working outside of the house a few days a week. Obviously, I am not alone in my search for how to work and homeschool. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/FilmSchool4Teens_800x800.jpeg "FilmSchool4Teens_800x800 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/FilmSchool4Teens_800x800.jpeg)I am seeing a huge uptick in questions and searches on my blog asking how to homeschool as a working parent. Film School for Teens is one of the ways I am making sure the kids have online lessons lined up for the homeschool day for the hours that I am away. ## Why Are Parents Looking to Online Teaching for Their Homeschool? A huge number of parents invoulintarily “homeschooled” their students last year when the pandemic forced their children out of schools. It wasn’t the worst thing ever for them. They discovered that they liked having their kids around. The numbers show that a large number of those parents are now choosing to homeschool. No matter what the reasons for continuing, these parents are newer to homeschooling and in need of curriculum support. Online christian homeschool classes are a great way to bridge the teaching gap this year while they find the homeschool style and the curriculum that fits their family. Online art classes for homeschoolers like [Film School for Teens](https://timberdoodle.com/products/intro-to-filmmaking-classic?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=intro-to-filmmaking-classic) can help fill times when parents are working online from home. Most homeschool days can be split into independent work and work where the parent is needed to give direction or guidance. I assign FS4T and several other online courses and resources that can be done independently, on the days I work outside of the home. Maybe you are not working. Even traditional homeschoolers are looking to more online homeschool classes. The top reasons I am hearing in groups I am involved in are; the desire to familiarize their kids with tech in a safe and controlled way and so parents can prepare their students for upper level learning under another instructor. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/filmschool.questions.-768x1024.jpg "filmschool.questions. › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/filmschool.questions..jpg) Online art classes for homeschoolers include the visual arts! Don’t overlook them.## Knowing What to Do Each Day I like assigning Film School for Teens on my work days. One is that the kids know exactly what to do. The lesson begins with a Q&A reading selection. This tells them what to expect this week, as well as a place to take notes during the video lesson. Lessons are accessed online through Film School’s site. The site is well constructed with easy access to the selected course you purchased. Access is given by creating an individual account for each student with an email and username. ## Made for Discerning Teens and Critics The setting of the video lessons is well constructed. The teens involved in the production are warm, friendly and sincere. This is a plus because my teens can sniff out a fake production. Often teens will tune out if they know they are being SOLD something. Damon Evans does a great job with his course. Not only in its creation but also in the high level of production quality. My homeschool curriculum reviewing teens gave it a thumbs up and enjoyed the interview style lessons. We call it our weekly online art classes for homeschoolers. The focus is on the visual arts. I created a plan with working outside of the home In mind. I knew that we have had great success with a four-day work week in the past. Day five is used for electives, science experiments, online art class and any make-up work that needs to be done. ## Make Creative Work; Creditable Work Film School has eighteen lessons designed to be done over two weeks. It can be a 1 credit, 36 week elective course. We are using it once a week, in the first semester of our school year. I have found that a week is adequate for our kids to watch and follow up on the lessons. We have a shortened schedule with less work on Monday. This leaves time to complete the creative Assignment (Film Making) portion of the lesson as well. This is a full scale online homeschool course. This course would be a great class to do with some friends to get really creative. If you have a student who is attached to their phone, invest in them. Instead of making money for apps like Tik-Tok or Snapchat, give them skills for the real world with this course. We plan to use YouTube for Teens in the second half of the year with our older teens. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/fimlschool.Kid_-768x1024.jpg "fimlschool.Kid_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/fimlschool.Kid_.jpg) Thinking Questions spark critical thinking skills in your teens.## Keeping Your Student’s Paper Trail Neat The lessons are neatly arranged in the accompanying workbook. The full set is part of [Timberdoodle’s 7th grade curriculum kit](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2021-seventh-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=intro-to-filmmaking-classic). I love that it is included in their easy to use printable schedule. The design is well done and created to be appealing to teens. Black and white screams cheap to our kids and they know it. The workbook is colorful, cleanly designed and easy to follow. Everything your teen needs is available at the turn of a page. This means no lost pages, misplaced assignments or questions about “What’s Next!” It is open and go, every time. This is one of the reasons I chose Film School for my non-teaching day. If it is complicated, it isn’t going to work for us. I could not answer questions while I am working. ## Each Lesson Has An Assigned Film to Watch There is a film assigned in each lesson, to view and critique. Many of the films are easy to access by your commonly used digital movie providers. You can save money and use interlibrary loans, search online or borrow these as they are scheduled. I have chosen to purchase any films we didn’t have access to from Amazon. This is the easiest way for us to save time and energy. Each film is under $4 and can be accessed immediately. They are all great movies that we can watch as a family. This is also a great way to connect with your teens as they take the course. You can bypass any assigned movie and use the blank ***Film Report***. It is provided in the back of the workbook. This allows you to choose to use film school with a younger child. Do you have a child who is interested in the history and creation of movies? They can still use Film School and bypass a particular movie for personal reasons. The Life of Pi, The Outsiders, Les Mis, E.T. and the Wizard of Oz are a few of the movies assigned over the course work. Though the movies are diverse this is an option for parents searching for online Christian homeschool classes. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/filmschool.filmreport-768x1024.jpg "filmschool.filmreport › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/filmschool.filmreport.jpg) Online Homeschool Classes need clear instructions to work for you ## Let’s Get Down to Application Students are assigned to get creative with what they are learning each week in Film School. Damon helps the students get creative by giving a clear assignment each week. These build technical and creative storytelling skills over the course. When they reach the end of the course your student will turn in a short film they created. In It they will use all the skills from the lessons in the course. This is an opportunity for real visual storytellers to shine. Teens who are challenged are given a chance to shine. Tech often gets a bad wrap from parents. Today, it is the voice by which we communicate with the world. We need creative visual communicators. We also need to develop shrewd watchers in our teens. Ones who can look at a media with a critical eye. Together we can ask deeper questions about what the creators are trying to say. Because of this course, our teens can discern both in the live action part of film and in the more subtle visual cues. ## Unleash Creative Film Makers and Critical Thinkers If I have one wish, it is that critical thinking skills be on [the curriculum list](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2021-seventh-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=intro-to-filmmaking-classic) of every homeschooling parent. There should be more online christian homeschool classes like this. Teens are taught about the power of visual media and how to be discerning about the messages they are receiving. [Film School for Teens](https://timberdoodle.com/products/intro-to-filmmaking-classic?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=intro-to-filmmaking-classic) does a great job of helping teens look at media. It is a great choice for those looking at online art classes. Homeschoolers can develop a critical eye, turning from passive to active watchers. This is a life skill we can all use. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [How I Turned My Teen's Summer Job Into Six High School Credits](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/turned-teens-summer-job-high-school-credits/) **Published:** June 15, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I love providing this review of [Internship For High School Credit](http://www.apologia.com/home/506-internship-for-high-school-credit.html) from [Apologia Educational Ministries](http://www.apologia.com/) because this is the exact product I wished we had last year when my oldest took on a great summer job. I can recommend this straight forward, sequential workbook that answers all of the recording and logging I was keeping in my note book and so much more. Get ready to turn you teen’s job into High School credit with confidence. [![Internship for High School Credit](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/13%20-%20Apologia/internship-for-high-school-credit.jpg_zpszpczjo6g.png)](http://www.apologia.com/home/506-internship-for-high-school-credit.html)**Capturing High School Credit Opportunities**Like all teens, last year my oldest started working. I knew that this would not only be a great opportunity, but that this experience would give us the opportunity to collect several different types of high school credit. It is a great idea to familiarize yourself with a catalog of high school class offerings from a fairly large suburban high school. Once you know what types of classes are offered you can narrow those that teach the same skills and concepts as your teens summer job. #### **Summer Work Can Equal School Year Credits** My son worked for a general contractor. This meant that his elective credit opportunities were very high. My son worked full time through the summer and part of the fall so, it was easy to meet that 150 hour threshold for a full semester credit in several classes. You child only needs 75 hours for a half credit for your transcript. With more hours, my son was able to earn a General Carpentry Credit for the spring semester on his pervious school year and Advanced Carpentry on his fall semester. There was also a General Machine Shop Credit, for learning about tools, general safety practices and maintenance. He learned to properly cut, measure and collect materials for a job site. He earned fall credits for Advanced Machine Shop when he progressed to using larger equipment like the tile saw. By the end of his time working he was trusted to cut tile for a full bathroom remodel easily proving mastery of his newly acquired skills in practice. With a little research and record keeping, five months of paid skill learning earned four elective credits for my son’s high school transcript. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_1873.jpg "Learning Skills Through Summer Work › 200 Fingers & Toes")![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_1874.jpg "Create Work Opportunities In Everything You Do › 200 Fingers & Toes")![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_1875.jpg "IMG_1875 › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### **Taking Working Skills Back Into the Class Room** I love the idea of taking what my kids are leaning and pushing it one step farther. [Apologia](http://www.apologia.com/) has provided a simple way to gather the information your teen is learning on the job into a easy to fill and follow portfolio. This gives you a second layer of credit for your transcript with a formal Internship Course which gave my son two more credits. I knew I was keeping records for the things my son was learning, but Internship For High School Credit covers so much more that I had even thought of. Weekly Worksheets for Two Semesters (each 16 weeks) are completely explained so your student can begin logging their information with ease right from the start. They can set goals, log hours, keep important information handy and log their questions and observations. There are also many thoughtful questions that will help you student look at what they are learning, and themselves deeper. These question and answers easily give your student a course for transcript credit and skills for life they will use over and over again. #### **This is The Tool to Have Before Your Job Search Begins** This could be your guide from the very start of the job searching process. Part One covers: Getting Started, from determining what type of internship your child is interested in, to resume and interview instructions. Including the follow up thank you note. See you don’t have to say it 1,000 times, because it is right there, in black and while, now write the note! We have already used the information on resume building to help us start categorizing skills and learning experiences we want to use for each of our kids. I will be sure to add this notebook to each of my kids curriculum as they get summer jobs or serve in internships in the future as well. I kind of wish I would have filled one of these out for my first job. What a treasure that would have been to look back on now. [![Apologia Educational Ministries](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/13%20-%20Apologia/apologia-logo_zpsuwsyq9ic.png)](http://www.apologia.com/)**Tools For You Homeschool From a Name We Trust**You know you can trust Apologia as a faithful partner with homeschool parents. If you are on the other end of the spectrum and new to homeschooling you will want to check out the reviews for their newest DVD Course for parents called [How to HOMESCHOOL with Stunning Confidence, Contagious Joy, and Amazing Focus](http://www.apologia.com/home/504-how-to-homeschool-dvd.html) that is also being reviewed in the link below. [![Homeschool with Confidence & Internship for High School {Apologia Educational Ministries Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/homeschool-with-confidence-internship-for-high-school-apologia-educational-ministries-reviews/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/honor-gifts-interests/ SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** High School, High School Credit, Homeschool, Homeschool Course, Internship, Kids and Work --- ### [Best Fun Tool to Teach Your Kids How to Code](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teach-your-kids-how-to-code-quick-easy/) **Published:** August 9, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Programming is the language of computers and the tech world is speaking it. There are plenty of online computer programming courses for older kids, but I discovered that [Code Rocket](https://timberdoodle.com/products/code-rocket?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=code-rocket) is a fun way to introduce computer science to my younger kids. I love how the Rocket provided gives them immediate feedback to the code they create, and the interface was easy for younger kids to use without help. I’ve tried a few other programs for this particular program and this required the least direction from me by far! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/img_9801-1-23.jpg "Code Rocket at Work › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/img_9801-1-23.jpg)My son 9 is working on his own and loving the fact that he can see the effects of code changes## Video Games are a Great Opener But Now What? Our younger kids love Roblox and Minecraft. Video games are a great way to introduce young kids to the idea of what a software developer is at a young age. The best time to help my kids develop coding skills is while their interest is high. My nine year old is at that perfect place of interest and enthusiasm. I was happy to receive Code Rocket from Timberdoodle to test our and give an honest review. Video games aren’t the end of the opportunities coding language opens up. We live in a digital world and there is no turning back. Students equipped with basic programming knowledge and familiarity with real-world programming language will have an advantage in many areas. Connecting with fun games like Angry Birds and Robotics Kits like Lego Mindstorms give kids access to the basic ideas of coding language in use in the real world. But wouldn’t it be better if they could create their own cool games? ## Transitioning from Passive to Active I try to keep their use of my mobile phone to a minim. Having a few favorite small games is inevitable when you have kids. Code Rocket help me give my kids a way to take their online play time from passive to active by building blocks of code. The sturdy, green rocket gives very young children immediate feedback as the enter code in different ways. They begin with learning the language, them build the most basic programming. The first lessons are writing code to turn on the pin LED for the different areas of the rocket. This is a great visual reinforcement for young children. By using the online code course they immediately know what is working and what is not. This trail and error also help them to understand that often coding is making changes in small ways to solve problems. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/img_9803-18.jpg "Computer Language is a language that is getting spoken every day around the world › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/img_9803-18.jpg)Code is what make tech go round and it is not going away[Computational thinking](http://digitalpromise.org/inovative/computational-thinking) is a skill set for solving complex problems. Providing access to this type of critical thinking and problem solving skills in younger children helps them break down larger problems. this helps them to be better thinkers. It is not just about creating small games or even mobile apps. A code class like the one for Code Rocket builds creative thinking skills for kids of all ages. ### Computational Thinking Helps Kids… - Collect Data - Analyze Information - Make Educated Decisions by Evaluation - Communicate Information from the Data - Be STEM ready ## Code Rocket Teaches How to Code Now All you have to do is plug the easy to use USB from your Code Rocket, into your computer. Then, you pull up the website that is conveniently printed on the rocket. (So you don’t have to go find the box every time.) Your young minds can get right to the creative process with simple coding games. The kit comes with a small deck of term cards. These help with remembering the definitions of key Coding phrases and terms. They are such a helpful reminder to have on hand as your child is learning. My son has been studying them to get ready for the big final lesson. After completing the lessons using the Code Rocket, your child get to go on a “BUG” hunt. They will search for coding mistakes in a project. This process in called integration and is an important step for retaining new knowledge. This means what they learn, they will retain. They can add more to it. With a little time, they will be computer programmers, game designers, webpage builders and content creators themselves. ### Teach you Child to Code from Lesson One I’ve tried a few high end programs for my older teens that promised to teach kids to code. The online databases where they needed to work was complex. The software was hard to sign in to. The teaching guide was complicated or poorly designed. They wanted to create their own cool games, but ended up not finishing the course. Even I couldn’t figure out the instructions. [Code Rocket is perfect for teaching code](https://timberdoodle.com/products/code-rocket?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=code-rocket) to a younger student. Using it is easy. Kids can plug in an go right from the start. It is no harder than most children’s board games, with less parts to lose! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8862786C-9727-41D1-B146-A1D0DE9B317D-edited.jpeg "Coding Clue Cards to Help with New Terns › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8862786C-9727-41D1-B146-A1D0DE9B317D.jpeg)Sturdy construction makes Code Rocket a winner for young kidsIt is great for parents that aren’t too TECHIE, for younger kids who are kind of CLICKY. Code Rocket is also great for older kids who want to jump right in, but you don’t have the time to help in a complicated new software right now. ## Don’t wait for a Summer Camp or a Full Scale Coding Program Little kids are ready to learn big ideas. They are more tech savvy than we were at their age. It is a good idea to give your younger kids a head start, after all they are at the best age to try new things. Code Rocket provides on screen step by step explanations and a crystal clear guide that your child can understand. [Code Rocket is included in Timberdoodle’s 5th Grade Curriculum kit. ](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2021-fifth-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=code-rocket)We are using Timberdoodle’s 10th grade kit with the older kids this year and the one thing that I am looking forward to is more hands on activities. We have never been a big hands on homeschool, however this younger group are not as engaged with auditory learning. I am hoping that adding more live working projects will change our school day, and make it even better. The friendly instructions and immediate feedback make this code course a great next step in computer learning for younger students; but like everything else from Timberdoodle, you might like it too! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Getting to the Root of Healthy Competition Among Siblings](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/getting-to-the-root-of-sibling-competition/) **Published:** June 30, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As a freelance writer I strive to connect with publications that offer homeschooling families tips tools and resources they can use now. I loved getting to work with [Homeschool Life Magazine ](http://www.homeschoollifemagazine.com/)to share about sibling competition. Check out the magazine for the full article but here is an excerpt… “Competition is a part of everyday life around here; from who gets the front seat, to vying for mom’s attention at the dinner table. Our sweet babies haven’t even mastered crawling before they begin to compete for everything. It’s a problem as old as siblings. Cain and Abel competed for God’s favor. Jacob and Esau competed for their father’s blessing. It seems a part of human nature is to compete, so how do we as parents direct this energy to a positive end?” [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HSLifeMag.FB_-1024x1024.jpg "HSLifeMag.FB_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HSLifeMag.FB_.jpg)In [the full article](http://www.homeschoollifemagazine.com/) in Homeschool Life Magazine, I share about the difference between healthy competition and unhealthy attitudes that can lead to sibling rivalry. Raising siblings together in a homeschool makes them peers as well as siblings. This can lead to sibling competition and comparison. Racing for the last snack in one thing, but as parents we need to be sure that there is always assurance of each child’s place in the family. ## Different is Good! We can help encourage our child’s individuality and give praise for their unique interests and abilities. This goes a long way in creating security for our kids. In the full article, I share how we have created a habit of affirmation and praise in our home to help counter the negative attitude that can creep in when jealoius thoughts are allowed to take root in a child’s heart. ## Make Kid Competition Fun again Family fun time is a great opportunity to have some healthy sibling competition. I share a few of the ways we use play to have a reason to work on character traits like joy, kindness, and to give praise. ## Homeschool Life Magazine Offers so Much More… [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/fullsizeoutput_3fb0-1024x1024.jpeg "fullsizeoutput_3fb0 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/fullsizeoutput_3fb0.jpeg)### Here is a quick list of all the articles in this month’s issue… - Learning Styles: The Kinesthetic Learner - Hands-on History: Development of Writing - Edible Experiments: Kool-Aid Rock Candy - Finding Strength in Your Child’s Weakness - The Case for Year-Round Homeschooling - How to Teach Your Child to Read - Career Exploration: Being a Lawyer - Preschool Theme Day: In Summer - Free College Can Be a Reality - Raising Children in Christ-like Character: Courage - The Mayflower at Cape Cod - Spanish I - America the Beautiful - Heroes of History - How to Start a Book Club - Help! How Do i Balance Homeschooling and Homemaking? - [Getting to the Root of Sibling Competition](http://www.homeschoollifemagazine.com/) - Unit Study: On the Farm - Virtual Field Trip: NASA - What is the Fruit of Your Home? From the editors; “the Homeschool Life Magazine mission is to publish articles that will empower, enrich, and encourage homeschool families. While we may not agree with every detail and statement in each article that we publish, our policy is to only publish articles that uphold our mission statement and statement of faith.” ## Support those Who Support You! As a writer, I love having the opportunity to write for the faith filled community. Homeschoolers are my people and have been for years. Over the last summer I have been speaking a great deal, but writing will always be my first love. Every article I write has just as much to teach me as those who get to read it. Don’t miss the chance to hear the beautiful testimonies, Helpful hints and loving encouragement included in every issue of Homeschool Life Magazine. This issue has several book reviews, an “On the Farm” unit study, and a NASA virtual field trip inside along with tons of helpful and encouraging articles. **The Homeschool Life Magazine** is published four times each year – Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall – as an online publication. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HSlifeMagCover.jpeg "HSlifeMagCover › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HSlifeMagCover.jpeg)If you would like to share your schoolroom on the cover, email Homeschool Life Magazine’s editor at susanmreed22@gmail.com a photo for possible publication ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Competition, family time, Siblings --- ### [Intentional Bible Time this Summer for Kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/intentional-bible-time-this-summer-for-kids/) **Published:** June 1, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* What if you could lead with a guide? My friend Kerry has created an entrusted children’s Bible study. There is enough variety, flexibility and freedom to help any parent lead it from home. Walking With God has all the elements of a study all the kids will look forward to. It is filled with enough structure for you to lead with confidence this summer. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/walking-with-god-5-1024x639.png "walking-with-god-5 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/walking-with-god-5.png)## Create New Bible Study Habits with Summer Hours Use this summer Bible Study to get back the time you might have not used during the school year. I have wanted to study the Bible with my kids in a more intentional way. School obligations, sports and the rush of life tend to get in the way. Summer is just the change we need to create a new habit. The nice part is that change doesn’t have to be a huge production. ## Walking With God; Bible Lessons for Families, is ready to use from day one. The course is five weeks long. Each week there is a new theme, “When I walk with God, I…” …I am a new creation, I show kindness, the Holy Spirit is my helper, I trust Jesus, I tell others about Jesus. ## Themes you children are familiar with and lessons you can dig deeper. Kerry leaves room for parents to be the leader of the study. In each week there is a memory verse, song, Bible story, lots of great questions to get your kids talking. There is a focus catch phrase. These help you summarize and keep your focus on the attribute you are all learning about. Have cousins, friends of neighborhood kids that want to join the fun? There is also a craft, snack and hands-on activities. These are great ways to expand the fun and really create moments that leave an impression on your kids. I remember the neighbor girl inviting me over to play “Sunday School” when I was a little girl. I had never attended church, but this was such a gentle outreach. I will never forget her lessons and the special crafts she prepared just for me. Spend some time this summer connecting with children over the gospel. This is the kind of work that lasts beyond today. Create a lifelong impression and be intentional about the kids in your life. This course would be a great way to lead the next generation. You can show the love of Christ in a tangible way. ## Time and snacks and the currency kids trade in! [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/fb-party-1-square-1024x1024.png "fb-party-1-square › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/fb-party-1-square.png)Join the Facebook party [tonight](https://kerry-beck-school.teachable.com/a/aff_2ypq1ds4/external?affcode=455173_u8tkhewm) Learn more about [Walking With God](https://kerry-beck-school.teachable.com/a/aff_6w71487d/external?affcode=455173_u8tkhewm). Check out the great tools Kerry has created to help parents achieve so many of their goals. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. All three of Kerry’s kids are adults, walking with God. They had ups and downs, but God is faithful. Please, come join us on Thursday night, June 3. You’ll discover ## How to go beyond a story to your kids applying the Bible 3 Ways to memorize Bible verses as a family How to encourage gratitude from God into your kids 4 tips to add Fun to learning the Bible What moms can do to inspire their children to fall in love with God’s Word ## I really do appreciate her time and effort. Every product I have used of hers is high value and quality. You can sign up for [5 Tips to Encourage Your Kids in the Bible This Summer](https://kerry-beck-school.teachable.com/a/aff_2ypq1ds4/external?affcode=455173_u8tkhewm). It Is a FREE Master Class available right now and listen to more of Kerry’s sound and faith filled teaching. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [One Click to Grow Your Teen's Leadership Skills](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/one-click-to-grow-your-teens-leadership-skills/) **Published:** February 19, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Don’t miss the Life Skills Leadership Summit and learn more about the skills they need. Raise your kids to be influencers, not followers **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You know how much I love to share wonderful resources with you to help you on your homeschooling journey. Well, I’d like to chat a little more with you about this because I’m pretty thrilled to be involved in a “super” fun [event just for homeschoolers](https://kerry-beck-school.teachable.com/p/life-skills-leadership-2021?affcode=455173_u8tkhewm) that equips your whole family with leadership skills. Maybe you’re wondering if what you’ve been doing all year is really working. Will it really prepare my kids to be an adult in the real world? Rest assured you’re not alone. I feel it, too, and I’ve been at this for eighteen years. I am always seeking out ways to educate myself to grow and give my family the best I can. That’s why I love a brand, new event called Life Skills Leadership Summit (Feb 22-26) so much. It can be your calm away from the storm. This special week is filled with content to help you, encourage you and center you so you can be more intentional and consistent as you finish out your year….whether this is your first or fourteenth year. [![Making a smooth transition to High School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21-1024x1024.jpg "9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/9CD006AC-5492-4BA1-BACC-C0F3DDCC6F21.jpg)Get Your Teens Ready for the FuturePsst.. Want to find out who is speaking right now? [Download the WHOLE 5 Day Schedule](https://kerry-beck-school.teachable.com/a/aff_bx5qhkr7/external?affcode=455173_u8tkhewm) ## What do we as homeschoolers need more than anything? Well, coffee (or tea) of course, but after that, we need support. We need to know we’re not alone, working in isolation. We need community and words of encouragement. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/lsls21-5-horizontal-copy-1024x682.png "lsls21-5-horizontal copy › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/lsls21-5-horizontal-copy.png)And right now, you can get free access to this year’s Life Skills Leadership Summit, expert homeschoolers who are available to help you. ## What are other homeschool parents and members saying? *There is so much more to education than just learning facts. In preparing our children for the real world, they need real life skills.* *As a speaker I am excited to listen and learn from all the other amazing sessions that will help me to grow as a parent and help my children become confident well-equipped leaders.* – Meaghan Jackson of [Joyful Mud Puddle](https://joyfulmudpuddles.com/) *Every speaker I heard was so encouraging. This has been a lot of fun for me. Thanks for sharing!* Guisla *I have really appreciated many of the interviews, and I was looking forward to her interview and Gena Suarez’s. Gena’s was so good. I am more confident in my decision to persevere in homeschooling for the good of our entire family! Thanks again for making this available to everyone free of charge. What a blessing!* Mel ## How will the Summit help? ### They are offering . . . - 60+ video workshops on topics you asked for (how to, special needs, planning, organization, parenting, motivating kids, and all those subject areas) - Handouts to help you follow along - Swag Bag of freebies and discounts (over $550) - Community Group where our Summit Speakers will be available to answer your questions and encourage you on your journey [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/lsls-swag-ad-square-1024x1024.png "lsls-swag-ad-square › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/lsls-swag-ad-square.png)Get more than leadership skills with the huge Swag Bag BonusesThe best part for you is this. You can attend for free with the Basic Pass. Each workshop is available for 24 hours during the week of February 22-26. [Grab your Free Basic Pass by clicking her](https://kerry-beck-school.teachable.com/p/life-skills-leadership-2021?affcode=455173_u8tkhewm)e. ### And a Big Surprise for YOU . . . I want to help you be the best homeschool parent ever, so I am creating a special offer on a new course just for you. When you upgrade to lifetime access with this [link](https://kerry-beck-school.teachable.com/p/life-skills-leadership-2021?affcode=455173_u8tkhewm) by Monday, February 22, I’ll send you my 30 Days to Homeschool Renewal Course for Free. ($40 value) It is getting the finishing touches. This course includes an Accountability Worksheet PDF Download of documents you will use go get back on track and stay accountable in your life and homeschool. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Top-Picks-feature-week-copy-copy-1024x1024.jpg "Top-Picks-feature-week-copy-copy › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Top-Picks-feature-week-copy-copy.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Homeschooler Heads to The Well for State Wrestling Tournament](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschooler-heads-to-the-well-for-state-wrestling-tournament/) **Published:** February 17, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You don’t get to the State Finals alone. It’s a Family thing. It is a wrestling community thing. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/149797grouphug108_1358327707856289_4379699420323337513_n.jpg "149797grouphug108_1358327707856289_4379699420323337513_n › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/149797grouphug108_1358327707856289_4379699420323337513_n.jpg)Life Long Friends are made in the Wrestling Community Photo credit Sydney Howard## Homeschool Teen Heads to Wells Fargo Arena Tomorrow, Reuben Smith, is headed to Wells Fargo Arena to compete in the State Wrestling Tournament representing Interstate 35 High School. No athlete gets to this place in their sport without a community of supporters backing them. Reuben along with his nine other siblings, are also representing the homeschooling families in Clarke County and beyond. His trip to The Well is a testament to [the opportunities offered to athletes](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-athletes.html) in Iowa, who choose alternative educational paths. If you’ve met Reuben and his siblings you know they are far from distant, unsocialized or reclusive. This homeschool family has seized the community and connection that small-town, Iowa life is so good at providing. ## Small Town Life Means Seeing & Being Seen This winning season would never had come to pass if it wasn’t for some pretty significant characters stepping into the Smith’s lives and taking an interest in their children. The Smith family became owners of Nana Greer’s Family Table Restaurant back in 2003, the same year Reuben was born. They added seven more children to the family since then but were committed to raising them in a smaller, rural community. About seven years ago Amber Smith started taking a few of the older kids to the restaurant on Friday mornings while she attended payroll and bills in the back office. The Smiths were “restaurant kids.” They teased, and got teased by the regulars and the coffee drinkers that occupied their standard Friday morning table. The pre-teens carried on conversations with the staff and enjoyed the attention as much as their weekly cheese balls. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/coach-snyder-1024x682.jpg "coach snyder › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/coach-snyder.jpg)Coach Ryan Snyder called out the Smith brother to become wrestlers## Iowa Gives Homeschooling Atheletes Choices One of the individuals they made a connection with was Ryan Snyder, the then head wrestling coach for Interstate 35 High School. He saw something in those two wiry middle sons. He extended invitations to the boys to become wrestlers over the next two years. Eventually, they were won over to the idea and the ball got rolling in Reuben’s ninth grade year. Since their older brothers had played baseball for Interstate 35, their mother again, used Iowa’s option to open enroll out of district and the brothers, Reuben and Isaiah got their first taste of the wrestling room. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/P1030525-1-1024x769.jpg "P1030525 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/P1030525-1.jpg)## There is No Behind… Just Work to Be Done Community is the only way this leap in skills and obstacles was possible. Working parents know the difficulties of dividing duties and trying to get kids to activities. Wrestling out of their home district meant a drive of 44 miles, twice a day, five days a week. Reuben attended both the 6 am, Jr. High and High School workouts after school. Coming in as a Freshman, Reuben understood that he had some catching up to do. He was going to have to work harder, but the team embraced the brothers. The Smiths discovered the Wrestling Community was unlike any they had experienced. Seniors like Casey Baker and Ethan Elliott, shared their wealth of knowledge. Team mates and their dad’s invited the brothers over for workouts or extra practice. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_3081-1-1024x1024.jpg "IMG_3081-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_3081-1.jpg)## Community Make this Program Work Coach Snyder went above and beyond the call of Coach. Whether he was mentoring, providing rides when both Smith parents were working, or motivating the boys minds with books and bodies with creative summer workouts, he won over their hearts. He made these brothers into wrestlers. Though Ryan retired at the end of the 2019 season, his role is significant in this trip to the Well. In 2020, Interstate brought Cody Swim and Tanner Warrington on to lead the school’s wrestling program. Transitioning to a new leader was hard, but Reuben was determined to keep winning. That meant sticking with the program through changes and finding his role in the room as a Senior himself this year. Keeping the sense of community and connection they were offered as underclassmen has been a priority to the boys in the wrestling room. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/reu.pin_.jpg "reu.pin › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/reu.pin_.jpg)## Beyond the Wrestling Community The support efforts didn’t end with the wrestling community. Over the summer, Eddie Otto, the Youth Pastor from Murray Church of Christ invested himself by coming over the the Smith’s home for workouts and mentorship. As a former high school football player and Jr high coach, Otto brought the energy and structure Reuben needed to stay in shape during the off season. The boys lifelong homeschool friends continue to come over for workouts to keep the boys tuned up. Everyone of these men, fathers, friends and classmates have a hand in this trip to the 2021 State Wrestling Tournament. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8597-1-768x1024.jpg "IMG_8597-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8597-1.jpg)“When we bought this house, I wanted to raise my kids in the same place from start to finish. I wanted them to experience [what is was like to have a community](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-support/).” said Reuben’s Mother, Amber. So, what does she think? She says, “This is what community looks like. It is lived out over years, days and moments.” ## The Senior Dream Hand off The Interstate 35 team is sending four wrestlers to the State Tournament in the 1A Class. Ryan Steinlage at 126, Reuben Smith at 132, Nick Steinlage 138 and Sam Vonnahme for the 220 weight class. Reuben was also awarded his 100th Career Win for his match at the District Tournament. Good Luck to Reuben from all of us. And to the community at Nana Greer’s Family Table, thank you for creating more than just an income for all of us. We’re a family. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/reu.wrestling-1024x683.jpg "reu.wrestling › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/reu.wrestling.jpg)photo credit Lori Nordstrom ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Ready for a Reset? TOP PICKS has your Homeschool Help](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/ready-for-a-reset-top-picks-has-your-homeschool-help/) **Published:** January 7, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The Top Picks Curriculum Fair began as a response to a crisis. The FB group has grown into an invalueable source of homeschool help for families both new to homeschooling and vets alike. Hundreds of products are available, but the best part is that the vendors, creators and representatives of these companies are available inside the TOP PICKS group as well. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IDS-Header-1024x379.jpg "IDS-Header › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IDS-Header.jpg)From big name curriculum creators like [Apologia](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/) to small homeschool supporters like [Northwest Treasures,](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/inspire-curious-dino-hunters-and-rock-hounds/) [Bonnie Rose](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/table-time-is-science-learning-time-with-printables-from-writerbonnierose/) and myself have an opportunity to have FB lives, workshops as well as featured weeks and weekend takeovers. It is the best place to find homeschool help. Every week there are sales on things like printables, unit studies and full curriculum at the full service Top [Picks Curriculum Fair website.](https://homeschoolcurriculumfair.com/) There are also giveaways, freebies and doorprizes too. Overall, the creator Heather Bowen from **Mom for all Seasons** has built a fun, full scale curriculum fair that runs all year long. You can ask your questions and get support right from the vendor. ## January is HOMESCHOOL RESET month. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Top-Picks-feature-week-copy-copy-1024x1024.jpg "Top-Picks-feature-week-copy-copy › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Top-Picks-feature-week-copy-copy.jpg)Get the homeschool Help you need at the TOP PICKS FB page### Each week the team is tackling a new topic to help homeschoolers revamp their year, get equipped, organized and encouraged. - Jan. 4-8 Vision and Goals - Jan. 11-15 Curriculum Hits and Misses - Jan. 18-22 Homeschool Scheduling - Jan. 25-29 Homeschool Organization Join the TOP PICKS COMMUNITY and don’t miss out on all the fun…. Each week we scheduled a special FB Workshop to help homeschoolers reset their year. You can find these Workshops in the FB group page [HERE](https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeschoolcurriculumfair2020). There are several each week from many contributors and you can watch the replay as long as they are up. You can find my Workshops if you search for ***In Due Season***. You can catch the WEEK 1 Workshop “Don’t Miss the Mark” [HERE](https://www.facebook.com/100001400226959/videos/3713883075334997/). The focus was on being intentional about our relationships with our kids while we are homeschooling. Here is another chance to grab the FREE Relationship Refocus Goal Worksheet for yourself with the link below. [Get the FULL free Parenting PDF Bundle with a CLICK](https://view.flodesk.com/pages/600c86cc70c688538844fe8a) I’ll add the links to each workshop as they happen. ## Coming Up Next… 1-14 “If everything is not working, maybe it is ME?” – A honest talk about accountability from a homeschool mom who has failed and succeeded all the way to graduation with three kids. You can download the Homeschool Overwhelm Helper to use after the workshop in the link below… 1-18 Working With a Multi-Age Homeschool – Sharing Tips and Ideas to help you manage more than one grade and keep your peace. You can do this. I had a year with a full K-12 school; nine grades. That year taught me a lot about how to organize our day, stay productive, minimize distractions 1-29 Where Do You Keep it All? – Organizing your homeschool and help ing you rkids gain organizational skill of their own. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [The Homeschool Reboot Plan to End Holiday Overwhelm](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/stop-overwhelm-with-this-holiday-homeschool-reboot-plan/) **Published:** November 21, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have you ever woken up and realized you might as well not do school today? It’s Thursday, you have two errands left over from Monday and there is still groceries that need to be bought. I feel this way without fail every week in the month of December. We needed a Holiday Homeschool Reboot. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Getty_1190572650-Facebook-Post-1024x1024.jpg "Getty_1190572650-Facebook-Post › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Getty_1190572650-Facebook-Post.jpg)The holidays are a busy time. Family Gatherings, Holiday Celebrations, social events and schedule changes make the weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas a bit messy to navigate. Many years our holiday homeschooling routine would get jumbled up in the busy scurry from event prep and holiday errands. ### How can we embrace busy times and still homeschool with success? I’ve learned a few things in nearly two important things in my decades of homeschooling. Let me share are a few ways we have stayed on track over the years. Any combination of these ideas can help you have a smoother transition over any busy season in your life. The Homeschool Reboot is not just for the Holiday season. Is a big move, or a new child, dealing with long term sickness or job change on the horizon? This reboot can help you stay the course through and circumstance and still get schooling done. We modified our schooling when we were [displaced from our home during construction](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-displacement.html) and ended up having a great time. #### 1. Change Your Schedule I try to keep good boundaries around my homeschool schedule but, there are times when you cannot change the needs in the day. As my dear friend experienced while caring for her grandmother, there are times when you have to interrupt the school hours to attend to appointments. When errand days threaten to take over the school week, how can you keep up with the work? We changed our schedule. Homeschooling has some great perks. One of them is that you get to create a schedule that fits your current needs. We have gone to a four day school week to free up a day for whatever we need. If we have appointments, out of classroom instruction time, or an overwhelming task list, day five (it can be any day of the week, Monday through Friday really) is open to give us more flexibility. When we choose five days of teaching instruction time, we complete our required 148 teaching days (check your state’s requirements) for the state of Iowa. If we move to a four day week, that means we will need to schedule 37 weeks of hands on instruction time. This still gives us fifteen weeks for breaks. If we work for three weeks and then take a week off all year long, we still have three weeks for a long vacation or holiday break too. What I am saying is, you have a lot more breathing room that you realize. Use it to your advantage, do your kids love to do a little reading on Saturdays? Do you “electives” on the weekend and make them count for school. Your family could school six months on and six months off. At six days a week you would have your 148 days of hands on instruction time done in as little as 25 weeks. Grab Your FREE Schedules No matter where you are right now, you can, and will, get the work in that you need. You might simply need to change the time frame to fit your current pace. #### 2. Change Your Workload After several years of homeschool Holiday season burnout, I knew we needed to make a change. Not only do the interruptions of the festivities take a toll on our productivity, but in the last few years we have had college kids move home over winter break. The kids love having their siblings home, but it changes the dynamic of the household pretty drastically. School always suffers. I get frustrated when I imagine our summer break getting further and further away. ##### What can you do when you can get everything in? Who said you had to do everything in one day for it to count as school? Last year for the season that the college kids were home, we declared it independent studies and explorative class season. ##### Say What? It seems like we never have enough time to dig into electives like we want to. With a big family it is hard to give my attention to everyone if the all need instructions or help with logging into programs. Electives should free me up, but in reality they are every bit as teaching intensive and often more so. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P1020109-1024x769.jpg "P1020109 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P1020109.jpg)How did we make room for electives and make December a productive month in our homeschool? We had each child choose something they wanted to learn and found a way to access the information for them to explore the idea. Instead of trying to cram in all subjects, we did math and reading in the mornings and then spent the remaining few hours dedicated to learning about their interests. ## What can Holiday Homeschooling look like? - Guitar lessons with time to actually practice instead of the few frantic hours the night before - A table littered with art supplies that doesn’t have to get put away for science class to start - Game school with the coding computer and a new program that teaches with Minecraft - Making movies with the Stop Motion program you bought but never had time to use - Digging into the craft bin and seeing what you can make - Putting on a play for the Holidays - Family time and Creativity without the stress [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2718-1024x1024.jpg "IMG_2718 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2718.jpg)Get the time to do the things you are reading about with a Homeschool Holiday reboot season ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [How to Overcome and Find Resilience in Adversity](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-overcome-and-find-resilience-in-adversity/) **Published:** December 16, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My struggles are small in light of those interviewed in the pages of the latest book by Beth Lueders. I felt no less connected by their struggles to find hope, peace and remain resilient in the face of adversities. How are we to Bend without being broken? Beth relates her interviews with regular folks. Like you and I, they have overcome. They’ve managed to somehow, keep their joy in the midst of the most trying circumstances. This book is a rally to lean into the Bend. ## Are you Struggling? The last month has been a battle to refocus on what is good and hopeful. This year has been one of constant redirection for us. It has been hard to get back into doing the things I love. Even the things I know I need to do. Like many of the friends I’ve spoken to, the events of this year have hung a weight on me. I have felt a sinking lowness that I couldn’t shake. Like my face was turned toward the ground. Bending under the weight of frustration and disappointment over how I believed things should go. I love how Beth affirms the possibility of resilience in adversity. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bend_Flat_Approved-Cover.jpg "Bend_Flat_Approved-Cover › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bend_Flat_Approved-Cover.jpg)## We Do Not Struggle Unseen or Alone Beth Lueders book *Bend; When Life Dares to Break You – Strength and Resilience from unlikely places*; landed into my hands at just the right time. Reminding me to lift my eyes and see the path ahead of me. Her interviews reveal those who have bent, some lower than they could have imagined, and yet remained unbroken. Her interviews and the unfolding stories remind me of the human capacity for resilience. Shadows of the grace God grants those who are in the middle of weary battles. Each chapter is woven with the honesty and transparency that lead to authentic listening. I might not have the opportunity to sit with a mother who knows her time with her child is limited. I’ve not bantered with a scrappy survivor of wars, turned frail elder. Nor, did I sit with a witch over lunch in a hamburger joint. Beth brings us right into the conversation. She lets us feel the weight of their bending. ## Bend Connects Us with New Voices I appreciate her capacity to listen with an open heart. She brings a light of openness which is often missing in Christian writing. This book is a great message for parents and siblings who are Bending. Families who are enduring heartache and are holding on, feeling the full stretch of bending will relate to these stories. [![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Getty_1224881172.jpg?fit=1024%2C795&ssl=1 "Getty_1224881172 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Getty_1224881172.jpg)Bending Under the Weight of Circumstances with Grace is Especially Challenging when it Involves Those You Love## Find Resilience & Strength in Adversity The chapters have a follow up reflection chapter to help us refocus and connect with the deeper truths. Truths of hope, grace and the endless capacity to find glory in even the most unlikely circumstances. First, you can read Beth’s 7 Principal to Bending [HERE](https://www.bethlueders.com/7principles_of_bending/). Then you too can look at your circumstances annew. Now, I am turning over rocks in the mud in my own life. You can start looking for the fingerprints of God in your circumstances again. I am confident you will find Him on your side. The stories I read in the chapters of *Bend, When Life Dares You to Break* are of people who found peace in the storm. I am glad to be in the company of others who have found strength and resilience in the face of adversity Even, while adversity has caused them to bend beyonmd what they thought capeable. [Enter the Giveaway for a Signed Copy](https://promosimple.com/ps/1072c/bend-review) ## Where Can You Find Beth? Beth Lueders is a journalist and author. She has traveled the globe interviewing both famed and everyday people alike and telling their stories. You can find out more about *Bend* and read Beth’s blog on her [website](https://www.bethlueders.com/). Are looking for a gift this Holiday? Do you have a friend who is going through a difficult season? *Bend* would be and encouragement for them. Right now, you can enter this giveaway and win a signed copy to keep or to give right [HERE](https://promosimple.com/ps/1072c/bend-review). Make sure to grab the bonus entries too! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Beth Lueders, Book Review, NonFiction, resilience --- ### [Blogging Made Easier With CoSchedule](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blogging-made-easier-with-coschedule/) **Published:** November 18, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Are you a Blogger with a lot of content and too few readers. I know I still feel that way. How can I get my “evergreen” content in front of more people? I’ve learned a ton of tips and tricks. I’ve created posts I believe in, so what more can you do when you’re ready to grow your audience? It is clearly time to upgrade your blogging tool box. #### We use a lot of tools in the world of Blogging, but a few are absolutely vital. I started out in 2008 with a simple xanga blog, where I shared about living in the country. As my desire to write grew, so did the platform I used. I had a brief stint on Blogger before I moved to a self hosted platform. I am now very happy using WordPress. With 100+ blogs posts to date I have a lot of content on the blog that is still relevant. The challenge is getting it out there again in a way that new people can read it. That is what led me to expand my tool box. ![cos-logo-icon-orange.png](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cos-logo-icon-orange.png "cos-logo-icon-orange › 200 Fingers & Toes") I have had quite a few free trials from various editorial schedulers, but I kept coming back to CoSchedule. I am a visual person; I crave visual clarity, paper calendars over digital, so I love that the CoSchedule calendar fully integrates with WordPress. After I installed the plug-in the CoSchedule calendar is directly below the current draft I am editing. I can complete all of my scheduling at the same time that I am optimizing my SEO before I even post. I can also click directly on the calendar in WordPress whenever I want to get a broader picture of my editorial calendar. ![coschedule-wordpresscalendar-jpg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CoSchedule-WordPressCalendar.jpg.png "coschedule-wordpresscalendar-jpg › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### I need a editorial tool that is robust but not difficult to learn Have you canceled a trial from another tool because it was too complicated or offered features you had already set up? That is frustrating and a waste of your time. Not with CoSchedule Other programs I tried were hard to navigate or were hosted on a separate platform that offered little more than a drag and drop calendar. I needed a program that reduced the time I spent filling in content gaps. CoSchedule offers step by step instructions, with tutorials and video documentation to help you implement every step that they recommend for you. They don’t stop there. Every week I find fresh useable content in their email, and I apply it right to my blog. If you are like me you don’t have a lot of time to waste; I would like to spend the majority of time writing when I am at my desk. Now all I do is add a few steps to my content creation time and I know that my post will live a long and fruitful life. That is evergreen content. #### I want to stop creating the same steps over and over CoSchedule has malleable templates, so I can tweak them to fit what works for me and then use it over and over again. The best part is because CoSchedule fully integrates with Google Analytics, I know exactly what is working with my own real time numbers to back it up. #### Are you in charge of projects? If you have a team or just a partner, you can get on the same page and communicate in real time. No more getting lost in the email shuffle. When you are working on a post you are working in one place with your communication flow easily displayed on the work screen. If they had CoSchedule for teens, my house would be clean and their homework would be done on time. ![CoSchedule-Social-Queue.jpg.png](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CoSchedule-Social-Queue.jpg.png?w=5584 "coschedule-social-queue-jpg › 200 Fingers & Toes") Still not sure about taking the next step? Check out the video clip here for a quick run through of features CoSchedule offers. Are you ready to take your blogging to the next phase? Click the link below to get started. Having tried many other tools out there, I have found CoSchedule is the best fit for me and they have a plan that I can legitimately afford. By clicking this link, you help make CoSchedule even more affordable for me because referrals will get you a 10% reduction in your rate. [![CoSchedule: The Editorial Calendar For WordPress](//d2lbmhk9kvi6z5.cloudfront.net/referral/img/Editorial_Calendar_468x60.jpg)](http://coschedule.com/r/65685 "CoSchedule: The Editorial Calendar For WordPress") **You can do this, I know you can. CoSchedule will help you do it faster.** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** blog & writing life **Tags:** blogging, business, CoSchedule, editorial calendar, writers life, writers toolbox --- ### [Don't Lose Math Skills This Summer {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/dont-lose-math-skills-this-summer-review/) **Published:** April 25, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We are brushing up on our math skills this summer with a [Family Math Package](http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/ViewInteractiveMathFamily.jsp) from [A+ Interactive Math (by A+ TutorSoft Inc.)](http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/) [![Family Math](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/family-math-package-online-ad.jpg)](http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/ViewInteractiveMathFamily.jsp)Math has been a hodge podge this last year. Some of our kids have changed programs a few times, because of learning needs or my own trying to streamline our school day better. Our favorite program has been a challenge with multiple students because it is still in disk format and therefore needs to be installed on only one computer. If you have multiple students or even one student that likes to change school zones that is no tthe best arrangement. We have concluded that this program no longer fits our life. ## A+ Interactive Math is a Great Fit For Large Families We are constantly moving between four desktop computers and two working rooms in our home. What we needed was a math program we could access from any computer with any student. A program that does this would destroy one of the obstacles that was making math difficult to streamline in our large family school day. A+ Interactive Math is our answer, it is an online program, so access is granted per user on any device. This works for us because with seven students we have to rotate devices between two class grades each day. ## Priced With Families in Mind One of the greatest things about the family math package from A+ interactive math is the price it is currently $79 for one student and $149 for any number of students after that. As a large family often times cost is the thing that prohibits us from trying a new program or using tools we would really like, but cannot afford when we multiply the cost per student. I have to thank the makers A+ Interactive Math for providing a digital program that is accessible to everyone. It is literally the cost of one student math package that I paid for last year. ## Track Each Student From Your Dashboard Each student in the Family Math Package and their [Adaptive Math Program](https://aplusinteractivemath.com/) is assigned a grade level. In the Adaptive Math Curriculum Online, students then take a mini-test and and if they have gaps in that concept the program will create a lesson plan. The video lessons and worksheets are actually the same in both programs. The difference is that in the Adaptive Program the students are only given the lessons for that concept or unit that they didn’t meet goal offer. Then, as they progress through the math program adjusts the difficulty level to fit the individual student. ![tutorsoft.parent](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/tutorsoft.parent.jpeg "tutorsoft.parent › 200 Fingers & Toes") The program I reviewed is the [![Family Math](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/family-math-package-online-ad.jpg)]( **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Education Feels Like a Break; Winter Sanity Saver Electives](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/education-that-feels-like-a-break-the-winter-sanity-saver-elective-list/) **Published:** November 23, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? Taking time for creativity isn’t justs for kids. Here are a few ways I carve out time to be creative as a mom. The principals are the same for this Holiday reboot season too. Winter electives tend to focus on things we can do indoors and more independent than the collective play that we have in the summertime. ### Guitar lessons with time to actually practice instead of the few frantic hours the night before… Fender offers lessons through their app Fender Play for a very reasonable rate. (currently under $10) Lessons are available on any device, including your phone and home computer which means you can also use your smart TV and hold a multi-kid class in your own living room. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/fender-1024x412.jpeg "fender › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/fender.jpeg)Choose guitar, bass, or Ukulele and jump right in. From tuning to rhythm the process is broken down step by step for you. Use the fun Chord Challenge to hone your skills in between lessons. Levels 1-5 have roughly twenty lessons each so you will get all the value you want out of the subscription. You can choose a monthly plan for maximum flexibility or an annual subscription for maximum savings. You can use the free Fender Tuner app to help you stay in tune. We use a fun app called GuitarTuna for note and chord memorization exercises that are more like games. ### A table littered with art supplies that doesn’t have to get put away for science class to start… > [6 Steps to Help You Be a Creative Mama This Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/summer-play-mom/) ## Find a New Skill with These Winter Elective Ideas ### Game school with the coding computer and a new program that teaches with Minecraft… > [Get Scholarship Money with STEM Courses](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-scholarship-money-with-stem-courses/) Read about the STEM TOOLS we have used over the years in out homeschool learning. Both in school and out of school learning counts when it comes to tech skills. This is one area that you can get a lot of mileage out of a subject once you capture your child’s interest.> [Make Electives Easy with a Homeschool STEM Kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/make-electives-easy-with-a-homeschool-stem-kit/) > [Skip the books! How to make STEM studies a reality in your homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/skip-the-books-how-to-make-stem-studies-a-reality-in-your-homeschool/) Making movies with the Stop Motion program you bought but never had time to use### Digging into the craft bin and seeing what you can make… Nope. This winter you are going to have a plan with no effort at all. We use Skillshare to find classes for all of us to get creative. Graphic Design. photography, calligraphy, comic books to crafts and cooking, skillshare give teachers a platform to connect with students. Each class has an easy to follow syllabus and clear supply list as well. Adult learners are going to love Skillshare for the truly diverse and readily adaptable courses, while younger learners are going to find endless inspiration. You can read the full review post [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/) ### Try Putting on a Play for the Winter Holidays… We loved [Playingwithplays](https://www.playingwithplays.com/shop/) Shakespeare for Kids Books. You can use them to put on a whole family production. Play vary in number of participants and difficulty, but not in fun. Check out their site for more options and don’t miss out on the [Shakespeare Insult Generator](http://playingwithplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/shakespeare-insult-generator.pdf) a beloved classic for the ages. Read about how they put on a virtual play and what they learned in the process. This would be a great way to get the older cousins together virtually if your travel plans involve NO travel like all of our family this holiday season. You can watch the whole video [HERE](https://www.playingwithplays.com/online-readers-theatre-2/). ### Winter Electives are Family time and Creativity without the stress… This could be a really fun time to do the things you never quite feel like you have the time to do. Take the time. Trust me, after eighteen years, I’m not sorry for any of the time we ever took off of formal learning for creative pursuits. Want more homeschooling ideas at you fingertips? Listen on the go with our podcast… ![](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/1161942/1161942-1584901387570-473e992ba6235.jpg) ## Counting the Cost to Homeschool[ ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) – [ In Due Season Homeschool; Your Guide to Living Well Throughout Your Homeschool Journey ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog) Parents are leaving the public school in mass. With the local districts establishing the rules for access to extracurricular activities, some parents find their access barred. There are questions about the right to access field trips, prom, and graduation ceremonies. Before these parents demand their rights, I would love to propose a conversation. Firstly, we need to establish a clear picture of the cost of homeschooling and the powerful deterrents districts will use to stem the loss of students from the rolls. Secondly, we are poised for the most significant opportunity homeschooling has experienced in a decade. The influx of energy, creativity, and numbers to build a vibrant, thriving community could be what homeschoolers need to meet these needs in a way that compliments our values and family-oriented goals. Join me for the beginning of an ongoing conversation… 1. [ Counting the Cost to Homeschool 23:58 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) 2. [ EP11 Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to Know 22:12 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP11-Homeschool-Graduation-Facts-You-Need-to-Know-e28if0q) 3. [ EP10 – Managing paper in your homeschool 17:22 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP10---Managing-paper-in-your-homeschool-e2881f6) 4. [ EP09 Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool 16:30 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP09-Developing-Organization-Skills-in-Your-Homeschool-e27tsjf) 5. [ EP008 – What We are Using in Our Homeschool This Year 17:31 ](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP008---What-We-are-Using-in-Our-Homeschool-This-Year-eitt4c) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Make Electives Easy with a Homeschool STEM Kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/make-electives-easy-with-a-homeschool-stem-kit/) **Published:** September 7, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** STEM studies, tech and engineering are all the rage in education. That means a big market for hands-on tools like homeschool STEM kits like... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* STEM studies, tech tools and engineering skills are all the rage in education circles. This is great news for homeschoolers. That means a bigger market for hands on teaching tools like homeschool STEM kits that kids can really use. We received the [Fischertechnik Profi Hydraulic with Engineer kit](https://timberdoodle.com/products/fischertechnik-profi-hydraulic?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=fischertechnik-profi-hydraulic) from Timberdoodle to play with and build some serious hydraulic machines. ## Start With Curiosity Our curiosity for [hydraulic kits](https://timberdoodle.com/products/fischertechnik-profi-hydraulic?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=fischertechnik-profi-hydraulic) started with a youtube video we saw a few years back. It showed a homeschool STEM kit build of a model human hand made out of cardboard and syringes to create hydraulic pistons that would move the individual fingers. It was pretty cool. Since we had syringes in our science workstation we gave it a try. A lot of wet cardboard later, we weren’t a lot closer to understanding hydraulic power, but we knew it could be fun to learn about it. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P1020105-1024x769.jpg "P1020105 › 200 Fingers & Toes")The Fischertechnik Kit combines the ease to build like a mega Lego kit and the ability to power your creations as well. This STEM Kit comes with instructions to build 5 models with three different “engine” set ups. ### A few great things about this as a homeschool STEM kit… - They were created as prototypes for engineering companies to work out the bugs in actual factory installations. - Highly regarded by engineers because the models mimic the real life application for training in the industry. - The unique block design has the ability to add parts on all six sides. These kits are expandable and can be used in conjunction with any other kit to expand and explore new creative builds. - The good kind of challenge. ## Great for a Child Wanting a Challenge This kit is rated for children 9+ and I would say that is accurate. My 14 year old daughter worked on this model. I was surprised how determined she was to finish once she got started. She had never been interested in block type kits before, so it was a fun new project to see her work out. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_5442-1024x1024.jpg "Tick-Tock › 200 Fingers & Toes")You Never Know Who Your Tech Kid is Going to BeThe instructions were clear and easy to follow. The parts were also shown to scale in the booklet to make it easier to identify them, but it was still at least four hours in total to build the excavator. As a parent that is a good project. It would easily be a week of “class” time and then time to animate the build and look deeper into hydraulic systems, engines and you still have four other models to build. That makes it worth the dollars invested to me. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P1020108-1024x769.jpg "P1020108 › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Making Homeschool Choices Easier The Fischertechnik Profi Hydraulic with Engineer Kit Included in Timberdoodle’s 2020 [Eighth-Grade Curriculum Kit](https://timberdoodle.com/products/2020-eighth-grade-curriculum-kit?utm_source=200_fingers_toes&utm_medium=brt&utm_campaign=fischertechnik-profi-hydraulic) and Nonreligious 2020 Eighth-Grade Curriculum Kit. I love curriculum homeschool kits. We were very frugal homeschoolers when we first began sixteen years ago. I priced out everything and there is no way I could get all of the components cheaper than I could if I got everything in a kit from Timberdoodle. The all-in-one kits are a great value with time tested components. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P1020109-1-1024x769.jpg "P1020109-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Build and Learn with STEM kits like this one I have been ordering from them way back before we officially started homeschooling. I often used the Timberdoodle catalog for my Christmas shopping. For years, we had a strict NO toy policy with our extended family. Firstly, because we want less clutter, and also because we wanted to choose high quality learning tools. With ten kids you can get overwhelmed with stuff pretty fast. I don’t regret it one bit. STEM Kits like these are a great gift to put on the [grandparent list](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist-2/) and both of you can get what you want at the same time. ## Don’t Forget the Electives…and Fun I know the expense can cause you to put off a homeschool STEM kit like this as an “extra” and that is why I encourage you to create a mini course out of it. You don’t have to know about hydraulics before you start. There are tons of youtube videos to help you and your child get more creative too. The best part of homeschooling is all of the things we have learned together. Who knows, maybe you have a secret engineer living in you. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P1020111-769x1024.jpg "P1020111 › 200 Fingers & Toes")[![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Untitled-6-1024x1024.jpg "Untitled-6 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](www.indueseason.net) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Engineering, Homeschool STEM Kits --- ### [Free Schedule Download & Huge Home Teaching Resource List](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/free-schedule-download-huge-home-teaching-resource-list/) **Published:** March 24, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** With the closure of the public schools so early in Spring, many parents are going to have to create a new normal. I though I would share this schedule with you and see if it can help create a structure you can work with while teaching lessons at home. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I have learned very well and accountability is what keeps our homeschool moving. In the first year that I was working away from home I continued woking as usual, but our home lessons got away from me. Assignments weren’t getting done when I was not there to oversee our teens. We ended up continuing to school through the summer to make up Math and Science assignments. We had week left to go in the books or had not progressed far enough to be considered completed. When we begin the new school year I knew I never wanted to do summer school again. I created better accountability systems, clear expectations and made sure the kids knew what the repercussions would be if they did not complete their part of their homeschool assignments. Even though I returned to full-time homeschooling this year creating a check off list for myself and my students has helped me make sure everybody is held accountable for getting their work done including myself. With the closure of the public schools so early in Spring, many parents are going to have to create a new normal. I though I would share this schedule with you and see if it can help create a structure you can work with while teaching lessons at home. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/parent-check-out-weekly-sheet.jpeg "parent check out weekly sheet › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Daily-School-Work-Schedule.pdf)## This Schedule Can Flex For You Even though the schedule was created to use with Sonlight curriculum, I find the subjects are common to most school students. We have worked both four and five day school years. A four day week is ideal if you want to have a less structured day for watching some youtube videos and taking some online courses or just having an arts and craft time and some free-play time built into your life. I created a rough framework for the daily work of my high school students. It includes under 4 1/2 hours of assigned working time with plenty of room for reading and writing summaries for each assigned subject. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/high-school-kids.jpeg "high-school-kids › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Daily-School-Work-Schedule.pdf)The daily work for elementary students has roughly 3 1/2 hours of parent led instruction time most of which consists of simple short reading times, followed by worksheet or discussion. The time Frames are always flexible, but I find having an expectation and writing down what we are doing for the day or week helps me to know what we are doing, that way I stay on task. Below is the link to sign up for my Parent Checkout Sheet which I keep in my own binder and check off as my students turn in their daily summaries, math problems, current events and science assignments. This download also includes a copy of the FREE Homeschool Schedule for daily work for high school as well as the FREE Homeschool Schedule elementary students. There is space for you to write the expected work for each subject daily. These are usually put the in front of a portfolio folder with any workbook pages or printables behind it and the whole packet is turned in at the end of the day. [DOWNLOAD THE FREE SCHEDULES HERE](https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f138439b57315002cf2a1b1) # More Resources to Help… Here’s a bunch of links to recent resources to help you make schooling at home easier for the remainder of the school year should you need any help. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Learning-with-Khan.jpeg "Learning-with-Khan › 200 Fingers & Toes")### **Here is an update on Remote Learning From [Khan Academy](https://www.khanacademy.org)** •Our parent quick start guides will get you up and running with Khan Academy in 15 minutes or less (for [kids 2-7](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9raGFua2lkcy56ZW5kZXNrLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8zNjAwNDAzMTU2MzItSG93LXRvLXVzZS1LaGFuLUFjYWRlbXktS2lkcy1mb3ItcmVtb3RlLWxlYXJuaW5nP3V0bV9lbWFpbF9rYWlkPWthaWRfNzM5ODYxMzEzNTQ2NDM5ODE5Njc4MTQ3%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0Bf4625f17&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739634391&sdata=ZM3GYRg2ZrA0UFtS5Ro3sXtdmtmhi3dQbPXLCJ2kVXQ%3D&reserved=0), for [kids under 12](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9kb2NzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20vZG9jdW1lbnQvZC9lLzJQQUNYLTF2Ump1ak82czVsTVBJTkNBMzBzODNJQzBoQXpWWVZJVEtTdFJ2ZjRsZUQwMDJGYjE4dWZEeXlpUjhQVU1kU0JrY3NOanNDZ0pDN2p1YW5QL3B1Yj91dG1fZW1haWxfa2FpZD1rYWlkXzczOTg2MTMxMzU0NjQzOTgxOTY3ODE0NyNoLnM4N2I5ZjduMmlmNg%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0B65ff3822&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739634391&sdata=KCZRlCbxpQiMLWxAWDOEhJQ5dyGWjcGrVDhK9UrqiKw%3D&reserved=0), for [kids over 13](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9kb2NzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20vZG9jdW1lbnQvZC9lLzJQQUNYLTF2UlJGeEFTZGQyUE5tTzhTU0xYUWE0bzZRT1Frc3dWenBzalVCSEQ0dkp4QkxQU1otTkM4cFpkUkZBak1CbVl5eURsYzBCSUJkT1gtYXlaL3B1Yj91dG1fZW1haWxfa2FpZD1rYWlkXzczOTg2MTMxMzU0NjQzOTgxOTY3ODE0Nw%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0B03ee5c4a&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739644388&sdata=dgdXc8wHz%2B5%2F2gMi9EZrrNnRL7xax7Dt%2B1JcS0gu0ZQ%3D&reserved=0)).•Sal’s [daily schedules](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9kb2NzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20vZG9jdW1lbnQvdS8xL2QvZS8yUEFDWC0xdlNaaE9kRVBBV2pVUXBxRGtWQWxKckZ3eHhaOVNhNnpHT3EwQ05SbXM2WjdEWk5xLXRRV1MzT2h1VkNVYmhfLVAtV21rc0hBemJzcms5ZC9wdWI_dXRtX2VtYWlsX2thaWQ9a2FpZF83Mzk4NjEzMTM1NDY0Mzk4MTk2NzgxNDc%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0B3e26a28e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739644388&sdata=YQ%2FSUNH85m1gVKgH2Aq0fonPq5s5NGi%2Ft4ewcjyMh1U%3D&reserved=0) for learners ages 2-18 can help build routines and keep learning during school closures.•We’ve developed [an FAQ for parents](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9raGFuYWNhZGVteS56ZW5kZXNrLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8zNjAwNDA0MTg5NzItQXMtYS1wYXJlbnQtaG93LWNhbi1JLXVzZS1LaGFuLUFjYWRlbXktdG8tc3VwcG9ydC1teS1jaGlsZC1zLWxlYXJuaW5nLWR1cmluZy1hLXNjaG9vbC1jbG9zdXJlLT91dG1fZW1haWxfa2FpZD1rYWlkXzczOTg2MTMxMzU0NjQzOTgxOTY3ODE0Nw%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0Bf9e254dc&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739644388&sdata=MXbS8JkNwmAcIFmq%2FFhoiz00PtlgtvvzbChvXIGXDO0%3D&reserved=0) about remote learning. High Schoo Test Prep•In light of recent SAT test cancellations, we developed an [FAQ about the SAT](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9raGFuYWNhZGVteS56ZW5kZXNrLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8zNjAwNDA2NjU2MzI_dXRtX2VtYWlsX2thaWQ9a2FpZF83Mzk4NjEzMTM1NDY0Mzk4MTk2NzgxNDc%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0Bf679c96a&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739664374&sdata=GeBPRI1Rmac7O6Te3I6aHF1uIG8EhkSfqkr2%2BrSbdMA%3D&reserved=0) and a [suggested SAT study plan](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9raGFuYWNhZGVteS56ZW5kZXNrLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8zNjAwNDA2NjU2MzI_dXRtX2VtYWlsX2thaWQ9a2FpZF83Mzk4NjEzMTM1NDY0Mzk4MTk2NzgxNDc%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0Cf679c96a&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739664374&sdata=Lpq8IAa0x%2FdRg5%2BMEsV%2B5jr43Dg6Dnv7Nqh4aE7mGxs%3D&reserved=0). Khan Academy Webinars•Watch our [recorded webinar](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9zNU0wVXFGdjlqUT91dG1fZW1haWxfa2FpZD1rYWlkXzczOTg2MTMxMzU0NjQzOTgxOTY3ODE0Nw%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0Bee4e189e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739654381&sdata=bss0ueyrVlx9gvvcqj5lbEBbgv6bx1h3qT55Fw3Wih4%3D&reserved=0) for parents where we give guidance about using Khan Academy (ages 4-18) and Khan Academy Kids (ages 2-7) for remote learning.•We’re planning additional parent webinars and would love your feedback. What topics would be helpful for you? Let us know in this [Google Form](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9mb3Jtcy5nbGUvM29lUDEzanBQQmZ0eVpHSkE_dXRtX2VtYWlsX2thaWQ9a2FpZF83Mzk4NjEzMTM1NDY0Mzk4MTk2NzgxNDc%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0Bfa93107e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739654381&sdata=WNFbE25w4Dv9YO6lMclmsHoqUR1k4BSXe%2B0JnH4qGcI%3D&reserved=0). Some of My Friends and Homeschool Course Creators## **Webinars** ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2015-05-18-11.15.51-768x1024.jpg "2015-05-18 11.15.51 › 200 Fingers & Toes")- Hi, Aurora here. This Wed. I’m giving a **live online class on Astronomy and Black Holes**, and wanted to invite you to attend for free. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/supercharged-science.jpeg "supercharged science › 200 Fingers & Toes")- Your kids will learn about our solar system, black holes, spinning neutron stars, quasars, blazars, magnetars, supernovae, and LOTS more. **It’s like going to a planetarium show, but you can do it from home!** [You can register here for free](https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis-tracking-link-api-prod.appspot.com%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fclick%2F6057823226822656%2F5968483774889984&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cc023e596f280404b480d08d7cff2b115%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206513560473155&sdata=hMb6e%2FsoP9lH60zBhYD3JNOVR7Z4pSUZjvb8wZwHum0%3D&reserved=0) Resources for Families From [Common Sense Education](https://www.commonsense.org/education/?utm_source=edu_nl_20200324&utm_medium=email)Help families navigate social distancing and school closures with quality media and at-home learning opportunities. [Share with families](https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fclick.commonsense-email.org%2F%3Fqs%3D7bcfe45bd981fe09b25873e8effebafa4edd831e990568869221c06000b063c14e10254d7c6eb57a5ba2a8f2f383566904651080870bdb54bc35c8d511092a3a&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cc584bc899cd54d45bf1108d7d025b9ce%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206732763654822&sdata=BcA3vM0CnJuhcKh7DxN2ll%2Bi1dqvxT7ltM5yWjRyieo%3D&reserved=0) from common sense education![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/commonsensemedia.jpeg "commonsensemedia › 200 Fingers & Toes")## **Other helpful resources** •[Common Sense Media](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY29tbW9uc2Vuc2VtZWRpYS5vcmcvP3V0bV9lbWFpbF9rYWlkPWthaWRfNzM5ODYxMzEzNTQ2NDM5ODE5Njc4MTQ3%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0B79d38487&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739674371&sdata=iA44KRGcVJf1d9YqIarnZIelkC0wVm2Rfr%2FYVutvViw%3D&reserved=0) provides age-appropriate media recommendations for families and schools.•[Schoolclosures.org](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9zY2hvb2xjbG9zdXJlcy5vcmcvP3V0bV9lbWFpbF9rYWlkPWthaWRfNzM5ODYxMzEzNTQ2NDM5ODE5Njc4MTQ3%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0B4f00ccd4&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739674371&sdata=VCxt08eobVN8ZNpIRTGjQa257OlSVAN%2FaQTiKi65WNE%3D&reserved=0) is a roundup of useful resources, covering everything from remote learning to socializing and staying connected. •[Code.org](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femails.khanacademy.org%2Fclick%2F19776547.2371839%2FaHR0cHM6Ly9jb2RlLm9yZy9icmVhaz91dG1fZW1haWxfa2FpZD1rYWlkXzczOTg2MTMxMzU0NjQzOTgxOTY3ODE0Nw%2F58a1e159e9328bcd178b48f0Bb265d4e4&data=02%7C01%7C%7C423ebea6a3f043919d1708d7d01442a0%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637206657739684364&sdata=awHrFKILPBEsr8xSmozrxB1IgdIpOOHtXmbS%2Fd5ML54%3D&reserved=0) has a free weekly webcast for learning computer science during school closures.## **Check Your Local Library for Access** One thing I’d like to share with everyone is that World Book Online has granted access to ALL of their digital resources until April 30, 2020. We only currently subscribe to five of their resources: Kids, Student, Advanced, Timelines and the Spanish version. But with the addition of all their other resources, that will add the following: - At Home Lesson Ideas in Early Learning - Home Lesson Ideas in Kids (elementary) - Lesson Ideas in Student (middle school) - At Home Lesson Ideas in Advanced (high school) - Distance Learning Resources for Parents - and more! In order to use these resources, you need to be a library patron. You can contact you local library for login information **Free Printables from Veritas Press** **Printables That Support Teachers with TPT** Check out [this resource](https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/) for workbooks and helps created by teachers. Every purchase supports a teacher and help supply a classroom with the tools they need. ## **From CodaKid 7 [Free Courses](https://my.codakid.com/free-trial/)** We at CodaKid wanted to do our part to make the next few weeks or months better. Last week we sent out a code that unlocked some great online coding home lessons and **this week we are sending a code that will unlock 4 more!** ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/codakid.jpeg "codakid › 200 Fingers & Toes")Please read below for some more FREE Coding and STEM activities for your child or teen (including free access to 7 great courses on our award-winning platform.) ### **1. Take 7 Free Game Programming Courses with CodaKid** Younger learners will love our Scratch 3.0 home lessons, which teach absolute beginners how to make their own 2D video games which can be played with friends and family. Make an awesome Catch the Cat, Infinite Jumper, Scratch Archery, Great Space Maze, and Impossible Game. Plus we unlocked some text-based coding courses called Candy Thieves from Outer Space I and II. To access them please use the following instructions: a) Go to [https://my.codakid.com/product/more-home-fun/](https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodakid.acemlnc.com%2Flt.php%3Fs%3Db0cd621bbd6ec1a7dc8a3ea793b8e27d%26i%3D404A540A4A7925&data=02%7C01%7C%7C03d57ab0ab934fe30ded08d7cdaee417%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637204023336967496&sdata=neGiRkG4b1Ejro0v1yT26N4huk%2BGIz78vjZK8PJL%2Fz4%3D&reserved=0) b) Click Add to Cart c)Look for “Have a coupon code?” field d) Enter code **more-home-fun** e) Click Apply f) Enjoy 5 FREE CodaKid Scratch 3.0 courses plus Candy Thieves from Outer Space JavaScript text coding challenges! This is a back way into our platform and looks a little funny, but it will work 🙂 (You should not have to enter any credit card info to gain access here. If you are prompted to enter a credit card, please retry the instructions again, as the cart should be taken to $0). ### Activity Time: 8-10 hours Recommended Ages: 7+ Device Needed: Chromebook, PC, Mac **Plus if you haven’t tried them yet, here are some fun guides that will provide awesome game programming, game design, and STEM activities during your time at home.** **2. Make an Obstacle (Obby) Game using Roblox Studio** We have put together a free guide to home lessons that will get your son or daughter started with this super-fun and free activity. When they are done, they will have completed a professional quality Obby video game that they can play with friends and family online. Imagine learning how to make your own video game using the game engine used by tens of thousands of professional around the world! Super-fun and highly educational! To take the tutorial visit: [https://codakid.com/ultimate-guide-making-your-first-game-on-roblox-studio/](https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodakid.acemlnc.com%2Flt.php%3Fs%3Db0cd621bbd6ec1a7dc8a3ea793b8e27d%26i%3D404A540A4A7918&data=02%7C01%7C%7C03d57ab0ab934fe30ded08d7cdaee417%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637204023336967496&sdata=DdMl6RSNQ4PrwXvb%2Bq0QJQP0ciXYRLszQ7xtZyLR0zw%3D&reserved=0) Activity Time: 3-4 hours Recommended Ages: 9+ Device Needed: Mac or PC ### **3. Make a Custom Sword Mod for Minecraft** We created a fun written guide that will teach you how to create your own custom sword for Minecraft – and you don’t even need a retail version of Minecraft to do it! This project will be an excellent project for young techies ages 10+, or a terrific Father/Mother- Son/Daughter dual project for all ages. When you are done, you will have designed your own custom sword with special powers that you can play in the game. And even cooler is that you will learn the Java programming language on a professional text editor to bring your creation to life! To take the free tutorial visit here: [https://codakid.com/guide-to-minecraft-modding-with-java/](https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodakid.acemlnc.com%2Flt.php%3Fs%3Db0cd621bbd6ec1a7dc8a3ea793b8e27d%26i%3D404A540A4A7919&data=02%7C01%7C%7C03d57ab0ab934fe30ded08d7cdaee417%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637204023336977491&sdata=3UaX%2FfnEhKFRSpHpFEMqW3Da0tsLdN1Pnoyq6Rph8is%3D&reserved=0) Activity Time: 4-5 hours Recommended Ages: 10+ Device Needed: Mac or PC ### 4**. Make your Own Free Minecraft Server** Our dev team created a super fun guide that will teach you how to build your own Minecraft server from scratch for FREE. Your child or teen will build valuable STEM skills and gain confidence setting up a server that can be used to play Minecraft with friends and family! To take the tutorial visit here: [https://codakid.com/how-to-make-a-minecraft-server/](https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodakid.acemlnc.com%2Flt.php%3Fs%3Db0cd621bbd6ec1a7dc8a3ea793b8e27d%26i%3D404A540A4A7920&data=02%7C01%7C%7C03d57ab0ab934fe30ded08d7cdaee417%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637204023336977491&sdata=ANtH%2BSPHMhXW%2FjSJRrBm3tLCSKbi%2B5L%2FvKCTT5lUbXI%3D&reserved=0) Activity Time: 4-5 hours Recommended Ages: 10+ Device Needed: Mac or PC Subscription needed: You will need retail versions of Minecraft to play multiplayer with your friends. We hope that you enjoy these home lessons as much as we have enjoyed creating them! **If your child or teen loves technology, and you’d like to turbocharge their tech education, you can try CodaKid All Access for FREE for 14 days. We even include unlimited support from a team of friendly teachers as part of our subscriptions! It includes Python Game Development, App Development, Roblox Game Development, Minecraft Modding, Unreal Engine 4 Development, Unity 3D Game Development, and more!** Don’t forget to subscribe to [the podcast](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-the-best-resources-for-faster-homeschool-start-up/) for the latest in [homeschool help](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-start-up-smart-reasons-to-home-educate/), tips and tools that will help you create the life you love. - [Counting the Cost to Homeschool](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) - [EP11 Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to Know](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP11-Homeschool-Graduation-Facts-You-Need-to-Know-e28if0q) - [EP10 – Managing paper in your homeschool](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP10---Managing-paper-in-your-homeschool-e2881f6) - [EP09 Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP09-Developing-Organization-Skills-in-Your-Homeschool-e27tsjf) - [EP008 – What We are Using in Our Homeschool This Year](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP008---What-We-are-Using-in-Our-Homeschool-This-Year-eitt4c) Don’t forget to [get your download](https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f138439b57315002cf2a1b1) and print your FREE Homeschool schedule and start using it to help you all stay on track during the school day. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/200FT-IDS-Logo-1-1024x700.jpg "In Due Season Episode Post › 200 Fingers & Toes")Thanks for reading This post is available as a podcast to listen to on the go and share with a friend ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** homeschool schedule, learning resources --- ### [Why Now is the Best Time to Study China in Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-now-is-the-best-time-to-study-china-in-your-homeschool-eastern-hemisphere/) **Published:** June 30, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## Why We Take Year long focus on the Eastern Hemisphere ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000116.jpg?fit=1024%2C769&ssl=1 "P1000116 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sonlight’s [HBL F](https://www.sonlight.com/FC5.html/?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway) is no skipping stone when it comes to the place where the two thirds of the world’s population resides. In this yearlong curriculum students go deeper than ever with their study of China with the incorporated Eastern Hemisphere Explorer (EHE) Project Guide. This notebook is created to facilitate the EHE research project that will have them gathering facts about each country they explored along the way. This year will build depth and breadth to the foundations we have laid in previous HBL’s beginning with [World Cultures back in the first grade](https://www.sonlight.com/1ASP4/?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway). My kids are begging for us to use the China Kit which includes a calligraphy kit, rice paper, chopsticks and domino cards to learn a game. PSST…Sonlight is giving you a chance to win more items like this kit to celebrate 30 years of serving the homeschool community click [HERE](https://www.sonlight.com/30th-anniversary?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway) to enter ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000121.jpg?fit=1024%2C769&ssl=1 "P1000121 › 200 Fingers & Toes")We added another layer to our learning with the [Hands-On History Kit for World Cultures](https://www.sonlight.com/BHK.html/?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway). This kit was not around when we used HBL A (World Cultures) with this group of students and since they are on the younger end of the recommended spectrum, I knew they would love to add some creative activities. If you have older students you can choose the coordinating [packaged Elective Kit instead](https://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/subjects/electives/?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway). But really can you be too old to make your own dragon? Nah! ![](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000117.jpg?fit=1024%2C769&ssl=1 "P1000117 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Eastern Hemisphere begins in China and then moves out over the rest of the Asian continent, to the Middle East, Africa and following to the South Pacific, ending in Antarctica. We are excited to pull out our beautifully illustrated book by Leonard Fisher and rediscover the Great Wall of China. This time in history could not be more right for this study. ## Why is a Study of China Timely? Little Ears and the News Early in 2020, China was at the top of [every news story](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-give-your-student-the-edge-with-current-events-resources/). As shut downs from the Covid-19 outbreak began, we looked to China for vital first information. Our children were seeing the empty streets of towns and cities they had never heard of before. The problem is that the context was couched in the fear of a dangerous and unknown sickness. As adults, it is easy to rapidly move from one news story to the next without changing gears. This influx of news snippets and bold headlines are constantly reshaping our world view under the surface. We combat this slide with the facts that we have stored in our minds. By using EHE this school year to study China, we take the helm and intentionally we begin to shape our children’s view of the parts of the world they cannot see. ![](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0488.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Boo › 200 Fingers & Toes")BooImagine a television screen; empty streets, one crowded open market, a masked population. This is not the last view of China any child should have to build an opinion on. China is a vast, diverse land in which lives nearly 20% of the world’s population. The longest recorded history of human civilization happens in the Eastern Hemisphere. Hundreds of cultures and people groups live within the boundaries of China. Through EHE we are introduced to a small sampling of them, and get to witness how they live. Their uniqueness, their heritage and culture. These names in a book and places on a map, become smiles, smells of food and mothers and fathers; things familiar to our children. ![](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/F201362E-D750-453C-8C1D-0384EA65DE82.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Hands-On History Kits for the Win › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Creating Cultural Awareness with Story & Dialogue [Sonlight’s EHE ](https://www.sonlight.com/FC5.html/?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway)offers over forty reader and read aloud books covering History, Bible and Literature. Forty opportunities to meet life changing characters, hear their stories, struggles and triumphs. Story is the powerful agent that has survived throughout every era, to convey human history to the next generation. As we listen; color, culture, and the differences fade; our children hear the commonality of mankind. With our own hands, we experienced what we discovered on the pages of these books when we used the filmy rice paper to explore the study of [Chinese art, calligraphy](https://www.sonlight.com/FH23/?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway) and create our own Haiku. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000112.jpg?fit=1024%2C769&ssl=1 "P1000112 › 200 Fingers & Toes")The entire human narrative is being lived out on the other side of the world as we sleep on our own side. Families on both sides are hungry. In another city, far away, cruelty is opposed, oppressors are defeated, defeat is turned into triumph. When our characters struggle our children empathize. When they rise up, we cheer. Through story, we connect. We hear, from around the world that there are people who need our prayers because our hands cannot reach them. When we read about Gladys Aylward, William Carey, Mary Slessor and Teresa of Calcutta, our hearts are stirred to act on the injustices we see before us and around the world. In EHE, our children begin to glimpse the power of one person. One ticket, choice, meal. If one Grandma, warrior, foot-inspector, can reform a Chinese prison, what can we do with our voice too? ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/P1000114-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C769&ssl=1 "P1000114-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Stories are the first way that the far away world comes to us and becomes real. ## Understanding Geography and Human Expansion [Sonlight’s HBL F and the EHE guide](https://www.sonlight.com/FC5.html/?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway) gives a corrected perspective to the map our children in North America are used to looking at. The world across the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean is larger than they can imagine. Many of our historical roots, ancient ancestors and family genealogies, lie across those waters as well. Africa is referred to as the cradle of civilization. As we spend the year studying China, Asia, Africa and their surrounding countries and people groups that live there, we discover the rivers, falls, and cities that have been portrayed in famous movies and nature reels. These places are homes to the people that are living there right now. As we write these places down on our map as we learn about them, we are expanding the world our children acknowledge as part of the one they live in. My goal as a homeschool parent is for my children to see themselves as a part of the entire human story, from the very beginning. Each culture, diverse location and people group make that world and amazing and curious place to be explored. ## Take The Reins of Your Child’s View of The World This Year Too Make it bigger, broader and more colorful than it was before. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_5576.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Ramen Everywhere › 200 Fingers & Toes")ShineHungry for more? Stay tuned for more reasons why I am excited to be using EHE for the third time to study China and more with my homeschool students. In the meantime help Sonlight Curriculum celebrate 30 year of helping homeschooling families discover the bigger world around them. Enter to win prizes all month long [HERE](https://www.sonlight.com/30th-anniversary?utm_source=200fingersandtoes.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sl-srm-gba-200301-200fingersandtoes-anniversarygiveaway). The contest runs now through 9/30/20 with a new giveaway item each Wednesday and the GRAND PRIZE of an All-Subject Package of your choice from Sonlight. Enter the contest weekly for eligibility. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Top 39 Tech Apps to Help You Homeschool Better & Smarter](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-23-tech-apps-to-help-you-homeschool-better-smarter/) **Published:** April 3, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I’d like to share the tools I have on my phone right now for school. I am just one homeschool parent. There are so many tools and apps that you can easily be overwhelmed. I’d like to give you a small sampling of the things I use to help streamline my day, facilitate learning and have a little fun. I’d love to hear from you about your favorite learning tools and I will try them out. Right now a lot of parents are trying to create a school day from scratch. If that is you, I want to offer a few of the best resources I trust to help you. I hope you are able to navigate this season of change with peace and a little humor. I raise my coffee mug to ya. ## It is Not About Using Every Tool but the Right Ones If you are new to homeschooling DO NOT feel overwhelmed. You do not need to use a single one of these tools. Some of them can fill the gap for you, some can take over a subject or two. Many of the homeschool apps on my phone, I use in cycles or with only a specific student. My intention is not to overwhelm. I want to simplify the start-up process and give you some tools you can use in the immediate, while you are choosing a curriculum or filling a time gap. ### The Right Tools By Teams That Know Our Needs I want to disclose that I am an affiliate for a few of these programs, which means that if you choose to make a purchase I earn a small commission. As a blogger, I only partner with programs I personally use and know are great providers. Often these companies are smaller and use affiliate marketers to advertise to keep costs low to better serve their customers. I appreciate the companies that serve the homeschool community. Often homeschool parents are living on a single income. We are not the most glamorous demographic, with our bulk grocery shopping and coupon clipping habits, but these companies saw the need and chose to serve us. If they made my affiliate list they created a great tool for homeschoolers. ## Books & Reading ## Online Sources for EBooks ### Free Books From the Local Library Bridges, [Overdrive](https://amzn.to/2wk8rQX), Libby – create an account using your library card number. Sometimes limited in the book selection. Can have long waiting lists for new, popular book titles and authors. Two week check out window and the book is automatically returned by wi-fi. The only drawback was back when I used my computer less, I would sometimes miss the email notification that the book was ready, and miss my borrowing window which sucked when you returned to 64th in line. ### itunes U iTunes U is offering many books for free right now. Many first in a series and a big selection of children’s books too. If you have an apple device log in and check it out. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/iTunes-FREE.jpeg "iTunes-FREE › 200 Fingers & Toes")As a homeschool app you can find highschool level and above textbooks on History, English and Sciences. I have downloaded a few biology textbooks when we were in between curriculum and needed reading materials. These are secular, government school oriented books, but are useful resources for these subjects. In itunes U, when you click the star icon at the bottom of your phone screen it takes you to the featured materials. If you swipe over the featured collections you will discover a collection of virtual field trips. It has tours of Art Museums, Museum Apps, Historical Sites and corresponding apps, visual guides to the National Parks and apps, access to Specialized Libraries, links to Performing Arts podcasts and interviews and apps. There is access to a multitude of places it would be impossible to travel to in one lifetime. ### Audible Last year I had a job outside of the home driving a truck. Two days a week I would drive for about three hours. I asked for an [Audible subscription](https://amzn.to/2vxgwkQ) for my birthday and love it. I have always bought used fiction books online or traded them on Paperback swap. As a blogger, I wanted access to new fiction to review or read for myself without having to have a physical copy of a book I don’t necessarily want to keep forever. Audible offers new titles at a good price which makes it a great homeschool app. You can choose several select titles for free each month and they offer enough 2 for 1 and $4.99 deals to keep me from canceling. I love audiobooks for my long drives. Because of my tendency toward thrift, I sometimes choose books by the length. I fell in love with the history of Troy and the Greeks. It kept me captivated for every one of the fifty-five hours of play time. Another great treat I’ve discovered is that Audible offers Audio recordings from “The Greatest Courses.” I’ve listened in on the audio of courses on writing, philosophy, history and psychology. My current wishlist in audible includes; The Philosopher’s Toolkit: How to be the Most Rational Person in the Room, Foundations of Western Civilization, Black Holes, Tides, and Curved Space, Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages, St. Augustine’S Confessions, Books That Have Made History: Books That Can Change Your Life and quite a few more. ### The Great Courses Now that I’ve experienced the professionalism of the audio version, I am considering trying a course from the great courses site. The benefit is that these courses are full video recordings, so for subjects like mathematics and sciences, or for a more visual learner you can see the work as it is being taught. These courses are available with an instant download too. You could start today. The Great Courses list of high school offerings is extensive. They are having a huge sale as well, so many high school level courses are under seventy dollars. In general this is less than the average cost of a course with a new textbook and workbook, so it is a very reasonable offering. #### Great for Earning High School Credit at Home Right now, for example I am considering the Latin 101 course, by Professor Hans-Friedrich Muller, PhD. from Union College, listed for $69.95 as an instant video or DVD for $99.95. If you live where internet access is not reliable or you want your teen off the computer for sharing reasons this is a great way to keep a student working. This course is the equivalent of a two semester college course, so easily qualifies for a high school transcript credit. Here is a handy chart of what is included with each version… ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GreatestCourses.Includes.jpeg "GreatestCourses.Includes › 200 Fingers & Toes")#### From The Great Courses… We recently launched The Great Courses Plus, a subscription service that features over 325 of our courses, including this one. If you wanted to preview this course, you could quickly and easily sign up for the free trial, which will give you full access to this course for one month. The monthly subscription is $19.99 a month with a one-month free trial, while the annual subscription is $179.99, which breaks down to about $14.99 a month, a 25% savings over the monthly. This offer makes me want to trade in my Netflix for the equivalent of renting a college education. ## Full Online Homeschool Apps & Programs ### The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (TOS) and SchoolhouseTeachers.com Full curriculum providers with Apps on my phone. I have several that are offer the full spectrum of subjects in their online homeschooling programs. I use one to connected this old Schoolhouse magazine’s website called [SchoolhouseTeachers.com](https://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883). There’s an offering off K through 12 programming for the entire family. Not only are their courses that are developed by parents and teachers alike, but there’s tons of additional resource is in the site. Honestly, I can’t tell you enough how much value I’ve gotten out of it. There is [World Book Encyclopedia access](https://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883&p=www.schoolhouseteachers.com/how-to-use-schoolhouseteachers-com/#world-book-online-and-video-library), and as of right now, World Book Encyclopedia is offering many of their courses available for people who have access to the online encyclopedia as well. ![Classes for kids who need speed](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/drivethruhistoryamericanhistory_Facebook_1200x628-1024x536-1024x536.jpg "drivethruhistoryamericanhistory_Facebook_1200x628-1024x536 › 200 Fingers & Toes")My reluctant reader needed school to keep pace with himThere’s also access to RightNow Media, which is an online resource filled with tons of Children’s videos, educational materials and Bible studies of all levels and sizes. These are great for more than just family watching. We have used teachings from Francis Chan, Beth Moore and others for small in-home group studies, Bible study gathering, for family devotional time, for church Sunday School and for our own Spiritual growth at home. ### So Much More Than I Can Cover Here SchoolhouseTeachers.com is a plethora of resource is and honestly could be your full curriculum for the year I have found the classes are more hands on than I thought in the beginning. They definitely need to be parent lead as you go through. But if you’re looking for concrete material, easy to follow instructions and a lot of resource is for many great levels. A subscription to SchoolhouseTeachers.com would be well worth every penny. They run specials from time to time. Right now you can gain access for a month for $5 and purchase three months of school access for under $25. [![Choosing the right tools can make you look very smart.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tablet.jpg "SchoolhouseTeachers.com. 300 courses for the price of a fancy coffee › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883)Looking for a source for classes you can afford Want to pay one flat price for all of your kids Look No Further### DiscoveryK-12 Another online resource I use for our home school is DiscoveryK-12. This is a program often refer parents to when they’re pulling their child out of public school before they have a concrete plan for what curriculum they’re going to use. DiscoveryK-12 is an easy to jump into program. It’s scheduled. just like the school year. You sign your student up according to their grade level, and you could be plug and play from that day forward. Each day is lined out with what your students should do for every subject, with links to reading materials and links to any video documentation on a subject that this taught that day. There’s a space for them to write their answers and email them to you so you know that they’re working. I suggest DiscoveryK-12 for any parent who maybe has a teen who is working independently at home, and you’d like to make sure that they’re staying on task each day, or if you’re just trying to fill a gap between times. It is not a highly robust program, and my son, who used it for a year, asked to come back to our home school because he was ready to reintegrate into our reading program. But I will say it is a great place to start when you’re not quite sure where to go forward from there. ### [Khan Academy](https://www.khanacademy.org/about) Another learning tool turned homeschool app that we have used is Khan Academy. Khan Academy is set up as an educational program. Worldwide leaders and teachers in every curriculum source have created courses on caught academy for your child to use when I’m stumped on a math program, Ah usually turned to Khan Academy. That’s where I find the most instructive videos, and what I love about it most is when you watch a video, there’s actually a quiz to follow, so you can check your students mastery of a subject before you move on. I can’t tell you how many times I have turned to Khan Academy to explain a difficult math concept than I’ve come away with full understanding. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Learning-with-Khan.jpeg "Learning-with-Khan › 200 Fingers & Toes")The’s a wraps that I use to educate myself personally or to fill areas like electives or other educational gaps in our curriculum. ## Online Single Classes from Top Sites ### [SkillShare](https://skl.sh/1NQDNLd) One of the places I love is SkillShare. This site offers a ton of classes, and it’s not just arts and crafts. There’s tools and resource is for nearly every type of media you confined online. There are classes in using photoshop, illustrator word. Anything you could be looking for. Any skill that you want to sharpen or improve on or learn from scratch is available on scale share. I suggest [checking it out this post](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/) for a full rundown of what’s available. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/skillshare.free-courses.post_.jpeg "Free Courses from Skillshare › 200 Fingers & Toes")Give the perfect gift for the learner in your lifeIt’s a great place to maybe cover a gap that you wanna work on or to improve some skills we’ve also offered it to our kids is a weight to choose electives without any risk. [Try it for a month](https://skl.sh/1NQDNLd), see what you think or taken art class and find out a little bit more. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/skillshare-coursesProcreate.post_-1024x513.jpeg "skillshare-coursesProcreate.post_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")### Craftsy (Now BluPrint) Another online skill building site is craftsy. Craftsy had more craft and food oriented courses. This would be great for electives because it is a little bit more hands on in the arts and crafts area? There are a lot of sewing classes and several FREE beginner classes. They are offering FREE classes right now (through April 16, 2020) so check them out. ### TEDEd and TEDTalks There’s also TEDEd has launched a pretty robust program to keep your students learning at any age. I haven’t had a chance to dig in depth but I have used talks online, where you can find lots of information about most any subject. Sometimes we’ve searched that by subjects and added to our curriculum and rounded out maybe a talk about something that we’re learning about. I am excited to explore the TEDEd further and signed up for a free parent account. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/TedEd.jpeg?fit=1024%2C847&ssl=1 "TedEd › 200 Fingers & Toes")### YouTube Currently, YouTube is a huge resource for homeschooling families. That’s what I was sharing today with a live program on Facebook sharing how we used YouTube in a way to help implement morning time with our kids. Since I’m a writer, I work until 10 in the morning. My younger kids were taking advantage of that window and ended up watching YouTube videos about Minecraft or watching gamers game online. I felt like it was a time frame that we could really utilize in a better way, so I created a YouTube playlist of current subjects that we were learning about. Even though youtube is a video format there are tons of different presentations. I could choose from many different formats. Some were songs, some animated videos, movie clips and actual shows gave us a mix of medias, play lengths and styles resource that told historical events from different points of view. There’s tons of material about historical periods or subjects that we are learning on YouTube. I encourage you to take some time to create a playlist and share it on your television. It is so easy to do. I just sent my playlist right to my Apple TV and made youtube a part of my homeschool apps. You could also do it with your Roku or any other smart TV or device. ### RightNow Media Another single class source we use is RightNow media. We have access through our SchoolhouseTeacher.com account. Our church offers access because they have a group membership as well. RightNow Media has tons of Children’s programming and also many, many Bible study programs. So it is great for every family and for all age groups and sizes, but there’s also education materials so we love it as a homeschool app. This is where we watched ***Drive Through History*** which is a great show where the host actually goes to visit the places that you’ve read about in your historical books. ## Teaching Helps with Apps for Homeschoolers ### Khan Academy Teaching helps that I use on my phone Kahn University, which I’ve talked about before. ### [Teachers Pay Teachers TPT](https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Type-of-Resource/Projects) I love is teacher’s pay teachers, teacher pay teachers is a program online where you can search for any sort of principles or workbooks, too. Maybe further. Explain, Ah, thing that you’re working on in your classes. What I love about teachers pay teachers is that the worksheets air created by teachers who are using them in their classrooms every day. But the beautiful thing is, when you buy a worksheet from teachers pay teachers, you pay a teacher. That means you’re putting money in the pocket of people who are spending those dollars in their classrooms. So if you’re looking for a worksheet on bonding, if you’re looking for a study guide for biology, it is a great resource to search. It does have tons of free material, but I never feel bad about paying a couple bucks or $5 for a workbook because I know I’m supporting a parent and a teacher. ### Photomath Now, if you’re stuck on math and Kahn University hasn’t helped you out enough PhotoMath is an app that you can actually use to take a photograph off the math problem, and it will fully workout that problem and show you how it’s done. My elementary kids try to use this app. My high school kids enjoy the sap, and my college son uses it almost on a regular basis. It does help explain how the problem is done, which is a great resource when you’re just missing a step. ### [Quizlet](https://quizlet.com/latest) Another program I love is Quizlet. We use for our science, specifically upper science like biology and chemistry. Right now, what I love about Quizlet is that other people have taken the time to create quiz note cards in Quizlet for you already. So when I signed up for the program, I got a teacher account and I assigned my students in the class. I have three that are in Apologia Biology right now. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Matching-Games.jpeg "Matching-Games › 200 Fingers & Toes")So when I did a simple search for a module one, several classes came up and were able to share their cards with me. 42 question cards that have our vocabulary, words, definitions and multiple ways to study those throughout the week. The kids start by a simple knowledge assessment. So the first thing your student would do is go through each one of those cards and answer the questions correctly to discover the vocabulary terms they already know. The beauty of this is they’re not wasting time working on subjects or problems that they already understand completely. Then they go on to the practice phase. There they do matching vocabulary words, lots of different ways. And what I love about it as well is that the cards were read out loud. So if there’s a term that your child having trouble with, they can hear it spoken and gain better. Understanding ### Crambox Crambox is another app that helps you with studying, and you can create quizzes. You can create tests. You do a lot of things to help your students study better. ## Foreign Language Apps ### Chineasy App I am paying for a subscription to Chinese You right now I love it and buy. Eight year old son is the one who uses it the majority of the time. It is an interesting way to learn Chinese because each one of the characters is turned into an illustration. I think this appeal to me because I’m a visual learner, and the way they presented the Chinese characters makes it easy for me to remember what they mean. It’s a fun way for a younger child or an older child. ### Babbel, [Rosetta Stone](https://www.rosettastone.com/homeschool/) Babble is an app that will let you learn a foreign language in your own time from the freedom of your own phone. Rosetta Stone is another provider who has a program specifically for homeschoolers that we’ve used. Rosetta Stone is a great resource for learning foreign languages quickly. Historically, we’ve used these in our home school to meet our high school foreign language requirements. ## News & Current Events ### Newsela Newsela is a educational and homeschool app that I use for my elementary students to gain understanding of current events and world news. It is a website and app based program where I can find articles and assign them to my students at their independent reading levels, which is great because sometimes the news isn’t made for an eight year old. But I can also choose a hire index reading level for my 12 year old, which is great because I could have all of my students assigned with the same material, and we can discuss that together as a group. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Newsela.Homepage.jpeg "Newsela.Homepage › 200 Fingers & Toes")### [World Magazine](https://teen.wng.org/) I also use World Magazine as our resource for news and current events. Now I order the adult version of World magazine, but you can also order it for your Children at an elementary, junior and high school level so these can be specifically designed for their age group which would make this a perfect homeschool app. You can read my full article about [how homeschoolers can get the news HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-give-your-student-the-edge-with-current-events-resources/). ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/world-kids.jpeg?fit=1024%2C915&ssl=1 "world-kids › 200 Fingers & Toes")Alexa has many SKILLS to select from including “Flash Briefings” from news channels you subscribe to. I like asking Alexa for the flash briefing from WORLD News when I am cooking in the kitchen. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Alexa-Kids-News.jpeg "Alexa-Kids-News › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Homeschool Music Apps ### Fender Fender is offering FREE classes from their site at this time. Check it out because it is a limited time offer. The fender App is a great resource for guitar and ukulele lessons at all levels. You can keep track of your progress and choose what kind of genre of music you would like to learn with. ### Tabs and Soundcorset We have an app on my phone for tabs and an app called sound course set that helps us with timing. We’ve used it to meet her piano and also to tune guitars. ### Guitar Tuna Speaking of tuning your guitar, GuitarTuna is an APP that we use to make it easier for us beginners. I like that they have some fun activities for learning your chords and notes. Flash card type games and drills to help you learn faster. Again, I am a visual learner so I enjoy this type of learning tool. ## Homeschool Science Apps ### Star Walk Star Walk is a great way to get familiar with the night sky. I can take my phone outside and point it to the night sky above me. Immediately I can see an overlay illustrating the constellations that are in front of us right now. It's a great way to gain interest in space and to discuss the things that our night sky with a little bit more understanding than trying to fumble through what's there. I love that the app also gives me updates to events that are happening in the night sky above me. We get alerts for comets and meteor showers in my viewing range. I love getting a heads-up for us by making this a homeschool app for us. ### Tiny Bop Games We love tiny bop, and their app collection in the APP store is my favorite. They have a bunch of different learning games for science and technology, and I suggest you go check them out and see if there's one that relates to what you're teaching. They are beautiful, easy to interact with and the company pays attention to detail. I enjoy it as much as my kids. I try to make sure that when I can turn my kids loose on on my iPad they are using quality games and learning tools. On the Tiny Bop website you can access amazing and beautiful study guides for each of the games in their family of Apps. Check out their blog for more information and their [list of educational resources HERE](https://tinybop.com/blog/online-learning-resources). #### [Tiny Bop App Collection (1-10)](https://tinybop.com/apps) ![39 apps and tools I Use in My Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/TinyBop-Games-and-Lerning-Tools.jpeg "39 Apps and Tools I Use in My Homeschool › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Tech Support for My home & School ### All of the remotes All of the remotes in the world (kindle FireStick, Apple TV, Disney Plus, universal remotes and more) are on my phone. That is one way that I have saved our sanity and made using multiple devices and programs work without frustration. I can use my phone to type in search items and passwords. ### Circle by Disney and Netgear On my phone [Circle by Disney](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/got-electronic-device-kids-now-filter/) is an app that I used to help control our Internet usage at our house and to help control our devices. I love my pause button that I got from Disney's Circle. I can pause the whole house Internet and get everybody's attention at one time, and that is the best feature so far. My Netgear router came equipped with Circle by Disney already on it. That has been a blessing to keep my kids safe on the Internet and let them have access to the tools they want at the same time. ## Health Apps ### Essential Oils App, 7 minute workout, Kira stokes fit I have an essential oil app because, of course I am a homeschooler, so I have to have an oil app because that's like a requirement. Ah, the 7 minute workout. Sometimes I just need the kids to burn off some energy and the 7 minute workout is a great way to have everybody jump into a workout. Uh, I might even use it when kids were fighting, For my personal health, I love the Kira Stokes Fit app. It just got updated, and it is one of my favorites. Kira Stokes is a great trainer who works the whole body, and I feel like she does a great job of keeping me motivated and on track. I love her instagram account where she shares lots of personal workouts and trainings. Her persona has won me over and made me a huge fan too. ## Bible for My Homeschool Apps ### RightNow Media (above) Right now, media is a great place for you to find. Resource is for Bible study, for your group or for your Children to do a devotional, and also just great shows and things that it's kind of a Netflix of wholesome and decent videos that aren't lame. So I will encourage you. They are a great resource to find things that your kids can watch that you don't have to worry about. And in this day and age, I so appreciate that. So that's the rundown of everything on my phone. If you have any questions or a great app that you want to share with me, that would be really fun. ### She Reads Truth App For Bible I use the SheReadsTruth app for most of my devotional reading. They post new devotionals regularly, which offer daily reading and responses. You can communicate with the community. You can also download different studies and pay for them one by one that she reads truth app, or you can choose to subscribe and gain access to every new devotional for $1.99 per month. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0244-768x1024.jpg "Come to me all you who are weary, who thirst › 200 Fingers & Toes")Summer can run us dry and leave us thirsty but a habit of quiet introspection can quench our thirsty soulThe Bible Portion has access to eight or nine different translations of the Bible to choose from, which is great if I want to see a Scripture verse in a different format. It also has access to devotionals that follow the Christian calendar throughout the year, changing out different ones for Lent, Advent, Holy Week and more. Each time you can have access to those through the app, or you can buy the physical copies and have them sent to you and work along with the app community. I do enjoy that it's updated all the time, so there's something new available to you when you're looking for a new devotional. There's also a great leadership team and creatives at SheReadsTruth so I love supporting their work. ![Keeping my sanity by staying near center](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0240-768x1024.jpg "Scripture Memory Cards › 200 Fingers & Toes")When Summer has me running I depend on a little quite time to refocus my attention and take bake my peace## Now It is Your Turn Leave a comment, I would love to hear about your favorite homeschooling resources. There are tons of Homeschool apps I've missed, and there are many more that I just don't know how to use. Google Classroom is an app I am trying to understand, but I am not a professional at it. I'd really love to learn more but this time it hasn't served me. I encourage you to find the homeschool apps and programs that serve you best. Ones that make your life easier and give you access to the tools you need to make homeschooling fun and fit your family. That's all for now. I really appreciate your time. If you think of somebody who would like this information, would you share this post and podcast episode with them. If you don't want to miss the next episode, be sure to subscribe. And please, by all means. Leave me a comment and let me know your favorite homeschool apps so I can add them to my life. Have a great day. I'll talk to you soon. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PodcastLogo-1024x1024.jpg "In Due Season Pod Cast › 200 Fingers & Toes")Episode Four Homeschool Apps to Make Your Phone Do the Word ![i'm reading the podcast](https://podcasttranscribe.com/assets/images/transcript.png)This Blog Post was made possible with the magnificent help of [?️Podcast Transcribe](https://podcasttranscribe.com/) - [Transcript](https://podcasttranscribe.com/view.php?id=f4686fe4fd273475ab91208c926355b4#transcript) - [Contact Us](https://podcasttranscribe.com/view.php?id=f4686fe4fd273475ab91208c926355b4#contact) ## ? Enjoy your transcript! [CONTACT@PODCASTTRANSCRIBE.COM](mailto:contact@podcasttranscribe.com) We'll get back to you as soon as we can![Made with ❤️ for podcasters](https://podcasttranscribe.com/view.php?id=f4686fe4fd273475ab91208c926355b4#) ###### © ?Podcast Transcribe 2019 Rights Reserved - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/podcasttotext) Blessings, Amber and our 200 Fingers & Toes ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [What is So Scary About Homeschool High School?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/what-is-so-scary-about-homeschool-high-school-tips-no-fear/) **Published:** April 13, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** As adults we bring so many of our own fears and limitations into our parenting. There is nothing to fear if we keep these 5 Keys in mind as we approach teaching high school from home **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you scared of homeschool High School? I believe we will agree by the end of this post, that homeschooling high school is nothing to fear. When I first became a homeschool parent, I knew that I wanted to homeschool all the way through to the end. I think that’s a huge part of my success. Being able to homeschool my students all the way to graduation was a goal we determined from the very beginning. That was a goal I have had the blessing to see to the end for myself and my family. There is no reason for you to be afraid to teach homeschool high school. But it took more than determination. Let’s talk about the factors that helped our family be successful along the way. I now they will help you see where you can plan ahead to create your own success story. ![Starting With Graduation in Mind](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_2238-300x300.jpg "Starting With Graduation in Mind › 200 Fingers & Toes")There is no reason the fear teaching High school in your homeschoolMany times I talk to parents about homeschooling and they have no doubt they can handle the early years, but many of them have already written off teaching high school before they ever get there because of the fear they feel of teaching Homeschool High School. There is nothing to be scared of when it comes to homeschool High School. You will learn as you go just like I did. ## Ensuring Success as You Homeschool Through High School Means Keeping These 5 Keys Close to Your Heart - Sharpen Your Skill Sets - Don’t Lead From Fear - Inspire a Finish Line Mindset - Create Community Support - Relationship Above ALL ## Are You Schooling Through a Crisis? Are you homeschooling to get through a problem area in your child’s education? Did you choose to homeschool because of a behavioral issues? Are you here because homeschooling is the most accessible way to get the best education for your child? Maybe homeschooling through high school is not your current goal. I’m not talking to you. But, I do have some tips and wisdom to help you be successful right now. When I talked to parents about homeschooling high school I hear a lot of fear and intimidation. Most of this stems from their own high school experience. Today, I have successfully homeschooled three of my kids all the way through to high school graduation. In the past, I was not a successful high school student. I share about homeschooling and education. I’m an advocate for your kids to get the best education they can. So, it might surprise you that I’m actually a high school dropout. I completed half of my sophomore year in public high school. My mother removed me to join the rest of my siblings in the family homeschool. ### You Can Change Your Child’s Future I won’t say that I was homeschooled voluntarily. It was not a decision my mother took lightly. I will say it was the best choice she ever made for me, in all of my life. Maybe you’re looking at removing a child from public school because of behavioral issues. It could be because of conflicts or grades. I know it’s an intimidating idea and you feel like you’re taking on the world. But I’m telling you right now your first priority is the health and wellness of your child. If you’re willing to put your fears aside, you can change your son or daughter’s life for the better. ## Getting to the Root of the Fear of Teaching Homeschool High School Let’s talk about the things that intimidate us and create the real fear of teaching Homeschool High School. ### 1. First is Deficits in Our Skill Set Like I said, I only went through my sophomore year in high school. I didn’t take any of the classes that most people would take. No upper level maths, no chemistry. (what? how do I function, right) I could be worried that my education would be quickly eclipsed by my children’s abilities and needs. But, I haven’t lost my ability to learn. In fact I am much better at it now. What I will tell you is that homeschooling materials are made for parents to use and understand. As teachers, you can learn right along with your student. If you so desire, you can go through every step one by one with him. I have [learned more about algebra](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-math-instruction-auditory-visual-learner/) in the three years I took it with my homeschool children than in the one year I cried through it took in high school. I’ve learned a ton about world history and discovered I love it. In many ways, I’ve enjoyed this learning process more as an adult than I ever appreciated it in high school. I feel like that enthusiasm translates to our children and it becomes an appreciation for their education. Many high school materials are made for your child to learn independently. Three of [my students took Latin](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/dont-scholar-include-latin-homeschool/). Enough to have it on their high school and college entrance transcripts. No, I don’t know Latin. The materials I used were completely self paced by the student. It was clear enough and easy enough to use. I was always able to always find the answers if they weren’t sure about a problem. ![Top](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/832F13DA-390F-459E-81D3-44B90D3B012A-1024x1024.jpg "Top Teaching tools › 200 Fingers & Toes")There are tools for every subject to help you overcome the fear of homeschool high school### 2. Not Knowing the Tools Available to You Homeschool Publishers are On Your side. I explained it to my kids when they were frustrated. They would come with a question and would want me for help finding an answer. They would sometimes claim that their answer wasn’t in the book. I gently explained to them that publishers made this book so that they could use it. Here’s the problem if they leave the answers out. If students can’t find the answer and I can’t find the answer, we parents are going to be frustrated. What we’re going to do is complain to the publisher and possibly return the book. Publishers don’t want that to happen, so they make their materials very clear. The text may be academically difficult, but the text itself is easy to follow and the answers are always available. I want to encourage you that the tools created for homeschool parents are made to make teaching easier. Really, we’re getting access to the [tools that teachers are using in the public school](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/navigating-language-arts-solid-guide/) and beyond. B[etter tools are being developed](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/) for us every day. The homeschool market is a huge market and people are taking notice. The ability to get tools and materials into our hands is a huge blessing as a homeschooler. Sharing about tools you love is a great way to serve our community. ### 3. Fear of Repeating YOUR Historical Narrative Sometimes the fear of teaching Homeschool High School is rooted in a deeper fear. Often a parent is afraid that their children will end up repeating past failures in their own high school results. **My best parenting advice is, work through your past issues.** I am so thankful that I have had time to work with my husband, professionals, pastors and friends. They have helped me to get healing in areas and issues in my past so that I didn’t project those on to my children. **You can do better. You can receive healing from the pain of your past.** > Oftentimes, our greatest fears come from our greatest failures. > > Amber from 200 fingers & Toes Don’t let your past experiences leave you with a fear of teaching homeschool High School The teen years are hard. Many of us made poor decisions or were left on our own to find our way. Those things resulted in pains and hurts that we carry into our adulthood. Our unresolved experiences affect every one of our relationships. The greatest place these experiences affect us is in our relationships with our children. Oftentimes our fear cause us to react in ways that are overblown or unfair to our kids. The most important thing we can do as a parent, is to work through our personal issues from our childhood. Than we can come to our parenting relationships with honest and clear intentions for our kids best well being. I encourage you to get the help you need. Work to be the very best parent you can be for your children. Don’t repeat the patterns of the past. I’d love to help you connect with the resources you need to get freedom. ### 4. Think You Need to Know the Answers, not Where to Find Them Another reason parents fear homeschool in high school is they believe they’re not equipped to teach. This is an area you can overcome easily. You could take a class on any subject in the world by just a click of a button. I’ve taken classes on foreign languages. Purchased short courses to understanding mathematical thinking. I’ve taken courses with my children and ahead of them. There’s no limitation to the materials that you can learn or re-learn if you need access to them. ### 5. Thinking You Have to Use a Broken Model The point of homeschooling high school is that you can create a better program than the one you may have experienced. Maybe you had a great high school experience. I know that my elementary education in the GATE program in California gave me a huge foundation for how I wanted my homeschool to look. When I developed it with my family, I knew I wanted to include hands on learning. [We created a school ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/multiple-student-homeschool-sonlight-success-story/)filled with experimenting. Focus on learning about different cultures and countries, in a way that was broad and full. You can create the kind of experience you want, and you do not have to recreate the public school setting. ![Literature Based Educating](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/8cc20801-2e09-4f9a-90ad-9da348804eb0_IMG_0583.jpg "Literature Based Educating › 200 Fingers & Toes")Living Books and Building a Love for Reading#### Create the School You Wish You Had I’ve said in previous podcast episodes, I despised textbooks in my public school. I find them depressing, boring and uninspiring. I don’t intend to insult anybody who thinks a textbook is a great way to go through the materials systematically. It’s just not my preference. When I created a homeschool, I wanted to work with living books. I wanted to read and be inspired. Read great stories. Have the freedom to continue on with exploration in depth with those areas we were interested in. Giving us the flexibility kept me excited about our homeschool. So, when you think about homeschooling high school, don’t think about recreating a boring, an arduous classroom setting. Think about what kind of learning that inspires you and re-create that in your education model. There are [opportunities that are unique to homeschoolers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/honor-gifts-interests/). You don’t have to be located in the middle of four walls. You’re not required to stick to a timetable or a certain subject matter. As you’re covering your state required core subjects, you can be free to explore all of the sorts of peripheral subjects. There is absolutely no limitation. Not only can you explore what your child is interested in. You can explore your own interests and inspire your children as well. ### 6. You Were Created to Lead Your Family This is an area that I experienced myself in our homeschool. My daughter was interested in writing. I wanted to show her that you could dig in deeper and make your writing something that mattered. So I started a blog. I wanted to show her that we could develop our tools into things that people could actually use. So, I continued my writing experience and brought her along side to see what I did. Maybe you’re an entrepreneurial parent. Do you have a creative spark, something that you’re interested in? Something that you’re doing in your real life that you can share with your children. There is no reason that you can’t make that a huge part of your child’s education. I went to college to get my associates degree in graphic design. The best thing about my program was that most of my instructors were active members of the design community. There was a core value in bringing those professionals to teach us. They could show us their work with an understanding of what was going on in the industry. Think about that same thing as a homeschool parent. You’re bringing what you know to the table in terms of teaching your own child. You have a lot to offer. Do not underestimate your skill sets. ## Teaching High School With Graduation in Mind I want you to teach high school with graduation in mind. I see a lot of homeschoolers not keep this as their central core value. There’s an education requirement that we should hold a standard, too. There are days when my kids didn’t want to do math. My kids didn’t want to do upper level science sometimes. I had to remind them that when they choose to slack off they’re limiting their future. My job as a parent is to make sure they’re prepared for their heart’s desires. I want to inspire my kids to know that by getting the best education, they’re opening doors to opportunities yet unforeseen. When those opportunities come I want you and your child to be prepared to accept those with open arms. That means approaching homeschooling high school with a graduation in mind. I like to break down the graduation requirements for my students. Or, better yet, you can choose a college in your area that your child may be inspired to go to. I go directly to their website and pull off their requirements for entrance. All of my children have known from the beginning what they need to do to graduate. I think it’s important to give a child of finish line and keep it in front of their sight. We can do that easily with the entrance requirements from our local college. ### 1. Create Clear Exit Expectations Our Children know what credits they need to accomplish to enter college or to finish for graduation. With that in the forefront of their mind, they are always working to accomplish their goals. It is important for our children to know that we’re not just wasting their time. I think it’s important that our Children understand why we’re doing specific things. If it’s achieving a graduation requirement, or simply obtaining a specific skill set. They need to know what is expected from the beginning. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/high-school-kids.jpeg "high-school-kids › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/free-schedule-download-huge-home-teaching-resource-list/)clear expectations give you a way to get the work done daily and through the yearsThat’s why I talked; in the first issue of this podcast series, about developing our goals for our independent students before we choose curriculum. If we all understand the direction we’re going we won’t be scared of homeschool High School. A plan helps us work as a team to accomplish those goals. Especially when the times are hard. Often in homeschooling in high school, there are difficult times, [we need an end goal to point to. ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/) ### 2. Determining Your Desires It’s not easy to develop the character in our children that they will need as an adult. It’s a lifelong process. Homeschool to graduation is a choice and we need to be determined about it. I remember when I switched to a midwife. A friend had asked, what is the best way to have a drug free home birth? Now, I’m not advocating that everybody has a drug free home birth. When I asked my midwife what was the biggest determining factor to a successful home birth her answer surprised me. She said, “Decide you want to have one?” That was the biggest factor. If you decided in your heart that you were going have a drug free birth, the likelihood success was higher. Please HEAR me, I’m not talking about labor and delivery! I’m talking about high school. You don’t need to be scared of homeschool High School. If you determine now that your goal is to homeschool all the way through high school. The likelihood of succeeding is so much higher. #### I want you to really think. What are the things are causing you intimidation or fear about homeschooling at the high school level? - Is it a lack of knowledge on your heart? - Lack of understanding of the tools and materials that are available to you? - Does the fear the that your children will repeat patterns of the past create unnecessary conflict? - Are you afraid you will ruin their chances at a future in college? I encourage you to look on my website at 200fingersandtoes.com. There are a ton of reviews about different kinds of materials to fit every family. We’ve used everything from math, textbooks, to online learning. I have plenty of reviews and recommendations o te blog to help you find the tools you need. This year, we’ve used online science where we can see our experiments done on the computer. We’ve also used an interactive math. [There are tons of opportunities out there](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-scholarship-money-with-stem-courses/), and every learning style can be met. The more creative you are in solving the problems, the more likely you are to have a successful school here. ### 3. Create Your Own Community of Support Now, don’t get the idea that it’s all rose gardens. Homeschooling High school has its low days. I’m not saying it doesn’t. There are times when my kids don’t want to get up. Sometimes, they stay up way too late. I’m not gonna lie, it’s very hard to be the mom, the teacher and the chore taskmaster. There are days no one likes me very much. That’s why I encourage you to find a community of people who love you very much. ![This is your true and lasting legacy. Long after no one cares about GPA's, do your kids want to bring their kids over for Sunday Dinners? ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_2517-1024x1024.jpg "create community › 200 Fingers & Toes")Find people who can encourage support and challenge youIf your family is supportive then lean on them for strength and encouragement. Keep your friends close to you. If not, find a community of homeschoolers who have a cheerful disposition. Be sure to give time for people who bring you encouragement when you’re feeling down. My greatest resource as a homeschool Mom, is a best friend who saw great things in my kids. She would constantly remind me about what great children they were. Sometimes we need to be reminded in the thick of it. A little encouragement goes a long way. Support is one of the things that helped ease my fears of teaching homeschool high school. ### 4. Give Room for Creative Sparks That Ignite Interests Encourage our high schoolers by making sure we’re including their interests as part of our education. If they have a hobby, are we making room for it? If they have a creative spark, are we feeding it? Make sure we’re making the tools and resource is available. Let them explore hobbies and new habits. Explore interests and different types of education models to find what fits them best. #### High School is a Time of Exploration. If we could keep that in mind, then we know that making a change isn’t a failure. It is simply a choice, it’s really narrowing down the things that are not successful. Think of all of your schooling materials as tools for your student. Failure is still forward motion. It is a huge part of living, creating, learning and growth mindsets. I try to let my kids know discovering the thing you hate. It is the next best way to find out what you love. Continue to narrow down things we don’t like. Find the tools that don’t work for us. Then we’re much closer to finding things that make us successful in our work day. #### I created the In Due Season course, to build your roadmap for your own personalized homeschool journey. Listen, beginnings are great. Planning for the end is satisfying. But the middle season of homeschooling can be a long and winding, uncharted road. I want to help ensure a strong finish by helping you live well in the middle. In Due Season is a course that helps you with practical lessons, life examples and encouragement. We will create a personal Map that will serve you. From your anxious first day, until the moment you walk down the aisle or send them back to school because you’ve resolved the issues that you wanted to work on it will be your guide. #### Create a Map to Guide You Simple shifts in your school set up. Challenging conversation questions. This course is specifically designed to help you get the very best outcome from your homeschooling year. The lessons in the course cover relationship building. We show how to uniquely express love to your child in your education planning. You will create a school that fits your personal needs. Tips for helping you transform the way you approach Teaching your Children. ![Create a Map to Be Your Guide](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/white-ipad-2-stand-landscape-1024x768.png "Get your homeschool Road Map and Stay on Track › 200 Fingers & Toes")In Due Season Course to Help You Create the Best Homeschool ExperienceI want you to create a personalized map that will last you your entire homeschool lifetime. Sign up to a [FREE](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/why-free-mini/) Unit here to create your own “why” page. This will help you stay on track with your homeschooling goals. In the full course you can join us to explore several other vital and powerful truths. When you finish, you will ensure that this will be your best school year ever. My heart’s desire is that you never lose sight of the end of the road in your homeschool journey. We want to help ensure a strong finish by helping you live well in the middle. You can find out more about the In Due Season course at [www.indueseason.net.](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/indueseason/) You will not have to be scared of homeschool High School again. ### 5. Relationship Should Be Your Top Priority I think there are more important things to address than our fear of teaching Homeschool High School. Nothing is more important to address than our student personally in homeschooling high school. What if your relationship is not where it should be? I encourage you to make that your most important goal in the education of your student. Yes, we want them to be academically successful. Yes, we want to push. I have pushed my children to get their education at the highest level they’re capable of. B**ut not at the cost of our relationship.** My kids and I have built a foundation of mutual respect. It has taken years of hard work. By being intentional with our time and making sure we show that we love our kids with our actions AND our words. This is an area that I strive to keep at the forefront of our homeschool experience. I feel like this is an area that sometimes gets ignored behind the goals of getting an education. Our children’s education is important, and a great education is my top goal in homeschooling my kids. **But I don’t want to do it at the cost of our relationship**. #### Shaping Our Future Relationships Today That means respecting them as my peers. Now I’m always the parent. We’ll make sure they do their chores, make sure they brush their teeth. But when I talked to them, [I try to remember that these are my future peers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/breaking-horses-notes-on-parenthood/). I want to raise them to know, we’ll be working shoulder to shoulder one day. Keeping that attitude helps me speak in a way that respects who they are as individuals. As a parent, the high school years are the transition to adulthood. Keeping that in mind, we do a better job of shaping the adults that we want to be with in the future. We can be the people they want to be around long after they are out from under our roof. [click_to_tweet tweet=”This is your true and lasting legacy. Long after no one cares about GPA’s, do your kids want to bring their kids over for Sunday Dinners? ” quote=”This is your true and lasting legacy. Long after no one cares about GPA’s, do your kids want to bring their kids over for Sunday Dinners? ” theme=””] I hope this is encouraging to you as we talk about the fear of teaching Homeschool High School. Maybe it’s a new idea to you. I want you to really chew this. What things are causing you fear or intimidation in the area of teaching at the high school level with your children? ## What can you do to shore up those places now? Do you have deficits or areas that you feel like you wouldn’t be able to serve your children best. Are there some courses you can take? Do you need help in finding the materials that will do the teaching for you? You can work alongside your student to help them accomplish what they need? All of those are available to you. I want to encourage you to reach out and share what your greatest fears are about teaching high school. I can lead you to the materials you need to help teach subjects. But your heart is the main thing that needs to be understood. You can transform your fears into successes for your student. I encourage you to keep moving forward in your goals and learning about homeschooling your students. I encourage you to keep an open mind about homeschooling high school. There is no reason to fear Homeschooling through High School. I encourage you to explore the idea further. Next podcast, we will talk about creating opportunities in the real world for fellowship and community while homeschooling. But for now, I thank you for reading. listen to the podcast and please share with a friendPlease share this episode with somebody who has talked about their fears of homeschooling high school. I want to encourage to not be scared of homeschool High School anymore too. Like always have a beautiful week. I’ll talk with you again soon, Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** High School, Homeschool, no fear high school --- ### [The Biography Series That Brings Bible Characters to Life](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/children-bible-biography-kingdom-files/) **Published:** September 12, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [Kingdom Files](http://www.kingdomfiles.com/) are [biographies](http://www.kingdomfiles.com/jonah.html) for kids from [Barbour Publishing](http://www.barbourbooks.com/) that put life into the Biblical narratives. If your child is only getting the Sunday School version of the Bible they are missing out on so much. If you are a parent you know how much explaining it takes to answer the simplest questions from your kids. So why is it that the younger a demographic a Bible is aimed for the shorter the stories are. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/D22AC4AE-897D-461B-9023-465DAD3A0EA8-1024x1024.jpeg "Dig Deeper with Kingdom Files › 200 Fingers & Toes")Biblical narratives take on a new dimention## **Barbour Publishing gives flesh and bones by breaking it into three parts.** The Fact File: this contains key information about the Bible Character God has called to do big things for His kingdom. This gave us map and timeline data for our story. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_2069-1.jpg "Sora › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Action File: this is where the story takes place. The story of Jonah was nine short chapters and just under 70 pages. I read [“Who Was Jonah?”](http://www.kingdomfiles.com/jonah.html) to our just turned seven year old son. We read a few chapters each night at bed time while on a family trip. It was a great way to settle back down after a busy day and connect to a busy little one. Bed time reading has fallen away from our regular habits but it is always a special time. I could see reading the rest of the [Kingdom Files](http://www.kingdomfiles.com/) books after dinner or as a wind down activity to get out of the TV habit too. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_2070.jpg "Sora › 200 Fingers & Toes") Our son loved the story. He was completely engaged. The text was well written so he followed along with little questions. The story captured him. Each night the refrain was repeated, “One more chapter, please?” ## Adding to the story doesn’t mean changing or creating new material The Biblical narrative is rich in context and I like how Barbour Publishing handles expanding the story through the biography approach. The third part is the Power File: this is where you child gets to make connections to see how God is working in their life. The story of Jonah is one of deep conflict, turmoil and distress. Themes of fear, anger and rebellion are all present and not made to feel too light. Yet, God’s loving kindness shines through even more as the story unfolds. As adults we understand the nuance of Jonahs rebellion, but for a child these books do a great job of helping a child identify how Jonah was feeling and why he was running away. [![The Kingdom Files](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Kingdom-Files.jpg)](http://www.kingdomfiles.com/) ## Each Power-Up is an example from the story God Cares, God Loves, God is Faithful, Live By Faith…connecting to the story and our lives. Each is accompanied with a memory verse. These could be a morning reading for your child or and evening devotional. There is even a section for notes in each book and with the price of $4.99 you can not go wrong by letting a younger child begin to journal here. Life is hard and we all face difficult tasks that God and others ask of us. We talked about how we don’t always want to do what we are told, much like Jonah. The author emphasizes how silly it was for Jonah to think he could hide from God. We talked about the ways we try to hide our sin. We talked about how God already knows us so we never need to be afraid. The story highlighted how even though Jonah had run away, hid and disobeyed God, he admitted to every part of his story and told the sailors that the storm was his fault. We talked about how it is important to admit when we do wrong. Did you know that the sailors on the boat that day gave glory to God. Jonah’s detour might have changed their worlds forever, it sure did change Jonah’s. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_2020.jpg "Plie › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Biographies Give the Reader More Reading this extended biography format was a rich way to talk our way through the story of Jonah and learn about the rich love God has for the people he created. You could not have gotten this level of depth with a seven year old out of a three page children’s Bible story book. It is time we stop underestimating our young children. They are capable of understanding the depth of human emotion. Connecting to Biblical characters is a great way for them to self identify in the narratives and develop the kind of character that will help them in their every day life. [![The Kingdom Files](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/KingdomFiles_SocialMediaGraphic.png)](http://www.kingdomfiles.com/) My nine year old daughter read, [“Who Was Mary, Mother of Jesus?”](http://www.kingdomfiles.com/mary.html) with much the same results. Great questions and a curiosity about the other stories in the Bible. If a Sunday School synapses is not enough for your child…Barbour Publishing has done a really great job of bringing the Bible to life in a way that only adds. Facebook: Twitter: YouTube: Check [Barbour Publishing](http://www.barbourbooks.com/) out on their social channels and as always see how other families are using theKingdom files in their homes by clicking the link below. [![Kingdom Files {Barbour Publishing Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Barbour-Publishing-Kingdom-Files-2018-Reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/kingdom-files-barbour-publishing-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Bible Stories, Bible Study for Kids, Biographies for Kids, hsreview, Journaling, Kingdom Files, literature --- ### [One Curriculum, Ten Ways - A Sonlight Success Story](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/multiple-student-homeschool-sonlight-success-story/) **Published:** October 4, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Creating a Sonlight Success Story means making sure you are writing one for your family. Assessing your needs and knowing the tools that will help you accomplish them is the key. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* In our last post I shared [why we chose to homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-do-we-homeschool/) our growing family, but I thought you might be wondering about how we really get it done. The best way for me to share is to introduce our family to you and share how we have used the same curriculum ten different ways. First a quick rundown of how we got here, year 15 of homeschooling with Sonlight Curriculum and how we found our own Sonlight Success Story. ## What is Our Homeschool Style? I get this question quite a bit. First off, I really had no idea what that question meant. I (obviously) never fit into catagories very well, so it makes sense that I don’t fit a style heading either. From what I understand, there are Charlotte Mason, Classical, Unschool, Traditional and others as well. I did read a ton about many styles in the early years. Research helped me define my own school “style” by identifying our needs and goals. By identifying what I needed to learn, I became a student of homeschooling, parenting, and education in general. I read [Ruth Beechicks](https://www.sonlight.com/search.html?search=ruth%20beechick), Three R’s, [Charlotte Mason](https://amzn.to/2RqV9HW)‘s Homeschooling Series, [John Gatto](https://amzn.to/2NmHM8L), [Jim Fay](https://amzn.to/2DXgExn), [Ron Clark](https://amzn.to/2IIA0Fz) and several others. By reading, I pulled the wisdom from every one of these that I needed and gained the confidence and assurance I needed. All of my learning before and since starting homeschooling created a skeleton structure we built on to create a education model that fit our kids, our entrepreneur life and our growing family structure. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_3293.jpg "Our Sonlight Journey › 200 Fingers & Toes")We love to Learn almost every day because we picked a curriculum that fits usI chose a literature based curriculum. This a type of schooling that leans heavily on reading “living” books. Classics, Historical Fiction and non-fiction alike, to create a fleshed out understanding about a subject or period in history. I have friends who school completely online, others who rely on textbooks and a few who love workbook pages. Homeschooling is about finding your family’s fit. Curriculum are simply tools that helps you engage subjects and stay on track. Knowing your family’s needs will help you find a way to teach that will make learning easier for your kids and more enjoyable for you as well. ### Why Literature Based? My core value that led me to a literature based curriculum is simple; I want my kids to love to read. As a child, looking back, I think I suffered from decoding issues. Reading was panic inducing. I never passed a spelling test well into adulthood. With time and practice my mind did settle in. Reading is a joy, but books weren’t always a friend. In elementary school they were a source of stress. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_1771.jpg "Our Sonlight Journey › 200 Fingers & Toes")K 12 Sonlight means build your own library 24 feet of memories Raising readers really began organically. I had five little ones, five and under. Reading was an oasis in our day. Nap time and bed time, every day we would read. I made it a habit to keep a book basket in the living room. When I would nurse the baby, I would read to the kids. Books were a huge part of our day. So, naturally when I began to think about how our homeschool should look, I thought, “I don’t really want to change a thing.” I just wanted to find a way to get school credit for reading great books to my kids. When my oldest son was six, a friend introduced us to Sonlight Curriculum. I read the catalog from cover to cover. I still have that copy. It was full of answers to my questions and I could not get enough. This catalog had descriptions for every book. I wanted to read them all. I finally found my way to keep piling up on the couch with great books. With Sonlight, I could keep doing what was working for us and I could call it school. ### Why Not Keep On Reading? Why Buy a Curriculum at All? Organization is not my strong suit. A huge success factor in homeschooling is being honest with yourself and knowing your own weaknesses. If I were to “plan” the school year like some of the amazingly creative moms I know, school would end with the falling of the last leaf. I crave a check off list. Our school thrives best when the structure is layed out for us. A curriculum like Sonlight, helps us stay on track year-to-year as well. With it I know we are covering more topics and places in the world. My time is free to read and be present. To be frank, having ten kids is a huge freaking undertaking. I could not have done it without help. Using a curriculum saved me hours of planning and gathering materials. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2210.jpg "Our Homeschooling Journey › 200 Fingers & Toes")Teaching Multiple Students with Sonlight makes for a successful school year### Literature Based Curriculum and The Big Family When we started officially started school our oldest son was six. We made the three oldest kids (6, 5 and almost 4) a “Class” of their own. The little babies would soon become the next “Class.” Sonlight has an H/B/L (History, Bible, Literature) for each year, Pre-K to college prep. By grouping the kids this way, I only had three H/B/L binders to work out of at a max. That is how we have streamlined schooling ten kids. Another way we streamlined our reading was by scheduling like subjects in both age groups. For example, this year, Class A (15, 14 and 12 or 10th, 9th and 7th grade) is using Sonlight H/B/L [100: American History in Depth](https://www.sonlight.com/100-00.html), and the younger group (11, 10 and 8 or 6th, 5th and 4th) is using H/B/L [D: Intro to American History](https://www.sonlight.com/DCD5.html). Both groups are covering the same subject; American History. We ensured our homeschool success by doing the same topic with both groups. Our Sonlight read-aloud books often overlap, so I can actually still read to the whole family at some point in the day. Our field trips and extra curricular studies can compliment what everyone is learning. Often the big kids will listen in on a teaching or reading time with the younger class, and in general, I feel less scattered. ### There is No Box You Have to Fit If you noticed, the range of ages in our “Class” are outside of the recommended range suggested by the helper on the Sonlight site. They recommend no more than three years between students. **We chose to make Sonlight work for us as we needed it to.** Less groups ment fewer H/B/L binders that I would have to keep track in. You can judge your kids and know if they can handle the workload. We can adjust each HBL individually by assigning more to work to older students and less to the younger end of the group when needed. We have done some shifting of kids between groups when we needed to as well. A curriculum is just a tool to help you meet your learning goals. Creating a Sonlight Success Story means making sure you are writing one for your family. Assessing your needs and knowing the tools that will help you accomplish them is the key. I wrote a whole course to help you build a foundation for the best school year possible. In it I prepare you to overcome the six most common roadblocks that keep families from experiencing success in their homeschool. You can read all about it [here](http://indueseason.net) ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2241.jpg "The First Batch Turned Out Pretty Good › 200 Fingers & Toes")Living a Sonlight Success Story takes time but the results are sweet### From Theory to Success Story In the begining this was all just a theory. Fifteen years later, we can see the results. My three grads love books. They are succeeding in college and I enjoy them, a lot. Each of them have a unique #sonlightstory and I would like to share about how we used Sonlight differently for each of them. Homeschooling lets you sculpt each child’s learning experience to fit them. Even when you are teaching multiple students with Sonlight. I believe that tailoring each child’s experience has been a huge factor in helping our kids overcome learning difficulties and leap over hurdles they would have never been able to in public school. Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing our last fifteen years with Sonlight and how each child’s learning experience was different. Be sure to subscribe if you don’t want to miss it. You might see a child like your own in our descriptions. My hope is that you will be inspired and encouraged to find your own path to your best homeschool year as well. I want to be the one you tell your Sonlight Success Story to one day. ### Are you looking for clearer help or a more personalized transition to homeschooling? Click [here](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/homeschool-consultation/#) to find out why a personalized helper might be the best investment you can make for your homeschool. Want to develop a stronger, better homeschool year? I created [a free resource](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/time-set-homeschool-gps-page/) you can use to create a “Why” page. This is a one page reminder of why you homeschool and where you want to focus. It serves to redirect you on hard days and is a beacon to correct you when days run off course. Hope you can use it to plan for your best year yet, while you read more about our Sonlight stories. I hope to hear your Sonlight Success Story next year! Blessings, *Amber* ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_1723.jpg "Let's Build the Map for Your Homeschool Year Together › 200 Fingers & Toes")[![Sonlight Curriculum](https://www.sonlight.com/images/banner-full-468x60.gif)](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) Save $5 on any order of $50 by clicking the link above or type this code at purchase **`AS20131425`** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Curriculum We Use, Homeschool, Homeschool Helps, homeschooling Multiple Grade Levels, literacy advocate, Literature Based Learning, raising readers, reading --- ### [Get the Best Resources for Faster Homeschool Start-Up](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-the-best-resources-for-faster-homeschool-start-up/) **Published:** March 23, 2020 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** This post and podcast will help you create a plan for your homeschool start-up with ease. We show where to find state laws, know what reporting you need, scheduling and curriculum resources with easy to follow links in the blog post to make your start-up as easy as possible. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You’ve decided to homeschool. You [have goals set for the year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-2-keys-to-your-most-successful-how-to-planning-homeschool/) of what you want to accomplish and know what kind of tools would work best for your family. Now, it is time to begin the filing process and prepare for choosing a homeschool curriculum. It still might feel like your toes are on the edge of the great unknown. Whether you are in Iowa, another state, or another country I have good news, there are plenty of tools and resources that will answer your questions, ease your fears and lead you to the homeschool that will fit your unique family and learning needs. I will walk you through the steps and answer any questions you have along the way. The trouble can be in [knowing where to start](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/). I’ve linked to a ton of resources in this post, so be sure to bookmark it as a reference for further searches. Consider our blog, 200 Fingers & Toes as your guide to help you find the way to your best homeschool year ever. Would you rather listen on the go? The podcast has you covered with an audio version.## Who Can You Trust to Help Home School Legal Defense [HSLDA](https://hslda.org/content/) and National Home Education Research Institute [NHERI](https://www.nheri.org/) are both good resources to locate your state’s information and begin creating a plan for how to communicate with the appropriate agencies. Every state has laws you must follow and doing so from the very beginning will save you time and worry in the long run. We homeschool in IOWA which has had some major success in alleviating the burden of excessive or invasive oversight. A clear resource for a breakdown of your homeschool start-up options is provided by [Homeschool Iowa](https://homeschooliowa.org/start-homeschooling/). Their site is one the should be bookmarked for every Iowa based homeschooler and is a good resource for anyone trying to navigate their first year of homeschooling. They have [printable forms and sample documents](https://homeschooliowa.org/iowa-law/iowa-homeschool-forms/) to help you know exactly what you need to provide to your school district. We choose from several options according to our students needs, when you are just starting-up it might be a little confusing for me to explain to you how we do it. There are lots of terms and form references that can sound confusing. It should be clear after you read this article, but if I missed something vital to your family a few simple questions to your state’s support group will have you feeling confident. The simple version of our homeschool start-up is this; we are open enrolled to a neighboring school district. We had to apply to our own district and the district we wished to attend in April of the previous school year, so a heads up if you are thinking of going out of local district, this step takes advance planning and granting of permission. You may dual enroll in your district without any extra steps. ### CHECK WITH YOUR STATE FOR SCHOOL ATHLETICS LAWS Two of my sons are dual enrolled at the public school for athletics. We had baseball players and now two wrestlers. Each state has different rules regarding sports access, so contact your local district if you have a student athlete to be clear about your state’s laws. There are several states that do not allow homeschooling students to compete in athletics at the public school. Iowa allows you to dual enroll at public schools for academic courses and/or athletics. Since our sons are involved with athletics we choose to complete the CPI (Competent Plan of Instruction) form and choose option 2\* with opt-in reporting to report to our district . You may choose to satisfy this “reporting,” by choosing to submit the spring standardized test results from the school year, OR a year-end portfolio evaluation by a licensed Iowa teacher, OR you may submit an end of the year report from an accredited correspondence school in which your child is enrolled. You are responsible to send it to the district at the end of the school year. Homeschool Iowa has [this handy chart](https://homeschooliowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Side-By-Side-Legal-Options-Chart.jpg) to help you see all your options\* more clearly. ![a quick at a a glance comparison](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Side-By-Side-Legal-Options-Chart-663x1024.jpg "Side-By-Side-Legal-Options-Chart › 200 Fingers & Toes")Here is a quick break down of options you may choose from in IowaThe rest of my homeschooled students are open enrolled, but are not using services from the school at this time. For these students, I send an IPI form (Independent Private Instruction) only if and when the district in which those children are enrolled requests one. I do not have to report to the district about those students daily work or test results. ## WHAT DOES A SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE Depending on your state laws for attendance, the next thing you can do is schedule your school year. In Iowa, we must meet the minimum requirement of meeting for 148 days per calendar year, at least 37 days each school quarter. I divided 148 school days by five days a week, for a result of roughly 30 weeks of “class” time. That leaves 20+ weeks for summer break, Holidays, Travel, and well deserved breaks. Homeschooling allows you to[ schedule your school days as you need](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-start-up-smart-reasons-to-home-educate/) them to be. There is no need to replicate the Monday through Friday, 8 to 4 schedule. You are not getting paid for a forty hour work week, teachers are. You can school for the amount of time it takes you to complete the studies for the day and you can schedule school for the day that you are available to teach. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/801A9320-FFD4-47EC-AE0D-CE42048F1AAA-1024x1024.jpg "Working Families Aren't Cut Off from Homeschool ing › 200 Fingers & Toes")With clear expectations and the right tools a family can create the schedule they need to flex with their work and lifeAfter 19 years of being a stay at home partner in our business, I started a part-time job. In October of 2018, I became a working homeschool mom, working 20-25 hours a week away from home. The younger kids were already using a four-day school schedule and using day five for elective studies and personal projects. To help us cut down on our workload through the week we switched everyone to a four-day week, with three days of hands on instruction with a parent and one day for online work, elective and personal work. This means we could do school a little longer, at 38 weeks out of the year. We still have 14 weeks’ worth of time to distribute throughout the year for breaks and vacation. ## Flexibility for Every Family I say all of this to let you know that you can still homeschool as a working parent. Homeschooling is a great fit for entrepreneurial families like mine. Our hours as restaurant owners were always unconventional. There were years when the only way the kids saw Daddy, was when I packed all of us in the car and headed over to the restaurant to hang out until closing time. Looking back, I am so glad I made the effort to stay connected as a family. Homeschooling gave us the flexibility we needed, I don’t know if we would have beaten the odds and made it twenty-five years as business owners and lovers if we hadn’t made “US” a priority. I would have chosen late nights with Dad if the kids had to be up for the bus at 6:30 in the morning. Homeschool helped us create a closer family. Now that you’ve assessed your personal goals and educational goals for your family, and you’ve looked at your learning styles you are ready to start narrowing down the selection of what kind of curriculum you are going to start using as a family. ## What Kind of Program is For You When I started thinking about choosing a homeschool curriculum, I knew I wanted to keep doing exactly what was working for us AND get school credit for it. I searched for a Literature Based Curriculum, one with full length books that I could read aloud covering the majority of our core subjects for the day. We settled on Sonlight Curriculum and have used it from the start. It fits our learning goals and is perfect for multi-student families like mine. We wanted to build a library that we could keep coming back to year after year. Being rural, I like having everything we need delivered to our door at the outset of the school year. ### SOME LITERATURE BASED HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS - [Sonlight](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) My top Literature Based Bundle pick for great content and price - [Memoria Press](https://id.memoriapress.com//idevaffiliate.php?id=163) Classical Subjects Latin, Greek, Logic & Rhetoric, Streaming - [Veritas Press](https://veritaspress.com/store/?awraf=4D3982035D431C8BB8378) Classical Subjects, Language Arts, Live & Online too - [Beautiful Feet](http://bfbooks.com/?tap_a=30494-e48ebf&tap_s=570195-e93827) Lighter reading workload with a study guide - [Notgrass ](https://history.notgrass.com/how-it-works/) Stories all in one or two big book with guide and readers optional - [Ambleside Online](https://amblesideonline.org/) Free classical literature book links and individual lesson plans or purchase the year lesson plan ### TEXT BOOK AND PACKET BASED PROGRAMS - [Abeka](https://www.abeka.com/Homeschool/WhyAbeka/) Trusted leader in Textbook style, offers Video and Full Online Instruction - [Alpha Omega AOP](https://www.aop.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwm4rqBRBUEiwAwaWjjKGTfEgW7QLwWl-mvUYErXQsFDS7WqlyUJd9wGVTRBdNS-V21SVgsBoCeaoQAvD_BwE) Offering teacher Led Textbooks, self-directed workbook, digital and full online - [Saxon Math](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/math/saxon-math?event=AFF&p=1191175) Clear, time-tested and not too much repetition, solid test prep - [ACE Core Paces](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/ace/ace-core-pace-only-kits?event=AFF&p=1191175) A series of workbooks sets covering four core subjects systematically ### OTHER RESOURCES I USE… - [Timberdoodle](https://timberdoodle.com/) - [Christianbook.com](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool?event=AFF&p=1191175) - [My Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AEYQPIXMZMD2ASNTUQWLNAPIBZJA?ref=idea_cp_gtp_ov_d) Recommendations Page - [Schooling Inspired](https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/schooling-inspired/) on pinterest There are tons of Homeschool teaching styles. The important thing is to find your family’s best fit. I have a friend who only uses textbooks and workbooks. She is confident in knowing that all of the information she needs to cover is in one book for the year. If a textbook is overwhelming to you or your child, there are some providers that break up the whole year into packets with ten workbooks for the year for each subject. That said…textbooks make me want to cry. Don’t be sorry for knowing what you like and what you need as a family. The best part of choosing homeschool curriculum is there are plenty to choose from. Without apologies find your family fit. To each their own my friends. When I started blogging at 200fingersandtoes.com I wanted to encourage parents who were looking for an alternative in education. Over that year I realized we only used one curriculum and a few supplements, because we love them. You might not love them like I do. That is why I have used a lot of materials over the last few years that I would not have chosen for myself. Our reviews and links are the best of the bunch. ### I WRITE REVIEWS FOR YOU If you crave structure and assurance check out the textbook providers. I don’t review materials to find what fits me best. For over two years, we were reviewing curriculum with [The Old Schoolhouse Magazine](https://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/tag/amber-smith/), so I could serve homeschooling families better. We want you to find your best school year and that means we cover all the tools to find ones that you will love. Are you looking for something specific in a program; the next thing you can do after reading this article is to search 200fingersandtoes.com and over 200 reviews and articles we created to help you plan and succeed in your homeschooling endeavors. One easy article that will help you find more reviews in one place is [23 Great Teaching Tools for Language Arts in Your Homeschool.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/language-arts-tools-homeschool-curriculum-review-handwriting/) ## Start Smaller Than You Think When you begin your first homeschool year, start smaller than you think you need to. What you are going to need the first year is a whopping dose of grace, humor, openness, humility, coffee and Jesus. Doing anything from start-up is hard. This is your first time homeschooling. Acknowledging that it will be a season of fine tuning and finding your way gives you permission to start smaller and make changes sooner. When we begin the school year we typically start in August. I give us a month to come up to full steam. We begin with just our core subjects, Math, Reading, (our reading book subjects cover History, Social Studies, Geography and can even Science) Language Arts. By September, we incorporate Bible, Writing assignments, current events and the full science curriculum. By reading great books we sneak in a lot of learning time. ### NO DESKS FROM EIGHT TO THREE People often wonder how we get done with our work so quickly? Are we cheating, slacking off? The real question should be why is the school week five, eight-hour days? School is forty hours a week…because teaching is a job. Teachers are employees and our work-week, and pay structure is built on forty-hour work weeks. If every class in a seven period rotation, has thirty minutes of solid instructing time, that’s 210 minutes. That is just three and a half hours, about what our school day takes to teach. We don’t have an hour bus ride, we’re not changing classes, and waiting for announcements, but you could throw on some tunes and have a pep rally if you need it! ### SCHOOLING YOUR WAY; SETTING YOUR OWN HOURS We all work from 10 to 2pm most school days. There is plenty of time to play and pursue other interests if they get right to work and stay on task. If they give me their best during school hours, I generally promise not to take my kids free time. I can keep my word because there is no homework for us to do at night. Why so late of a start? Because I am a working mom of ten and a writer. I have always kept mornings as my [personal quiet time and productive hours](https://blog.sonlight.com/pursuing-passions.html). You can create a life that fits ALL of your goals. Homeschooling truly is a whole family deal. ### THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN SUCCEEDING IS DECIDING TO START Through research, planning, plain trial and error, and a ton of grace, we have made it through fifteen years of teaching at home. Our three oldest graduated in 2017 and are grateful for the opportunity homeschooling gave them to pursue their interests, graduate early and prepare for college. They are thriving and doing great in school. This could be your future too. ### Back in the beginning of our homeschool it was just a theory. Fifteen years later I can see the results. My three grads love books, they are succeeding in college and I enjoy them a lot. Each of them have a unique story. Homeschooling lets you sculpt each child’s learning experience to fit them. I believe that it has been a huge factor in helping them to overcome learning difficulties and leap over hurdles like they would have never been able to do in public school. You might see a child like your own in my examples. I hope you are inspired and encouraged to find your own path in your homeschool as well. - If you want reading to be a focus in your family… - Maybe you want to raise readers… - Do you have a large family with multi grades… - I’d like to share why Sonlight works for us. We are 200 Fingers & Toes because we are homeschooling that many here at our house. Now you are asking… ### How do we homeschool multiple kids without outsourcing everything? We know what it is like to have many grades at one time. I had a literal K-12 schoolhouse one year, with ten kids in all the grades except for 6th and 9th. With the curriculum we use I have never taught more than three grade levels at a time. I always knew I wanted a big family. When I needed to chose a homeschool curriculum I needed one that would fit our future family. One that could expand from the first homeschool convention over twenty years ago, as just newlyweds to today. We needed a curriculum we could reuse with every kid. One that would feel enough to fit multiple kids in our grades to save time and make schooling a large family streamlined but still hands on. I did not want to throw my kids in front of a computer or leave the schooling to someone else. I wanted to be the leader in their education journey. ## Why I chose Sonlight as my homeschool curriculum for my huge, multi-grade family ### 1. THE SONLIGHT BINDER IS A SECOND MOM IN THE ROOM Regardless of how you got there, if you have more than two kids you will be tempted to hope for cloning in the future. With two of you, you can answer that math question AND sit on the couch and get through that chapter with your second grader. That chapter is SOOOOO long when the brother is standing there with his workbook two inches from your face the whole time “patiently” waiting his turn. The binder is the next best thing to a clone. It keeps us moving forward every day by keeping us on task with simple, clear and extremely satisfying to check off boxes for every subject. The whole day is laid out on one page for us to reference throughout the day. On the go, we just pull out the schedule page and the notes for the week and throw our books in my amazing Sonlight book bag and off we go. Whenever the older kids need to know what to read next they simply look in the binder, and boom, I am out of the loop. How awesome is that. ![What if everything could be in one place for anyone to look at](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/8cc20801-2e09-4f9a-90ad-9da348804eb0_IMG_0583.jpg) ### 2. WITH SONLIGHT MY HUSBAND CAN HELP ANYTIME The other problem I was running into was that my husband’s schedule fluctuates a great deal. He would be unavailable to be home for long stretches and then home for a week, willing to help, but I didn’t know what to throw his way. With Sonlight he can jump into the schedule on any given day. We check off tasks in our schedule binder when we complete them, so he can see at a glance where we need catching up or he can read through the whole week in a book and save me some time. Either way, I love that he can always jump in to help me. Right now as I have been working on writing and podcasting I have been taking two days a week off. With Sonlight I am able to hand over the binder and my husband and I can work together on our entrepreneurial goals while we are homeschooling. It makes for a team approach where we can work on our projects and stay accountable in our homeschool. ### 3. I KNOW MYSELF, I NEED STRUCTURE I‘m not a planner. For school I love my giant binder. Don’t let her looks fool you. She is not intimidating at all. In fact I affectionately call her “Mom” because this binder tells me what to do every day. With 10 kids asking what is next, I could lose my mind before lunch on any given day. Knowing where to look quickly helps me keep kids moving forward during the day. Every day is neatly laid out with Reading, History, Bible, Language Arts and Read-Aloud titles. Just check down the list as you read and you are done. ## This translates into kids working independently earlier By the seventh grade, my older kids were in charge of their own binder and I would check in with them. Through all of high school they have worked through their studies as a group with little direction from me on what to do. I still have to hound them about completing their Math every day and turning in science sheets on time, but they know what to do from their binder. Getting them to complete it in a timely manner still falls on us as the parents, but half a job is still better than everything. Right? ![Combine tasks and grade levels for a successful day](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/dc4dd1f1-cb30-47a9-8b10-9eda67436b93_IMG_3177.jpg)We chose a homeschool curriculum that had what we already loved.Reading out loud is a great way to incorporate the whole family in History and Social Studies, geography and Literature #### ALL OF THESE HELPED US HOMESCHOOL MULTIPLE GRADE LEVEL SUCCESSFULLY My older kids began their independent work just as the next group really needed more guidance. Sonlight was again a great fit because many of the readers covered the subject matter both groups were learning. We could still all meet in the morning for bible time and then break into our smaller groups. [Flexibility has always been a key factor in schooling a large family.](https://twitter.com/share?text=Flexibility+has+always+been+a+key+factor+in+schooling+a+large+family.+&via=Kingspie&url=https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-multiple-grade-levels/) [CLICK TO TWEET](https://twitter.com/share?text=Flexibility+has+always+been+a+key+factor+in+schooling+a+large+family.+&via=Kingspie&url=https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-multiple-grade-levels/) ### Homeschooling Works for Our House of Flux We scrap a lot of plans. We are a house in constant flux. With a bunch of kids, you are too. The baby becomes a toddler, the kids read at different rates, some kids are auditory while others are hands on. We shift perpetually to fit the needs of this year, but Sonlight shifts right with us to give us the structure we need to be successful. [](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) ![Sonlight Curriculum](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cf7def1e-2039-4439-b7b0-7040448aed6f_banner-full-468x60-1.gif)If you like structure, in fact you are craving it, Sonlight will be a great fit for you. If you love reading, or if like me, you hated reading and want your kids to love it, choose Sonlight. My kids are practically putting in the new book order at the library these days. If your husband desperately wants to help you, or grandma, a teen helper or the paperboy, the Sonlight binder lets anyone jump into the fray. #### MAYBE YOU DON’T HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN BUT YOU NEED TO STREAMLINE YOUR SCHOOL WITHOUT COMPROMISING LEARNING FOR ANOTHER REASON Are you expecting a baby, experiencing a prolonged sickness or have a child with a health condition? Sonlight has been a great fit for many families in your same position. They could pull the week’s schedule page and throw the reading books in a bag and be all set for the day is a great relief. No matter what kind of curriculum you are looking for I guarantee a quick online search will yield you plenty of results. I’ve created a wealth of resources and reviews here on 200fingersadntoes.com with the intention of giving you all of the options to meet your family’s needs in the way that they will learn their very best. I don’t want to sell a curriculum. I don’t want to push MY ideas on you. What I want is to help you refine what you want as your homeschool vision. I am a homeschool courage lender. I want to encourage you to be brave and step out and make scary choices until you are confident with your feel fully on the ground. No matter what your questions are you can always email me at . I’d love to share in your wins and heart aches. I’ll do my best to help answer your question and I will happily pray for you as well. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/200FT-IDS-Logo-1-1024x700.jpg "In Due Season Episode Post › 200 Fingers & Toes")Thanks for reading This post is available as a podcast to listen to on the go and share with a friendI want to thank you for joining me on these episodes and I hope they have encouraged and inspired you and empowered you to make the choices you want for your family. You’re the number one person here leading your family and I want you to help you find the tools you need to do that. ### Subscribe and Share with a Friend I can’t wait to meet you over in the next few episodes. I especially want to encourage you if you have teen; struggling in public school, and you are thinking about removing them, but maybe you are afraid of how high school is going to go for you the second time around. By the end of the next episode you will agree with me that high school is nothing to fear. I will give you the tips and tools to help you go through high school together successfully. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_2946-1024x1024.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes")Choosing Homeschool Curriculum for them High school is not a problemYou will give your student the tools they need for their future. I can’t wait to meet you here again next week. Have a great day, Amber from 200 Fingers & Toes ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** choose curriculum, homeschool curriculum, podcast --- ### [Chasing our dreams while chasing our kids! What that looks like for a mom who writes.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/chasing-dreams-chasing-kids-looks-like-mom-writes/) **Published:** August 20, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You might be wondering why there are so many reviews on the blog and a lot less devotional writing. It has everything to do with my personal goals as a writer and homeschool supporter. My goal is to become an author. It has been…probably all of my life. One of the areas of life I feel like I have a wealth of experience and knowledge that can really help people is in the area of homeschooling and family living. We have had an awesome opportunity to write articles for the Sonlight blog. I am honored to be in the company of some amazing homeschool families over there. The Sonlight community is full of great parents who are striving to give their kids the education they wish they had. There is always a wealth of kind insight on this [Facebook](https://m.facebook.com/groups/1423207921255370) group for Sonlight parents. I often jump in and answer any questions I can, as a veteran Sonlight user having gone through all the Cores K-12. We are getting ready to unpack from a long vacation and launch back into homeschool life. This year I am working hard on setting clear goals for myself. How about you? Are you looking for a way to get more concrete and measurable goals for your homeschool? I created a mini-course to help you know if you are on the right track with school. You can download it [here](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/why-free-mini/) and get started creating a plan for your best school year today. Does [comparison](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/embrace-you/) get you second guessing when you should be celebrating? Check out the [latest article](https://www.sonlight.com/blog/homeschool-expectations.html?utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=slb-jla-tw-170821&utm_medium=referral) on The Sonlight blog about setting the bar for your homeschool and how setting goals that fit your family will help you avoid discouragement. When you get some time; read the rest of the articles, and don’t forget to bookmark the blog. I contribute posts twice a month and always look forward reading wisdom from other homeschool family’s experiences. I am challenged and encouraged by what I read there. Hit share on what you like to get your favorites in front of families you know who are homeschooling to encourage and help them reach their goals. We all need to hear a good word from time to time. ![Don't get lost, grow weary or lost sight of your goal](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/InDueSeasonV1.26MapPin.jpg "How to Avoid Getting Lost on Your Homeschool Journey › 200 Fingers & Toes")For any good journey you need a map Ive created a page that will lead me on my homeschool journey as wellDo you need a good word in due season? Did you know I wrote a course to help you [create a road map](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/) for your specific homeschool needs? You know your school best. No one can help your homeschool more than you. In our course we walk you through how by doing short morning exercises in your journal. In a short time will build a plan that you can refer to from Kindergarten to College. The best part is, the plan is custom tailored for your homeschool. In a few weeks you can see real changes because you identified the six roadblocks that wreck your homeschool experience. Your course walks you through how to bring joy back into your homeschool and start loving and learning as a family. Sign up and start today. Don’t waste one more school year wishing you had done better. Get equipped. Make your own roadmap with [In Due Season](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Hands-On History Tools for Multiple-Learner Families](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-history-tools-for-multiple-learner-families/) **Published:** June 28, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** My kids can share, but often we choose to allow the kids to work on a hands-on project while I read. Having everything they need right there and not having to wait for a sibling to finish with the glue is a huge blessing because it reduces interruptions and opportunities for bickering. I want them to work on manners, just not while I am trying to read Johnny Tremain! **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## **Sonlight’s Hands-On History Kit is Great for Big Families** We used Sonlight’s Hands-On History Kit for the first time and I was curious if it could make the BIG FAMILY cut. We are a very big family. Sonlight is the curriculum that we use with seven students, ranging from first to tenth grade. Currently, we are using two HBL (American History 120, and American History D) to help streamline our school day with seven kids at home. Now, we are trying Sonlight’s Hands-On History Kit to see if they can streamline history crafts too. What drew me to Sonlight in the first place was the ability to group multiple students together for cohesive teaching and less fragmentation…of my brain. Are you looking for ways to make big family homeschooling easier? Sonlight has been the answer for our family. Even when we had ten kids at home we never used more than three HBL. The question is: could Sonlight make a [Hands-On Learning kit](https://bit.ly/2NjyRdh) that could fit us? They already help us streamline our school day, could they make history crafts easier to do too? ![IMG_1998.JPG](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_1998.jpg?ssl=1&w=3024 "Chasse › 200 Fingers & Toes")## ## **Why Past “Kits” Have Not Been My Favorite** Everything we do is on a 10x scale. We buy mayo in a gallon jug. Most kits or craft sets that come with a curriculum don’t fit our family size. Often the focus is on one child/learner and the parts are geared for one user. I have been disappointed before when I purchased a kit that was completely unshareable. As a big family we need a kit that has a lot of mileage and can be used with more than one child **at the same time**. We were excited to receive a Hand-On History Kit from Sonlight Curriculum to try with our family as part of a summer giveaway. I have to say we are loving it. Sonlight’s Hands-On Learning Kit is smarter than any kit we have ever received in the past. #### **Reasons the Hands-On History Kit is Better…** - Multiple Glue Bottles - Tear Apart Glue Dots - Individually Bagged Projects - Focused Historical Time Frames - Genius Guide Book (they had us in mind) - Easy to Follow Instructions ![The Trojan Horse is a beloved story and to my surprise this history craft is still around the house long after this review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/aw0E43ySoKxI4eXSqkA4g-1331030421-1561647416235.jpg "aw0E+43ySoKxI4eXSqkA4g › 200 Fingers & Toes")Make your own Trojan Horse and relive the epic tale of the defeat of Troy with this history craft## ## **Do You Hate Crafting Chaos?** In a big family “crafting” can be code for huge mess! I don’t do a lot of structured projects because it tends to be less fun when we are all frustrated. Also, I don’t need seven of the same mobile hanging in every window. Some of the reasons we don’t purchase craft kits are; with twelve people at home we need to minimize visual clutter and we are not terribly sentimental, but kids are. Most finished projects don’t last the week before they get tossed. In the past, I let the kids create on their own crafts with little instruction or assistance from myself. I love the idea of doing a more formal set of History oriented craft projects that reinforce the subjects we have covered in our reading time over the last year. This was the best part of using the Hands-On Kit from Sonlight. We weren’t just making scraps for the recycle bin. Using a [History Kit](https://bit.ly/2NjyRdh) from Sonlight meant the “doing” of the project was the central focus, even more than the finished item itself. We value experiences over stuff, so this was a great fit for our family. ![Greek History Crafts include making a vase and decorating is in the styles we learned about](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mOXDZx1eQEWNG8vIR1Qyjw-1-768x1024.jpg "mOXDZx1eQEWNG8vIR1Qyjw › 200 Fingers & Toes")## ## Everything They Need is in Here When I first opened our Hands-On History Kit, I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to use it with the three kids who are schooling together. Each child picked a history craft related to the subject they were interested in the World History Project Kit and took the individually bagged set out of the box. All we needed was a pen and scissors. I was stumped for only a minute because one project needed a ruler. It is summer right now; last year’s school supplies are long gone. Before I had to go and dig in the math manipulative box, I noticed that Sonlight had printed a ruler on the cover of the instruction guide as well on the sturdy box everything came in. Yay, for Sonlight! ![DmwtYRozQ7uOe5UFlDw](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/DmwtYRozQ7uOeAD5UFlDw.jpg "Hands-On History › 200 Fingers & Toes")# ## Sonlight Hands-On History Craft Kit is Smarter Everyone had their bags and were ready to get creating, but I had one instruction guide. For a moment I worried; was I going to have to spend the afternoon alternating pages and relaying instructions. (that would be the opposite of fun) I broke out in a small sweat. Thinking quickly, I flipped the pages to see if I could tear out the pages for the oldest to work on her own. To my immediate relief, I noticed that each and every project could be torn out independently without taking a page from another project. NO SHARED PAGES. I grabbed a stapler, tore out each project’s instructions and stapled new, little individual booklets. I handed out the ones the kids were working on, then, folded the rest and tucked them in the bag with their corresponding project. Now, our kit is “grab-and-go ready” for anytime we want to take a History Craft project to go. ![Getting creative and learning too with History Crafts from the Hands-On Learning Kit from Sonlight](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/3OtvoHBgT5admAacrG3R7w.jpg "3OtvoHBgT5admAacrG3R7w › 200 Fingers & Toes")Little learners love crafts and I love how easy Sonlight has made it for us to do themMy kids can share, but often we choose to allow the kids to work on a [hands-on project](https://bit.ly/2NjyRdh) while I read. Having everything they need right there and not having to wait for a sibling to finish with the glue is a huge blessing because it reduces interruptions and opportunities for bickering. I want them to work on manners, just not while I am trying to read Johnny Tremain! ## Check Our What Sonlight has to Offer We have been moving toward more hands-on history learning in our homeschool this year. We have actually been incorporating components of Sonlight’s American History I Lap Book in our read-aloud time. This coming school year we are going to be using Sonlights election guide. You can grab the free download [here](https://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/homeschool-101/sonlight-media/ebooks/elections-unit-study/) too. Every group of students is different, and this set of “littles” is a hands-on group. The History connected learning projects are something I will keep using because we can review and add to them through the whole school year. ## Find Out More About Sonlight We have been a Sonlight family for over fifteen years. We have found ways to [make ONE curriculum work for all ten of our kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-our-family-used-the-same-curriculum-ten-different-ways/). You can use [my code](https://www.sonlight.com/cart/index.html?goto=processForPoints) to get $5 off your first order of $50. That means you could save now on your choice of a Hands-On History Kit today. [![Sonlight Curriculum](https://www.sonlight.com/images/banner-full-468x60.gif)](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Craft, Elementary History, Hands-on history, Homeschool --- ### [How to Read Stories and Build Bonds That Last This Christmas](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/building-strong-family-christmas-reading/) **Published:** December 20, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Reading as a family has helped us connect to Who Jesus is, where He grew up and respond in kind to the world around us with these 3 treasured books. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### **Why make telling stories a part of your family Christmas?** We read out loud to the kids because books are a great way to connect us. Listening together , their minds are actively engaged in a way they are no when we watch a show. Christmas is a great time to take advantage of extra free time to slow down and really connect with your kids. There are a million Christmas books out there, so it is easy to find one that fits your child’s attention span. Make reading a fun and well anticipated activity. ## Why Teach Through Story? Stories are a strong way to convey a message we want our children to understand. As we share a story we commune with the characters, we are placed right there with them. We laugh and cry with them. Christmas is the perfect time to do all three of those things. After all what better message to connect with than that of a God who chose to be made a baby. It’s never too late to begin a new tradition in your house. Reading together is one you can look forward to for years to come. [click_to_tweet tweet=”It is through reading out loud that we became a family of story lovers. Check out… Reading Stories Build Family Bonds That Last Beyond Christmas for some great recommendations from the book house https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/christmas-tradition-reading-stories/” quote=”It is through reading out loud that we became a family of story lovers.” theme=””] ### **When We Read, We Connect** As a family, when we read, we connect with characters and each other, piled on the couch with our blankets and snacks. When everyone is listening to the same story; everyone is being led down the same path. When the kids were little there was a lot of jockeying for position and peeking over my shoulder. I remember the picture book years, when it took twice as long to read because everyone needed to look at the picture twice before I could turn the page and read the next sentence. You are laying a foundation for the future connection with books and stories. Those picture book years were sometimes frustrating and tiresome, but they laid the foundation for our reading habit. Looking back, they are such a treasure now. Those years taught our kids to listen with anticipation. Pictures kept them engaged, but it wasn’t long before the stories alone captured them. But it was our hearts that were knit together during those quiet story hours. [![The Christmas tradition of Stories](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/51XATAXGD6L-300x191.jpg "Story telling is an ancient tradition › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/christmas-tradition-reading-stories/51xataxgd6l/)## **When we read, we convey specific attributes of the Christmas story that we want to emphasize** Stories are how we highlight attributes we want our kids to see in the Christmas story. I read the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke. It seems so small, yet there are a thousand lessons there. The good news is you don’t have to write all the possible lessons and teach them. Many creative and inspired people have already done it before us. ### Jesus Was a Real Child, Like Them Every year we read *[Mary’s First Christmas](http://amzn.to/2hvfEBC),* which is an advent book. Before you get overwhelmed with making sure you read every weekend for four weeks, know that you can make reading fit your life. We tend to end up reading this book in the four nights before Christmas Eve. It is the story of the gospel account of the Christmas story, told from Mary to young Jesus. I love the glimpse of Jesus as a little boy my children can relate to. Young Jesus is getting tucked in and wants to hear the story of the angels one more time. Your kids have probably asked about their birth stories and love to hear it over and over, too. We get to peek into this intimate moment between Mother and son and hear the story from Luke with a fresh perspective as it conveys the intentional love God has for us. I want my children to be able to picture Jesus as a human man, a playful little boy, loved son, a real flesh and blood member of history as well as the son of God. ### True Giving Costs Something A book I often give is O. Henry’s classic tale, *[The Gift of the Magi](http://amzn.to/2gKUHEc).* This story shows more about giving than you could ever say and O. Henry does it so beautifully. The beautifully illustrated picture book captures both love and compassion. He conveys the excitement of gift giving and the struggle to give as much as you can. The tale closes with the story of the magi bringing gifts to the Christ child. [![Giving everything when you have little to offer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/51dKlK1-9VL-300x181.jpg "The Gift of the Magi › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/christmas-tradition-reading-stories/51dklk1-9vl/)## **When we read, we commune with worldwide story** During the Christmas break we take time to read a longer book together. I don’t know about you, but the time leading up to Christmas is chaotic. The stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas tends to get filled up for me without even trying. Since we homeschool we try not to lose momentum before a break so our Christmas traditions tend to happen during the winter break from school. Reading a longer book helps us continue in the spirit of the Christmas season a little bit longer. ### The Historical Narrative of the Expected King Every year we try to read *[The King Nobody Wanted](http://amzn.to/2gIsn77),* it a story woven of the four gospels and much like the Jesus film, which focuses on the life of Christ. What makes this book unique is the emphasis on the expectation of the coming King. The world was not expecting a humble, servant Lord. The world at the time of Christ was crying out for a warrior, a victor and a champion. The plan of God was not anything anyone expected and this book helps us connect with the ancient world as they are hearing about Jesus for the first time. This book conveys the conflict the disciples worked through as they learned that the true plan for redemption was not a warrior for Jerusalem, but a lamb for the world. ### The Classic Allegory of the Christian Journey Another book I will highly recommend is *[Little Pilgrims Progress](http://amzn.to/2hNkFES).* This book is an adaptation of Bunyan’s classic tale, but the main character is little Christian, a young boy determined to find the Celestial City and the King who can remove his burden. Little Christian was so weary, alone and yet so brave. He quickly became the champion of our house when the boys were little. Fifteen years ago, we were all snuggled up during nap times reading this for the first time. Talk about a well-loved book, after the sixth reading chapter 11 fell out and I lost it. I just ordered a new copy because it is time for my younger children to meet little Christian themselves for the first time. I have a feeling that there will be more than a few teenagers lingering nearby during reading time. ## **Take Steps to Create a Reading Habit Now** Want to know how I became a reader? It might surprise you. Read more [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-steps-becoming-a-reader/). Whether you are in the picture book phase with kids jockeying for the most lap, or the chapter book phase, I hope that you can make reading one of these tales a part of the Christmas tradition at your home during the winter break. Do you have a treasured book that you read over the Christmas season? I would love to add it to my list. Leave the title in the comments. Have a very Merry Christmas from me and my 200 Fingers & Toes at home [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/801A9320-FFD4-47EC-AE0D-CE42048F1AAA-1024x1024.jpg "Working Families Aren't Cut Off from Homeschool ing › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/christmas-tradition-reading-stories/fullsizeoutput_de0/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting, Read **Tags:** books for Christmas, christmas, Christmas Traditions, HI network, Homeschool, Homeschool Iowa, Homeschooler, reading, thebookhouse --- ### [The Best Way to Help Your Students Enjoy High School Science](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/high-school-science-success-enjoy-audio/) **Published:** November 27, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Apologia as the leader in homeschool Science curriculum. It is what we have used for high school three times over, but we have made some great changes to how we use it. I want to share some of the common factors we discovered that have made Science better every year. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Teaching tools have come so far in the twenty years I have been involved in homeschooling. One thing that has stayed the same is [Apologia as the leader in homeschool Science](https://www.apologia.com?a_aid=5dd73e71607de) curriculum. It is what we have used for high school three times over, but we have made some great changes to how we use it. I want to share some of the common factors we discovered that have made Science better every year. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2107ADDC-3DD1-4F04-A528-E13E7BDADBA4.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Apologia Science › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Teaching High School Science isn’t Scary Upper level science is the stuff many parents dread. When I talk to parents, one of the main fears is teaching high school classes. This fear is so strong, it keeps parents from choosing to homeschool even when their child is failing in public school. I am here to tell you, you can successfully teach any upper level course. I have done it myself and I was a terrible student in high school. Not only have I managed to graduate three kids, but our kids are doing well in college. In the rest of this post, I want to share what has helped us to have a successful learning experience. Yes, even through all four years of high school. ## Plan to Be Available Making the transition to upper level classes takes some hand holding. I know that to us; as adults, the text might seem self-explanatory. Homeschool textbooks are designed for the student to work independently, but a little help to have a strong beginning goes a long way. For my children, High School Science is the first introduction to using a textbook. Textbooks are a different learning model. Changing physical teachers always takes time, this change is no different. I was talking to my college kids, they were sharing that one of the hardest parts of each new semester is learning the expectations of each Professor. You can do a great deal to help your transition to high school by walking your student through the first few Modules in their textbook. Give them the lay of the land. ## Teach the Skills They Need Teach them how to use the schedule in the front of the book. I keep a copy in my binder to keep us all on the same page at all times. If you don’t know what page they should be on, “some teenagers” think that means they have a day off. They don’t. I have learned to have concrete answers for schedule questions. Being clear about where to find what to do each day. Helping you teen know how to stay on task is a key factor in a successful day. In the first month, we read over the daily assigned text together. On the first reading, I have the kids take notes and write out definitions. We try to keep our focus on the broad overview of the subjects we are covering in context to one another. I take this time to teach them how to use the **Cornell Method** for note taking. ### Keys for Good Note Taking… - **Record** – Write key ideas and meaningful facts, definitions and unfamiliar vocabulary words - **Reduce** – After reading, summarize the main ideas in your notes and gather any needed definitions in the column on the left - **Recite** – Can your students explain processes learned, correctly from their notes? - **Reflect** – We have the students retell key facts of the chapter at the end of our session - **Review** – Students can use their notes to review key facts, processes and vocabulary. Apologia provides a Study Guide for each Module. We fill it in after our first reading to review material covered and see what areas we need to re-cover to prepare for the test. Begin great note taking habits. Download the FREE Cornell Notes template Name \*First Last Email \* Website Submit ## Expect the Learning Curve A few years back I had all ten kids at home for school. I was blessed to have my Mom teach Science for a few years. We met one day a week and she covered the material, corrected study guides that were done at home and administered tests. It was a life saver. Imagine my feelings when the kids failed the first test. I was upset with the for not giving their best. Later, they failed the next test. I was mortified. It felt like a reflection of my homeschool teaching. Stepping back a year or two, I now can see moving into textbooks was a huge transition for them. I didn’t help them prepare for it like I should have. I am doing much better with my younger class. ![](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_5324.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Nom Nom › 200 Fingers & Toes")Everyone piles into my office to listen and fill out study guidesThe good news is that by the end of the year, they learned how to navigate textbook learning. They were passing the tests and knew how to study and prepare. Knowing that this is part of the learning curve helped my with my younger set of students. First, I know that my students need a lot of hand holding early on in the course. Secondly, I expect it to be difficult for them to find the answers. I am more understanding and patient with my students because I have identified where they are going to have difficulty and have created a plan to help them transition better. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/832F13DA-390F-459E-81D3-44B90D3B012A.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Top Teaching tools › 200 Fingers & Toes")Using the right tools makes for a better learning experience## Use All of the Tools Teaching multiple students means varied learning styles. How do I reach them all? I’ve learned to use all of the tools at my disposal. Apologia makes that easy. This is not a sales pitch. I am a cheap homeschooler. I used to buy one math workbook and teach out of it, use the dry erase covers and the works. But, I’ve learned the right tools help you get the job done better. I am willing to invest where it matters to my students. ### Student Notebook One of the tools I highly recommend is the [student notebooks provided by Apologia](https://www.apologia.com?a_aid=5dd73e71607de) for each of the textbooks. Keeping track of loose paper is a huge headache, especially when you have multiple students. Two things I love about the notebooks; one, I can open any notebook and know right where my student is in their work. Secondly, everything is lined out systematically so it is easy to follow instructions and hard to “miss” an assignment. ### Audio Textbook I have a student who is not a strong reader. With dyslexia or dysgraphia, I was afraid that scientific terms would be a stumbling block. With a struggling learner, I have learned to separate learning goals for specific classes. **Science is not English class**. I chose to use the Audio CD to bypass frustrating my student with having to read large unfamiliar selections. This has helped keep the focus on science and keep procrastination at a minimum. Since my kids love their phones, I downloaded my audio to my shared Apple playlist. My younger kids have been able to listen to science in the car. At home, I have been able to get some other work in while staying nearby by having someone else do the reading for Science. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_2737.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1 "IMG_2737 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Audio is great for struggling readers and auditory learners too### Extra Bonus Materials Technology is a way of life and we are embracing it in our school. Apologia makes it easy to supplement or go in depth with links they have already curated. You create an account on the Apologia website and use the unique code in the front of your textbook. This gives you access to a ton of videos, articles and websites to take learning further. I have found this is a great resource for kids in the digital age. We read a bit of the material in the text, then we pull up a relevant Video clip or visual. It has been a huge help when trying reenforce new concepts. Especially ones that are new to ALL of us. I have used links to help us memorize the scientific classification system, identify cell parts, and learn about the bio-dome. ### Go Digital with the Video Instruction Thumb-drive If you are looking for a more visual format [Apologia offers a thumb-drive](https://www.apologia.com?a_aid=5dd73e71607de) preloaded with lectures, corresponding to all the sections of the textbook. The video instruction includes visual animations and on-location video clips. This is a great way to capture your auditory and visual learners. The animations help explain more difficult concepts three-dimensionally. We use the video content to review material after we read. This way, we are working on good study skills and mastery of the subject matter. This is a great way to ensure they really understand each Module. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_3561-rotated.jpg "IMG_3561 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Additionally, videos of all the experiments are included, so parents and students can better understand how to set them up at home. Complete explanations of the labs are provided too. [![Apologia Biology](//apologia.postaffiliatepro.com/accounts/default1/gwfkzl3b/c4d79375.jpg "Apologia Biology")](https://www.apologia.com/product-category/science/high-school-science/?subject=biology&a_aid=5dd73e71607de&a_bid=c4d79375)![](https://apologia.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/gwfkzl3i?a_aid=5dd73e71607de&a_bid=c4d79375)--- ## Make Reviewing Fun We have been using an app called [Quizlet](https://quizlet.com/latest) to help study for the Module Tests. Quizlet was recommended to me by a friend and fellow homeschool mom. I created a teacher account for myself so that I could invite my students into a class, I simply sent them a link to add them. You can organize your students by classes so I can actually use Quizlet with both levels of Apologia Science that I am teaching this year. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Quizlet.sets_.jpeg?fit=1024%2C467&ssl=1 "Quizlet.sets_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")Choose from pre created study sets for Apologia ModulesI was able to find several study sets for Apologia, this was a huge time saver, but you can create a study set yourself for any subject you need. For Biology, I was able to select right down to the Module. In Quizlet, I have the kids take the pre-test to narrow down the terms that they need to study. Then they can use the varied methods to take quizzes to build vocabulary and term mastery. Quizlet helps them know how the terms need to be written on the test. This help me do less negotiating and guess work during grading. ## Trust A Homeschool Leader If you are planning on moving into a textbook for high school science, [Apologia has the tools](https://www.apologia.com?a_aid=5dd73e71607de) to meet every need of your unique learners and your individual homeschool. I was not thrilled about moving into textbooks myself. Over the years, I have found that working with Apologia did the most ground work in preparing our student for the more rigorous work they are now doing in college. With the many outside sources provided by Apologia, it is easy and even fun to reinforce what we are learning in multiple ways. Are you still worried about teaching high school successfully? What are your questions? Leave me a comment. I would love to talk about creating a plan to overcome your fears and succeed in your homeschool vision. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Curriculum, Homeschool **Tags:** Apologia, Notes --- ### [The Best Gift For the Life Long Learners](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/life-long-learner-gift-creative-skill/) **Published:** November 27, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Give the gift that says, "I see you" to the life long learner in your life. Support their vision and their homeschool with Skillshare. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Do you know someone who is always learning a new skill? Do you know a friend who is in a creative rut? I know just the gift for both of the life long learners in your life. Skillshare has 22,000 classes to keep the fast paced learner satisfied and enough variety to get your friend’s creative spark back. I write for the learners. Friends and parents, who read, teach, create and search for answers to make themselves better, first, then their kids. Most of them have always been seekers, some may have been forced by the blessed [circumstance of homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/), to jump into learning. Others always have a book or a class in the works. Either way, learning has this power to become a way of life. Skillshare makes it easy to grow skills and talents you might not have know you had. This is the real gift you are giving. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/skillshare-coursesProcreate.post_.jpeg?fit=1024%2C513&ssl=1 "skillshare-coursesProcreate.post_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")Leaning is Something I will Be Doing ForeverThis holiday season I wanted to share gifts that you could give the homeschool parent and family in your life. I am a giver of gifts that are fun, useful and long lasting, but above all, gifts that say, “I see you.” That means the world to me. Give the learner a gift this season that shows you support their vision. ## Give The Gift of Learning from Hundreds of Skilled Teachers For the last few years I have been actively using SkillShare. [I love to learn new skills for myself](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about-me/). In the past that meant reading hundreds of books every year to fine tune a talent or the gain a whole new skillset. The way the world learns has changed, and Skillshare is one of the ways that technology is making it easier to access your own teachers. A huge number of homeschool parents are entrepreneurs, creatives and life-long-learners like me. We want the classes, Skillshare give us access. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/skillshare.free-courses.post_.jpeg "Free Courses from Skillshare › 200 Fingers & Toes")You can Check Out the Huge Catalog of Free Classes for Yourself## What is Skillshare? [Skillshare](https://skl.sh/1NQDNLd) is a learning platform the brings the best creatives together and gives them the opportunity to share their skills and earn an income. No drive to the art center or jr. college classes needed. Learn from home or while you are out, whenever it works best for you. What can you learn? Artists in every medium from watercolor to gouache. Handcraft lessons from creatives who can teach you how to make a beautiful project from start to end. You can learn a whole new skill; knit, crochet, creative stamping, or shadow boxes. You can renew an old love, photography, calligraphy, still life, to Photoshop. ## Skillshare takes you beyond cute crafting Skillshare teachers are some of my favorite working artists like Lisa Condon, Dylan Mierzwinski and Sara Boccaccini Meadows. You get to learn from industry leaders. Create in the kitchen too. Top private chefs teach recipes from all over the world. I learned some tips to improve my fried chicken and I have a class bookmarked to learn how to make traditional pho. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Skillshare.mycurrentclasses.post_.jpeg "Skillshare.mycurrentclasses.post_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")My Current Class List is All Over the PlaceDiversify your passions## Not crafty? ### Hone your technical skills I love the digital content creators, writers, photographers, and the like create quality content for Skillshare. I’ve learned Hand-Lettering, improved my Instagram, written a book proposal and learned how to use Adobe Fresca with Skillshare. Tutorials and step-by-step courses in all ability levels and lengths mean that there is a class for every skill you are looking to acquire or improve right now. You can learn from any screen, wherever you are. I take classes on my phone when I wait for the kids sport practices. My kids choose electives from the category list. Photography, Doodling, watercolor, to WordPress. Want to know how to handle the difference between vector and raster images; with Skillshare you can go as deep as you want to. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/skillshare.lettering.post_.jpeg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1 "skillshare.lettering.post_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")Get Current on Your Digital Skills or go for the Old School ClassicsSkillshare is the perfect gift for every learner you know, but can be a game changer for a homeschooling family. Consider to price; for $8 your child or your best friend could uncover a skill they never they knew they had. Maybe they will be a Skillshare teacher in the future. ## How Does Giving Skillshare Work? First, you select the amount of time you would like to give as a gift. The longer the subscription the more savings. Giving a subscription is the best way to save on [Skillshare](https://skl.sh/1NQDNLd). You simply send the gift card by email. It is safe and secure. You choose the delivery date and the best part is that it does not expire. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Skillshare-Gift.post_.jpeg "Skillshare-Gift.post_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")It is better to give with SkillshareYou can give a three month subscription for $36 (20% discount), six months for $60 (save 33%) or you can give a year and pay less that I paid for my subscription. Normally, when sign up, you may choose to pay $15 a month for Skillshare Premium and have access to 22,000 unlimited classes, or you can pay $99 for the whole year and bring the monthly price down to $8.25. The price to give Skillshare is $96 or just $8 a month. [Give the Gift of Creativity with Skillshare Now](https://skl.sh/1NQDNLd) Skillshare is helping people get creative by connecting them with great teachers. What I love more, is that Skillshare is giving talented artists a place to maximize their impact on the world and get paid while they do it. I know my subscription helps pay an artist or maker. Give the learner in your life a gift that makes an impact and lasts all year long with Skillshare. You can sign on for the [free trial now](https://skl.sh/1NQDNLd) and you can have a personal recommendation list ready by the time your friend signs up with their gift subscription. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/skillshare.class.post_.jpeg?fit=1024%2C821&ssl=1 "skillshare.class.post_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")Use the link and get a [free month of Premium](https://skl.sh/1NQDNLd) to get started todayNow go make beautiful things! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** creative, Digital Arts, gift, Holiday, Homeschool, homeschool electives, online electives, Photography, Subscription --- ### [How to Automate & Streamline Your Blog Calendar](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/automate-streamline-blogging-calendar-coschedule/) **Published:** November 23, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** CoSchedule breaks big jobs into individual tasks. I use work flow Automations to meet compliance on my reviews and social sharing posts, now I write faster **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Editorial_Calendar_728x90.jpg "Editorial_Calendar_728x90 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://coschedule.com/r/o27469)#### Automating tasks helps me get more done with less time. Working from home might bring up visions of warm slippers and hot cups of coffee. My reality is working around seven kids and their homeschooling schedule. They never leave! Coordinating with a husband who splits his work week to teach two days with me. (Honey, where is the science book?) My writing schedule for the week in reality is more grabbing tiny windows of uninterrupted working hours, sneaking early morning desk time, before the kids wake up and edits in the evenings after dinner. Basically, every hour counts. A few years back I moved from hobby writer, to regular poster and writing for an editorial staff. I was reviewing products both for a magazine and with an online review team. This meant keeping up with strict deadlines and detailed criteria for each kind of article. ## More Work Meant More Details I was schooling ten from home at the time, so I need to get organized. I downloaded a free trial of [CoSchedule](https://coschedule.com/r/o27469). At first I used CoSchedule to cue my repeat social media sharing for each new posts and to add tasks to my master calendar. I could gather an overview in one place and organize articles (jobs) by the task. I was already using Buffer and CoScedule paired with it perfectly. ## My Editorial Calendar… Here you can see blog posts scheduled out over the month. In the calendar you can also choose what you see. Your calendar, your team tasks, Social Shares, by the Label or you can create your own view. I created a filter so I can see tasks only. Filtering makes it so you can see exactly what your want to see on your calendar at one glance. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/My-editorial-calendar.review.jpeg "My-editorial-calendar.review › 200 Fingers & Toes")I ended up going with the full program because it was helping me work daily with smaller systematic tasks. [CoSchedule](https://coschedule.com/r/o27469) had a variety of plan choices and the Solo Marketer plan was scaled to fit me, small blogger with under 10 social profiles to schedule for. This actually gave me some room to add a few social media managing clients if I wanted to. I used my personal account to schedule my posts for the Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s social media on twitter for a year while I wrote reviews for their review crew. It was so easy. In an hours time, I assigned re-posts from specific vendors for each day of the week. With a click, I scheduled magazine articles and discussion prompts to specific days of the week/times with a quick copy and paste of the link. CoSchedule even determined the best time of day for each pages for me so I could post at the best sharing times. ## CoSchedule is a Workflow Genius The real game changer was when CoSchedule created the ability to break big jobs into individual tasks. You can even assign each task to a team member. Have an SEO and Key word expert? You can assign the task to them in the schedule and the project is on the calendar for all of the team to see. No team? No matter. I used the work flow to make sure I met compliance on my review and social sharing posts. My articles for *[The Old SchoolHouse Magazine Review Crew](https://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/?s=amber+Smith)* were very detailed and had many specific requirements. I had a page check-off list for every post I created for them. ## Create a Task Template (you x 2) When CoSchedule introduced the ability to [create a Task Template](https://help.coschedule.com/hc/en-us/articles/215075408-Create-A-Task-Template#Create) the gloves were off. I jumped on a training webinar and learned in thirty minutes how to get more steps on my calendar with our creating more work for me. #### Here is a break down of how it works… I start by backward engineering the life span of a blog post. I need to give myself three week per post if I want to keep a schedule of weekly posts. Reviews had a longer time line and many more steps. We will use a simple blog post for our example here. I wrote down ALL of the steps involved in creating a post from beginning to end. After I specified each task in list form, I created a template with all of the steps and saved it. You will see in the clip, that I have several different types of posts that I write, each has specific requirements. I created task templates based of they type of post that I am need to create. When I begin a new post, I can schedule it in my CoSchedule calendar online of right on my phone, or I can begin a draft in WordPress and use the plug-in right on the same page I am writing on by scrolling down where [CoSchedule’s](https://coschedule.com/r/o27469) plug-in setting are. Accessing your Task Template in WordPress## Schedule Re-Posts and Publish In the same manner I created a social sharing template for my posts. From the CoSchedule site or from inside the plug-in in WordPress I can choose how often, and where I want my post to be shared across my social profiles. #### **Don’t pour all of your hard work into a post only to let it become a one hit wonder** Re-sharing your post across several different social channels over varied time frame means you maximize the exposure and gain new readers. My blog has over 75% new readers every month. [CoSchedule](https://coschedule.com/r/o27469) even makes sure my posts are going to be launched at the optimal time according to my personal analytics. Below I will show you my post-publish, social media schedule. I have created a template based on the kind of post I write. After I have chosen which templates I want to use, I make any small changes I might need for that specific post. You will notice I can delete any social share, and I can choose the category I want my pin to be placed onto in Pinterest. Check out more at [CoSchedule](https://coschedule.com/r/o27469) and let me know if you are using it already. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** blog & writing life, For the Writer, Homeschool **Tags:** Blog Scheduler, Calendar, CoSchedule, Task Animation --- ### [7 Ways a Subscription Box is The Best Way to Start Hot Tea](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/subscription-box-gift-hot-tea-sipsby-easy-personalized/) **Published:** November 21, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** 7 Reasons Sipsby is The Best Way to Start Hot Tea **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_5292.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1 "Justin › 200 Fingers & Toes")Everything you need in one box including instructions per specific tesI received my second subscription box from [SIPSBY.com](http://www.sipsby.com/her) in my mailbox and I am thrilled to be finding new favorite tea varieties. This winter, we are planning to cut our coffee consumption. The older I get, I find that I don’t tolerate coffee on an empty stomach, nor can I do the endless pots my younger self enjoyed. I still long for a hot cup in my hands in the mid-afternoons. ## Not Sure Where to Start I was once a huge tea drinker but have not bought an untested tea in ages. I don’t like being disappointed and I hate wasting money, so I tend to default to Earl Grey. Which is fine, but there has to be another way to reintroduce great teas into me life without the risk of wasting my time and money. If you are looking for a way to add the health benefits of tea without creating a whole new hobby for your self, then SIPSby is the right choice for you. Here are seven reasons why I recommend their box. ## Choose Your Caffeine Level The first thing I did after I submitted my order for a subscription box, was to fill out a personalized survey. Next, I was asked a bunch of questions, from types of tea I liked, to the level of caffeination I desired. The survey also asked about dietary restrictions, so everyone can find plenty of options that meet their needs. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/gNgKjQXiTC6iBRHoHuT7RA.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1 "gNgKjQXiTC6iBRHoHuT7RA › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Huge Variety of Teas To Choose If you are not sure what teas are out there, you are in good company. I know a few varieties, but since my [Sipsby.com](http://www.sipsby.com/her) boxes I have discovered, white tea, herbal chai, gunpowder black tea (which was awesome), oolong and mojito for iced tea among many others. This is the very reason that I signed up. I want to expand my tastes without the risk of getting stuck with a pound of a tea I don’t like. ## The Perfect Cup & No Guesswork I didn’t need to become a tea aficionado either. A fact sheet came with my box describing each tea, with a complete flavor profile, the amount to use per cup, optimal water temperature and steep time for the perfect cup every time. If you are my mother there is even a recommendation if the tea lends itself to re-steeping. (Spice girl can be steeped 2x) ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/F21BB046-FD70-4DCE-8340-1DF4C2990C60.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Chasse › 200 Fingers & Toes")Tea is the perfect break## Small Box Offers Big Variety Are you afraid of getting stuck with a tea you don’t like? Fear no more. In my boxes I received teas that had an average of three servings in a resealable pouch. This month the white tea came in the cutest little tin. I didn’t like the herbal chai when I tried it plain. It would have been much better with cream. I had one cup, I made my husband try one and there is one cup for when my mama comes over. I am never stuck with a tea I don’t love. The Austin based company sources from 150 global tea growers, so the variety is great while the risk is less than tea cup. One of my favorite features is the little fillable tea bags. They have made using loose tea a no-brainer. The unbleached bags are user and environment friendly. Grabbing one makes it easy to tuck a pouch of tea in my purse. I can sip a fresh cup of tea anytime. Like while I am writing at the ballet studio waiting for my girl’s classes to end. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/F36FD144-C4AF-4EF8-98B4-16AF935175A5.jpeg "F36FD144-C4AF-4EF8-98B4-16AF935175A5 › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Great Gift Choice Giving is easy at [Sipsby.com](http://www.sipsby.com/her) subscriptions are available in 3, 6 and 12 month increments. Each month during the subscription your favorite teacher, Auntie or adorable hipster will receive four premium teas. Next, your gift is matched specifically to their survey. They get to enjoy fifteen cups of hot, delicious, new tea varieties, and to up to forty-five re-steeped cups. (Mom) Giving is easier than ever. You choose the length of time and pay for the subscription box. Sipsby will send you the link within 30 minutes. The best part is that you simply send the coupon code for the subscription. Your gift recipient does all of the signing up. Giving subscriptions without having to tie your personal credit card information means truly hassle free giving. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/885AEADF-81CB-43F2-8990-9AD3D18CCE05.jpeg "885AEADF-81CB-43F2-8990-9AD3D18CCE05 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Perfect for Giving## Give Consumables for Sustainability I have come to the place in life where I love to give consumables. I don’t need any more clutter in my cabinets and I assume my friends don’t either. I’ve already shared my love of [subscription boxes as gifts](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-i-now-love-subscription-boxes-what-changed-my-mind/). Now, I can add SIPSby to my list. The best part is, they are a female led, US based, small company. Their subscription boxes are consumable, unique, beautiful and completely personalized. Many of the tea growers are free trade and use sustainability practices in their operations. When you find a tea variety you really love you can easily order it. First, you can find the discounts for the varieties printed right on the description card in your subscription box. Most were anywhere from 15-30% of when you order from a specific brand. Also, the company social profile and contact information on the description card. It is easy to add your new favorite teas to your pantry. ## My Followers Get 50% off Gift giving is easier when you get to take 50% off with my coupon code. Just use SIPS50 at checkout. This month, I am enjoying a collection of my new favorite teas I never knew existed because of Sipsby. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PglgEwZnTMyAlAQWwsFGA.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "PglgEwZnTMyAlAQWwsFGA › 200 Fingers & Toes")Some of my new favorite teas ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** blog & writing life --- ### [Checklist to Earn the Most College Scholarship Money](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/checklist-to-earn-the-most-college-scholarship-money/) **Published:** October 31, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### If you have a homeschool Junior; Do these three things now! A few months back Grandma took all of the younger kids and I had a four day crash course in the *Hidden Arts of Applying to College.* I filled out applications, FAFSA forms, found scholarship sites, and read a ton about what I should have done over the last few years. Getting college for **FREE** is my goal for all of my kids. What I have learned is getting us closer and closer. **UPDATE***: Our oldest has earned a full ride to the school he chose!!* #### This is my first round of grads and I know that the process can feel overwhelming I haven’t been able draw from my life experience. I was an untraditional student. Since I had taken classes at the local college in high school, I transferred directly into full time classes without and tests or applications. I have never taken SAT/ACT exams. I have never lived on campus or even had an official college visit until this year with my own students. Even with all of those factors working against me, I have learned a ton in an extremely short time frame. You can too. Let me share the things I have learned so far. ### My Advice: Do These Steps For All of Your Students No Matter Their Future Plans Do them in your teens Junior year even before you know if they want to go to college. My son was convinced he was going to work for a year, so I had not done any of these steps during his senior school year. When he was presented with the opportunity to play college baseball and we had to scramble to get his test scores and paperwork together. His ACT score was enough high enough for acceptance but he missed the benchmark to earn additional scholarship money in Computer Technology. Since he did not have the time for a retest before the semester we had to find funds from other places. Had I done these steps ahead of time I could have added a couple of thousands of dollars to my son and daughters scholarship funding. None of these steps have to cost you anything and two are totally free. #### Let My Story Prove You are Not Too Late, Start as Soon as You Can If your student is a Senior, it is not too late. We did several of these steps in late in our son’s Senior year and eventually we were able to get the Scholarships and funding to send my son to school for free this Spring. We are hoping to do the same for our other two grads this fall. ![IMG_2241](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_2241.jpg "IMG_2241 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Three Steps You Need to do Right Now for Scholarship Dollars ### 1. Sign up for the next ACT or SAT test Early. Many high level scholarships ask for a SAT/ACT scores. A recent STEM Math Scholarship application worth $5,000 had a qualification requirement of a 26 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the ACT. We aren’t big on tests in our homeschool, but we aren’t sorting thousands of students every year like these colleges either. Test scores matter when it comes to college scholarships. Schools have no other way to make quick assessments and test scores help sift students. I feel terrible that I did not prep my kids for these. I literally had no idea about them. In hindsight, I would have had my kids taking the tests as early as possible, at least once a year. Also, the PSAT test is offered once a year and is used by many schools for merit scholarship and awards. We missed testing date because of a communication error with the local school will not be able to take it again because both of our students are in their senior year. It is the test that they use for National Honor Society enterance and college merit scholarships. Make the arrangements to take the tests. If you think your student needs [help prepping](http://bit.ly/bit.ly/CollegePrepGenius) you can read about how we helped our kids test better ***[here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-scholarship-money-with-stem-courses/)***. ### 2. Create a Transcript If you haven’t done so already find out what is required for college. After you have a good idea of the outline you need for Core Credits, write out all of the courses your student has taken over their high school years. Remember to list any classes they might have taken unconventionally, online, in a co-op or outside of your normal curriculum. I pulled all of my past CPI forms out of my files to do a quick comparison, making sure I didn’t miss anything from years past. Then we added any outside of core activities for elective credits. I did not over do this. I don’t want to create an expository list of every activity we have ever engaged in. Instead, I wanted to give schools a rounded view of what our students have been exposed to. These credits should highlight their interests and specific skill sets. List out any activities, sports, clubs, hobbies or lessons they may have taken as well. To keep track of our yearly credits we use a program called [Applecore](https://www.applecoresystem.com/). You can use their free version to track your students courses through high school. I use their paid version for $55 a year because of the added features. ![Applecore is your record keeper for the most critical four years](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/15FD698B-FF6E-4C94-88C7-94F82494D181-1024x768.png "Create and Keep Your School Records in One Place › 200 Fingers & Toes")Track grades create report cards start tracking so creating a transcript is as easy as pushing printWe have the gold level. With it you have access to Course Tracking, Grade Reporting, Report Cards, Portfolio Keeper, Attendance, Scheduler, and editable Transcripts. If you are teaching multiple students you can use the copy courses feature. Since we use Sonlight with three students in a group, this makes transcript creation a whole lot easier. I created one master transcript and then copied it for my two other students. Then I add each students specific areas of study and additional subjects. We used AppleCore’s report card feature when the boys got their licenses. Our insurance company offered a discount for good grades. We don’t normally use report cards, but we were able to create one easily, adding their current grades and sent it in for a discount on their car insurance. ##### The family from AppleCore offered a 50% discount for our readers, use the code: 200F&T ![Print the report you need at a click](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_1725.jpg "Simplified record keeping with Applecore › 200 Fingers & Toes")The best time to start high school transcripts is now ### 3. Start Turning Good Grades into Cash with RaiseMe We discovered [RaiseMe](https://www.raise.me/i/natsmi39) in October of our kid’s Senior year. I wish we had discovered it sooner. Many of the colleges offers cash incentives for milestones like good grades, extra curricular involvement, sports, leadership and test scores. My daughter was able to apply to the college that offered her $80,000 in scholarship money over four years. There were more schools that had already closed their earning window for the year, in October. We had a little over a week to gather all of her information, recommendation letters and write her essay. If your student is a freshman or higher go sign up now. Not only can you start seeing what schools are offering, but they have a great interactive page with each college. You can see their stats all in one place for any school you choose to follow. This helped us to see any additional enterance requirements as well as the college Majors offered. ![B450CB28-E7D5-433C-A637-ED32C1D4E157.jpeg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/B450CB28-E7D5-433C-A637-ED32C1D4E157.jpeg "B450CB28-E7D5-433C-A637-ED32C1D4E157 › 200 Fingers & Toes") It helped me to narrow the search when looking at a world full of colleges. We found some great schools through [RaiseMe](https://www.raise.me/i/gidsmi0) and were able to look at information for schools side by side. We applied to those who offered the most scholarship dollars, who had features our students were specifically looking for. We found some great schools we might have missed along the way. ### The Time To Apply for College is Now These steps are critical. Don’t miss them or wait until any longer if your student is in their Senior year. I was shocked to hear that some schools needed application by October of Senior year. October! They didn’t even know what classes they were taking in their last semester, but were supposed to applying to college already. Junior year is the best time to get all of this done. Start even earlier if you can. If you make college planning a part of your regular homeschool planning you can just add these to your yearly check list. What college prep moment caught you by suprise? Have any good tips for me? I would love to hear them as well. Leave me a comment and let me know which step you are going to tackle first. Have a great school year and thanks for walking alongside me for a bit. Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** ACT, college prep, Highschool Transcripts, SAT, Scholarship --- ### [23 Great Teaching Tools for Language Arts in Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/language-arts-tools-homeschool-curriculum-review-handwriting/) **Published:** August 17, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Looking for recommendations for Language Arts Tools and curriculum that will help you have a great homeschool year? We would love to help. At 200 Fingers & Toes, we want to provide real and tangible information you can use to make homeschooling not only easier to choose, but also easier to actually execute. One of the ways we do that is to give you quality reviews for materials that we have used in our family’s school time. We always review tools and materials with your homeschool in mind. Reviewing is no small undertaking, it took all of us. As a family we committed to working with [The Old Schoolhouse Magazine](https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com), as a part of their review crew. We committed to using each product or teaching tool for six to eight weeks to see how it worked for a real homeschool family. Here is a little round-up of all of the Language Arts, Writing, and Literature materials we have reviewed in one place. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3236-1024x1024.jpg "Channie’s for Handwriting and Math › 200 Fingers & Toes")Help make math pages legible too## Language Arts Tools for Your Homeschool Click the links below for the complete review and find out how we used these with our family… ### Handwriting [Channie’s Consumable Workbooks](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/learning-to-write-neatly-with-channies/) [Handwriting Without Tears](https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/handwriting/handwriting-without-tears?event=AFF&p=1191175&search=Handwriting%20without%20tears&search_term=Handwriting%20without%20tears) ### Writing [Write Shop ](https://writeshop.com/ref/200fingersandtoes/)(read their great back to school tips [here](https://writeshop.com/back-to-school-tips/ref/200fingersandtoes/?campaign=BacktoSchool)) [Institute for Excellence](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/prep-dreaded-sat-essay-proven-writing-coach/) in Writing High School Essay Intensive [Sonlight Language Arts](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) how we use Sonlight with a [large family](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-our-family-used-the-same-curriculum-ten-different-ways/) [Grammar and Writing from Hake/Saxon ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-tools-lead-complete-language-arts-grammar/) [Home School Navigators Reading and Language Arts](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/navigating-language-arts-solid-guide/) ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FF205D16-D21F-4EE6-89C7-A3E395EB47F6.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "FF205D16-D21F-4EE6-89C7-A3E395EB47F6 › 200 Fingers & Toes")### Literature Based Learning [Sonlight Curriculum](https://www.sonlight.com/) full curriculum available, PK – 12th grade, my top pick for Language Arts Tools for Homeschooling multiple kids and raising writers ![What if everything could be in one place for anyone to look at](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0583-1024x1024.jpg "Talk about a curriculum work horse › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sonlight Curriculum is the tool I return to year after year [Branch Out World](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/literature-based-learning-beloved-paddington-bear/) Paddington Bear hands-on [The Magic Stories](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/readers-build-vocabulary-assessment-tools/) for 3rd and 4th grade readers [Characters in Crisis](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/looking-packaged-lit-program-jump-now-crew-review/) Writing with Sharon Watson ### Reading ![Need and adventure tale for your new reader?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3195-1024x1024.jpg "There is always a ready adventure if you read › 200 Fingers & Toes")WorthyKids had my young reader hooked The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls had her turning pages at night and telling me all about it in the morning[Worthy Kid](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/young-reader-adventure-hidden-scrolls/)s for adventure reading books they will love [Lamplighter Book Publishers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/kids-reading-great-literature/) #### ***Historical Reading*** [YWAM Publishing](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/making-history-come-to-life/) Heroes of History and more great reading [Kingdom Files Biography Series](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/children-bible-biography-kingdom-files/) [Adventures of Rush Revere](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/history-reading-kids/) [How to Guarantee 30% Gains in Reading over Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/avoid-summer-slide-with-reading-books/) ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_1492-1024x663.jpg "Prevent Summer slide › 200 Fingers & Toes")Raising readers all year long#### ***Digital Reading*** [Weigl Publisher](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/digital-publishers-who-are-leading-the-game/) Digital Books that grab kids attention [Bearing the Sword](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/helping-young-readers-build-discernment/) Preparing Your Older Readers to be Discerning ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_F4801E658DEB-1-1024x768.jpeg "Digital books for digital kids › 200 Fingers & Toes")This site is great for tech savvy kids who deserve real quality interactive learning books#### ***Printables*** [Super Teacher Worksheets](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/searchable-printable-worksheets/) [R.E.A.D. Review Pack](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-you-littles-back-into-reading-with-enthusiasm-review/) ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2728-1024x1024.jpg "Fun printable readers › 200 Fingers & Toes")We loved having this little box of books for the youngest readers at our house to work through ### Speech [Complete Speech](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/rural-homeschooler-complete-speech-course-home/) course filled with lessons from great orators Check out this great giveaway from Write Shop and a chance to WIN a curriculum of your own ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [3 Ways a Great Curriculum Helps You Teach Multiple Kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-multiple-grade-levels/) **Published:** March 9, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We are 200 Fingers & Toes because we are homeschooling that many here at our house. You did read that right and if you are any good at math you have figured out that we have 10 kids. Now you are asking, **How do we homeschool 10 without outsourcing everything?** We have been homeschooling for the last 13 years so we know what it is like to have many grades going at one time. I always knew I wanted a big family so I searched for a curriculum that would fit our future family from the first homeschool convention 20 years ago, as just newlyweds. We needed a curriculum we could reuse with every kid. One that would felt enough to fit multiple kids in our grade to save time and make schooling a large family streamlined but still hands on. I did not want to throw my kids in front of a computer and leave the schooling to someone else. I wanted to be the leader in their education journey. Here are 3 reasons why I chose Sonlight for my huge, multi-grade family #### 1. I Need a Clone and the Sonlight Binder is a Second Mom in the Room Regardless of how you got there, if you have more than two kids you will be tempted to hope for cloning in the future. With two of you, you can answer that math question AND sit on the couch and get through that chapter with your second grader. That chapter is SOOOOO long when the brother is standing there with his workbook two inches from your face the whole time “patiently” waiting his turn. The binder is the next best thing to a clone. It keeps us moving forward every day by keeping us on task with simple, clear and extremely satisfying to check off boxes for every subject. The whole day is laid out on one page for us to reference through out the day. On the go, we just pull out the schedule page and the notes for the week and throw our books in my amazing Sonlight book bag and off we go. Whenever the older kids need to know what to read next they simply look in the binder, and boom, I am out of the loop. How awesome is that. [![What if everything could be in one place for anyone to look at](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0583-300x300.jpg "Talk about a curriculum work horse › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-multiple-grade-levels/momentous-100/) This binder has seen us through three classes of kids and hundreds of read-aloud books.#### 2. I Like Help. With Sonlight My Husband Can Jump in and Help Anytime The other problem I was running into was that my husbands schedule fluctuates a great deal. He would be unavailable to be home for long stretches and then home for a week, willing to help, but I didn’t know what to throw his way. With Sonlight he can jump into the schedule on any given day. We check off tasks in our schedule binder when we complete them, so he can see at a glance where we need catching up or he can read through the whole week in a book and save me some time. Either way, I love that he can always jump in to help me. #### 3. Planning Fabulous Unit Studies Sounds Great but I Know Myself, I Need Structure I am not a planner. I love my giant binder. Don’t let her looks fool you. She is not intimidating at all. In fact I call her my “Mom” because this binder tells me what to do every day. With 10 kids asking what is next, I could loose my mind before lunch on any given day. Knowing where to look quickly helps me keep kids moving forward during the day. Every day is neatly laid out with Reading, History, Bible, Language Arts and Read-Aloud titles. Just check down the list as you read and you are done. This translates into kids working independently earlier. By the seventh grade, my older kids were in charge of their own binder and I would check in with them. Through all of high school they have worked through their studies as a group with little direction from me on what to do. I still have to hound them about completing their Math every day and turning in science sheets on time, but they know what to do from their binder. Getting them to complete it in a timely manner still falls on us as the parents, but half a job is still better than everything. Right? [![Combine tasks and grade levels for a successful day](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3177-300x300.jpg "If you are a reader or you want your Kids to be... › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-multiple-grade-levels/img_3177/) Reading out loud is a great way to incorporate the whole family in History and Social Studies, geography and Literature#### All of these helped us homeschool multiple grade level successfully My older kids began their independent work just as the next group really needed more guidance. Sonlight was again a great fit because many of the readers covered the subject matter both groups were learning. We could still all meet in the morning for bible time and then break into our smaller groups. \[clickToTweet tweet=”Flexibility has always been a key factor in schooling a large family. ” quote=”Flexibility has always been a key factor in schooling a large family. “\] We scrap a lot of plans. We are a house in constant flux. With a bunch of kids, you are too. The baby becomes a toddler, the kids read at different rates, some kids are auditory while others are hands on. We shift perpetually to fit the needs of this year, but Sonlight shifts right with us to give us the structure we need to be successful. [![Sonlight Curriculum](https://www.sonlight.com/images/banner-full-468x60.gif)](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) If you like structure, in fact you are craving it, Sonlight will be a great fit for you. If you love reading, or if like me, you hated reading and want your kids to love it, choose Sonlight. My kids are practically putting in the new book order at the library these days. If your husband desperately wants to help you, or grandma, a teen helper or the paper boy, the Sonlight binder lets anyone jump into the fray. #### Maybe you don’t have multiple children but you need to streamline your school without compromising learning for another reason Are you excepting a baby, experiencing a prolonged sickness or have a child with a health condition? Sonlight has been a great fit for many families in your same position. They could pull the week’s schedule page and throw the reading books in a bag and be all set for day is a great relief. Right now you can get $5 back on $50 worth of materials by using my rewards code. Click on over and have a look [HERE](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, homeschooling Multiple Grade Levels, Sonlight --- ### [Violin Lessons Like No Other; Accessable & Affordable with Practice Monkeys](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/violin-lessons-like-no-other-accessable-affordable-with-practice-monkeys/) **Published:** January 16, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Sarah Van Kleeck has revolutionized my idea of lessons as I knew them. She is a Suzuki Method violin teacher for the last 27 years and designed Practice Monkeys to solve the problem of finding lessons that are Comprehensive, Convenient, Fun, Effective, Excellent and Affordable. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Years ago we drove 120 miles round trip and paid $22 an hour for my son’s violin lessons. That violin sat idle for the last few years until I was offered to review [Practice Monkeys,](http://www.practicemonkeys.com/) [Family Subscription to Live Violin Classes](http://www.practicemonkeys.com/subscribe). I had just about given up hope for using the instrument again because of the hours of driving and the thought of paying one-hundred dollars for four lessons. Fortunately, Practice Monkeys makes lessons practicle and affordable. You migh want to check out this offer… [![Practice Monkeys Discount Coupon Offer](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Practice-Monkeys-Crew-Discount-Coupon.jpg)](http://www.practicemonkeys.com/reviewcrewblogreaders.html)How does 16 live classes, each month, in your own home with instant access to replays, tools, tips and helps for under $50 a month appeal to you? (It gets better! The offer that is available for this review is only until February 1st! Don’t miss Lessons for $39 for the LIFETIME of your lessons with Practice Monkeys) That caught my eye too. Maybe that little violin of yours could still get some play time. ## Can violin lessons be done in an entirely different way? Sarah Van Kleeck has revolutionized my idea of lessons as I knew them. She is a Suzuki Method violin teacher for the last 27 years and designed [Practice Monkeys](http://www.practicemonkeys.com/) to solve the problem of finding lessons that are Comprehensive, Convenient, Fun, Effective, Excellent and Affordable. ## How Does She Accomplish This? Practice Monkeys is housed online, with LIVE online classes four days a week. You have access to the materials that were taught in your child’s LIVE lesson any time you are ready to use it for review and for practice. ## What Does This Look Like in Real Life? My daughter is in the beginning LEVEL 2 class, so LIVE classes are at 3:15 in our time zone. LIVE classes are on every week day; Monday through Thursday, and the recorded class is housed online to refer to and practice with. Sarah is an enthusiastic teacher. She is also very well versed in working with children. I was not sure what to expect, but as I watched her teach lessons through the live feed, it was clear she had been working with children for a really long time. She was very intuitive to each student, some responded to her quiet prompts, some thunderous applause, she was quick to pick up the children’s cues. The classes are small, so each student get to check in or try out a part of the lesson during the live class time as well. Enough individual care was given for my kiddo to feel like she was working for her teacher during practice time. Sarah can capture your child’s interest and hold it long before the gift of making music begins to work it’s enchanting magic. Sooner that I thought, my daughter was making actual musical sounds from the violin. We had a very basic beginner class and felt like everything was well covered, from how to hold the instrument to how to tune. My child was empowered to own her lessons from the very start. Since she was an older child in the Level 2 Tree House, I was totally hands off except for dialing in for the live classes. There were much younger children taking the class as well. The Suzuki Method is perfect for much younger learners. ![Violin Lessons](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-1.13.14-PM.png "Practice Monkeys › 200 Fingers & Toes")Easy to Navigate and Utilize## Navigating the Site When you log into the [Practice Monkeys](http://www.practicemonkeys.com/) site, you navigate to your assigned Level TREE HOUSE. The Tree House is where everything you might need to refer to is housed. There are helpful videos for choosing and caring for your instrument as well as to show correct position and tuning. There are also printable resources for you including… - Parent Guide - Practice Sheet - Skill and Habit Checklist - Music Theory Memory Coloring Book Videos include a Parent Orientation and Student Set Up as well as How to Tune Your Violin and a link to helpful Apps ## Ready, Set, Go Once you have gone through the beginning steps and are ready to begin you can jump right into the recorded Practice Classes with the Links right there on the page. The navigation process is as easy as possible, with a bookmark your child would be able to find everything they need to access right on this page. Below the Practice Lessons are the 10 Essential Skills that your child should master to progress to the next level. Each of these lessons is described and includes instructional videos to go back to for reference and practice time. Play and creativity are part of the lessons. Sarah encourages children to gain Poetic Knowledge of their instrument by exploring the sound it can make outside of the lesson plan. Along with an instructional song for fun there are tasks during the lesson that help your child explore the sounds the violin make while using their imagination. ![Could Music Lessons be Accessable and Affordable](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_3305-2-300x300.jpg "Making Music › 200 Fingers & Toes")Lessons can be taxing but Practice Monkeys is changing the way we do Violin LessonsI love that playing independently was a part of the lesson plan. My daughter discovered many sounds and learned to love her instrument during this free time and during the Poetic Knowledge portions of the lessons. When your child is ready you can purchase an assessment appointment to have a one-on-one meeting to see if your child is ready to move on to the next level. This is great is your child is in a beginning Level. You are not stuck for a period of time, but are only in a Level until your child has mastered the skills necessary to move to the next Level. An assessment is necessary when they are ready to move forward, BUT you can purchase an assessment any time you would like individual feedback. This can help identify areas to focus on the maximize learning effectively, saving time in the long run. If you need help there is always a way to contact Sarah immediately. There is even a HELP class most Saturdays at 10:30 eastern. Sarah is a great communicator and sends out regular email updates and notes about schedules and assessments. [![Never get stuck on a lesson](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-1.10.53-PM.png "Practice Monkey Helps Classes › 200 Fingers & Toes")]()Missed a Lesson Stuck on a technique There is a class for that## Classes are on a True Schedule I loved the program and will be continuing lessons for my daughter. The only trouble I had was the time frame of the live classes. Just a week after I received the opportunity to review Practice Monkeys I started a new job unexpectedly and the review period ran into wrestling season. Five days a week I pack up the younger kids to take the boys to practice at 3:00. The live lessons are scheduled for 3:15. We were a few weeks into our review and there was no way for us to be able to attend the live portion of the lessons. Violin lessons in the car, not cool at all? If it is truly not possible for your child to attend the live classes, I still think you get more than the value of the program. I don’t feel like my child missed out on any instruction, but I know my daughter missed the inspiration of preforming for a teacher. She is a child who thrives on praise, for her it is a real motivation. We missed that with the replay; especially when she watched other students get praised for their work and participation. This could be remedied by adding a few more assessments that a regular student might have to make up for the lack of connection in the live class. My scheduling conflict was no fault of the program, but I feel like it is important to note that the LIVE classes are on a hard schedule, which I did not know. I would not have taken the course during wrestling season, when we have a constant conflict. If you have a younger child that cannot navigate a live linkup on the computer then you should be aware of the class time before committing. Overall, [Practice Monkeys](http://www.practicemonkeys.com/) is a great program for a rural family like myself or any family that has multiple kids interested in the same instrument. The [Family Subscription](http://www.practicemonkeys.com/subscribe) Plan makes playing an instrument an affordable choice for every family. Check out the site and read the FAQ page to answer your questions. you can also learn more on FB and YouTube https://www.facebook.com/PracticeMonkeys/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7wOO7WqC5Yk-nID8fhVaiA [![Online Music Education for the Violin {Practice Monkeys Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Practice-Monkeys-Violin-Lesson-Reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/online-music-education-for-the-violin-practice-monkeys-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Give Them a Reading Adventure All Their Own](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/young-reader-adventure-hidden-scrolls/) **Published:** December 13, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* There is nothing better than when your young student begins really reading on their own. The folks at [WorthyKids/Ideals](http://worthypublishing.com/product-category/kids/) gave my daughter an adventure she loved so much she couldn’t wait to review book 2 of [The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls](https://www.secretofthehiddenscrolls.com/). Of course, I would expect nothing less from the company that brings great stories like Veggie Tales and the Berenstain Bears to life. **Book 5 just dropped! Get them all [here](http://a.co/c3PKudc)** [![The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/09%20-%20September/26%20-%20Worthy%20Kids/The%20Secret%20of%20the%20Hidden%20Scrolls%20The%20Beginning_zpseju2s0ml.jpg)](https://www.secretofthehiddenscrolls.com/)From Cover to Cover; Your Young Reader is Going to Love This Series Whoever said you could not judge a book by the cover was looking at a boring book. From the first glance these books captured my kid’s interest. My 11 year old daughter read through this story on a few sittings. Once she got a few chapters in the the story had her hooked. She got up every morning and met me in the office to tell me all about what she had read the night before. ![Need and adventure tale for your new reader?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3195.jpg "There is always a ready adventure if you read › 200 Fingers & Toes")WorthyKids had my young reader hooked The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls had her turning pages at night and telling me all about it in the morningFrom Bella (11) about The Secret of the Hidden Scrols: The Begining: I like adventure books so I liked how all of the animals scared the kids at first. They discovered that the animals were not going to hurt them. They even got to ride on an elephant. My favorite part was when the animals were created. [![The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/09%20-%20September/26%20-%20Worthy%20Kids/The%20Secret%20of%20the%20Hidden%20Scrolls%20Race%20to%20the%20Ark_zps97v4mxoa.jpg)](https://www.secretofthehiddenscrolls.com/)This is what my young reader told me about the adventure The story began when Mary and Peter’s parents headed out of town, leaving them with their “crazy” uncle Solomon. He told fantastic stories about a set of mysterious scrolls. It sounded crazy until one night the kids were awakened by a strange noise. When the kids looked into a glowing pot they found two scrolls. When they broke the seal the real adventure began. The kids learned the story of Genesis as they roamed the strange land they were transported to. They had to find out the meaning of three mysterious words on the scroll to find their way home. They discover so much more. They learn about the character of God his plan for mankind. The key to everything is: God Created Everything. ### Get your child excited about reading with an adventure She is almost through [The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls: Race to the Ark](https://www.secretofthehiddenscrolls.com/), and we hope there are more to come. I love having new readers in the house and it is nice to find a book that captures their imagination with a good adventure. A younger reader could easily handle these books and I think I am going to have my reviewer read these aloud to her younger brother and sisters. Since she really liked the books I think she would like to share the adventure and reading out loud is a skill that everyone should practice often. ### WorthyKids is worthy of a good long look at their work Worthy Kids/Ideas can be found on social media at [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WorthyKidsIdeals/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/worthypub) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/worthypub). Check out all of the great family products the have to offer while you pick up these slim reading books for your new reader. [![The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls. {WorthyKids/Ideals Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/the-secret-of-the-hidden-scrolls-worthykidsideals-reviews/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Adventure Stoty, Homeschool, literature, reading, WorthyKids, Young Reader --- ### [Young Women Need to Hear They are Beloved](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/young-women-need-to-hear-they-are-beloved/) **Published:** December 6, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women](http://www.zondervan.com/p/beloved-devotional/) from [Zondervan](https://www.zondervan.com/) is a great way to help them know it. I have daughters that are in the transitional stage of their faith walk; they are no longer little children, they are ready to dig in and learn for themselves. They are already in the habit of Bible time from our homeschool routine, so adding a personal devotion book was a natural way to help them create a quiet time of their very own. ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BC095C6B-74DB-44F7-ADAB-C7DCE4CF373B.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "BC095C6B-74DB-44F7-ADAB-C7DCE4CF373B › 200 Fingers & Toes")Not all of their devotion time is shared It is good to create quiet spaces in a big family I did read quite a bit of this devotional before handing it over to my girls. As a parent I try to have an idea of what they are reading so I know where we can help create opportunity to have important conversations. I like that the devotional context is taken straight from scripture and is more of an expository of the verses covered. It is light on personal tone, which I prefer in a devotional. The core focus is on Women in the Word of God, and the devotional text focus on drawing our attention to the main idea or a central focus in each persons story. In the selections I previewed, I read about Jacob, Leah and Rachel; and my attention was directed to how Leah longed for approval from her husband, even after producing five sons and not gaining his affections. The tone was cautionary and never disparaging. The author redirected the reader to the truth that our value lies in our relationship with our creator and nothing less will satisfy. ``` ``` In later pages, I read about the relationship of David and Bathsheba. The text is very honest about the state of their sexual sin and the sad consequences that befell them. The narrative covers several days and emphasizes how, though Bathsheba came to power, be it through complicit sin or through a gross abuse of power, she did not stay a victim of her circumstances. God elevated and honored her as a true queen over his chosen people. There are ten pages dedicated to the story of Tamar. The introduction to her story was done with sensitivity and honesty. The author shares the fact that one in seven young women have been victims of sexual abuse. If they have not experienced it firsthand, then it is very likely that someone they know has. The whole section is well written and full of important validations for young women. I highly recommend covering this material while your daughters are still young. In an attempt to protect our children’s innocence, we sometimes give an open door to perpetrators who prey on ignorance. Our daughters need to hear warnings and examples from the word of God and the experiences of other women. ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/3FA26983-D0CA-4FBB-9A00-CE8FD04943D4.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "3FA26983-D0CA-4FBB-9A00-CE8FD04943D4 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Helping them see themselves in the Word of GodIn each reading; there is a scripture reference with the verse, followed by the commentary. The bottom of each page has a few lines for you reader to offer their reflections or comments of their own. This book would be great for breaking into some deeper thought about what the Bible means in your daughter’s life personally and also help bring up important topics that should not be neglected because they are difficult. You can read more about [Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women](http://www.zondervan.com/p/beloved-devotional/) and all of [Zondervan](https://www.zondervan.com/) products on their social channels… Facebook: Twitter: YouTube: Pinterest: Instagram: As always you can read more reviews and find out how other Review Crew members are using this devotional in their lives as well by clicking the link below… ``` ``` ![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Working from Home? Getting it All Done Means Making A Plan](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/working-from-home-getting-it-all-done-means-making-a-plan/) **Published:** November 1, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [Balancing Diapers and Deadlines](https://transactions.sendowl.com/stores/9839/130051) is a course by [Lisa Tanner Writing](https://lisatannerwriting.com/), a Mom who has been finding her way around kids and working for quite some time. As a Mom-preneur my skill set is stretched thin most days. Though I am out of the diaper stage and am far from free and clear of the many responsibilities mothering a bunch of kids lays on. We have seven kids at home, but I write, review curriculum, homeschool and work away from home part time. How? With tips exactly like the ones Lisa shares in this course. ![IMG_1868.JPG](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_1868.jpg?ssl=1&w=2320 "Pew Pew › 200 Fingers & Toes") Most of what I have learned, I have had to do on the fly. Staying up late into the night or getting up insanely early. Lisa’s course is like having a good friend come along side of you and share her heart, but like at 12:30 at night when you have actual free time to read it. ## Communicate Your Plan The first lessons deal with setting your plan and letting your family in on what their parts are going to be. I know this is an area that I was not really clear with my family at first. I did not really know what my plan was going to look like for the day or even what my goal was with writing. Lisa walks you through ideas of how to talk to your family and set a goal together to get everyone on the same page. Managing expectations is highly important in relationships. We need to speak to eachother to know what those are. Lisa shares the ways she found extra minutes in her day to pursue goals and still meet her family’s needs. Flexibility and creating a good frame work of your day are both skills that I have had to implement as a mom who is working from home. ## A couple of great suggestions from Lisa’s course were: - Using a Meal Plan (and you get to download one) - Enlisting the Help of Your Family Members - Simplify the Cleaning Schedule - Involving You Children [![Balancing Diapers and Deadlines](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Balancing-Diapers-Deadlines-course.jpg)](https://lisatannerwriting.com/balancing-diapers-and-deadlines/)Something for All of Us Some of the lessons were ones I have down already. Re-doing chores because the kids have done them poorly is never a temptation to me. Quick clean-ups is how I keep my sanity, so I am already the Queen of the ten minute tidy. I don’t really do any laundry because the kids do their own and my husband (God bless) does ours. But if these are areas that challenge you, Lisa has some great ideas and might just open your eyes to ways that you are making more work for yourself. I do however need help delegating, asking for help and identifying places where things are not working well. Balancing Diapers and Deadlines helped me see those areas with fresh eyes. ## Management Need to Make Some Changes Sometimes a thing that has always worked in your house is not working so well any more. Kids age out of the chore racket and move to college. Room assignments might not fit the age group you now have. Balancing Diapers and Deadlines gave me the nudge I needed to recognize the places we need to do some tweeking to make our system better. My chore chart need a serious update. ![IMG_0189.JPG](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_0189.jpg?ssl=1&w=3264 "IMG_0189 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Food, the Bain of Mother Productivity If you are a mom, a huge part of you life revolves around food. The purchasing of food. The prepping of said food. Cooking and then cleaning it all up. Though you can delegate a great deal of those tasks out, still, a lot fall on us moms. Lisa shares a whole section of her course on meal problem solving and the material is worth the course its self. From shopping to meal planning and chose themed weekdays to spare you decision fatigue, there are a lot of ways to ease the load and free us a few more working hours every week. Which is really what the whole course is about. ## Diapers and Deadlines gets personal too Are you really getting enough sleep? I just started a new job and I am writing a book. Sleep was taking a huge hit so I could meet my goals. Reading Lisa’s words was a good reminder that I still need sleep. I had slept in a few mornings (like until 6:30) and I was feeling bad for falling into “bad” habits. I needed to hear that sleep is still something I need to prioritize if I want to build a sustainable working habit. I keep my coffee date with my girlfriend every week, but it took me years to recognize this as vital and not just an indulgence. Lisa reminds us of the need to take care of our personal needs even when business is demanding. ![TBH](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_2326.jpg "TBH › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Make the Fridge One of the final pieces of advice that Lisa shares is to get your family involved in your work. She shares lots of ways to get them involved both big and small. I put a copy of my latest paid magazine article up on the fridge for all of us to celebrate. Sure, I wrote it, but the kids allowed me to have hours of quiet time to dedicate to writing. We all were a part of the process, so we all got to celebrate. No matter what age your kids are, Lisa has a section for you on how to grow your business and involve your kids. My high school daughter edits my articles and copy. My younger daughter loves to make lunch a few days a week, so I can work through the lunch hour during our homeschool day. [![Lisa Tanner Writing](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/lisatannerwritinglogo.png)](https://lisatannerwriting.com/)If you are just getting started with your own business and have little ones at home, [Balancing Diapers and Deadlines](https://transactions.sendowl.com/stores/9839/130051) could shorten your learning curve drastically. I’ve been blogging and writing reviews for years and there was plenty for me to note, download and implement in my life. You can also check out Lisa’s ebook [The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Family Writing Time](https://transactions.sendowl.com/stores/9045/130051) for ways create productive working space that matters. You can find out more on [Lisa’s site](https://lisatannerwriting.com/) and as always click the box below to read more reviews and find out what other working moms have to say about Diapers and Deadlines. Facebook: Instagram: Twitter: Pinterest: [![Balancing Diapers and Deadlines {Lisa Tanner Writing Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Balancing-Diapers-and-Deadlines-Review-Crew-Reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/balancing-diapers-and-deadlines-lisa-tanner-writing-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Growing Confidence in Our Kids with Homeschooling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/growing-confidence-in-our-kids-with-homeschooling/) **Published:** October 16, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### Homeschooling for the Slower Paced Learner We all know the story of the tortise and the hare. As a homeschool mom, I am their running coach. I have to find a way to help the tortise AND the hare to reach the finish line and win the race, each according to their learning style. We have a son who was very meticulous and painstakingly slow at hand writing in the early school years. He was more cautious than his siblings when it came to answering question. He had a strong desire to be right and wanted to be sure that he understood the question. Often, I would spend extra time going over instructions with his for our assignments. Our school day were stretching out longer and longer. Maybe you have a less than confident learner. Do you have a student who needs more help, hates to be wrong, or that writing is a struggle for? Having multiple kids in our homeschool is a blessing, but there is a danger to compare the children to one another. That would be a huge mistake. Each student has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some shape who they are as a student. All are factors we need to consider to educate the whole child. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1145.jpg "DSC_1145 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Gideon is an amazing brother. There is not a person he meets that is not a potential friend. I often meet kids he introduces as his friend, because they chatted while they were batting. He is the perfect kids to be catcher on the baseball team. He is the friend of every lunch lady and custodian everywhere he is associated with. He knows them by name and there is nothing fake about his kindness. He is more than how he learns. We have taught him how he learned best, and worried the whole way. He did not have to take me to college after all. There was a few years that I wondered if he would ever work independently, but he has taken the reigns of his learning and is choosing where to take it. One of the things that is hard with a child who needs extra help is that I worried that I was enabling him to be dependent on me. #### A few things that helped me know that I was helping… One of the things that I have always made our kids do, is formulate a question. They can not say “I don’t know what to do” because I will sing them the “Read the Box” song. Remember when the instructions were in little boxes at the top of the page. My kids would often say “I don’t know what to do,” and I would reply by “singing; read-the-box, read-the-box, read-the-box.” If they read the instructions and need clarity, I would have them ask me a more specific question. Do you need help with structure, do you need to clarify a definition, is there a item you are missing? Coming to me with a question helped them to be specific about the area they were not clear in understanding. I literally would not engage you without a question. Sometimes the kids had to get creative but the did not tell me “I can’t.” **Keep Clear Expectations: I do not Accept “I can’t” Statements** **I Tore Down Foolish Barriers to Learning** Math and Language Arts were taking forever. Then I honestly assessed where we were having troubles and made a few small changes to our homeschool day that made a huge difference. First, I took some time to observe what was going on in our school day. That might sound crazy, but many days just pass us by. We are in a rush of doing and going. We need to take some intentional time to observe our days to see what is causing trouble in our schedule. When Gideon did math early in the day, it got done without troubles. If it got pushed back to after lunch, it took no less then two hours to complete. It was like he had use up all of the self control he had by then. For a young boy that was actually very likely true. We started taking more quick short breaks in our day to get the wiggles out. I still prefer to plough through and get it over with, but children have different needs than we do. As a teacher, we have to learn to meet them. We switched to mornings for math and we made one small change, I filled in the answers. I fely HUGE guilt for doing this at first. I felt like I was cheating or something, but Gideon took so long to write his numbers it just made sense to me. When I started writing his answers in the book for him, he took off. I quickly realized that Math was not handwriting time. Handwriting was being covered in a separate book. By taking the focus off of the forming of each and every number, he could focus on the problems on the page. Math was not the real problem at all. We have to look outside of conventional wisdom to meet our children’s needs. The beauty of homeschooling is that we are able to work outside of the box. Even within our curriculum I was able to change how we presented information to individual students. Your child is the most important thing in your homeschool day. I had to stop caring about what someone might think about how I was helping. I had to stop comparing and start caring more about what my child really needed from me. ### If writing is a problem… - reduce the number of written answers - let them answer oraly - allow them to dictate to you - let them voice text the answers to you - add a typing program to your learning tools - for younger children, practice [hand strengthening exercises](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/getting-grip-made-easy-kindergartener/) ![Help them get a grip on School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3253.jpg "Hand fatigue was one of the factors we had to overcome with little ones › 200 Fingers & Toes")The Pencil Grip Inc can help make corrections before fatigue keep your little one from writing well### **He is Not Going to Take You to College** It was in these same years, that I read a great article on the Sonlight forum. I wish I could site it, I have looked and looked. I thought it was written by John or Sarita Holtzman, but I have had no luck finding it so you will have to accept my paraphrase. The article addressed working with students that need you to work side-by-side with them durring the school day. This is especially hard when you, like me have a group of students using the same Sonlight H/B/L. My two other kids could just read the instructions and do the work. I was frustrated and less that enjoying this divided and fractured school time. This article was just what I needed to hear, it encouraged parent to give the extra support that their student needs. Some students are not natural risk takers and need nutured through the learning process. Giving the extra time is an investment that is never wasted. I was reminded how all of my children learned to drink for a cup at different times, some were more frustrating that others, with more spills and messes, but none were still drinking out of bottles in high school. So it has been with learning. They have all learned the skills they needed in due time. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_3302.jpg "IMG_3302 › 200 Fingers & Toes")From working with your student to the final project you are preparing them to find answersIt was the end of the article that I was most touched by. The author reminded me to be grateful that this child is homeschooled. A child who needs extra time and attention would not have faired well in the average public school setting. Praise God, that in His infinate wisdom, He nudged you to choose to homeschool. In this manner of education you will be able to meet your child’s needs like no one else could. What a blessing. That article changed my attitude and softened my heart. There were days that it was still frustrating. There were days that I wanted to be done with school and on to my own things, but I was glad that I was meeting my child’s needs in the way that helped the most. ### Praise for Sonlight Dictation One standard practice in our school day was to copy the Sonlight LA dictation passage. This is usually a quote from the currently assigned reading book. This practice was the one thing that helped develop Gideon’s ability to copy larger and larger chunks of text at a time. Many people choose to skip this practice. The passeages seem over their kid’s heads and writing abilities. I am one that believes that our kids are capeable of much more that we think, but I still need help seeing the long game, just like the rest of us. Copy work was not always easy. The kids never liked it. Never. I trusted my curriculum and the process. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0583.jpg "Sonlight for Big Families › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sonlight has been supporting and meeting our needs through all our learningThe first year was the hardest. Our first challenge was creating a consistent habit, one the kids knew they could not throw off. Second was doing the work. One student was ready for the next line, while Gideon was working on the first few words. The instructions said to repeat the text several times in chunks. I was practically going word for word, but I knew this was the road to building a skill he needed. Over the years, Gideon retained larger and larger chunks of text. When we last used dictation, it was not a huge effort to remember complete statements and write them down. This has been a great help, since this year he is taking college lecuture notes. Gideon attends Graceland University right now. He is exploring Elementary Education, playing baseball and he does not need me to sit next to him at all. He does however know how to ask articulate questions. He is unafraid to meet with his Professors and knows exactly where to find the resources he needs. Help is not an ugly word to Gideon. The best part about knowing how to ask for help is that colleges provide a ton of it, for free. There are writing resource helpers, who will read over your work and give you feed back. There are math tutors, study groups and you can send an email to your Professor if you need to. For a student that confident that they can find the help they need, college is not too scary of a place. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_1511.jpg "IMG_1511 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Challenges are a part of homeschooling just like parenting but there is hope for today ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Raising Our First Born with Homeschool; The Analyst](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/raising-our-first-born-with-homeschool-the-analyst/) **Published:** October 4, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Our oldest is nineteen and a second semester freshman in college. He is on a pre-law track, double majoring in Business and Mathematics. So, I do believe in miracles, because math is not a language that I speak. This goes to prove that nothing can hold back a curious mind. A well rounded education can prepare your student for subjects that you have not fully covered yet. Elijah was a curious kid. Bright from the start with a knack for the athletic. In family lore, he put a golf ball through the basement window when he was four. He was aiming for the porch from about 80 feet away. He only fell short by two feet and was more disappointed in missing the shot than breaking the window. With his sincere disgust at his shot, we couldn’t even be mad. If you read the [last post](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-our-family-used-the-same-curriculum-ten-different-ways/) you know that reading was a big part of our life in the early years of parenthood. The three oldest benefited greatly from having baby after baby show up in their lives. We had tons of reading time while I nursed babies and rocked little ones to sleep. We read thousands of books over a five year stretch. I am not a believer in reading only books your child can understand and relate to. I believe in reading over their heads. Context is how I learn most new words in my life. Over those five years our kids went from picture books, to The Little House Series. We traveled the world with Jules Vernes books. How did we read so much? I read books that I loved. We all wanted to hear the end of the story. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2251.jpg "Homeschool and the first born › 200 Fingers & Toes")How we met his needs and helped him question### Can Kids Readlly Learn from Adult Books? Elijah thought the opening scene in Moby Dick was hilarious. Because we had time, I always explained difficuly or fast paced selections. His favorite book of all was 20,000 Leaguse Under the Sea. The world of Captain Nemo, the Captain’s turse conduct and secretive nature, the under ocean explorations and strange crew is enough to captivate any audience. We read it with each passing season. We devoured our personal library and raided the public library every few weeks. For Elijah, we did little for formal school until he was seven. He was already reading and writing by the time we started seated work. Reading was just another game he wanted to puzzle out. He learned to make words by hearing the letter sounds from the little, yellow, Leapfrog bus we had. It taught straight letter sounds, a method I have used with all of my children. We rehearsed the letters for all of our family’s names and from there he started picking out little words. We already had a reading structure that was working for us. What if you are trying to create this in your life? First read [The Read Aloud Family](https://amzn.to/2C75xQc). In it Sarah Mackenzie shares the importance of reading to your children and how it effects every aspect of their life. It was as though she had written my thoughts and we have a shared philosophy about books. Sonlight offers a Pre-K and Kindergarten curriculum that are full of great books. If you are not a reader and really want help creating a steadt habit, they are a worthwhile investment. As for seated work for littles wanting to do paper school, I picked up great little [set of workbooks from Rod & Staff](https://www.milestonebooks.com/list/Rod_and_Staff_Preschool/) for young beginners and that was enough to satisfy the nagging voice that would creep into my head and say we “should do school.” ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2015-05-18-11.15.51.jpg "2015-05-18 11.15.51 › 200 Fingers & Toes")You can also just ignore that creep! What the heck were we doing while he was learning about the world around him? Learning has no set location. Listening and answering a toddler will fill your life with learning. ### Early Learning: Play is School Our school was the world around us. Especially in those early years, we specialized in play. My favorite medium was cardboard. We never needed anything we could not make. If we read about Vikings, it was helmets and shields. We made thrones, castles, armor, you name it. Lack of TV, rural living and no cash, can make anyone a really creative person. Play is vital. It is not secondary to learning, it is learning. Creative play time as little children developes social skills and problem solving skills that last all their life. If you are overstructuring your child’s day, stop. Make room for unstructured play time. Offer them a junk box to create wonders from. ### Speaking of TV… We didn’t have our TV hooked up for the first eleven years we lived here. We watched a VHS movie in the late afternoon, so I could make dinner and clean up. Mostly we watched old movies and cartoons. We struck entertainment gold when they released the Little House Series on DVD. We bought up all eleven seasons and made it a family time treat. We were low tech, but the kids didn’t seem to mind. In the early years, I caught onto the idea of Homesteading. I ordered a subscription to Country Side magazine and a couple dozen chicks too. Having animals and farm-ish chores gave me a sense of purpose while I was essentially grounded. We owned a local restaurant, but Doug worked long hours and the staff was not steady. He often got called into work with no notice, so we seldom made plans as a family. Home was our nest and we filled it up with things to learn about for all of us. We’ve raised chickens, Muscove ducks, turkeys, Guinea fowl, and hogs. We kept rabbits, had a horse and many dogs, and a few cats over the years. In February of our first year of homeschooling, we had a new born, bringing us to the insane number of **seven** little kids seven and under. School gave us the structure we needed. Since Sonlight was an extention of the reading habit we had already developed, it was not a big transition. We read with more structure and for a little longer each day. We found new titles to love together. That little voice that nagged me to “do school,” faded away. I probably couldn’t hear it over the kids. ### Everything I Need, All in One Box One of the reasons I chose to order Sonlight was that everything came in the boxes (Yay! Box Day!) at one time and you were ready for the year. Being in rural Iowa, I knew it was going to be difficult to find titles at the local library. With the number of littles I had to get bundled up and ready, I loved the idea of everything being on my shelf for when the time to use it arrived. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2014-08-11-13.10.35.jpg "2014-08-11 13.10.35 › 200 Fingers & Toes")### The Focus of the First Seven Years School with Elijah was smooth sailing. He is a typical first born with a very strong sense of obligation and was grounded in knowing right and wrong. **Let me add a note here:** and it is only my opinion, it is what we have seen work in our life. The first seven years weren’t focused on school, but were oriented around child training and bonding with our children. These first three kids benefited from having a mom that was much less divided than I currently am. I had strong convictions about children obeying, but I also had a tender heart that helped me to not lean toward control or dominance. We worked to make training fun and fruitful. If we had an area where we had trouble, we trained in it like it was a sport. We had “put on your shoes and get in the car” drills with a prize for getting it done under a certain time. When we had some behavior issues at the grocery store; I went shopping when I didn’t need anything, just so I could leave when they misbehaved. I structured life so it made it easier for me to keep my word. Also, over the years I have learned to really limit my “no” and in turn, my kids respect them more. I say “yes” to a bunch of stuff I don’t particularly love, (slime, hot glue, driving a good distance to visit friends I like, and glitter, I will never say yes to glitter) because I want my kids to know that they are a valued member of the family with a voice that counts. There is no magic bullet. My kids are still disobedient at times, sometimes that comes at a high cost, but overall, we have built long-lasting, beautiful relationships through mutual respect and good boundaries. ### Capture Them with What They Love He hated writing assignments and would argue endlessly about them, but I learned that his concience would not let him ignore an assignment completely. He would sometimes give me less than great work, but writing was a subject Elijah struggled with and still does. One way I encouraged Elijah to write was to let him argue in writing. Really, it is no suprise that he is going to study law. He wrote magnum opus in high school; a six page argumentative paper firmly backing his premises that “Video Games were Beneficial and in Fact Helpful to Students.” It was so well researched and sited that I could see his point and actually, he won me over to his side. ### Growing Through Learning Difficulties I first noticed when we added spelling, around third grade. He could not spell. Like, anything. I was telling a friend, it was like the game of Plink-O was going on in his brain; like those round chips, the letter were all up there, but when he spelled words they just kinda rained down in random order. It effected his reading. There was an instance when he was assigned a reading book about the Pony Express. He was giving an oral summary when he pointed to a word that was giving him trouble. The word was “Pony Express.” He read the whole book, but could not decode the main subject of the story. Adding regular spelling practice and reading helped Elijah the most. I think it made the correct spellings more recognizable. Fortunately for me, I was very familiar with his condition. I had suffered from the same thing as a child. I assume it is a mild form of dyslexia. I could never do a word search as a child. The letters did not behave in front of my eyes. I had ever passed a spelling test in my time as a public school student. As I aged the condition lessened and it has with Elijah as well. He knows to use extra care when he is tired, especially when working with numbers because they tend get transposed more easily then. ### Homeschooling Students Excel in Subjects They Like Though Elijah had no taste for English, he did have a knack for Mathematics. I wish I had been a better Math teacher, because he passed me up very early on. Often, he had figures completed in his head when there was a multi-step formula involved. In his early years I used a combination of [Singapore Math](https://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/subjects/math/singapore/) and Miquon Math, alternating between the two each time we completed a workbook. I do feel like this gave this group of kids a great foundation in math. Miquon is a workbook that uses Cusinar Rods to create visual connections to Math concepts. I have since used [Algebra for Breakfast On-line Visual ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/want-get-kids-thinking-mathematically/)[Math](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/visual-math-side-brain/) and [Art Math by NatureGlo](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/visual-math-side-brain/) for visual math learning. Because Elijah did not like writing, but liked Math, I made sure he had the opportunity to do math first and as much as he wanted to do. We moved into [Teaching Textbooks](http://www.teachingtextbooks.com) in the upper grades because it had the instruction that I could not provide. We also explored many STEM opportunities, engineering, computer courses, games, legos, robotics and other tech fields. > Your homeschool student can and will succeed in areas that you lack skill in. Don’t fear an educational blank space. Learn together. > > – Amber @200fingersandtoes Homeschooling tools have grown to the point that I feel confident that there is the right tool out there to help teach your child if you can not. I learned Algebra side by side with my son. As his skill grew, he left me by the side lines. ### Avoiding the Comparison Trap Though he was gifted in math, I chose to keep a steady pace in school. I am a second generation homeschooler. I grew up in the era when everyhomeschool kid was playing the violin at seven and in algebra by seventh grade. I watched parents push and mothers preen their gifted prodigies only to see them burn out of the areas they once loved. I think that caused me to be determined to keep a steady pace and to keep a level head when assessing our kids gifts. Want to learn more about avoiding the comaparison trap? You can read [this article](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-without-comparison/) I wrote a while ago. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2014-07-10-20.09.04.jpg "2014-07-10 20.09.04 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Young learners can and will excel in many areas because they can. Homeschooling allows it. I love that we can let their interests lead. But, pressure to be better than others seldom inspires a fire that will carry a passion into a career. I wanted him to obtain mastery and competency without really worrying about what level he was obtaining. Allowing him to challenge himself and make decissions means a student ready for college or the world. I love that Sonlight turns the IG (instructors guide) over to the student in the high school levels. You students follow the guide and structure theur day to accomplish their assigned work load. By using Sonlight, our oldest three were already ready for college. They have worked from a syllabus for years. They were taught to break down large projects and check in with me, and they are doing the very same thing in college this year with their Professors. ### Homeschool Means You Decide Elijah didn’t want to accelerate his graduation date, so we steadily did a H/B/L each year until his Junior year. To graduate we needed to do H/B/L 420, which is Government and Economics. Since we had done H/B/L H (World History In Depth) in the ninth grade for Elijah we had a decission to make. The three oldest kids had [schooled as a group](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-multiple-grades/) up to this point. Would the three older students continue to school as a group or would the younger two could split off and do H/B (just the history and Bible portion) 320 next year adding a school year after their brother graduated. The alternative was, to do two high school H/Bs (220 History of the Church and 320 20th Century World History) in one year as a group and graduate together. I really felt that it was important that they didn’t skip the History of the Church, but I left it for them to discuss and decide. After some discussion about how they wanted their Junior year to look, the kids opted to tackle two H/B in one year. It was unconventional. It was a ton of reading and a tremendous year of work. They were pushed and stretched. It wasn’t easy, but I encouraged them the whole way. (sometimes my encouragement might have looked a lot like yelling at them, because I am still a very human mother) Elijah was a strong reader, and DID have all day at home to accomplish the work, so even though it was challenging it was a great learning year. I don’t think a crushing college work load will phase them too much after that school year. They are [college ready](https://www.sonlight.com/blog/college-ready.html), because of their literature rich learning experience. Homeschooling still takes much less time that a conventional school day. One H/B/L takes about three hours to complete the daily reading. Then there is Math, Science and Language Arts work to complete as well. Reading for two H/B made for a full day, but we were meeting our personal goals. I’ve writen a bit more extensively about the [final years](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-scholarship-money-with-stem-courses/) of highschool and getting ready for [college](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/checklist-to-earn-the-most-college-scholarship-money/) in these posts [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?s=high+school). Graduation day finally did come. What a blessed day for us. We earned this moment together. What a gift this journey has been for me. Now that I see Elijah working hard in school, tutoring others, reaching out in student leadership, streaching himself to take a challenging class; I am blessed to know I had a hand in building the character of that young man. He and God get to finish the work. This is just a little window into our schooling life. For brevity, I have not gone into depth but I am pretty sure when I finish the series on all ten kids we will have covered a lot. Feel free to leave me any questions in the comments. Last year, I was a contributor for th Sonlight Blog and [wrote 22 articles](https://www.sonlight.com/blog/author/amber-smith) and they gave me 630 British Literature for my highschooler, which we loved. My contract has ended, so I have no monitary investment in promoting Sonlight. That said, I AM a Sonlighter for life. This is our fourteenth year using Sonlight and I love it. You can use my code **`AS20131425`**and get $5 off of any purchaes of $50 and you can us this link below to save 20% more while the offer is valid. Go take a peek and definately order a catalog. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/OCT-landing-page.jpg "OCT-landing-page › 200 Fingers & Toes")[httpswwwsonlightcomboost the basics](https://www.sonlight.com/boost-the-basics) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Why Should We Let Kids Explore Math Without Risk](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/let-kids-explore-math-without-risk/) **Published:** September 26, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The kids have gotten used to having a computer learning program as a part of their school day. In order to simplify our day we are using [iKnowIt.com](https://www.iknowit.com/) to [review math skills](https://www.iknowit.com/order.html) as a morning opening activity for our K-5 students. I love that they are willing to try new math skills they have never been introduced to because it is not our formal Math Curriculum. Low Risk = Improved Interest ![Let them explore Math](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/iknowit-ad-1200px.jpg "Making Math Review Fun › 200 Fingers & Toes")We are using this as a low steaks way to check their own knowledge## A Few Reasons I Like iKnowIt Schooling multiple students is different than just a couple of kids. Our mornings are a time to check in with all of the kids and give individual instructions, review materials and cover any questions they might have. Imaging doing that in the middle of a pile of ten week old Great Dane puppies and you can imagine what it feel like to do that task at my house. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_3369-1024x1024.jpg "Bringing a Little Order to Mornings › 200 Fingers & Toes") Mornings are a time when I let the kids log into their computers and “play” with some of the teaching programs we have. This keeps them nearby when I need them. There is nothing worse then spending large amounts of time gather your students back together for Bible time. Let’s just say, by the end I am not feeling ready to read the Bible. Computer learning tools help me stay cool and collected, by keep the kids collected. ## Readers and NON Readers Can Use it Equally One of the challenges I have found in morning activities is finding things that don’t require me. The purpose is to allow me to check in with my older kids, so I can’t stop every few minutes to read instructions on a page or screen. With three little ones it can be very taxing. I like that iKnowIt.com has a *Read Question Aloud* feature. The kids just click the read-it icon and the question will be presented in an audio format for them. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Untitled-1-1024x823.jpeg "Features that make iKnowIt.com easy to use › 200 Fingers & Toes") This is great for struggling readers as well. Math terms are not ALL familiar to the kids. Sometimes they trip over these new words. Being able to click the icon and have the sentence read to them actually increases their comprehension. ## Assign AND Explore Your kids can do both. In the program I can assign Math review pages for the kids to work on every morning. I just pick the lesson I want and can assign it to the whole group of students or I can choose each child individually. When they sign in, the top of their assignment bank will be filled with the things I chose. You can give a deadline or you can choose to have them end as they are completed. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Untitled-3-1024x669.jpeg "Determine What You Want Them to Review › 200 Fingers & Toes") Where I have seen the most progress is in the exploration time. The kids can also choose to Explore Topic in the Level you have assigned them. Each topic is clearly indicated and created to meet their level. This was a great way for the kids to explore new topics without the pressure of an actual assignment. This is just a supplement for practice and NOT a full math curriculum. There is no teaching lesson, but there is plenty of help. They are free to try, and they are learning new things on their own. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Untitled-4.jpeg "Let Them Choose › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## You Can See Your Child’s Progress This is one of the reasons I like this more than playing a game. When they are done I have measurable results. I can look in their progress page and see how well they did on assignments and items they chose to explore on their own. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Untitled-2-1024x673.jpeg "Scores Show What They Tried › 200 Fingers & Toes") As you can see from the picture above, Brindley chose to explore fractions, even though she was unfamiliar. She used the HINTS to help her, but with every wrong answer, she learned more. We had a great lesson about how we learn and the fact that wrong answers are still learning tools. When most of the school day is graded, I like having a place where there is no risk to get the answer wrong. Trial and error is still a great teacher and my kids are learning to figure out problems for themselves. The kids can check their progress as well in their own MY PROGRESS tab. There they can see their scores and the time spent. The best part is that they can review the answers they got wrong. When they have done a few lessons they can return to this page and recheck their learning, building confidence. ## Is The Price Too High for a Supplement? The price seemed a little high when I first looked at it, but if you add the [two month free trial](https://www.iknowit.com/sign-up.html) you are getting fourteen months for $90 for up to four students ($8 per additional student) I ran the math and that is under $7 a month for a pretty powerful [Math Skill Review App](https://www.iknowit.com/) that your child can use on any device. At the dentist and your homeschool day is going to be wrecked? BOOM! Math can be done in the waiting room on your kid’s tablet or your phone. It might not be your full curriculum but it will fill the slot for the day and your child might explore a subject you have not even introduced yet. One thing I have learned is that kids have no idea they can’t do things. If you let kids explore subjects over their heads, they are very likely to surprise you. As always check out iKnowIt.com on their social channels and click the box below to see how other families are using [iKnowIt.com](https://www.iknowit.com/) in their own homeschools. Facebook: Twitter: [https://twitter.com/iknowit\_com](https://twitter.com/iknowit_com) Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/iknowit\_com/](https://www.instagram.com/iknowit_com/) Pinterest: \[Tweet “If you let kids explore subjects over their heads, they are very likely to surprise you. Let them explore math without risk with iKnowIt.com #hsreview”\] [![Interactive Math Lessons K - 5 grade {I Know It Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/I-Know-It-Homeschool-Reviews-2018-1.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/interactive-math-lessons-k-5-grade-i-know-it-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Untitled-1024x800.jpeg "Want to WIN a new iPad › 200 Fingers & Toes")**HEY WAIT A MINUTE!!** Don’t miss the chance to sign up for their monthly drawing. They are running a [contest to WIN a new iPad](https://www.iknowit.com/contest.html), and it is open to members and NON members alike. No purchase necessary. Good Luck! ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, math activities, math game, math lessons, math practice, Online Learning --- ### [Why Do We Homeschool?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-do-we-homeschool/) **Published:** September 19, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Homeschooling can be the tool you need to help your child thrive. It can call out their best. It can allow them to pursue their true passion, like music or art, dance or sports. Homeschooling has allowed us to be a closer family even though our entrepreneur life had crazy hours. It is just a tool we are using, with it we build a life we love. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If we haven’t met, let me introduce myself. ## I’m Amber, a SoCal kid living in the middle of an ocean of waving corn in Iowa. Back when I was bussing tables I fell in love with a Chef and he with me. We’ve been working together for 25 years in life, restaurants, and home. Together, we met the personhood of Jesus, walked out in our everyday life, one the church can’t begin tell you about, and we have spent the last 22 years getting to know. This walk has us redefining and growing our walk with God every year. ![IMG_2141](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_2141-576x1024.jpg "IMG_2141 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Something is working, because we are still here. So, you would think I homeschool because it is the “Call of God” on our lives, but you would be wrong. Homeschooling is not a religious belief. I do believe it is a great choice. I believe it can serve your family well, but homeschooling is a tool. It can be used correctly and build something beautiful, that will last. Therein lies the warning too. We have all seen someone who suffers with an injury from a tool used incorrectly. I live in farm country so I see it a lot. I knew a beautiful silver haired woman when I was small. A man had assaulted her, struck her with a hammer, leaving her smiling face with an empty silent socket, where her laughing eye had once been. Tools are just that; it is how we use them that matters. The example might seem strong, but I have seen families that have used homeschooling as a hammer, crushing spirits, and producing dim faces with narrowed vision. This is not our hoped for end. ![IMG_3369](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3369.jpg "IMG_3369 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### I attended Gifted And Talented Education/TAG as a kid & I am a high school dropout. I attended to a school for the gifted for several years as an elementary student. I only completed the ninth grade in highschool before failing all of my classes. ## The story in-between those two sentences is why I homeschool School did not work well for a student like me. I moved around constantly, so I missed whole years of lessons depending on what the individual school was teaching. I was bright, but highly sensitive, empathetic and social. I learned to fit in quickly and to blend, because being the new kid every year in elementary school is hard. After yet another move, leaving the GATE program and reentering a new public school, I found myself years ahead of the class I was in. I did not need to read or study to test well. I learned to work the system, avoid homework and skate along. This survival skill I had developed to stay under the radar failed me so badly. ## This skating wasn’t good enough Ninth grade; the wheels came off. My grades placed me in a high level math in yet, another new school that was ahead of the learning curve. With no study skills and years of poor school participation, I was in over my head in no time. I needed help, but my brain screamed blend, fade, don’t stand out. So I kept my hand down. No one else was asking questions in class, so I knew I was the only stupid one in there. (I am sure now, that half of us had no idea what was going on in class, but none of us wanted to look stupid by raising our hand and asking a question) I got buried, stopped going to classes and spiraled into a depressed self-destructive state. I was a lost number in a class of over 700 students. Worse yet, I had a sibling hide any mail from the school, thereby killing any chance to get help from adults that might have steered me back on track. ## Social Pressure is High School I barely eeked into the tenth grade and just when I was finally getting to stay in the same school for two years in a row, my best friend moved. The rest of my friends had graduated the year previous, as Seniors. I was starting over alone; again. Academics was the last thing on my mind. By the middle of the year it showed. I chose a group of friends that were the easiest to blend into. People with low expectations, so I was assured I would meet them. It was a really bad choice, because meet them I did. ## Leaving the Public System, for good One day, in the middle of science class, I was called over the PA. Mom just picked me up from school. Say “good-bye to your school” was all she said as she walked me out the door. I was afraid, upset, confused and quiet. After all, I knew when to blend and fade. That day, I became the last of us to leave public school. My mom had already begun homeschooling my five younger siblings. I jokingly say I was forcibly homeschooled. In all honesty, in hindsight, that decision saved my life. Homeschooling salvaged my education by letting me take classes at the community college. I eventually enrolled there full time and earned a degree in Graphic Design. This high school dropout, maintained Dean’s list for the whole two-year program. ## Growing Up A lot happened between being pulled out of school at fifteen and graduating college. I worked, lived fairly independently as a teen. In those three years, I lost all of my old friends, made new ones, (some better, some worse) dated, broke my heart a few more times, found my feet, fell for the Chef, wiggled my way into his heart one conversation at a time, got married, worked, saved, paid cash for college and graduated while nine months pregnant. ![IMG_1829](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_1829.jpg "IMG_1829 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Planning for the next generation When it came time to think about school for my own kids, I knew I could not watch them flounder like I had. My husband was a great fit for the public system. He is a self-motivated rule follower. He responds well to internal prompts as well as external expectation. If you are familiar with Gretchen Rubin’s **[The Four Tendencies](https://amzn.to/2QICg34)**, he is an upholder through-and-through. He was gracious to listen to me and learn about homeschooling for himself by going to a few conventions with me. Since those tumultuous teen years, I have become a student of myself. What caused the pitfalls and self-destructive behaviors of my teen years? If *Soul Search* was a Major and I’d have earned a Doctorate for all the reading I’ve done. I have discovered that I am a questioner. The exact opposite of a good public school student. Questioners tend to only do what they believe is truly necessary. If you can’t articulate why they need it, questioners aren’t likely to do it, *even to their own hurt*. Example, I never learned my times tables, because I could just look them up in my folio. I refused to engage in upper level math because no one could explain to me how this applied to actual life. I did however (way back in high school) decide LSD use was safe because I read Dr. John C. Lilly’s work on the subconscious mind in his book **Center of the Cyclone**. Raising a questioner can be really hard. I highly recommend Rubin’s book, I am still learning how to navigate dealing with myself sometimes. Questioners are good listeners and truth seekers. My questioner tendency has led me to a great relationship with God. I ask a lot of questions, I don’t accept churchy pat answers. Beware of the questioner who has a pile of books on their side that all agree with them. I have learned that I need to read both sides of a subject for scope and understanding. For me to commit to learning, I need to know why I am learning something. I need real life examples and connect best through story. ![Chasse](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_1998.jpg "Chasse › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## So why do I homeschool? For me, the question was always, What if I have a child like me? Could I offer a better alternative and keep that excited-to-learn kid longer if we changed how they were taught? Could we skip the relationship drama and focus on education first? I want my kids to have a chance to know who they are before someone starts to tell them what box they should fit in. I want them to love learning and see it as something that never stops. We model that in our lives here. By homeschooling our kids could accelerate in the areas they were ready for and pace themselves in areas they struggled in without worrying about grade/class placement. ## So we started a grand experiment fifteen years ago. Ten children later it is still working for us. This is the story about us and what is working for our family. When I write, I share about our experience, in hopes that the mom who is searching for an alternative for her kid, finds hope. Homeschooling **can** be the tool you need to help your child thrive. It can call out their best. It can allow them to pursue their true passion, like music or art, dance or sports. Homeschooling has allowed us to be a closer family even though our entrepreneur life had crazy hours. It is just a tool we are using, with it we build a life we love. Are you looking for an alternative for your child or family? Homeschooling might be a great way to get them back on track. Has homeschooling become a hammer and you want to restart your motivation and bring joy back to your family? If you are looking for help feel free to ask me anything. I am going to be sharing individual stories of how each of my kids learned differently with the same curriculum in a upcoming series. I created a [course](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/indueseason/) to help families like yours create a road map. We are all different. Our family size, learning styles, special need to accomodate lifestyles and schedule will vary greatly but this course covers six pitfalls that effect all of us as we homeschool. The course is set up with quick weekly articles and 10 minute, daily journaling prompts that will help you build a personalized a vision for your family. We will walk through six monthly themes, keeping you focused and on track, while tackling the biggest challenges we faced in our fifteen years of homeschooling. We are offering a [back to school discount with 30% off](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/indueseason/) and a private FaceBook Group for support for those who sign up now to October, 31, 2018. We will have a weekly live Q and A session and prompts to keep you motivated and intentional about your homeschool road map. We can have the best school year ever…together. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** intro to homeschool, Introduction, leaving public school, nice to meet you, public school exit, Raising Teens, teens, why we homeschool --- ### [Intimidated By Hands-On History: It's Not Complicated, really!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/history-lap-booking-not-complicated-really/) **Published:** August 2, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I was completely intimidated to review a lap book set by [Home School in the Woods,](http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/) I was afraid it would be complicated and full of busy work, but since we are going to be jumping into American History this year, I thought we would check and see what quality lap books really look like. We chose [The Early 19th Century](https://store.homeschoolinthewoods.com/collections/time-travelers-u-s-history-studies/products/time-travelers-the-early-19th-century) from the [Time Travelers Americal History](https://store.homeschoolinthewoods.com/collections/time-travelers-u-s-history-studies) series. It includes 25 lessons that can be used over five to ten weeks, depending on your preference. ![Log Your Learning with Lap Books](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/HSitW-LOGO-website_360x.png "Homeschool in the Woods › 200 Fingers & Toes")Creating Hands on Learning Discoveries for YouYou can find the complete Scope and Sequence doc [HERE](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2621/9168/files/time-travelers-the-early-19th-century-scope-and-sequence.pdf?). The Early 19th Century Set covers the first sixty years, from the birth of the newborn Nation. The set covers the first 12 Presidents, Inventors and their creations, Westward Expansion, Pioneers and Natives, Slavery, the early wars and a lot more. Projects are designed for kinesthetic learners in mind. Younger kids might need more help with fine motor skill activities, but you control freaks could just let them cut it out of the lines a little and it would still look beautiful because Home School in the Woods art is amazing. The reading was not difficult and clear. My upper elementary kids took the packet for the day with no assistance from me…other that finding the scissors…and the tape…and glue…and the not dried out markers. Being summer supplies are a little less than…well…just less than. Good thing there is a supply list that could have your family ready to go from the beginning. The good news is that – I did get my steps in! > ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1812-768x1024.jpg "Timeline That Will Make You Want to Keep One › 200 Fingers & Toes")Timelines can be an amazing tool I first used Home School in the Woods as a source for beautiful timeline figures## Timelines so Beautiful You’ll Want to Keep it on Display I first discovered Home School in the Woods (HSitW) when my kids were in Kindergarten. Our curriculum partnered with them to offer their beautiful history timeline figures as part of their package. I have to admit, since the kids were small and I didn’t want them to go to waste, I colored them ALL myself. Our history timeline was the most beautiful K timeline ever. Over the year the kids took over, but having these amazing pictures to mark the significant events in our readig was a part of our homeschooling routine. Every page I printed in this set was of the same high quality art work I have come to expect from them. ## Travel Time With A Great Guide We love history and reading, but I am not a project Mom. I give the kids tons of unstructured creative free time. With so many different ages in our school, I find it difficult to find projects that can be done and still enjoyed by everyone. When I was offered a review, I almost passed it up because I find the concept of LAP BOOKS, intimidating. I don’t like highly structured activities. I HATE tedium! Could these really be fun to do without being overwhelming? ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/MillionTabs.HSitW_.jpeg "Hey, that's a lot of tabs! › 200 Fingers & Toes")Trust me it is going to be ok## Can Hands-On Be Easy? On the first day that I downloaded everything, I was totally overloaded. I started to panic. There were like a million buttons with pages to print. It took a little reading and navigating to see that everything was actuall reallly well organized and separated, keeping pages easy to find and print as you needed. I never had to print an extra page. I was always able to find the page I needed. If for some reason you get lost and can’t find a page in your lesson, you can click the “Masters for Projects” tab and every document for the entire set is in numerical order. Just seeing all of this helped me a great deal with my dislike of hands-on projects. I am a questioner, and I need all of the answers up front before I can just jump into a project. After doing a little reading, I found myself without excuse and had to get started. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tt-tenc-group-2_1024x1024@2x-1024x1024.jpg "The whole enchilada at a glance › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Do You End the Year After Lots of Work, but Nothing to Show for it? We use a literature based model of school. Read read and discuss a ton of books, but come portfolio time there is literally nothing to show for most of our year. I hate to create artificial busy work. With ten kids, I also hate clutter and waste. Most projects we do during the school year go in the “round file” if you know what I mean. HSitW lap book format appeals to me for two reasons. One, everyone could do parts of the hands-on projects instead of creating ten separate folders. Second, everything lays flat. You can pop the finished project in your box or stuff it in your accordian file and at the end of the year, you will have a thing to show Grandma or proudly display in your portfolio. If you have a reasonable amount of kids, thay could each do their own, but we are not reasonable and I usually improvise and modify to save. ## Each Full Set Is Packed With Options I presented the kids with a packet each. The main reading pages, usually three pages, followed by the instruction pages and printed project sheets. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1807-1024x1024.jpg "Rosy › 200 Fingers & Toes")Project packs![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1808-576x1024.jpg "clear instructions › 200 Fingers & Toes") Penmenship and Histroy Timeline pages I printed separately for each pack and for each child. I could choose blank lines for the older kids and the dotted guide script for the kids who were less familiar with script writing. The font is less familiar, but that was not a problem. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1809-576x1024.jpg "Handwriting and Copy work › 200 Fingers & Toes")Make beautiful script with clear practice You can choose the dotted guide pages as wellI love vocabulary and feel it is a very important part of any schooling program. The kids had their own vocabulary envelopes to add to as they read. There were also blank pages to write quotes or more new words too. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1810-768x1024.jpg "Vocabulary Builders › 200 Fingers & Toes")Add words every time they read## This Could Be a Full Curriculum or a Packed Supplement We aren’t done with the full Lap Book (because Summer) but we have many of the project pieces ready to assemble. I am thinking that after trying our this Lap Book style, I will definately add HSitW to our school program. It is the perfect compliment to our literature based school. I know that some of my kids really like the hands on approach, but I need all of the work done for me, because I don’t like it as much. For history this could really stand alone as a curriculum and you would cover a good deal of history, while still having a little more room to explore. In my opinion this is one area we always lack in, exploring on our own. This set did give us lots of good questions and ideas. I could see taking more time on day five to look up more about what we learned. There is even a page that has learning resources to help you get started that is included. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/BarbaryPirates.jpg "Barbary Pirates › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![Homeschool in the Woods for Hands on History](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1814-768x1024.jpg "Pocket Full of Presidents › 200 Fingers & Toes")Little parts and projects means getting work done each dayNo matter what era of history you are planning on teaching about [Home School in the Woods](http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/) has it covered in a hands on format. There is literally too much to begin to list, do yourself a favor and just go to the site and have look. They just realeased [Project Passport: Ancient Rome](https://store.homeschoolinthewoods.com/collections/project-passport-world-history-studies/products/project-passport-ancient-rome), which is one of my favorite periods in history…so I might have to check it out a well. Facebook: Twitter: G+: Pinterest: As always check out their social accounts above and hit the box below for **way** more sets and how other families used them in their homeschool. [![Hands-on-History, Project Passport, À La Carte Timelines and Time Travelers {Home School in the Woods Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Home-School-in-the-Woods-Homeschool-Reviews.png)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/hands-on-history-project-passport-a-la-carte-timelines-and-time-travelers-home-school-in-the-woods-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** american history studies, best history studies, Hands-on history, history curriculum, history studies, history timelines, notebooking pages, world history studies --- ### [Table Time is Science Learning Time with Printables from WriteBonnieRose](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/table-time-is-science-learning-time-with-printables-from-writerbonnierose/) **Published:** August 1, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* When you are working with several age groups, I find myself looking for table work for my little ones that feels like we are covering real subjects. One area we filled our need is with science printables from [WriteBonnieRose](https://writebonnierose.com/). In [Learning About Science, Collection 1](https://writebonnierose.com/learning-about-science-collection-level-1/), we learned in a way that felt natural for little ones, more like play. [![Learning about Science Collection Level 1](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Learning-About-Science-Level-1-Bundle-.png)](https://writebonnierose.com/learning-about-science-collection-level-1/)## Table Talk is Science Learning Time If you could have listened in to the chatter, you would have heard quite a few natural discussions that kept us engaged as we colored. Little kids are questioners. Presenting a couple of pages led to a ton more questions. I love to follow the vein of questions naturally when we have the time and I think there is no better way to introduce your kids to love learning. ## Suppliment and Spur Learning Time Collection 1 is a set of seven books that cover tons of life science concepts. Are you growing seeds like we did a few years ago with our older kids? Familiar Plants and How They Grow covers the parts of a plant. Each picture has a little printing work with the words we are learning and pretty things to color. Plants, leaves and stems. Seeds, flowers and fruits. We named them, talked about how we eat them or use them and we colored them as well. ![Table time is learning time with printables](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1791.jpg "Table time is learning time with printables › 200 Fingers & Toes")connect your little ones to the subjects your older kids are learning in their science booksIt was natural to follow this with **Fruits and Vegetables Around the World**, so we could learn more fruits and see how many we have eaten before. We talked about the different ways we can eat the same foods in different places. Some people like cold melon soup and corn means something very different in the rest of the world. It was fun to share the different foods we have eaten with the kids. And talk about all the different ways we like to eat the same foods too! We all like our corn on the cob different ways over here. ![Natural](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1717.jpg "Natural › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## What is Covered? A few other books from [the set](https://writebonnierose.com/learning-about-science-collection-level-1/) were: **Animal Habitats of the World**, **Our Senses and Systems and How they Work**, **Learning About Life Cycles**, **Earth; Layers, Earthquakes and Volcanoes**, **Exploring the States of Matter**. There is also a great **Discussion Help document** that is full of links so you can extend your learning beyond the page. Some were articles, videos or websites that could help you explore the concepts covered. ## Handwriting Practice in Small Bites This set is for little readers, but it would also be great for reluctant writers. Each page has only a few words so it would be perfect for a four year old who is just getting the hang of writing or a child who is overwhelmed by many words to write on one page. These pages could also be used like I did, with a group of kids in a range of ages, too. ![Print work that isn't a ton of work](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_1792.jpg "Print work that isn't a ton of work › 200 Fingers & Toes")Reluctant writers love these pages because ther isnt the chance to overwhelm tham like a writing workbook## You Can Use This For Your Portfolio The older can use this by making sure to give you accurate and detailed coloring, even looking up a reference online for the flowers, animals or foods represented and the younger students learn by following along. The science is all there and you really can get a good lesson from each set. If you like to do hands on work and feel like there is too little “paperwork” for you to file away in a portfolio for the year, these sets could be a great way to document learning. They connect to many concepts you are sure to be touching on with your older kids in their science over the school year. [![Learning about Science Collection Level 1](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/WriteBonnieRose-Science-Bundle-Discount-Coupon.png)](https://writebonnierose.com/products-science/)## Don’t Miss the Discount Available on This Review The price can be beat, but [WriteBonnieRose](https://writebonnierose.com/) is making an offer for our readers. They can save 50% on the bundled Learning About Science, Levels 1, 2, and 3 with coupon code REVIEWCREW50 through August 15. You can get each set of eBooks for $6 per set at [https://writebonnierose.com/products-science/](https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwritebonnierose.com%2Fproducts-science%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1050a85254c645362a8208d5e22a0e8b%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636663592609183691&sdata=LZ3qHEw4JauvbUErK3N8SOrZaEgHywLhsvYwfQI2%2BwI%3D&reserved=0). I would jump on these for this price if you have little ones. Facebook: @WriteBonnieRose Twitter: @WriteBonnieRose Pinterest: @WriteBonnieRose As always check out WriteBonnieRose on all of your favorite social channels and hit the box below for more reviews to see other offerings by WriteBonnieRose and how other families are using them in their homesdchool. [![Learning About Science collections {WriteBonnieRose Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/learning-about-science-collections-writebonnierose-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** earth science, elementary, handwriting, homeschool Science, physical science, portfolio --- ### [Inspire Curious Dino Hunters and Rock Hounds](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/inspire-curious-dino-hunters-and-rock-hounds/) **Published:** July 26, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you are like our family you might have a dinosaur lover in the house, which brings the question: can you have an intelligent teaching about dinosaurs in your homeschool that does not contradict the Biblical narrative? [Northwest Treasures](http://northwestrockandfossil.org/) brings solid science methodology and observation into the world of Dinosaur lovers with their course [Dinosaurs and the Bible](http://northwestrockandfossil.org/index.php?route=product/category&path=90). ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/img_0301-1.jpg "img_0301 › 200 Fingers & Toes") The only shame was that it was a bit over my true Dino lovers head, since he is 6, but he did love the pics and hung around while our older students listened. My teen daughter was thrilled to have a new, in depth teaching. Before we got into the full teaching about Dinosaurs, we checked out the shorted video, [Taking the Mystery Out of Geology.](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Taking-the-Mysteryout-of-Geology-2-2.jpg) Geology is my forte. I love rocks and have a modest collection of samples. I have a collection of field guides for rocks, gems and crystals, but ALL of them follow modern scientific timelines and evidence driven observation. I believe in creation and the biblical narrative. Though I can fill in the blanks and address the comments about millions of years and the heat based expansion model of the Big Bang theory of creation, it gets to be daunting. I feel alone in my stand. Every book we read starts with millions and millions of years ago. So what is the alternative. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/img_0304.jpg "img_0304 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Taking the Mystery out of Geology is a quick but packed 20 minute teaching video addressing just that. It is a simple rental for $5 from Vimeo that you get access to for the next three months. It is a great first purchase to get a feel for the material, language and level of teaching in their other courses designed for 5th grade and up. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/img_0305.jpg "img_0305 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Do you have younger students? Try their course for Little Rock hounds in Pre-K through 3rd grade [Geology for “Little Eyes”](http://northwestrockandfossil.org/index.php?route=product/category&path=70) and help them observe the world around them with a scientific mind. So What About Dinosaurs and the Bible? The full course we were able to review was a six part video course called Dinosaurs and the Bible. You can watch the trailer [here](https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dinosaursandthebible). The series is based in science. Our teacher first explained the difference between history and scientific observation. He explained how many terms and timelines are used to support a specific narrative. He then breaks bad with some great science. Six lessons include… How We Got Our Modern View of Dinosaurs Classification of Dinosaurs Dinosaurs and the Bible – The Great Dinosaur Rush The Extinction of Dinosaurs Dinosaurs and the Ice Age Fossils, Age, and Soft Tissue The subjects are covered in depth and are relevant topics today. I was just reading about a huge Dino discovery at a shale dig site. They found a nearly perfectly preserved specimen of a stegosaurus type, scaled and even internal organs could be discerned with modern scanning technologies. It make you wonder how that could be millions and millions of years old. Video Teaching Connects to the Way Teens Learn I love video teachings because it is one of the better ways my teens learn. We live in an audio video age. With a wide range of learners at our house video touches all learning types. If you order some choice [fossil](http://northwestrockandfossil.org/index.php?route=product/category&path=80) specimens you can cover your most kinetic learners. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/img_1781.jpg "img_1781 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Check out more reviews of courses by Northwest Treasures by clicking the link below. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/img_0306.jpg "img_0306 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Biblical World View, dinosaurs, geology, hare view, Homeschool, paleontology, Review, Science --- ### [Better Tech Leads to Real Learning Gains {MaxScholar Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/better-tech-leading-real-learning-gains-maxscholar-review/) **Published:** June 20, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## Digital Learning Leaving You Leary? We have jumped with both feet into the digital age, but my problem is the kids constantly want to ***only*** play games on the iPad or Kindle! I am sure you see the same pattern so, as we’ve cut back on frivolous play time [MaxScholar](http://maxscholar.com/) has helped us get back to genuinely using digital tools to accelerate real learning. The best part is the results of their [Reading Intervention Programs](http://maxscholar.com/our-programs/) is measurable with a parent information panel that shows us actual learning progress. Summer readers show an increase of 30% over their peers at the beginning of the school year. I’m not left guessing if MaxScholar is working. Play finally pays! [![MaxScholar Reading Intervention Programs ](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/image-1.jpg)](http://maxscholar.com/our-programs/)Let’s face it, schools are turning more and more, to digital products to help students learn in this fast paced digital world. That sounds good on paper but when I hand my kids an iPad it seem like the only things they wanted were useless videos of kids opening random toy packages or “birds and flying pigs”. ### I want to hand my kid tech and see actual learning happen MaxScholar is helping that happened for homeschool parents across the country. The program was created to maximize reading comprehension and correct readers with early intervention. They want to get kids on the ground running by creating the best online reading software possible. The program was scientifically designed for reading intervention by some of the best software engineers and developers around. They truly are taking teaching reading into the digital age without losing focus on learning. The program uses the Orton-Gillingham approach to systematically teach students phonics, build vocabulary words and even work on their writing. There are a ton of teaching tools in the parent panel. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_0296-300x225.png "Printable aids as well as instructions and lesson guides › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Year Round or to Stay Sharp We’re using the program with my six-year-old so that we don’t lose reading comprehension over the summer. During the three months of baseball season we are on the go all the time. Mornings are a rush of chores, laundry, and shuttling kids around to activities. It’s hard to set a concrete time that I know I’ll be around to continue one-on-one reading with a little one. Max color has been a great way for him to be able to get some online play time during the busy mornings while continuing to work on fluency and reading. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_0293-300x225.png "Guaranteed Placement and Pacing for Maximum Learning › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## No Guessing on Placement When your student opens their MaxPhonics or MaxReading window, the first thing they’re given is a placement test to make sure that they are placed an accurate level for learning. This assessment also helps the program gauge weaknesses and your child’s reading comprehension or phonics knowledge and provides a baseline to build on. ## All Learning Styles Are Covered Learning is done through a series of phonics sound activities; matching, identifying both auditory and visual cues, letter recognition. I do find that working on a digital format is great for my auditory and visual oriented kids. I cannot express enough the importance of reading aloud to your children to build a tolerance for sitting quietly and listening. It is a skill they can learn. There is also a huge need to meet your children with learning tools that best fits their learning style and auditory visual children often fall through the cracks in a homeschooling setting because the formal workbooks and reading format sometimes is not enough. MaxScholar is great because it works for all learning styles hitting on every one of the learning types. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_0294-300x225.png "Auditory and Visual Cues Maximize Learning › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## The program is Straightforward and runs on its own. I appreciate the simplicity and lack of buttons for my kids to click out of or respond incorrectly. I have used other programs where I was constantly resetting the page or putting my child in the right lesson number. It was extremely frustrating. MaxScholar is a linear-based program each lesson follows the last with no optional choices to end up in a lesson and that is too difficult or too easy. It is truly set up for systematic learning. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/IMG_0295-300x225.png "The Parent Dashboard Has All the Info You Need › 200 Fingers & Toes") If you are a person who likes concrete information or has to do reporting for your state homeschool requirements, MaxScholar has a parent dashboard. You can pull reports directly from it, as well as access to all of the max scholar classes. [![MaxScholar](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-with-phrase-1.png)](http://maxscholar.com/)Honestly there is a great deal of information on their site and MaxScholar has quite a few programs I would like to do a little more exploring. MaxPlaces for geography, MaxMusic, as well as vocabulary building in MaxWord, MaxPhonics and MaxReading. You can read more reviews and check out [MaxScholar](http://maxscholar.com/) on all of your favorite social channels as well. - Twitter: - Facebook: - Linkedin: [![Reading Intervention Programs {MaxScholar Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/MAXSCHOLAR-Homeschool-Reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/reading-intervention-programs-maxscholar-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** MaxScholar, Online Learning, Reading Intervention Program, Reading Placement, tech tools --- ### [Art History in Your Homeschool, Did You Forget too? {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/art-history-homeschool-forget/) **Published:** June 28, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I love art. We often pour over my huge volume titled World Famous Paintings, but that isn’t really enough is it? I have neglected [Art History as a full subject](https://themasterandhisapprentices.com/purchase/) because there was not a volume that I thought covered the material with enought depth to engage students for the length of a complete course until the review of [The Master and His Apprentices](http://www.themasterandhisapprentices.com/) came across my desk. [![The Master and His Apprentices](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/themasterandhisapprentices.jpg)](https://themasterandhisapprentices.com/purchase/)Meeting Curriculum Gaps The text book; [The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective, ](https://themasterandhisapprentices.com/purchase/)is the thoroughly researched and well grounded brainchild of a formerly homeschooled, privately trained artist, turned researcher in art history. It would be a disservice if you missed the [about the author page](https://themasterandhisapprentices.com/about-the-author/) where you can read Gina’s incredible story. Truly this is the passion project of her life‘s work and you can tell that she has strived to meet the need in homeschool community with all of the wisdom integrity and passion that God has given her. Art History Cannot be Uncoupled from God I can sympathize with Gina‘s difficulty in finding art history texts aligned with a Christian world view. To not oppose or to closely agree with a more conservative worldview narrative is all but impossible o find in secular publishing. So many books I have read make an effort to excuse or vilify the role of Christianity and it’s deny its direct correlation in the emergence of artists musicians and gifted inventors throughout history. This is a Christian work for the glory of God. Though, above all, Gina strives to incorporate veracity and truth, she also intentionally weaves the story that God originally wrote from the creation of time, using art and history punctuate events to the early 1600’s. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Marter.Art_-1.jpeg "Marter.Art › 200 Fingers & Toes")For my review I was able to use the digital format which is a more cost-effective choice for a homeschool family, but no less fascinating with 600 images of historical locations, artifacts, and master works. I was able to review this as an adult reader and would consider the hardcover book a worthy investment. Especially, if I had several children who were interested in art history. With the incorporation of the digital teaching guide and the fact that for $2 you can purchase printing rights for any additional student, this is priced just right for a full year credit course. In the end you would have a book that is on par with the Time LIfe collections we used to keep on my coffee table. It is unfortunate but in the busyness of trying to get our core subjects and often times art history is a subject that gets pushed aside and forgotten. We grow familiar with a handful of works we’ve seen before. The master and his apprentices brings the history of each one of those artists and time periods into existence in a three-dimensional world that brings a deeper scope of historical times. I’m a huge fan of history with the face and I feel like there is no better way to make a deeper connection and help our kids to value the importance of learning history like tangible connections to things they can relate to in the world today. The fortunate thing is many of these works from near the time of Christ, are in existence today and stand as a testimony to how relatively near that moment in history actually was. Just look at the map ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Master.Art_.Map_.jpeg "Master.Art.Map › 200 Fingers & Toes") To be used as a homeschool course, review questions and chapter tests covering material are provided in the teaching guide giving you a way to cover the material systematically. You can also easily compile the record keeping your state requires or that you prefer to use to create grades as you choose. [![The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective {The Master and His Apprentices Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Master-and-His-Apprentices-Art-History-from-a-Christian-Perspective-Homeschool-reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/the-master-and-his-apprentices-art-history-from-a-christian-perspective-the-master-and-his-apprentices-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Art history, elective, High School Credit, Homeschool --- ### [5 Books That Kicked My Writing to the Next Level](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/5-books-that-kicked-my-writing-to-the-next-level/) **Published:** July 17, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As a Mom of a large family it is sometimes difficult to think about pursuing personal goals. I have always been a writer, privately, but a few books have helped shift inside of me the idea that I might want to do more with my writing than just fill up personal note books. That is the power of an inspiring book. They reach places that lie untapped and stir up ideas that are bigger than ourselves. If we are open to challenges, if we are willing to expose ourselves, if we are not afraid of the work, we can take our creative work to new heights. \[Tweet “If we are open to challenges, if we are willing to expose ourselves, if we are not afraid of the work, we can take our creative work to new heights.”\] share this with writers in your twitter feed **These 5 books shifted the way I thought about writing just enough to make me want to dig deeper as a writer myself** ![Books That Took My Writing to the Next Level](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2197-300x300.jpg "Books That Inspire Me › 200 Fingers & Toes")httpswww200fingersandtoescomwp contentuploads201510IMG 2197jpg> Everyone has that one shelf of books that pushed them to the next level in life Let me share my favorite books on writing with youcaptio ***1** Anderson’s Fairy Tales*, by Hans Christian Anderson, Illustrated by Arthur Szyk This has been my book for as long as I can remember. If you have never read the original Hans Christian Anderson tales you are missing some of the greatest stories ever told. Reading the modern versions or the Disney remodel would be like reading a paper track and thinking you have a pretty good scope of the Bible. For those of you that aren’t familiar with Anderson, he is the original author who penned “The Little Mermaid” and “The Snow Queen” (base Disney’s for Frozen), but the story that was the greatest inspiration for me was “The Princess and the Pea”. Think about how many story books are based on that tale, how may variations of short films and cartoons hold “The Princess and the Pea” at their root. You would be unimpressed to see that the original story fill just over half of a page. Anderson was the first to teach me that a powerful story needs no filler. Every child should be read the whole volume at least once in their life. This book is available free for your Kindle [here](http://amzn.to/1RkkPPm). ***2*** *Bird by Bird,* by Anne Lamott I heard about this book for the first time while listening to NPR. There was a lively interview with Anne that had me instantly in love with her. She is intriguing in her honesty as a struggling human as she shares her beautiful insights on the life of a writer. It was after hearing Anne, that I first considered living as a writer instead of only writing when I was sitting in front of a screen. I borrowed “[Bird by Bird](http://amzn.to/1Lz0qmj)” from the library the very next day and have been on the long path of a writer ever since. I don’t think I would have made the mental switch to thinking about everything I hear around me as a contribution to my writing without Anne pointing it out. That small shift has given me an warning to be intentional about what I do and observe. I appreciate her fiction and nonfiction books and follow her on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott). Anne reminds us that we will never come to a place where we have “arrived”, but we can do the very best with the broken lives and the good people around us as we put our face to God and our minds to the work in front of us. ***3** On Writing,* by Stephen King I was never a Stephen King fan. I do not like horror as a genre and had never read a book by the king of horror when I picked up this gem. I became an instant fan of King and fell in love with his practical book about the work of writing. From reality about rejection to the permission to not be drunk or crazy to be famous, King speaks to the fears in the heart of every writer. Is the work worth it? King answers that question with a resounding yes. At one point in reading I was laughing so hard I was crying. My husband asked me what was so funny, so I told him Stephen King telling about how he was run over and nearly killed. You will understand it when you read it, but it was typical King. The way he spins irony and humor into horrible experiences. I actually went on to read the last book in the Gunslinger series. My library does not have the first two books so I was saved a whole lot of time, but I am sure at some point in time I will get sucked into a King book again. Don’t miss King’s [On Writing](http://amzn.to/1ZRj4iM) just because you aren’t a fan, like me, you will be pleasantly surprised. ***4** The Opposite of Fate,* by Amy Tan Tan was another author I personally enjoyed, so when I saw this book I purchased it on name alone. It lives in my influential books section because the content went beyond fan readership. I loved Tan’s discussion on bookclub extra content in her books and class room discussions of her novels. The conflict of having a very Chinese Mother while growing up American gave insight into using you life experience in your writing. She and King both share the ability to give perspectives from prolific long term writing careers with an insight deep in the work of writing. There is much practical advice and realistic expectation in [The Opposite of Fate](http://amzn.to/1Rkltwo), mixed with enough success to make you want to get out there and get rejected. The narrative nature of Tan’s book makes it easy to digest and enjoy, but it also motivated me to think more seriously about what writing meant to me and how far I wanted to take it. ![Practical tools for the writer ready to think about publishing]( "Write That Book Already › 200 Fingers & Toes")oescomwp contentuploads201510FullSizeRender 2jpg> The 5 Books that kicked my Writing to the next level\[/caption\]***5** Write That Book Already,* By Sam Barry and Kathi Goldmark Once I was convinced that writing was a line of work I wanted to pursue in some capacity *[Write That Book Already](http://amzn.to/1ZRjfKY)* was a great ready reference tool. Full of the insights from more authors than I could list, it was a rubber meets the road book, full of practical tips. If you are writing regularly and wondering what to do to take your writing to the next level, this book is written for you. It is a practical read, full of tips, steps and tools for someone that has done the work and is ready for publishing or is seriously thinking about heading that direction. Again, King, Tan and Dave Barry contribute practical knowledge along with nearly 20 writers including Maya Angelou. This is no headliner fluff book but it is geared toward someone planning to enter the real world of publishing. Sometimes you know exactly where you want to go, but if you are like me, there are times it takes someone else to lay ideas out before you, to make you think before stepping out in a whole new direction. These books represent 10 years of growth as a writer. It has been a slow steady crawl in that direction for me, but my hope is that you are nudged full speed in the direction that your heart is leading. Happy reading and please share books that inspired you to write. I would love to share them with my readers. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Read **Tags:** Anderson's Fairy Tales, Anne Lamott, Any Tan, author, Gifts for Writers, reading, Stephen King, writing, Writing Life --- ### [My 5 Favorite Books for Spiritual Growth](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/my-5-favorite-book-for-spiritual-growth/) **Published:** October 20, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Spiritual growth is something that happens constantly in our life if we are seeking to know God. I did not get where I am today quickly. 20 years ago I said a prayer, mostly because did not want to go to Hell. I did not particularly want God to change my life. Yet, still He was okay with letting me get to know Him, slowly. Over the next 6 years I watched and learned. I learned that many Christians have a capacity for love that I did not possess. I learned that there was very little I had to offer to God outside of my whole self. I learned that God is no thief, He will not steal you allegiance nor does He want us to serve Him until we can surrender our whole heart. As a leader of a women Bible study I read the scripture about the woman washing Christ’s feet with her hair, and was struck by Jesus response. He said, “Who is forgiven much, loves much.” In that moment I was made aware that, though I had prayed and asked God to save me and forgive my sins, I had not really let Him look inside the package. I began to let God know me. I began to pray about all of the areas in my life that I needed to humble myself and seek forgiveness for. Not because God wishes to shame me, but because He wants to know us intimately. From that moment, forward I have grow deeper my love for God and for His people. These 5 Books for spiritual growth have helped me build a foundation of truth and depth with the Word of God. I have read thousands of books since those early days but these 5 helped me to replace ideas that I held but did not line up with the word of God. These have helped give me a firm and lasting foundation for living a joy filled life. If you are new to Christ and are looking for some books to challenge your thinking and grow deeper in truth check these out. ***1. Anchored In Christ,** by Norm Wakefield* Being deeply [anchored](http://amzn.to/1hQ8Pci) in truth is the only way we are able to have a faith that is unshakeable. There is an unfortunate habit in the American Church, to pluck favorite verses without regard to their significance in scripture. Wakefield’s book is a great teaching tool to help you study and read your Bible, searching out the full context of the scripture so that you do not get pulled into false teachings. A foundation built on truth is one that will last your entire Christian walk and the sooner you build it the better. There are also a chapters on preparing your children for a relationship with Christ and yourself, if after reading you find that you, too, want a deeper or new relationship with God. With notes and questions this would be a great book for a small group or family bible study as well. I would also highly recommend [Equipped to Love](http://amzn.to/1OQ2pqG), which talks about living in idolatry free relationships. How many relationships are ruined because of wrongly placed expectations and hurts. We often miss connecting with God for the very same reasons, our wrong motivation for relationship. These two books will challenge you to lay a firm foundation for solid Christian faith that will take you through any trial. ***2. The Search for Significance**, by Robert McGee* How many times have you had your whole way of thinking challenged and found it wrong. As we grow we develop mindsets and beliefs about people, God and ourselves. Not every one of those mindsets are helping us to live successful lives. In fact some of those very mindsets are keeping stuck in a tragic cycle of self doubt and destructive behaviors. God wants you to live free from lies and [Search for Significance](http://amzn.to/1hQ8BC3) focuses on what you believe about you. God has a lot to say about you and it may not match up with what your mind keeps telling you. If that is true, if you have trouble knowing in your heart that God loves you deeply, Search might be a great guide to your own heart. I have found it worth going through a second time after 10 years to see if there are still areas that I need to focus in. There is a[ journal](http://amzn.to/1OQ1ZRj) as well as a [student edition](http://amzn.to/1LIkcPB). If you want to be deeply rooted in who God says your are Search is a great book to add to your reading list. ***3. Boundaries**, by Cloud and Townsend* Do you have trouble reconciling your new Christian faith with the demands of the world around you? Are you having trouble drawing the line between walking in love and being walked on? If you are often angry at your self for taking on projects and responsibilities that aren’t yours because you have trouble saying “no”, then [Boundaries](http://amzn.to/1hQddbh) is the book you should be reading right now. Boundaries develop as we grow up. If you grew up with unhealthy boundaries it is very likely you are using them in life every day. Poor boundaries destroying your joy. Good boundaries help us to make clear lines between my responsibility and others. I can say yes with joy when I know I am making my own choice. Very different from the years that I made choices out of obligation or worse, fear. Do not live another day unaware that you have a voice and that your choices matter very much to the kingdom of God. ***4. 12 “Christian” Beliefs That Can Drive You Crazy*** I might be a fan of Dr. Cloud and Townsend because their practical and applicable material and this book is no exception. In it they discuss popular misconceptions we accept as scriptural truths. Most of these beliefs will lead us to hopelessness if we believe they are biblically founded. They address having needs, modifying behavior to conform to the image of Godliness, living with lists of “shoulds” and many more beliefs that sneak into Christians theology. Some of these were beliefs I held and could immediately identify how they were harming my relationships and my growth as a person. This [book](http://amzn.to/1OQ4fb0) was a very quick read but a big eye opener for a young Christian. The more unhealthy you upbringing the more I would recommend reading this and discussing these beliefs with a group for insight. ***5. Experiencing The Depths of Jesus Christ**, by Jeanne Guyon* Though this book was penned nearly 350 years ago the truths are no less relevant today. Madame Guyon’s belief was that every man, woman and child is able to fully experience the fullness that Jesus intended for him. There is nothing keeping you from being able to have a true lasting relationship with our lord that holds to depth of al of the ages. It is available to every one that comes and seeks Him with their whole heart. This [book](http://amzn.to/1LB8sLt) is a peaceful wind pushing you into God’s presence. Madame Guyon is so very gentle. Her words so sincere you can not help but feel her love for Christ as you read. If you are having trouble connecting with God it might be a good idea to stop studying Him and start experiencing Him as you read His words to you. Guyana gives some very practical advice and encouragement in hopes that you might experience God more fully in your life. [![Do you desire unshakeable faith?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2211-300x300.jpg "5 Books for Spiritual Growth › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2211.jpg)It has been a 20 year journey but I would love to share the books that God used to propel me into new depth of relationship with HimThese are just 5 of many books God has used to show me areas of growth, but these are only second to His Word of truth. It alone is able to reveal our true heart to ourselves. May His Spirit lead you into deeper truth as you seek to grow in your relationship with God. Many of these books are available at your local library of for very little if “used” on Amazon. I will always provide links so that you can read reviews and the synapsis and any additional quotes. Thanks, and feel free to share with me any book that helped you see yourself more clearly in the light of Gods Word. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Anchored in Christ, bible study, Boundaries, Christian Growth, Devotional, Guyon, top 5 --- ### [The Terrible Cost of Ingratitude](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-terrible-cost-of-ingratitude/) **Published:** November 24, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This month you hear more about gratitude than any other time of the year. With the holidays around the corner it is a great way to give us pause and go into the gift giving season with better motives. Gratitude is not a natural human response. When we are young we expect our needs to be met. We remain the center our own thinking until adolescence, where we first become aware of our connection to the world beyond our needs. That transition can come earlier with a lot of modeling from family and teachers. There are many factors that keep a child from developing a heart of gratitude, but as adults we can choose to grow in gratitude every day. > #### \[Tweet “If you are an adult without a heart of gratitude, those close to you pay the emotional cost.”\] Lack of gratitude divides spouses, exhausts friendships, depresses children and cuts off opportunity for self advancement. There is a physical cost for ingratitude. Perhaps you are paying the price. Are you lacking deep connections the with people you love? Do your children tend to stay away when you have a day off? Does your husband comment that he can never do anything right? Can you think of other ways ingratitude has cost you? #### Can we train ourselves to be more grateful? I see so many posts about Thankfulness, but I have to ask, are we telling the right people we are thankful. I am thankful for many blessings, but not one of those has meaning outside of the context of my relationship with the people I love. I am thankful for my home, but empty, I would despise my vacant, lonesome home. I am thankful for coffee, but without the friends I often share it with, without my husband who makes the mornings fresh pot, it would be a incomplete joy. Is the act of expressing gratitude for things, enough to shed an ungrateful countenance. Can you kill eleven months of unkindness with a feather and a marker, or is it is going to take more than one gratitude exercise around the Thanksgiving table to train your heart to recognize the need for gratitude. The important key is that you can see your need to make a shift. Joy is obtainable. Closer relationships, deeper intimacy, honesty, love are all things that you deserve, don’t let ingratitude rob you of the best things in life. So the question remains, how can a person practice being grateful? In the next two posts I will talk about ways we can increase gratitude in our lives. While you wait for tomorrows post… ### take the Porcupine 24 hour challenge: **Do not say anything negative for a 24 hour period.** For every criticism you have to start the 24 hour period over again. This is a great exercise to discover how your communication with people is perceived. If you feel like this is an area you really struggle with you can let your family or coworkers know you are taking the challenge and give them permission to help you. Agree on a hand sign or give them a post-it note they can stick on you when they feel you are being critical. Allow every warning. Awareness is the key to this exercise. We aren’t interested in asking if they are being oversensitive, if they don’t like you or if they are having a bad day, we want to know how others perceive us. If they see you as critical, then it is highly likely that you are. Leave a comment and let me know how the challenge went for you. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** devotional life, gratitude, Porcupine Challenge, Purposeful Living, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving --- ### [Taking back the keys to your heart](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/taking-back-the-keys-to-your-heart/) **Published:** December 17, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Don't wait until you are crumbling to built a support network of people in you life. Start giving your keys to good trustworthy friends. The kind who will redecorate your life and leave goodies in your fridge. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We got a call one afternoon. The trooper on the other end was saying our son had been in an accident. The officer said my son was fine but the car was very damaged so he would need a ride. Our son was then, 7. I was confused, but as it turns out, so was the trooper. We had loaned our car to a friend, and unfortunately he was involved in an accident. In the confusion the driver’s identity was misunderstood. Our car was totaled, but our friend was safe. Have you ever loaned your keys to someone and then spent the rest of the day worrying about your poor car? It happens that way in life. We sometimes give the keys to our heart to the wrong people. They bring it back all dinged up and never apologize. The tank is always empty. **Who are you giving the keys of your heart to?** I had a period of life where it seemed to me like a great deal of the input I got from people was negative. If you have a lot of kids, you can understand the shrink of my social circle. We tend to break something everywhere we visit. We are loud. We don’t have a natural respect for couches and we tend to settle things by wrestling it out on the floor. During that time I realized I had given the keys to my heart to a lot of people that did not enjoy our company. I took it personally and got offended because I was not doing a good job protecting my heart. I needed positive influences, I needed grace and mercy, I needed someone to laugh and tell me my kids were great. So, I got intentional about my connections. Did I dump all of my friends? Did I stop talking to my family? No, I just stopped giving power to words that did not define us. I chose to define us. I found a few people that helped me support this new view of my kids. We probably broke their stuff. It happens. The added benefit of my friendship is my replacement policy. They break it, I buy it. That’s a pretty good foundation for a friendship right there. The take away is that I found some people that would support my new positive ideas. Big goals, or big responsibilities take big support. \[Tweet “Don’t wait until you are crumbling to built a support network of people in you life.”\] Start giving your keys to good trustworthy friends. The kind who will redecorate your life and leave goodies in your fridge. Do you see how supportive people have influenced your life? Do you see the need to add these kind of people to your current life? I would love to hear about how you either have influenced you. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Change, devotional life, Friendship, heart, personal growth, support --- ### [Monster thoughts under your bed?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/monster-thoughts-under-your-bed/) **Published:** December 20, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As a kid my hand never slipped over the edge of the bed. To do so was certain death. In the darkness of my room, there were monsters. During the day, I knew under the bed was too full of dirty clothes to even fit a monster, but in the dark uncertainty meant danger. [![Stop letting monster statements live in your head.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/rustic-bedroom-in-traditional-farmhouse_z1Ran4wO-e1450387284513-282x300.jpeg "Are monster thoughts hiding in the dark › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/monster-thoughts-under-your-bed/rustic-bedroom-in-traditional-farmhouse/)Monster thoughts keep us tucked safely under our covers when we should be chasing our goals Is fear keeping you stuckAre you in a place where uncertainty is creating negative voices, hiding in the dark? Speaking statements to you from the pile of clutter. Are you responding by drawing up the covers and limiting your potential for movement? I’ve been there just this week. Negatives seem so loud and valid when they are bouncing around in the darkness of my mind. Do you want to stop hearing them? Write down the negative things that you are repeating in your head. Writing them on paper takes away the power these words had when they were bombarding you inside your head. On paper you can look at there statements with perspective. Now, ask your self if they are true. Are they ridiculous? Some of the things we tell ourselves are laughable when we look at them in the light of who we really are. Are there tangible things you need do to improve in these areas. What is true? Rewrite those negative limiting statements into actionable truths. Put the power to do something about it back in your own hands. Stretch it if you have to. Start reframing how you see your situation. Write out the reframed negatives to read and see on paper. For me, there was a time when I would have written: My kids are wrecking balls, I am not really welcome anywhere. (having 10 kids in 12 years will leave you feeling a little rough at times) The feeling had been building in my for a long time. I really thought it was true, but when I wrote it out, I could see that this thought was ridiculous. We were loved by quite a few people and welcomed to their homes. The point is don’t let monster thoughts live in your mind. Pull back the covers by writing them down and exposing them for what they are, because half truths will hold you back forever if you listen to them. Are you broke? I bet you could write that you are creative at solving problems without finances. Are you feeling like a loser because you are lonesome? I know that I felt that way after a life change left me isolated. I started telling myself that I was a great person. I began to speak to myself about the fact that I was wasting all I had to offer by not getting out and getting to know people. See how I took the power back. I became responsible for making friends, and then I got out and made new ones. Take back the responsibility for your happiness by taking those negative thoughts and putting them down on paper. Expose them for the ridiculous overstatements that they are and start building your own truth statements about who you are and where you want to be. \[Tweet “Lack of clarity keeps us from forward motion. Defining what we want is the first step to obtaining it.”\] Tell me your truth actionable truth so I can cheer you on. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** fear, Friendship, goal setting, limitations, personal growth, truth --- ### [Preparing Your Heart for Gratitude](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/preparing-your-heart-for-gratitudepreparing-your-heart-for-gratitude/) **Published:** December 31, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** My ugly brown boots prepared my hear to be grateful for what I have. They also taught me not let frustration convince me to throw out what I should be thankful for. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I got new boots this year. Some of my very spiritual friends wanted to make sure a link was included with this post so [THIS](http://amzn.to/1NK5jIV) is where I got my new boots. They reminded my of a hard lesson I learned about gratitude. Sometimes I know that God just shakes His head and laughs out loud at me. I don’t mind. Learning how to live life well, is hard. There are so many ways to interpret other peoples teachings and messages. I am bound to have misunderstandings in teachings and trouble with heavenly communication. I am thankful for a lifelong curve of learning. Take the early lessons I had on faith. I gathered from various teaching, just declare what you need and God is bound to provide for you. God loves me and has a plan for me, but truth be told I have no idea what I need. Every curve and blind intersection has brought me the unexpected. If I had the choice I might have missed some of the very best moments in life. I learned a big lesson with my old winter boots. I got those boots from my Mother. She didn’t particularly care for them, they were a little small, which made them a bit big for me. I took them home anyway, because I am a fairly practical person. We were also young parents and new restaurant owners at the time so spending was something we didn’t do much of. I wore them for about 5 years. I grew to hate those boots. They weren’t even mine. They didn’t fit well. They weren’t even really winter boots. They were just plain brown leather with a chunky heel that didn’t keep you from slipping on the ice. The problem was, that I decided to hate my boots during the worst financial winter of our lives. We didn’t pay ourselves a salary for 4 months and took out a home loan to keep our business running and not have to cut labor. By spring I was a little crazy and frustrated with lacking and stretching and, well, everything. In the madness of the winter/spring coat sorting, I had an epiphany. I had been talking to God about these boots, and my need for new ones in the very near future, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. I decided (please don’t judge me, I was young and surrounded by a lot of little ones) that God wasn’t providing boots because I didn’t need them. I had boots. Boots I hated, but still, I had boots. You probably already guessed, yes, I chucked those boots. Like into the volcano of sacrifice, but into the actual trash bin with the blown-out, buckle-less snow pants and single mittens. It felt good to be rid of them. The problem came six months later. As it happens every year, winter came round again and it snowed. We did the coat scramble and boot distribution. With 7 or 8 kids by then, this is one of my more dreaded tasks. We lined up the kids and passed out winter gear line they were new recruits. Everyone was all set with enough fluff and yarn to clothe a village and there I was, bootless. I searched everywhere for those boots. I checked every corner of our closets. It took a few more snows before I remembered what I had done. I had to laugh of my own audacity. I know God laughed with me. I provide Him with a great deal of humorous moments. The boots I hated in the spring were so much better that no boots in the dead of winter. I wore Converse for the whole winter, not really as penance, but because I am cheap and they were the shoes I had. Over the winter I grew more and more thankful for those ugly brown boots. I used to think those boots were slick, but Converse might as well come with a guy that pushes you down when it snows. Need, it is so subjective. In truth, I don’t really know what I need. I need to grow. I need to be kind and listen. I need to communicate my feelings. I need to laugh at myself more. I need to enjoy today, even in my circumstances. I need to work toward goals with vision and not lose heart. Those years were lean and hard. We had a four years stretch where we made no purchases but for food and diapers. I might have not chosen that road if I was picking, but those years taught me so much. I learned I need very little. I learned God has a great sense of humor. He loves to bring me just what I need, when I need it, and not a minute before. I learned to be quiet and ask Him to take care of me. I learned to trust and be content. ![sorelboot.web](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sorelboot.web_.gif "sorelboot.web › 200 Fingers & Toes") This year I got nice boots as a Christmas gift from my husband. He worked an extra job and got paid with money that for once in our lives, was not earmarked to pay a bill. I love my new boots and my warm toes. I love that they are actually cute and something I chose, but I will never forget those ugly brown boots. They taught me to be grateful for what I have. They also taught me not let frustration convince me to throw out what I should be thankful for. Life is full of reasons for frustration. Are there things in life you’re wanting to give up on? Do you need to make some changes or do you just need some encouragement? Don’t give up on your goal if you know it is what you are called to do. Our lean years were hard but we paid off our house, our business and our debts. We recently rebuilt our house and are working on paying off our construction costs. Looking back, it was totally worth the struggle. So if you need some cheering tell me about your crazy audacious goal and I will cheer for you. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** boots, financial peace, lessons in faith, personal growth, preparing for joy, waiting --- ### [Shattering Negative Body Image](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-1/) **Published:** March 2, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** When you look in the mirror, what to you see? What do you say?I developed the habit of saying some pretty unkind things to the woman in the mirror. Here are 3 things I did that helped me stop. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I remember my terrible struggle with body image. I was always looking for reassurance of my worth from outside sources. It caused me endless heartbreak as a teen. I thought that getting married and being in a loving committed relationship would make me suddenly secure about myself. I will never forget the day my husband teased me about my habit of checking myself in every mirror I passed. It was no joke, it was a serious observation. It opened my eyes to a much bigger problem. I was still struggling with knowing my self worth. **I felt like a dark secret was being told out loud.** It was true, I looked, I was compelled to look. I told myself that I just needed a peek to assure that I was not walking around with smudged eyes or a gut not sucked in, but in reality I was always searching my reflection for flaws. **I was my own worst keeper.** Why? because I never had anything good to say about the girl in the reflection and I told her constantly. My own self dialog was keeping me in insecurity. My husband’s comment was an awakening. I was stuck in this circle of self dissatisfaction and I was the only one keeping me there. I was determined to break this self destructive habit of endless checking and criticism. I knew it was going to take some drastic changes to stop such engrained habits. I spent the next few years like count Dracula, avoiding all reflective surfaces. I vowed to not get sucked back into the habit of endlessly reviewing myself for flaws. It was a cold turkey program, and it was a struggle. It takes determination to break any habit. Even though checking yourself out in the mirror might seem like a small and trivial habit, it was my negative reactions and deep insecurity that were at the root, and those were not trivial, they were killing my hope and joy. My insecurities were driving me to stay unhealthy. My husband was right in his concern. If I could not be secure in my own skin, how long would his word be good enough to assure me of my beauty and worth. It was a horrible thought to face as a newlywed, madly in love, that you were causing your sweet husband pain by not loving the woman he loved. My insecurity would have destroyed us, as it has many others. Insecurity is a killer of relationships. Instead of running or being offended I was able to have a broken heart, and in my brokenness I listened to what my husband said and took it as a warning. I heeded that warning and made some drastic changes to my life. Twenty years later I still continue to work on my ability to love me for who I am. If you are feeling hopeless, if you hate yourself, I know exactly where you are. I was there. Being aware that you are in a vicious cycle was the first wake up call for me. I saw that I was causing so much of my own pain. I wanted to experience true deep love in my relationships and I could see that I would never be able to do that if I continued to carry a negative body image. My motives were purely self centered. I wanted a happy life and I knew that the only way to have it was to nurture a healthy heart. It takes a lot of years for a beautiful healthy girl to learn to despise the body that carries her. It takes just as many to retrain her to love its strength and softness. You carry such beauty in you, even if you are unaware. But start today down the path to see it and you will never turn back the other way. **You are worthy of love. You carry greater strength that you ever imagined. You have gifts to offer the world. Don’t let those things get lost behind the image in the mirror.** I want to share the 3 best things I have done to help me change my self-image but I want you to have time to think about each one and have a chance to give them a try in your life. If you want to subscribe to the blog you can make sure you don’t miss them or you can follow in the RSS feed as well. I will post three things over the next week and I will add links to the next post here as well. [Shattering Negative Body Image-Part 2](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-2/) Today, think about how you see yourself. Think about how you talk to yourself. Do not let you heart be fooled, your negative body image is influencing other areas of your life. Can you see the damage it is causing in your life? I can’t believe how much I have grown and how good it feels to be kind to myself. It has been a twenty year process of loving myself for who I am. I want my daughters to see every woman as a beautiful gift to the world. I want my girls and you, to know that you are so much more than you think and you are much more than just the skin you are in. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** body image, fear, hopelessness, insecurity, self image, shame --- ### [Shattering Negative Body Image Part 1 | Changing Our Words](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-2/) **Published:** March 5, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **How Borrowing Someone Else’s Words About My Value Helped Shape My New Body Image** Funny story, yesterday I went shopping for jeans, right in the middle of this article. Talk about getting checked to see if you are practicing what you are preaching. I have made a lot of progress. Most notably revealed by the fact that I did not cry. It took me trying on six different jeans before I admitted that I needed to upgrade my size. I had held out against shopping for so long that the jeans I wore into the store had a hole in them and not in the fashionable sense, but in the “please remind me not to sit down” kind of location, so there was no leaving the store without at least a replacement pair. Let me tell you I have been blessed with a man who knows how to shop. He sees those numbers on the tag like the label on a spice jar. They are nothing but a tag to help you find the right item. When I got done smooshing myself into the wrong size, he handed me a stack of jeans in my new target range. The first two fit great. Sometimes you just need to borrow someone else’s words that say, “you look great.” Especially when trying on jeans. I remember when I went to help my mother after a surgery. She wanted to shower but I stayed near to make sure she was safe. I remember being overwhelmed with how beautiful I thought her body was. It is a strong body that carried 7 children into life. It is soft in all the right places with hips that come and go, just like mine. Since seeing her, when I feel frustrated with my body I think of my mother. I remember exactly how I felt about her beautiful body. If I were to be honest it is very much like my own. I would never have thought negatively of my mom no matter what her body size. Her body has changed over the years, but not once did it change the way I see her. Why do I turn on myself so easily? She is beautiful, therefore, I am beautiful. I have borrowed my feelings for my mothers body to remind myself of beauty, when I am not feeling so great about mine. **This was the first thing that has helped me Shatter Negative Body Image was that I had to stop criticizing myself and to get better input about my personal value, borrowing it from people that love me if I had to.** I remember those early years. Seeking approval from every corner. Looking for smiles from strangers, checking my reflection. It was such an unconscious habit that I never really thought about it, it had become second nature. After my husband pointed it out it didn’t take more than a week before I was totally aware of how controlled I was by this search for approval. I felt so ashamed at my vanity. (Read more from the last article [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-1/)) **A Note About Shame** There is a shame that is healthy. There is a shame that we feel when we know we are hurting ourselves or the ones we love. That shame can lead us to humility and repentance, which is the desire to turn the other direction. When applied rightly it can give us the strength to do hard things, like changing everything you believe about yourself. **Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.** I stopped looking on my outward appearance and started looking at my heart. I started asking who I was, and what was my bigger purpose. I was going to church, but I started really hearing for the first time what God thought about me. It was not the same things I thought I had heard when I was younger. I heard about a God that had plans for my life and thought of me more often than I thought of myself. **God had good things to say about me, and I started to borrow them.** I started to memorize scriptures that helped me to say good things about myself. When my brain would assail me with negative thoughts I would counter with a verse that told of my infinite worth. The voice that told me who I was for so long grew quieter. I started to feel my worth from the inside. Who you are, when you stand alone and face yourself should be the most sincere and true “you” there is. I am learning to love myself and still have challenges, but I have a deep security that has come from knowing that I am valued for so much more than what you or I can see. Do you need to borrow someone else’s words because yours can’t be trusted right now? There are plenty of great things written about you in the words of the Bible. I found true assurance of my worth that has outlasted any other source. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** body image, gratitude, insecurity, negative self talk, personal growth, words --- ### [Shattering Negative Body Image Part 2 | Negative Input](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-imagenegative-input/) **Published:** March 12, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### **The second thing I did to Shatter My Negative Body Image was to remove the things that made me feel like I would never measure up** You know your triggers. What is destroying your self worth? For me, one thing that would leave me feeling hopelessly inadequate was watching every skinny, beautiful actress in movies. They used to kill me. Everyone in Hollywood, it seemed, from the main characters to the people in the far background was perfect. When I was 13, I wanted nothing more than to grow up and be The Little Mermaid. This was only one of the million factors destroying any hope for a healthy self image. Hollywood is not helping us out, but when we are struggling with our self worth it can be seriously destructive. **Do not exchange your reality for a false front.** In old westerns you will see those hotels with big windows, two stories tall, but as the camera pans around the place it is practically a tiny shack. Proprietors were notorious for putting a lot of cash into a false front that made their place look superior to all the others in town knowing full well that the battle was won if they can just get you in the door. We are still falling for false fronts today. Just pick up a magazine or look at the movie industry. It was just about ten years ago when I had an epiphany. I realized that everyone in movies looks perfect because they are all extras. Not but a small few of them are people on the street. Everyone of those people, even the street sweepers way in the back, are chosen to be on set because they fit an image criteria. A criteria that screens out average. Most of us, on a normal day, would get turned away at the door. Hollywood isn’t the home of average. That is a shame because as we watch those giant screens we are losing touch with reality. We start thinking what we see on the screen is the average we need to attain when really, it is so far from normal. None of this is helping women or men feel confident in their skin. What triggers you to feel poorly about your body? There is a way you could reduce those negative influences in your life. It won’t get better when you are a different shape or size. At one point in my body-hate mindset, I bought the 1996 version of Spanks to wear under my size 4 wedding dress. I remember the woman at the store telling me I did not need them. I can still see her, just shaking her head at me, as I left with my purchase. I remember holding my stomach in at all times and never leaving my bedroom without a coat of foundation to cover my spotty complexion. I was a slave to the image I created. I was obligating myself to live up to it every minute. I could not love myself if I was less than the image I created. I was not loving who God created, I was loving a creation of my own. I needed to replace this false image of beauty with reality. My new reality is full of real women who were lovely and courageous. I can see past this flesh and bone because my focal point has changed. Pulling away the false images gave me perspective to value true beauty and grace. If you look around, you will see that the world is full of imperfect beauty. #### **Getting healthy was more of a layer by layer process, where God revealed work I needed to allow in my heart while I got rid of negative input on the outside as well.** In the process of getting healthy I recognized that I was in a place where I needed to get rid of what was fueling my fire of inadequacy. Without these outside influences bombarding me I could start healing and replacing these lies with the truth of my worth. Without my mind making comparisons and accusations I began to believe that I, too, was lovely. I am still guarding my heart. Magazines were on the cut list for me. I didn’t miss them as much as you would think. I still am diligent to protect sane, rational feelings about my skin. This week, even 20 years into this journey, I just threw away an offer for a popular women’s health magazine. I knew the images in that magazine would leave me feeling flawed. Flaws that do not exist. I would like to be healthy and strong but I will never match those images even if I spent hours in my gym. I have to be diligent to protect my self worth. I have to remember not to side with the folks who would love for me to hate my body because they have a product to sell. **I decided to kill the talking heads in my life.** We moved out to a little farm house about five years into our marriage and we chose not to get cable or hook up the TV. The children just watched a DVD in the afternoon. (Those were the days) Without TV perfection to compare myself to I healed, learned, and grew in strength so much faster. I am not fashionable (the 10 kids might have given that away) but I have not hated my wardrobe or my body since we stopped watching TV. With nothing to compare to I gained a strong sense of self. I now happily wear what I want without feeling obligated to make anyone but myself happy. I was also blessed with the fact that the house only had one mirror in the bathroom. If you stood on the tub you could check your outfit from the waist up. So it was not really worth the risk it involved. I have never cried over an outfit since we moved in. This break from unobtainable beauty standards allowed my focus to change and allowed me to heal my negative self image. Without an airbrushed, photoshopped model in front of me I was able to see the things that did make me beautiful. Removing those false fronts completely helped me see that there is so much more to beauty than a “perfect” outside. I was no longer reduced to skin and it felt good to value all of me. Please read the other articles in this series and I hope that you are encouraged no matter where you’re at in this journey. [Shattering Negative Body Image](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-1/) & [Changing Our Words](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-2/) Healing is a journey and there are real things we can do to make that journey more productive and bearable. None of this would do much good without the additional work that God was doing on my heart at the same time. My husband and my Pastor were great supporters while God worked on the real issue of my value. Without all these other influences screaming at me I could hear, for the first time, what He thought about me. I could hear the Father call me beautiful, and it was sweeter then water to a thirsty soul. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** body image, health, negative self image, personal growth, self, self image, tips --- ### [Shattering Negative Body Image-Part 3 | The Practice of Self Love](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-self-love/) **Published:** March 17, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **The third thing I did was create new habits to encourage healthy self-talk and practice self-love.** \[Tweet “If we’re honest, we have dozens of lousy habits, reinforcing our negative self-image. “\] Many of these are second nature, we are nearly unaware of them. There comes a time when we must be intentional. Breaking out of our backwards thinking takes active forward motion every day. Changing habits, like removing the things that trigger us and getting better input to replace the words in our head are things I talked about in the last posts. Today I want to talk about the one person that likely attacks you the most. You. #### **Why is it we feel free to speak to our selves with such unkindness.** I remember my son looking at me shocked. He had been unkind to his sister. I got right on his level and looked him in the eye and said, “Don’t ever talk to my daughter like that again.” I explained that if I saw another child talk to her that way I would make sure he was not invited to come over to play with her. He was taking for granted her feelings, because of her constant proximity. He forgot how valuable she was to him because she never, ever goes away. We do the same thing to ourselves. We start small, but when we continue to allow ourselves to engage in negative self-talk it only becomes worse. Constant negativity is draining. It causes you to do horrible things like even snapping at even small criticisms. When you have been berating yourself all day long, every negative piece of input seems like the tipping point. The great news is that our inner voice can be retrained. **We should say nice things to ourselves.** I don’t think we are taught that enough as women. When complimented smile, say thank you and ***feel*** the compliment. Yeah, we never do that. Instead we say things like: this old rag, I look so fat, I should… **You should feel good. You are allowed.** About 10 years into the process I realized that I still had some work to do. I had a terrible morning habit. Every morning I would stumble into the bathroom and proceed to remind myself of every facial blemish or fat roll while I brushed my teeth. If it were another person talking to me, I would have punched them in the mouth a long time ago, but we let ourselves get away with crap we would never let other people do to us. One day I decided I did not like how I was talking to me. (I am not schizophrenic, but I do have lots of meaningful conversations with myself. I think that is why my body and mind have finally made friends after all of these years, because they talk it out…..a lot) **I made it a rule that I had to tell myself nice things every time I greeted myself in the mirror in the morning, just like I would one of my kids.** I am a huge believer that saying “Good Morning” sets the stage for the rest of the day. In our house everyone gets a huge good morning hug, even if they forgot to brush their teeth. So, every morning, when I was alone, let’s not be crazy ok, I made sure my husband was long gone, I would look myself in the eye and say, “Good Morning beautiful.” I would not allow any other thoughts contradict that statement. I would force myself to smile at me and offer kindness. It sounds stupid, I know. I felt silly. Like a little kid sometimes I had to send me back to the mirror to “say it right.” I was like the kid that did not really want to apologize, but I did hug it out with myself. Being intentional with my inner dialog helped me break my cycle of unkind self-talk. ### **Many of the things we do to ourselves are out of habit. Change those habits by being intentional to change the way you speak to yourself.** We don’t intentionally berate ourselves…we just get into the habit and never stop. We come to believe we deserve to be talked to rudely because we are lumpy and fluffy with bad skin. But we keep saying it because there is nobody there to tell us to stop. If it were your best friend on the other side of the glass you would never allow yourself to be so horrid and rude. So I challenge you to stop. Force yourself to greet the “you” in the mirror, with kindness every morning. See how it changes your morning. If you would like to read the other articles in this series follow the links here [Shattering Negative Body Image Intro](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-1/), [Part One | Changing Our Words](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-2/), [Part Two | Negative Input](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-imagenegative-input/) Take some time to look at the influences in your life and determine if you need to take a break from any of the ones mentioned in these articles. Borrow someone else’s words about you if you don’t have any kind ones for yourself. Start practicing affirming truths with self-talk using actual words of love. Out loud. I mean it. ***God’s word offers so much more about who you are. I challenge you to look up some verses that speak to your heart and memorize them as a rebuttal when your mind tries to speak to you about who you are. Tape them to your bathroom mirror right next to your beautiful Good Morning smile.*** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** body image, habit, personal growth, restoration, self image, self worth, self-love, self-talk, words --- ### [Keeping Peace As Summer Wrecks Your Routine](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/keep-your-peace-this-summer/) **Published:** July 21, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Summer is sporadic, chaotic and off-balance with ten kids at home and little desire to keep them occupied. Every Morning is different and the lack of routine gets me agitated. #### How do I keep balanced, even when Summer is kicking the tar out of me? I carve out quite time every day. The trick is how I do it. #### I have a regular Bible study on hand at all times. In fact I have two. \[Tweet “Summer is a great time to throw guilt out the window”\]So during summer I make time to revisit old SheReadsTruth study guides that might not have gotten filled in all the way. On high pressure days I can review a lesson I’ve already filled in and search for a hidden nugget. On days when I have my full brain firing in action, I dig into a new chapter and really go in depth. I knew I was saving these for just the right time and summer is it. Don’t have a guide? I picked up this guide for the [Book of Proverbs](http://www.shopshereadstruth.com/collections/proverbs/products/proverbs-study-book?variant=18792923141) while it was on sale. There are always older guides that they are marking down to make room for the new. [![Making room for quiet in Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0242-225x300.jpg "Finding peace in Summer's business › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0242.jpg)Summer is a great time to finish those lessons you might have missed during the year#### **I love the [SheReadTruth app](http://shereadstruth.com), but I am a paper girl.** I’m also extremely frugal so $24 for a bible study did seem steep to me. Having bought the “[Women of the Word](http://www.shopshereadstruth.com/collections/study-resources/products/women-in-the-word-summer-books?variant=18792883269)” study as a gift for my Mother and sister last year, I can say it was worth every penny. I am a graphic designer and a total paper enthusiast. I love the weight, look and feel of the entire study. As a guide it is just that. A guide. There is plenty of space to add your own thoughts and personal reflections. [![Don't waste those empty pages](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0245-e1469069994548-225x300.jpg "Keeping quiet time sacred › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0245-e1469069994548.jpg)Having a study you love and keeping it close at hand make it more likely that you will follow through when times are busy#### **Need some sanity this Summer?** Pick up an unfinished Bible Study or two and set aside 20 minutes every morning to reflect or dig a little deeper. Should you have and extra $5, order a set of scripture memory cards. The waxed business sized cards are a visual treat as well as an ideal way to get the word of God into your heart. [![Keeping my sanity by staying near center](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0240-225x300.jpg "Scripture Memory Cards › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0240.jpg)When Summer has me running I depend on a little quite time to refocus my attention and take back my peaceful mindDon’t let Summer get you off kilter. Fight to keep your peace. You will be glad you did. Blessings, Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, quiet time, refocus, SheReadsTruth, SheReadsTruth guides, summer --- ### [Two Gifts for Under $5 That Will Make You Look Like a Genius Giver](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/two-gifts-for-under-5-that-will-make-you-look-like-a-genius-giver/) **Published:** November 17, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Over Christmas you are going to have plenty of opportunities where you wish you had the perfect hostess gift. Maybe there is a White Elephant exchange with you small group or you want to thank a co-op teacher with a gift for under $5, because there are quite a few helpers and never enough dollars. I have best gift combo! There are hundreds of giving recommendations floating around the internet. I am not much for recommending products without good reasons. I’ll never sell you on the brand of butter I like best, I am never going to proclaim that I use a detergent to get a $1 off coupon. When I recommend something, it’s been proven a winner. I offer you these two amazing Christmas gift recommendations, because I truly care that you come across as the coolest gift giver this Holiday season. Everyone loved these two gifts so much last year that I have already placed my order for this year. **My number one choice are these beautiful scripture verse cards from SheReadsTruth.** [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/img_2767.jpg "img_2767 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/img_2767.jpg) I love this group. Every product screams class, style and love for the word of God. I am a Christian, but I am also a graphic designer. I literally want to rub my face on the business sized cards. The soft wax surface is satin soft, durable and invites you to touch it. The art is no second thought, every card is a beautiful hand mastered piece by a real artist. (Read: No Clip Art Here) There is a style for every person on your list and for $5 per pack you can give a meaningful and beautiful gift without resorting to the dollar bin. Who am I kidding, you know we are all going to hit up Target’s dollar bin more than once this season. Just a warning, selections run low the closer we get to the holidays so it is a great idea to order now. My number two choice is a true genius gift. You are going to want to kiss me if you have never seen these. We all love Hoy Fang foods, Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. Who doesn’t? Just stop right now, because if you don’t like a little spice you need to reconsider your life choices. **Last year I made everyone’s Christmas brighter with these 1.7oz. personal dispensers of Sriracha Sauce with a carabiner clips.** [![On hand in a pinch, these two gifts will always please](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/img_2755.jpg "Need the perfect little gift › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/img_2755.jpg) My family and friends were never out of arms reach from their favorite spice. Never miss out on flavorful egg sandwiches, amazing hot dogs, pizza with purpose and general flavor enhancement. I did get complaints, from the few folks that did not receive one from me. I ordered a few dozen and filled them at home with sauce I bought locally. Can I share my dream with you? My personal goal is to make enough money as a blogger, that I can have personalized packets of Sriracha Sauce with 200fingersandtoes printed on them. [![Shop Sriracha2Go.com Today!](http://www.pntrac.com/b/SkNIRklHT01DR0tHR0pHQ0dJTUtPSA "Shop Sriracha2Go.com Today!")](http://www.pntrac.com/t/SkNIRklHT01DR0tHR0pHQ0dJTUtPSA) This year is not that year, but these will make everyone happier because they can refill them themselves all year long. I have had mine for a year and have never had an explosion or leak, so for time tested gift giving you can’t go wrong here. **Thanks for reading and please tell me you favorite pick for under $5.** **I would love to hear about it and add it to my list.** > [Christmas is The Best Time to Give Tech – What I Want Under the Tree](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist-2/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** For the Heart & Hands **Tags:** Christmas gift, gift, giving, hot sauce, memory cards, scripture memorization, Sriracha Sauce, Under $5 --- ### [Blogging: Because You Want to Do What You Love and Get Paid Too?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blogging-because-you-want-to-do-what-you-love-and-get-paid-too/) **Published:** December 6, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### If you are like me, you kind of fell into blogging In 2008 I started a blog. I wanted to share my funny kid stories with my Mom and sisters. Platforms were few and connecting was limited to only subscribers for most hosting sites. I connected with a few wonderful ladies and followed their blogs back. As I started writing more and more essay pieces and my blog started taking a new direction. Just as I was getting into more creative in my writing, my blog host site shut down. I shelved the blog, but kept on writing. #### Enter the age of social media In 2013 I found myself the Social media manager for two of our businesses and a non-profit I was involved in. I was sharing and creating a lot of content, for no wage. Then one day it dawned on me. I love sharing useful content with products and services I believe in, but there has to be way a person can get paid doing this. So I began my search into the business of blogging. #### That is when I met Ruth Soukup. Literally met her. I was torn between two options in 2014. I could go to the SheSpeaks Conference in North Carolina or I could join Ruth’s Elite Blog Academy. I know I want to write a book next year so I chose to attend the conference. Imagine my suprise when I found out that Ruth was a live speaker at the conference. I purchased her book ***How to Blog For Profit without losing your soul.*** I followed every step and growth followed. I am still building my audience and growing my blog readership by following her lessons every day. Last year I joined Ruth’s Elite Blog Academy because I decided I wanted to take my blog to the next level. I want to grow my readership and my paycheck by doing exactly what I was doing very well for free. The only changes I made were those outlined for everyone who follows her program. Over the last six months with EBA, my blog page views have gone from 20 to 2,500 a month. My social media following has gone from a few hundred to 4,500 and growing. These are true, engaged, authentic followers, not spammy purchased followers who won’t buy into your writing and offers. #### What if you followed Ruth’s program as well? This means your voice can be reaching people, your writing can be read and products you create and services you share could be purchased by the people who can benefit from them the most. It is time to stop scrolling and start creating the content for others to share! If you email me before December 7th and I will email you back a special offer from Ruth herself. You can sign up here for Ruth’s e-book ***[7 Surefire Ways to Boost Your Blog Income]()[ Overnight]()*** for free and you will get updates about uncoming offers. She had a blogging mini-course that will be offered for free on February 16th. You won’t want to miss it. You can sign up for reminders [here]() as well. ![Bloggin Made Simple](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Blogging-Made-Simple_-Ruth-Photo-1_FB-20_larger_-1200x627.jpg "blogging-made-simple_-ruth-photo-1_fb-20_larger_-1200x627 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sign up in advance for Ruths Blogging Made Simple Series this February ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** For the Writer **Tags:** blogging, EBA, Elite Blog Academy, Freelance Writing, Social Media, Writing Life --- ### [You got an electronic device for the kids, what now?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/got-electronic-device-kids-now-filter/) **Published:** December 21, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I woke up in a panic. The kids had stayed up late watching a movie. I meant to switch off the router when I went to bed, but here I was asleep on the couch. This night watchman gig had to end. I’ve reached the age where my kids can out-weekend me. How could they play safely online, and I still get some sleep?. #### This Christmas you might end up the same delima that I had last year Electronics are an inevitable part of parenting in the 21st century. Yes, the kids want all the newest devices. It is up to you to decide which devices are the most appropriate for you child, but that is not the worst part. The trouble comes shortly after the wrapping paper hits the ground. After dinner, before the dishes have been cleared and Grandma and Grandpa are heading home, all eyes on you. Devices outstretched. They are waiting for you to hook them up to the World Wide Web. #### If you are like me, you might be caught off guard by the level of connection necessary I expected my kids to play *Angry Birds, Two Dots* and *Little Thief*. Simple single player games with little need for more than a download once in a while. What I found was the most popular games with my pre-teens involve steadily streamed online access. The top downloaded games right now have real time interaction with other players. Playing requires a steady connection to the internet. I wasn’t prepared for this level of connection. Fortunately, I had a filter program installed on our computers and was able to install the same program on the older kids Kindles. It was a good temporary fix but with so many devices in the house I needed a program that would fit more than the 10 our current program supported. I needed to ba able to have different levels of filtering and be able to set bed times for each child. The search was on. Internet safety is a high concern for me. There was only one device that could solve the three major areas I was concerned about. [![In this little box is my one device to rule them ALL](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_2840-300x300.jpg "Circle covers everyone. Make the internet safe for your little ones now. › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/got-electronic-device-kids-now-filter/img_2840/)Circle filters any device that uses your WiFi signal No one can hide a device No one can play after bed time You set the parameters and filtering setting for each child### [Enter Circle By Disney](http://mbsy.co/d8Rj7) I was fortunate to be a follower of one of the developers of Circle and heard about it as it launched. The timing could not have been better. I was paying a yearly fee for Mobicip of $49. I loved the program for our computers and would still recommend them. The trouble was two-fold. We outgrew their coverage; Mibicip limits coverage to 10 devices for the basic plan. Two, it had to be installed onto the device through a physical download. That would not help with devices that came to visit. I don’t know about you, but I am not going through all this trouble to keep my kids safe to have a friend “share” something they found on the internet on their unprotected phone. [![You don't have to stay up al night](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_2858-300x300.jpg "Sleep Peacefully During The Slumber Party › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/got-electronic-device-kids-now-filter/img_2858/) Sleep peacefully knowing the Internet is Going to Bed When You Tell it To #### Circle sets itself apart Your Circle device captures any device that uses your WIFI signal. Every device gets filtered. No more wondering what the kids are laughing about downstairs, because you set the level of filtering. There are no limits to the number of devices it can filter. 10, 20 or 127. If you homeschool you know how devices can add up in no time. The home computer, a school computer, a couple of laptops, some Kindles, an old iPod from your cousin, everyone’s phone. 10 devices is increasingly easier to reach than I ever thought possible. You get all of these features for a one time device purchase 0f $99. No yearly re-enrollments, or price changes. No lapse in coverage or missed devices. Just one simple install and every update comes to you from the App Store just like Instagram or Candy Crush. I love knowing we are safer with Circle. [![I Love the PAUSE button.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fullsizeoutput_7f2-169x300.jpeg "fullsizeoutput_7f2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/got-electronic-device-kids-now-filter/fullsizeoutput_7f2/)Get them to the table out the door whatever just pause em and watch them come your wayNext week I will share more about Circle’s features but I wanted to let you know about it before they are all looking to you to hook them up to the internet. You can be ahead of the curve and if you order now you can save $15. [Just click this link and save](http://mbsy.co/d8Rj7). The more features you have installed when they get their devices, the less you have to police and nag about. Wishing you electronic Peace for Christmas. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Jumping into Graphic Novels With Focus On The Family {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/jumping-graphic-novels-focus-family-review/) **Published:** May 19, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Thousands of families have raised their children listening to Adventures in Odyssey. When I received [Captain Absolutely](https://www.tyndale.com/p/captain-absolutely/9781589978522) from [Focus On The Family](http://www.focusonthefamily.com/) to review, I was looking forward to introducing great characters in an action packed graphic novel format I knew my tween sons would love. [![ Captain Absolutely](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/17%20Captain%20Absolutely/1Captain%20Absolutley%20Cover_zpspzwdvs5f.jpg)](https://www.tyndale.com/p/captain-absolutely/9781589978522)I remember being introduced to [Adventures in Odyssey](https://store.focusonthefamily.com/focus-featured/adventures-in-odyssey) when I was nine years old. I was friends with a girl about my age who had a collection of cassette tapes that she could play in her room. We would listen to stories while we played and laughed along to the antics and perils of the characters. Even though it was a long time ago and the exact story lines have long faded from my memories, I remember that feeling. Being carried by a great story. Focus On The Family is a time-tested source of stories you can trust to bring life lessons, challenging themes that help form Christian character and stories that engage readers. They have been doing it since I was a kid. The beauty of Focus On The Family is that they are committed to growing and changing with the culture. Their focus is strengthening families and their core strength is providing tools for building stronger families. They have a huge children’s ministry that is vibrant, relevant and thriving. Where other producers have slid into irrelevance by failing to modernize and keep up with today’s visual culture Focus has stepped up as a producer of high quality products that appeal to kids today. We have had a subscription to [Focus On The Family’s Club House Magazine](https://store.focusonthefamily.com/media-types/magazine/clubhouse-jr-magazine) since my teens were in elementary school and we look forward to every issue. When we got our book; Captain Absolutely, in the mail the kids were excited to dig right in. Apparently, the Adventure in Odyssey characters make regular appearances in their Sunday School Materials as well so they were more familiar with the characters than I realized. They were soon jumping back and forth, filling me in with plenty of back story and details. Both of my middle school boys read the book as well as my elementary age daughters. All of them enjoyed the graphic novel design. They have started reading more graphic novels recently because they are very popular in our local library. The nice part about the books from Focus On The Family is, I never have to worry about the content. You can be assured that the story line is going to align with your family values. [Captain Absolutely](https://www.tyndale.com/p/captain-absolutely/9781589978522) and graphic novels like it are a great transition book for a struggling reader. My 8th grade son found the transition into larger chapter books very intimidating. He kept putting off reading time and resisting book suggestions. Graphic novels were one of the things that got him to decide that reading was not all bad. There are some great books out there and he discovered that reading was a fun activity that he could enjoy. [![Focus On The Family](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/17%20Captain%20Absolutely/Focus%20on%20the%20Family_zps8lyrtp1g.jpg)](http://www.focusonthefamily.com/) We will definitely be keeping an eye out for the graphic novels from [Focus On The Family](http://www.focusonthefamily.com/) in the future. We are fortunate that our local library often listens to homeschooler book recommendations. This one is going to be on our list of suggestions so more kids can have access to it. [![Captain Absolutely {Focus On The Family Review}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/captain-absolutely-focus-on-the-family-review/)[![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Teaching About Healthy Bodies and Lives Just Got a Whole Lot Easier](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-healthy-bodies-lives-just-got-whole-lot-easier/) **Published:** June 9, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [MarshMedia](https://marshmedia.com/) has been trusted to make quality healthy living videos for elementary level school children for years. Their short videos covered our needs for a whole Health Class while we reviewed their upcoming [Homeschool Special](https://marshmedia.com/pages/homeschool-offer). I was not sure what to expect, but I was pleased not only with the videos we watched, but also with the way they made their products accessible for homeschoolers. Everybody talks about health. You might not think of it that way but if you are telling your kid to go shower (AGAIN) then you are talking health. MarshMedia makes videos that reinforce these important lessons with relatable characters and age appropriate teaching. Have you ever told your kid to wash their hands, over and over? I remember one year at the State Fair we visited a display that used a black light to show how bacteria covers our unwashed hands. My daughter spent a year chronically washing her hands after that. She has returned to normal, but I learned the value of showing over saying. MarshMedia helps to reinforce lessons we are already teaching or kids by adding another layer of authority. [![Health Education Products for K-8 {MarshMedia }](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/31%20-%20MarshMedia/nutrition%20poster_zpsii1x6fxp.jpg)](https://marshmedia.com/)Need a health class credit? MarshMedia has enough material to cover a whole semester of health classes for any age. Even though the material is produced for a younger target range, the whole family could easily watch all 59 videos that are available for a fully rounded health course. Health is an expected credit on a High School transcript and using these videos would be a great way to get your hours in. Subjects include - Hygiene - Care of Skin, Hair and Nails - Facts About Head Lice - Care for Ears - Hand Washing - Teeth and Eyes All of these are simple direct overviews of good health habits every child should learn, but usually need to have reinforced. A recent example might just sound familiar to you. My 5 year old son traveled out of town with Grandma a while ago. When he had been home around four days, I asked him if he had brushed his teeth. He told me he left his tooth brush in Texas! FOUR DAYS AGO!! Needless to say, everyone can use a reminder video in their lives. [![Health Education Products for K-8 {MarshMedia }](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/31%20-%20MarshMedia/Health%20Image_zpsdmduxslv.png)](https://marshmedia.com/) Sometimes kids have hard questions and need real facts. Health is no time to get squeamish. Our kids need to know we are going to give them the facts that they need in life. If you are fielding serious health questions [MarshMedia](https://marshmedia.com/) has videos to aid you. These are made with your 3rd to 5th grader in mind. Each video we watched was mindful of their audience without being childish. Some Health Issues the are covered in this series are… - Sun Sense - Peer Pressure - Manners Matter - Good Things to Eat - Alcohol: What About It - AIDS Facts for Kids - Straight Talk About Sexual Choices & Consequences You can choose what videos you have your family watch and you can preview every single one before you choose to share them. I found that my kids had a lot more questions than I thought once we opened up discussion on nearly every subject. I am glad that we have a chance to talk openly about health and wellness before they formulate concrete ideas based on what the world at large has to say. [MarshMedia](https://marshmedia.com/) helps YOU take the wheel of the heath discussion with your family in a way that feels more natural than just pulling everyone aside for a “talk.” Check it out yourself and don’t miss their special offer to the [Homeschool Community](https://marshmedia.com/pages/homeschool-offer). [![MarshMedia Reviews](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/health-education-products-for-k-8-marshmedia-reviews/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Leading Little Hearts to Jesus with Breadcrumbs of Love](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/leading-little-hearts-jesus-breadcrumbs-love-candy/) **Published:** September 8, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As a leader of an elementary after school program and a mother of young kids, I was so glad to get to review a special Halloween Tract that could also contain a little treat. The set of 20, 3D pumpkin tracts from [Let the Little Children Come](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/) answers the greatest question of the season in the [I There Anything Better Than Candy? Box Tract](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-tools/is-there-anything-better-than-candy-box-tract). It is a great way to connect a holiday that many Christians avoid with the story of Jesus and His great love for us. This little project offers much more than the little treat you can tuck on the inside. [![Let the Little Children Come Halloween Tract](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/09%20-%20September/06%20-%20Let%20the%20Little%20Children%20Come%20Pumpkin/halloween-tract-inside_zpsojibxidh.jpg)](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-tools/is-there-anything-better-than-candy-box-tract)### **Children Need to Hear in Their Language, one where Treats and Candy= Love!** Growing up in the Church community has given me a complicated relationship with Halloween. I have had to come to my own standard for my family but as a leader of a Children’s Ministry, I know that we need to find ways to connect kids to Christ whenever we can get the opportunity. ![It will also challenge you like never before](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_1841.jpg "School is a way to knit your family in ways you never thought possible › 200 Fingers & Toes")Dont be caught unaware There are a million opportunities to direct kids to Jesus### **These Little Kits Save Time and Show You Care** Last year we cut what over 1,000 strips of paper and helped the kids assemble a pumpkin craft for our after school program. It was well received and fun to do but we were very rushed to do the project in the short time frame we have for crafts. Many of our younger students lacked the dexterity to do the project unaided and needed more help from leaders. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3053.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes")Easy to pop out and assemble for any school age child#### **Like it or not, a Halloween Track is a Huge Opportunity for Child Evangelism** When I opened the Track Box kit from Let the Little Children Come, I knew that this would be our project for this years fall activities. Many of our kiddos come from non-church attending homes. They need as many touches to hear the gospel message as possible. Halloween is a huge opportunity to share the story of Christ and His love with every little open hand that knocks at your door. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3052.jpg "Polaroid › 200 Fingers & Toes")It was not too hard for little learners to follow the picture instructions### **We can use these in our Sunday School and After School Programs as well.** To be sure I had each of my kids who were in the younger age groups follow the instructions that were printed on the track it’s self. Each of them finished it in just a short time with on troubles. The very best part is that we can tuck a little treat inside for our kids to take home. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3055.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes")Just the right size for a little treat tooThese are so reasonably price that I really hope our neighborhoods are flooded with small treat tracts like these. Never forget that the love language of children is giving and listening. I pray you do both in such a way that you lead little ones to Christ in your everyday life too. [![Is There Anything Better Than Candy? {Let The Little Children Come Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/is-there-anything-better-than-candy-let-the-little-children-come-reviews/)https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/show-love-by-giving-time/![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")[![Let the Little Children Come](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/09%20-%20September/06%20-%20Let%20the%20Little%20Children%20Come%20Pumpkin/LTLCC%20Logo%202%20Tier_zpsfgvhjahz.png)](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool, projects **Tags:** Children's Ministry, Evangelism, Halloween, Tract --- ### [Looking for a Great Tool to Get Your Kids Ready for Learning Online {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/looking-great-tool-get-kids-ready-learning-online-review/) **Published:** June 8, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Now that it is summer time, I have time to give my little ones a little guided computer time of their own. We are using [K5 Learning](http://www.k5learning.com?k5ref=www.200fingersandtoes.com) as a an online program to fill their down time in the mornings and they are loving it. [![K5 Learning](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/06%20-%20K5%20Learning/group%20picture%20K5%20Logo_zpsgbh6zmy4.gif)](http://www.k5learning.com/what-is-k5)#### Electronics are Still a Powerful Learning Tool Back before apps and Kindles we had just one PC in the house. I usually did graphic design work on it and the basic house hold bills and at night played the game Caesar while I waited for my husband to get home. (Like, obsessively. I would set the timer to tell me to go play just like I do with my kids now.) As the kids, great they wanted to play as well. We purchased a few CD ROM games and watch with wonder as our four-year-old navigated to mouse with ease. Now, I have seen a two-year-old handle a phone with a little more ease than I am comfortable with. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_0414-1024x1024.jpg "Get ready for learning › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/looking-great-tool-get-kids-ready-learning-online-review/pew-pew-100-6/)Is your little guy ready to start getting on the computer like the little ones K5 can help you ease the transition this summer#### You Don’t Have to Give in to the Full Electronic Lifestyle to Benefit From K5 Learning To balance responsibility and learning we have tried our best to keep the little ones away from electronics for as long as possible. Now that they are school age they want to have some of the same fun learning tools that the big kids have on the computer. This summer we started with K5 Learning and couldn’t be happier with the innocent nature and simplified organization. It has made it easy to use and fun for my 5, 7, 8 and 9-year-old. Being on the computer has made it easy to set our learning time apart and be intentional about our computer time. K5 is a great tool if want to avoid the electronics craze but still want to have your little guys use the computer like the big kids. Instead of the disk based programs of old, K5 is housed online and is always adding new materials so you don’t have to worry about your kids getting bored with the same themes over and over. The game style learning is engaging but not overwhelming. There is no maddening theme music or annoying characters to leave you cringing. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/K5.ScreenShot.Math_.tiff "K5.ScreenShot.Math › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/looking-great-tool-get-kids-ready-learning-online-review/k5-screenshot-math/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/K5.ScreenShot.Reading.tiff "K5.ScreenShot.Reading › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/looking-great-tool-get-kids-ready-learning-online-review/k5-screenshot-reading/) #### Use K5 Learning for the Amount of Time You Want It The online housed program is subscription based. Two great things about that are, you can use it as just a summer supplement and keep your kids learning all summer long and each subscription can be used for up to four members of the household. This is great for a family like mine where paying per child can make many popular programs unaffordable and sharing an account as a family makes learning inconsistent. K5 Learning covers eight subject areas. In K5 Reading for my younger students the kids focus on reading skills and identifying sight words. For these little ones, the activities are more fill in the blank type questions. The computer will read all of the words to them so they do not have to be reading to get the most out of the program. It is actually a great beginning tool for a pre-reader. You can click the link below and get a free sample of all of the subjects and if you are interested K5 even offers a free placement test so your child can be working exactly where the need to be. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/button-banner-600x125-white-bg.gif "button-banner-600x125-white-bg › 200 Fingers & Toes")](http://www.k5learning.com/sample-lessons?k5ref=www.200fingersandtoes.com) #### This is a Great Supplement for the Summer Season for All of Your Elementary Students Older kids are reading whole paragraphs and answering questions about the content for comprehension checks. Math and spelling skill builders have fun age based learning games that are easy to negotiate and build on skill with every lesson for great retention and excelled mastery. The lessons cover a broad range of subjects including [money and time](http://www.k5learning.com/sample-grade-1-measurement2?k5ref=www.200fingersandtoes.com), fractions and introduction to geography. The opportunity to learn a great deal this summer is literally at your keyboard. [![K5 Learning](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/06%20-%20K5%20Learning/K5%20Learning%20Logo_zpslp0fwhbk.png)](http://www.k5learning.com/)End this summer ahead of the game and plan on skipping the review portion of all of your textbooks next school year by using [K5 Learning](http://www.k5learning.com?k5ref=www.200fingersandtoes.com) over the summer. How is that for saving time? Want to learn a little more? Check out K5 Learning on Twitter-[@k5learning](https://twitter.com/K5Learning), Facebook-[@K5Learning](https://www.facebook.com/k5learning) and Pinterest-[@k5learning](https://www.pinterest.com/k5learning/) and see what they are up to all year long. While you are at it don’t forget to like our Facebook page for more great reviews and homeschool helps [@200fingersandtoes](https://www.facebook.com/200fingersandtoes/?pnref=lhc) [![K5 Learning {Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/k5-learning-reviews/)[![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/)SaveSaveSaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Lesson Planning Than Covers Your Whole Planet From Homeschool Planet {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/lesson-planning-covers-whole-planet-homeschool-planet-review/) **Published:** June 23, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* No matter how organized you are there comes a time in life when there are just too many things to keep track of. As a homeschooling Mother of 10, part time blogger/freelance writer and baseball/ballet/piano mom, I am using [Homeschool Planet](https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-planet-free-trial/) from [Homeschool Buyers Co-op](https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/) as my master calendar to help take charge of my life. [![Homechool Planet](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/21%20-%20Homeschool%20Buyers%20Co-op/Homeschool%20Planet%20Logo_zpskpsfxaxy.png)](https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-planet-free-trial/) Homeschool Planet is the newest resource offered by the Homeschool Buyers Co-op. It is THE scheduling program to cover your work, home, and homeschool life all in one place. This works great for a person like me who has many outside activities that tie back-and-forth with our homeschooling life. Often it would be great to see everything for every person in one place. I have tried coordinating my Google calendar to connect my family’s schedules but, it seems like events always fall through the grid and get missed. With Homeschool Planet all of us are represented on one calendar yet, with their filtering option I can look at each and every individual. The makes it easier to plan for their courses and activities individually and then compare it with our entire family schedule. [![Homeschool Planet](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/21%20-%20Homeschool%20Buyers%20Co-op/Hoomeschool%20Planet_zpszqhibhbz.jpg)](https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-planet-free-trial/)Years ago I used a program on my computer that scheduled all of our homeschool curriculum. I loved using it and was really disappointed when the program was no longer available to update. Homeschool Planet has all the great features I loved plus many more. We have the ability to move our lessons forward if we miss a day of school or have an appointment with the ease of a click of a button. I also have the ability to add new subjects had any time to any child throughout the school year. The program can schedule the whole school year through with a few setting. I can leave these vaguely general by saying do one lesson a day or I can fill all of the information for the book that we are currently doing and have a specific lesson by lesson for page by page schedule if I wanted. In the past I have avoided being this detailed because our days change. If we lose a week to sickness or vacations everything I did I would be lost but, with Homeschool Planet all I need to do is bump that activity forward to the next available date that I desire to be in on. I can even print out the schedule weekly or daily for the group of students or an individual child to keep them on track and accountable. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/homeschool-planet-subjects.tiff "homeschool planet subjects › 200 Fingers & Toes") Better yet homeschool planet has dozens of ready to use ready to go schedules for programs and curriculums I already use at home. To the end of June (2017) they are offering [a free month trial of homeschool planet](http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-planet-free-trial/?source=taf-gb) AND the ability to download a FREE Lesson Plan of your choice. We chose to download the Rosetta Stone schedule. This will help up keep track of everyones progress a lot better than we have been. Every lesson is broken into time frames week by week. I love never having to guess if my kids are keeping on task or staying on pace. A clear schedule does just that. I will also be purchasing a Life of Fred Lesson Plan. I bought the books last year but found out that I do not work well without a schedule. I am hoping that having a schedule will really help us love the curriculum we have already bought a whole lot more. I hate wasting money. Sometimes a small tweak like a clear schedule is all we need to start loving a product we were having trouble with before. I like being smart with my dollars and I bet you do to. #### **Get the discounts your family needs to use great products you will love** Homeschool Buyers Co-op has been a trusted name in homeschooling for decades. They were the first to really start offering homeschoolers the same bulk purchasing power that the public schools have access to. A membership with them is free and guarantees the deepest discounts on all of the highest quality programs and learning tools. You also earn points on every purchase, and you can redeem your accumulated points for real teaching materials. If is great for people like me who are always helping people find resources that fit their family. Even sharing your favorite programs will earn your purchasing points. When is the last time your favorite store offered you free products because you told your girlfriend where they sell the cutest boots or dresses. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/homeschool-co-op.tiff "homeschool co-op makes your budget stretch › 200 Fingers & Toes") Right now they are featuring discounts on programs I would like to try like; 60% off of [Discovery Education’s Streaming Plus](https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/discovery-education-streaming-plus/?source=252419) and programs we already use like 30% off of [CompuScholar](https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/compuscholar/?source=252419) and 39% off of Rosetta Stone with FREE shipping and bonus points. Do you use [Wordly Wise](https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/wordly-wise-3000-online/?source=252419) Online? Homeschool Buyers Co-op is able to give members an 89% discount. How is the for saving your homeschool budget. Check out how other families are using Homeschool Planet and Homeschool Buyers Co-op in the link below. [![Homeschool Planet {Homeschool Buyers Co-op Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/homeschool-planet-homeschool-buyers-co-op-reviews/) ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Take You Child's Interest in Flight From Hobby to Expert with Dr. Aviation {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/take-you-child-interest-in-flight-from-hobby-to-expert-with-dr-aviation-review/) **Published:** July 20, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Round out your transcript with a [high school elective](https://www.doctoraviation.com/) that the whole family will really enjoy with [Dr. Aviation](https://www.doctoraviation.com/). Our district requires 50 credits; of which 25 are elective hours, to graduate. Though we are not bound to the districts requirements, I do want our kids to experience the electives they might not have time to explore when they hit college. [![Doctor Aviation](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/07%20-%20July/18%20-%20Doctor%20Aviation/Doctor%20Aviation%20Logo_zpslkv44u3k.jpg)](https://www.doctoraviation.com/)Electives are a great way to go in depth on a subject outside of your core studies. I have found that electives have a higher chance of being completed when they are high quality and are combined with our children's interests. When I heard about the aviation course with Dr. Aviation, I was immediately interested because our family is interested in aviation history and [aviation online training videos](https://www.doctoraviation.com/about/) , but had tons left to explore. My oldest had an old Army Field Identification Handbook that he would pour over for hours as a little guy. Each page had a silhouette of the shape of each aircraft from the ground and a highlight of identifying markers. He learned the names of nearly every plane in the book and has a knowledge of the history of flight that even surprised me. As for our younger ones, our local pilots put on an event every year to introduce kids to aviation by offering free plane rides to local students. For many of the local kids it is the only flight they might ever take. I was not sure what my kids would think as we arrived. I was not surprised one bit that my seven year old was first in line for the little two seater prop plane. Every child ended up in the sky that day and they were amazed. One flight was all it took for them to love airplanes. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_3645.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_3645.jpg) I previewed the [course](https://www.doctoraviation.com/about/) with my teen for this review. I wanted to learn more about the technical aspects of the cockpit and instrumentation used to fly. I knew my older teens loved planes for different reasons. My son has always been interested and my daughter has a new friend who’s father is a pilot and has flown often. This made it a great time to take an elective course for school credit that captured their interests, that was still fun and interesting. The course is hosted by Daryl Smith; as Dr. Aviation, who server as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and was an instructor at the United States Air Force Academy. His professional knowledge shines through in every lesson. This course is an in depth view of each area of aviation knowledge covered. Each segment is broken into 3 segments •Technical Trivia •Notable Innovators • Legendary Aircraft & Events I was sure to print the PDF Guide Notes for each section. They were very helpful as you listened and followed along. I found myself referring back to them often and was glad I had filled in the blanks. This is also great if you are trying to build a portfolio of work for the end of the school year. The Guide Pages would serve as a professional representation of the work your child covered during the course. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_2652-1.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_2652-1.jpg) I learn best with video because I am a auditory/visual learner. I find that I relate and retain information best through stories, so I loved the Notable Innovators segment. My son loved the Legendary Aircraft & Events because he could add to his list of Aviation knowledge. At the conclusion of each of the 15 video sessions there are action steps to follow as well as additional resources to help you do research on your own to learn more. You can watch more than one lesson at a sitting or you can do one a week and really go in depth. We did a little of both since it is summer. I watched a few videos in the morning while everyone was sleeping so I could really listen. The whole family could gather together to watch and learn if you have a smart TV. We have begun doing this more and more for online courses that are designed for more than one student. If your kids are going to watch TV, you might as well sneak in as much learning as possible. Our goal is to get back to our air field and see some of the things we have learned about in the series. We will be ready for next year's flying event and can test our knowledge with the awesome team of pilot volunteers. Until then I am going to finish up lesson six and learn how to fly when you cant see to world outside the cockpit window. Want to learn more? Check out Dr. Aviation on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/doctoraviation) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/draviationguy) and as always read a few more of the reviews in the link below to find out how other families are using [Dr. Aviation](https://www.doctoraviation.com/) to earn merit badges and class room credit themselves. [![Aviation Course {Doctor Aviation Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/aviation-course-doctor-aviation-reviews/) [![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Get You Littles Back Into Reading with Enthusiasm {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-you-littles-back-into-reading-with-enthusiasm-review/) **Published:** July 27, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Summer has a way of killing your good intentions, it was time to get back to work. We found a way to creep up our summer reading with the [R.E.A.D Review Pack](https://craftyclassroom.com/product/r-e-a-d-review-pack/) from [The Crafty Classroom](http://thecraftyclassroom.com/) and we all are loving it. [![Review Pack READ](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/07%20-%20July/25%20-%20Crafty%20Classroom/READReviewProduct_zpscdcsunw9.png)](https://craftyclassroom.com/product/r-e-a-d-review-pack/)### Jumping Back into the School Year All three of my little ones were reading at the end of the last school year, but with the business of the summer baseball schedule, all of my plans for educating the kids sizzled out like garden lettuce. Summer is for taking a break so I was not all that worried. I did however, want to start getting back in the swing of things before school was officially upon us. When I was offered the chance to review the R.E.A.D. Review Pack, I knew that this was exactly the tool we needed to get back into the swing of school without feeling like we were jumping ALL in just yet. Let’s face it NONE of us are ready for that yet. ![Boo](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2728.jpg "Fun printable readers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Keep It Fun These books are irresistibly cute. Each story has friendly illustrations and are appealing for both girls and boys. I introduced the books to the kids on a day that we were planing on playing outside with chalk and bubbles. We made letters with chalk and wrote our names. Making letter play is a part of what we try to do to keep school fun for the little ones. Writing in the sand outside of a pan of salt is a great way to practice letter skills and still play. Not to mention I hate to waste paper. I avoid using paper as much as possible because with 10 kids you can imagine what a mess of trees we could take out every year. ### Keep It Simple You could make these your beginning reader curriculum if you wanted to add the [teaching notebook](https://craftyclassroom.com/product/r-e-a-d-curriculum-notebook/) but we are seeing it simple. Reading each new book as we see fit. I print a few off each week and give them to the kids. You can use the schedule provided and your weeks would look like this. ![READ schedule](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/READ-schedule.jpeg "READ schedule › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Getting Ready… [Set up is easy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9P-NJPtzO0). The Crafty Classroom also hates wasting paper so they created their books to be waste free. Each book Prints on three pages of paper. The pages stack together and you simply cut in the dotted lines. Three cuts and two staples later, you and your kiddo are snuggled on the couch ready to read. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2730-150x150.jpg "Boo › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-you-littles-back-into-reading-with-enthusiasm-review/boo-3/) Easy Set Up [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2729-150x150.jpg "Boo › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-you-littles-back-into-reading-with-enthusiasm-review/boo-2/) Getting Back Into the Reading Habit ### Get Set… We use the book three ways because we have three kinds of readers in our house. With my older daughter, I just print and turn the books over to her. These are simple review, enough to keep it light and be read anywhere unassisted. For my seven year-old, beginning reader, we look over the new words in the story and practice them with each new story. She can then read all of the new words and review the new word family that this book focuses on. She then is excited to read them over and over on her own. Even if she forgets a few of the words, the majority of the words are sight words that she is learning to recognize. That means she will be ready for those tricky words when we go back to her reading lessons. With my youngest, who is five, we share the words in the word box and sound them out together, then we read the whole story to him a few times pointing out the words from the Word Family and Sight Word box. ![Boo](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2731.jpg "Boo › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### GO… We pack a few of these books for the car and take them wherever we go. They are inexpensive enough that we can afford for them to get worn out or forgotten because we can just print a new one. ![Boo](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2732.jpg "Basic Skill can hold a smart student back from their potential › 200 Fingers & Toes") We printed a batch of new books for our recent trip to Texas. Next time I will throw a few markers in the box as well and encourage the kids to trace the words and to color the pictures. This would really help them with sight word recognition as well as make their engaged time a little longer for the LONG car ride. [![Crafty Classroom](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/07%20-%20July/25%20-%20Crafty%20Classroom/eStoreHeader_zpsqxlkfe7l.jpg)](http://thecraftyclassroom.com/)I was just looking at [The Crafty ClassRoom’s](http://thecraftyclassroom.com/) other offerings, like [BIBLE](https://craftyclassroom.com/product/bible-abc-letter-of-the-week/) and [ABC’s](https://craftyclassroom.com/product/letter-of-the-week-curriculum-binder/). I really like the simplified approach, clean pages, ease of use and the price is right for the time span of use. [![Crafty Classroom {Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/crafty-classroom-reviews/)The best part is that with a digital download I can print new ones anytime we want to. Check them out on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/The-Crafty-Classroom-121821161222656/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thecraftyclassroom/) and [Pinterest.](https://www.pinterest.com/craftyclassroom/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Brush Up on Math Quickly and Advance in Life](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/brush-math-quickly-advance-life/) **Published:** July 12, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* There comes a time in all of our lives when our unused elementary math skill set is just not going to be enough to carry us. This is when you need a copy of [Math Refresher for Adults](https://www.mathessentials.net/product-page/math-refresher-for-adults) from [Math Essentials](https://www.mathessentials.net/). Whether you are transitioning to high school level work with your homeschool students themselves, or a member of your family is preparing to enter the workforce in a new career, basic high school math skills might be the difference between success and failure. [![Math Refresher for Adults](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Math-Refresher-for-Adults.jpg)](https://www.mathessentials.net/product-page/math-refresher-for-adults)## The Refresher You Are Looking For A few years back I determined to go through my kids Algebra book. I was not a great student, math was an area I avoided. We were muddling through, but I knew that we would have much better success in our class time if I had a more solid grasp on the concepts we were covering. The problem is; I am not a kid. I don’t have time for a full length math class. I still wanted a way to find out where the gaps in my knowledge were. This is where [Math Refresher for Adults](https://www.mathessentials.net/product-page/math-refresher-for-adults) is awesome. It walks you through every concept a big math text book would, but in a single page spread. Refresh yourself quickly and get right to the stumpers. ![Work on Speed and Accuracy](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IMG_1694-1024x1024.jpg "Start at The Beginning › 200 Fingers & Toes")There is nothing wrong with working from the begining to cover all your bases ## You Will Touch on All Levels of Math Skills The book literally begins with multi-digit addition and subtraction. Don’t laugh, the biggest problems I run are in my checkbook and we aren’t working with very many digits over here. If I am about to take the test for my future career or a degree, I am going to want to touch on all of the rusty places. ## Skip Right to Your Trouble Spots When I hit a part I was not sure about it was time to watch the Video Tutorial. There is one available for every lesson in their other books, including bonus ones for advanced algebra. The access details are right in the beginning of the book. Since we are on the early review team, the videos for Refresher for Adults aren’t up yet so, I checked out cooresponding videos from the high school books on the same subject. A quick tutorial was all I needed to be reminded of the facts I needed to complete the assignment. Formulas are provided in the lessons with samples. ![Need to Get Your Math Skills Up To Scratch?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IMG_1692-1024x1024.jpg "Review and Work a Little Each Day › 200 Fingers & Toes")Learning in bites is the pace that fits my life Math Refresher for Adults provides the structure I need to catch up in my own time ## Bonus Material I Can Use The Appendix is full of math helps that are almost all of the things I have Googled over the last two school years. There is a full Math Resource Center and Glossary of terms. Symbols are defined and tables with helpful quick recall answers, like square roots and equivalent fractions. No more searching for a page I can print from the web, they are right in the back of the book. Who Needs This? - Anyone who is convinced that they a stupid and hate math – You aren’t and you probably don’t. - Homeschool Mom whose husband promised to teach math and…life stuff…your it! - Your High School grad decides he wants to play baseball in college after all and needs to take the SAT with ZERO prep time. - You want to add on to your degree and need to take a placement test and would like to skip more Math in community college - Anyone who needs to sharpen their math skills (that is all of us, except my non-math teaching husband) - If you are taking the PRAXIS test or any other test that covers math ![Math is Not a Subject to Be Feared](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IMG_1691-1024x1024.jpg "Don't Be Intimidated By Math › 200 Fingers & Toes")We are adults it is time to lay aside our fears and our high school beliefsWhat is Covered? - General Math - Geometry - Problem Solving (math related only, not how to get kids to do dishes) - Pre-Algebra - Algebra - Also the definition for numerator and denominator (which I look up every three weeks) As always use the link below to see how other families are using Math Refresher for Adults in their life and if you have any questions drop me a comment and I will answer you with what I know! Have a great day and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself with higher level Math. [![Math Refresher for Adults {Math Essentials}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Math-Essentials-Read-the-Crew-Reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/math-refresher-for-adults-math-essentials/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Adult Education, Algebra, General Math, Homeschool, Math, Math Skills, Pre-Algebra --- ### [Teaching Tools that Lead You in Complete Language Arts & Grammar](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/teaching-tools-lead-complete-language-arts-grammar/) **Published:** June 27, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This is the time of year for planning out the tools you want to use for the next school year. I have seen a few families asking for a more [complete homeschool grammar](http://www.hakepublishing.com/), and this [Hake/Saxon Grammar and Writing 3](http://www.hakepublishing.com/grammar-and-writing.html) I just reviewed, is a set that delivers. I was planning on reordering a workbook I had used with the older kids, but [Hake Publishing](http://www.hakepublishing.com/) excelled couple of ways that I will share more about. I like it because it has a workbook feel with more teaching support and better review that what I have used before. Are you unsure if you are covering everything you need to cover? Would you like a strong one-year overview? Are you pulling a struggling student off of another program that has not been working? Then read on… [![Hake Publishing Writing and Grammar](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Hake-Grammar-and-Writing-3-Homeschool-Set.jpg)](http://www.hakepublishing.com/grammar-and-writing.html)## Hake Offers Clarity and Simplicity There is a literal one-page, 146 day checklist schedule for you to follow. It can not be more simple. If the theme is simple it doesn’t stop at the schedule. The first page begins with a teacher Script for Grammar Meetings. You meet together at the beginning of every lesson to work on listening skills, new vocabulary and cover skills taught in the lesson. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/F6F64822-5020-4BF4-85B3-AB027C66D7D9-1024x1024.jpeg "Scheduling I Can Follow › 200 Fingers & Toes")Let not be complicated school happens early enough## Simple Application and Immediate Forward Motion I have to be honest, two years ago I bought a curriculum that was supposed to be simple. I couldn’t get past the schedule page. Could not wrap my brain around the multiple options and ways to combine kids and days. With Hake, all you have to do is systematically follow each lesson in order, and you can teach from the script. ## End to End Structure For confidence that your student is ready for upper elementary LA and writing, all you need to do is make sure they have completed every assignment in the practice and review sets. Hake has it ready for you to hand the tools to your kids. This is why Saxon and many schools use Hake as their curriculum choice to teach Grammar and Writing in the upper levels. Hake is offering this 3rd grade Homeschool Grammar from them direct. The upper levels can be ordered through ChristianBook or RainbowResource and you can read more about that [here](http://www.hakepublishing.com/homeschool-orders.html). ## What’s Included The Set Includes… A Soft Cover NON-Consumable Teacher Guide with Answer Key and Tests One Consumable Student Text Book A Smaller Consumable Writing Workbook ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/C608CAD1-584C-4A6C-890A-C920EC078207-1024x1024.jpeg "New Readers are the Best › 200 Fingers & Toes")Help your Kids Fall in Love With Reading Above All ElseThis girl is reading like crazy and so ready to jump into this Grammar Workbook. Third Grade is the perfect time to begin adding deeper writing instruction. Make sure your kid falls in love with reading first. Do whatever it takes to make them love books! Then teach them how to write their own great stories! ## May I speak truthfully about workbooks? I have a large family. I have spent years scrimping and saving just to be able to homeschool. There were years we worked out of the textbook and wrote our answers in a notebook. When it was allowed, I made copies of worksheets and printed them myself. After years of struggling with paper organization and printing cost and delays, I can say with confidence; buy the Workbooks! Don’t even hesitate. It will likely cost you more in ink and paper. We often have to reprint a page that didn’t get put in the binder or got “lost.” Workbooks make it easy for your child to work independently. No waiting on you for their paper for the day. (Huge Homeschool Lesson Right Here: Most of the time I am the problem) They can open the workbook and see right where they let off and where they need to begin. My cheapness was totally misdirected. It cost me, cash and brain matter to NOT buy workbooks. ## What Does a Live Lesson Look Like? Every day you have your Grammar Meeting and cover a vocabulary builder. In the Lessons we did, these were Latin root words, their meaning and samples or words using that root in a sentence. I am a word geek so this is a feature I love. I am also a questioner, and can spell more successfully when I know “WHY” a word is structured differently, so Latin has always been a component of our homeschool. Here are examples of one Lesson from the Student Text and the Teaching Text. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/D78F5B80-8C6E-448B-9417-BE88BE0091EF-1024x1024.jpeg "Grammar and Writing from Hake Publishing › 200 Fingers & Toes")Get a firm foundation and streamline your LA teaching![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/93EA3669-85DA-4168-841F-9B5E550360DC-1024x1024.jpeg "Flutter › 200 Fingers & Toes")A Solid Teaching Guide that wont leave you guessing## In the Student Lesson Pages… Each teaching is further reinforced by a set of Example Questions and their Solutions. This is a great confidence builder and learning gauge for our kids. If they solve these well, we know that they are ready for the set of Practice Questions which allow them to use the Grammar skill they just learned in the lesson. ## Each Lesson also has a Review Set of Questions These ensure that your kids retain what they covered in previous lessons. This is feature I especially appreciated. There is a Homeschool Grammar workbook I have used in the past that teaches the lessons very well, but it is one new concept after another. I found that the kids were not retaining the information they covered as well as I had liked. The Review Questions in Hake Publishing’s Grammar and Writing eliminates that issue with this review portion. ## Overall the lessons are clear and direct Kids are easily distracted and confused when using a program for the first time. The print is large and the pages are uncluttered. I had a workbook a few years back that had lines that were too small for almost every answer. My kids developed a complex about their handwriting; from their writing book. Hake has ease of use down and the questions are at the appropriate minimum to keep your kids from feeling overwhelmed, yet enough to ensure mastery of each new concept. ## Tests are a part of the program This makes grading simple if you live in a State that requires you to keep complete records or if you feel like this helps you evaluate your child’s mastery. On test days we are scheduled to work in the Writing Workbook, combining what we have learned into active writing skills. Again it is all in the one page schedule at the front of the book. The writing assignments are at the perfect level for a confident young reader. It is also easy to modify if your child is not quite writing well yet. In third grade I have had both types of students. Writing is about using proper structure to support creativity. The assignment are very simple and short. Remember this is for a first timer. Don’t let the cover scare you. As a former homeschool kid, I hated Saxon Math, when I saw the cover to this book I was a little bit hesitant. We are not text book users in our homeschool, so these were both reasons I was interested to get into this and review it. It is a perfect book to jump into grammar teaching with. Structured like a workbook, but with more teaching support. You get flexibility and the structure you need to teach homeschool grammar through the whole year and stay on task. As always check out how other families are using Hake/Saxon Grammar and Writing 3 in the link below. [![Hake/Saxon Grammar and Writing 3 {Hake Publishing Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/hakesaxon-grammar-and-writing-3-hake-publishing-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Grammar Book, Grammar Textbook, Homeschool, Homeschool grammar curriculum, Homeschool Grammar Program, Homeschool LA, homeschool Language Arts --- ### [Holiday History Rich with Meaning & Relevance from Silverdale {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/holiday-history-rich-with-meaning-relevance-from-silverdale-review/) **Published:** June 21, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I love homeschooling and all of the benefits that it gives us, but if there is one drawback is that we miss focusing on the different holidays throughout the year. I was excited to review the [Silverdale Press LLC](https://www.silverdalepress.com/) [White House Holiday Unit](https://www.silverdalepress.com/white-house-holidays-unit-studies.html) Studies in order to see the background to some of the holidays that have simply become a day off of school or more likely, a day that I’m sitting at a bank window that’s not open. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/White-House-Holidays-Unit-Study-Labor-Day-200x300.jpg "White-House-Holidays-Unit-Study-Labor-Day › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Material That is Worth the Investment When I first downloaded the PDF files of the separate studies: Valentine’s Day, Labor day, Vetrans Day, Thanksgiving, MLK Day and Christmas, I was completely impressed with the volume of information and the lenght of work that went into these individual studies. These are not throw away PDF files these are definitely worthy of printing out and comb binding, and making them a well structured unit study for your students. There are a lot of pictures and scans of documents to support the lessons. ![LaborDay.Silverdale](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LaborDay.Silverdale-282x300.jpeg "LaborDay.Silverdale › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## A Unit Study for All of You or One Alone Since we have multiple holidays and several students to work with, we went through the materials in a less than systematic fashion. I let my elementary age kids read through the lesson of their choice and share with others what they thought. In doing this we got a really good overview. I would definitely say that this is for upper elementary if you plan on handing this unit study to a student to use independently. The material was suitable for lower elementary students as well great to use with the whole family. I will likely pull out the individual lessons over each of the independent holidays throughout the year. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/discussionQ.Silverdale-298x300.jpeg "discussionQ.Silverdale › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Unit Studies Bring Clarity and Depth to Subjects We have studied a great deal of history yet, I have never really been clear of the difference between Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. Now I can answer with clarity about each and everyone. We did the Labor Day Unit in full. I was amazed that we were going through this time in history because, it is extremely relevant to the immigration crisis we are experiencing in the news right now. ## Relevant for Today’s Issues It sparked a good deal of discussion about how similar the concerns were for children and the dangers of cheap labor. One topic was that the danger of expliotation of low wage workers and children. We were able to talk about why we have laws to protect people that seem cruel, but are rooted in reason. It was relevant and engaging. I would recommend it for this time in history. ## Thought Provoking Questions I love deep discussion questions after each unit that really get your kids away that is totally different than any other unit study I have done. The questions are very open ended and allow your child to do some serious thinking. #### Open Ended Questions Like… What would you ask Mrs. Roosevelt if you had the opportunity to talk to her about the labor laws? What do you think about these workers by looking at their apartment? Would you want to live in their apartment? I found these questions really engaging. These aren all the simple hunt-and-find or the **bold** word, vocabulary definition type approach that I have seen in many studies before. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/White-House-Holidays-Unit-Study-Valentines-Day-232x300.jpg "White-House-Holidays-Unit-Study-Valentines-Day › 200 Fingers & Toes") I Might Have Read This in One Sitting The Valentines Day Unit was full of sweetness. Who was married in the White House? Several presidential kids and a few presidents themselves. Love notes from Ronald and Nancy Regan, Abagail and Jon Adams and more. I was suprised that I quickly read through the whole unit myself in no time at all. It was that interesting. I hope your kids are as easily captured by history and interesting facts surrounding our National Holidays. Even though we review a lot of material, there are a select few vendors that I have chosen to incorporate into our regular permanent homeschool collections. I am positive that these unit studies from [Silverdale Press LLC](https://www.silverdalepress.com/) and any others they have that coordinate with subjects we are covering are going to be ones that I would likely purchase for my own kids. The only downside is the cost of color printing but you could always print in black-and-white to save the expense as well. Studying as a family makes these affordable and more fun, too. As always, feel free to see Silverdale Press LLCs other teaching tools and reviews from families that also reviewed the White House Holidays Unit Study in the link below. [![Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers & White House Holidays Unit Studies {Silverdale Press LLC Reviews}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Silverdale-Press-Homeschool-Reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/persuasive-writing-classical-rhetoric-practicing-the-habits-of-great-writers-white-house-holidays-unit-studies-silverdale-press-llc-reviews/)Check them out your favorite social media as well for updates and more… Facebook: Tag: @SilverdalePress Twitter: Tag: @SilverdalePress Pinterest: ![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Elementary History, Silverdale Press LLC, Unit Study --- ### [Mommy, What if You Die? {Discussion Book Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mommy-what-if-you-die-discussion-book-review/) **Published:** May 11, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The other day we were running errands. It was a busy day and our schedule was full. As we unloaded from the car and headed towards one of our many stops, my nine-year-old daughter slipped her little hand it to mine and said, “Mama, sometimes I worry [what happens if you die](http://kaylajarmon.com/). I will be so sad.” [![Discussion Book Series and A Boy and His Dog by Kayla Jarmon](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Kayla-Jarmon-Books-Discussion-series-and-A-Boy-and-His-Dog.png)](http://kaylajarmon.com/)This led to a beautiful conversation about the fact that we are all slowly dying. When we got home I was able to share with her the sweet book written by Kayla Jarmon, called [Dying is Part of This World](http://kaylajarmon.com/books/). This book was written answer to that very question when posed by her own child. Kayla wrote this book to help assuage her daughter’s fears and explain the valuable truth in the gospel message. ## This World is Not Our Final Home This world is not our home and we were created for an eternal purpose. While life in this world seems like the entirety of our scope; Karla gives a great perspective through her illustrations. In the story she shares how although we do not remember life in the womb, we experienced it and could not imagine what life in this world would be like. She likens the joy of finding the love our parents happily awaiting our arrival and the relationships we built here on this earth to the coming joy we will one day feel when we meet the one who created us. There is a God who loved us before we were knit together in our parents womb. ![Dying is Part of This World Cover-01](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Dying-is-Part-of-This-World-Cover-01.jpg "Dying is Part of This World Cover-01 › 200 Fingers & Toes") This book is an honest discussion and life and death. A hope filled story because it is one that has an honest open discussion regarding the promise of eternity. It is a story about death that includes the details about our uniqueness and a loving Creator who desires to meet us one day. ## Books for a Child’s Great Joys & Fears Kayla is a wife mother and author with many other talents. She has writer several books for children. We were able to also review her book “[A Boy and His Dog](http://kaylajarmon.com/books/)” which is a sweet reminder of the blessing a pets can be and how their unending love and support is a true gift in childhood. ![A Boy and His Dog Cover-01](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/A-Boy-and-His-Dog-Cover-01.jpg "A Boy and His Dog Cover-01 › 200 Fingers & Toes") I also really enjoyed her book, “[Don’t Forget Me](http://kaylajarmon.com/books/).” A beautiful story illustrating a child’s preparation for the world beginning at a single cell, and growing in its mother’s womb. The baby is being reminded the Holy Father‘s love is for him with the admonition to “Remember, I am here.” The yet-to-be-born child can’t imagine why it would need to be reminded so often. As I adult reader, I know all too well why we need to be reminded so often. It is a sweet story about God‘s great love for us; before we were ever even know by our parents. ![Don't Forget Me Cover-01](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Dont-Forget-Me-Cover-01.jpg "Don't Forget Me Cover-01 › 200 Fingers & Toes") I understand that Kayla’s books will soon be ready in audio format. I have found that children are great listeners and often think of questions when material comes to them from a different angle, format or reader. The beauty of an audio format is that you can pause at any moment and have a discussion. You can also wait for the end of the chapter where Kayla has appropriate scripture references and discussion questions to help your child verbalize their feelings and thoughts as you work through the story. If you are dealing with death, preparing for the death of a loved one, or if your child has expressed the same natural concerns like my daughter has, this is gentle hope filled message about the truth of the gospel and of greater purpose, which is eternal. You can find more about Kayla on your favorite social channel as well as clicking the link below to read other reviews of her books. - Facebook: - Twitter: - Instagram: [![Discussion Book Series and A Boy and His Dog {Kayla Jarmon Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/discussion-book-series-and-a-boy-and-his-dog-kayla-jarmon-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Navigating Language Arts with a Solid Guide](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/navigating-language-arts-solid-guide/) **Published:** May 24, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Here at ***The Book House*** we love literature oriented curriculum and I am always glad to discover different approaches to teaching Language Arts. Recently, I was able to review [Home School Navigators Reading and Language Arts Curriculum ](http://www.homeschoolnavigator.com/)with several of my kids. ![](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Homeschool-Navigation-Product-Image.jpg) This is an online subscription-based program that uses a combination of physical books, video teaching, printable worksheets, creative writing prompts, poetry and more. It might sound like a lot, but the program is well thought out, streamlined and neatly organized. The first thing that appealed to me was the simplified and easy to understand at a glance Teaching Guide. ## Teach at a Glance, Plan Weeks Ahead Tasks are broken down to make teaching as simple as possible. I love the heading of the guide pages; **Month 1 – Week 2 – Day 4**. You never have to guess what to do today because the tasks are literally numbered for you to complete in order. Need a quick overview? You have a nine month, one page calendar, breaking down month-to-month, exactly what you will be covering for the school year. Subjects you will cover over the year in this comprehensive Language Arts Program are… - Literature and Composition - Reading Skills and Strategy - Writing Skills - Grammar - Phonics - Word Study and Vocabulary - Handwriting ## Stream Lined Teaching with a Mix of Books & Multimedia I signed up four students and at first was afraid I had been overly ambitious. Because the program is literature based, I expected as a committed full time user I would want to purchase the books we were scheduled to read. However, since we were reviewing just the first month or so, I was hesitant to incur the added expense of purchasing physical books for four students. It turned out that it was not a problem. ![Navigator Schedule at a 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) The books for levels Red and Orange were often familiar and available at the library. Books like “The Mitten,” The Gingerbread Man,” and “The Little Red Hen.” Fortunately, for myself and as a bonus to the users, many of the books for the younger age levels are read aloud in video format. Several books could also be found being read aloud read on YouTube as well. Though I love physical books, it is good to know that you can use these video resources as well. I did check the availability of all of the books for the **Green Level** that my daughter would be using. First, from the library; only one was available, but we are in a small, rural community, so I expected that. Next, I did a quick search on Amazon and found every title available for under $8 each. It would be easy to cart up the whole year, or purchase a semester at a time and create a nice little library of your own for the school year. The truth is that the price for the whole curriculum is very low, at $97 for the first student for the whole year. That is less than ten dollars a month. The books are used for a few week in the upper levels, so I feel that Home School Navigator is an affordable choice for any homeschool family. [![Home School Navigator is Your Guide](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1460-1024x1024.jpg "Learning for Every Level › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1460.jpg)No matter what level your learner is at Home School Navigator will guide you in teaching a comprehensive Language Arts program using live books and video with plenty of fun and the uncomplicated structure you desire## Learning Tasks the Actually Teach and Connect The student is asked to read the assigned book and then check their comprehension with a printed task. These varied widely and were always fun and engaging. None, were too long or difficult. Each week words are added to the “Word Wall” for spelling review and these words are also used for handwriting (cursive) practice. **EACH READING LEVEL INCLUDES:** - A 36 Week Course - Daily Reading, Writing, and Word Study Lesson Plan (including flex days for your busy schedule!) - 60 Instructional Videos - Word Study Program (including word wall headings, cards, and games) - Activities That Encourage Multiple Learning Styles - Monthly Skills Checklist - Online Portfolio Maintenance - Monthly Goal Sheet/Portfolio Check-In - Downloadable Review Games - And More! ## Try it out Risk Free and Learn with Your Favorite Books If you wanted to try out a portion of Home School Navigator’s curriculum over the summer or are looking for a supplement for your current program, I would suggest their [interactive notebooks](https://www.homeschoolnavigator.com/interactive-notebooks/). You can easily add a study guide for any one of our favorite books. Among the titles available were, “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes,” “Because of Winn-Dixie,” “Shiloh” or “Holes.” I am not normally a note booking enthusiast but my kids did like using them. The interactive notebooks are a low risk way to see if your students will respond to this teaching format. Sometimes it is good to reintroduce an idea when your kids hit new learning stages or with different students. My older kids did not like note booking, but this new class of students surprised me by embracing the whole concept. For clarity, brevity, and price, I feel like [Home School Navigator](http://www.homeschoolnavigator.com/) is going to only continue to improve on the really solid product they have created for the homeschool community. It is well priced and the multimedia format is in line with how we are teaching students today. It is a powerful program to help establish life the long learning habit of reading success. Feel free to check out more families reviews by clicking the box below and check out Home School Navigator on all of your favorite social channels. Feel free to ask me any questions you might think of and I will get right back to you. - Facebook: - Pinterest: Home School Navigator - Instagram: [![](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Home-School-Navigator-Homeschool-Reviews-1.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/home-school-navigator-reading-and-language-arts-curriculum-home-school-navigator-reviews/) ![Crew Disclaimer](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/3-Crew-Disclaimer-2016.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Preschool Learning and Listening, Subscription for School with Play](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/5949-2/) **Published:** May 18, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Recently I reviewed a preschool learning product called [MESSY](https://www.pandaparents.com/how-it-works/)[Learning](https://www.pandaparents.com/how-it-works/)[ FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND KINDERGARTNERS](https://www.pandaparents.com/how-it-works/) by [PandaParents.](http://pandaparents.com/) It is a digital combo of parent led reading books, PDF workbooks printables and video, available in a educational, subscription based, monthly format. I have used a lot of curricula and I feel like I am normally a great judge of materials, BUT for this one, I really had to go to the experts. I let the kids tell me what they thought. You see, the trouble is I am a graphic designer by training. I am a design snob, forget spelling fanatic , I am a kerning hound. A design enthusiast! MESSYLearning was not, initially, appealing to my tastes or visual aesthetic. I really didn’t want to get into it, but the point of reviewing is to see how children respond to the material, not how pretty I think it is. It is designed to appeal to a specific audience, and they liked it very much. [![Panda Parents Kindy Curriculum](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_amanda_pinkBl5c.png)](https://www.pandaparents.com/how-it-works/)We Like Learning Training Wheels In our formal homeschool, we use a literature-based curriculum that has some pretty in-depth language arts. Because I want my kids to get the most out of their work time, I don’t begin formal school with my younger children until they are nearer to seven. Before you think I am negligent; that simply means we do a lot of hands-on learning. Talking and discussing the world around us, reading a million books and engaging in the things we see around us. This is how I like to teach my little ones over here. When my children are hungry to learn concrete skills; asking what letter sounds are, wanting to do book-work like their siblings, I have relied on a few of my favorite work-books. We had moved away from workbooks recently so, using MESSYLearning is a good reminder that my little ones do enjoy hands on pencil and paper, school activities and more formally directed learning connections. ## It’s Normal to Want a Guide We have been homeschooling for 15 years. That is a long time to work organically with so many children. Because of my experience, I don’t necessarily feel like I need a program but, I remember being a new homeschooler. I remember that feeling of wanting some training wheels to help guide me through early childhood development skills. Assurance is want I wanted; to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0292-1024x768.png "Learning in Three Steps › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## An Educational Subscription with Focused Learning Tools MESSYLearning is just enough. It is not overly taxing to a non-reading preschooler, since the program is for kids ages 3 to 6. I like the concept of a monthly educational subscription because, you can choose to cancel whenever you wish. At under $10 a month, I’m positive that I have spent that much on work-books and coloring books. At the preschool ages I find that these books are rapidly consumed. For your subscription you get a PDF download of a workbook so, you can print pages and activities as you choose. You also get a digital book that is focused on a sound or concept, and a video that your preschooler can watch online. This is not a babysitter video that your children are just watching because you need them out of your hair for 30 minutes while you cook dinner, though it can serve that purpose too. These videos are strategic in helping your preschool children create a concrete grasp on the letters and skills that are presented in the book. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Untitled.jpeg "Bright and Colorful...beacuse Kids Like it › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Find Your Favorite Teaching Tools with a Little Help My youngest child is six and reading, but he found the digital stories engaging. They liked the pages that I thought were a little on the bright, loud & obnoxious side. They found the weird smiley face character charming and funny. Obviously, I am not a six year old. This product was intentionally created with preschool learning in mind. That is one of the reasons why every product we review is actually used by my kids. This is not just my pitch! Reviewing would be a ridiculously time consuming hobby. It would be impossible to try to gauge an opinion of how a learning tool can be used without physically putting it in front of a child and see how they interact with it. I care about you and your homeschool. You are my community and I want to give you the best tools for the problem you are experiencing. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1422-1024x1024.jpg "Get hands on › 200 Fingers & Toes")PDF pages meant you can print their favorite over and over## Preschool Learning is Introducing Skills with Play Since my youngest is reading, he found the videos too young since they were teaching the beginning letter sounds. They did however, love the PDF cut and match activities. The program is perfect for preschool learning. The kids also identified how interconnected the PDF pages are with the book and video but they watched. Many times I just laid out some workbook pages for the kids. They would use them while I worked with my other students. Child directed learning time is HIGHLY valueable. The kids were able to follow the instructions because they were simple and familiar. The learning pages are pulled from reading books and videos your children are watching. We spent one book reviewing the letter “S” with Sammy the Skunk and “J” with a jolly jingle bell theme. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0291-1024x768.png "Building Learning Skills › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## The Preschool Years Should Instill a Love for Learning An educational subscription based program is actually a cute and beneficial way to introduce the concept of school while being fun and engaging. Everyone loves getting a new book every month! When I hear of the parent saying that their child hates school, I am deeply concerned! So much more when I hear the child is only six. Homeschooling is an opportunity to flip the school model on its head and school however your child responds best. In the early years my goal is to educate in a way that helps my kids love to learn. Keep working to find the tools that help you do that. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_0115-1024x1024.jpg "Let Them Play to Learn › 200 Fingers & Toes")Child directed play is vital for learningThese early years are vital to impress on our child that learning is something we do our whole lives and something we should look for in every single thing we do. [MESSYLearnng](https://www.pandaparents.com/how-it-works/)s educational subscription by [PandaParents](http://pandaparents.com/) is a fun way to add more concrete, pen and paper learning skills to a young child’s day. It literally takes less than 20 minutes, a few times a week. This means you have all of the time you need for reading story books and engaging in play time. [![Messylearning For Preschoolers and Kindergartners {PandaParents Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/PandaParents-Kindy-Homeschool-Program-Reviews.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/messylearning-for-preschoolers-and-kindergartners-pandaparents-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** early childhood education, Homeschool, preschool curriculum, preschool learning, preschool workbooks, subscription learning --- ### [Where Technology Meets Childhood; The Email Provider for the Middle](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/where-technology-meets-childhood-the-email-provider-for-the-middle/) **Published:** May 16, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My inbox is full of game spam and PS4 network updates and the new app my child wants is asking for my email again! Thankfully, I was all set to review [Kids Email](http://www.kidsemail.org/) this last month and I was more than ready for a one year subscription to [Kids Email safe email for kids](https://www.kidsemail.org/features.php). [![Kids Email](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/brittany.KidsEmail.png)](https://www.kidsemail.org/features.php)Tech is Coming, Be Warned I’m sure you’ve run into the same situation I have; technology has rapidly eclipsed us on all sides. In order to use certain school programs or connect with games they love online, my children have come to require the use of an [email](http://www.kidsemail.org/). At first they were using mine, but with a few kids I getting overrun. I want an alternative that doesn’t end up with me receiving tons of spam and game notifications. I wanted to stop hearing about how many coins they have earned, but I didn’t want to give up control entirely. The Internet is not a safe place for children. Creepers and sneaky people abound where children gather. So how could I sign them up for an email and be assured they weren’t going to be “introduced to singles from down the road” or enticed to buy “Viagra from Canada?” ![email.choices.jpeg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/email.choices.jpeg "email.choices › 200 Fingers & Toes") Good news that I was able to review Kidsemail.org. This service allows you to give your children the access to the technology they need with a safe email that you can monitor on very levels. The parent control panel give access to all of your children’s emails in one place. ## You may choose and manage - You may choose and manage - their safety settings - their time restrictions - you may block and allow sites - fill their contacts with family members - check their activity log and mail cues ## Unclog Your InBox & Keep the Kids Safe It is really a win-win for both of us. My children get the independence of their own email and access to the technology that requires one. I unclog my email box while being assured my children are not receiving unwanted email messages or using their social media in a way that is inappropriate. [![Kids Email](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Kids-Email-logo.png)](https://www.kidsemail.org/)KidsEmail.org is a great way to train your children in the appropriate way to approach social media, online etiquette, and management of their time and subscriptions. ![deleted](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/deleted.jpeg "deleted › 200 Fingers & Toes") The best part is with the app based interface I can manage, add, and make changes to my child’s account from my phone! It took seconds to set up my daughter’s accounts and it was absolutely simple. This is a great alternative to having to set up an iCloud account when I really wasn’t ready to take that step with my younger children. Kids Email’s year long subscription covers six children and came to us at the perfect time. Now I feel safe and I know my little girls are secure, all with just a few simple clicks. [![Safe Email for Kids {Kids Email Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/safe-email-for-kids-kids-email-reviews/)You can click the link above to see how other reviewers are using [Kids Email](http://www.kidsemail.org/) in their lives and you can check them our on your favorite social channel as well - Facebook: - Twitter: - Pinterest: - Instagram: - Google+: ![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [A Summer Course You Won't Regret](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-summer-course-you-wont-regret/) **Published:** May 4, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Are you looking for a summer learning opportunity for your [homeschool](http://www.codewizardshq.com/homeschool/), but afraid that this year, interest will fade, like it has in summers past? [CodeWizardsHQ](http://www.codewizardshq.com/our-program/) is a coding program that is entirely different from any other that I have reviewed before. The courses are taught by a live teacher, who can answer your kids questions. Imagine a class without frantic Google searching by you! It is not a dream. [![Live Class Computer Programming for your Students {CodeWizardsHQ}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Homeschool_Banner_Large_2.jpeg)](http://www.codewizardshq.com/homeschool/)## Beginner and Novice Alike Can Learn Real Skills We’ve done a few courses before. We own a raspberry pi computer. I would say we’ve had an intermediate introduction to coding. We’ve had trouble with a couple of programs in different areas. Like the story of Goldielocks, one was too difficult. We had trouble finding an interface to work. Another had some unclear directions that left my kiddo unsure what to do next. ## Live Class Means Outside Accountability…for all of you! CodeWizardsHQ is unique in the fact that this is a live class. It’s not CDs or a self-paced course where your kid is responsible for figuring out how to use the tools that are presented in each lesson. CodeWizardsHQ classes are live 12 week courses, taught by an human instructor in real time. Imagine taking a class with human connection and interaction. The program is a full comprehensive coding curriculum accessible to upper elementary but challenging enough for high school, especially those looking to begin using computer technology in their future business endeavors. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/INTRO_JS-Class-1-_-Possibilities-150x150.jpg "INTRO_JS Class 1 _ Possibilities › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-summer-course-you-wont-regret/intro_js-class-1-_-possibilities/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/INTRO_HTML_CSS-v4-Class-2-_-Introduction-to-CSS-150x150.jpg "INTRO_HTML_CSS (v4) Class 2 _ Introduction to CSS › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-summer-course-you-wont-regret/intro_html_css-v4-class-2-_-introduction-to-css/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/INTRO_HTML_CSS-v4-Class-2-_-Introduction-to-CSS-1-150x150.jpg "INTRO_HTML_CSS (v4) Class 2 _ Introduction to CSS (1) › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-summer-course-you-wont-regret/intro_html_css-v4-class-2-_-introduction-to-css-1/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/INTRO_HTML_CSS-v4-Class-1-_-Introduction-to-HTML-150x150.jpg "INTRO_HTML_CSS (v4) Class 1 _ Introduction to HTML › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-summer-course-you-wont-regret/intro_html_css-v4-class-1-_-introduction-to-html/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/INTRO_HTML_CSS-v4-Class-1-_-Introduction-to-HTML-1-150x150.jpg "INTRO_HTML_CSS (v4) Class 1 _ Introduction to HTML (1) › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-summer-course-you-wont-regret/intro_html_css-v4-class-1-_-introduction-to-html-1/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Front-end-web-dev-A-_-Class-5-Photo-Editor-150x150.jpg "Front end web dev [ A ]_ Class 5 - Photo Editor › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-summer-course-you-wont-regret/front-end-web-dev-a-_-class-5-photo-editor/) In addition to the physical class each week students have access to [CodeWizardsHQ Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/KidsCodingHQ/) where you can share resources, ideas, tips, and support. Their FB page would be a great place to check out more details if you’re looking to find out more. ## Summer Classes are a Great Introduction to New Subjects and Tools Now is actually a great time to check out what they have to offer because they are beginning sign-ups for their [accelerated summer coding program](http://www.codewizardshq.com/) which will be three week classes covering; python, JavaScript, or HTML\\CSS. By having a live teacher this is definitely a program that is not going to get forgotten in the busyness of summer. I love the idea of outside accountability to help keep your kids on task. That is one area that has failed us when we have tried other online programs. ![Front end web dev [ A ]_ Class 2 - Flexbox](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Front-end-web-dev-A-_-Class-2-Flexbox.jpg "Front end web dev [ A ]_ Class 2 - Flexbox › 200 Fingers & Toes") Without a benchmark it is easy for an additional class to get lost. [CodeWizardsHQ](http://www.codewizardshq.com/our-program/) live teachers help keep both you and your students accountable and moving forward every week. [![Live Class Computer Programming for your Students {CodeWizardsHQ}](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/CodeWizardsHQ_Logo_Rectangle_Large_preview.jpeg)](http://www.codewizardshq.com/our-program/)## Find them on your favorite Social Network for more… - Facebook: - Twitter: - - [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4NM0jfN0LI8\_vWtiwLqgGw](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4NM0jfN0LI8_vWtiwLqgGw) As always click the link below for more reviews to learn how other families are using CodeWizardsHQ in their homeschool. [![Live Class Computer Programming for your Students {CodeWizardsHQ Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/live-class-computer-programming-for-your-students-codewizardshq-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Digital Publishers Who Are Leading The Book Game](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/digital-publishers-who-are-leading-the-game/) **Published:** May 3, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [Weigl Publishers](http://www.av2books.com/) has got living books down to a science, if fact we reviewed Glaciers, their interactive book for our homeschool science and my kids loved it. [![Glaciers Earths Water](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Glaciers-Earths-Water.jpg)](http://www.av2books.com/)## What do I mean by a living book? Weigl calls them Media Enhanced Books or A2, for Added Value and Audio Visual. We reviewed the digital format book, but I would love to get my hands on a physical copy. ![IMG_56612D3712FB-1.jpeg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_56612D3712FB-1.jpeg?w=2732 "IMG_56612D3712FB-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") The Glacier book was packed with information. There were maps, charts graphs, and tons of full page photography. The photo quality was akin to a National Geographic layout, but on every page. The book alone would offer full coverage on a subject, and kept my kids turning pages, but you can use the code on your book to unlock access to the interactive site and open up so much more. ![IMG_F4801E658DEB-1.jpeg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_F4801E658DEB-1.jpeg?w=2732 "Digital books for digital kids › 200 Fingers & Toes") Weigl uses a platform called Lightbox for the interactive portion. Here you and your child has access to all of the Lightbox Standard Features such as… - Audio Files - Video Clips - Activity Pages - Weblinks of Related Material geared for children - Slideshows - Transparency Interactive Pages - Google Maps - Quiz that are self-grading - Key Words for Comprehension All of these are enhancements to the book you are reading. There are also great additional homeschooling resources in the Supplemental Resources. Here you will find additional activities that allow you to make a complete unit study. ## Not sure how to expand on the material? No problem. You can click the interactive Curriculum for a list of books for a more complete unit. ![IMG_56612D3712FB-1.jpeg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_56612D3712FB-1.jpeg?w=2732 "IMG_56612D3712FB-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Video That Makes Reading Come to Life We watched an amazing clip of a Glacier calving that was unreal. No matter how many times we might have read about the sheer mass of glaciers breaking up, we could have never have imagined the intensity and size that we got out of the video clip. It was amazing. ![Sora](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1377.jpg "Sora › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## My Kids Love Digital Goodies I love the idea of a book that captures the digital fascination of this age. I want my kids to love books, but there is a whole generation of children that are pretty comfortable with an electronic in their hand. I love that instead of shaking their heads, or scolding kids for loving digital content Weigl has taken the plundge and given kids the tools thay want to learn with. Literacy is a cause near and dear to my heart. Kids need to read, and be read to if we are going to keep reading scores from dropping. This goes beyond homeschooling. I love seeing a company willing to innovate and change with current trends. Weigl is not turning out low literacy, high game function books. On the contrary, these books are high literacy and high output, but the material is so engaging my kids want to keep reading and keep coming back for more. [![Weigl Publishers Media Enhanced Books](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Media-Enhanced-Books-by-Weigle-Publishers.jpg)](http://www.av2books.com/)### Kids Aren’t Easily Fooled The platform is professional looking and has the sleek feel of a video game. I for one am sick of childrens tools that look like a person created it in Microsoft Paint in their free time. If you try pawning that off on a kid with a playstation addiction and you might as well just leave it at the front door. These books will get digital loving kids to interact and read. If this is your goal and you are looking for a tool to get your kid back into books, Weigl Publishing is a team you can partner up with. OpenLightBox.com has put the money, time and research in their product and it shows. The proof is that my kids keep coming back for more. [![A Lions World](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/A-Lions-World.jpg)](http://www.av2books.com/) We were able to review a coule of other titles as well. ***A Lions World*** for my 1st and 2nd grade kids and a very funny Cowboy take on the old woman who swallowed a spider story called, ***There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant***. When read with a cowboy twang is an irresistable bed time story. One every Dad should read out loud in front of the whole family for sure. [![There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/There-Once-Was-a-Cowpoke-Who-Swallowed-an-Ant.jpg)](http://www.av2books.com/)To find out more about the other titles and how other homeschoolers are using Weigl Publisher books click the box to see more reviews by other crew reviewers. [![Multimedia Digital Books {Weigl Publishers Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/multimedia-digital-books-weigl-publishers-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Sharing the Gospel in Little Bites](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sharing-the-gospel-in-little-bites/) **Published:** April 26, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Planet 316 Story Bible is a great tool for ministering to new little believers and introducing the bible to kids who are unfamiliar with it already with a tech twist they will love. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The timing of getting the [Planet 316 Story Bible and the companion Planet 316 Story Bible App](http://planet316storybible.com/) to review could not have been better. I am always looking for ways to capture the interest of the kids in our after school program. The Bible is very new to many of them. The idea of the [interactive](http://planet316storybible.com/) Story Bible appeals to our situation because, let’s face it, tech is king to these kids. ## Turning Their Tools Toward the Gospel Most of the time I am holding a pocket or two full of phones or if I catch them soon enough I tell them to put away their phones, but with the Bible App from [Planet 316](http://planet316.com/) and Worthy Kids/Ideas, instead of always telling them to put it away, I can use their phone as a tool to engage with the word of God. [![Planet 316 Story Bible and Bible App ](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/planet316storybible.png)](http://planet316storybible.com/) ## Digital Kids Respond to Digital Tools No matter what we want to believe, we are raising a digital generation. If not in your own house, than defiantly in the kids we minister day to day. The tools we use might not be our favorite, but if we are goin to reach kids we are going to have to use their language. The language of kids these days is digital. Planet 316 has created a tool that is a bridge to getting the word of God in front of this digital generation. ## Stories That Build Familiarity We volunteer in an after school program that is populated with only about 20% churched children. This means that most of our kids do not have enough background in Bible stories to answer the simplest trivia. We have ministers visit for our story time, but getting children to love their physical Bible is still a leap. ![Lay a Foundation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0430-1024x1024.jpg "After School Programs Teach in Bites › 200 Fingers & Toes")Short stories like the ones in the Planet 316 Story Bible build Biblical Knowledge as well as familiarity with stories and charactersPlanet 316 Story Bible is a great fit for our after school kids because the stories are very short. We can have a Bible minute (more like 5, but kids don’t need to know) where we read a quick Bible story and then the kids can interact with the app on my phone or if the situation allows their own device too. ## A Digital Treat Without Drama At home the kids are always asking to play a game on my phone. I have NO games loaded on my phone for that very reason. Last year I finally ran into a situation; I felt the kindest thing to do for my kids was to let them play a game while they waited for some long, adult-oriented ordeal to end, so I loaded a Bible Story Game. The kids liked the game enough to play periodically, but I liked the idea of having something that wasn’t an amped up coin fest or source of new obsession. When I got this review, I was glad to add the Planet 316 Story Bible App to my phone to check it out. The kids love sitting down with the Story Bible and watching the illustrations jump off the page with the augmented reality technology. Many of the characters speak lines when you click to interact with them from your phone screen. They can spend a good chunk of time exploring the pages. My daughter took this quick video for you to see. It is hard to click the characters while you video so they don’t speak but you can hear the ambient sounds on several pages and you can get an idea of the story length. [https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG\_1356.TRIM\_.mov](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_1356.TRIM_.mov) They Ooo and Ahh, over the pages delighted the each take turns looking for fun details. ## The Perfect Introduction Bible for Little Ones I read a long list of reviews of several Children’s Bibles a few weeks back. Some reviewers were severely adamant about the dangers of changing Biblical text and keeping context on the original story. I read through the Planet 316 Story Bible with that article in mind. I feel like the folks at Planet 316 and Worthy Kids/Ideas have done a good job at introducing Biblical Stories and characters to begin a relationship of familiarity that will help them build on. In all other subjects we introduce a stripped down to the essence version the first time around. Math starts with 2+2. Science starts with a seed and a Styrofoam cup. This Bible Starts with names and basic details of each characters story. ![New Tan](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_1354.jpg "New Tan › 200 Fingers & Toes") This Beginner Bible is perfect for little ones with short attention spans as well as kids with no church background, to begin to put names and stories together. This simplified version actually made it easier for my kids to quickly connect names to characters and summaries of the situations. Lack of other details meant less other details to get in the way. ## The Bible for Home, Sunday School or Young Children’s Program Overall, this is a great tool for ministering to new little believers and introducing the bible to kids who are unfamiliar with it already. I will use it in my Sunday school class room next month when I teach for a quick Story time. In the meantime, I will I leave it out for my kids to explore freely at home. We use the app after we have our Family Bible Time in our homeschooling morning routine. [![Planet 316](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Planet316_LOGO.png)](http://planet316.com/)You can check them out on social here… Facebook: Twitter: [https://www.twitter.com/planet\_316](https://www.twitter.com/planet_316) And read more reviews to see how some other families are using the [Planet 316 Story Bible](http://planet316storybible.com/) in their lives by clicking the box below. [![Planet 316 Story Bible and Bible App {Planet 316 Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/planet-316-story-bible-and-bible-app-planet-316-reviews/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Helping Young Readers Build Discernment](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/helping-young-readers-build-discernment/) **Published:** April 20, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # Handing Over the Library Cards We spent the early years of our kids lives [fostering a love for books](https://www.sonlight.com/blog/reading-five-years.html) and laying the foundation for developing discernment. We read thousands of stories to our kids by the time they were teens. Our children love to read. They know the thrill of going the places only a great story can take them. As they grew into teens, they wanted more reading and were hungry to make their own book choices. We wanted them to take the reins of their reading selections. We were confident that we had poured great books into their lives and they knew what examples of good writing looked like. They’ve read hundreds of diverse books as a part of our regular school curriculum. We weren’t worried that they would be shocked by current fiction. If you have read through the Bible with your family, you will discover that there are no subjects left uncovered. We have had plenty of tough topical discussions. My worry centered the subtle and cunning arguments in favor the destructive behaviors that come from serving ones own desires. Our kids are far from sheltered or naive. If fact, we often intentionally chose to read books from world views that differ from our own. Those books offered challenges and discussions that helped them solidify their critical thinking skills and build a solid foundation for their personal beliefs. A leap into YA fiction would be different. Many of these authors have a message and are subtly and cunningly packaging it in beautiful, relatable teen characters. The media will always be an area where even adults require the full armor of God to discern truth. ![Raising teens to think for themselves means turning decision making over to them at some point.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0132-1024x1024.jpg "Preparing Teens For Independence › 200 Fingers & Toes")Laying Foundations for World View Your Kids Will Build On## Building a Solid Biblical World View As a family, we have worked endlessly to help our kids develop a world view that is derived from a Biblical truth, but still I was hesitant. There are a lot of books out there. As an avid reader of a broad spectrum of genres, I have returned a few books to the library unfinished because I felt a conflict with my beliefs. I have read books that glorify infidelity and openly applaud pedophiles, crooks and murderers. I have a strong Biblical World View to make comparisons to. The world view that is offered by the current media sells a version of morality that bends to fit the individual teller, especially in fiction. ### Could our kids carry the weight of discernment without our constant guidance? This is an honest question every parent has to ask themselves at some point in time. We can not guard and protect our kids forever if they are to mature. There comes a time when we will trust as they develop the tools we have given them. Our goal was always to have independent thinkers; kids who can rightfully discern the Word of Truth. This means turning them loose as they reach adulthood, giving them autonomy. Just like when they walked, rode their bike around the first blind corner, drove off for the first time, we trust in what we can not see. We have to be brave and trust the work we have done and the leading of the Holy Spirit when our kids become adults. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0369-1024x1024.jpg "Do ont fear › 200 Fingers & Toes")Do not Fear God says it 365 times in His Word That is once for every day of the year![](https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=200fingandtoe-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1942080093) ## Helping You Teen Understand the Need For Discernment **What could we do to help them bridge this gap in media and fiction?** Our final step to help them transition to freedom in the library was to offer our teens a personal study about developing discernment. The guided study was written by a fellow homeschool grad and fiction author, Chawna Schroeder. [*Bearing the Sword – Developing Discernment Through Scripture & Story*](https://amzn.to/2vwKPqX). It was created to help teens judge the media that comes before them on a daily basis and learn to hear the message that the writer is intending for the audience. It then challenges them to compare those messages to the truth of God’s Word. It created a great way to talk about the challenges they would face as they enter the world of social media, sometimes full of both; loudly screaming, and cunningly whispered messages. [![Developing Discernment with Media in Mind](//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1942080093&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=200fingandtoe-20)](https://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Sword-Complete-Chawna-Schroeder/dp/1942080093/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=200fingandtoe-20&linkId=6a3076b4d736fbfb6f1136dc2bc0ba15)Bearing the SwordDoing a transitional study helped bridge our communication, gave our kids a way to create their own guidelines and offered us a way to have discussions about their reading without beginning with judgement. I highly recommend finding one to fit your family. We will be doing it again with my new tweens. #### Do not fear. If you lay a good foundation, you too will one day you will be turning over the reins to discerning teen readers with confidence. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Biblical World View, Building Discernment, Library, Raising Teens, YA books --- ### [One Click to Get Those Kid's Pictures Printed](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/one-click-to-get-those-kids-pictures-printed/) **Published:** April 19, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Do you have a milion pictures…stuck inside your phone, memory cards and computer hard drives? Kids love looking at their pictures, and we do too. ## ![Miley](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_2659.jpg "Miley › 200 Fingers & Toes")Chatbook is a perfect 10 …10 minutes to make …$10 to print and ship …in my hands in less than 10 days. We have all seen the free book button before I’ve made one of those “free” photo books before. It took hours to upload my pics, tons of time to set up the complicated pages, only to get to the end and see the price tag ($80) was outrageous and delete it! Chatbooks is easy. This year we printed four beautifuly custom designed Chatbooks for the grandparents. We had them individually mailed to each of them for Christmas, in four different states for $100, total. It made meaningful gift giving easy, personal and affordable. (I ended up printing one for Daddy too, which he loved) ![Suji 100%](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0346.jpg "Suji 100% › 200 Fingers & Toes") Don’t be like I was, with 1,000’s of pics and nothing printed to show for it. Let’s face it, printing pics is complicated. That was before I downloaded the easy to use app and linked it to my insta account. Check out my post about it and scroll our amazingly well curated feed here [\#Chatbooks](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/chatbooks/). I love printing our Instagram feed in these crisp little books because I feel like it is the closest thing to a window into our real life. ## How It Works Every 60 insta pics I get a beautiful little book sent in the mail. I love that I get an email notice, so can choose which pics stay. I can pick the order and cover, and the $10 price tag can not be beat. ![Suji 100%](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0351.jpg "Suji 100% › 200 Fingers & Toes") Did I mention you get to try it for free, like for real, FREE. [Check it out today.](http://invite.chatbooks.com/amberjsmith0q7) What are you waiting for? The kids want to see themselves in print and since the photos upload automatically, making a photo album as a gift is going to be the easiest present you ever gave. You can click the link above or enter this code to get your first book free: NK7MJZW9 ![chatbooks](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/chatbooks.jpeg "chatbooks › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Love and Expectations - Family Movie Night](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/love-and-expectations-family-movie-night/) **Published:** April 13, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The [Princess Cut](http://www.princesscutmovie.com/) is a movie about love and expectations from Watchman Pictures. We’re reviewing it with our upper elementary kids for the Homeschool Review Crew. This was a great movie night film for the whole crew. It might be a little slow paced for young ones, since the movie deal with relationships as the central theme. [![Princess Cut The Movie](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Princess_Cut_DVD_Cover.jpg)](http://www.princesscutmovie.com/)Grace has it all planned out. She is pretty sure that tonight is the night she has been dreaming of. Visions of a princess cut diamond on her finger to fulfill her hopes and dreams. The night of her dreams quickly became the thing nightmares are made of. The dreams she held close, her hopes for the future…evaporated. Grace decides to find out what true love really is. With the help of her Daddy, she begins her search for her own happiness. Happiness is not something that will come to you with a ring, or a job. Where does your hope come from? The film gave us an opportunity to talk about our expectations about love and relationships. Often we think that the love of another person will bring us happiness, but the truth is our happiness is something we must guard and sometimes search for. “He is really cute!” (Talking about the leading Male character) – Sofia (7) “Grace chose to be alone and trust God to help her find a boy friend.” – Claire (9) “I liked it. I liked how her Daddy helped her.” – Brindley (12) The [Princess Cut](http://www.princesscutmovie.com/) was winner of the Best Feature Film Runner-Up at the Christian World Film Festival for 2015, winner of the Audience Choice Award Runner Up and Best Original Musical Score. The [web site](http://www.princesscutmovie.com/) is full of fun links, behind the scenes, cast photos, production photos and bios for all of the cast. Looking for More links check out Watchman Pictures on Social Media [![Princess Cut {Watchman Pictures Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/princess-cut-watchman-pictures-reviews/)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrincessCutMovie Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrincessCutFilm Tag: @PrincessCutFilm Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/princesscutfilm/pins/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/paulmungernc Tag: @paulmungernc Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Princesscutmovie YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PrincessCutMovie/videos ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Tuesday Recap - Thursday Reality](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tuesday-recap-thursday-reality/) **Published:** April 6, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Hey folks Listen. Living with little humans is tough. Life with six teens and five little kids is CRAZY. Truth be told, Tuesday Recap is purely metaphorical. If I didn’t say a day in the title, I’d never be like, “crap, it’s Tuesday and I didn’t write my recap.” Then furiously write, or just give up and hope and try to do better next week. Tuesday is more of a bullseye. Speaking of Bullseye, did the local Target shake down your life savings over the Easter weekend? ![IMG_2687](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_2687-300x300.jpg "IMG_2687 › 200 Fingers & Toes") I love Target. It is my happy place, really. Here is the thing. I had passed the big gaudy baskets that lined the entrance of the local grocery store. I couldn’t believe how much they were asking for a basketball and a hand full of candy. In my total ignorance and pride I formulated my own theme for Easter treats for the kids. I was gonna create a beautiful lesson and save me some money. The day before Easter, motivated by bad news, and general grief, I got all hopped up on Cascara Coffee and grabbed a cart at the local Target. Our girls are interested in Face Masks and all things drippy and gooey in the beauty isle. There were a few items in my last couple of [FabFitFun](http://xo.fff.me/hWZno) boxes that they got to try and now they are self proclaimed beauty gurus, sans YouTube channel. We have had a couple of girl nights and I hoped to inspire a few more with hair and face masks. We love the Burt’s Bees line of face care products, so I added a spot treatment, cleanser and some of the face cleansing wipes that I like to use. They boys needed socks and manly things. (they always need socks, there are 1,000 socks, lurking somewhere in our home plotting a rebellion) I have teens and wrestlers so we are on the lookout for face cleansers that are easy to use and not full of terrible chemicals, so again we picked up a clarifying mask, spot healing roller and quick, no rinse face wipes. Life has been a little out of whack. Normally, we celebrate The Ides of March (3-15) with fresh socks and new clean underwear, you know, in case of an accident, the fall of society or your untimely murder by the senate. But paychecks and food costs led us to postpone replacing everyone’s ventilated socks. Easter seemed like a good time to cover these needs and just add candy. The trouble was my nagging grief, combined with the rush to get out of town on four hours to see Doug’s fathers whos health was failing. Top that with the guilt of not waking up Easter morning with my little ones. All of this combined to cause a wee problem with my cart. (being it go full) Holiday shopping, even for little treats, for 13 people takes more than small change, but in the end, let’s just say that I should have just bought those big gaudy baskets at the grocery store. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0366-150x150.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tuesday-recap-thursday-reality/sparkle-8/) gifts for the teen girls [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0347-150x150.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tuesday-recap-thursday-reality/sparkle-9/) gifts for the little girls [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0367-150x150.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tuesday-recap-thursday-reality/sparkle-10/) gifts for the little boy [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0365-150x150.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tuesday-recap-thursday-reality/sparkle-7/) gifts for the teen boys ## All Was Not Lost; There is a Message in This Though I might have succumbed to a little retail therapy; but I did have a theme for Easter. Socks, snacks, cleansers, facial masks and Band-Aids, all are for tending the outside. ### We focus on the outward man, it is God who cares about the heart. Just as we care for our outer man, I want to encourage all of my family to turn their hearts to our soul. This is why we celebrate Easter. Jesus paid the price, he made a way for us to approach God. A God who loves us and is the only one who can meet our soul’s deepest needs. ## It is not how we look. > Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. Prov. 31:30 This face isnt going to last forever. We all become etched with our years. If this is where your value lies, you will find your self looking into the [mirror for affirmation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shattering-negative-body-image-part-1/), and one day it won’t be there. ## It is not our great stuff. > And why are you [anxious about clothing](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/preparing-your-heart-for-gratitudepreparing-your-heart-for-gratitude/)? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matt. 6:28-30 Stuff, it chokes our world, our mail boxes, our news feed. The world shouts out what we need, what we are missing, the shoulds and must have. They change the rules and products every season. There is a great healing power in the word ENOUGH. I have enough. I am enough. [This is enough](). God is enough. ![Being Enough](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0200.jpg "Crowning Jewels Inspiration Piece › 200 Fingers & Toes")It is good to be reminded that you are enought God is Enough You can say enough You can ask for help if you have had enough## It is the person we are deep inside. > …God seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord beholdeth the heart. Samuel 16:7b There is so much we only see on the outside. We try so hard to keep up appearances, put on a face, play the part, but God cares for none of this. He gives us opportunities to rip off the mask and be seen. He gives us the confidence to stand up in peril, trial, and even in anguish and say, “This is me, the soul God loves.” ## That is who I am. ![IMG_0369](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0369.jpg "Do ont fear › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [The Magazine That Will Have Your Family Talking About God](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-magazine-that-will-have-your-family-talking-about-god/) **Published:** April 4, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This month we had two great [unit studies](https://dv157.infusionsoft.com/app/storeFront/showCategoryPage?categoryId=6) to review along with the digital version of [Creation Illustrated](https://dv157.isrefer.com/go/ciwebsite/TheBookHouse/) magazine. We jumped right into the [fall copy](http://www.creationillustrated.com/nwf-free-fall-17-digital-wads) and used the accompanying [Pine Tree](https://dv157.infusionsoft.com/app/storeFront/showProductDetail?productId=270) Study Guide. [![Fall 2017, Vol. 24, No. 3](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Autumn-Mag-Creation-Illustrated.png)](https://dv157.infusionsoft.com/app/storeFront/showProductDetail?productId=282)[![Creation Illustrated Unit Study Pine Trees](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Unit-Study-Pine-Trees-by-Creation-Illustrated.png)](https://dv157.infusionsoft.com/app/storeFront/showProductDetail?productId=270)## Take a Moment to Nurture Your Senses Creation Magazine has been a calm for busy families for almost twenty-five years. Their goal was to “restore and inspire a balance of mental, spiritual and physical enrichment in every issue.” ## Feeding the Soul Each issue is filled with inspiring, character building lessons. The fall issue had an article about how the Bailey family is using their family garden to bring the local community together and serve their neighbors. The articles are easy to read and friendly for kids as well as engaging for adults. I loved the Highlights and Stewardship pages. ![highlight.stewardship.creation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/highlight.stewardship.creation.jpeg "highlight.stewardship.creation › 200 Fingers & Toes") Susannah Dorfsmith shares a great article about ***Pursuing Pathways of Peace**.* She walked us along her favorite places in the woods and forests, talking about each path and the seasons that change them. She likens these paths to Christ’s call to come and follow him on a similar path. Beautiful and full of turns and blind corners for us to build our trust in Him. ![pine.article](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pine.article.jpeg "pine.article › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## A Feast for the Eyes Creation Illustrated is no amater magazine when it comes to it’s visual art. This issues spread about the Grand Canyon made me want to go back for a creation oriented tour. I had not been to the canyon since I was a child, but I would love for my kids to experience the canyon from the eyes of a guide that can share about the wonders the Canyon offers and the ways it shows the validity of the word of God. If you have animal lovers they will not be dissapointed either. The article about ***Kangaroo Care*** was full of pictures. I had not readlized that there were so many different looking Kangaroos. They are diverse and funny. My kids enjoyed getting to read more about their care and getting to see them in detail. There are also photography contests and inspirations in every issue forthe aspiring photographer. ## Brain Food We enjoyed many science related articles in the [Fall Issue](http://www.creationillustrated.com/nwf-free-fall-17-digital-wads) of Creation Magazine. We studies Pine Trees in depth and were able to explore even more with the Study Guide. The Winter Issue offered and indepth [Snow Unit Study,]() the fall study offered a great variety of ways to learn about Pines of all sorts. There was way more to offer the kids than I first expected and an older child would enjoy this as a true independent study. Overall I would say it well thought out and far above and beyond most busywork you get. Included in the Unit Study was a Bible Study on Trees, Pine Tree Geography with online research. The Word Find was the first thing snatched up and the Art study was a close second. I was glad to see that after reading all about Pines their Art showed that they had learned more than I thought. Their trees showed the details that they had read about, cones, uncovered roots and exposed branches. No triangles! Vocabulary, spelling, a writing assignment. Enough to cover English for a week and we are going to use the Scientific observation sheet the next time we head out the the public park. ![Suji](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0364-150x150.jpg "Suji › 200 Fingers & Toes")![Suji](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0362-150x150.jpg "Suji › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![Suji](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0363.jpg "Suji › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Making Creation a Reality The kids learned a few new facts the in depth article about the days of creation. This was the second part of the tenth series devoted to the creation week. There is no shortage of things to discover when it comes to creation. The Fall ’17 article covered ***Creation Day 2: Th**e Creation of the Firmament.*** The article spread over six pages, with beautiful photography, graphs and call outs as well as great facts and scientific data. All of this brings the story of creation into a physical reality. This is so valueable in a world where ever show, placard and cartoon is espousing to history happening millions and millions of years ago. Even without the optional study guide the [Creation Illustrated Magazine](https://dv157.isrefer.com/go/ciwebsite/TheBookHouse/) offered a great summary and application page with some suggestions that we are going to try to do. ![applicationideas.creation.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/applicationideas.creation..jpeg "applicationideas.creation. › 200 Fingers & Toes") [![Creation Illustrated Unit Studies {Creation Illustrated Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/creation-illustrated-unit-studies-creation-illustrated-reviews/)![Creation Illustrated Unit Study Pine Trees](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Unit-Study-Pine-Trees-by-Creation-Illustrated-2.png)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [A Visual Math for the Other Side of Your Brain {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/visual-math-side-brain/) **Published:** March 15, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Being a visual learner made math a difficult subject for me, but as we reviewed the [MathArt Online 4-Class Bundle](https://natureglosescience.com/mathart-online-four-6-week-classes-bundle/) from [NatureGlo’s eScience](https://natureglosescience.com/), I knew this would be a great way to learn for any child, especially those who lean toward visual learning. [![MathArt Online ](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/MA-Online-Classes-COVER-720px.jpg)](https://natureglosescience.com/membership/mathart-4-class-bundle/)Math is a Visual Field of Study The application of Mathematics is highly visual. You don’t get that feeling as you drudge through your textbook. Since most work is done on a flat, blank sheet of paper, you can get the feeling that math is meant for a 2D world. NatureGlo’s eScience brings math its much needed third demention. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_7D1F45C68C91-1-1024x768.jpeg "teaching visual math › 200 Fingers & Toes") We chose to use [MathArt in Ancient Cultures](https://natureglosescience.com) since we are doing a unit study on Ancient Greece. Each lesson has Main Lesson Slide Shows and Study Guide Downloads. With those ready your students can interact with the lessons. They warm up with a pre-lesson interactive activity. Since we did not participate in the live class we watched the recorded class time. I think this would be a really fun class to take “live” online. The lessons are led by NatureGlo, a full time RVer who has been teacing young people since 1997. She is like having your favorite Aunt pop in on line to teach for a bit. ## A Learning Curve For the Less-then Tech Savvy The only difficulty for us, was that my girls are a bit young in age (10 and 11) and not very tech savvy. The course was much more hands on that I was expecting. They needed me to find files, click through to requested fields and the almost always forgot to click the completed button on the bottom of the lesson. Still, it was a fun way to spend out lesson time and the information was always something new and interesting. That said, I think that they would be ready to take on the next class all by themselves. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_0359F6CA3D6D-1-1-1024x768.jpeg "IMG_0359F6CA3D6D-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## A Guided Tour Through History In the lessons they took a tour of the ancient Babylonian city and learned its history. We discovered the first trig table, way older then you think! Lessons made connections with music and math. They learned about the life of Plato, and Platonic solids. Overall, the lessons took Mathematical subjects that sound very weighty and advanced, and made then real, tangible and practical. I love that these lessons are making high level math concepts approachable for eleven year old kids. ## The Visual Art of Math? Yes, math well represented in art. Spheres, Mandals, Morocan Tiles. Math in all of its visual glory. The girls had severe opportinities to make 3D shapes from paper amd create their own patters art. For a house full of doodlers this was a fun activity. They loved the Morocan tile activity and watched several more videos because they wanted to try new patterns. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_AAACA9D13AB1-1-1024x768.jpeg "IMG_AAACA9D13AB1-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") This course was a great way to get the kids thinking about math that they see every day. It also made these huge math terms, approachable. Breaking them down by meaning and origin. I love the fact that when they come up again in upper grade work our girls will not be intimidated. Familiarity takes a ton of fear out of math. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Golden-Ratio-with-Fibonacci-Statue-MEDIUM-624X468-.jpg "Golden-Ratio-with-Fibonacci-Statue-MEDIUM-624X468- › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Plan Ahead for Summer Learing Four classes are available right now in this bundle. It would make a great all inclusive summer program. This bundle includes four 6-week classes - Math Connections With the Real World - MathArt in Ancient Cultures - Mathematics in the Arts & Sciences - MathArt Patterns in Nature I am going to try to catch the Winter Live Class about the Golden Ratio & Fabriconi Numbers. Here is a quote about what it will teach. Maybe you will be there too. > “Students learn about nature’s surprisingly beautiful numbers discovered and implemented by humanity since ancient times in art, architecture, and science. We study the golden ratio (1.618) also called phi, and the Fibonacci number series (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…etc.). Recommended ages are 10 and up. Younger advanced students are welcome to join.” [![MathArt Online 4-Class Bundle {NatureGlo's eScience Reviews}]( http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/mathart-online-4-class-bundle-natureglos-escience-reviews/)[![natureGlo's eScience](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/LargeLogoThinleavesBlueCream.png)](https://natureglosescience.com/)![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** art, Homeschool, Math, NatureGlo, Online Learning, Science --- ### [Tuesday Recap - Greek Mini-Unit Sanity Saver](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/winter-survival-homeschool-greek-history/) **Published:** February 24, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Our sanity saving Mini-Unit on Greek History is what we are loving right now! **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### Last year, I was slumping big time right about now! This wintery slush time between Christmas and Spring break is a killer. We just barely limped through school and then we never really recovered after taking our Spring Break. ### Maybe you can relate? This year, I was determined to NOT go through that again. The full article detailing more of the ways we kept from getting burnt out this winter is on the [Sonlight Blog.](https://www.sonlight.com/blog/through-winter.html?utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=slb-jla-tw-180223&utm_medium=referral) What I want to share is what I am enjoying the most this winter. Our sanity saver is this Mini-Unit on Greek History, we have been doing for the last few weeks. ![Mini-Unit Homeschool Refresh](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3112.jpg "Digging Into Greek History › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sometimes a Mini Unit is Just the Thing to Sweep the Winter Blues Away### I am a Greek Myth Nut It all goes back to fourth grade. I had a class that was nothing but Greek mythology. Mrs. Scuttle would stand in the front of class and recite epic adventures. She would shut off all of the lights, so the room was dim with just the light that bled through the curtains. She would pass out amazingly detailed coloring pages, way before adult coloring pages were cool. She would spin her stories while we colored and drempt of heroes, swift sailing ships and far away lands. Every week she chose two students to sit on Mt. Olympus. (Which was the top of the storage cabinets in the back of the class room.) If your were chosen, instead of coloring, you got to eat all of the ambrosia (candy) you wanted from her personal stash. It made her class spectacular for a dreamer like me and I have loved Greek Myths ever since. ![Making Memories](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0140.jpg "Supplimenting With Printables from education.com › 200 Fingers & Toes")I love these coloring pages from educationcom I forgot I still had a membership to the site The kids loved their fun math booklets### As homeschool moms, we forget, our job is to inspire. I wanted a little bit of that warm, story-time feeling back in our homeschool. Our Sonlight Curriculum, this year, is covering Greek History. Over the winter holiday season, we were a little hit or miss with our reading, so instead of trying to get caught up or skip some books, I pulled out all of the books that covered all things Greek. I wanted to share the stories I love, the way I remember them. We are having so much fun. Check out our Greek Journals. I bought this pack of blank books in the beloved Target Dollar section. Everyone is drawing the monsters and heroes we are reading about. The best part is that I get to show off my rad drawing skills. ![Drawing Monsters from Our Stories](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0142-2018354601-1519472888700.jpg "Sparkle › 200 Fingers & Toes")Making room for Imagination![Doodling is a Great Way to Take Notes](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0143-256546111-1519473620614.jpg "Greek Myth Journaling › 200 Fingers & Toes")Getting Creative During School Time with Journaling### Not Bound By My Schedule Even though we use a curriculum that has an instructors guide, we have the freedom to made that guide work for us. I think people don’t realize the amount of flexibility that comes with our instructors guide. Knowing I have all of the material that I should cover for the school year gives me confidence to move things around as I see fit. If only for a season, like with our Greek Unit, or for the year, like several of my friends who use Sonlight their own way. Instead of feeling bound to my schedule I feel freed up from worrying about what to cover for the year. By the way here is the more about the Memory Book from Sonlight. It was in my [Instagram post](https://www.instagram.com/p/BfiwGaZBToP/?taken-by=200fingersandtoes). I promised to share the link in this post. ![memory-book-wide-homepage](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/memory-book-wide-homepage.jpg "memory-book-wide-homepage › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Homeschooling is hectic with seven kids. Winter is getting to be down right unbearable. I boycotted Instagram (for like five minutes) because of all of the pics of kids playing outside. Outside!!! If only my kids could go outside for longer than twenty minutes. Still, I love homeschooling and all of the perks it offers. Thinking about schooling at home? Register over at Sonlight for their [friends discount](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) and see all the great books you could be reading with your kids. What is your winter survival tip? Please share… Have a great week my friends. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Greek History, Homeschool, Sonlight, Unit Study --- ### [Tuesday Recap - Mom as a Taxi](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tuesday-recap-mom-as-a-taxi/) **Published:** February 13, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I thought that those of you who have just met me might like a little picture into our life. Here is a bit more of our recap. January is blissfully over. It was one of the worst ones I have ever had. Everyone was sick, it seemed like is was never-ending. I have a new appreciation for our general good health. That said we are all on the mend. We have a huge house hold, these are 13 of us. There was so much running to do with two boys in morning and afternoon practices for wrestling, and the girls having ballet in another town. I think we put a whole year on the van over the last few months. Let not even talk about the gas bill. ![IMG_3634](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3634.jpg "IMG_3634 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Finding their strength and being determined That is what these two have been doing for the last few monthsMost mornings, Doug and I get up at 5am. I am not normally an early riser, but after we signed up for wrestling, they split the boys into Jr high and high school practices. Now, I drive the younger Smith to practice at 5:30, since it is a 30 minute drive, I sit in the lunch room for the 2 hour workout. For several months, I have been the weird mom who sits in the lunch room. Give the news lately I wonder how many people think I am some sort of overbearing Mother who is escorting my kids to activities, instead of a woman who is just trying to save a little gas money. Before Wrestling Season began, I had a perfect plan. I would get up early and write and then run (ok walk very fast) on the treadmill before school time. Then I was going to do a cardio workout or weight training at 2pm when we normally break for school. Now, I am in the lunch room. It is no Starbucks, but I manage to write, little by little, mostly poorly and with many distractions. I have befrended many young people in my Mother Goose years. They like to say hello, and I like for them to do so. I sincerely love hearing what is happening in their lives. So few adults care what kids say. I watch them; adults, ignoring kids as if they don’t exist. When I talk to kids adults will often cut in and interrupt as if I was not having a conversation. I try to make it my priority, when a kid wants to talk I make time to listen. ![With so many shore trips I am looking forward to flip flop weather](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3923.jpg "Mom On the Run › 200 Fingers & Toes")Sometimes I just grab my shoes and take them with me on my drives I am so glad we live in a state where you arent required to wear shoes to driveAfter my lunch room hours, I head home and get on the treadmill. I have tried many other ways, but I have discovered that if I don’t get my exercise first thing in the morning, the day just swallows me up and it never gets done. I’ve tried making my treadmill time productive. I was reading Business or blogging books and listening to podcasts, but I was still checking the time and an hour seeme like forever to be on the treadmill. Recently, I have begun to read fiction while I walk at a steady fast clip. If I have a good book, not only does the hour go by quickly, but I find that I am looking forward to getting back to my book (er, exercise). Since I have not been making time to read for pleasure lately I feel like this is a perfect window to snag an hour of reading in my hectic life. ![IMG_3369](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3369.jpg "IMG_3369 › 200 Fingers & Toes") I would also like to answer any questions you migh have about large family living, homeschooling or being an entrepreneur mama trying to balance rides, dinner and work. Determination is what keeps me on my mat. Writing is my passion and I have to intentionally carve out time to get it done. What are you carving out space for? I would love to hear about it. Leave me a comment. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Daily Schedule, Day in the Life, Exercise, Mom Time, Recap, Routine, Sports --- ### [Tuesday Recap - Life in Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tuesday-recap-life-in-review/) **Published:** January 30, 2018 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We start school after chores and breakfast, usually around 10am. We are sort of cobbling together quite a few things right now. This has been difficult for me. I have always used Sonlight Curriculum. I like having a binder to give me a clear layout for the year, day by day break downs and the like. As a curriculum reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse’s Review Crew, we must use each item we review as it is prescribed. It is fun to get new things, but I wrote over fifty reviews last year. That means that we used and inplimented tons of new materials over the year. It was hard to keep up with our Sonlight at the same time, but it also gave us a welcome anchor to work around. We flexed all of our schedules quite a bit, and we found quite a few items that were well worth the efforts of reviewing. I will have to put together my top ten list from last year. Since there were no reviews in December, we literally took the month off of everything but the basics. I needed a break. ![Rw5umzzPRMOQ1vJvTjM6Bg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Rw5umzzPRMOQ1vJvTjM6Bg.jpg "Rw5umzzPRMOQ1vJvTjM6Bg › 200 Fingers & Toes") For the remainder of the wrestling season, when school and lunch are done, I drive wrestler number two over to the school to drop him off fo thigh school pactice. I am running, yes, but I am also loving seeing these two find a sport they love. This kids even gets up to go to the 6:15 practice with us. There is nothing like watching your child do something the really love. My ninth grade kiddo has found his groove out on the wrestling mat. I have been surprised that I enjoy wrestling as a sport. I thing I like the even playing field and how diversely different two kids in the same weight class can be. It is all about the work you put in before the match. There is no luck in wrestling, just earned points and determination. I hope you are finding your groove as well. Stick around and read a few more articles when you have a cup of coffee and a couple of fear minutes. I would love to share them with you. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Old Schoolhouse Review Crew, Reviewer, Sonlight Blog, Sonlight Curriculum, Sonlight IG, Weekly Recap, Wrestling --- ### [Get Scholarship Money with STEM Courses](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-scholarship-money-with-stem-courses/) **Published:** November 23, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We are working on getting **four** kids in colleges next year. You can believe that we are searching every avenue for earning college funds. After pouring over hundreds of articles and websites I am seeing a pattern on places where there is the highest amount of scholarship money available to students. STEM is the hot topic in education and there are college dollars to back up the push for STEM courses. My advice? Look for ways to access STEM programs while your child is still in high school. [![](https://udemy-images.udemy.com/course/480x270/1172766_23fe.jpg)](https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&offerid=358574.1172766&type=2&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Falgebra-basics-review-a-step-by-step-course%2F)![](https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&bids=358574.1172766&type=2&subid=0) ### What classes are these? Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics. Any activities that include STEM technologies are great for scholarship applications. I turned down the opportunity to get involved in our local robotics club. I didn’t think I had the time. You can imagine my regret when I came across several scholarships offered to students for being involved in robotic clubs and even more money if their team placed in an event. These are not small awards. The scholarship offering was $6,000 from one college my son recently applyed to. Check the web sites of your student’s top picks and a couple of local colleges to get an idea of their scholarship offerings. ### College admissions are looking for STEM credits on your kid’s official transcript Often the best way to get them is to take a course for a reputable provider. We have used [CompuScholar](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschooler-edge-computer-tech-2/) for their Coding, Computer Basics and Web Design. We just used [Innovators Tribe’s: Think Like an Engineer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/stem-credits-technology-college-scholarships/) to do a really fun intro to Engineering for kids 6th to 12th grade. Innovators Tribe is open to all of your family members so it is a great purchase for a large family, but still priced well for a course of its caliber. Both of these providers offer several courses and give you a year to access the materials online. The software is included or free to download and they have great customer service. Knowing what I know now about STEM programs I am glad we chose to pay for these courses. [![](https://udemy-images.udemy.com/course/480x270/1170300_57dd_2.jpg)](https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&offerid=358574.1170300&type=2&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Felectrical-circuits-fundamentals-and-ohms-law%2F)![](https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&bids=358574.1170300&type=2&subid=0) If you are limited on funds and you have a motivated student, they can take classes from UDEMY and KHAN university. I found UDEMY classes to vary greatly in difficulty so only try entry level classed if you are just starting out. Skillshare is another place to take classes for a small monthly access fee. [![](https://udemy-images.udemy.com/course/480x270/1152722_fa8b_5.jpg)](https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&offerid=358574.1152722&type=2&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Fmemorize-maths-and-physics-formulas-learn-effectively%2F)![](https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&bids=358574.1152722&type=2&subid=0) My freshman son uses DiscoveryK12 for his daily school. They too, offer a coding class as well as computer basics and personal finance. ### Use RaiseMe to Turn Your Student’s Courses and Activities Into College Cash [RaiseMe](https://www.raise.me/i/gidsmi0) connects students with colleges that will offer incentives for good grades, activity involvement, leadership, sports and the like. They offer incentives between $100 and $4,000, depending on the activity. I found the the college we were looking at offered incentives for both computing classes and personal finance. The sooner you get your student listed on RaiseMe, the sooner they can see how much each A or B and their activities are earning them for college. My daughter was able to accrue $80,100 in college incentives from a private college with the RaiseMe site. We have visited the school, followed the application process and can assure you, this is real money towards college for your kids. [![Get Your Kids Involved in their College Earning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/A610760A-E9E0-4A39-802E-A6CC95422B11.png "Earn Cash for Good Grades › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.raise.me/i/gidsmi0)RaiseMe offers dollars for your kids grades If you want them to see their college earnings add up sign them up early### Start Looking at What You Need For Scholarship Requirements Now ![](https://store.collegeprepgenius.com/?affiliates_png=1&affiliates=165)STEM Scholarships had varied requirements, but many of them that I read over this year had a base requirement for Math test scores. For the college we looked at, their STEM/Computer technologies Scholarship required a 26 on the ACT and a commitment to Major in Computer Sciences. Each school sets up their own requirements, but math scores are definitely a deal maker. What if you need help for SAT and ACT math? We used the course from [College Prep Genius](https://store.collegeprepgenius.com/?affiliates=165) to help us prep for the test. We had very little time to use it before our kids first test. They basically just got through the overview of the test format, structure and general overview. They were much less freaked out about the test going into it. We will check their scores and if we need to retake, this is the course we will be using. I am pretty sure we will have a few re-takers but I am sure we have the right tool to help them prepare better and be ready for the next test. ### Take these tests in your students Junior Year I knew nothing about the ACT/SAT and PSAT tests or their value. They are your kid’s ticket into college. Before you freak out, the minimum score is obtainable for an intelligent student who has taken their basic requirements. It was a bit more difficult for my younger two who are not strong in math. We are reviewing their weak areas now. My son gained acceptance to the school he chose with the score from his first test. If your student is looking at a more competitive school, I would definitely test sooner and invest in a guide. These scores will help your student earn the most Scholarship funds possible before you have to start doing any sort of essay or more specific scholarship work. ### How Can You Prep For College as a Parent? I highly recommend [15 Secrets to FREE College](http://bit.ly/CollegePrepGeniusbit.ly/CollegePrepGenius) as a resource. I applied everything I read in it and was able to get a full ride for my son. His only expense will be his meal plan, and he plans to work at the school in the kitchen in exchange for a food voucher to cover that expense as well. He was able to earn over 120k in scholarship money to the school he chose. Thinking about forgoing the traditional college route all together? I recommend the book [*Accelerated Distance Learning*](http://amzn.to/2zgGaHn) by Brad Voeller. This book is full of suggestions and resources. The best part is that they can be used during high school and beyond to get a college degree for as little cash as possible without wasting precious time. The sooner your student earns their degree, the sooner they can get into the vocation or career they desire. ### Don’t Miss STEM Dollars: Take Classes Now Be sure to include Coding, Basic Computing, Web Design and/or Robotics to the mix. Check out the offering from local clubs as well. [Start learning on Udemy today!](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&offerid=358574.81&type=3&subid=0)![](https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&bids=358574.81&type=3&subid=0) ### Start testing early and often to get the scores that earn more Download the Khan University app on your teens phone. It should be required of every high school student, and do the SAT/ACT prep questions daily. Use it to brush up on your skills. If you need a program to get your score up where you need it then sign up for College Prep Genius, they guarantee that you will gain points on you tests or you money back. ### Arm Yourself with Knowledge Don’t wait. I think the greatest thing I have discovered is that it is not that hard to get you student into college if that is what they want. Schools have a great deal of funds that they need to distribute to students so they can start getting them back as tuition. With a 3.5 or higher your kid will get a good offer of a merit scholarship from a reputable college. Smaller private schools have a lot to offer your hard working student. Knowing what colleges expect to see helped me to shape our kids application to fit and to stand out. Don’t forget to sign up to use the scholarship tool RaiseMe, it is free and your student earns incentives for good grades, activity participation, college visits and test scores for all four years of high school. My daughter earned 80k using RaiseMe alone. Check it out and good luck. I hope you are ahead of the curve, but if you are like me and just learning all of this in your kids senior year don’t dismay. These are the same tools I am using to help my kids get more college dollars in their Senior year. Have a tip? Leave me a comment so I can share it. [![Udemy.com Home page 728x90](https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&bids=358574.291&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=16)](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=WfkUJtKu6Aw&offerid=358574.291&subid=0&type=4) Now that they are ready for college and all…Did you know that Amazon Prime offers a student discount? It might be the best way to kick the kids off of your Netflix account before college. [Join Prime Student FREE Two-Day Shipping for College Students](https://www.amazon.com/gp/student/signup/info/?ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1402130811706&_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=pf4&tag=200fingandtoe-20&linkId=e2fb3cab995ff45492bdc9363523770f)![](//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=200fingandtoe-20&l=pf4&o=1)| ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** college earning, college prep, Compuscholar, prepare for SAT, RaiseMe, Scholarship, STEM --- ### [Looking For a Packaged Lit Program to Jump Into Now {Crew Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/looking-packaged-lit-program-jump-now-crew-review/) **Published:** October 15, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* It is almost winter, the time when a lot of us homeschoolers decide that the literature curriculum we ordered this summer isn’t working with our student. [Writing with Sharon Watson](https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/) has a series that just might be what you are looking for; it’s called [Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis](https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/illuminating-literature-characters-in-crisis/) and is may just be the help for your curriculum crisis as well. It happens to all of us at sometime in our homeschooling career. Maybe you love the curriculum you are using for your Junior High student but are making a plan of high school. I love the these are so easy to follow. This is a huge factor for gaining independence. [![Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/11%20-%20November/14%20-%20Illuminating%20Literature%20Characters%20in%20Crisis/Cover-STUDENT-WWSW-232x300_zpsmlwcgdx4.png)](https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/illuminating-literature-characters-in-crisis/)### You Want You Child to Dig Deeper with Literature My newest high school student was not raised in the literature rich environment the older kids were used to. Instead of afternoon and bedtime stories; he caught the tail end of read-alouds as he was racing through our school room at a thousand miles an hour. Getting his to even read was a challenge. He struggled through all of elementary. Now that he is back on track I have struggled to find a curriculum that would really help him read with an analytical eye and has a component that would help him get his writing on track. #### Characters in Crisis could not have come to us at a better time I was having a hard time getting my son to understand the assignments in his online school, so we decided to pull his LA and use this composition and Literature curriculum by Sharon Watson instead. ### They Are Ready to Work Alone but Need A Guide #### My son likes to have very clear expectations. The instructions for each lesson are in one place right in the text book. He can follow the daily instructions and write his answers right in the book. This choice works for me because this child can get a bit…distracted. Having the answers written in the book helps me to see that he has done his daily work. You can download the free [Student Novel Note Book](https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/illuminating-literature-characters-in-crisis-gateway/) which is really fun. The best part is the online quizzes. They are FREE with the course. The password is in the book for each test and quiz. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IlluminatingLitterature-230x300.jpeg "IlluminatingLiterature › 200 Fingers & Toes") You can log your student on to get the hang of it. They ask for an email so if you have to jump out you don’t lost your place, but that is not the best part. They email you back a full report with the questions, your answers, the correct answers, and your score It is all sent to the email address you sign in with. ### Cut out the Middle Man with Sharon Watson’s FREE Quiz Get your kids used to working for someone other than you. That is one of the biggest challenges of homeschooling. Your kids will give their all to a coach or a class they chose to be in, but often we spend our school time pulling to get stuff done. This is one less item that depends on your opinion or involvement. [![Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/11%20-%20November/14%20-%20Illuminating%20Literature%20Characters%20in%20Crisis/cover-for-site-IL-CiC-Novel-Notebook-cover_1_1_1-232x300_zpscmlelt7i.jpg)](https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/illuminating-literature-characters-in-crisis/)### Getting Them Ready for That Transition to Independent Work Sooner Putting your teens in the driver seat every chance you get. I love the final projects at the end of each chapter. There is a ton of choice to fit every skill and learning style. There are many ways to express what you have learned and I like how Sharon Watson has chosen to allow students to pick items that are not just writing. Let your kids show their creative sides and they might just surprise you. My son already has asked some pretty surprising questions, is digging deeper in his research and is planning on doing any project that is NOT written for the remainder of the course. There is plenty of writing in the lessons themselves that I know he is getting just the right amount of writing, reading and inspiration for my homeschool. ### Building Vocabulary Through Literature I am a word hound. I was the kids who read the dictionary and loved finding new words. I was like Templeton the rat in *Charlotte’s Web* always looking for the right word. Every reading is followed by a quiz, Opinion Survey and a Literary Terms Quiz. The reading selections are definitely challenging and guaranteed to be engaging. The theme of our Course is Characters in Crisis. These are the reading selections. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3519-300x300.jpg "Reading for Characters in Crisis › 200 Fingers & Toes")Reading that will challenge and storie that will keep your readers engagedThe goal here it have your kids gain understanding of the texts they are reading. The vocabulary words are true $2 words. Your student will be stretched and strengthened by every reading activity to help support their learning. [![Writing with Sharon Watson](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/11%20-%20November/14%20-%20Illuminating%20Literature%20Characters%20in%20Crisis/Writing%20with%20Sharon%20Watson_zps1ksbue8s.jpg)](https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/) Get you homeschool teen reading critically, and independently by the end of the school year with [Illuminating Characters.](https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/illuminating-literature-characters-in-crisis/) Check out the website and sign up for FREE writing prompts. Want to see more? Check out [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WritingWithSharonWatson) and [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/writingwithshar) [![Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis {Writing with Sharon Watson Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg) ](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/illuminating-literature-characters-in-crisis-writing-with-sharon-watson-reviews/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Composition, high school writing, homeschool writing, literature, Sharon Watson --- ### [Don't Miss STEM Credits That Equal College Cash](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/stem-credits-technology-college-scholarships/) **Published:** November 7, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* STEM is a hot subject in education for all of the right reasons and colleges are rewarding students who have STEM credits on their transcript. We are putting [Think Like an Engineer](https://www.innovatorstribe.com/engineer); the course from [Innovators Tribe](https://www.innovatorstribe.com/), on our transcript for .25 credit hours after we finish our review period. The best part is that both of my sons can use the same course individually or together. We can have our own STEM lab right here at home. [![Thinking Like an Engineer](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/11%20-%20November/7%20-%20Inovators%20Tribe/Thinking%20Like%20an%20Engineer_zpss3vv2gm1.jpg)](https://www.innovatorstribe.com/engineer)### What is STEM? In general, classroom education has done a poor job of creating innovative thinkers over the last seventy years. Science and technology fields are seeing a drop in well qualified applicants to their programs every year. Something needed to be done to end this stagnation. Schools needed to change in a hurry, so they created a program to encourage curriculum choices in the fields of **S**cience, **T**echnology, **E**ngineering and **M**athematics. The truth is that *policy moves progress* and putting STEM programs into the schools helps teachers fund and utilize programs in their class rooms. ### What does this mean for homeschoolers? Homeschool students have always tested higher in technology, math and science over the national standard. One of the reasons is that this new way of learning being introduced in the public school system, is not new to homeschoolers. Teaching innovation and problems solving is often a large part of what homeschoolers do. This means that we have a chance to really showcase the unique ways our kids have been able to learn and get those experiences recognized in a way that mean transcript credit and future college moniey for our kids. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/0643A553-EC7F-40C8-934F-BCAAA6DD4E9F-300x169.jpeg "Applied Learning is Getting the Credit it Desrevs › 200 Fingers & Toes")Creating a real world project takes so many skills Innovators Tribe helps you to put that on your transcript### How does STEM mean college money? STEM Scholarships! This year is the first year I have had to fill our college forms and applications. One thing I saw on every application was questions about STEM activity and participation. Robotics clubs, and groups with a STEM focus were rewarded with Scholarship dollars on sites like RaiseMe. Schools are looking for kids who have had real STEM experience. Courses like Think Like an Engineer from Innovators Tribe give us an easy way to earn STEM credits in a way that can make the transcript process painless when it is time to fill out those applications for your student. ![Don’t miss taking a course that will prepare your student for life AND get them college money](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/0956CA85-8C85-4A24-ADE8-C5604AF3045A-225x300.jpeg "STEM success means College Money! › 200 Fingers & Toes")This is just one of the Scholarship offers that we have had come across my desk in the last few weeks### Do you feel like your are behind the trend? Not a problem. Innovators Tribe has the courses that will not only give your child the credit hours but will have them thinking like a problem solver. Each course is 30 hours long and is packed full of relevant material and includes the 3D CAD software access you need to complete their projects. These programs are not little kiddie versions. These are real design programs and the skills your child will learn is real work skill building. Each course comes with 18 months of access AND the software is yours to keep. Every minute your child works is not wasted because they can keep creating long after they have kicked off their training wheels. [![Innovators Tribe What You Get](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/11%20-%20November/7%20-%20Inovators%20Tribe/Whats%20Included_zpstjuqgsmt.jpg)](https://www.innovatorstribe.com/)### What will they learn and how? My son logged on and started with the Introduction to Engineering portion. The video segments in this portion are short and the hands on activities will take more time. The boys had several challenges. One was to use specific materials to create a support the would keep a stack of books one inch off the table top. Then add books to see how many it would hold. This got the whole household thinking of ways to improve the original idea. For a second imagine all of the kids working together to solve a problem. This is what a Tribe of Innovators looks like. These are the kids that build bridges over creeks and then try to ride their bikes over it. They stack as many cookies on a napkin as possible because that was the allowable surface. They might take the hinges apart to see how they work or are obsessed with how-to YouTube videos. If your kids likes to challenge the norm you might have an innovator. The goal at our house is to harness that power for good, before the kids use it to make me crazy. ### What if I don’t know how to teach STEM? **Enrolling in a course is a great way to do two things.**#### 1. Find out if your kids in a natural innovator. Some kids are going to jump right into the course and love the challenges. They are going to thrive on the ability to try again and again to make their idea work. They are going to love that this is REAL school. **OR**Your child will have the structure to help him learn that failure is an important part of the process. You might have a kid who hates to try new things or can not accept failure. An Innovators Course gives them a safe place to learn about experimentation and the process of trial and error. Failure is part of the learning process. I wrote a whole article about it for Sonlight and I will add the link to the comments section. #### 2. Teach your kids to use high-capacity, real world, technology tools. The Innovators Tribe doesn’t just throw your child into a cheap program nor do they leave them with too little instruction to real get a feel for what the program does. The CAD program has a two hour training course, broken up to help your student do everything that is asked of them and like I said, you keep the program software so your can keep innovating and creating. Creating Projects, Creates Creative Thinkers The boys are very excited about their upcoming projects. In the course of the lessons they will design a bridge, a roller coaster and learn about Nano technologies in design. This is a lot of creative thinking and experimenting for your middle to high schooler. When they are done the have access to the **BONUS COURSE**; Think Like an Innovator, that will have them applying the skills they just learned to everyday life. Who knows where this could lead your student.![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/9F4A2463-A1CB-4F21-9EA4-43860D3BB80E-127x300.png "If you build it › 200 Fingers & Toes")![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/F400838A-5554-4CA5-A383-36FE92F99028-127x300.png "Carpentry Skills for Life › 200 Fingers & Toes")Other Courses from Innovators Tribe include [Think Like an Architect](https://www.innovatorstribe.com/architect), and [Think Like a Carpenter](https://www.innovatorstribe.com/carpenter) is launching soon. I just read an article about a 13 year old who built his first “Tiny House” and could see a kid using the Carpentry course to do the same thing. Right now the are having a 35% off sale until 11-11-17 so check it out if you want to add this to your second semester plans. [![Thinking Like an Architect or Engineer {Innovators Tribe Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/thinking-like-an-architect-or-engineer-innovators-tribe-reviews/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")SaveSaveSaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, Innovators Tribe, Online Learing, STEM, Technology, Think Like an Engineer --- ### [Knowing the Phase of Life You're In](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/knowing-the-phase-of-life-youre-in/) **Published:** November 6, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** The first seven years of homeschooling were our training years. We worked on kindness, sharing and ownership, self discipline, and obedience more often than we worked on letters and numbers. We trained our kids with long term goals in mind. When we saw areas that were frustrations or skills we needed, we set up ways to work on them. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have you ever visited a friend, only to come home and start to think you need to invest in an interior decorator. ### Comparison can lead us down a discouraging path ##### A fellow homeschool Mom shared her experience after such a visit. They had just scraped everything they had together to buy their first house. She was schooling at home and making every penny count. She wondered if she should be redirecting her already limited funds toward a beautification project. Her house was shabby. She felt like it was a reflection the showed she didn’t care. Obviously, she cared enough to ask a few Mom friends for advice. As I read her question, I remembered feeling that exact same inadequacy. We bought a little 100 year old farm house. It was perfect for us. It was far from a show house. It had good bones but it was going to take years to get out to where we needed it to be. ![10 things we learned from our renovation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2015-06-07-20.53.15.jpg "10 tips from our whole house renovation › 200 Fingers & Toes")in the process of renovating our 100 year old farm house we learned 10 valuable lessons that will save you time and money### Any long term goal takes endurance and a vision When we bought the farmhouse, we knew we were going to have to pay it off before we could do the updates it needed. It was going to take years of looking at bad walls, ugly tiles and playing the light switch game. A game you can only play with old wiring with switches all lined up on one straight run. Before dinner, it could take three of us, each stationed at a different switch. On. Off. One at a time until we got the right combination of switches flipped for the light to come on. It was crazy, but we made it a game we still talk about today. Every time I would get frustrated with the ugly parts of our house, I would just tell myself; We are in Phase One. It became my personal catchphrase. ![Let it Go. There are some things that aren't going to make the cut](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2013-06-18-14.29.28.jpg "In a huge project, priorities make great friends › 200 Fingers & Toes")There are only so much cash and mind power allowed to your project and the fact remains you will reach the end of one of them Sanity saver tip 9 let it goPhase One; when the tiles literally fell of the kitchen wall, and when the squares of linoleum came up and we had a plywood patch in our kitchen. When the kids brought me the tub faucet because they broke it off, and the plumbing was so old, the guy at Home Depot had never seen a pipe that size before; I would just repeat to myself we in Phase One and it won’t be like this forever. I did paint with bold colors, so we didn’t look like we were moving. I put up the art work we had even though I didn’t really love it. It was a start. The reward of a beautiful home was not going to be quick in coming. This “Phase One” attitude helped me to remember why my house looked the way it did. We had a long term goal. ### The same can be said for my Homeschool Life ##### You need to know how to stay on track for any situation in life. Homeschooling is no different. To keep your focus on your families priorities, you need to know what phase of life you are in. When other people’s kids sat neatly in church without being hovered over and I had to retrieve mine from under the front row again, I would remind myself that we were just starting. The first seven years of homeschooling were [our training years](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/breaking-the-surfacethe-3rd-wave-of-motherhood/). We worked on kindness, sharing and ownership, self discipline, and obedience more often than we worked on letters and numbers. We trained our kids with long term goals in mind. When we saw areas that were frustrations or skills we needed, we set up ways to work on them. Just like the Lady who wrote the post wondering about her decorating skills, I had a friend question her parenting skills after a particularly grueling morning spent wrangling two rowdy boys out from under pews. She expressed, wishfully; if only her kids would sit as quietly in church as our kids did. I laughed out loud, remembering the days when I said the very same words. I reminded her about being in the learning phase of living, the Phase One years. ![Big project or small these tip will apply to any job](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-07-29-13.55.16.jpg "2013-07-29 13.55.16 › 200 Fingers & Toes")5 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling How do you respond when thrown a curve ball### Let me encourage you. ##### Don’t compare your Phase One to anyone else. Don’t fall into pushing so hard for your goals that you miss what is right in front of you. Embrace the season you are in and look for ways to get a little closer to your end goal every day. We are so blessed because we learned to look at our long term goals to motivate us in our daily life. Ps. We did get that farmhouse paid off in 13 years and did our whole house renovation. I am still working slowly on decorating. I have completed one room at a time. All with resale or clearance items. If it is not your bag to decorate ask your sister in law if she wants to help keep an eye out for great deals for you. She might actually be a great resource. If you have a house project on your list you definitely want to read the series on [Sanity Savers for Remodeling. ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling-concludes-get-your-project-on-2/) ![decorating with color for less](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_1702-e1441888330859-1788087293-1509986655674.jpg "decorating for less › 200 Fingers & Toes")white was not working for me so I embraced color and am having fun with my own style ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Bypass Frustration with Readers That Make Sense {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/readers-build-vocabulary-assessment-tools/) **Published:** October 31, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Who else hates Leveled Reader books? I am loving [The Magic Stories](http://www.themagicstories.com/) (Allsaid & Dunn, LLC, publishers of The Reading Game and authors of the Wordly Wise series) for two reasons: first, the list of The Naughty 40 (words) to prep before the story and secondly, the squeal of delight when I gave my daughter her own book to color and read for herself. [![The Magic Stories {Allsaid & Dunn, LLC. Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/31%20-%20Magic%20Stories/MagicStories-Graphic-w-exercises_zpsffbkcmta.jpg)](http://www.themagicstories.com/)### Have you ever wondered how well your child is reading? With the full set of book from The Magic Stories, not only do I have six printable little books with a well crafted tale, moral teaching (think Aesop’s Fables), and adventure, but there are fun and east to use assessing tools as well. ##### You do not have to be in the dark about how well your 2nd or 3rd graders is reading. Leveled readers always make me crazy because they are full of words that are NOT readable for the level my kid is in. The Magic Stories ends that frustrating loop. They give you the list of difficult words first. You can introduce and play with the words for a while before you get to the reading. No more frustration from a popular character book that is supposed to be helping my beginning reader. Magic Stories lay a foundation to bypass frustration and get your kids on the road to reading success faster. ### Here is what we did… I **printed the story** on regular sheets of paper and put it in one of those folders with the brads in the center. I had them on hand for my own project. I like the ones with the clear front so I can easily see what is in each folder. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3430-300x300.jpg "Print, punch and go › 200 Fingers & Toes")All I needed to do to prepare to use Magic Stories was hot the print button on my screenThese worked great because I told my daughter she was going to have her very own book AND she could color all of the illustrations herself as she read up to them. The cover was her first coloring project and she could show her handy work right away. If you are loving the **digital option**, have the kids read on the Kindle or iPad and you could print the illustrations to give them as coloring sheets. ### [![The Magic Stories {Allsaid & Dunn, LLC. Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/31%20-%20Magic%20Stories/MagicStories-iPad_zps6esrtjhe.jpg)](http://www.themagicstories.com/) Before we read we went over the **Word Assessment Worksheet**. This is a one page sheet with a word list of the Naughty 40 that you will cover in the story. I was surprised about this page. It is a long list. Your child tries to read each word and tell you the meaning. You check the ones they know before you have worked on [the Magic Stories](http://www.themagicstories.com/), and after you have completed the series you can go back and reassess. You will have a clear gauge if your child has added to their vocabulary knowledge. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3431-1024x1024.jpg "Get to really know if your child is making progress with assessments › 200 Fingers & Toes")Easy to do and fun to use Assessing is one of those things we need to do for our own information from time to timeI **printed the vocabulary words** on card stock. Clearly, I am not nearly as cool as the folks who run the program. My card stock is while. I have no sense of adventure. I plan on shaking it up and getting a colored set next time, but remember to get light colored pages. Darker pager are hard to read from and we are working with beginning readers here. The vocabulary cards can be used to work on words that are new to your reader. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3428-1024x1024.jpg "Build Vocabulary › 200 Fingers & Toes")Learning cards make it easy to cover the words your child is going to see in the readingMy daughter (9) knew 35/40 words, so we are using them to help her younger siblings learn new words. This will help reinforce the words she is learning and, at the same time, I will prepare two more little readers for the price of one. (this is about a dollar each for us, each book set is only $3.95 and the whole six book set is just $16.95, a great value for all that you can do with these) Before you read the story for the first time I used the **Running Record sheet** to get a true snap shot of my readers accuracy. All she did was read from the 100 word excerpt from the book. I circled any words she hesitated or could not read. Following the simple instructions I could then calculate her accuracy with a percentage. Now I can keep that and recheck after we have worked with the text for a while. ### **Before you think this is overwhelming…** All of this took no more prep than hitting print on my computer screen. The reading portion took two minutes for the Running Record sheet. My daughter surprised me but taking her time to tell me some great definitions on the Word Assessment sheet. For a few minutes of effort I have a lot of valuable assessment work in my files that can help me see how well my child is learning. ### What about comprehension? You are going to love the tools that you get to play with. The first exercise is a Maze made to check for comprehension. From the START they read a question and answer T or F to progress through the maze. You can do the reading if you think your kids will read ahead. For every wrong turn they check the missed answer box. Five checks and they need to read the story again. They can always try again, but you have a powerful way to see how they are processing what they are reading. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3432-1024x1024.jpg "Reading comprehension is easy to gauge › 200 Fingers & Toes")Just follow the map and see if they can answer the questions If not simply read again and talk about the story as you go### Want to add a little more and make The Magic Stories a little school project? Maybe you want to start working on book reports. Or you just want to have a little break from the norm. Either way, there are three more Exercise pages for your to use or choose from for every story. Maybe you could have writers Fridays or you could have the whole folder ready for one of those school days when nothing is going right or you have a long list of errands and appointments. A folder with a pouch of crayons is all you would need to school the go. Your child can choose a writing project with prompts from the story. They can make some decisions, and circle the best answer and then write a few sentences. Or Your child can complete the sentences from the story in their own words. All of the exercises are right out of the story. The levels are varied so you can have work that fits your reader’s ability. Every task will aid in vocabulary building and reading comprehension. Both of these lead to success in schoolwork and testing. Check out a few more reviews in the link below and see how others are using these as well. [![The Magic Stories {Allsaid & Dunn, LLC. Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/the-magic-stories-allsaid-dunn-llc-reviews/) [![The Magic Stories {Allsaid & Dunn, LLC. Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/31%20-%20Magic%20Stories/Magic%20Stories%20Logo%20screen_zpsz6hlvlop.png)](http://www.themagicstories.com/) If you are looking for stories with character building themes that reinforces moral ideals that are universal, you would find a winner in The Magic Stories. With all that they have to add to your reading time with their assessment tools, you come off as a pretty smart shopper with your homeschool dollars. You can also find The Magic Stories on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheReadingGame/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/TheReadingGame2), [Pinterest](https://au.pinterest.com/TheReadingGame/) and [YouTube.](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVfPcsCZ7zyM7kjiD5Qjn5g) ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** character stories, elementary reading, Homeschool, morals, reading, reading assessment, reading comprehension --- ### [Getting a Grip Made Easy for Your Kindergartener](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/getting-grip-made-easy-kindergartener/) **Published:** October 17, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This week I have crossed two posts where parents were asking about their child’s pencil grip and how to a correct problems. It was fortunate that I was just wrapping up my review for [The Pencil Grip, Inc.](http://www.thepencilgrip.com/) of [The 3 Step Pencil Grip Training Kit](http://amzn.to/2zl0wyE) and [The Ultra Safe Safety Scissors](http://amzn.to/2zACOQ2), so I was able to share a cool tool that could make the process simple. [![The Pencil Grip, Inc.](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/11%20-%20November/6%20The%20Pencil/TPG%20LOGO_zpsow4memom.jpg)](http://www.thepencilgrip.com/)### Transitioning to Writing For School Can Cause Fatigue This is one of the reasons there is so much emphasis on fine motor skill activities for young children. We are really doing strength training for the classroom or homeschool. When a child has not developed the strength in their hands for the rigors of daily writing activities their little hand will become fatigued. Fatigues can lead to two things: student who refuses to write, or poor pencil grip to compensate for weakness. Both lead to struggles that waste learning time and lead to a misplaced frustration with learning activities. Something as simple as correcting their pencil grip could solve a much bigger problem. ![Help them get a grip on School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3253-1024x1024.jpg "Hand fatigue was one of the factors we had to overcome with little ones › 200 Fingers & Toes")The Pencil Grip Inc can help make corrections before fatigue keep your little one from writing well ### How Can We Combat Hand Fatigue? Fine motor skill activities do not have to be expensive or extravagant. My oldest child loved to shred the junk mail. As I sorted the mail, I would give hime a pile of the rejects. He would shred letters into strips before putting them into the recycle. Exercises like these help strengthen little hands. Manipulatives like play-dough where children shape and squeeze are as creative as they are strengthening. Time on the swings and jungle gym can also help with your child’s grip strength. We have also set up sorting stations with buttons or beads for our preschool kids. A simple egg carton with numbers for them to fill or allow them to creatively sort according to characteristics they choose. Picking through small items are a great way to strengthen little hands. We have had success using Pearler Beads with kids as young as five. Not only did the kids practice their fine motor skills, but we made some pretty sweet little Mine Craft ornaments for our future Christmas tree. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_0419-1024x1024.jpg "Clay Play › 200 Fingers & Toes")Playing with Clay can build hand strength### How Can We Correct a Grip Problem? The Pencil Grip, Inc. not only has scientifically engineered grips that help your child correct the way they hold their pencil; they have also provided a guide to help you through the process. The grips we used at home came in a set of three and could be used to incrementally change your child’s holding pattern in a way that was less intrusive. As they work with the grip they are strengthening the correct hand posture and using their muscles without fatigue. You won’t be stuck using them forever. You can transition between the three at the pace of your child. My son liked the 3rd grip for himself since he is left handed. He has a good posture but the grip kept him from getting that writers dent we all hate. He keeps sneaking it away from his brother every chance he gets, so I know he must like it. ### Cutting earlier with safety scissors. One of the best ways to build hand strength in your child’s dominant hand is cutting with scissors, by far. My kid’s would often just shred through a piece of construction paper right into the garbage can. If you are concerned about safety The Pencil Grip, Inc. has developed the Safest Scissors on the market. I would advise gettig them early. [![The Ultra Safe Safety Scissors](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/11%20-%20November/6%20The%20Pencil/B00P8X1WLA.PT02_zpsyakdubhp.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Pencil-Grip-Ultra-Safety-Scissor/dp/B00P8X1WLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504034884&sr=8-1&keywords=ultra+safe+safety+scissor)They are easy to use, but I found that they were difficult for a child who is already used to the range of motion of unprotected scissors. My son is five and got used to using them with little struggle. They would be better for a beginner that just wants to cut paper in a straight line. ### The Little Yellow Push Bar Helps Young Kids Cut With Scissors Sooner The little arm offers a return action so the scissors open back to cut again. This motion of opening the scissors is what usually kept any of my kids from using scissors while they were younger. With the assistance they could be cutting safely far sooner. Which could mean your might not even have to correct pencil grip for those strong little hands. Either way it is a good set to have on hand for when you feel like your little one is ready to begin learning more coordinated motions with his hands. Feel free to read the other reviews in the link and check out their [Kwik Stix review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/my-1-parenting-rule-limit-this-word/) for coloring and painting with out the hassle. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") [![Ultra Safe Safety Scissors & Pencil Grip Training Kit {The Pencil Grip, Inc. Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/ultra-safe-safety-scissors-pencil-grip-training-kit-the-pencil-grip-inc-reviews/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Reaching the Heart of Little Believers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/reaching-heart-little-believers/) **Published:** October 30, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Remember the [Little Pumpkin Tracks](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/leading-little-hearts-jesus-breadcrumbs-love-candy/) I shared about from [Let the Little Children Come](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/)? We were also shipped their wonderful [Gospel Tracks and Evangelism Tools Sampler Pack](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-tools/gospel-tracts-and-evangelism-tools-sampler-pack) for children to review. My kids all claimed something for their own. The little prizes made me nostalgic for my first Sunday school days many years ago. [![ Let the Little Children Come Gospel Tracks](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/30%20-%20Gospel%20Tracks/gospel-tracts-A101-main-a_zpsw54glt7e.png)](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-tools/gospel-tracts-and-evangelism-tools-sampler-pack)### Why is child evangelism close to my heart? When I was nine, a lady invited us to Sunday school at her church. My Mom worked hard as a single Mother of four. When she wasn’t working she was taking a few classes to get closer to her goal o becoming a nurse. This woman offered to come over and get us ready herself if we wanted to go. She was true to her word. With her kindness and sincere act of love, we became attenders of church. It did not take long for God to capture my Mother’s heart for Himself and change our family forever. #### **Children Love Treats and Prizes, It is in Their Make-up** For my Mother is was the love of Christ and the sacrifice He made for her atonement. For me, it was ginger snaps, apple juice and stories outside in the jungle like atrium of the community college where our church was meeting. I remember the first time I went to a Sunday School. The teacher was a young tender hearted guy. He was fun and engaging when he told stories, but the best part was in his briefcase. That worn, brow, leather case was always full of new little prizes. I looked froward to earning little books and trinkets so much. Even today I can feel the sun on my face in the atrium and the happy feeling those little treats gave me. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3056.jpg "Little Gospel Gifts › 200 Fingers & Toes")They love the little take home treasures#### **Child Evangelism Needs Physical Representations** Just like the moving tracts and bracelet kit that were in my [sample pack](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-tools/gospel-tracts-and-evangelism-tools-sampler-pack). These were the little gifts that motivated me to participate, memorize scripture and anticipate Sunday School class times with joy. ### A True Partner For Children’s Ministry [Let the Little Children Come](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/) is a great resource for evangelizing to children. They created quality, focused ministry gifts that children want that parlay the deep meaning of the message of sacrifice and redemption that we all need to hear. They are not light on the gospel message, nor apologetic in being clear. Their site is full of helpful resources for people who are working with children and wish to share Christ in a way that will lead to lasting fruit. I really enjoyed this printable about the [Do’s and Don’ts When Evangelizing to Children](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-resources/evangelizing-to-children). Definitely hop over and click around their site. They are a good resource and partner for those who want to reach the heart of little believers. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3058.jpg "Does You treat do this › 200 Fingers & Toes")Each had the story of redemption as the main focus![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3059-e1504899401325.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes")Scripture flip story took me a few minutes to figure out![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3060.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes")Make a bracelet kits for groups![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3057.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes")Truth about how to begin your journey and an emphasis on continuing to growIf your are looking for gift for your Sunday School class rooms, children ministers or outreach programs, [Let the Little Children Come](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/) has items that keep the message of the Gospels central with small items kids love. [![Let The Little Children Come](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/30%20-%20Gospel%20Tracks/child-evangelism_zpsl93gmpbp.png)](https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/)[![Gospel Tracts and Evangelism Tools {Let the Little Children Come Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/gospel-tracts-and-evangelism-tools-let-the-little-children-come-reviews/) ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Lay a Timeless Foundation of Faith with a Guided Bible Study](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/upper-elementary-bible-study-weave-your-word-in-me/) **Published:** October 23, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My upper elementary kids are ready to start a Bible study of their own. We had the chance to review [Weave Your Word in Me — Part 1 ](http://kidniche.com/shop/bible-and-prayer-curriculum-for-tweens-part-1/)from [Kid Niche Christian Books](http://kidniche.com/) and have found a solid introduction to reading and studying God’s word for themselves. [![*******](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/23%20-%20Kid%20Niche%20Christian%20Books/Weave%201%20Cover%20with%20Holes%20Part%201_zpsvfc5kjn5.png)](http://kidniche.com/shop/bible-and-prayer-curriculum-for-tweens-part-1/)### A Guided Study Creates Consistency I have a hard time making myself stick with a Bible Study consistently. Among my friends, I find that this is true for them as well. Part of being a parent is trying to help my kids avoid struggles I face as an adult. I love the word of God, but digging in for my personal growth is something I have to continually reinstate in an intentional way every few months. ### Help Your Kids Take the Wheel For myself the best way to stay in the word of God is to get a Bible Study or join a group. I am a person who is externally motivated, a group study helps me stay on track. My heart’s desire is for my kids to have a far more natural relationship with digging into God’s word. They have been doing it all of their lives with me at the lead. By upper elementary, it is time for them to start taking the wheel for themselves. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3381-1024x1024.jpg "Kid Paced › 200 Fingers & Toes")The guide has just enough answer space to get a response Get then thinking not working### Easy to Fill In Prompts Get Your Kids Thinking Weave Your Word in Me is simple to use. All you need is the notebook pages (I threw them into an old binder) your Bible, and Pencil and dictionary. The blank answer pages are compatible with KJV, ESV, NKJV, NIV, NASB and NABRE. This means your child can really work with a high degree of independence. ### Help Them Meet God Themselves The focus of the study is MEETING GOD; learning about who God the Father and God the Son are and how each is uniquely separate and still uniquely God as well. Part 2 covers What God Wants from us. Your kids spend three weeks learning about choosing wisely, serving others, loving good, and true heart centered obedience. They also will learn about depending on God because He wants to hear them. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3380-1024x1024.jpg "Weave the Word in their Hearts › 200 Fingers & Toes")Begin by knowing Who God is### Let You Child See The Plan of God For Themselves…Personalized and Perfect We teach these things but this study is for your child to begin to internalize the scriptures for themselves. They are holding the spoon for the first time and feeding themselves. There is a new level of intake that comes from this process. This is the age my kids are starting to ask really good questions. They are hungry for answers and I want them to know that they are not too young for find the answers they seek. In the last part of Part 2 your child will learn about the attributes of the third part of the Holy trinity, the Holy Spirit. Part 1 will prepare them by knowing God’s plan to make them His own. This study also serves as a prayer guide. The scripture they learn is their guide as they begin to speak to God on a personal level. The prayers they write are simple but not light. They are rooted in each scripture that the lesson taught. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3383-1024x1024.jpg "It is time for them to start taking time to know God for themselves too. › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### Get The Word in Your Heart My daughter had just been asking how I knew so much scripture. I am blessed, music is my cheat sheet. If it is in a song lyric, them my mind will remember it. That is why I love kid’s albums that have scripture lyrics. That put a great deal of the word in my heart, but as I told her, the rest was good old fashion memorization methods. My husband and I carried around a stack of 3X5 cards with us forever. Using this Bible Study has given her a place to begin working on her own collection of scriptures. [![Kid Niche Christian Books](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/23%20-%20Kid%20Niche%20Christian%20Books/Kid%20Niche%20Christian%20Books%20Logo_zpsog5twbec.png)](http://kidniche.com/) If you are looking for a way to help your child begin the habit of learning God’s Word and spending time in regular personal study, [Weave Your Word in Me](http://kidniche.com/shop/bible-and-prayer-curriculum-for-tweens-part-1/) would be a great study to begin with. It would also make a great group study. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3384-1024x1024.jpg "Check out Kid Niche Christian Books for additional activities › 200 Fingers & Toes")More to add online### Bonus Material for Every Lesson There are also thoughtful activities and video clips to add on to each lesson at [kidniche.com/activities](http://kidniche.com/activities/) which you could lead, but are simple enough for my savvy crafter to complete herself. [![Weave Your Word in Me {Kid Niche Christian Books Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/weave-your-word-in-me-kid-niche-christian-books-reviews/)That might be the best part is allowing my child to take ownership of their relationship with God, after all that is the desire of my heart as a parent, that my children learn who God is for themselves and love His, even as I myself do. That is a work only the Holy Spirit can do, but we help create a ready heart as they turn theirs toward Him. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Bible curriculum, bible study, children and prayer, children's prayer, Homeschool, Lord's Prayer, Our Father, prayer, prayer curriculum for tweens --- ### [This Online Learning Tool is More Than Mere Child's Play {Crew Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-learning-elementary-reading-eggs/) **Published:** October 16, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Living in the digital age is difficult; kids are savvy tech users and won’t use a poorly made app for very long. I appreciate [Reading Eggs](https://readingeggs.com/) ability to capture my daughter’s interest in a way no other online learning app has. She is jumping into elementary reading and playing after her “school” is done. I am not going to tell her that she is still doing her school work if you won’t. [![Reading Eggs*](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/16%20-%20Reading%20Eggs/RE1701231000_FREE-4WEEK-TRIAL_zpsgbqg9sph.png)](https://readingeggs.com/)I admit, I am just like you. I have seen Reading Eggs for years. Even with the [four week free trial offer](http://www.readingeggs.com/crew1), I never bit. Are you asking why? Have you ever loaded an iPad or Kindle with a bunch of learning apps, thinking you’re doing a champion job of parenting, only to find your kids only wants to launch birds with a slingshot! I’ve changed the setting on the Kindle to force learning games before play time, but still the kids would be in the game component of the learning app and not spending time in the teaching portion. That is fine with a free app, but could an app I paid for be that much better? When I saw the offer to review Reading Eggs, I saw a chance to answer my question. ### Learning with Play ![Can you play to learn?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3280-1024x1024.jpg "Learning and Play › 200 Fingers & Toes")Children love to play It is in their DNA so why not capture that desire and wrap a lot of learning around this app that feels more like a game### Children Love to Play Research says they don’t get enough of it. We do all of our school the traditional way; books, paper and pencil. Reading Eggs gave our day a touch of play. My daughter looked forward to working with the program as soon as she finished her book work and read aloud time. She willing “played” for another hour of school. That was an extension of learning time I was not going to get by reading longer. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3282-1024x1024.jpg "Ecarte › 200 Fingers & Toes")Captured interest means busy learners### Little ones only have so long of an attention span I have heard it is roughly the same as their age. The lesson times in the program are built with that fact in mind. Series of smaller mini games translate to big learning. Winning each phase builds confidence at the same times as read reading skills. Kids can jump out of a reading game and into a math game without losing their progress. Everything is simple to navigate. This is a huge factor for me. I never have to log them back into their page of choose the appropriate level. The just open the app and begin. ![Keep them learning longer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/fullsizeoutput_1f01-1024x768.jpeg "Changing games gives them the change they need to keep learning › 200 Fingers & Toes")Even though your childs attention span is short so are the games### Mindful Use of Electronics: Online Learning Often the only time I allow the kids to use their electronics for learning during school time is when I am working with other students. A few programs didn’t make the cut because I kept having to come over to the computer to help my younger child find their place again. Reading Eggs actually works very well from a phone screen. This makes it the most school friendly app I have used all year. With limited computers, I like the fact that we can free up a screen for another student to do math or science while the little one uses my phone nearby. ![Beyond reading...](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/fullsizeoutput_1f02-1024x768.jpeg "Full curriculum of possibilities › 200 Fingers & Toes")Reading Eggs has more that just phonics practice### Know What They Are Working On My girl is working on sight words and the game is helping her build onto her library of words. For every lesson I can pull up the scope and sequence; words, letters, and concepts that are covered. I know what she is learning. I can print worksheets as well. This is great as a tool to reinforce what she has learned and for us to work on her writing the letters she is learning. Being able to work parallel to the app has helped me to maintain the enthusiasm she feels about reading, from screen to paper. ![Want to reinforce what they are learning?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3305-225x300.jpg "Match Up Learning Milestones With Paper Worksheets › 200 Fingers & Toes")Solidify their learning at the end of the day Reading Eggs provides parallel learning ### Stretch Your Child Beyond Your Expectations Kids are very often capable of so much more than we give them credit for. Reading Eggs gives my kids a place to practice elementary reading and explore how far they can go without having to follow a textbook. With our text based curriculum we follow the prescribed pages and learn what is in the lesson. In the online learning app they are pushing their learning beyond the text. With the drag and drop words, my daughter was writing sentences she wouldn’t have been able to on paper. Now she knows she CAN write a long sentence. Practice leads to mastery. In the game she can practice for as long as she likes, but while she does she is mastering some vital reading skills. ![Find out what your child is capable of](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3283-1024x1024.jpg "Drag and drop story making › 200 Fingers & Toes")You child can be creating sentences before you know it Before you thought they were ready### Use it for elementary reading practice or try Reading Eggs for your K-2 curriculum. Reading Eggs just launched their homeschool schedule to support home educators. Now you can use their program as a spine for their school day. If you are looking into homeschooling but aren’t sure if you want to invest in a full scale curriculum, this might be a great way to get your feet wet. From an IPad, Kindle or computer screen you can use this side by side and work as a team for a more guided approach to your child’s learning. [![Scope & Sequence](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/D0208062-5331-4F08-B885-2115EAF8C380.large_-1024x768.jpg "Scope and Sequence › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-learning-elementary-reading-eggs/d0208062-5331-4f08-b885-2115eaf8c380-large/) Scope and Sequence of Every Lesson [![Don't Guess, Try a Lesson Out](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/05117E71-15C0-45D4-8334-0479C3EB67AE.large_-1024x768.jpg "Test Drive a Few Lessons › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-learning-elementary-reading-eggs/05117e71-15c0-45d4-8334-0479c3eb67ae-large/) Try the Lessons Out First in the About Screen [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1E46D4DB-06B5-465B-AA2E-F01581E1D290.large_-1024x768.jpg "Parent Reports › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-learning-elementary-reading-eggs/1e46d4db-06b5-465b-aa2e-f01581e1d290-large/) Personalized Readouts of Your Child’s Progress [![Beyond reading...](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/fullsizeoutput_1f02-1024x768.jpeg "Full curriculum of possibilities › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-learning-elementary-reading-eggs/fullsizeoutput_1f02/) ReaReading Eggs is More That Readingding Eggs has more that just phonics practice [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/fullsizeoutput_1f00-1024x768.jpeg "fullsizeoutput_1f00 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-learning-elementary-reading-eggs/fullsizeoutput_1f00/) What Can We Do Today [![Find out what your child is capable of](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3283-1024x1024.jpg "Drag and drop story making › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-learning-elementary-reading-eggs/ecarte-4/) You child can be creating sentences before you know it. Before you thought they were ready! ### Reading Eggs offers more than I thought and my kids are loving it. They want to support homeschoolers with their new schedule and have a great package (priced so I would buy it, and I am super practical with my money) if you would like to add physical books, workbooks and stickers! They kind of had me at stickers. They have a mega pack bundle that is a HUGE savings if you finish the [four week FREE trial](http://www.readingeggs.com/crew1) and decide you want to use this for the rest of the school year. Even though I received a copy for this review, I signed up my little guy as a second student because he liked it so much when he did the free trial. [![Reading Eggs](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/reading-eggs-reviews/)After you have read the reviews you can checkout Reading Eggs on all of their social channels [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/readingeggsUSCA/), Instagram @reading eggs, [Twitter](https://twitter.com/readingeggs), [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/readingeggs/), and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/ABCReadingEggs)![Reading Eggs](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/16%20-%20Reading%20Eggs/RE1705251040_FB_TRIAL_Happy-Children_US_red_zps1nl5e21w.png)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Homeschool, Kids Learning, Online Learning, Online Reading, reading, Reading Eggs, Reading Games, Teaching Apps --- ### [Monday Morning Kind of Math {Crew Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/monday-morning-kind-of-math-crew-review/) **Published:** October 11, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Mondays are hard, like, everyone has a lost book or binder and wants to know where **I** put it, hard. Thank goodness I can use our [Family Membership](https://www.ctcmath.com/purchase/homeschool?tr_id=CREW) to have the kids log on and begin [CTCMath](https://www.ctcmath.com/) every day including crazy Monday mornings. We can start the day with a quick lesson; the videos are usually 6-10 minutes long followed by a series of about 12-15 questions. [![CTCMath](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/09%20-%20CTCMath/ctcmath_logo_zpsbzkds5im.jpg)](https://www.ctcmath.com/)The thing I love is the price. Math programs are expensive for families with multiple ages. Buying multiple consumables in different grade levels is always the biggest expense for our homeschool. Try as I might to combine kids, it never seems to be a good fit. CTCMath allows me to purchase their family plan for less than the previous program I was using for one student. [![CTCMath](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/09%20-%20CTCMath/CTCM1703241000_60__screen_program_zpstemn2xhr.png)](https://www.ctcmath.com/) For $118 for the whole year I can get the specific grade appropriate math for each kid in the house. Not sure where they should be? No problem. CTCMath has a placement test for your students so you can be sure that you are putting them i the right level. It was a bit more hands on for me than other programs. There is a bit of clicking to get to the lessons if your student navigates through the child’s page. Once I got a hang of the parents interface though, I was able to assign lessons to each individual child. They could log in through their student page and find exactly the lesson to begin each morning. It took a little bit of a learning curve but once I understood how it worked was really simple to assign everybody their tasks. The kids could then log on directly to the student page and find their task waiting for them each day. On the parent page I got detailed reports about each students progress and concepts that they were covering. The reports were not only for myself but also each student gets a full report at the end of their lesson showing them how they did. You can set the pass threshold for lessons. For my kids, if they have scored 80% or above they may continue to the next lesson. If they did not they had to answer additional problems or retry the lesson altogether. [![CTCMath](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/09%20-%20CTCMath/CTCM1703081117_How_it_works_zpslp1j4dvx.png)](https://www.ctcmath.com/)Each lesson also has a printable one page PDF that shows the concept covered in the lesson. These are a great way for them to begin keeping a math binder. Each page is a ready reference for concepts they have covered and will need to review for new lessons. These pages were extremely helpful for visual students that like to see the concept on paper in front of them. For kinesthetic students immediate feedback on every question helps keep them on track and since the lessons are on video are visual and auditory students work well with this program too. The only downfall I can see is that the lessons are extremely short and the question portion is equally brief. If your child needs extra practice there always additional lesson questions that they can take for further learning for review. I do see that this is a great program for a child who just doesn’t have the patience to fill out an entire textbook page of math questions. Overall I was extremely satisfied with CTC math and think this could be a great program if you want a faster paced math lesson while still using robust teaching methods while not wasting time with a bunch of redundant problems. We used the lower and upper elementary age classes but I was interested to take a peek at the high school levels as well. I found the lessons engaging pleasantly short and the questions were on key with all of the concepts that were taught in the video. I was able to follow the lesson answer the questions and it was probably the best math class I have ever taken because of the bervity. But I was definitely a kid who was overwhelmed by giant page of math questions. I was relieved whenever we were able to cross out a set or two. You can visit the social media links below to find out more. Facebook: Twitter: Periscope: Pinterest: YouTube: Don’t Be Afraid to Make The Change… If you were frustrated with the program you were currently using or haven’t quite found a fit for your larger family that meet your budget CTC math might be the best answer and it certainly is the best value out there. There is no risk because you can try it now with their [free trial](https://www.ctcmath.com/free-trial?d=NCBXRUVL&campaign=CREW). Check it out and let me know what you think. [![CTCMath Online Math Tutoring {Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/ctcmath-online-math-tutoring-reviews/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Listening is Learning Too! {Crew Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/listening-is-learning-too-crew-review/) **Published:** October 12, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### Do you remember listening to books on cassette tape when you were younger? [Brinkman Adventures](http://brinkmanadventures.com/) bring you the excitement of those story adventures without having to wait for a “ding” to turn the page. If you were turning pages I am pretty sure you would not be able to keep up with the fast paced action in [Brinkman Adventures Season 4](http://brinkmanadventures.com/product/brinkman-adventures-season-4). [![Brinkman Adventures](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/10%20-%20Brinkman%20Adventures%20Season%204/Brinkman%20Adventures%20Season%204_zpsbsquogkz.jpg)](http://brinkmanadventures.com/product/brinkman-adventures-season-4)The Brinkman Family is never dull. Whether they are running an impromptu summer camp after a flash flood trapped all of the campers or learning about life across the world on an daring rescue adventure in Cambidia, they are sharing their trust in God to lead them through. When the trouble is most intense this family knows where their help comes from. They stop and pray. Even though this is an audio dram, you hear a sincere Christian faith in every prayer. The Brinkmans are showing their faith instead of telling about it. In every episode God does what He does in our lives every day. He shows up. He does not magically make all the troubles dissapear, but He leads, guides, guards and protects His children. He give this family peace in the storm and leads them to share His love with others, even when their hearts need a little correcting. [![Brinkman Adventures](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/10%20-%20Brinkman%20Adventures%20Season%204/brinkman%20logo%20small_zpsgrkapopo.jpg)](http://brinkmanadventures.com/)### Sharing Faith Through Adventure What better way to share about how God watches over His children than through epic story telling. The Brinkman adventures are the kind of stories that you sit on the garage even after you have turned off the ignition. You just have to hear how the story ends before the next errand run. ### On the Go or Part of Your Regular Day We listened in the car for most of the stories and every one of my kids was engaged just a few minutes into every story. From teen to toddler, the adventure tales kept their attention from start to finish. I want to finish up the last few stories as a reward for finishing our school work on time. I know my kids are motivated to hear the last few stories and I am glad to have an alternative a television shows to offer them. Season 4 had over four hours of listening fun. There were 12 individaul adventure stories. Each unique in settings and life lessons. There were no preachy overtones of heavy handed religious monolagues. Just a sincere Christian family who live an over the top life, but sound just like us. Funny, whitty, sometimes a little uncooperative. Totally relatable! Want to hear what others thought about these too? Check out the reviews in the link below… [![Brinkman Adventures Season 4](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/brinkman-adventures-season-4-reviews/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Learning to Write Neatly with Channie's](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/learning-to-write-neatly-with-channies/) **Published:** October 5, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Slanted, sloping, lifting off the page? Stop rewriting pages of work and get to the root with real help for your child's writing. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [Channie’s Visual Handwriting & Math Workbooks](https://www.channies.com/) are just what we needed as we move up in math skill. We are reviewing the [One Page a Day: Double Digit Math Problem Workbook](https://www.channies.com/shop/#!/Channies-One-Page-A-Day-Double-Digit-Math-Problem-Workbook/p/75186886/category=0) – 1st to 3rd to get my daughter’s math pages on track. If your child’s writing is sloping, lifting or smashed together you are going to want to read our whole review. ![Sora](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3236.jpg "Channie’s for Handwriting and Math › 200 Fingers & Toes") As an adult, I often receive compliments on my handwriting. If only people knew the terrible way I came by my neatness. You would understand why I am trying to help my kids create good writing habits. ### Improve Math Performance by Reducing Errors In early elementary I did not score well in mathematics. Often, my common mistake was transposing numbers. My mom would help me, but my math homework sheet would make it nearly impossible. Numbers were crammed together. Problems were not written in order, and too close together to finish the work. If we were working on long division, forget about it. Try as she might to get me to make neater math pages, it was not showing improvement. ![Suji](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3239.jpg "Suji › 200 Fingers & Toes")Getting better work out of our kids takes guidance patience and a little help from Channies cant hurt### Help Your Kids Begin Well or Start All Over Again One day she made me copy the entire page over. There were many tears. No one wants to re-do their math homework. The next day she did the same thing. Every time my math work was sloppy and disarranged I would have to re-copy my work neatly. It did not take me very long to catch on. I began creating space for each problem in my math pages. I stopped numbering my page before I did each problem and let the problem dictate how much space was necessary. I forced myself to work with care and attention. ### Visual Help for Getting the Results You Both Desire If I had started on a page like Channie’s Math workbook, I could have skipped that whole homework fiasco. On the grid like problems your child won’t carry a number over to the wrong place or mix some tens into the one’s place while adding them. I started to enjoy the neatness of the page. I liked my clean problems. The added benefit of a neat page is that my teachers could now see where I made mistakes and help to correct my errors. I made less errors with writing my numbers because the page was not a jumble of letters and numbers. ### Learning to be neat in my math work improved my handwriting. Clean and neat math work led me to want my writing to be clean on the notebook page as well. I began really working on my handwriting. It is an obsession I carried into adulthood. As a graphic designer I value the clean page and white space like I never did as a child. ![Suji](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_3240.jpg "Suji › 200 Fingers & Toes")Letters and Numbers Neatly in Their Places With Channies Visual GuideSet a standard for your child to follow with these simple guide pages. ### These are Great For the Slow Writer as Well They make a great times drill for older kids who you would like to work on writing faster. My second son was great at math but SO slow at writing his numbers it was painful. I gave him math drill pages and actually encouraged him to write as sloppy as he needed to improve his writing speed. Using a page with grid lines helped him to work as fast as possible without getting lost. The Guide page helped him focus on the problem and writing the answers where they needed to go. It seemed so strange for me to be teaching a kid to be sloppy, but it was what he needed to improve his writing speed overall. [![Channie’s Visual Handwriting & Math Workbooks {Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/channies-visual-handwriting-math-workbooks-reviews/)Where is your student? Sloppy or neat. Slow or fast writing speed? If you are looking for a page that can help with letter spacing or correct those floating lines you will really like the Visual Handwriting and Math Workbooks from Channie. Maybe your child will be as inspired by the beauty of neat writing as I am. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Review at the Click of Your Finger with Super Teacher Worksheets {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/searchable-printable-worksheets/) **Published:** October 4, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have your ever wished you could pull up an example of a concept you are working on with your child and print it for them? That is exactly what I have been doing over the last month with my [Individual Membership](https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/become-a-member.html) to [Super Teacher Worksheets](https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/). [![ Super Teacher Worksheets](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/02%20-%20Super%20Teacher%20Worksheets/stw-header_zpsrexexmlp.jpg)](https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/) When do you run into the need for a work sheet? Daily, weekly? It seems like we are always running into something we need to look up and explain during our school day. Last week we were talking about number families. We are working on learning our multiplication tables with the younger kids and I wanted to help them understand why both 5×9 and 9×5 had the same answer. I explained it but I wanted to be sure my kids were getting the concept in a way that would help them answer their math questions. ![Could you find a worksheet for that?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Number-bonds-copy-300x254.png "Making Math Concepts Stick › 200 Fingers & Toes")Worksheets are a big help when you are trying to reinforce a math concept or if you are reviewing a tact that you have not needed for a whileI pulled up this practice worksheet that showed number bonds and we got to see very clearly how each number was a part of the total answer. It helped them see multiplication problems in a new and different way. Suddenly they understood. It did not have to be written in a linear line to be a problem, and that little tweak helped them make the transition in their math drills. ### Learning Through Play We are planning a few new math games as well. I purchased some ink and card stock and that is all we need to be rolling. I might laminate my cards because I love my laminator but card stock is good enough too. **The first game is called “I have…Who has…”** The child with card one calls out, “I have 35, Who has 4×4?” The student with the card with 16 would answer, “I have 16, Who has 10×3” This action repeats through the entire chain of students (or cards) **The Second Game is called “SCOOT.”** In a class room setting you would lay out the cards on desks and give the students a minute to write the answer in their own answer grid before saying SCOOT. They would then move from desk to desk answering the questions on their grid to turn in. I think it would be a fun scavenger hunt to spread the cards throughout the house. The cards are already printed, all I need to do is get trimming. There are several versions of SCOOT to choose from so you could play no matter the age of your child. [![ Super Teacher Worksheets](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/10%20-%20October/02%20-%20Super%20Teacher%20Worksheets/superteacher-scoot-a_zpscsnfhc48.jpg)](https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/)### Keeping Hands Busy with Multiple Ages Learning Together We also printed the math family factor cards to reinforce what we learned from our earlier bond sheet. The kids like that we have added more hands-on learning to our math time. This is especially helpful with our family, with multiple ages there are times when a child must wait to have a question answered. The flash cards and worksheets for practice are a great way to give the kids bonus work that is still fun. ### For Language Arts I noticed that our spelling test focuses on several word families each week. While my daughter was learning her words for the week I was looking for a way to help reinforce the letter sounds she is learning. The Super Teacher Worksheet Word Wheel is just the thing we needed. I printed the letter sound she is learning each week. ![Reinforce for Mastery](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FullSizeRender-5-300x300.jpg "Cut and Turn Spelling Helpers › 200 Fingers & Toes")Easy to print and ready to use helps are at your fingertips with Super Teacher WorksheetsNow, there is a fun review in her notebook for the week. The best part is that I can throw them in an accordion file and keep them for later in the year. I can pull them out any time we come across that blend or diagram again in our lessons. ### Simple Learning Sheets Like These Will Be a Great Tool for You Too. ![The sheet you need is a click away](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Super-Teacher-Search-300x263.png "Super Teacher is Simple to Search › 200 Fingers & Toes")The site is easily searchable to find exactly the worksheet that will help your child the mostThe site is easily searchable to find exactly the worksheet that will help your child the most. Everything is organized by subject, age and grade as well. I was able to find every sheet I needed including a review for Roman Numerals for my 6th grader. I plan on trying a couple of versions of SCOOT with our after school program as well. [Super Teachers Worksheets](https://www.superteacherworksheets.com/) is a great resource for children’s groups as well. We always print worksheets for our kids and this makes it easy to pick them by grade. As a non-profit our budget is small, but $19.95 for the year is a great price to be able to pull worksheets for our students right from our phone if we need to. Any time a kiddo needs a break or some quiet space we can always have some fun learning sheets on hand for them. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") [![Super Teacher Worksheets](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/individual-membership-super-teacher-worksheets-reviews/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** hsreview, printable, Super Teacher Worksheets, worksheets --- ### [3 Reasons We Love Apologia for Science in Our Lit Based Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-science-apologia-marine-biology-2/) **Published:** September 7, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* For us, science in the elementary years was literature rich, so I was surprised when our Lit based curriculum creators transitioned to [Apologia Educational Ministries](http://www.apologia.com/) for high school course work. We’ve now used Apologia for the last few years, and I would like to share our review of [Marine Biology 2nd Edition Advantage Set](http://www.apologia.com/marine-biology/523-marine-biology-2nd-edition-advantage-set.html) to share how it helped solve some specific needs for our graduating class last year. [![Marine Biology 2nd Edition Advantage Set](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/09%20-%20September/05%20-%20Apologia%20Marine%20Biology/Marine%20Biology%20Student%20Textbook_zps1yhzv3lf.jpg)](http://www.apologia.com/marine-biology/523-marine-biology-2nd-edition-advantage-set.html)**Created for Christian Homeschooler Desiring Strong Science**Apologia is a long trusted name in the homeschooling community. I have been blessed to hear the heart of their ministry at several homeschool conventions. They are a family business that has grown right with the homeschool community, but the heart and vision to honor Christ has remained their central focus the whole time. They have extremely high teaching standards and are deeply invested in making sure our young homeschool populations excel in the class room as on standardized tests when they need them. I have seen the results myself with each of my students testing above proficiency in Science yearly. Last year my sons were scored College ready in the 10th and 11th grade. ### **I was Hesitant to Use Texbooks Because of My Own Experience** First off, I initially hated the idea of using a text book. I remember them being terrible, dry, boring and choppy. I hated just getting a taste of a subject and as soon as I was interested the course work moved on to a new subject altogether. It seemed like I never got the whole story or the depth I desired to maintain interest. I was worried that my kids would react the same way. I wanted my kids to get a deeper, richer, learning experience. When we searched all of the curriculum choices out there I eventually chose a literature based program. They have loved it. I have loved it. So, you can imagine my surprise when we hit the eighth grade and my program, that loved reading books, threw a text book into the mix. They recommended Apologia for high school science. I read their reasons and trusted their wisdom, but still, I was not totally sure. Over the last four years I have become a believer in using Apologia Science as my source text for science learning in the upper grades. ## **Here are three of my top reasons why.** ### **1. Systematic Coverage for Continuity in Learning** Elementary science is a time for introducing concepts and subjects. Often we experienced broad coverage over a large range of topics with some units digging deeper into studies. High school, however, is very different. To get the continuity we needed I wanted a more organized approach. Text books offer a systematic coverage into the full spectrum of study. ![IMG_3049](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3049.jpg "IMG_3049 › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Deeper Learning with Experiments and Observations** Marine Biology begins with learning about the oceans of our planet. The continuing Units cover subjects like: sea life, Kingdoms within the ocean, deep breakdowns of specific Class groupings and ocean environments and ecological systems. The learning at this level is in depth with two weeks spent in each unit. Typically there is a Module guide sheet to prepare your student for the test, experiments to observe the concepts covered and a very clear and helpful Study Guide. **Textbook Designed for Readability** These text books were created with your students in mind. They are made for reading. Paragraphs are shorter to reflect modern reading styles and even the print is larger to reduce that dreaded overwhelm students can get from looking a a huge selection of reading. **Alternatives and Aides for Reading Success** If you are immediately turned off by the thought of a text book, like I was, it is great to know that Apologia offers support for every type of learner. We were able to download the [Marine Biology 2nd Edition Audio CD](http://www.apologia.com/marine/521-marine-biology-2nd-ed-audio-cd.html) in MP3 format so my auditory student can listen while reading, or review from anywhere. I know this will be great when my younger son takes Marine Biology in a few years. He struggles with reading and I can see the scientific words being a stumbling block for him. The Audio component removes that obstacle so he can focus on learning. Science is NOT his reading class. The purpose is to expose him to scientific concepts and ideas. If reading is a stumbling block for your student, don’t hesitate to use the Audio CD to support them. **Here are all of the ways they are helping All types of learners.** ![IMG_3050](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3050.jpg "IMG_3050 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### **2. The Ability for Siblings to Work Together** Schooling with a group that was a little further apart than the recommended age span has given us a few unique situations to try to work around. When my oldest son entered his last year of high school he had already taken Apologia Chemistry. His younger high school siblings felt that they were not ready for that Chemistry because they were both struggling to get through Algebra. I needed a course that they could all take together. ![Suji](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_2946.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes") **Combining Different Age and Ability Groups** I came across Apologia Marine Biology at a homeschool convention over the summer and knew it would be a perfect fit for our family. Everyone would get a high school science credit and they would be taking an upper level science that had high demand. Since they had already taken Apologia Biology, my Freshman, Junior and Senior were able to work together, saving me teaching time and finances. **Keeping Track of Individual Work** The [Advantage Set](http://www.apologia.com/marine-biology/523-marine-biology-2nd-edition-advantage-set.html) makes it easy for multiple kids to do their own course work because of the individual Student Notebooks and test booklets. You can order as many as you need. They can make notes as they read and fill in all of the information in the prepared locations while they complete Labs and Experiments. [![Marine Biology 2nd Edition Advantage Set](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/09%20-%20September/05%20-%20Apologia%20Marine%20Biology/Marine%20Biology%20Student%20Notebook_zpsvmdjkqwr.jpg)](http://www.apologia.com/marine-biology/523-marine-biology-2nd-edition-advantage-set.html)**Providing For Every Type of Learner** Families like mine with kids who can work together have an advantage of studying as a group to prepare for tests by working as a group, but the Audio CD or Apologia Video Instructional DVD are also ways you can make sure you student really get the most out of the course. These are vital if you feel like your student needs more support because of factors that make learning difficult. ### **3. Preparation for College Course Work** In high school, mastery is the object over introduction. Apologia makes assessing your students mastery easy. As a new to high school Mom, one of the things I found difficult was the exact way to grade my kids work. In elementary we worked until we mastered the concept. There were no failing grades because we worked until the subject was mastered. **Getting Familiar with Grading** I had never worked with letter grades and unsure how to proceed. Apologia makes it very easy to learn how to work within the letter grade system. The Student Notebook is invaluable as a grading tool. There is a breakdown of how the grading is done so you and your student can be on the same page. It is important for your student to have a hand in learning how grading works if they have not been earning a letter grade before this. ![IMG_3048](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3048.jpg "IMG_3048 › 200 Fingers & Toes") High school is the time for college bound students to start learning within the confines and parameters of the public system. Give them the advantage by helping them be successful when earning letter grades. It took my kids a few week to learn the effect a bad test score could do to a good grade. I would rather them experience this now, where we can correct the behavior, than when they are away at a college where they are going to pay for the class no matter what grade they earn. **Creating Documentation of Their Work in Labs** Last year when my three oldest used Apologia Marine Biology, the Student Guide was not yet available. I would not do this course again without it. I am usually very thrifty with our budget, but this is well worth the expense. So many times we had to hunt down a test that did not get entered into the notebook or copy a new lab sheet because we could not find the one they had last week. Then there was so much paper. Experiment sheets, notes, labs. Trust me; get the Notebook. **Dissections and Experiments to Go Deeper** Labs and experiments in Marine Biology are created with deep learning reinforcements in mind. As with any high school science course our students preformed several dissections throughout the year. It might make you or your student squeamish, but dissections are a rich learning experience. When done with care and respect, students learn to work with accuracy and use keen observation skills. The kids were able to work with a Dog Shark this year and were able to learn a great deal from it. Getting to see all of the systems they had been learning about all year was a skill builder and cemented their learning. ![IMG_3561](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_3561.jpg "IMG_3561 › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Keeping Notes for Reference** The kids got to compare their binders to the Student Notebook and each of them said they wished that they had had one last year. Everything they needed for the year is held neatly in the strong spiral binding. The note area actually taught a popular note taking method my kids have learned to use. Lab sheets were clearly marked with prompts and observation notation areas. **Confidence to Face a College Work Load** After three years of Apologia Science my daughter graduated from our homeschool; having earned all of her necessary credits for College entry at fifteen. She was not ready to attend college classes and wanted to stay within her peer age group with AP Courses through the local high school. We are confident that she will do well because we used Apologia for the last three years of Science course work. ![Taylor](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_2965.jpg "Text Books for Lit Lovers? › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Seeing the Fruit of Our Labors** Attending the local public school for the first time my daughter is enjoying an advanced Anatomy Class and feels well prepared. She has always known she would attend college and I know she is college ready. This is one of the greatest things any homeschool parent can say. With Apologia Science, I helped my child be prepared for her future and I can’t wait to see where she takes it. [![Marine Biology 2nd Edition Advantage Set {Apologia Educational Ministries Review}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/marine-biology-2nd-edition-advantage-set-apologia-educational-ministries-review/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Curriculum, Homeschool **Tags:** Apologia Science, High School Science, homeschool Science, Marine Biology --- ### [One Way to Make Sure You Raise Smarter Kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/raise-smarter-kids-greek-homeschool/) **Published:** August 7, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* When I review tools for our homeschool there are three things I try to incorporate. One is early exposure to foreign language, like the kind my kids are getting with [Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek – Level 3 Set](http://www.greeknstuff.com/andrew.html) from [Greek ](http://www.greeknstuff.com/)['](http://www.greeknstuff.com/)[n](http://www.greeknstuff.com/)[' ](http://www.greeknstuff.com/)[Stuff](http://www.greeknstuff.com/). The others are exposure to many cultures with in depth exploration and the ability to dig into hands on learning and really go further when the kids show interest. Of these three, I feel that the most important is exposure to another language. Which is why we are using Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek, this school year. [![Hey, Andrew!Teach Me Some Greek!](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/08%20-%20August/07%20-%20Greek%20n%20Stuff/Hey%20Andrew%20workbook%20L3-1.jpg_zpsfqlutdwb.jpg)](http://www.greeknstuff.com/info/infoGR-03-WB.html)As I researched early child development I was fascinated by the human brain and ways those years impact learning. The body is building neuro-pathways in the brain at a rapid rate in early childhood. This expansion is a race to build the infrastructure your child will use to store everything that they learn for the rest of their life. It is like the brain is building book shelves for every volume your child will ever read over their life time. Your child's capacity to learn as an adult can be maximized NOW, in the early learning years, by engaging in an enriched environment of music, language and exploritive play. My older kids began learning Latin in the fifth grade. This revelation surprised many of my friends and family. I am not considered a scholar by any means, nor do either my husband or myself have a background in academia. Latin was the language that would help our kids learn where words are from and how they are formed. Latin provides the structure to make learning any language in that language family easier. We carried their foreign language studies into high school and each child has now fulfilled their college entrance requirements with Latin. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_2241-225x300.jpg)![It will also challenge you like never before](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_1841-225x300.jpg) ### **New Kids and a New Approach** This year it was time to begin to introduce our younger students to a forigen language of their own. The curriculum we had used before was not going to fit this group of kids. They needed a different program. Why Greek? I have been thinking about how we study the scriptures, how often I pull out my Interlinear Bible to get to the root of a text. I deeply enjoy learning the meaning of these words and gaining deeper contextual clues. I also have realized that the New Testament has many translations from the Greek manuscripts. Reading from several often gives me a better scope for what is being said, and sometimes they are so divided on a definition, I still have no clue! You've been there too, right? That is why I am so glad I got to use Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek, over the summer. It has helped me find a way to give my kids the tools I don't have in my toll box as an adult. That is my goal as a parent, to leave behind kids that are a better version of myself. I am using it to teach Greek to my elementary group of kids for the upcoming school year for this and several reasons I will add here as well. ### **A Simplified Daily Lesson** Our former program was built out in chapter form with weekly word lists and reviews. It relied on heavier reading and flipping back and forth between lesson and answer pages. Teach Me, has a one-sheet, daily worksheet page and coordinating flash cards for review and practice. The flash cards and workbook they are printed in are the main component in the curriculum. Along with the workbook we use the Answer Key and pronunciation CD, because I am a beginner over here as well. We are really learning this together. **On a Side Note – Let me share my flash card hack for the lazy Super Efficient Mom** ![Learning happens when we creat an intentional environment for it](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_2811.jpg "Face it, learning a new language is daunting. Enjoy a workbook that is clear, short & uncomplicated › 200 Fingers & Toes") ![Learning happens when we creat an intentional environment for it](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_2812.jpg "Face it, learning a new language is daunting. Enjoy a workbook that is clear, short & uncomplicated › 200 Fingers & Toes") ### **Easy to Track Individual Workbooks Keep Me From Chasing Paper** Since the workbooks are for one student and I love homeschool venders by honoring their copyright instructions, I will be ordering additional copies of the workbook for each child in our teaching group. I have found that over the years I actually save money and can find everyones work more readily if I order individual workbooks from the start. I might order a set of heavy stock flash cards on a binder ring if I wish to as well. ![Greek 'n' Stuff](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/08%20-%20August/07%20-%20Greek%20n%20Stuff/Greek%20Workbook_zpsxypzttfm.jpg) ### **Pronunciation CD For Mastery and Ease in Review** Back in my last post about making car time "teaching time," here is another subject that you could include teaching time on the long errand day or on the way to the next sport event. The pronunciation CD makes it easy to review and learn from anywhere. We set up a little CD player on the far side of the school room where we can play our Bible Memorization CD or even audio books. We never have to guess how a word is pronounced because every word is spoken for us to hear. This is great for our auditory learners. The CD covers Level 3 and 4, and at $10 is is a great value. You kids can get a jump start learning the Greek alphabet with the Alphabet song which goes a long way in helping learn the letter sounds and getting familiar with new characters. ### **Less Writing Means More Work Getting Done** I have learned that every lesson does not have to be a handwriting lesson, nor does it need to be a lesson that is graded for writing. All final work that comes to me is expected to be completely free of errors, but daily notebook work is where I give a lot of flex. This attitude has translated into my kids getting more done with less frustration for all of us. \[Tweet "Face it, learning a new language is daunting. Enjoy a workbook that is clear, short & uncomplicated"\] I love the Hey, Andrew! series because there is not a great deal of writing. The focus is on learning Greek and really Greek alone. I appreciate that and so do the kids. Let's face it, learning a new language is daunting enough. We are enjoying a workbook that is clear, short and uncomplicated. Even though I have a group this year that is a little harder to keep engaged, I am sure that this is going to be a great fit for them. This is all the work they need to do for the day. Then if is just flash card review, which should be more fun in a group for them. [![Greek 'n' Stuff](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/08%20-%20August/07%20-%20Greek%20n%20Stuff/Translate%20Greek_zpsedvtimow.jpg)](http://www.greeknstuff.com/)### **Greek Can Unlock the Scriptures for Your Children** Finally, the deeper I read and learn from scripture, the more I long to know the meaning of words for myself. As a society, there is a trend to live the study of God's word to the "professionals." Just as Latin unlocked the roots of words they see every day, Greek can help unlock the roots of meaning in the original language of the Old Testament. If I can help equip my children to study and examine scripture for themselves then they can see the validity of the Word of God for themselves. There is no greater gift a parent can give than the ability to search out truth. > Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. SaveSave [![Teach Me Some Greek {Greek 'n' Stuff Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/teach-me-some-greek-greek-n-stuff-reviews/)### **Not sure about Elementary Homeschool Foreign Language?** Read some of the other Crew Reviews to learn about how and why other families are using [Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek.](http://www.greeknstuff.com/info/infoGR-03-WB.html) Read my other articles about the power of learning a language early on the blog as well. Read about the [Bible Studies](http://www.greeknstuff.com/alone.html) that can help your kids move into independently studying the Word of God for themselves. You can also check out Greek 'n' Stuff on their social sites. Facebook: Twitter: Tag: @GreeknStuff Pinterest: Instagram: Tag: @karenmohs [![Greek 'n' Stuff](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/08%20-%20August/07%20-%20Greek%20n%20Stuff/Greek%20n%20Stuff%20logo_zpspdtgsnix.jpg)](http://www.greeknstuff.com/index.html) ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Christian Education, Elementary Education, Flash Card Programs, Foreign Language, Greek, Greek"n" Stuff, Hey Andrew, Homeschool, Road School --- ### [You Can Teach Chemistry From Home...and Be Fascinating!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/can-teach-chemistry-home-fascinating/) **Published:** July 13, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Did you know that if you made a glove with the same fibers that cover the feet of a spider or gecko you could walk yourself across the ceiling with one hand? These are just one of a few of the truly fascinating facts that caught my attention during our review time learning about [Fascinating Chemistry](https://fascinatingeducation.com/try-fascinating-chemistry/) with [Fascinating Education](http://fascinatingeducation.com/). [![Fascinating Chemistry](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/07%20-%20July/11%20-%20Fascinating%20Education/chemistry-black_zpsjbju4qyh.png)](https://fascinatingeducation.com/)Spiders and Geckos have millions of tiny hairs on the tips of their toes. They can walk on the ceiling because of the London Dispersion Force in action. Atoms in the spider’s legs; when coming into contact with the atoms from the ceiling, cause an instant attraction because of a shift in polarization of each individual atom. All of this is Chemistry. It is, in fact, fascinating. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/dsc_0052.jpg "Homeschooling Upper High School? › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/dsc_0052.jpg) One of the largest fears I hear among homeschool parents is that they are not qualified to teach a subject because they are not familiar with the material or they never took the class. This is just not true! Here are three ways you can get ready to teach a subject you have never taken 1. **You Could Study Like Crazy** If you are a parent who feels like they need to know the ins and outs of what they are going to be teaching, get crackin’. If you have taken the class in high school it might just be a simple overview of the material. If you were a less than stellar student in high school like myself, you could do what I did when my daughter took Chemistry with Fascinating Education. Since each lesson was a 45-minute video, I watched the lessons before or sometimes with her. It beat most of my late-night Netflix picks. I might even have cheated and snuck ahead a few times. Interest and excitement are contagious. When you can show true interest and engagement, you students are going to pick up on that. I found that it helped me feel more confident to help her with her unit tests, and if we got stuck, we could always use the hints that were provided to help us. 2. **Choose a Curriculum That is Designed for Self-Learning** My oldest son had no such desire to be led through his studies by myself. He is very comfortable reading new material and applying it. One of his greatest frustrations was when we did science as a group, and he had to wait for the other kids to finish writing or discussing. Yes, he has learned to work well in a group, but he loved the freedom that working on his own affords him. Fascinating Education is designed to have everything the student needs in the lesson. You can feel confident that they are not going to miss a beat if you never learn about molecular bonds and polarization. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_0008.png "img_0008 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_0008.png) As they progress through the lessons a prompt will pop up offering them to do a lab. When they click, the program opens a new window with everything they need to carry out the experiment or observation. You have a clear syllabus right from the start so you can know exactly what your student is going to be covering. We found the Labs easy to follow, clear and always related to the material we just covered. Each felt like time well spent and not just a fun thing just thrown in. They were followed with teaching about what was learned. ![Fascinating edu-lessons](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fascinating-edu-lessons.jpg "Fascinating edu-lessons › 200 Fingers & Toes") 3. **Outsource the Subjects You Feel Less Confident About Teaching** We have a huge household size. Right now, there are 14 of us at home, but for the normal part of the homeschool year we have 10 students. We outsourced science a few years ago when my Mom volunteered to teach it one day a week. That freed up our schedule so we could have a four-day week. On science day Mom traveled to our place. Last year we traveled to hers since she lives in a city where we could also take other lessons like ballet or gymnastics. This year my two teens who just graduated would like to take a few classes to add to their transcript. We are not required to have a fourth year of science to graduate, but my daughter is thinking about pursuing a degree in psychology and for that she would need four science credits and four foreign language. We have already started using Fascinating Chemistry this summer to get that last credit in before the start of the school year. Instead of having another person physically teach like we have in years past I am having the instructor available at our convince. If my daughter wants to do her lessons at 2am, she can. If she wants to do more than one module in a week she can take the test whenever she feels like she is ready. She doesn’t have to wait. This is exactly why she is a 15 year old high school graduate. She was able to leverage the pace Homeschooling allows and finish her studies at her own rapid fire pace. If she missed something in the lesson she can go into the full script and search for any items she may have missed. Your student may watch the lesson as many times at it takes. The instructor wont lull them to sleep and there are tons of slides to keep your visual student following along. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_0009.png "img_0009 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_0009.png) Now For The Good News – From The Publisher: I would like to offer a coupon to you for your readers for 50% OFF any single course or course combination (purchased directly on our site) – Coupon code REVCREW2017 (expires September 15, 2017.) [![Biology, Chemistry & Physics {Fascinating Education Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/biology-chemistry-physics-fascinating-education-reviews/)https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/prep-dreaded-sat-essay-proven-writing-coach/![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") SaveSave SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [When you are Rural, Every Drive Can Be School](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/audio-history-homeschool/) **Published:** August 1, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Let the car ride become a place where you can get stretched. Begin with Audio books like In The Reign of Terror from Heirloom Audio Productions and never really stop. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Every time I drive, I listen to a podcast of some sort. On a receipt trip to Texas we all listened to a radio drama I had on hand to review from [Heirloom Audio Productions](http://www.heirloomaudio.com/) called *[In the Reign of Terror](http://www.inthereignofterror.com/)* about the French Revolution. It has been a while since we borrowed an audio book from the library, so this was a new experience for the younger kids. They loved it. That got me thinking about this coming school year… [![In the Reign of Terror](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/08%20-%20August/01%20-%20In%20the%20Reign%20of%20Terror/In%20the%20Reign%20of%20Terror%20Cover%20Image_zpsfupir0om.jpg)](http://www.inthereignofterror.com/)### **Drive time is a huge part of Rural Living** Getting groceries is a three hour minimum. The nearest place to get a gallon jug of mayo and industrial cans of cheese sauce is a 120-mile round trip. We try to maximize our errands so we can save on gas. This means errand day is a huge, long, exhausting drive that should land us at some exotic location, but in reality only brings us back home with enough toilet paper and restaurant supplies for the month. Personally, I make great use of my drive time. So much that I look forward to running errands. I can usually listen to several of my favorite PodCasts on the hour drive to ballet and back again while the girls play or nap. The CD from Heirloom Audio got me thinking about all this driving. [![Heirloom Audio Productions](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/08%20-%20August/01%20-%20In%20the%20Reign%20of%20Terror/HeirloomAudio-Logo_zps9wv5bglo.png)](http://www.heirloomaudio.com/)### **Could we be learning while we are driving?** The answer is a huge resounding YES! We listened to "In the Reign of Terror" on our trip. The G.A. Henty classic covered the time of the French Revolution. Henty wrote with the purpose of making history memorable and unforgettable. These two and a half-hour long, cinematic quality productions, only enhance his goal point. The cast is full of professional actors from high grossing films. As I looked up the cast I was so encouraged to see familiar faces working so hard on a faith based project. I was worried that the subject matter would be too heavy for the kids who were traveling on this particular trip. My two older girls are entering fifth and sixth grader this year and my son will be in the first grade. The main character is a British boy who is sent to France to live with a wealthy Barron just on the heels of the American Revolution. Much of the story follows this family as the Revolution rises around them. Sixteen-year-old Harry sees how different the American and French Revolutions resolved themselves and draws some deep conclusions about the heart of mankind. Families and torn apart, many narrow escapes, and sadly some characters we love bravely find their end inescapable. Throughout the tale Harry is brave, true and learns much about honoring God and standing up for what is right. I was on the edge of my seat through much of the listening time. When it concluded, I asked the girls if they liked it. Many of the people Harry met in France did not survive the Revolution, but the girls found the story fascinating. They were not put off by the difficulty of the subject matter. If fact it brought about some good discussion and comparison. ### **Given Proper Context, Children Can Handle Deep Subject Matter** We have read through the Bible several times with the kids. If you have done this then you will know that the Bible covers every subject known to man. As we read, we talk. Doors are opened to communicate. I have learned that the kids have a huge capacity to engage in ways you would never have imagined, much earlier than you would think. Do you want a teen who will talk to you? Create dialogue pathways with your middle schooler around difficult topics. Become an expert listener now. Talk through hard subjects and let all of you reason together as a family. Keep learning no matter what. Let the car ride become a place where you can get stretched. Begin with Audio books like *[In The Reign of Terror](http://www.inthereignofterror.com/)* from [Heirloom Audio Productions](http://www.heirloomaudio.com/) and never really stop. Check out their [Live the Adventure Club](https://www.livetheadventureclub.com/home/) where you can download all kinds of additional bonus material and save. ### **Heirloom Audio can be a Partner to Teach History in Your Homeschool** We printed the study guide from the Adventure Club site. There were tons of discussion questions for you to chose from. I really liked the **vocabulary words** portion and would recommend it for any age group. This would be a great way to add to your child's vocabulary in a natural way. I am a huge believer in learning vocabulary through context. This would help you track new words and let you go back over them to make sure that your kids know the meanings of the new words that they hear in each audio story. [![In the Reign of Terror {Heirloom Audio Productions Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/in-the-reign-of-terror-heirloom-audio-productions-reviews/)Happy listening! Check out Heirloom Audio on your favorite platform, choose [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HeirloomAudio), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/HeirloomStories), and [G+](https://plus.google.com/b/114534826166314080647/114534826166314080647) and Instagram @HeirloomAudio for the latest happenings and new releases. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** audio drama, History, Homeschool --- ### [Hands On Creativity with the Quik Sculpting Kit from Actíva](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-creativity-with-the-quick-sculpting-kit-from-activa/) **Published:** July 26, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Actíva CelluClay was aeasy to work with. I plan on keeping it on hand because of the low price and long shelf life. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* On the blog I write quite a bit about being a creative Mama and to pursue your interests, but today I get to review a product that lets me be creative as an artist as well as a writer. I’ll walk you through my project using the [Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit](https://activaproducts.com/collections/sculpture/products/rigid-wrap-quik-sculpt-starter-kit) from [**ACTÍVA** Products](https://activaproducts.com/). ![IMG_2723](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2723.jpg "IMG_2723 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Everything you need for All your Science Fair or Gift Giving Through the School YearLast year I bought a dozen shadow boxes and have been waiting for inspiration to strike. When I recieved the [sculpting kit from **Actíva**](http://amzn.to/2w0VYMp) I knew I wanted to do a project similar to paper mâché, without all of the mess and extended layering and drying times. I have been avoiding similar projects because of those very factors. Children aren’t the most patient crafters. ACTÍVA’s promise of an easier way was one I truly wanted to believe. ![s-l225](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s-l225.jpg "s-l225 › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### Let your creativity lead you to create something new I was inspired by a little handcrafted Folk Nativity Diorama we had bought twenty years ago on a trip similar to this one. The characters were paper pulp creations painted in bright colors and glossy paint. I sketched a rough plan to create a similar style product using ACTÍVA’s CelluClay as the base. This would be a perfect choice since the end product would hang on a wall. Using bake-to-dry clay is expensive and adds unwanted weight to the finished piece. By keeping the whole thing light from the start, I would have plenty of room to make fun choices when it came to embelishing the final piece. ![IMG_2713](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2713.jpg "IMG_2713 › 200 Fingers & Toes")preparing the sketchI began with a rough sketch in the actual size so I could get an idea of the size of each element. When I was happy with the proportions I outlined each piece with ink and placed them on my awesome new LED light pad to trace them on a sheet of paper. I planned on placing all of the elements on one sheet and then covering it with a clear, thin cutting board. I could them mold each piece right on the plastic board, using my template as a guide. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2713-300x300.jpg "IMG_2713 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-creativity-with-the-quick-sculpting-kit-from-activa/img_2713/) preparing the sketch [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2714-225x300.jpg "IMG_2714 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-creativity-with-the-quick-sculpting-kit-from-activa/img_2714/) Using the Light Box to Trace [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2715-225x300.jpg "IMG_2715 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-creativity-with-the-quick-sculpting-kit-from-activa/img_2715/) Ready to Start [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2721-429582252-1501082034231-300x300.jpg "IMG_2721 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hands-on-creativity-with-the-quick-sculpting-kit-from-activa/img_2721/) Now they Just Need to Dry #### I am going to be able to use this kit for several projects The CelluClay is light and an 8oz pack holds a ton. I used a little less than 2oz. for this project. Each large character averages 10 inches in height, so I should be able to get many projects from one kit. You can [order one on Amazon](http://amzn.to/2w0VYMp) right now for under $9, that is a lot of Christmas ornaments for very little cash. I plan on keeping this on hand because of the low price and it’s long shelf life. I tend to avoid cheap air dry “modeling clay” because we always end up frustrated with the drying and cracking that happens when the product is done before we are. ![IMG_2717](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2717.jpg "IMG_2717 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Mixing the CelluClay with Water#### I didn’t have to rush because it didnt dry out on me I just mixed the CelluClay with warm water until it was the consistency of oat meal. It felt just like it, too. It took me a little over 30 minutes to create the elements of the diorama and the CelluClay never dried out or changed consistency. This is nice for when you are working with multiple children. #### Set up and clean up were simple. Water was all that we needed. Below is the CelluClay 8oz. package and one of the two rolls of Rigid Wrap; a self plastered wrap you can use for creating molded pieces and shaped creations. ![IMG_2716](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2716.jpg "IMG_2716 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Preparing Your Work Space#### A simple to work with tool for parents and kids The CelluClay was a perfect consistency to work with. It was never sticky and clumped together for easy modeling. I was able to build up layers for a more dimentional look. A simple pat with my finger bound the new layers together neatly. ![IMG_2721](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_2721-429582252-1501082034231.jpg "IMG_2721 › 200 Fingers & Toes")Now they Just Need to DryI was suprised at how satisfying this ACTÍVA Kit was to work with. There are ideas for 12 projects included in the full Kit which you can order [HERE](http://amzn.to/2w0VYMp), and you can sign up for their FREE ebook; [ACTÍVA Products’ Favorite Sculpture KIDS CRAFTS](https://activaproducts.com/blogs/news/free-ebook-of-activas-favorite-sculpture-kids-crafts) now and they will also send you 10% off your first purchase. [![Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit {ACTÍVA Products Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/rigid-wrap-and-celluclay-quik-sculpting-kit-activa-products-reviews/) I would add this to your school supply list. I am going to add it to my creators box under the sink, so we will be ready for the next pop-up project. Learn more about ACTIVA products and projects on [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/activaproductsinc), [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/activaproducts), [Pinterest](http://www.pinterest.com/activaproducts) and [Instagram](http://www.instagram.com/activaproducts). I might even get those shadow boxes out of my office after all. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") > [Making Your Little Learners Light Up With This STEM Kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/little-learners-light-up/) SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Create **Tags:** ACTÍVA, Create, Creative Mom, Modeling Clay, Paper Mache, self care --- ### [How does a rural homeschooler complete a speech course from home?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/rural-homeschooler-complete-speech-course-home/) **Published:** June 29, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We have wondered this fact often, but that is before we received the [Speech](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8091) course from [Hewitt Homeschooling](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/) to review for our high schooler. [![Hewitt Homeschooling](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/27%20-%20Hewitt%20Homeschooling/Hewittlogoamptypecolor_zpsutkmdaay.jpg)](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Home/hMain.aspx)#### **Speech is a required subject in most school districts** When I was pulling out sample transcripts I kept seeing speech listed over and over. I wasn’t sure how much we were missing out on or if we would even can create an equivalent course at home. For one it is not a subject with which I have much familiarity. Secondly, I have not seen a curriculum offered through any of the vendors I use. Lastly, I was not sure how we could pull it off with just a couple of teens. #### **We have unique challenge of being rural homeschoolers** Living a 120-mile round trip from a large city makes certain aspects of homeschooling challenging. There are many communities where homeschool support abounds and you can join groups and co-ops for more advanced high school classes. We live in rural farm country. There is not even a support group, let alone a co-op within 50 miles of our house. At least we have a few teens in the same house, we could choose to throw together a class and they could read to each other but, what about homeschoolers who only have one teen? ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_3147.jpg "My writer › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### **Hewitt Homeschooling creates quality courses to help families fill in their Literature needs** Their Speech curriculum allows me to teach the class that we wish to from our own home without missing any important content. As a homeschooler, I place a great deal of trust in the hands of vendors. I am not trusting my child’s future to just anyone who can print a slick looking book. Hewitt has been creating courses for Home School families since the mid-eighties. They are not interested in reproducing a public-school style but, instead learning, focused on building foundations that last a life time with a focus on the family working as a unit for their child’s education. Their literature packages are available for every age in your homeschool. They offer a great variety of listings for your high school student. [Shakespeare Comedies](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8077) and [Tragedies](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8076), [British](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8079) or [American](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8072) Literature in several different time periods, [World Literature](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8094) and many more selections to choose from. #### **Hewitt Homeschool Speech Overview** We chose Speech because I knew it is a subject we had not covered in our homeschool. I really wanted to be able to recommend a program to my friends that I knew would help them meet state requirements and high school credit requirements and give my kids the well-rounded transcript that colleges are looking for. Lightning Literature & Comprehension Speech was the right tool for to satisfy all those desires. [![ Lightning Literature & Composition Speech Pack](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/27%20-%20Hewitt%20Homeschooling/Lightning%20Literature%20amp%20Composition%20Speech%20Pack_zpsefqwjlg9.jpg)](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8091)#### **A Turn Key Course You Student Can Navigate** I bought a curriculum last year at a convention. The woman explained it to me and it sounded like it was very simple to follow the schedule for the program. She pointed out key features and when I purchased it, I thought I was making a good move for our family. The trouble is, it is still sitting on my desk at home. I could not, for the life of me, figure out how the schedule worked or what days to do what activities. I need clarity. Lightning Lit. Speech is not going to sit on your desk like that program. The course is uncomplicated in its core layout. Each week is easy to follow with repeating tasks each week. My daughter knew that every week there would be a clear reading list, with selections from the text book. There is even a heads up about what to look for as she is reading so she can be ready for the comprehension questions. Each week has a literary lesson. They are not too long, spanning several pages in the Student Guide, but are comprehensive in covering the main point of each week’s lessons. The lesson concludes with a variety of Writing Exercise selections for your student to choose from. The schedule allows for three papers per unit, so your student can choose to do one or two writing assignments from lessons in that Unit. This gives them so flexibility to decide what they would like to do. I have found that this method makes for a happier student. I like how Hewitt chose to incorporate this amount of selections as opposed to just one assignment each week. #### **How do You Grade Writing?** One of the best resources I received in the Speech course was in my parents’ guide. They provided me with the most comprehensive breakdown worksheet to evaluate and grade my students work. Please don’t tell me that I am the only one who has a hard time correcting my students writing. There are SO many factors, it is easy to lose sight of the core lesson. Other times my kids don’t give me their best work. They are just writing for Mom. There is a lack of motivation to strive for deeper writing. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_2520.jpg "Breaking Down the Grading of Written Selections › 200 Fingers & Toes") I remember [my sons first report](https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=2826). I gave him several books about Benjamin Franklin and showed him our out line for a report. I explained that he should write a paper that told a person everything he learned about Mr. Franklin. My son looked me right in the eye and said, “Why wouldn’t I just give them these same books and they could read it for themselves.” Do you have one of those kinds of students? One who would just spend all day trying to out-logic you, rather than just write. Hewitt has the answer. Whether you have a hard time evaluating writing selections for credit OR if your student needs an external evaluator to help them dig deeper and produce better work, there is a tool for you. Hewitt will be your paper evaluator for the year. A human person, not a machine will be your student’s personal evaluator and will offer corrections and suggestions about their work. If you have homeschooled all your child’s life this is a great way to get your high school student ready to transition to college class room work. These courses were created with college readiness in mind. Combining any of Hewitt’s courses with their paper evaluation services is a great way to assure your homeschool son or daughter is ready for that first semester away from you. [![Hewitt Homeschooling {Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/hewitt-homeschooling-reviews/)#### **In Our Homeschool We Talk About Never Limiting Our Students** Most of my kids have no idea what they want to be as they enter the work force. It is insane to think that they should know what they want to do forever. I am still narrowing down my selections. What I do tell them is that they should not limit themselves in the future, by the choices they make in their education today. We took the core classes that they will need for college entrance. If they don’t go to college, we have no loss, but if they decide they want to pursue higher education, I want no limitation to be before them. Finding a partner like Hewitt can be exactly what you need to create a high school experience that will fully equip your student for the future no matter what it holds. ![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") SaveSave SaveSave ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Evaluations, High School, Homeschool, literature --- ### [What if Your Homeschool Kid Needs a Math Teacher](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/online-math-instruction-auditory-visual-learner/) **Published:** June 21, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** UnLock Pre-Algebra was comprehensive and had a broader scope than math curriculu we have used in the past. The lessons were well taught and relatable, stretching concepts while building on each lesson so that comprehension remained well within the students grasp **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This month we were able to review a math teaching tool unlike any other we had used before: [UnLock Math](https://www.unlockmath.com/). We used [UnLock Pre-Algebra](https://www.unlockmath.com/pre-algebra) for my new to middle school student to get a gauge of our math readiness for the coming school year. What we got was so much more than an assessment, I think we found a new math curriculum for the coming school year and the answer to my mulit-sensory kids needs in a video based learning tool. [![UnLock Math pre-algebra](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/20%20-%20UnLock%20Math/Unlock%20Math%20Final-02_zpsf7aib1ov.png)](https://www.unlockmath.com/pre-algebra)#### **Faces Matter, In Learning There is Nothing Like a Teacher to Lead a Student** If I say it once, I say it 100 times a day, “let me see your face.” I usually say it when I am dishing out chore lists to my teens as they pretend like they have hit pause on their video games, (it is summer) or watching their favorite series before the internet goes off for the afternoon. When I have their face; fully gazing into my own, I know that I have their full attention. I have two students who are very auditory/visual. They do great if I teach the concepts but tend to lose focus with their lessons if there is no face to make a connection with. If you have a large family like myself, teaching each and every lesson of every subject might not be a possibility and given my math prowess, it is just unwise. I need a pro working for me. UnLock Math is different rom any other course that we have taken because there is a “live” teacher up in front of the class. I noticed that this made a huge difference for my kids who had trouble focusing on text only or audio only lessons. Though it was my daughter who would be taking the whole course this year, I had my older children audit the course lessons to give their input. They all thought the lessons were easy to understand, even though many of the concepts were new. I found UnLock Math’s Pre-Algebra to be a much more comprehensive course than any we have tried in the past. The real deal makers are built into this comprehensive program and make it accessible for my kids to learn from #### **Easy to Follow and Navigate Lesson Plans** As you can see from the Unit 4 navigation page below, you simply click the block for the lesson you have unlocked and begin. You don’t have to remember your place or keep track of your homework. Everything is housed right here on the website. Every lesson builds on previous concepts so your student is literally UnLocking the keys to every lesson as they progress chronologically through the full school year of lessons. This is not a review or a supplemental program. This is a full scale, stand-alone, comprehensive math course. Complete with instructions, Parent Access Panel, and on-line resources and help. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/unlock-Math.unit-panel.tiff "unlock Math.unit panel › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### **Math With an Actual Instructor Means More Engagement** There is something about human eye contact that keeps people’s attention longer. We are drawn to faces over any other object, so it is natural that a lesson that includes a teacher is going to excel where a text page will lack the interest level necessary to draw your student in deeper. The instructor for [UnLocking Pre-Algebra](https://www.unlockmath.com/pre-algebra) was warm, engaging and just humorous enough with out being off-putting. My kids enjoyed her explanations and most importantly, she did not speak too rapidly. If you should get lost or need to take a break there is one advantage to having a recorded lesson, you can pause the whole lecture. Don’t you just wish you could have done that in college? #### **Clean and Simple Lesson Fields and Less Distractions** We truly enjoyed the white board technology they utilized for teaching. It made it easy to follow the lesson without jumping from screen to screen. The teacher simply wrote on the screen in front of you as needed, making the lessons seamless and clear. With Math, we have found the less distractions, the better. UnLock does a great job of balancing the need for visual aids and the need to keep the viewing field relatively distraction free. Every lesson has some simple math warm-up problems, the core lesson followed by practice problems and challenge questions to keep sharp. Reviews and tests follow the heels of each unit as they are completed. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/unlocking-math-lesson-page.tiff "Easy to Plan fro Scheduling Pages › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### **A Plan You Can Both Stick To** With the pacing guide, everything is lined out for you and your student. This makes scheduling easy and helps you keep your student accountable with their calendar. You always have access to see how your student is doing in the Parent Panel. You never have to guess if your child is “getting it” ever again. The Pacing Guide also helps you to know what your student is learning each week and help them look for outside of class room experiences that might compliment their weeks lessons. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/unlock-Math.schedule..tiff "Easy to Use Schedules › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### **Are you Looking For a Math Solution This Year for High School?** UnLock Pre-Algebra was comprehensive and had a broader scope than math curriculums we have used in the past. The lessons were well taught and relatable, stretching concepts while building on each lesson so that comprehension remained well within the students grasp. This is the program I will be using next year. You can use my code [CLICK HERE](http://unlockmath.refr.cc/WSVTVWG) to receive $50 off a full year curriculum. UnLock Math offers courses in [Pre-Algebra](https://www.unlockmath.com/pre-algebra), [Algebra 1](https://www.unlockmath.com/algebra1), [Algebra 2](https://www.unlockmath.com/algebra2) and is soon releasing [UnLock Geometry](https://www.unlockmath.com/geometry), so there is a upper level math that is right for you. UnLock Math also offers a sibling discount of 50% off of each additional student which is great for families like me with multiple high school students at the same time. Check out more reviews here from the [Homeschool Review Crew](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/pre-algebra-algebra-and-geometry-unlock-math-reviews/) and follow UnLock Math on their social sites at [Facebook](https://facebook.com/UnLockMath), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/UnLockMath) and don’t miss them on [Pinterest.](https://pinterest.com/UnLockMath) [![Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Geometry {UnLock Math Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/pre-algebra-algebra-and-geometry-unlock-math-reviews/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes") > [4 Things to Never Do as a Parent](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3472-2/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Curriculum **Tags:** Algebra, auditory/visual learner, Geometry, High School, math curriculum, on-line learning, Pre-Algebra, UnLock Math --- ### [Is Your Child Ready For More Than a Saturday Morning Cartoon Character's Spanish](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/is-your-child-ready-for-spanish/) **Published:** June 14, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Foreign language is required for high school credit, but you don’t have to wait that long to introduce your child to the richness of Spanish or French. [Whistlefritz](http://www.whistlefritz.com/) has real language lessons for your Pre-K and early Elelmentary child you can lead from home so I was eager to review their [Educator’s Spanish Collection](http://www.whistlefritz.com/product/educators-spanish-collection/) with my 5,7 and 8 year old for several reasons. [![Whistlefritz Spanish](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/12%20-%20Whistlefritz/Spanish%20Educatorrsquos%20Collection%20from%20Whistlefritz_zpskjuc7rnf.jpg)](http://www.whistlefritz.com/product/educators-spanish-collection/)**Whistlefritz Requires No Previous Language Experience** This is great, because like most American High School students I took Spanish 1 and 2 and couldn’t really tell you much except where the big, blue, library is. This program is designed for beginners, and that includes the teacher. You can take a full hands on approach or a more laid back approach and just let your children explore a new language without mastery in mind. **The Earlier A Child Learns a New Language The Better…For All Areas Of Learning** The elementary years are a time when Neuro pathways are being created in the brain. These networks will serve as pathways for learning throughout your child’s entire life. Learning a second language creates more of these pathways the are unique for NEW knowledge. The brain literally makes up more room to store this new material. Even if the language moves out of that space and your 20 year old can’t even remember how to ask for “directions to the disco-tech” or “where the fat cat is,” he will still have this space to place newly acquired skills for his whole life. That means your child will be a smarter adult. I just hope they don’t use all of that space for skills acquired from professional YouTubers. [![Whistlefritz Spanish ](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/12%20-%20Whistlefritz/Whistlefritz1_zpswrksyipv.png)](http://www.whistlefritz.com/product/educators-spanish-collection/)**Whistlefritz Teaches Through Immersion in the Whole Language**No matter what they are doing in schools, the best way to learn a language for communicating is through immersion. The best selling Forigen Languasge programs for adults know this is true. This is why they begin with full immersion in the whole language with audio and visual aids. This is how our brains makes faster connections that are rooted more deeply that random strings of words and phrases. The Educator’s Collection contains five high quality DVDs and three parent-brain-friendly, music CDs that your kids will want to watch over and over. This concrete repetition process with visual reinforcement really helps your child learn rapidly. You might just get sucked in for an episode yourself. [![Whistlefritz](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/12%20-%20Whistlefritz/Whistlefritzlogo_zps6s4npw9q.gif)](http://www.whistlefritz.com/)There is a deck of matching cards so you can practice vocabulary words they have seen and heard in the video. You can further cement their learning by using the Parent’s Guide. With 40 thought out lessons you are sure to find plenty of hands-on ways to help your kids learn while they create fun projects that are in every lesson. [![Whistlefritz](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/12%20-%20Whistlefritz/Whistlefritz5_zpsrgtjfwip.jpg)](http://www.whistlefritz.com/)I am not aiming for my kids to master Spanish but there is no reason that they can’t learn all of the words that are spoken in this DVD set and get a head start in life at the same time. You can reward more review with the link below and you can follow Whistlefritz on Facebook. [![Spanish and French {Whistlefritz Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/spanish-and-french-whistlefritz-reviews/)![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/embrace-you/ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** elementary, Foreign Language, Homeschool, Spanish curriculum, whistlefritz --- ### [You Don’t Have to Be a Scholar to Include Latin in Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/dont-scholar-include-latin-homeschool/) **Published:** June 7, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We have included Latin as a part of our curriculum since our first group of kids entered 6th grade. We were so glad to have a chance to review [Memoria Press](https://www.memoriapress.com/)’ [Third Form Latin Complete Set](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/third-form-latin/) and were looking forward to using their DVD to help teach the lessons. We just discovered that four credits are required to fulfill the Foreign Language requirement for the college my oldest daughter plans to attend. Memoria Press makes it easier to study in the same format for all four years, and with the DVD to assist it was even better. Now my daughter will only study a foreign Language if she wants to in college. [![Third Form Latin Complete Set](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/05%20-%20Memoria%20Press%202/Third%20Form%20Latin%20Complete%20Set_zpso496yuo6.jpg)](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/third-form-latin/)#### Give Your Children the Gift of a Better Education We are homeschooling parents of 10. We are busy and we need a curriculum that work from day one. I have a degree in graphic design and am a freelance writer, not a scholar and not a linguist. I was actually so poor a student that I was a high school drop out before getting back on track with the help of homeschooling. So why would a failing student turn around and choose to teach Latin in her homeschool? Great question, because Latin helps create stronger students. **Latin Aids in Spelling** As a student, I was a terrible speller. No tricks would make letters stick together. As I learned about root words and their origins, I began to unlock my spelling mystery. Knowing why words were spelled in a certain way helped me to learn how to identify similar words and spell them correctly also. I chose to include Latin so my children could master phonics faster and spell with concrete understanding of how words were built. **Latin Unlocks the Meanings of Words** Remember taking the tests as a child where unfamiliar words would be on one side and a ton of definitions would be on the other. Latin helps your child unlock those words because over half of the root words come directly from the Latin language. **Learn Latin and You Can Learn any Other Language Faster** Latin is the root base to all the other languages in the Romance Language family. The structures you learn in Latin will carry over into other languages as well. When your child decides that they want to learn Spanish you will be amazed how fast they pick it up if they have a Latin foundation. **Every Medical and Science Term is Rooted In Latin** Not a few, not half, ALL of them. Should you child take up studies in a science relevant field they will thank you for their Latin mastery. As you begin to study you begin to see how Latin is everywhere. In the words of [Cheryl Lowe from Memoria Press](https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/author/cheryll/), “Latin is not dead; it’s immortal.” [![Memoria Press](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/05%20-%20Memoria%20Press%202/Memoria%20PressLOGO_zps8jqtucyi.png)](https://www.memoriapress.com/)#### Memoria Press created this Latin course with home educators in mind They expect that you don’t have experience with Latin. They created a course that I was able to easily use with my Middle school children and they have continued to use with little assistance through their high school years. Each week we have four brief lessons where we watch the lesson on the DVD or listen to the pronunciation CD and a fish lesson for review. There are review tests and quizzes throughout so you never have to guess if your student is actually getting it. You will see them adding new words to their vocabulary week after week. #### We have never been stuck looking for an answer in the text book The teachers key is an exact replica of the student book. Extensive notes are easy to understand in the accompanying Teachers Guide. Latin drill cards are a great tool to add to your order, but the best purchase you could make by far it the Instructional DVD. The three disks cover ever lesson and includes reviews so your student has plenty of repetition. This is one time that the whole set contained items we used every day. Together they provide every thing you need to learn with out the frustration that some programs leave you with. Memoria Press is an outstanding leader in educational materials. They are one of my favorite companies to order tools from every year. #### What if You Are Just Starting? [![Prima Latina Complete Set](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/06%20-%20June/05%20-%20Memoria%20Press%202/Prima%20Latina%20Complete%20Set_zpsu3qwavwb.jpg)](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/prima-latina/)We began with [Prima Latina](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/prima-latina/) with our 5th grade year. They suggest that your student have a basic understanding of grammar terms before you begin so it is a great idea to do a good recap of those before you begin. We followed that with [Latin Christiana Complete Set](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/latina-christiana-i/) and began with [First Form Latin](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/first-form-latin/) in the 8th grade. Everything you need is right there to jump right in at any time. I suggest that everyone take the first two courses, for all of the reasons I listed above and all the ones you are going to find as you check out the [Memoria Press ](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/)site and read more about them. You can also read Crew Reviews for other Memoria Press Classical Curriculum sets like [Nature’s Beautiful Order](https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/science/natures-beautiful-order/) by clicking the link below. You can also find them on Facebook [@memoriapress](https://www.facebook.com/memoriapress/), Twitter [@MemoriaPress](https://twitter.com/MemoriaPress) and Pinterest [@memoriapress](https://www.pinterest.com/memoriapress/) [![Latin, Nature and Trees {Memoria Press Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/latin-nature-and-trees-memoria-press-reviews/)[![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/)> [Making Your Little Learners Light Up With This STEM Kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/little-learners-light-up/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Classical Curriculum, college prep, Foreign Language, Homeschool, Homeschooling, Latin, memoria press --- ### [Why I NOW Love Subscription Boxes. What Changed My Mind](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-i-now-love-subscription-boxes-what-changed-my-mind/) **Published:** June 6, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ###### As with almost every post there are affiliate links which mean that when you choose to make a purchase, use the link in the article and the companies I work with will send me coffee money. I love promoting companies I believe in and strive to always bring you the very best. Affiliate links help bloggers make a living while doing what we love; which is writing and sharing. Thanks for being awesome readers, otherwise there would be no point! [![There are more ideas on the site for each kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1977-300x300.jpg "Marker Bot Messages › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4309) #### Why was I avoiding subscription boxes? I thought subscription boxes were expensive. There was a fear that I would be locked in forever, trying to find the fine print loop holes, like the CD club I joined when I was 15. (ok it was cassette tapes, like you didn’t get sucked into that too) Some irrational part of me kept saying I could just get all of the parts for the project in the science book at the craft store when I am in town. #### So, How did a frugal mom like me ever get interested in subscription boxes? I’ll tell yo got sick of telling my kids no. No, we don’t have the balloon for that experiment. We don’t have a button battery. Really, we don’t have radish seeds (in December). No, no, no. At some point, even I got sick of hearing me say no. All the while, I kept liking the ads for cool subscription boxes. I created a Pinterest board for them them and soon I was clicking on the link to check them out. As I started looking at these great little kits, I started to wonder #### What Was Keeping Me From Trying One? #### 1. I was worried about cost I sure didn’t want to pay $25 bucks for an activity that the kids would tear up and blow through in one day. Then I considered all the times I ran to the store for a $5 button battery, a red balloon, drinking straws or some other random item I needed to complete an experiment. Those were just the common items. The nearest real craft or hobby store is sixty miles away. That means 120 mile for a tiny motor, various LED lights, or model paint. We are losing a good chunk of a school day. Suddenly the cash it would cost to have every item neatly packaged, double checked and delivered to my door, was the equivalent of gas money. #### 2. I was not sure I would get quality items We are super frugal. I spent almost nothing for a stretch of four years. Nada. Bills and our tithe, the mortgage got the rest. We have lived through some tight times to keep our employees paid and our business open. Though those days are behind us; we have a little more breathing room, I remain watchful with my spending. I did not want to pay $40 for popsicle sticks and tissue paper. Because we made our own fun for many years, I know how much things cost. I wanted to be assured that there was quality products in every box. #### 3. I needed activities that last longer than an episode of Blues Clues Seriously! I can get 30 minutes of entertainment and a few fun facts from Netflix for free. If I was going to pay for a subscription box, it had to offer engaging activities and projects. It needed to have multiple activities for extended play. I wanted to learn and teach while using them. Could we get inspired to explore a little further. That was my hope. [![Stop wasting time, start creating. Right out of the box.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1945-300x300.jpg "KitHub Review From 200fingersandtoes.com › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4305) **I tried out a few subscription boxes and discovered…** #### There are plenty of boxes in varied price ranges With a Groupon I snagged a “School Kit” for three monthly boxes for $27. You’ll hear me rave about the Groovy Lab Box. (I’ll have a review up later this month) You can snag a 3 month subscription for under $30 each month. Sign up for their email and they will send you offers as a new customer at [Academics in a Box Inc]( **Categories:** Homeschool --- ### [Making History Come to Life with Books Worth Reading {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/making-history-come-to-life/) **Published:** May 30, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* History should never be a subject your child is least interested in. We are thrilled by history because we read living books from extent sources, like [Daniel Boone](http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-556-heroes-of-historybrdaniel-boone-frontiersman.aspx) from the [Heroes of History](http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-557-heroes-of-historybrcomplete-setbrbooks-1-27.aspx) series from [YWAM Publishing](http://www.ywampublishing.com/). Why would you ever want to go back to a dry short paragraph in a text book the you can jump right into the world of a historical figure and discover how life was lived all around them. [![YWAM Publishing](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/30%20-%20YWAM%20Publishing/Daniel%20Boone_zpsopxvvirk.jpg)](http://www.ywampublishing.com/)#### Bringing History to Life Through Context When I was in school I hated history. Lists of names and dates did not stick in my brain. I was a little on the dyslexic side and had a terrible time with short numbers. Dates were the worst. History felt like hanging hats on a wall with no hooks. #### Great Stories provide plenty of hooks to hang facts on. Reading about the life of a historical character gives my kids context. They get a feel for what is going on before and during the time period the book takes place in. They live along side the character and feel what they felt. Reader get to experience life in a way they never would have otherwise. As we have read historical novels, we’ve discovered that with enough context we can recall a great deal of the facts from what we read, AND our family loves history. The story’s structure provides the hooks I can hang facts on. Now they stick. It is a shame I thought I hated it all of these years, but I am thankful that my kids can love it with me this time around. My son read about Daniel Boone from YWAM’s Heroes of History series. He is normally a good reader, but not nearly as enthusiastic as his older siblings. My 7th grader read his book on the life of Boone in just a few days. How is that for enthusiasm? Every day he would find me after his reading time and share about what he read. By the end of the book Daniel Boone wasn’t not just a history name and date “fill in the blank” answer. Instead, to my son, he was a true historical hero. #### Review points from My 12 year old reader About the book, my son said, “I like how I could get a really good picture of the story. The beginning was interesting and made me want to read more. I could imagine what it was like to live back then and I learned about the different tribes of Indians.” Regarding the life of Daniel Boone, “Daniel had an interesting life that made me want to keep reading to find out what happened next. People got sick a lot and everyone had to go out and do dangerous things. Daniel Boone was calm and kind, so he was able to get along with many different kinds of people. I liked that about him.” [![Historical novels bring Characters to life](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_2068-225x300.jpg "My awesome book reviewer › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/making-history-come-to-life/img_2068/)Give your kids great materials and they will never be distracted from learning#### Want to take it deeper without squelching your kids enthusiasm? Don’t skip the [study guide from YWAM Publishers](http://www.ywampublishing.com/c-108-downloadable-unit-studies-curriculum-guides.aspx). They know how to cary the excitement of a young reader along from **story** to **study** without skipping a beat. In the Daniel Boone guide, the first instruction was to begin currating items for a display corner. This idea could not be more appealing for a young reader. Every day my pockets are stuffed with random items my children have given to me that are vital to life. A shell from the gravel road, a rock that looks like gold. Children are currators by nature. This idea has kids finding links to the story they are reading from the first minute. #### The study guides include: **Chapter review and discussion questions that are thinking questions.** Not just a bunch of search for the answer and fill in the blank, but questions that engage readers and make then really think about the characters lives. **Vocabulary builders.** YWAM helps reinforce new words by learning vocabulary through context. Great words are added to our mental word list every day. They are best assimilated as we read them naturally. The study guide brings those words back around to solidify understanding. **Prompt for every subject from Social Studies to Art** There is no shortage of material to get a full spectrum learning experience from your [Heroes of History](http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-557-heroes-of-historybrcomplete-setbrbooks-1-27.aspx) or [Christian Heroes](http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-470-christian-heroes-then-nowbrcomplete-set-books-1-44.aspx) book from YWAM. *Community Links* give you ideas to spur further study in different fields related to your reading. For Daniel Boone suggestions for expanded learning communities to visit were; Blacksmithing, Frontiersman, hunter, surveyor, residence of Kentucky, members of the forestry service or a representative of a Native American tribe. The more ideas I read in the study guide the more excited I was to use it. Sometimes I have a hard time thinking of “fun” ways to connect to what we are learning. There is so much to do in our day and “fun” seems to end up low on the priority list. > Heroes of History study guides would be a great way to inject more of that long lost fun into your homeschool day without losing precious productivity time. [![Go from story to study with their guide](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/LOGOYWAMPublishing2_zpsfzy6yaig-300x74.jpg "review from 200fingersandtoes.com › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/making-history-come-to-life/logoywampublishing2_zpsfzy6yaig/)Make history come to life with YWAM Publishing and their Heroes of History seriesWe have read [Gladys Aylward](http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-215-christian-heroes-then-nowbrgladys-aylward-the-adventure-of-a-lifetime.aspx), [Corrie ten Boom](http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-214-christian-heroes-then-nowbrcorrie-ten-boom-keeper-of-the-angels-den.aspx) and Eric Liddell from the [Christian Heroes](http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-470-christian-heroes-then-nowbrcomplete-set-books-1-44.aspx) series. All of these together would make a great introduction to the lives of missionaries who live real amazing lives and saw the power of God move on the behalf of the people they served. There are over 40 different characters to read about from YWAM so there is a character that will appeal to everyone. I am grateful that [YWAM](http://www.ywampublishing.com/) has chosen to highlight lives of men and women that have made an impact on the communities they served. Being the community builders, leaders and champions for God wherever they are; this is a model I want ever before my kids, and character traits I hope they also choose to aspire to themselves. [![Christian & History Heroes {YWAM Publishing Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/christian-history-heroes-ywam-publishing-reviews/)[![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/)> [We Influence With Our Words | In Due Season Volume 1.19](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/influence-words-due-season-volume-1-19/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Christian Biographies, curriculum, Heroes of History, Homeschool, Homeschooling, hsreview, Review --- ### [My #1 Parenting Rule: Limit This Word](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/my-1-parenting-rule-limit-this-word/) **Published:** May 23, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* When I received a set of [**Thin Stix 6pk of Classic Colors**](https://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Stix-Tempera-Classic-Colors/dp/B01MQJJ1LN/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1490028360&sr=8-5&keywords=thin+stix) from [The Pencil Grip, Inc](http://www.thepencilgrip.com/). for review, I knew that they would help me keep my number one parenting rule, Say No Less. Early on in my kids life I was saying “No” a lot. Like more than I ever thought humanly possible. If we were all going to get through this raising children part of life, then I was going to have to change my ground rules. [![Thin Stix by KwikStix](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/22%20-%20Thin%20Stix%206%20Colors%20Pencil%20Grip%20Co/6%20CLASSICS%203D_zpsed6rsjg0.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Stix-Tempera-Classic-Colors/dp/B01MQJJ1LN/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1490028360&sr=8-5&keywords=thin+stix) **Look for ways to say yes!**My first piece of advice is STOP! Before I spout off one more hasty “No”, I ask myself; do I really need to say it. I found I was saying no to a lot of things because the activity in question was not convenient for me. The activity in question was loud, messy or demanded me to shift from my own activities. Don’t get me at all wrong, we DO NOT run a kids-centric house. I write part time, we are in the restaurant business and we have 10 kids to take care of. We try not to squabble to much time away in details or debating why. Instead I try to say “yes” if it is reasonable. While I can’t meet every demand, I did discover that I could say “yes” much more often with very little effort or changes on my part. It has made for less arguing and happier children. **One of the biggest areas that I have made a compromise in life is ART.** I have created “Yes” spaces for a happier life. We both have desires for art. The kids want to paint. I don’t want to clean it up. As parents, we are all busy. I can’t take time away from a deadline to supervise play time, so what is the alternative to saying “No?” Making sure I can say yes. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2258.jpg "Claire - age 7 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2258.jpg)The right tool makes it possible to say yes to creative time**How have we done that?** 1. Create a place where kids can create 2. Give them the right tools for the job 3. Teach them how to clean up the way you want it done Once we did these three things, we were able to say yes to the kids desires for creativity. My older kids have moved into tempera and even acrylic paints, but what about the younger kids that want to make their mark as well? We are using [Kwik Stix](http://www.thepencilgrip.com/) for them. Each stick easy to hold, similar to a marker but are non-toxic, solid tempera paint sticks. All my little child has to do is uncap and twist to use them. They dry in 90 seconds, so there are no wet dripping papers for me to have to find a place for them to stack for long enough to dry out. [![Thin Stix by KwikStix](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/22%20-%20Thin%20Stix%206%20Colors%20Pencil%20Grip%20Co/THINSTIX%206%20GRP_zpsw05acxz1.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Stix-Tempera-Classic-Colors/dp/B01MQJJ1LN/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1490028360&sr=8-5&keywords=thin+stix)We love all kinds of art supplies, but there is a time and a place for every tool. Kwik Stix are great for school time, when you are working on a poster or concept board and want to focus on the project at hand and not the mess. They are also great for a day like today, when the little kids wanted to create a poster for their brother’s birthday. I was able to say “Yes” without hesitation, because I knew I had a box of paint sicks ready for just such an occasion. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2254.jpg "Rosy › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2254.jpg)[![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2252.jpg "Rosy › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2252.jpg)[![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2248.jpg "Let the L › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/img_2248.jpg) I didn’t have to direct them, nor did I have to pull an older child away from their summer reading to watch the little ones. Since the [paint sticks](http://www.thepencilgrip.com/) need no water, I didn’t have to worry about the kitchen table being a sloppy mess when they were done. I love saying yes. Do you want to say yes as well? Click [here](https://www.instagram.com/p/BUcyLYQhTXv/?taken-by=200fingersandtoes) for the Kwik Stix post on Instagram and leave a comment about where you’ve learned to say yes to your kids. [![No Mess Art with Thin Stix Classic Colors {The Pencil Grip, Inc. Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/no-mess-art-with-thin-stix-classic-colors-the-pencil-grip-inc-reviews/)[![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Fast Drying, kids art supplies, Mess Free, No mess kids art, Non-Toxic, say yes challenge, Tempera, Tempera Paint, Thin Stix --- ### [It's Time To Get The Kinks Out of Your Homeschooling Armor {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/time-get-kinks-homeschooling-armor-review/) **Published:** May 16, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* There are times when you need to have someone else check your armor. I was glad to have the chance to go through [Homeschool Rescue](http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/homeschool-rescue/) from [Only Passsionate Curiosity](http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/) and really walk through our school using another person’s eyes. With my oldest kids graduating, I was ready to assess our school year and look for ways to make it better. As a course creator myself and a 15 year vet of the homeschool game, I STILL need support from others. I need an outside eye and insight to help my be my sharpest because my kids are counting on me. [![Only Passionate Curiosity Homeschool Rescue](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/16%20-%20Homeschool%20Rescue/Homeschool%20Rescue%201_zpsin3kdxkh.png)](http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/homeschool-rescue/)#### It is Time to Get Suited Up For Next Year One of my favorite movie scene is early in the movie “The Nights Tale.” The main character, Will, is getting suited up for the joust in terrible, old, ill-fitting armor, that is not even his in the first place. His squire is holding Will’s arm over his head while another squire is banging heavily on Will’s side with the butt of a large pole. After a minute Will, waves his arms up and down in a gesture that says, “Yes! That is better!” And off he heads out the the next joust. Just like Will, there are kninks in my armor that I need someone to come along side of me and help bang them out. Sometimes, I am using methods that just don’t fit where I am in my homeschool anymore. Other times my teaching method is just broken and I am not seeing it. Everyone should have an armor bearer at their side ready to sinch up your straps and loosen your burden where it is pinching. [![Only Passionate Curiosity Homeschool Rescue](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/16%20-%20Homeschool%20Rescue/Course%20Content%20Homeschool%20Rescue%20Updated_zpsj4uuuqgb.png)](http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/homeschool-rescue/) #### What if You Could Have a Real Armor Bearer of Your Own? That is what veteran homeschool Mom, Heather Aliano has done with Homeschool Rescue. The course is packed with great short video with the transcript and accompanying audio available as well. There are meaty homework/workbook exercises and tons of resources to help you better trouble shoot your own homeschool. She helps bang on your armor and make sure you are ready for next year. Homeschool Rescue covers the practicle aspects of homeschooling. The core foundational issues that can lead to the most frustration in your homeschool if they are not working. #### Some of the items covered are: - Time Management - Planning Your Curriculum - Setting Your Students Up For Success - Teaching Older Students - And much more [![Only Passionate Curiosity Homeschool Rescue](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/16%20-%20Homeschool%20Rescue/Homeschool%20Rescue%20Breathe%20New%20Life_zpsfkhiishm.jpg)](http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/homeschool-rescue/) #### Homeschool Rescue in Now a Quick Once Over There are plenty of areas where you are getting your armor thoroughly checked. The lesson dealing with follow through as a parent was a great check for me. I often get caught in the middle of my own problem because I have not followed through with my kids, in school, in consequences and in rewards. There are plenty of areas we struggle with. I found Homeschool Rescue did a great job of covering some of the biggest topics deeply. We are not talking about a course that gives you a thin once over and leaves you to figure things out for yourself. Heather get in depth about how to make changes and to see what will work best for your family by following clear exercises she has created to go with each chapter. #### What happens if you get stuck? There is this amazing Facebook group that is made up of students just like you. Everyone is passionate about inproving their homeschool and more than willing to share what has worked for them in their homeschool. I found that the group was very supportive and Heather was vry involved through out the course to help people with their questions as well. #### Will you buy it and forget it? That will be very hard because Only Passionate Curiosity is passionate about keeping you on track. I got plenty of friendly emails as we went through the course. Some were updates or questions that others in the group and shared in the chat times. Every time I got one I was reminded that there was another video cued up and waiting or me to watch when I was ready. #### Is your homeschool ready for a refitting? Do you like the idea of an armor bearer coming along your side and making sure you are battle ready for next year? That is exactly how I felt when I started [Homeschool Rescue](http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/homeschool-rescue/) and I still have some online goodies to go through yet. Check out the home page and see what other Moms are saying about the course for yourself. Find [Only Passionate Curiosity](http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/) on your favorite platform and follow them now Facebook: Twitter: Pinterest: Instagram: Goggle+: [![Homeschool Rescue {Only Passionate Curiosity Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/homeschool-rescue-only-passionate-curiosity-reviews/)[![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Help for Homeschool Parents, Homeschool Parent Resource, Homeschool Rescue --- ### [Do You Want to Get Your Kids Thinking Mathematically?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/want-get-kids-thinking-mathematically/) **Published:** May 9, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My older children have strong math visualization skills because we used math enrichment tools like manipulatives to help build concrete understanding of math concepts. We got busy and as a result my younger kids were not showing the same mastery, which is why I was excited when we could review both the [Grades 3/4 and the Grades 5/6 Lessons](http://algebraforbreakfast.com/afb-topic-list/) from [Algebra for Breakfast](http://algebraforbreakfast.com/) to use as math enrichment! [![Algebra for Breakfast](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/09%20-%20Algebra%20For%20Breakfast/afb%20logo%20with%20bob_zpsgpgch87d.png)](http://algebraforbreakfast.com/)#### Algebra Breakfast Started Our Day Just Right We took a break from our math program and dove right into the series. It was easy to do because the whole program is an online classroom, available whenever you are. I set up our kids at a large dining room table, where they could reach the manipulatives easily. We had three kids in our “class” and one kit offered plenty of hands on tools for them to use at the same time. The manipulatives are generously large and easy to handle for little kids as well as older ones. They would be perfect for a child who is still working on motor skills. Other sets we had in the past were difficult to place or stack because the smallest parts were just 1 centimeter. Algebra for Breakfast uses enrichment tools that are bit larger yet not too bulky. I felt like they were easier to use and to follow visual ques because of this. #### I saw a rapid improvement in their ability to visualize a problem after a just week of lessons. It is easy to get busy. As a parent with a homeschool that consists of multiple grades, it is easy to get stuck in a workbook mentality. This year has been busier than most and we fell into that routine. I was spending a lot more time on simple concepts with my younger students than I ever did with the older kids. It was frustrating to me to answer questions that I felt they should have a grasp of. As I stepped back I began to ask myself what was different between the two groups. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_2185-300x300.jpg "IMG_2185 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/want-get-kids-thinking-mathematically/img_2185/) #### Math Manipulatives build Concrete Connections The difference was that my older kids used manipulatives almost exclusively in the early years of their math lessons. They could see what the book was talking about and it led to master in their higher-grade math as well. If you want your kids to master high school math, then build a great foundation for them in elementary. Algebra for Breakfast does that with short lessons with clear and concrete concepts. Each lesson had an accompanying printable lesson worksheet so you could prove mastery of each concept. This is great because you are never left guessing if your kids “got it.” Both my [3rd grade student and my 5th and 6th grade](http://algebraforbreakfast.com/afb-topic-list/) students responded well to the program. The older kids enjoyed using the manipulatives to break down abstract Algebra concepts into real scenarios they could touch and feel. By the third week I could see a confidence returning to their lesson time. #### Short Bursts of Information leads to Engagement The lessons in Algebra for Breakfast are short. Often, the kids did three lessons in a day. This was their choice. Let me just repeat that in case you missed it. My kids did three lessons of math on purpose, almost every day. Somedays I would come down to our school area and find the wipe off board full of problems from one of the dice games the kids learned in their lesson the day before. This was happening in their free time. This is from the group of students that was having trouble with math concepts before we began. That made my Homeschool Mama heart very glad we had used Algebra for Breakfast. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_2184-300x300.jpg "Math Dice Games For Learning › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/want-get-kids-thinking-mathematically/img_2184/) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_2186-300x300.jpg "Play While Learning › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/want-get-kids-thinking-mathematically/img_2186/) If you are looking for a way to get your kids to better understand how to think mathematically without remediating, consider [Algebra for Breakfast](http://algebraforbreakfast.com/). My two groups of students relearned how to think mathematically while learning new Algebra concepts for the first time. [![Bob Hazen's Algebra Lessons {Algebra for Breakfast Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/bob-hazens-algebra-lessons-algebra-for-breakfast-reviews/)[![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe-300x88.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Algebra For Breakfast, curriculum, Homeschool Math, Math Enrichment, Math Supplement, Review --- ### [Prep for the dreaded SAT Essay with a Proven Writing Coach {review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/prep-dreaded-sat-essay-proven-writing-coach/) **Published:** May 8, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I am never afraid of a subject in our homeschool, because I know there is the right tool out there for every need our homeschool has ever run up against. This year we are facing the much dreaded SAT essay, but I feel ready to begin with my daughter because of the [Institute for Excellence in Writing](http://www.iew.com/) and the in depth lessons that are covered in their [High School Essay Intensive](http://iew.com/hse-d) course. [![You are not limited by your education](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IEW-300x255.jpg "Institute for Excellence in Writing › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/prep-dreaded-sat-essay-proven-writing-coach/iew/)Prepping for a test your have never taken#### Having the right tools means never having to guess. Guessing was exactly where I found myself this year. I was on my own. The SAT might as well be a foreign word. The whole concept is completely new to me. This is my first round of graduations. I can see how it could be intimidating. Many homeschoolers I know choose to end homeschooling after middle school because they feel ill equipped for all of the nuances of high school. That should never be the reason you choose to end homeschooling. Early this year, I started searching for tools because I knew I was going to need support to finish high school well. That is why I am so passionate about finding the right tools for my family and yours. Even though I have never taken the SAT Essay or the complete battery of tests, I am not shrinking back. There has never been a better time to homeschool because of the abundance of resources that are available for every need and learning style. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IEW.-logo.png "IEW. logo › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/prep-dreaded-sat-essay-proven-writing-coach/iew-logo/) #### Looking for Help for Your Writer? I found the Institute for Excellence in Writing last year, and read about the founder, author and director, Andrew Pudewa at our local Homeschool convention. As a parent of a writer, I was interested in a program that could help push my writer to the next level. IEW has online classes where your student can get live feedback and instruction. We used the High School Essay Intensive Course and this review could not be more perfectly timed. My daughter is graduating, but intends to take some classes through the local school for college credit. IEW was a great format to do some intensive writing and review different essay structures. Next semester, she will be confident and prepared to succeed. #### A great teacher makes a great class. We recently used a video math course. The set up was a class of 5th graders throughout the program. Each of my kids commented that the teacher seemed angry or unfriendly. I had noticed the same thing and was instantly put off, but didn’t mention it to my kids. Don’t be fooled, WHO is teaching a class does make a difference. From the first STREAMING video to the instructional DVD I knew I was in good hands. Andrew Pudewa is a masterful communicator. He teaches with just enough humor to keep myself and my teen engaged. He is very serious about writing and what it takes to be good at it, but he presents in a way that is not dry or boring. The High School Essay Intensive course will prepare my daughter for her first run at the SAT essay. It was so thorough and well communicated that after a few lessons she feels very confident to take her practice test. More importantly I feel like she is ready for her classes next year. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_3147-300x300.jpg "My writer › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/influence-words-due-season-volume-1-19/img_3147/) #### Your student will never feel lost or left behind during the course The seminars are well paced with instruction, then writing prompts, followed by review. The newest classes from IEW cover the new ACT essay test and the redesigned SAT essay. If you are like me and have never taken the tests, or if you feel like you student needs to complete the essay portion for their field of interest, I would not pass up using this program. If you are near Iowa, Andrea Pudewa, is teaching [Excellence In Writing’s High School Essay Intensive](http://iew.com/hse-d), live at the [Homeschool Iowa Conference](http://homeschooliowa.com/conference/conference-info/teen-track/), Thursday, June 1st, 2017. I am looking forward to meeting him personally and thanking him for giving my daughter the skills to take college classes with confidence. Definitely add their[ pod cast ](http://www.iew.com/help-support/podcast)for great information as well. [![High School Essay Intensive {Institute for Excellence in Writing Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/high-school-essay-intensive-institute-for-excellence-in-writing-reviews/)[![Thank you fro reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe-300x88.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** essay writing, high school writing, prepare for ACT, prepare for SAT, writing, writing program --- ### [The Biggest Lie About Being an Artist Is: You Can't Be One!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/biggest-lie-artist-cant-one/) **Published:** May 1, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This might be one of my favorite product reviews of the year. My kids loved using [ArtAchieve](https://artachieve.com/) to gain drawing confidence and be exposed to other culture’s art and history. [![ArtAchieve](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/01%20-%20ArtAchieve/logo-art%20lessons%20for%20kids_zps7pjxoli6.jpg)](https://artachieve.com/)#### Have you been told you are not an Artist? I remember when I was in elementary school, being told I was not an artist because I only drew things I could see. I could copy anything in front of me but I was not good at imagining things or drawing from my minds-eye. Somewhere in the teasing and the comments about “real” artists, I decided I was not an artist after all. I like many other people I developed the belief that artistic skill was something your are born with, not learned. I stopped copying. I let myself stop working on my art. #### When I started studying art as an adult I learned that art is a skill It can be taught as readily as carpentry. I might never build a garage, but I can be taught how to measure, hammer and saw. The same goes for your child and art. ArtAchieve teaches the basic skill you need to observe, plan and execute simple drawing with tools you can easily obtain. There is no factor that will limit an individual from taking this course and creating real art from the first lesson. [![Following the steps is creating art](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSC_0468-300x200.jpg "ArtAchieve has lessons for your little ones and big kids too › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/biggest-lie-artist-cant-one/dsc_0468/) We used [ArtAchieve Entire Level II](https://artachieve.com/bundled-lessons/entire-level-ii) with a range of ages between 5 and 11. My older daughter easily managed the lessons on her own. The tool list is clear at the outset of every lesson, so I was able to set up an art box with the supplies she would need before hand. The lessons are in two formats; a Power Point slide show or a video. I liked having this choice of formats. If you have a child who is easily frustrated or overwhelmed by instructions that seem too fast or videos that move on too quickly, the power point would be a good choice. You can click through each instruction as you are ready for them. [![Give your child the Art Skills they crave](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSC_0475-300x200.jpg "ArtAchieve Delivers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/biggest-lie-artist-cant-one/dsc_0475/) With my younger children, we watched the video and I stayed nearby so I could pause when they needed time to transition between the warm up activities. My 7 and 9 year olds had no trouble following the instructions. We all enjoyed the instructor. John Hofmann is the guide for the series and the creator of the course and you can tell, he is doing what he loves to do. He is very warm and encouraging. #### An encouraging instructor can help bridge the skill learning curve with joy My favorite thing about the course was John’s constant encouragement to keep moving forward with your drawing. “If you don’t like it you can just do it again,” was a great thing John repeated throughout the lessons. There is little expectation for perfection or mastery, just a fun exploration of art with great instructions. Because the leadership is easy to follow and the instructions were broken down into workable bites, the kids made art they were all satisfied with. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DSC_0472-300x200.jpg "DSC_0472 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/biggest-lie-artist-cant-one/dsc_0472/) If you are working exclusively with a 5 year old or this is your child’s first guided lesson I would probably choose Level I. My 5 year old was a little frustrated when he was working on his own in Level II. This was easily solved when I came along his side and helped him follow the instructions. The teacher constantly reassures the students that they are learning and they aren’t going to like every line they make. There is little pressure for perfection. It made it easy to reassure my son by just repeating what John was saying in the lesson. #### ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_2142-300x300.jpg "learning to create with ArtAchieve › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### There is more to ArtAchieve than just drawing We really enjoyed the [**Cross-Curricular Connections**](https://artachieve.com/art-classes-level-iv/level-iv-art-lesson-1-the-ukrainian-face-with-hidden-surprises) portion of the ArtAchieve site. This links the art project you are working on and adds additional cultural content. With embedded videos and educational links you can touch on Geography, Histroy, Music, Science and can round out your time with a writing project and literature selection to learn more about you chose culture. #### How would love this? [ArtAchieve](https://artachieve.com/) would be a great fit for our summer program or a day 5 supplement to add to a full curriculum. With a young child you could go far with ArtAchieve alone. There is plenty for your child to explore and really get some exposure to other cultures.You don’t have to be young to appreciate what you learn here. I loved learning about Korean Wedding Ducks and Dala Horses from our [Level II](https://artachieve.com/bundled-lessons/entire-level-ii) lessons. [![ArtAchieve](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/05%20-%20May/01%20-%20ArtAchieve/product%20image_zpsihyvgdln.png)](https://artachieve.com/) [![Art Lessons Inspired From Around the World {ArtAchieve Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/art-lessons-inspired-from-around-the-world-artachieve-reviews/)[![Crew Disclaimer](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/3%20Crew%20Disclaimer%202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** art classes for kids, art lessons for kids, drawing lessons for kids, homeschool art, homeschool electives, online electives --- ### ["The Gospel" is Where History Comes to Life in Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/drive-through-history/) **Published:** April 26, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We read the Gospels and we read our history; but wouldn’t you love to go deeper? Check out this review to see how [Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels”](https://www.drivethruhistory.com/product/drive-thru-history-gospels/) takes our family to places we have never seen before. #### Drive Thru History is a High End Production Have you ever been embarrassed, as you tried to get your kids to watch a “Christian” film on to find out the audio was a terrible, the film work was shaky and the whole mess was poorly edited. There are plenty of “B” level productions passing themselves off as educational. As if we homeschoolers have lower standards when it comes to entertainment and cinematography. When I was offered to use the DVD set of [Drive Thru History](https://www.drivethruhistory.com/)® I knew I was in for a treat. These are true professional quality films. Masterfully edited with perfect audio quality. I want to know that I am shelling out my cash for a great product and the Drive Thru History DVD’s pass with flying colors. #### My Son Chose Drive Thru For His History Enrichment We are members of a subscription site and Drive Thru History is a featured product there. My son watched a few episodes in the American History series and loved it. He told me so much about what he learned with details that showed he was listening. When he continued to tell me all about them through the week, I knew we needed to add them to out future watch list. ![Drive Thru History The Gospels](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/26%20-%20%20Drive_Thru_History/Drive-Thru-History-The-Gospels-DVD_zpssgbwx7mw.jpg)#### The Whole Set Came in a Beautiful Sturdy Slip Cased Book Format Not a member of a subscription site? No problem, because the DVD set I reviewed was a stand alone set. This is no cheap mass produced set either. The beautiful, slip-covered set is bound like a sturdy book. Inside are housed the three DVD’s that cover the 18 part series. In the center you will find a straight forward study guide for each 30 minute episode with a short summary and discussion questions for each chapter. [![I love that Drive has met the demand for quality production](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_0627-225x300.jpg "Media is a part of their world › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/drive-through-history/grizzled-100-2/)Investing in high quality programs is one way that I convey that I value the message of the gospels My kids are watching what I value with my time and dollars#### Gather Everyone Up For the Adventure We all gathered in the morning to snuggle on the couch a couple days a week and watched the episodes from “The Gospel” set, and then shared a short discussion time afterward. The series cover the life of christ and visit the locations that are mentioned in the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We witnessed the route taken by Mary and Joseph and the little town of Bethlehem where their babe was born. We entered the home of a first century shepherd and learned how they keep the sheep safe at night. The desserts where Jesus prayed, the sea where the fishermen first met Him, and the River Jordan are some of the physical locations we followed all of the way to the empty tomb. We touched pieces of history and archaeological witnesses to this ancient time with Dave as our guide. #### Bring your family the gospel message in a whole new way “The Gospel” DVD from Drive Thru History would make a great bible time for younger children as well as older. This set would also be perfect for children’s ministry. The videos are the perfect length for a service and the questions are beige and clear but helpful to get your kids to recap for themselves. I know so many homeschool parents are involved in Sunday School and Children’s Ministry. I love when I find a tool I can use in my homeschool and that I can share with my church class room as well. Drive Thru History is definitely one of those products. #### It Takes Three Disks to Cover All of the Material With nine hours of high quality video, we didn’t just burn through this like some short lived Netflix series. Every one of my kids was engaged from beginning to the end. From my 5 year old to my teens, they were all captivated by the engaging retelling of the gospels though the eyes of the modern world. [![Now when we read they have a picture in their head of the places they have seen](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dave20Stotts20Headshot_zpsaaxe87mv-235x300.jpg "Dave Stotts is your host through time › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/drive-through-history/davestottsheadshot_zpsaaxe87mv/)With a little humor and a ton of interesting facts Dave makes history come alive to your little onesDave Stotts is a perfect host. He is engaging without being overly goofy. The kids enjoyed his sincere approach to the retelling of the Gospel stories. He was also funny enough to keep them laughing as he lost his keys and met with various obstacles while filming on the other side of the world. Yet his retelling of the Gospel message was clear and powerful. #### Seeing History Come Alive Has Made My Children Want to See These Places in the World Like Never Before Seeing the places where Jesus walked is an experience many of us will never have the privilege of having. Through the [Drive Thru History](https://www.drivethruhistory.com/) series my children were inspired to dream about such places. Knowing these links to ancient history are really here in this modern age had them talking about what it would be like to visit there one day. [![See the world with your kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TheGospels_Image_CaesareaMaritima_zps8g1c9p9z-1-300x200.jpg "Drive Through History - The Gospels › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/drive-through-history/thegospels_image_caesareamaritima_zps8g1c9p9z-2/)Take a journey with Dave and see the place the gospel were born without leaving your living roomI know they would’ve never entered this discussion from just reading the bible. Seeing the beautiful footage and hearing the expanded history gave them a greater vision than I ever could have given them alone. I am so grateful we were able to watch the whole series together as a family. We all learned so much and were inspired to think of the gospel stories in new light. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring history to life with Dave and Drive Thru History. ![](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/26%20-%20%20Drive_Thru_History/TheGospels_Image_DTHLogo-BlackOutline_zpsjkczr6vb.png)You can also check out the [Drive Thru History](https://www.drivethruhistory.com/)® site and choose a series that supplements what you are studying this year. Other titles available are; The Holy Land, American History, Ancient History.Don’t just take my word, listen to these other homeschool families and discover what they thought as well.[![The Gospels {Drive Thru History® Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/the-gospels-drive-thru-history-reviews/)[![Crew Disclaimer](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/3%20Crew%20Disclaimer%202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** curriculum, Drive Through History, History, Small Group Study, The Gospels --- ### [How we're using an online resource with my reluctant reader. {Review}](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/using-schoolhouseteachers-with-my-reluctant-reader/) **Published:** February 13, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Help my kid hates reading! Have you ever heard a desparate mom cry these words, or have you said them yourself? I have the opportunity to review a Yearly Membership from [SchoolhouseTeachers.com](https://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883) for The Homeschool Review Crew. The good news is that I have plenty to say because we’ve been using it for a little over a year. I can say with conviction that it saved my reluctant reader’s school year, and my own sanity. The beauty of homeschooling is the flexibility it allows for us to meet the needs of our kids in different ways. Our regular school curriculum is literature based. 9 out of 10 kids love it. Those are our real numbers over here, we literally have 10 kids, but that ONE couldn’t be forgotten, and he was falling out of love with school, and fast. I searched desparately for a fix, and found SchoolhouseTeachers.com. [![High-quality, Self-paced, Online Homeschool Resources {SchoolhouseTeachers.com}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/01%20-%20January/10%20-%20SchoolhouseTeachers/Schoolhouse%20Teachers%20Logo_zpsx0v7ehqv.png)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/high-quality-self-paced-online-homeschool-resources-schoolhouseteachers-com/)#### If a program was going to capture his heart it going to have to be digital. Computers are his love language. He could beat his older brother’s games before he was able to read the instructions. I knew that capturing that same love would catapult him back into learning. The trouble was, digital packages from many programs were expensive and we were already spending most of our budget on our current curriculum. That is when I found SchoolhouseTeachers.com. For less than a math book set, I could get a full year of access to hundreds of online classes in every subject. [![Classes for kids who need speed](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/drivethruhistoryamericanhistory_Facebook_1200x628-1024x536-1024x536.jpg "drivethruhistoryamericanhistory_Facebook_1200x628-1024x536 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/using-schoolhouseteachers-with-my-reluctant-reader/drivethruhistoryamericanhistory_facebook_1200x628-1024x536/)My reluctant reader needed school to keep pace with himHe has loved [Drive Through History](https://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883&p=/school-subjects/history/drive-thru-history/drive-thru-history-ancient-history/), watched Math Concept Videos and he has even taken an Art class, completely under his own direction. This is the same kids who used to take advantage of my answering another student’s question by heading down the road on his bike. Now, he is learning, reading and telling me about it. We both having the best school year we have had in a really long time. I am so glad I found SchoolhouseTeachers, because I was starting to lose the joy I once had in our school day, and it was taking a toll on my relationship with my son. The gift of Homeschooling is building better relationships with our kids and igniting a love of learning that lasts them all their lives. We got off track for a bit, but I think we are back on the right path. If you have a reluctant reader/learner this might just be the most important article you read all year, so bookmark it now! #### Getting Started was easy. I let my son choose some of his classes. It was easy because I could simply pull a list of classes by grade level and let him read all about them. Letting him have power to choose really got him interested and kept him engaged. The printable lesson plans make keeping up on his work as simple as checking off the box. We have loved our classes so much that we are looking at adding Coding and Spanish. It took no time to get the hang of studying online and we can afford to keep right on doing it. #### I love SchoolhouseTeachers.com because of the added features My three oldest kids are graduating this May. Internally I knew this was going to be the start of some major paper work. One of my teens wanted to attend a summer camp for writers at a college for credit. I discovered that they would need her full high school transcript with her application. I was so thankful that my [SchoolhouseTeachers.com Yearly Membership](https://schoolhouseteachers.com/start-here/#considering-membership) includes a Gold Membership to the Applecore record keeping site. It took me a week to pull all of her information for the last four years, but it could take you one minute. Each time you take a class, just add it, right now, and when the time comes to submit a transcript, you will not be scrambling. You can just click and send. Your insurance company needs a report card for a discount, today? No problem, Applecore made it easy. [![Print the report you need at a click](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_1725.jpg "Simplified record keeping with Applecore › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/using-schoolhouseteachers-with-my-reluctant-reader/t-hc-100/)The best time to start high school transcripts is now#### It is not just for your kids, there are Bible teachers and classes you want to hear too. Your SchoolhouseTeachers.com membership also includes access to RightNow Media which is an amazing online resource of biblical based teaching. Watch current bible studies by Francis Chan, Beth Moore and Andy Stanley and many more. Want a safe site for the kids to watch a video, look no further. There is nothing you ever have to purchase from RightNow to access the SchoolhouseTeachers portion of the site. I was amazed by how many current bible teachers love, have their recent studies available on the site. We even used a video portion to teach our small group. #### There is a Class for Everyone. There is a **just for parents** section on the SchoolhouseTeachers.com site as well. Want encouragement as a homeschool parent? Want to start planning for college? There are courses for you. Actually, there is something for everyone. Learn ESL as a family or make bible time special by watching a series together and talking about it. With no extra per-student fees, I can let all of the kids take classes in their areas of interest without worries about our budget. With over 300 courses it is not hard to pick something or run out of options. [![High-quality, Self-paced, Online Homeschool Resources {SchoolhouseTeachers.com}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/01%20-%20January/10%20-%20SchoolhouseTeachers/Schoolhouse%20Teachers%20subject%20selections_zps7gti8t8n.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/high-quality-self-paced-online-homeschool-resources-schoolhouseteachers-com/)**After a year, I know that SchoolhouseTeachers.com is a fit for any family.** If you are looking for a supplement for electives or if you are wanting a full time, full scale curriculum, there is a class for your every need at SchoolhouseTeachers. And at the same price as most single subject sites you cannot beat the value. Do you want to hear more reviews before you decide? Check them out here… [![High-quality, Self-paced, Online Homeschool Resources {SchoolhouseTeachers.com}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/high-quality-self-paced-online-homeschool-resources-schoolhouseteachers.com/) You can try SchoolhouseTeacher.com for a month for only $5 by clicking the add below [![Choosing the right tools can make you look very smart.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tablet.jpg "SchoolhouseTeachers.com. 300 courses for the price of a fancy coffee › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883)Looking for a source for classes you can afford Want to pay one flat price for all of your kids Look No Further![](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/3%20Crew%20Disclaimer%202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Curriculum **Tags:** Curriculum We Use, Digital Homeschool, Homeschooling, Review, SchoolhouseTeachers.com, TOS Crew Review --- ### [Have a Little Window of Time? Fill it With a Good Word From Planet 316](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/) **Published:** April 25, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Sometimes the little ones just need to be quiet for a few minutes or you need to clear your mind before your next co-op pick up. Either way you are going to like this [Daily Bible Jigsaw from Planet 316](http://planet316.com/) review. http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/25%20-%20Planet%20316/game\_icon\_zpsxcg9czjr.png The truth be told, I only have two games on my phone. I have always been intentional about limiting games on my phone. As a blogger there are tons of tools I use every day from my phone, so space is a premium. Secondly, I don’t really like the idea of the kids using my phone. BUT, just this week at a critical meeting that ran a little long I was thankful that I had loaded [Planet 316’s Daily Bible Jigsaw](http://planet316.com/) game. I was able to allow my little guy to finish my puzzle. He had fun rotating the pieces and moving the similar pieces to separate corners of the game board to help solve the puzzle. The last thing I want for myself of my kids is a game that takes a great deal of time or commitment. With a new puzzle each day there is something to look forward to, but the demand of a more involved strategy game. The puzzle games were perfect for my elementary age kids. They were just enough of a challenge to keep them engaged, but not so difficult that they wanted to give up. I did find myself playing a few more puzzles than I thought I would have. I am not a puzzle girl, but when I had a window where I was stuck waiting to pick up a kid or ball practice ran long, I found that their puzzle was a great way to fill a few minutes quietly by myself. http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/25%20-%20Planet%20316/company\_logo\_zps9yxmfzjc.png Many parents are very concerned about the content of the games their kids play. There are so many game choices and the slippery slope begins younger and younger. It is nice to have a game to choose that is innocent, with sweet graphics boys and girls would like. The finished puzzle has a Biblical verse so you leave your game time with a word of encouragement. When was the last time a game did that for you. Planet 316 Daily Jigsaw Puzzle is available on every platform you would usually find you favorite games, from [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.planet316.dailybiblejigsaw), the [Apple App Store](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daily-bible-jigsaw/id965945806), [Facebook](https://apps.facebook.com/dailybiblejigsaw) and [Facebook Gameroom](https://www.facebook.com/gameroom). So it is easy to load onto any device and use the next time you find your self in the pick up line with a few minutes to spare. A game would certainly be just long enough to get one of my younger kids all of the way through the grocery store and checked out cheerfully on a rough day. Down load it today and check it out for yourself and then, let me know what you thought. What is your favorite kind of game to play when you have a few minutes to yourself and you want to play? Leave me a comment below. [![Daily Bible Jigsaw {Planet 316 Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/daily-bible-jigsaw-planet-316-reviews/)[![Thank you for reading and please share](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/320Crew20Disclaimer202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg "Bloggers love their disclaimers › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/planet-316/3crewdisclaimer2016_zpscwpb9ywe/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Bible Games, daily jigsaw puzzles, jigsaw puzzleapp --- ### [SpeedyPrep walks you through how to get College Credit from Home](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-credit-home-speedyprep-2/) **Published:** April 19, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My first born graduates in May and just announced that he DOES want to attend college instead of wait a year…in March. I did not panic because I was given access to review [SpeedyPrep](https://www.speedyprep.com/) the [online CLEP prep experts](https://www.speedyprep.com/about-us/). With their guarantee I knew he could bang out some college credits by the end of the school year. Now that I has seen the program in action, I am thinking about working on my degree as well. [![SpeedyPrep](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/19%20-%20SpeedyPrep/Why_students_love_SpeedyPrep_zpsx6fyt8t7.jpg)](https://www.speedyprep.com/)This school year our kids completed Government and Economics and last year we did an extensive review of American History. The experts and SpeedyPrep recommend that you have completed the high school equalivent of the course you wish to a study for the CLEP test. #### **What is a CLEP test?** A CLEP test, in simplified terms, is a test you can take that proves you have mastery of a subject. It is like passing the final. You are awarded the credits for that class, just like if you had sat there every Tuesday night. But you didn’t, you studied a series of flash card prompts and watched videos in the convenience of you own home. Probably while you were frantically trying to tie up your Senior year and play Spring Baseball, like my son. Or raising a family, schooling your kids at home and dreaming about what you want to be when you grow up like me. By taking the CLEP test for the subject he covered in high school my son can actually have the equalivent of a first year of college in credits for a tiny fraction of the cost. Testing runs about $100 per CLEP test and when you pass you are awarded the college credits the class is valued at. #### **I have never had a graduate before, are you in the same boat?** I thought I had more time, but here we are at graduation. I bet the same thing happened to you or could have. Since you are reading this you are going to be much more prepared than I am. SpeedyPrep can be your guide through the transition from high school to college. I just signed up for their Speedy Prep Perks; which gave me access to the best kept secrets in education and cost of living discounts through *Making* *Education* *Possible*. I have just begun to work through this bonus, but I am shocked that this is a FREE bonus for my membership. There is an automated degree plan which you can use to plan for the future with your students as well as tools to work on a degree in an accelerated timeframe. The bottom line is every tool will help your and your student save time and money. They can get on to the life they have been hoping and planning for sooner and so can you. [![SpeedyPrep](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/19%20-%20SpeedyPrep/SpeedyPrep_logo_zpskyfacid7.jpg)](https://www.speedyprep.com/)#### **So How Does It Work?** Your student logs on and chooses the courses they would like to begin prepping for. With 24 subjects to choose from there is a broad spectrum of coverage for every Major. From there they just log on and follow the proven flash card sequences to maximize memorization and retention of information. There are many videos along the way the increase comprehension and give context to the teaching. SpeedyPrep’s proven flash card approach helps students retain the facts they need to pass the CLEP test. They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee to back it up. My son likes the classes well enough to check in when he has some free time to do a session because he knows they are short. He was shocked that there was no book work. This has probably been the best thing about SpeedyPrep. We could not have used the classes during this busy season if the classes weren’t structured this way. The Speed makes these classes fit into ANY schedule. Even Senoir year. [![How can you be really ready?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FullSizeRender-300x294.jpg "Get ready, get ahead, get SpeedyPrep › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/get-college-credit-home-speedyprep-walks/fullsizerender/)We always think there is more time and now we are looking at a graduation gown hanging in our closetThe only draw back is that if we take the same class, we can only be logged into one computer of device at a time and the program can only track one student’s progress. This has not been a problem for us because we have very different study times and different subjects. My son can even access SpeedyPrep from his smart phone. Isn’t that smart! You can truly learn anywhere. Do you still have questions? Read their FAQ page to learn more [HERE](https://www.speedyprep.com/faq/) \[clickToTweet tweet=”I thought I had more time, but here we are at graduation. @SpeedyPrep is helping us finish ahead” quote=”I thought I had more time, but here we are at graduation. @SpeedyPrep is helping us finish ahead”\] [![College Level Examination Program Preparation {SpeedyPrep Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/college-level-examination-program-preparation-speedyprep-reviews/)[![Crew Disclaimer](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/3%20Crew%20Disclaimer%202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** American History College Credit, CLEP prep, College credit from home, Pass your CLEP --- ### [Help! I'm buried under writing assignments! How I dug out.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/help-buried-writing-assignments-dug/) **Published:** April 18, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* With a lot of kids it seems like I was getting more and more swamped with paper. That is why I was looking forward to reviewing [Reader In Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth)](http://www.apologia.com/251-readers-in-residence), from [Apologia Educational Ministries](http://www.apologia.com/). They’ve wrapped up an ALL IN ONE, perfect homeschool reading curriculum in an easy to spot bright green spiral student notebook. With this full set you can kiss your paper pile good bye! http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/18%20-%20Apologia\_Educational\_Ministries\_-\_RIR/readers-in-residence-2-book-set.jpg\_zpsgiojqpyw.png #### Are you read for a steam lined approach to Language Arts We have a large family with a wide range of ages. Normally, I look for materials that I can use with a large group. That is why I have never before considered purchasing Apologia’s Readers In Residence before. The books are intended to be used by one student, independently. This is the only draw back I have about using it. For the price you are going to want this to be someone’s core LA work for the year. In all the previous years of school I have purchased curriculums that had permission to copy pages for your immediate family. I am a stickler for copyright rules. **But** I have come to a place where lost papers, multiple copies, the cost of ink and keeping track of it all is making me a little bit batty! This All-In-One binder is kind of dreamy. The full color pages threw my son off. *When was the last time I printed anything in color?* Kids love color. My son was no different. This workbook looked like fun from the start. \[clickToTweet tweet=”Are you caught in the tide of a paper avalanche?” quote=”Are you caught in the tide of a paper avalanche? @apologiaworld can clean up your troubles”\] All-In-One workbooks keep everything in one place for easy grading and tracking progress at a glance. #### Book Loving Fun There is nothing worst than using your favorite book from childhood as a study for your kids, and watching a bad curriculum make them hate it. Apologia made great use of highlighting the features in our favorite books. Every lesson felt like we were uncovering features instead of picking apart the book. Volume 1; Sleuth, reintroduced us to books from cover to cover. Literally, we looked at the cover art and author bio for clues about the books we were reading. These are things I do everyday when I am making a reading choice. I use this skill at the book store and library, but I had not really thought about teaching this to my kids. We also started to value all the effort publisher went into to tell us about a book at a glance. I noticed the subject of covers and authors creeping into our day. We couldn’t help but share what we were covering with the other kids as we headed to the library. http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/18%20-%20Apologia\_Educational\_Ministries\_-\_RIR/Pages\_zpshukbvbg1.png #### We loved the book selections in this series. Sleuth; Volume 1, starts with *Sara, Plain and Tall*, and will follow with *Charlotte’s Web* and *Because of Winn Dixie.* You also get to choose three books of your own choice. Since we were really digging into the structure of the books, it was to our advantage that we had already read the books before. Do not be dissuaded if these are familiar and loved titles at your house. #### Who would Apologia’s Reader In Residence work for best for? This would be a great fit if you are looking for a way to stream line your Language Arts lesson time. Multiple level instructions on multiple ability levels is time consuming. There comes a time where it is no longer effective to work in a group. I saw this last year in our school and made some pretty drastic changes. Change is good. Embrace it and make your day fit the best it can. Also, Reader In Residence would be a good alternative for a family who usually does their studies as a group but are finding that you have a child who is in an age or ability gap. I had a son who was always waiting for us to finish and give him instructions. He in turn made my day…um, miserable. I realized that I was causing a lot of our grief by not having something ready for him to do that requites little oversight by me. Apologia’s program would have filled that gap perfectly for me and it can for you. Give your kid great tools and watch them excel instead of be frustrated. [![What does a book cover tell you?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1952-300x300.jpg "Digging Deeper into Books You Love › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4428)Reader In Residence get your kids looking at books in a whole new way#### Give your students the structure they crave Does your child hate ambiguis instructions that creative writing programs are often filled with. My oldest HATED all creative writing assignments that expected him to make stuff up. He likes clear instructions and expectations. I finally got him a prompt chart and he checked each one off one by one. Some kids like room to create and othere’s love structure. With Reader In Residence you could stop arguing over creative writing and let this series guide you through whole books. You won’t be missing out. Great reading, and getting a deeper understanding of what makes a book capture an audience, teaches writing and creativity as nothing else will. #### You are never out of the loop The lessons could easily be done with minimal instruction from you, though tons of clear instructions, prompts and inspiring ideas are provided in the Parent Guide. You are never left out of the loop and could also be very involved if you desire. You can also let your student take off. My 7th grader had no trouble with any of the assignments. Since I was reviewing this I wanted to check it out with my 5th grader who is a great reader and my 4th grader who is a struggling reader as well. My 5th grader handled the portions I assigned her with no questions. My daughter (4th) had trouble with the length of the reading so, I chose to read along side her during the lessons. As we completed the reading she had no trouble completing the assignments on her own. The whole series suggests that it be presented as a Book Club with as much fanfare. My son loved the idea and his sisters were ready to join in our reading time. It would be very fun to gather a group of kids together and meet weekly or even monthly to share in some of the related activities. If you are in a play group or co-op [Readers In Residence](http://www.apologia.com/251-readers-in-residence) would be easy to use as a Language Arts class or just a Book Club guide. If you are already an Apologia user they offer a members club. For a fee you get 20% off of all purchases all year and access to some pretty great bonuses. This would be a great idea if you are thinking of adding Apologia’s Language Arts to you Science order this year like I am. If you check out Apologia’s FaceBook page soon, there is a Teacher Appreciation give away you can sign up for[ CLICK HERE](https://www.facebook.com/apologiaworld/photos/a.10150401541587756.362347.124643052755/10154599455267756/?type=3&theater) to enter. Good luck. You can also read a few more reviews if you click the link below. [![Readers in Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth) {Apologia Educational Ministries Review}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/readers-in-residence-volume-1-sleuth-apologia-educational-ministries-reviews/)[![Crew Disclaimer](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/3%20Crew%20Disclaimer%202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com) https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-steps-becoming-a-reader/ ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Apologia, curriculum, Homeschool, Language Arts, reading, Review --- ### [When is the last time you moved your couch? You answer reveals a potential homeschooling weakness.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/furniture-can-tell-homeschool/) **Published:** April 11, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### I like to rearrange the furniture. l have been known to rearrange the contents of all the kitchen cabinets in the name of better work flow. A weekly conversation in our house goes something like this. “HONEY, where is my charger? The charger that is supposed to be in the desk drawer, that charger.” “*It’s in the kitchen.*” “Why?” *“I moved it.”* “Why?’ *“You kept asking me where it was and I kept getting it out of the office, but you use it in the kitchen. So I thought it would be helpful if I moved it to the kitchen.”* [![Homeschool Help from 200fingersandtoes.com](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/vintage-retro-chair_HPxxgKgd2zg-300x200.jpg "Getting you on the road to a great school year › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/furniture-can-tell-homeschool/vintage-retro-chair/)Looking for a resource to help encourage and challenge you to build an awesome school and family#### My husband, bless him, should be used to this by now. I move everything. I like to call it re-homing. That’s not what my husband calls it. He was trained in culinary school to have everything “mes en place”, which translates to “a place for everything and everything in it’s place.” Which I whole heartedly agree with in theory, but we are **a house in flux**. I like to think I missed my calling as an efficiency expert. I like to minimize steps to every task and I like to test my work by changing the proximity of supplies. (Which mostly means that I make it impossible to find the soap refill jugs, the tape and paper towels on a very regular basis) [![it was for the greater good!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/fkbs9NM-300x124.gif "Yeah I moved it! › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/furniture-can-tell-homeschool/fkbs9nm/) \[Tweet “Where is my super suit! Right?”\] Changes can make people a little on edge. #### The one place my willingness to change has served me well is in our homeschool. Have you ever held on to a curriculum for too long. Have you stayed with a co-op or play group weeks after you knew it was not a good fit for you? We have all been there. I don’t think that flexibility gets enough positive publicity. Homeschooling is an ever-changing gig. Grades change, you add kids, your time and space needs shift. Your curriculum needs change from year to year. If you are inflexible you can get stuck. If the dents in the carpet under your couch are never coming out, you might be having a harder time with this reality than us “pantsters”. Those of us who fly by the seat of our pants feel pain in other areas. I am sure I will cover in another article. The one area we are blessed is in our ability to let go of our current structure and embrace change. Those changes are extremely hard in homeschooling. Some changes hurt our pride. Others cost us a lot of money, but holding on to make them will cost us time and we have little to spare. #### As flexible as I am in some areas, I missed it big in my school We use one curriculum, always have. It worked for me and has fit all of my kids, but one. Change was the last thing I wanted, especially with a large family. We chose our curriculum because of the way it was adapted for big families. I love it and was reluctant to change. But a literature based program for a struggling reader, in a house where I am already reading a great deal was just bad math. There was the expense of adding another program. I knew we could not afford a full scale boxed on-line curriculum and was terrified that we would purchasing one and my son would hate that too. We avoided switching one more year. I thought I could get him to conform. We increased his discipline hoping that if he gained more self control he would fall in. By sixth grade I was puling out my hair with this one kid for 50% of every school day. It took the worst school year ever for me to step back and see that what we were doing was not working. We took the summer to do some research and some real evaluating of my sons needs. In seventh grade we made the switch to DiscoveryK-12 online school. Can I just say, I was an absolute fool to have waited for so long. Even for all my “flexibility” I failed to make the change that needed to be made to help my son for years. Don’t be a fool, we don’t have that kind of time. My son, he is doing great this year. I am positive he will be caught up this year. I am also positive that it is my fault, he fell behind. Being flexible is a great asset as school wraps up. It is time to reevaluate the things that worked well for your family and the things that did not help you to be successful. Being flexible will make it much easier to make the small adjustments and major changes that are inevitable as you grow as students and teachers. Are there some things you need to change as you evaluate your school year. Have you survived or floated long enough. I encourage you to take a look at your year and see if there is something that needs to move. > [Focusing on The Players | In Due Season Vol 1.1](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/focus-on-the-players/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Change, flexibility, Homeschooling, In Due Season --- ### [How to Help Your Kid Excel in the Computer World Market](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschooler-edge-computer-tech-2/) **Published:** April 10, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As homeschoolers we are on the front lines of the ever shifting way parents educate their kids. I was given [Java Programming](http://www.compuscholar.com/homeschool/courses/ap-java/) by [CompuScholar, Inc.](http://www.compuscholar.com/homeschool) to review for The Homeschool Review Crew. I am using it to teach my kid how to code, even though I can’t write a single line of it myself. CompuScholar is helping parents teach their kids skills they wish they had and making it easier than ever. Don’t let lack of a skill keep you from teaching computer programming at home successfully. #### [![CompuScholar, Inc. Java Programming](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/04%20-%20April/10%20-%20%20CompuScholar%20Inc/Computer%20Science_zpszqra0usj.png)](http://www.compuscholar.com/homeschool/courses/java/) #### Demistify working with code with an easy to follow computer programming course Even if technology is not in your skill set, you can prepare your son or daughter with powerful tech skills. Skills that can place them in lucrative jobs and help them to be creative entrepreneurs. From business leaders, marketing partners to freelance workers from home, knowing how computers talk can save you child hours of frantic frustration. If you have seen me wrestle an Excel spread sheet you would know why I am so passionate about teaching my kids tech skills. My tech lack has caused me so much frustration and lost productivity. I want to spare my kids those same frustrations. **But how do we teach our child to do something we have never done?** Let me introduce you to CompuScholar. They are my virtual tech school of choice. We are using CompuScholar.com’s JAVA PROGRAMMING and game coding courses on the computer to tackle teaching tech to my teens and they are loving it. #### Lessons your child can understand & Information that translates to applicable skills Each course is filled with hands on projects, so your student get instant feedback. They apply what they are learning in every lesson with a project. They can see the accumulation of skills right away. This has kept my boys engaged and excited about lessons. My younger son is using CompuScholar.com’s online class – Game Programming with Visual Basic. They just did a site over haul. They were formerly known as HomeschoolProgramming – KidCoder. The site is even better to navigate, with a more modern updated look. The Game Programming Course course breaks down tasks to help you child learn basic code writing skills. Each lesson builds on the lessons before, and he can see his progress instantly. My son can also check his knowledge with the quizzes and tests that are build into the program. They are all graded and weighted and you as a parent can get a quick overview of how that are doing in just one click. You can keep an eye on progress and pace. #### \[Tweet “Let me introduce you to CompuScholar. My virtual tech school of choice.”\] #### Just starting out? #### The [Digital Savvy](http://www.compuscholar.com/homeschool/courses/digital-savvy/) course would be the best place to begin It covers fundamental computing topics like… - Hardware, software, and operating systems - Managing files and folders - Basic networking - Online safety and computer security - Using Word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation programs - Creating simple databases - Image editing - Using social media and email communications - Introductory website design - Simple computer programming concepts - Exploration of computing careers [![Give your teen the skills you wish you had learned](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Digital20Savvy_zpswjsytfel-300x240.png "Digital Savvy for your homeschool › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschooler-edge-computer-tech-2/digitalsavvy_zpswjsytfel/)Are you looking for a course to fulfill the computer science requirement most colleges are looking for #### Why add a technologies class? #### You Can Capture Your Child’s Interests and Take Them Further My younger son was naturally interested in computers and has been working on them all of his life. School on the other hand, was hard work for him. Computers are his love language, but I knew that just rewarding him with game time as an incentive for work completed was falling short of his potential. I wanted him to be inspired. When I saw the [game coding program](http://www.compuscholar.com/homeschool/courses/game-vb/), I knew that it was exactly what [I needed to engage my son](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/honor-gifts-interests/). While written school work is still a difficult task, he knows he had a class to look forward to every day that he finds personally rewarding. One day he can mod his own favorite games, just like his favorite gamers. You don’t have to “get” their interests to help your child succeed and follow their them. CompuScholar is making it easy for me to affirm my son’s interests while getting school credits at the same time. #### CompuScholar Will Help Your High School Student Excel Late into his senior year my oldest son decided that he wanted to pursue computer technologies. Perhaps even exploring it as a college major. My confidence in the CompuScholar programs kept me from scrambling. When I was offered the opportunity to review their Java Programming course for The Homeschool Review Crew, and jumped at the chance. I plan to purchase it again when my review period is over so my younger son can use it as well. My oldest son uses [Java Programming](http://www.compuscholar.com/homeschool/courses/ap-java/), an advanced course. It covers the skills required for the “AP computer Science A” exam. He completes a hands on project in every chapter with quizzes and unit tests. The results of these tests help him gauge how prepared he is for the AP test. Thanks to this course he will actually come out ahead with an AP credit as well as high school credits for this class. He knows that this class is helping him reach his personal goals, so he stays invested. [![Computer knowledge is n longer optional](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CompuScholar20Logo_zpsmjqbznc0-300x95.png "Check out CompuScholar.com today › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschooler-edge-computer-tech-2/compuscholarlogo_zpsmjqbznc0/)Give your student the skills for todays work force#### Computers are a life skill your kids will need Have you ever spend three hours trying to change an Excel spread sheet. Are you a graphic designer who can’t work a Word doc to save your life? These are my real life struggles. They don’t have to be my kids. Computers are no longer optional. [CompuScholar, Inc](http://www.compuscholar.com/homeschool). has the tools. They teach clear, applicable lessons, so your students can translate lessons into skills they can use. All for a price you can afford. In fact, CompuScholar just lowered the price of their programs quite a bit and are offering a monthly subscription option, so now is a great time to jump in. I am highly recommending them to you. [![Digital Savvy, Web Design & Java Programming {CompuScholar,Inc Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/digital-savvy-web-design-java-programming-compuscholarinc-reviews/)Looking for more articles about adding TECH to your homeschoolRead: [giving tech gifts](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist-2/) and [using STEM in your homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/skip-the-books-how-to-make-stem-studies-a-reality-in-your-homeschool/)[![Crew Disclaimer](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/3%20Crew%20Disclaimer%202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** coding courses, computer science for kids, computer skills, Homeschool, learn to code, learning computers, programming for kids, Review --- ### [Making Your Little Learners Light Up With This STEM Kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/little-learners-light-up/) **Published:** April 4, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Light up you little learners with this STEM learning kit **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This sturdy little red tool box of wonders came from KitHub who sponsored this review. Their [Future Engineers Kit](http://fmtc.co/87d9f787?sid=108.735) was a perfect learning kit for my class of littles with a 5, 7 and 8 year old. ##### [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1949-300x300.jpg "IMG_1949 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/little-learners-light-up/img_1949/) #### Are You Still Looking For the Electrical Tape? This was me, all of last year. The kids were hunting down crafts and experiments faster than I could log them, but we kept coming up short. Missing parts were keeping us one step away from awesome. #### That is when I started to rethink my aversion to subscription boxes did some real research. What I found out was learning kits are amazing tools. There are tons of types to choose from. They are more affordable than I thought. Especially, when I factored in the gas and time I was spending finding parts or delaying projects. Most kit makers have a few different kits to choose from. > ***There is no risk of being stuck in a club that never ends. You will have high quality projects, with lots of bonus features to keep learning beyond the initial projects.*** We got to play with KitHub’s [FUTURE ENGINEER KIT](http://fmtc.co/87d9f787?sid=108.735) over the last few weeks and had a great time creating the projects and thinking of new ways to play with the kit’s components. [![Fun and Learning With KitHub](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1946-300x300.jpg "IMG_1946 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/little-learners-light-up/img_1946/)Future Engineer at WorkMy older child (8) in the group had a good challenge with the Motorized Bot. We worked together to find a good way to tape the battery pack to the cup. I was fun to talk through the advantages and disadvantages to taping it in different places. I could see her thinking about the different effects even before we turned the motor on to check. We made some changes to see the different ways the little cup bot would move. The kit came with plenty of electrical tape so we weren’t afraid to try a bunch of new things. After we got done making him move, we gave him some legs with three markers and had ourselves a new Marker Bot. The kids had a great time guessing what way the bot would go, and guessing about the message it left. They decided it was a big heart. What do you think? [![There are more ideas on the site for each kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1977-300x300.jpg "Marker Bot Messages › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4309)Keep the fun going with additional ideas from KitHubNext, my daughter (7) surprised me. She wanted to do the [Circuit Card](http://fmtc.co/b98ca9b9?sid=108.735) on her own. We had just learned about paper circuits. In fact you can check out more at the [MIT Media Lab](http://buildinprogress.media.mit.edu/projects/254/steps). I was not sure if she would be able to apply the copper tape neatly, but she did an amazing job. #### I think that might be one of the best things about these learning kits. My children’s capabilities surprise me. It has taken us out of our normal routine and lets me sit back and appreciate them. I really do love teaching them and these kits make it fun for us to work together. Check out these nimble fingers at work. [![Create a sense of pride in a well done project](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1944-300x300.jpg "Let your child explore their abilities › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4304)The best part about the KitHub project was watching my little kids really engage and be careful This was their project They were proud of the end resultMy little guy (5) was thrilled to get to do the [Hero Mask](http://fmtc.co/d2ef43b1?sid=108.735)! It was a very simple project for a child with a little attention span. We could have made it more elaborate but he was very happy with his coloring job, so who was I to argue. Just look at that face. [![Light up your imagination](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1943-300x300.jpg "Super Maker › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4303)KitHub has projects for every age and abilityEvery project was neatly packaged in its own baggie with a fantastic heavy weight instruction card. I can see these being around for a long time. No flimsy paper instructions. KitHub knows who they are making their kits for. They are kid friendly and easy on me as a parent. We are going to try the plans to motorize our legos. You can see it [here](http://legohacks.blogspot.com/2009/05/make-cheap-lego-motors.html). Thanks to KitHub for passing along the ideas. They are going to keep us creating for a while longer. [![A kit makes it easy to focus on one thing](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_1947-300x300.jpg "Super Hero STEM fun › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/little-learners-light-up/img_1947/)Inspire your little ones to be super makersAs a busy parent, I would recommend this kit as well as the others from [KitHub](http://fmtc.co/4d061340?sid=108.735). They have an **Underwater Microphone Kit** that would be cool for this summer and a **Dance Party Circuit Kit** that reacts to sound with LED lights. We would not have done these projects on our own. All of the parts were conveniently collected in one kit from KitHub. Everything I needed in one place, ready when we were. A kit means no looking for the tape, no missing batteries. I have concluded that it’s a good choice to get help from a great company and your kids can receive a great experience in the exchange. Make STEM learning a part of your special time with your kids too. Watch them discover. It will make your day. [![How many project kids are in your house right now?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_0922-300x300.jpg "Digging into STEM studies › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/skip-the-books-how-to-make-stem-studies-a-reality-in-your-homeschool/pew-pew-100-3/)Setting aside time to do those extras you never get around to might be the best school choice ever\[clickToTweet tweet=”A kit means no looking for the tape, no missing batteries” quote=”A kit means no looking for the tape, no missing batteries”\] > [Skip the books! How to make STEM studies a reality in your homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/skip-the-books-how-to-make-stem-studies-a-reality-in-your-homeschool/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** circuit kits, education, Homeschooling, learning kits, Review, STEM, subscription kit, tech learning --- ### [Do You Want an Incredible Homeschool Year? Make Room For Dad](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/making-room-for-dad/) **Published:** March 24, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Making room for Dad is an intentional act. Can I just be a little bit honest here? There were days my husband would just show up and hang out on a rare unscheduled day off. It would throw off my groove. Sometimes I would get a little huffy and resentful. After all, I had a plan for the day. How dare he be the fun one, right! Have you felt that before. We all have. Then I would watch the kids play with him and just melt. My kids love their Daddy. He worked long hours to provide for us, especially in the early years of homeschooling. So, I determined that the kids would not miss out on their Daddy. Homeschooling became an asset to their relationship. These three things helped us make Daddy a priority in our homeschool and in turn, our kids lives. Just because he had less hours with us didn’t have to mean he got lower billing. - If Daddy came home unexpectedly, we embraced the opportunity. - We found curriculum that helped Daddy jump right in and be an active participant. - We created a schedule that made seeing Dad a priority ### Embracing Family Time, even if the time frame is not convenient Early in our homeschooling life, Doug, my husband, worked roughly 80-100 hours a week. We were young restaurant owners with our own place. The restaurant business is a beast for marriages. We knew that from the start. When Daddy works long hours, Mommy takes on a ton of responsibility. If you are not intentional about your heart you can grew weary, resentful or feel neglected. I felt all of those things from time to time. We had some huge, audacious goals and it was going to take big action from our family. Keeping our long term goals central helped me to focus on the fact that even though we were in two different places, we were both supporting our family’s goals, together. In those years of sacrifice, if Daddy showed up, it was time to just climb all over him. (The kids, I mean) I learned that the highest priority was not my math lesson, or the spelling test for the afternoon. The highest priority for our family was to love one another extraordinarily. We did that by laying down our agenda for the thing that was better, a lot of the time. **I often use the expression, “What do you win?”** If you are mad that your husband shows up and ruins your school day (remember I lived this, so I had those days too) what do you win? I flex because, I want to win the long race. I want to be side by side as each one of our kids graduates. So, in your homeschool day, let Daddy show up and mess up your plans. Embrace it and let it bring you joy to be with him as well. [Ingratitude destroys love.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-terrible-cost-of-ingratitude/) ### If your husband wants to help, find a way to make it happen When my husband was home during school time he sincerely wanted to help us. The trouble was, I had been teaching with **Miquon Math** and using **Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons**. I was very familiar with them, but to just jump in proved difficult. I saw the opportunity to reject or embrace my husbands offer to help. My choice was to embrace it, and it changed everything. I began looking at our curriculum differently. I searched for a new curriculum that had clearer instructions and broke tasks down better so we could share the load sometimes. It was to both of out benefits to create a structure where we could work together. Instead of me feeling pushed off track or my husband feeling out of the loop we supported eachother’s need to feel valued. What to know what happened when Doug was off of work for a whole month? Check it out [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-art-of-building-skills-when-dad-was-not-a-fix-it-guy-and-your-stuff-is-broke/) [![Being a flexible wife will bring your whole family joy](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_1873-300x225.jpg "Dad's Version of a School Day Might Just Blow You Away › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/making-room-for-dad/img_1873/)We had a chance to embrace Dad being home for a whole month This is what that looks likeWe did not cause ourselves expectation problems by giving my busy husband daily core schoolwork. In the very early years, when Science was bonus subject, Daddy was in charge of it. I knew it would be fine if “Science Day” was shifted because my husband got called into work. I was one subject off of my plate and it set a goal for my husband to be intentional when he was home t meet with the kids. Let me just warn you, it did not last long. Restaurant people don’t get to pick a lot if they are going to get a place payed off and keep it open. Doug went back to long hours, and I took back science. I did it with grace and love. Deal with your expectations and your disappointments honestly. Flexibility has served me well through all of these years. We had years where Dad read Bible at the table during meals, or bed time stories (or school reader books) at night. Now matter what the schedule shook out to look like we found a way to make Daddy a priority and a part of daily life. ### We structured our life to make Daddy time a priority Do you want to know why we have beat all of the odds as married restauranteurs? I made sure we saw Daddy no matter what. We never accepted the lie that we had to live two distinctly separate lives. Was it easy? NO! Was it worth it. As we celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary, I say yes. How do you see more of Daddy when you have 5 kids five and under and Daddy works 80 hours a week? You get creative. You build your own schedule. For me that included driving an hour to hang out in the kitchen for a few hours while the staff passed around our two little baby boys. Later, at our own restaurant, that included totting 5 little kids with workbooks and papers into a booth at closing time to eat supper with Daddy. That included years of 11pm bed times for little kids and letting school start at 11am. Bed time and wake up times are relevant to **your** life. Don’t get caught in a trap that says you have to get up at certain time and that kids should be in bed by 9. Kids gotta sleep, and they will, but seeing Daddy was more important that appearing reasonable to strangers. I had 5 little ones under the age of five, I should have known that I was never going to appear reasonable to anyone. It was hard work, hauling all those sleeping kids into the house one by one on late nights. It was inconvenient and exhausting, but so was my husbands day. We were a team and I made sure we always felt like it. The kids always saw their Daddy, no matter what it took. Tired doesn’t last forever, but you know what does, strong relationships. They last forever. As a Mom you have more power and influence over how your children perceive their Daddy than you think. You need to use it wisely. \[Tweet “So I will ask, have you set up a life that will win a strong marriage?”\] #### So I will ask, have you set up a life that will win a strong marriage? Have you set up a homeschool that will win your children’s hearts to their Daddy? If not what will you win? A wise woman once wrote,”Do you want to be “right” or do you want to be married?” I think of that often, when I get my plans ruffled, or my husband fails to follow through on something he had planned on doing for our school. Those things are temporary, but the relationship is forever. I want so much for everyone to have the relationship Doug and I have. It has been long fought for, protected and nurtured. My greatest hope is to see your homeschool family finish the race stronger that those early years. I want to see you hand in hand as your children graduate and begin their lives following your example. Here are a few more posts if you are looking for ways to [curate a heart of praise](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/curating-heart-praise-due-season-volume-1-20/) and [break free from comparison](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/family-schedule/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** flexibility, Homeschool, Homeschool Dad, homeschool tips, Marriage, parenthood, raising children, scheduling --- ### [How to Raise Strong Biblical Sons in a World Stacked Against You](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-to-raise-strong-biblical-sons/) **Published:** March 28, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We have always had a strong selection of great Biblical teaching tools. We received [Manhood Journey Fathers Starter Kit](http://store.cityonahillstudio.com/father-s-starter-kit-manhood-journey.html) from Manhood Journey & City on a Hill Studio to review as one of the most recent tools for our life skill curriculum. ### Raising strong Biblical sons is a worthy goal #### It is the desire of our homeschool, but how do we go about doing that and still allow our children to develop a genuine faith? [![Father's Starter Kit | Manhood Journey](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/03%20-%20March/28%20-%20Manhood%20Journey/father%20kit%20spread%20with%20map_zpscecpnjmd.png)](http://store.cityonahillstudio.com/father-s-starter-kit-manhood-journey.html)#### The Truth Still Remains: Strong Biblical Men, Raise Strong Biblical Men One of the greatest challenges as the kids get older, is finding a set time to gather everyone together for a teaching with Dad. Like many families, my husband is working and I educate our kids at home. This means he has a limited resource of at-home time. Husbands, don’t discount that we see this. Every time you pause your plans to read to a kids for a little bit longer; every time you take on a subject, so we can have some breathing room, we see it. As the head of your family you are the minister, leader and chief priest. You have a role no preacher can ever fill. We are just like any other family. We struggled to find a time that would fit everyone too. Don’t quit! The time we share is precious beyond measure. Hearing all of my sons laughing together is music to my ears. #### City on a Hill is calling biblical men to step into that role in a real and visible way. They provide all of the materials for men to lead their sons without any limitations. It is a perfect fit for a family that is just starting out homeschooling and wants to start doing things differently or for a veteran family like my own, who wants to keep the word of God at life level every day. I thought the material was a little basic, but the truth is that the gospel message has not changed much in 2,000 years. If we could get the 5 attributes covered in these lessons, engrained in out hearts, then our lives would reflect it. That would glorify God, which is our chief end. #### The greatest thing we can do to influence our kids toward Christ is walk out a Biblical life before them. That means sharing in the study of God’s word, asking our questions and seeking our answers together. Manhood Journey is perfect as a father and son; one on one study, or it can be used in a smaller group. In our family we are considered our own small group since we have 5 teen sons. The Group Guide was a great fit, and actually kept things moving along smoothly. This is also a bonus if you have a large family. You don’t have to purchase guides for every young man, a notebook or small journal would be enough to keep their notes and memory verses in. The leaders guide had plenty of clear instructions to keeps mentor time moving and discussions directed. We know that keeping distractions at a minimum is always a plus with a group of young men. There was no stammering to find our place since the books are also laid out clearly with plenty of space for notes and insights. **The first Module of Manhood Journey is called Embarking.** In it the first lesson you will focus on the the Five Rocks or attributes of a Godly man… 1\. He Trusts God 2\. Knows God’s Word 3\. Prays Fervently 4\. Builds Relationships 5\. Serves Others #### City on a Hill is focused on Building Godly Character From the Ground Up Each subsequent lesson focuses on an individual attribute. The discussion time allows participants to open up further about how those look in all of their lives. There are plenty of questions that give your sons the opportunity to share and connect with their father. The guide has plenty of cautions to be an active listener. I know that they were well placed. As parents we tend to inform and instruct far too often. **Embarking** is a great chance to practice active listening with your teens as well as grow as a family leader. During the teen years there are times when your teen can go “radio-silent.” Getting back into the habit of communicating can seem daunting, but this is the time they need you the most. If you have failed to listen well, confess. We do a lot of truth talk over here. We say we are sorry often. Humility can break down big walls if you allow it to work in you. This would be a good tool to come humbly to your son and tell him you want to reconnect. #### Manhood Journey is a great way to reestablish a lost connection with your teen, or to strengthen bonds with your sons. Manhood Journey would be a great tool to get your teens talking again. It would be a perfect tool to use as you mentor an individual that God has placed in your life. It is easy to follow, approachable and well laid out. If you have any reservations about being able to lead, this is a great tool for a beginning leader to step right into. [![Manhood Journey & City on a Hill Studio](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2017%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew/03%20-%20March/28%20-%20Manhood%20Journey/COH_Horiz_Logo_CMYK_zpstbwi5z8u.png)](http://store.cityonahillstudio.com/browse-all.html?product_line=79)#### **Men, your leadership is vital.** No matter what you think, your family is looking to you and watching to see if you are going to take the lead or leave others to build a Biblical foundation for your children. My prayer is that a generation of men would rise up and use tools like this to build a firm foundation. One your children can turn to when trouble comes. One they can continue to build their own faith upon. For more parenting truths [click here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3472-2/) [![Manhood Journey Father's Starter Kit {Manhood Journey & City on a Hill Studio Reviews}](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/2%20Click%20Here%20to%20Read%20More%20Reviews%202016_zpsmmmkbumm.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/manhood-journey-fathers-starter-kit-manhood-journey-city-on-a-hill-studio-reviews/)[![Crew Disclaimer](http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/0%20Homeschool%20Review%20Crew%20Banners/3%20Crew%20Disclaimer%202016_zpscwpb9ywe.jpg)](http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Homeschool **Tags:** Bible Studies for Boys, Biblical Manhood, Father Son Bible Study, Mentor, Parenting Bible Studies, Review, Small Group Study, Tips for Raising my Son --- ### [4 Things to Never Do as a Parent](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3472-2/) **Published:** November 11, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We have just concluded a study on parenting with an adult class on Sunday Mornings. We had some great discussions about ares we need work, fears we have as parents and the power of prayer and the gift of grace. I have had a head start over many of the members of our class, by a dozen years or so. I am thankful for the lessons I have learned, and the ability to share openly about the things we did well and the terrible ways I fell short in my Mothering journey. These are a few of the lessons that we learned. #### Don’t let parenthood isolate you We will all have to run our own crucible of parenthood, but it is good to be surrounded with folks are a bit ahead of you on the road. I appreciate my friends who are not to proud to share where they failed in the parenting journey themselves. Their humility welcomes me to share and be open with my own failings and fears. I encourage you to have a group of friends who love you first, and who you can ask questions without feeling judged. It might be hard to find them but keep looking. I have been blessed to find my tribe. They love us, as is. Sometimes I need that more than anything else. Kids are hard to raise. They will mess up. I hope they do most of their messing up while I am around to help them learn. #### Don’t relive the mistakes of your childhood You get to choose how you are going to raise your kids. No matter what your natural family life was like, you have very resources available to make the changes to give your kids the kind of life you deserved. Be intentional. Do it early. I didn’t have a stable nuclear family until I was nine. My mother worked and went to school full time. As I child I was pretty free to play and explore my world. I loved being free to chase trails and make friends with all of the neighbors. I did not have a lot of structure. That left me needing to do some research because I didn’t have a natural frame of reference I felt like other parents had. We also did not attend church or have a clear picture of who God was growing up. My Mother came to Christ when I was eight or nine as well. I was rising my children from infancy with prayer and bible time. These were things I knew I wanted to do differently, but without a model I knew I was going to need a lot of help in implementing these along the way. #### **Don’t go into parenthood blind** Get help planning the life you desire to shape for your kids. I hear some people label it intentional parenting. I just knew that I was going to need to make a plan for how we were going to do better. For me, I looked at it like an upcoming job or degree program. I studied for Parenthood like I was going to have a final, because I am. My children are the test and I would like to pass with flying colors. I hope the final test is still a bit of a ways off, but overall, I think we are heading in the right direction. #### **Don’t forget to ask God for the wisdom and grace you will most definitely need** I know I had a lot of help along the way. First, by being a blood bought child of God, filled with the Spirirt of the Living God. I like to say, “I am wall to wall Jesus.” Though I don’t resemble it nearly as much as would like to, my relationship with God is my one true saving grace. They is so much humility involved in parenting. Jesus was a great example to me; he was a leader who had all of the authority yet never demanded peoples hearts. My hearts desire is to capture the hearts of my kids, so our love survives all that life brings our way. I hope that is the goal in your parenting outcomes as well.Outside of that, there are a few books that have ben a great help to me along the way. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Find your family’s personal rhythms and schedule without comparison or guilt | In Due Season Volume 1.7](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/family-schedule/) **Published:** October 24, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### It seems like everyone has an opinion about what kind of schedule you SHOULD have for your school day. Here is the thing, I don’t. I hear-by absolve you from pleasing anyone but your family with your schedule. Your school does not have to satisfy anyone but your family. Do you know how many years it took to fully embrace that statement. I am a rule following conformist, or at least I was when I started this journey 20 years ago. Somewhere I snapped. I was tired and stretched and pleasing everyone but us. The moment I stepped back and took a look at our life with the purpose of finding a schedule that fit us without any guilt was the game changer. It can be for you to. #### What does your life look like I probably looks nothing like mine and that is perfectly fine. We are restaurant people. For a great part of the last 20 years the only way my kids saw their daddy was in the late evening hours. In those early years I would pack up four or five little babies, usually on slow, snowy, winter nights and to go to the restaurant at every normal kid’s bedtime, so we could see Dad. We had our family meal times around closing hours. If I lived to make the people around us more comfortable with our schedule we would have missed out on Dad, and that was non negotiable. We had to feel for our own pulse during those years. We listened and we learned to live by it. [Homeschooling with Dad in mind](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog/) #### I still keep a schedule that makes me happier, with little guilt. In more recent years we have let the bigger kids stay up till 11:30 at night so we could watch a movie and hang out with Daddy. No matter when the kids went to sleep, I always stayed up extra late so I could spend time with my husband. You already know how I feel about sleep, so you might have guessed that the one thing that never fit us well was an early wake up call. **Can I confess? I still don’t get the kids up early.** I’ve made peace with our schedule, but for a lot of years I felt all of the “shoulds” when I compared myself against other families. What are your nagging “shoulds”? I should get up at the same time as public school If I really am “doing” school then we should spend 8 hours working every day We should sit at desks #### Don’t let false truths ruin today. Make a day that serves you. The truth is after 12 years, we do what fit us and makes us the most efficient we can be. I know the rhythm of our house and have allowed our schedule to serve us. I know myself and have learned to care for myself as well. My morning time is sacred. With 10 kids under 16, mornings are the only period of extended quiet times I get to write during the week. I guard that time. If that means I let the kids stay up later because they sleep till 8, than so be it. Only you know what you need to have a great day. #### Knowing is NOT the same as feeling I’m still tempted to feel guilty when people jokingly say my kids are lazy. Fighting the need to explain why I choose to let them sleep is hard. There is no reason I need to justify our schedule, when I am confident in my reasons for my choices I don’t feel the need to conform or explain. I have peace where I once had guilt. They sleep and play until I am done with my morning writing. There were years I was not so confident. I tried to change our schedule in the past but for all my efforts, I just end up super cranky. So when you make your choices, trust yourself and give your self more grace than others do. Being different makes people question themselves. Being different makes you self assess and evaluate more often than most folks, but none of those things are a negative. In face we we properly evaluate our lives and schedules and change according to what we find, we can be full of assurance and confidence with our choices. What adaptations to your school day have you made to make your schedule serve you? \[Tweet “Look at your schedule and see if it is servant or master in your homeschool day”\] More posts about incorporating Dad in your homeschool Day [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-art-of-building-skills-when-dad-was-not-a-fix-it-guy-and-your-stuff-is-broke/) Need some help with your schedule? Check out my course [HERE](http://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com) but first this [post](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-your-budget-help-chase-your-dreams/) has a link that will help you as well. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Comparison, family time, Homeschool, In Due Season, planning, rhythm --- ### [#3 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-sanity-saver-while-remodeling/) **Published:** September 9, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Compromise is not about paying less, or giving in. It is about making sure you achieve the look you want, taking care of the people that are taking care of you, all while staying in budget. Don't move the line if you don't have to. Try looking for other ways to solve your problem before you buy your way out. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The budget is set and you find you need to make some changes. This is where we learned the art of making compromises. Always treat your budget as if it is a hard-fast line that can not be crossed. You may actually have room to fudge, but do not be tempted to start creeping in on your original numbers too soon. There are so many unknowns and additional costs that show up at the end of a job. You want that buffer so you can finish the work at hand without having to scramble to finance it. What we did do was look for ways to shave from other places in our project to get the upgrades we wanted. One place we did that was with our pluming fixtures. Somewhere in the euphoria of our first meeting with the plumber I agreed to Delta basic fixtures at every sink in the house. Mistake number one was setting our budget without seeing the product first. I have nothing against Delta basic, but one look at them in the supply warehouse, I knew I had made a mistake and I wanted to take it back. The fake crystal, single knobs reminded me of a cheap hotel I stayed in as a kid. When I considered future resale I knew there were not going make the cut. I could have gone to Lowe’s and bought all my hardware at a much lower cost, but my contractor warned me that subcontractors often make money from the sales they bring to their supplier. When they lose the sales I end up making up the difference in the job rate. We did not ask our plumber about sales and commissions, you might want to ahead of time, but we like our plumber. He is our go to guy for our business as well as our home. We like to see people get paid for the work they do, I think it is a weird side effect of owning your own business. So, not changing our original budget, but still getting what we wanted came down to one thing; compromise. In our case we upgraded to the next step up in the Delta line from the supplier. I got some very nice fixtures that fit the style of the house much better. We cut out an expensive kitchen sink with sprayer and went with a single mount version that has a hose in the neck. We reused two of our original fixtures to shave off a few more bucks. We made our upgrades without costing ourselves or cutting payment to our contractor. ![saving sanity and money](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_20130618_143950_445.jpg "whole house remodel")with a job this big every penny mattered[![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_18361.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_18361.jpg) One item I wanted to add was an over-range pot filler. I saw several of them on Houzz and wanted one in my kitchen. I checked the wholesaler, but they wanted $495 for the single fixture. For our budget it was not going to happen, it was just too far out of range, so I started searching eBay and amazon. It took a few weeks of searching but one, just one, finally came up for $145. Because of the cuts we had already made to stay in budget we were able to afford to add the pot filler to the project because of it’s minimal cost. We compromised in the opposite direction with our Kitchen cabinets. We were going to go with a local builder for basic boxes in the basement and kitchen. I wanted a irregular finish so our contractor did some searching and got us in contact with a rep for RavenWood design out of Colorado. They wanted to experiment with new finishes so we worked together to get the look I wanted, which would have been a premium grade, for the basic price. The only problem was they were twice what we had budgeted for. We met with a rep and looked at the cabinets. Their design is unique, in such a way that you do not lose cabinet space to door hinges and drawer tracks. Every bit of the cabinet you pay for is useable space. The product was superior and they achieved the finish I wanted, so we compromised. We dropped the basement cabinets from original budget and just went with high-end cabinets for the kitchen. We spent a week cleaning and staining our former kitchen cabinets and reinstalled them in the basement. They are not nearly as efficient as more modern cabinets, but through the art of compromise I have a kitchen I love and feel I had a part in creating. [![save sanity and money](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1837.jpg "cabinetry on a budget")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1837.jpg)RavenWood design took our kirchen to the next level without tanking our budget with a few tweaks to our planCompromise is not about paying less, or giving in. It is about making sure you achieve the look you want, taking care of the people that are taking care of you, all while staying in budget. Don’t move the line if you don’t have to. Try looking for other ways to solve your problem before you buy your way out. I can not say enough about how a clear budget helped us to make very clear and rational decisions based on the numbers we had to work within. Never begin any project without a budget. You can’t compromise without numbers. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House --- ### [Do You Plan for Next Year's Harvest?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/now-is-the-time-to-plan-for-next-years-harvest/) **Published:** September 10, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* A simple spiral note book. It was less than a dollar on clearance but it has saved me far more than any other garden tool. We all know our regular gardening wind down routine. As a matter of fact, tonight I will finish pulling the last of the buggy zucchini plants and the scraggly tomato stems and will haul them over to the burn pile. The herbs still need to be split and transplanted. They will come in to grow in the window box over winter. A few beds need emptied, raked over and top dressed before we settle into winter but we are right on track for fall chores. Don’t miss that notebook. It will save you time and money next year. The end of the season is a great time to make assessments about how your garden performed. Make notes on seeds that did well and locations that thrived or failed. Create a simple map from this year’s spring planting where it will easily be found and when you need to rotate crops next year all you need to do is look it up. Having the Garden Journal has simplified my planting to packing up routine. When I plant I write the name of the seed pack in my map and throw the seed pack in my plastic bin. At year end I can pull the packet if I want to know more about the plant and make a note in my Journal. Not every plant needs noted but clear winners and losers of the garden get a note. This helps me formulate a plan for next year. I already know we will make a few minor adjustments but I will definitely want to note them now. Small change bring us a better crop and more beauty. Gardening should not be about hopeless fights with weeds and rotten crops. We could grow more, but we grow just enough to eat and enjoy. Assessing helps you make the garden serve you. It helps you get a plan for spring. Did your family suddenly turn on the radishes, but couldn’t get enough broccoli, make a note now. We decided that we will not grow mixed greens next year. That will go in my year end notes. The tomatoes shaded the pepper plants too well. I will want to put a note in my Garden Journal to put something that loves shade in that spot if I plan to use the trellis again. [![Make a note of what grows well this year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/image1-e1441890542600.jpg "Square foot garden at 200fingersandtoes › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/image1.jpg)A favorite crop for our kidsI note changes in my Journal because come spring we are dirt starved and crazy, it is all we can do to not just start putting things in the ground. Examples of Spring madness: for years I bought plants for my porch before Mother’s Day. I would get plants that were for full sun because the trees still had not leafed out, my porch was bright and sunny. For three years running my hanging baskets were pathetic because they ended up in full shade as soon as the trees were in leaf. Until I made a note to my self in my Garden Journal. Same story with my peppers. They were happy for the first half of the summer but as the sun moved position in the sky they lost light because of a tree. Long winters make gardeners crazy. We just want to see some green and that makes us a bit irrational. You think you will remember all of these things come spring, but why take the chance when the Journal is such a simple tool. Late this summer the tree that caused shade took damage in a storm and had to be removed. Writing it down now will ensure that next year I will take advantage of the sun and will plant peppers in the same spot early in the spring. I might not have remembered to keep them in the same location because I spent the whole summer planning on moving them from that very spot for lack of sun shine. I don’t have to remember because I wrote it in my Garden Journal. I will have a few features telling more about my garden over the winter months to help you plan for next year. Pass this along to any frustrated gardeners you know. You don’t have to quit gardening, you just might want to change the way you do it. Be sure to follow so you don’t miss my upcoming post on about how I quit gardening. Check out our gardening page on Facebook [NAC for Gardening](https://www.facebook.com/nacforgardening?ref=ts&fref=ts) for more practical advice and tips from experts. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Grow **Tags:** Garden, Garden Journal, growing, planning, spring --- ### [Now is a Great Time to Quit Gardening.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/now-is-a-great-time-to-quit-gardening-2/) **Published:** September 11, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This year was the best year I have ever had gardening, but it has not always been an activity I have enjoyed. In fact, it was eight years ago that I quit gardening. I was discouraged to the point that I dreaded heading over to the garden I was cooping with a friend. My kids were small, my husband worked, I was forever pregnant or nursing. Driving over to weed our small jungle was becoming more of a burden than than fun. I loved the company but it was not enough to keep me from calling it quits. I wanted to love my garden. I wanted it to be a thing of beauty and peace. I was not gardening to survive. Storing up a bounty for the winter was not the motivator for me to grow food, we owned a restaurant and can get a giant can of green beans for less that $3. I leaned how to can and enjoyed it but it was not my main goal. It was a bonus, that is, if I could find the beans. I would have given up on gardening forever had I not come across two books that changed the way I thought about gardening. The first was my husbands book called “Potager” by Brennan/Vaughan from Chronicle Books, and the other has become my bible of gardening, “[All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition: The Revolutionary Way to Grow More In Less Space](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591865484/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=374929&creativeASIN=1591865484&linkCode=as2&tag=200fingandtoe-20&linkId=T76VPKMB6M4JEFAN)![](http://wms-na.amazon-adsystem.com/20070822/US/js/link-enhancer-common.js?tag=200fingandtoe-20&linkId=5TATNM5775YJRG6I)” by Mel Bartholomew. These two books offered the idea of a smaller manageable kitchen garden. As I read I was hooked. The promise of a garden that was beautiful as well as functional was exactly what I was longing for. I quit gardening traditionally that year. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1544.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1544.jpg) > Want a harvest you can find at the end of the season? There is another way to garden and it might be the way for you. I encourage you to quit as well. If you did not enjoy your garden, if you lost the food in the weeds, if you grew $15 veggies after taxes; join me. Quit. Next year start something new. I started with just eight raised beds and I only filled six. You could start with two or one, or a container garden. I encourage you to find a better fit, not so you will quit gardening but so you will love it more. It had been eight years and this was the best year of gardening ever. I am looking forward to next year and I am even considering a small row garden out back. Nothing big or too overzealous. My life is full and I long for a place of beauty, a restful hobby that nourishes my heart as well as my kids bellies. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1554.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1554.jpg) My end of season assessment this year was very different from eight years ago. Changing to a Square foot garden, has helped me love growing foods again. It has added year long beauty to my landscape and I never dread weeding because I just do one box at a time, every time I go out side until my plants are well established. I would love to tell you more about how it works. Do you square foot garden? Share a picture here, I would love to see yours.< > ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Grow, projects --- ### [#4 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/4-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) **Published:** September 14, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* \#4 It is ok to stand your ground. You are going to have to make sacrifices and compromises like we talked about in tip #3, but following my #1 and #2 tip gives you the confidence to stand your ground. What are the key elements that are going to pull this whole remodel together for you. What are the no-cuts, you should know before planning gets going and be prepared to stand your ground. I had two no-cut items in our whole house renovation. The first was the claw foot tub I have been dreaming about owning for 14 years. Not only had I been dreaming, but I had been scouring the internet as well. Our plumbing supplier had tubs. The lowest shell was $3000. Hardware was a solid $1,500. If I didn’t know that the tub was a no-cut item for me, I would have been turned away by the numbers, but instead I kept searching other sources. There was only one place I found that consistently had tubs in a range I could afford. By the time we started construction I practically had [Vintage Tub & Bath](http://www.vintagetub.com/bathroom/bathtubs/bathtub-packages.html?brand=Randolph+Morris) on my speed dial. I did not wait to be told we could not afford it. I searched around and found a way to get the tub I wanted. You could also pick up an old tub and have it refinished for well under $1,000 but with Vintage Tub & Bath I was able to get the entire ceramic over cast tub and chrome hardware for about $1,200. It was a splurge, I know, but I also went with a much less expensive shower surround to offset some of the cost as well. To tell the truth, a bigger tub was $300 more, which at the time was a lot of money when we were deep into the project. I wish I had just gone ahead and gotten the larger tub because over the range of a 30 year mortgage it would have been money well spent. The good news is that I can submerge all of my “parts” in my new tub and it is exactly what I had imagined for so long. [![#4 of Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-07-15-20.06.56-300x300.jpg "#4 Top Sanity Saver When Remodeling- Bath › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-07-15-20.06.56.jpg)Vintage Tub Bath came through for me on several vintage look itemsThe second Item that was a no-cut was a brick looking floor. You would think this would not be hard to find. We have a 110 year old house and ten kids in muddy boots. I wanted a floor in the entry way that would live as long as the first one and keep a farm house feel. You would think that it would be easy to find but after 6 months of searching, I was getting ready to give up. Construction was winding down and the new entry way was just about finished. The tilers would need a start date soon and I was still searching. I had two sample tiles I could go with but I did not love them, so I went back to the tile shop one more time. I talked to a different receptionist. She knew of a product that had the look of brick but was thinner and had the wear of commercial grade tile. I did not give up, and I got exactly the look I wanted and a floor that I love. [![#4 of Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling - flooring](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-09-19-12.00.50-e1442097852312-300x199.jpg "#4 Top Sanity Saver When Remodeling- Flooring › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-09-19-12.00.50.jpg)Knowing what I was looking for kept me searching for a brick type tile for 6 months I look at this floor every day and love it Dont give up if you cant find the look you want locally start searching widerBecause I knew the things that would really give us the look we wanted to achieve, I knew what to keep searching for. I also knew that I was going to have to make it work financially by cutting costs elsewhere or looking for alternative sources. Standing your ground is much easier when you know exactly what you want and what it is going to cost you well before purchase time. If you have done a project, what was your no-cut item? How did you make it happen? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House, projects **Tags:** Claw Foot Tub, Flooring, House Keeping, remodel, renovation, tips --- ### [#5 of the Top 10 Tips When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/466-2/) **Published:** September 16, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* WE LEARNED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND TO BE PRESENT HAHAHAHAHAHhahahahahahaaaa! It was fun. No really, picture the scene for just a moment. We are 17 days from breaking ground on our project. Plans, contracts and coffee mugs covered my large round dining table and the chairs were filled with contractors, electricians, plumbers, an architect and our heating and cooling guy. We planned to schedule everyones jobs and get a rough working plan of the flow of the project to project dates when crews would be needed. But first, the guys had some insight. “We’ve been talking and we think we can save quite a bit of time and keep everyone safer if you all move out.” This was NOT the plan. The plan was to gut and rebuild the basement moving our kitchen on a much smaller scale down to the basement for phase 2. Then we would all move into the basement while they renovated the upper floors. Our guys came prepared and each stated an estimated amount of time they could shave off the job by doing all of the work at one time. Like a smart wife, I said show me in dollars. A few pages of figures later, we concluded that we were moving. We shaved 5 weeks off of construction. (In contractor weeks, which means more like 3, but at $4,000 a week in builders and subs it was still worth it.) Now, we just had to find a new place to rent, in a small town, that could house 12 people. **Challenge Accepted.** ### NO PROBLEM, BECAUSE I AM FLEXIBLE AND SLIGHTLY CRAZY We found a house that was open and rent free due to a divorce and a pending foreclosure. I made the owner promise the sherrif was not going to knock on our door and evict us mid-project. With much assurance that the process of foreclosure took much longer than construction, we agreed to move out of the house. We ordered a storage trailer and had it dropped in the yard and started packing. Doug was working at our restaurant full-time, so it was up to me and the kids to pack up and move all the small goods into the storage outside. We packed a suitcase for each child and moved 60 miles from our house. The rest of this story is a whole other post. Because we were willing to our team out, we made a choice that was not even on the table. After the fact I can say we would have, with certainty, lost our God loving minds had we stayed in the house with 10 kids. We just didn’t think we had other options. When we accepted the challenge of moving, doors started opening. Moving 12 people and a house full of goods should have been crazy but it went smoothly, it was like a very weird vacation. [![Big project or small these tip will apply to any job](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-07-29-13.55.16-169x300.jpg "2013-07-29 13.55.16 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-07-29-13.55.16.jpg)5 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling How do you respond when thrown a curve ball### THIS IS WHERE WE LEARNED PART TWO, BE PRESENT Being far from your job is difficult. Sometimes you have no choice, but if are able, stopping in to the job site is a good idea. Since our business is in the same town as our home Doug was able to stop in often to check productivity, answer questions and clear up any ambiguities that come with working with a 100 year old home. We picked our contractors and subs. Most of them are guys we hire on a regular basis for work at our restaurant, so we have a good working relationship with them. If you don’t have great kismet with your contractor don’t be put off. It is still your job and it is still your money being spent. Being present allows for you to see mistakes before they happen and head off questions before they become big delays. We did a bit of smaller jobs and finish work ourselves to shave money whenever we could. Checking in often insured the opportunity plan for small jobs and several huge ones. It also gave us an overall sense of connection. Since we had to move out we wanted to still be a part of the experience, small jobs and finish work gave us the chance to do just that. We feel like we had a large part to play in our remodel and there is a good deal of satisfaction there. Don’t miss out on the chance to get your hands dirty. [![being present during your remodel will help minimize mistakes](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-07-18-13.33.31-224x300.jpg "Don't miss the opportunity to get your hands dirty › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2013-07-18-13.33.31.jpg)This was quite the project 100 year old linoleum does not go down without a fightWhat areas did you have to flex your plans or expectations in a project? I would love to hear about it. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House **Tags:** contractors, house, moving day, renovation, tips --- ### [While I am waiting.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/while-i-am-waiting/) **Published:** September 18, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1883.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1883.jpg) It seems right, that this is the book I am reading while the boys are in drivers ed. It is also appropriate that I tell you I am 2 chapters behind my Proverbs 31 online bible study group. This is my first online study with Proverbs 31, but so far I am enjoying the interaction. If you have trouble getting to a bible study because of an irregular schedule or you are caring for someone full time, an online study might be a great way for you to connect right now. There are a few areas I would like to be more disciplined. I discovered recently that no one has volunteered to make me get healthy. I was really hoping my hubby was going to scoop me out of bed, hand me my energy shake and tell me the workout plan for the day, but he is trying to get life done just like I am. Conclusion: being in charge of me stinks and this book it a timely help. So I am going to keep reading and following the online plan. Jump in with these 5 questions and see if it stirs you up a bit. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1885.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1885.jpg) Check out the study at Proverbs 31 and you can order the book there as well. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional, Read **Tags:** bible study, Devotional, Online Bible Study, Proverbs 31 --- ### [#6 of the top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/6-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling-2/) **Published:** September 18, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Animals are curious and will get them selves into messes. Thinking about them before you begin a job will save you and them a great deal of stress. Making arrangements before hand will save you money. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **Plan ahead for your pets.** What are you realistically looking at. Are you moving out? Is the house going to be safe? Plan for the project taking longer than scheduled, and ask yourself if that changes what you are planning for your pets. At the onset of our project we had two dogs, a cat, about 20 chickens, a large pet Tom turkeys and a bachelor duck. Our weird menagerie was not going to be moving to the city with us. I felt like we were asking a lot of the town we were moving into with the 10 kids. Our situation was unique in that we had 17 days notice to find a place to live for the next 6 months of construction. Hopefully you have more time to consider your situation. We had not planned on leaving our home so we were scrambling to do some planning for our animals. We had already thinned down the chicken flock because construction for the garage was going to overlap the chicken house. In the end we decided against building a new chicken coop and caring for the flock from a distance. Instead we chose give the girls away. My kind and dear friend volunteered to take in the flock, as well as my remaining Tom turkey and lonesome duck. Two weeks were not nearly enough time to teach the dogs town skill so we arranged for them to stay at the house during construction. Men were working on site every day and with our restaurant nearby my husband planned to stopped over and make sure they were cared for. Our dogs are country dogs. They run pretty free and are always in a pair, so we altered their life very little with this arrangement. The dogs looked forward to their daily lunch breaks and grew a bit fat on crew scraps. The arrangement worked for the most part but there were times that the dog snuck into the house and did not get let out until the next morning so, I would caution against this arrangement if you can not visit your site daily. Consider your job site as well. Is it going to be secure. Consider your animals bad habits. Does your cat or dog chew cords or foreign objects. On a small job you might just need the loan of a kennel for a few day and some extra walks. For a larger project relocation might be part of your plan. ![Keep your pets in the planning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_20150316_110308_422.jpg)Think about how your project is going to effect your animals. You will stave off stress and save money by keeping you pets safe and not having to find a last ditch solution.For our whole house remodel we would no longer have the same floor plan. The litter area would be in the middle of our new family room in the basement. Not going to happen. Since the cat is mostly an outside dweller. Knowing that, we moved the litter box into the new garage as soon as construction on it was finished, so he would be used to the new location when we returned. Animals are curious and will get them selves into messes. Thinking about them before you begin a job will save you and them a great deal of stress. Making arrangements before hand will save you money. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House, projects **Tags:** construction, contractors, pets, remodel, stress saver, tips --- ### [#7 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/7-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) **Published:** September 22, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Remodeling sometimes moves you and the kids out of the job site but you don't have to feel displaced. Make your exile an adventure with these tips. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **If you are displaced during your project make the best of it.** A major project is stressful. There are 1,000 decisions to be made and constraints on every one, but this is your adventure. You choose how you are going to spend it. For us we were demoing and renovating our dream house. This was the final act of a plan 20 years in the making. I knew I wanted to savor every minute of it. I also knew that I had 10 kids who were displaced and crammed into a small, strange, 3 bedroom house. It was going to take some intentional planning to make sure we all came out of this sane. **We learned a few new hobbies to take us on adventures in our new surroundings.** *We took up geocaching.* It is a game where the world is your board. You can check out [Geocaching.com](https://www.geocaching.com/play) for more information and a short video. Geocaching is a great way to learn your way around a community, and you don’t have to have children. People of every age are into cashing. It is great excuse to get out and stretch you legs while traveling, or explore new places, heck we found new places right where we have been living for 15 years. It is easy because all you need is to log into the website, create a profile and grab some coordinates. Then head out with your smart phone, [a super kid friendly GPS](http://amzn.to/1j6h6tW), or go old school with a map and a compass. (a map is that paper picture of the world we use for decoupage projects) *The Basics of Caching* You can get a [Geocaching beginner kit](http://amzn.to/1FrvaYN) to get you started or just hide a container with a sign in list, a pencil, and some little treasures (if you care to do so and have room) and enter the coordinates into the master site for others to find, or you can choose coordinates from the website near a location you want to check out and go looking for caches. We did the latter. There are cashes in abundance in public spaces like parks and trails, as well as private property. The owner of the cache usually leaves instructions as well as a hint, if you need it. Some caches were treasure hunt type clues, some were a series of caches in a trail setting others were simply coordinates, but all were fun to find. Geocachers are true treasure hunters, we never tell where we found a cache, we respect everyones property and help clean up while we scout. It is a great hobby for children because of all of these underlying principles. As a family, we will still hunt a cache if we need an excuse to get out for the afternoon. When the kids took Daddy out for the first time and he was immediately hooked. Explaining how to use millions of dollars worth of satellite equipment to find tupperware in the woods is NOT the same as the thrill of your first find. Download the app on your phone and you will be ready to try it on your next outing. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/english_newyork.png) *We bought a slackline* A slackline is roughly the same material as a towline or a large tie down strap. Anchor straps are girded around two trees and the line runs between them. It is tightened to remove slack and give you a surface to balance on. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/91OZkUYYawL._SL1500_.jpg) So please, picture how I spent my summer. Every day the baby and I would sit in the front yard and read while every child in a 3 mile radius lined up over at our temporary housing to have a turn on the slack-line. We made a lot of friends. The line only has to be high enough to keep the walker off the ground, and with little people that is not very high, so it is relatively safe. You can purchase a [kit from Slackers](http://amzn.to/1KACnmo) that has a top guide line as well. They all talked about the circus they were going to put on at the end of the summer. The line got them dreaming and playing and out of the house. Every night I would just take down the bottom line for safety and set it up when we were ready to veg in the front yard. It just takes a few times of looking at the instructions (that are included and are easy to follow) and now I can set the whole thing up with out much thought. Our kit is going on three years of use without any signs of fraying. It is worth every penny considering the time that they have spent on it. *Good old fashioned bike rides* My children got a taste of every child’s right of passage, bike riding around the block. We explored the neighborhood on bike. We got to know the sights. For kids that was all the places with a dog, or food to eat. We made friends with the guy that had grapes growing on the fence. (He shares, but likes it if you ask) I let the older kids go a little further than they ever had before. Thankfully we were in a great smaller city so I felt safe and knew where they were going. If you can’t go far because of safety or traffic, there is no shortage of bike trails. Another great way to get to know your area is to try out a new trail every weekend. You can get the kids involved by searching the city website and reading features of trails near you. Make your move an adventure by embracing it. We had a great summer even through the many trials our temporary home brought us. Having a plan ahead of time made it easy for me to get everyone out the door and on to an adventure. Did you choose an adventure? What have you planned to give your family some fun during a move or large project. I would love to give readers some more ideas. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House, projects **Tags:** adventure, children, construction, geocaching, movng, renovation, slackline --- ### [I just met Beth Moore](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-just-met-beth-moore/) **Published:** September 23, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Beginnings come in all types. Some are fresh starts, and some are a fresh wounds, but God has a plan to use both for His glory and your future. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Not in real life, sorry. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1919.jpg) I just began my first Moore bible study. Last week was the first video in the series and I left thinking it was ok. Normally I am for skipping the video because in most DVD/book formats the video material is redundant to the reading. I usually do my reading and feel like it is a waste of good discussion time. All that is untrue for this study. Week one was barely an introduction because, after week two’s video, I get why everyone loves this woman. She is dynamic, without all the rah-rah super sweetness that sometimes comes with a speaker/minister. She did nothing to distract from the volume of word she was able to mine out of the first 10 verses in Thessalonians. *[Children of the Day](http://www.lifeway.com/Product/children-of-the-day-bible-study-book-p005600950)*, is the latest study from Moore, covering the whole of first and second Thessalonians. Moore covered the tumultuous circumstances that led to Paul’s new travel companions. There was an event in the life of Paul that caused he and Barnabas to split ways. Going different directions, after a much heated argument does not sound like the beginning of a powerful ministry, but the church at Thessalonica was a lasting treasure in the Kingdom of God and a testament to rocky starts. \[Tweet “Beginnings come in all types. Some are fresh starts, and some are fresh wounds, but God has a plan to use both for His glory and your future “\] Growth is the the hoped for result in every experience that comes to us. Without change driving us we can grow stagnant. Are you feeling the tug for something bigger in life. We resist change. We ignore the nudges that are nagging us to make a move. We could be missing the very best God has for us. Sometimes change is a devastating blow, the carpet is pulled out from under us and we look to God because only He has the power to sustain us through the storm. Sustain us, He does. Strengthen us, He will. He will build a kingdom from the wreckage of our plans if we will allow Him. He did it in the life of Paul and He will do it in yours and mine if we put our life in Him as well. I can’t wait to get to know Beth Moore better through this study, and hopefully more in the future. I think there were quite a few free books by Beth on Kindle a while back, looks like I might need to check out my own library. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Beth Moore, bible study, Change, Devotional, Paul, Thessalonians --- ### [Being the Hands and Feet will Wreck Your Plans...for the Better](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/being-the-hands-and-feet-will-wreck-your-plans-for-the-better/) **Published:** September 25, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1860.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1860.jpg) I am reading *Interrupted* by Jen Hatmaker with a group of friends. She talks about Gods call to actually reach the world for Him. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked and serve the poorest among us. **The problem that I run into is that the world is so big, I am so small.** Inaction happens when I fail to move in even little tiny steps. We cannot feed all of the starving children. I can not even be nice to my own every day, I am failing at doing the work even on the smaller scale. We, followers of Jesus, have got to allow God to do a work in us. Heal us, empower us, so that the small tasks of obedience are not road blocks to the bigger work. You were made for a larger work. I was made for a larger work. There is a world that need to see a different kind of Christian. Not ones that screams from the sidelines, but Christians who lean in and whisper into the ear of the wounded on the field. Saying,”You are beloved by God. You are His child.” [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1859.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_1859.jpg) Today I am asking, “Lord, what is my action?” Help me see beyond the walls I’ve built. Help me break down any wall that keeps the truth of who you are from the world. And make me see bigger, larger, outward. Amen. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Read --- ### [#8 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers While Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/8-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-while-remodeling/) **Published:** September 25, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** The energy meter for critical thinking can take a serious hit in a major project stretching several months. Protect your sanity by narrowing the field of choices with color palettes. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **Choose a color palette** This was the game changer for me. The number one place that burnout happens is in the decision making process. You’ve chosen window casings and floor finishes, how bumpy the dry wall is going to be. Seriously, decisions you never thought you would ever make, like does the sump pump need a back up battery, should it be in a closet. \[Tweet “The energy meter for critical thinking can take a hit in a project stretching several months.”\] **Reduce stress and save brain capacity by choosing a color palette right now, before your project ever starts.** I got mine from Sherwin Willams because that is where my contractor has his account and gets a volume discount. There are many books to choose from in very flexible arrangements. The color collection contained enough choices that I felt confident I could use plenty of color in my whole house project without feeling limited, while knowing every color was going to be harmonious. I constantly hear how much people love the colors of our home. I think a lot of the appeal is how well every room feels like it is part of a larger project. Don’t look online for color, below is a great example of why. I would never have picked this palette based on the colors on the screen. Go choose color swatches live and in person. Take a couple books home and see them in every light in your house. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/pdf-hgtv-neutralnuance2.pdf) **Does choosing a palette for your project seems daunting? Are you asking, where do I begin?** Start with Pinterest or Houzz.com. Create a board called color palettes and begin pinning rooms you like the feel of. You are getting a sample of colors you like, don’t be concerned about what is in them. You want 20-30 pins that really follow your gut. Once you have a good number of pins you will find patterns emerging about what color you love and how you like to see them used. I loved the idea of white space and rooms but looking through my pins I confirmed that I am a color addict. I like walls with life and personality. Knowing what I liked saved me from making a huge mistake by following trend over heart. Pinterest is full of great color palettes as well. You can check out my board, [color palettes](https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/color-palettes/), as well. Once you get a good feel for colors you like you can get into the paint store. A narrow range will help make that giant wall of swatches seem less overwhelming. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ac8dc32fce129ae82173521234c055f5.jpg)![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/703c6b93e79cafe241016d4c0f265671.jpg) **Once you have a swatch book, take it everywhere.** Like a pillow? hold it up to the swatch book. Looking for curtains or shopping for towels. Pull the bad boy out and never return something because it clashes. I wanted my island to have a wash in one of the colors from our swatch book. I was able to get my cabinet guy the color numbers while out shopping because I kept that little book with me throughout the whole project. Recently I gave a copy of the whole swatch book to my mom because she has a canvas she wants to fill. I figured if she was inspired with colors that match my house she might have to give it to me when she is done. Picking a color scheme will narrow the effort decision making takes. Writing down the names of your rooms on the actual book as you use colors was another way we used the swatch book to keep us organized and keep me from having to walk upstairs to see what color the bathroom was, again. Long projects will do that to you. Good luck. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House, projects **Tags:** color palette, house, paint, project, renovation, Sanity Savers, tips --- ### [#9 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling-2/) **Published:** September 29, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **There are some things you are going have to leave undone.** Say it now, while you are just beginning and it will not sound like abandon when you reach the tipping point. \[Tweet “At some point in your project you will run out of cash or the will to make one more decision, or both. #sanitysaver9”\] For six long months we lived in a tiny house, with no washer and dryer, next to criminals with booming stereos that filled the air with words my children had never heard before. The shower could only shower one person (we had 12) before it would start to fill up and threaten to breach the 2 inch lip. The power box fried out on the last week, the kids got lice. Our manager severely burned herself and our cook we hired to replace Doug was shot in a burglary before we broke ground. He was working from 4 am to 11 pm with a 2 hour commute. We were homeschooling in a new town and were twice stalked by DHS cars while at the park. All I wanted so desperately was to go home. **It was the closest I hope to ever get to the apocalypse.** For me tipping point was carpet for the basement stairs. I don’t know how the conversation got started but the bottom line was I was decisioned out. Somehow we ended up driving to a carpet store 2 hours out of our way because there was a guy who could get a good price on a remnant. Doug casually told me about the guy so I found a time to go, but standing there, all I could think was how much I hated the idea of carpet. Like it was insane to think that carpet was a good idea in any place in a house with 12 people, let alone the entry way. I looked and wandered and finally broke down and told Doug I hated the idea of carpet. “Why are we even here?” was the response of my sweet exasperated husband. I am not proud, but that response sent me over. We packed up in the car and I cried all the way home. My poor confused husband. There was not another decision left in me. It wasn’t the carpet, it was me tapping out. I was done and conveniently, our budget was too. I embraced my financial and grey matter deficits and accepted the fact that some things were just going to have to wait until phase 3 or 7. The basement stairs are still plywood, and honestly no one has ever even commented. The basement bathroom floor is unfinished concrete. Some day I hope to tile it, but the point to all of this is that somethings are just going to have to wait. The line has to be drawn at some point. Nothing is worth going in way over your head or the value of the project for. Making good solid choices throughout your project will give you plenty to be proud of. Did you have something that you had to wait on in your project? Let me know of post a picture of your finished project and give a reader some encouragement. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House **Tags:** construction, contractors, house, personal growth, remodel, renovation, tips --- ### [Second Wind Parenting: Surviving the Quirks of Life with Toddlers and Teens](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/second-wind-parenting/) **Published:** October 3, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I am in this strange place where my older kids are independent and I still have little ones underfoot. I realized the other day none of my “littles” have never been to the Apple Orchard. An event I looked forward to 13 years ago with my first batch of enthusiastic toddlers. Alas, I am old, and far less enthusiastic about overpriced apples. I am practically allergic to petting zoos and all things sticky, given the massive exposure I have had with 10 children. [![Second Wind Parenting](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0612-300x300.jpg "Second Wind Parenting › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0612.jpg) ### **None of these things will excuse me from going to Zoo two hundred more times. So, how can I embrace this second wind parenting experience?** I have four tips that I have put into play in these second wind years. They have helped me make sure I don’t miss all the best experiences with my littles as well. Because, despite what you tell yourself putting on “Wild Crats”is not the same as going to the Zoo. So, how do we tap into that freshness once again? #### **\#1 You May Need to Change Your Entire Social Structure** Face it, this is hard. It is easy to hold on too long because we love our friends, but you have to keep the purpose of your time in mind. I have had a standing play date with my best friend for the last 16 years, but about 3 years ago the purpose shifted. The older kids no longer needed structure to get them together with friends. My friend is 3 years from her littlest one being in high school and I am just 3 years out of diapers. It was time to reach out to some new people in my circle of life to fit the more immediate need at hand. The littles needed some friends and I had an obligation to seek some out. This does not mean that you need to abandon long held friendships. Quite the opposite. Now I have a standing coffee date with my friend. We check in with each other often and have been blessed to start a Bible Study together. My Mothering equation is being supported from both sides and I have made some great new friendships as well. Don’t be afraid to reach out to some younger Moms you might know. If you are like me you will be more than wiling to trade your wisdom for some energy. #### **\#2 Do Not Turn Down an Invitation From Families In Your Life.** I admit I have no desire to wrangle all of my children at an amusement park. Ever! I was very blessed this summer. My daughter and my sons were offered opportunities to join their friend’s familes for a day at the park. It was a win-win for me. I payed for one kid and they had a great day. There was a time where I might have felt guilty about sending my kid with another parent, but those days are not today. I am still super choosy, you have to pass the background check and all, but I don’t need as much control as I used to. My older kids have been taught well and need some room to stretch their wings in safe company and places. I had a friend offer to take all of my littles (6) to the Zoo. Suddenly I fell into all the same doubt you do. I hesitated. My heart pounded for a bit and I felt panicked. What if they were bad? I had a big trip planned and realized that my friend really wanted to bless me, so I said yes, and I have been so blessed. Both of them, my kids and my friend have not stopped talking about when they can do it again. All because I said yes. #### **\#3 Invite a Friend** So a day at the Apple orchard sounds like a living hell, invite your funniest friend. Someone that helps you keep it light, or that friend that always remembers to bring juice boxes when you fail to even remember wipes. \[clickToTweet tweet=”The people in your life are your best resources. ” quote=”The people in your life are your best resources. “\] Don’t forget about them. This parenting thing is hard, if you are like me and just remotely nearing 40, it lacks some of the luster it had when you were 23. Add joy wherever you can. Team up for a field trip with another “second wind” Momma and you will both thank me. Trust me. #### **\#4 Get the Season Pass** Nothing is more motivating than the ticking clock on your season pass. You have it calculated. You know exactly how many visits make this pass a deal and how few make it a waste of your hard earned cash. Put your feet to the fire and get the pass. The Zoo pass in my town gets me half off in other states as well, but it also makes a great excuse for a pit stop on errand day. You are much more likely to take advantage of small trips if you know entrance is already taken care of, you might even look at the calendar of events and plan ahead, but lets not get overly ambitious. The point is to get out and go. Science centers are another great place to get a year long pass. They offer year round events and are a great place to spend a marrow sucking snowy winter day. It is not a bad thing to sometimes leave those independent big kids to their chores and studies (video games) and take your littles on a date with an adventure. You will find yourself refreshed, renewed and you might just have the chance to look into the face of your little guys in a way you may have been missing in all of the obligations and work. I hope these tips help you find your groove in the second wind of life. \[Tweet “Because, despite what you tell yourself putting on “Wild Crats”is not the same as going to the Zoo”\] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** Change, children, Community, Friendship, parenthood, parenting, Resources, Second Wind, teen, toddler, tween --- ### [What do you think of the word "Tension"?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/what-do-you-think-of-the-word-tension/) **Published:** October 3, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Several books I have read in the last year have used “Tension” as a term to describe a reaction to a challenging concept. I think it a great descriptive for the prep work God does on the inside of us. The stirrings of coming change. **Have you felt tension in your soul?** I have. In just this last year there has been a shift like a dam has broke. This wrestling inside of me. Churning like waters impatient to breach the banks, but I had no idea what direction I was going to go or how. I just knew that God wanted something more for me in this moment in my life. I wanted something more. So I began to seek Him. Pray and praise and talk to Him. I dug deeper in my reading and quiet times and Study groups. The stirring rose to the level I would call agitation. > \[Tweet “Impatience can be the pitfall of this place; between the calling and the doing. “\] I have walked this path with God a long time. I have said yes to the wrong thing many times before. I have rushed answers and solved my own problems for many years, but in doing so I have learned the one thing I can do is to listen and wait. I have learned to trust that the object God desires for me will make itself known as I seek Him. When God stirs a new idea into your heart; whether He confronts you with an unexposed flaw, opens a door to an unknown world, or invites you to a deeper walk, tension is often a precursor. Water is just water, all day long, but apply a little tension, a little friction, a little heat to get those molecules moving around and plain water busts out of the glass. It escapes all its past limitations and becomes vapor. That vapor escapes the laws that bound water. You are not bound to anything but what God says you are. God friction changes us to the very molecules instilling life into every single one. Tension often leads to change in our lives. Change God desires to give you. Agitation is not always a bad thing. Friction can break off the false, the worthless and vain. Leaving us fresh to serve God in a new level of truth and grace. Pressure does not always have to crush you, it can strengthen you. It can drive you to dig deeper, pour out more and chase bigger dreams. Let us not step back from things that stir us up. Let God convict your heart. Cry out to Him when you do not understand and seek Him when you know that He is calling you deeper. He has an answer for you and it is not to stay the same as you were. We may be just a vapor in this life but vapor is water with tension. Vapor reaches where water never imagined. Gods desire is to change you from the inside out and bring you to a place you never imagined. It is hard, there is pressure, tension, agitation and don’t let any one tell you otherwise, but to live beyond where you ever believed you would is glorious. To share in this divine love and hope is beyond anything I ever imagined. Open you Bible and get to know who God is and ask Him what He thinks about you, read it and let it change you. Let it change everything. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Change, Devotional, Eternal, Living water --- ### [#10 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/10-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling-2/) **Published:** October 5, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Tip #10 Cheer Up, you are right on track. Are you broke? Are you sitting in a new room on an old couch? Does the giant naked wall of your new entertainment room have an empty plug, just mocking you? This is normal. Let me tell you why... **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **The end of the construction work is not the end date for your project. You could be staring at a blank wall.** I studied and prepped by reading a ton of articles from folks that had finished huge projects. Their houses were immaculate, staged to perfection. They had curtains, something I still lack. My walls sat primed for two years after we finished construction before I could think about painting, let alone afford the paint. I would have been discouraged had I not noticed this one common thread. **Glowing couples and their beautiful houses, the kids and the dog around the fire place or on the new back deck were talking about projects that had been completed *two or more years ago.*** I did not understand this phenomenon fully until we completed our project and I cite two major factors in this delay. 1. **Mental Exhaustion**– On a large project like ours it took every ounce of brain power and will I could muster for nearly a year from prep to finish. The day the guys laid down their tools and left for good we were so happy to have our house back. We we’re so in love with being home after our displacement that the last ting we wanted to do was have a painting party or lend brain power to the finishing one room at a time. No, we wanted to be home in the worst way. 2. **Financial Burden**– The project cost us everything we had allotted for construction. I assume anyone doing a large scale project is not going to find themselves with cash left over. When we moved back in and the walls were ready for paint we were…not. Nor would we be for two years. Same for curtains and rugs and furniture. Some people plan to budget for such things and if you can, more power to you, but I think most folks that are trying to save a farm house and bring it into modern code find themselves tapped out and likely with a new mortgage. **The point is, Cheer Up, you are right on track. Are you broke? Are you sitting in a new room on an old couch? Does the giant naked wall of your new entertainment room have an empty plug, just mocking you?** You are not alone. From what I could tell nearly every beautiful home in those magazine articles took more time to look completed post construction. We sat on a 20 year old Loafa from Grandmas basement until we saved up for the couch we really wanted. Don’t let your pride sink you into debt. The truth is people get the rest of the dressings done over a much longer stretch of time. We are just past the two year mark and I would say it is true. The main floor walls are painted, most of the bedrooms all of the bathrooms. The main floor looks like it is ours, and not a weird conglomeration of hand me downs. The best part of taking our time and not rushing is that it allowed us to give our house a personality. We could have never bought that at a store. Don’t be afraid of empty spaces, naked windows and bare walls. You are right on track. Moving back in will give you same time to get to know your new space and make a plan for how you want it to feel. \[Tweet “Don’t be afraid of empty spaces, naked windows and bare walls. You are right on track. Moving back in will give you same time to get to know your new space and make a plan for how you want it to feel.”\] I wish you all the best of luck with these tips and I hope your project makes you as happy as ours has. I would love to answer any questions you might think of and tel me what was your favorite tip out of the Top 10 Sanity Savers. *I am planning on posting these as a PDF file soon so subscribe or check back in a week or two and I should have them ready to share.* ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House, projects **Tags:** construction, finishing, Home, house, remodel, renovation, Sanity Savers, tips --- ### [Stop Telling My Kids Sex is a Sin](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/stop-telling-my-kids-sex-is-a-sin/) **Published:** October 9, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** The world has made sex cheap and unsatisfying by reducing it to the level of skin. Please tell my kids that we are so much more than skin. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Sex is not a sin. Let them know that sex is the most mysterious and extraordinary connection God ever created, second only to the ability of the Holy Spirit to dwell in men. Through some mystery, God created it is possible for one person to become greater than what he was created for alone. In the very act of sexual union God promises that the two will become one flesh. Two people working toward the perfect will of God is far greater than one alone. This is no knock against the celibate, but praise for Gods gift of unity. The promise to mingle two souls as to be indistinguishable before His throne. This is a mystery. Not a sin. Not an action to be repressed. #### **If you want to talk about sex, tell my kids how very hard relationships are.** Tell them how God loves strong bonds so much he gave the greatest gift of deep intimacy to ensure that people would choose to devote themselves to each other for the rest of their lives. Talk to them about how sexuality is the language we use to share depth and intimacy because the world is hard and there is comfort in the expression of sex. Warn them that there is a craving that drives us to one another and that God designed it that way. We are drawn to our spouse sexually because it is God’s design for us to be bound to each other. This is the power of God at work on your behalf in a relationship. God desires deep loving commitments and sex was meant to cement those bonds. The world has made sex cheap and unsatisfying by reducing it to the level of skin. If you are going to talk about sex, please tell my kids that we are so much more than skin. #### **Better yet tell them about Esau who was tricked by his appetites.** Esau was a hunter. He thought very little about the future. When he hungered he hunted and fed himself and had need for very little. The whole of his fathers estate would be his when his father died but it mattered not to him. When he inherited would have to care for his conniving little brother when the time came, he longed for nothing more than to leave these forsaken tents and make a life of his own. He imagined it continually while out hunting. He longed to be free. As the days grew long so did his desire and his discontent. He hunted long into the day and night, not caring to go home, it was his habit and no one would wonder where he was. This day is self sufficiency failed him, there was no game. Esau was hungry. Not a whimpering hunger but hunger like a crashing bear. Hunger drove him home. Hunger drove him to the tents he despised. His lack of ability to provide for himself only added to his frustration. As he neared the place of women the smell of foods over powered him, he was ravished, near fainting. Jacob the schemer, Esau’s younger twin, met him at the entrance of the tent. Seeing Jacob reminded Esau even further, how little he wished to be here. Jacob was always his mothers favorite, cooking beside her, avoiding the world outside. His hunger made him irrational and Jacob saw the chance to take advantage. Jacob always was a usurper, pushing for the advantage over his older brother. Jacob offered his fine stew. The smell mingled with the delicious imaginings of Esau’s heart, an end to the temporary hunger, but at a price. Esau’s birthright, for a full belly. Free from the agony of waiting. Free from the responsibility to care for a family. Esau saw nothing of the loss, only gain, blinded as he was by his inflated appetite. #### Jacob had what Esau wanted and the poor exchange was made Even as the discomfort was settling in his gut Esau knew he had made a terrible mistake. He swore to kill his brother, the trickster. Unable to admit that it was he, who was the fool. How many of us, like Esau, exchanged what should have been our inheritance, for a poor meal and were left empty. This world tells us we are starving and then hands us cold pea soup and asks to be satisfied, but I say we should pull the veil on the whole exchange. This world is offering a counterfeit. It is perpetuating a lie that says sex is fulfilling, but the suicide rate is proving it empty. The world is shouting that sex will make you independent, adult, free, but outside of a loving committed relationship you are being cheated. You are tied to a cart and led away further and further from God’s promise. Esau did not see the value in the promise his father gave him. Esau despised the promised future and exchanged it for something worthless. So if you insist on telling my kids about sex please tell them about it’s power to tie their heart to their lover. Tell them to choose wisely, to find someone they know has their hearts best interest, because they will be tied in ways they never imagined. By all means, tell them that sex is amazing if shared with someone that cares enough about you to give themselves to you fully with their whole life, but that sex is wasted on the selfish. Please, tell them about the cost of a cheap exchange. #### Don’t tell my kids sex is a sin. Because they are missing the point and coming away believing God hates sex, pleasure and intimacy. Misrepresenting the gift God gave us would be as grave a mistake as Esau’s, who traded away his promised future for his current hunger, and was left forever unsatisfied. \[Tweet “The world has made sex cheap and unsatisfying by reducing it to the level of skin. If you are going to talk about sex, please tell my kids that we are so much more than skin.”\] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** bible study, Devotional, Esau, sex --- ### [A member of the Bloglovin community](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/a-member-of-the-bloglovin-community/) **Published:** October 11, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [Follow my blog with Bloglovin](http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/14377589/?claim=urgvf7un4c9) Don’t want to choke up your email. Download the Bloglovin app and you can follow all of your favorite blogs in one place. This is how I never miss a post from Money Saving Mom, or the blog; Living Well, Spend Less. You can follow me and find a list of blogs I follow on Bloglovin as well. [Follow](https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/200-fingers-toes-14377587) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Create --- ### [Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling Concludes, Get Your Project On](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling-concludes-get-your-project-on-2/) **Published:** October 12, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **We had a great response from The Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling.** I was talking to my friend; they just took the plunge on a old farm house, who said she was taking notes. I want these tips to save you time, money and a bit of your sanity, I put them all in one place for you. Email them to your self or pin this to your idea file or follow 200fingersandtoes.com for more updates. **I want everything about the Top 10 Sanity Savers to be easy, so here is the one post to rule them all.** [\#1 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/1-of-top-10-tips-from-our-renovation/) We hired an architect to help us with initial planning [\#2 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/2-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) We started an idea file. See our [Houzz.com]() and [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/color-palettes/) idea files to help start yours today. [\#3 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-sanity-saver-while-remodeling/)We learned the art of making compromises. [\#4 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/4-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) Some ways to stand your ground on items you really want [\#5 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/466-2/) What to do when a curve ball comes your way. Tips for staying connected to your project and remaining flexible. [\#6 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/6-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) Don’t forget about your pets. [\#7 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/7-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) Sometimes you have to move out, but we have some great tips to keep you and the family happy as well as great ways to get to know your new digs. [\#8 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/8-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-while-remodeling/) save you brain by limiting choices. Start with a great whole house color palette. [\#9 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) Let it Go! Really, know when to say when. There comes a time in every project where you run out of brain power or cash. Tips to help you conclude and prioritize. [\#10 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers When Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/10-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) Finishing the physical work is not the end of the project. Take your time. [![10 tips for renovating](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2013-06-27-20.48.58-300x224.jpg "Renovating tips › 200 Fingers & Toes")](http://wp.me/p5VyLS-9X)We renovated our 100 year old farm house and learned 10 things that saved us money time and headachesThanks for reading these tips. I would love to hear which was your favorite. Was there a tip you had not thought of before or is there something you would add? Tell me in a comment and best wishes on your project. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** House, projects **Tags:** construction, contractors, house, House Keeping, remodel, renovation, Sanity Savers, tips --- ### [The art of building skills when Dad was not a "fix-it" guy and your stuff is broke](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-art-of-building-skills-when-dad-was-not-a-fix-it-guy-and-your-stuff-is-broke/) **Published:** October 13, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My husbands Father and and Mother divorced when he was just a year old, though his Dad remained a part of his life, the passing of skills that normally happens in the garage was interrupted by distance. At 10, I acquired a Dad by marriage. The poor guy was 26 with a new wife, a teenager, a new born, and three kids who provided a lot of broken things to fix. If that is not love I don’t know what is. He stuck around and learned his way around the fine art of fixing things. He was very bad at it at first. I have since learned that failing and failing is the only path to learning. The problem was my Dad, like us, had no skills passed to him, outside of a mad painting streak that we grown children all take full advantage of. The process of trial and error can be hard on the family when error involves “words”, continued leaks, plumbers bills, bikes with no brakes. If only I had known then how hard the world is to fix, I might had been a little more forgiving, but a kid needs brakes if she is going to ride like Speed Racer. **So what does this mean to us as the married couple with no “fix-it” life skills.** You anxiety over broken things could leave you at the mercy of repair men forever. It could lead you down a path of anger, jealousy and frustration over what was not, but I have good news. You could close the gap on a whole generation of lost skills in a few youtube videos. It has never been easier to find a hands on solution than now. When I get an error code on my washing machine, I do what the rest of the world does, I Google it. Most of the time I can fix the problem myself. Sorry, Maytag guy. Nothing proved to me that you can gain the skills you need rapidly better than what I experienced this summer. A spring storm damaged our outbuilding and it had to be demolished. Armed with plenty of scrap lumber, tin and still, no building skills (and Granddad’s old tools) my husband decided to build a shed. If you know my husband, he is like a dog with a bone when he wants to get something done and he is a little bit “go-big-or-go-home”. The “shed” for the mower is now a 21×17 garden shed over an existing concrete silo pad. **We learned, you don’t have to know how to build a shed, to build a shed. You just need to look up how to set posts.** [![three things helped us build without skills](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1774-e1462898812309-300x300.jpg "Building your skills when Dad didn't › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1774-e1444749156652.jpg)You dont have to know how to building you just have to find out how to set a postMy husband read a few articles online, he called a few friends, he dug up a few books and set four posts. It was like my husband had had a baby, he was so proud. From there he was unstoppable. We had a friend lend us a tool and tell us how to bore holes in the concrete to set a few more posts. You can borrow tools from the hardware store or the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Doug looked up a youtube video about how to attach purlins. There are a lot of great people out there making movies that are informative and full if insight. Make them your new Handy-Dad if you need one. The process continued with much trial and error. Calling a friend, watching a video. Fixing and undoing were both a large part of the process. The best thing about the building was that our sons got to help their Dad. They got to use the tools and be a valued part of the project. They built a building. If you had told me at the beginning of the summer, I would have never believed it. [![Make the internet the Handy-Dad you never had](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1923-e1444749187862-300x300.jpg "Life skills are a video away › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1923-e1444749187862.jpg)A whole generation of lost life skills are just a youtube video away How we learned to build with out a Dads guidanceYou can curse the sky because you have no skills, you can wish your Dad was the kind of guy that felt a wobbly hand rail and whipped out his tool belt or you can start fixing the small things. \[Tweet “To build without previous skills use the resources you have at your disposal, youtube, books, internet, and your friends.”\] Work up to a low cost, low risk, learning project. I would have started with a dog house, but I am not Doug. The point is don’t let fear and lack keep you from doing something big. God has made you for more and he will equip you for the work in front of you as you step out and grow. **A side note to you dear wives, give your husband some grace and your trust.** My breaker of coffee makers and the man that took apart out door bell chimes for them never to work again, just built me a garden shed. I am so thankful for all the times I shut my mouth and walked away when I wanted nothing more than to beg him to call the repair guy. Now, he is my repair guy and he saves us a ton of repair bills. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** building, fathers, life skills, parenthood, personal growth, sons --- ### [Timeless Gifts for Creative Mothers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/timeless-gifts-for-creative-mothers/) **Published:** October 17, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Women love when you are paying attention. Gifts that say you are paying attention are the best kind of gifts to receive. I would like to share some things I have loved using in my busy life. Some hard working, never sitting on the shelf gifts for the creative woman in your life. Is your wife an artist with empty sketch books and the itch to create? Does your little sister tinker in art but you know she could do more? Give them the gift that will help them explore their own talents and be creative. Give them permission to set time aside for being creative by giving them a gift that shows you understand that creative time is valuable time. As husbands, parents, brothers and sisters we have a huge role as supporters of the women in our lives. By allowing her to feel pride and joy in the creative process you nurture a deeper relationship and affirms her. > This year support the creative woman you love by giving her permission to create. Encourage her with a few simple tools. #### ***For the Writer, Journal Keeper, and Chronic Note Taker*** [![GOODS1_1387401428](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GOODS1_1387401428-300x186.jpeg "GOODS1_1387401428 › 200 Fingers & Toes")![GOODS1_1387401385](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GOODS1_1387401385-300x186.jpeg "GOODS1_1387401385 › 200 Fingers & Toes")]() These Studio Oh! Journal sets in [Botanical](http://amzn.to/1LVC7ye) and [Woodland Creatures](http://amzn.to/1PpJ8hx) are stitch bound with a strong cover. Small enough to carry on any adventure tucked into your purse but pretty enough to make you want to pull them out and write. Having a set of three makes it little less sad when you finish filling one up. [![51J4vhM0K6L](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/51J4vhM0K6L-232x300.jpg "51J4vhM0K6L › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/51J4vhM0K6L.jpg) If you would like to give your creative friend a little push towards a more creative life then [The Artist’s Way](http://amzn.to/1PySeaB) is a great gift to give her. The book is 12 weeks of self paced exercises designed to help creative people get unstuck. Her method has worked for hundreds and hundreds of people over the last 20 years. You could order the book alone but ordering the journal at this price leave your creative friend with no excuses. I’ve gone through the book twice and have grown each time I went through it. [![41qgxqk8H3L](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/41qgxqk8H3L-215x300.jpg "41qgxqk8H3L › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/41qgxqk8H3L.jpg) A more whimsical version would be [642 Things to Write About](http://amzn.to/1LVcwVW). Consider it a writing prompt spring board. If giving this as a gift I would insist on receiving a top 10 favorites in return next year for Christmas. The point is to encourage action, so make it as fun and doable as possible. You could include a cute pencil bag and a few smooth writing pens as well, but beware, we writers are super quirky when it comes to our pens. #### ***For the Artist or Painter*** [![71CkvpG3FEL._SL1350_](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/71CkvpG3FEL._SL1350_-200x300.jpg "71CkvpG3FEL._SL1350_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/71CkvpG3FEL._SL1350_.jpg) These [Sakura Micron pens](http://amzn.to/1QEHTs7) are the best thing I bought all year. They are delicious, smooth but quick drying as well, which is a prime buying factor for us lefties. I can count four sets that I am planning to buy this holiday season and the list will only grow. For right around $10 there is nothing you can give an artist with more versatility than this set. [![81JBvHLTw8L._SL1500_](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/81JBvHLTw8L._SL1500_-300x214.jpg "81JBvHLTw8L._SL1500_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/81JBvHLTw8L._SL1500_.jpg) I have mentioned this set [before](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-ways-i-make-sure-i-have-time-to-be-creative/) but I can not fail to mention it again. One main purpose of this blog is to help people make time for creativity and this [watercolor set from Koi]() should be the poster child for the cause. Nothing makes me want to paint more than the ease this set gives me. I love tube watercolor, but there are times when the mess is enough to make me pass. This set destroys every excuse I have not to paint. [![810bfOxbVFL._SL1500_](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/810bfOxbVFL._SL1500_-300x300.jpg "810bfOxbVFL._SL1500_ › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/810bfOxbVFL._SL1500_.jpg) If I really wanted to do my self a favor I would add a few more of these [Pentel synthetic brushes](http://amzn.to/1PyTr1G). I had no intention of using these with my kit having mostly fine sable hair brushes in my art kit, but I was pleasantly shocked about how while these brushes performed. For my field kit or on the back deck, these make traveling with watercolors painless. There are tons of “how to” books on every subject. Instead of a gift certificate to the book store, make a date and browse the book store together and let her show you what she is interested in. Encourage her and be sure to let her know that you value every part of her including her expressions of creativity. Creativity nourishes our souls and lets us caregivers, care for ourselves. Thanks for loving the creative woman in your life and I hope this gives you a few ideas. ![give away](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/give-away-300x214.jpg "give away › 200 Fingers & Toes") You can still purchase this big favorite [chalk board journal set](http://amzn.to/1LVgi1B) from Studio Oh! as well as several others. I look forward to seeing you here and follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/kingspie) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Create **Tags:** art, artist gifts, creativity, Friendship, gifts, holidays, writer gifts --- ### [Are you seeking clarity on what the next big step is for you?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/do-need-a-bit-of-clarity/) **Published:** October 26, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* God was stirring up ideas in my heart but I was not sure of where to go from there. I had an idea but no real vision. #### Have you been there? Circling the airport waiting to land, looking for clarity. [![Drawing your Circle is about Focus](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1338-300x300.jpg "Give Him your attention › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1338.jpg) I have a small group of friends that choose to study together on Fridays. I was not interested in reading the book on prayer we had chosen, and because of that I decided I probably need it. The book was **[The Circle Maker](http://amzn.to/1GsYcs5)** by Mark Batterson and I feel like it was used to move me into the next thing. I could be that I was with an amazing group, which was true. I could be that I was ready for a move because God was preparing me, but I feel like I would have spun my wheels a lot longer if we had not been studying this book and seeking God with some very direct questions. If you are asking, “Lord, what do you want of me?” or “Where now?” you are in a good place. I would find a friend who is asking the same questions. Take advantage of the deal on the kindle version of the Circle Maker. Are ready to dig deeper alone? There is a 40 day journal that will give out a place to collect your thoughts and prayers as you walk this journey out. Sometimes you need to step outside of everyday life. Ask God if He is calling you to something beyond your abilities. He almost always is. If we seek Him, He provides some pretty amazing stories, some are just waiting to happen when we step out. [![Are you asking, "What's next?"](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/51WV-scCKSL._SX321_BO1204203200_-194x300.jpg "The Circle Maker › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/51WV-scCKSL._SX321_BO1204203200_.jpg) #### Have you read the Circle Maker? What was your prayer circled around? God led me to a conference. Where is He leading you? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Read **Tags:** bible study, Books, Circle Maker, devotional life --- ### [Are You Just Guessing at How to Please God?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/are-just-guessing-how-to-please-god/) **Published:** October 27, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **What set David apart from Saul as a King.** I have been studying the life of David for a few months now. We have been doing a lot of reading and discussion in Sunday school class, but the truth came late one night as I was going to sleep, as all divine revelations and check list items seem to come to me. Saul looked to possess every attribute of a King. He was a beauty of a man, a full head taller that any other. He was anointed and the people were glad. They had their hearts desire, their wish. Saul knew about God, he was a hebrew from a good standing family, reputable and learned in the ways of the laws. He heard Gods voice through the mouth of the prophet Samuel. When Samuel was near, Saul was confident that the Lord was working on his behalf. When Samuel was not present Saul wavered, feared and rashly acted out in his own efforts. It was as if Saul was always guessing how to please God, gauging by the reaction to his actions. This would lead any good man to throw spears and brood. This is what it is like to live a life trying to please a God you do not know. It is vanity, draining and eventually you will cry, Foul! Thank God we are not expected to guess what the Lord expects from us. His word is a clear introduction, an open invitation and beginnings of a relationship. A two way dialog between maker and creation, creator and masterwork. In Psalms we read as spies, looking out on the ancient pasture, this very dialog as it happened in a field; in the quiet, among the sheep, with a shepherd boy with an open heart. [![What builds sustaining faith.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1930-e1446006648842-300x300.jpg "What does a pasture have to do with a King? › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1930-e1446006648842.jpg)Saul and David knew God You one was destroyed and one thrived because of this one difference**How do you talk to God?** First you get to know His character by reading His words. David would have memorized large portions of the Books of the Law. He spent his childhood hearing it and learning about the meaning but, so did Saul. So what set David apart? What defines him as a man after God’s own heart? David spoke to God. He often sang songs of praises and whispered prayers of thanksgiving. He spoke words of truth from his own heart. When David was pursued unrighteously by Saul, David never forgot the promise of God’s anointing. When he was in a cave, when he was in the desert, when he was driven out to live among his enemies, David never forsook God. What can carry us unshaken through trials? A true, deep, abiding relationship with the creator. David did not need Samuel to speak God’s words over him. David honored God because he knew God’s heart firsthand. He did not only know God by the word of Samuel. In Acts 19, the seven sons of Sceva plotted to drive out demons “in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” The demons responded by beating them, shredding their robes saying, “We know Jesus, and we know Paul, but we don’t know you.” We can not deliver to the lost and dying world a God that we have heard of and hope they recognize Him and find Him more useful than we do. We can not hope to be effective or withstand trials on the fumes of a relationship. So then how do we begin? We must claim some pasture. Find a quiet time, walk outside, get up early one day a week, but start. We must strive to know God and allow Him to teach us His character and stop expecting to be told who God is. He desires to show you His great love by walking beside you. First in the pasture, then with the bears and lions, in the cave, in the desert, among your enemies, and at the side of your homecoming. He wants to walk beside you through it all. Lord, help us to know you as David did. Quicken our spirit to worship you this week. Open our eyes to your glory and mercy and write a Psalm of our very own on our heart. Amen Do you know God deeply, or are you just beginning to come near to Him? Don’t stop and have to guess about how to please God like Saul. Know God deeply like David and rest in His company through every joy and trial. \[Tweet “Trying to please a God you do not know is vanity, draining to the depth of your soul. So how do we know we are pleasing?”\] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, David, Devotional, faith, personal growth, Saul --- ### [Why can't I ever get away with anything?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/why-cant-i-ever-get-away-with-anything/) **Published:** November 9, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* David sinned. He saw Bathsheba bathing on her roof top. This was not yet sin. He continued to think of her. He even started searching out who she was. He was told that she was the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah. Still not yet sin. He continued his thoughts about her until he convinced himself that he needed to see her again, in the flesh. He sent for her to be brought into his chamber. I don’t know the initial intention of David’s invitation or the response of Bathsheba, but I can read about the results of their meeting in the letter in David’s hands in 2 Samuel 11:6. The letter tells us a child was conceived which now threatens to expose David’s sin to the world. This moment, this thought unrestrained, this act against better judgement, this willful sin, it carried a cost. For Bathsheba it was the lives of those she loved. For David it was an eternal mar on his integrity, the future of his family, and the life of his infant son. > ###### **We see this pattern of thoughts becoming sinful acts, described in James 1:14-15.** > 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. \[Tweet “Sin is a starved flame, once ignited, it will call for more fuel.”\] David’s sin was to seek what was not his to have. Bathsheba was the wife of another, but David’s thoughts were set on her alone. He nursed his thoughts and fed his own desire. **When Bathsheba sends word of the child to David, how does he respond?** He immediately begins to cover his sin. He tries to solve his own problem. He sends for the husband, Uriah, straight from the battlefields and invites him home for a little R&R. Uriah was an honorable man, refusing to take pleasure in his wife and the comforts of home. What should have ended as a broken romance story between a beautiful girl and a King, instead ends in murder and tragedy, because of David’s lack of repentance when first confronted with his sin. **What should have David’s response been?** > ###### **2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) shows us what leaves us with no regrets.** > 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death Do you have regrets? Do you have sorrow? How are you responding to sin in your life? Trying to hide it will only cost you more. God loves you enough to expose you. God’s desire was that David not perish in his sin. God was so completely unwilling to lose fellowship with David over his sin that he upturned every one of his schemes so David could not hide. After murder and death, God confronted David once more. This time David fell on his face and wept before God, crying out, “I have sinned against the Lord!” David’s repentance restored him into fellowship with God. God’s forgiveness was not withheld from him. God’s love was constantly near David. [![Running from regrets and sorrow?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2cor7repentance.jpg "Regarding Gratitude › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2cor7repentance.jpg)There is a love so big it will pursue you at any cost Gods desire is that He loses not one of youDoes it seem like God is always wrecking your plans? Do you feel thwarted at every attempt to get away with even a little lie? It is because of His great love for you. > ###### **In 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) we see just what is the intended hope of God’s love for us.** > 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. God is calling all of us to a higher walk, to be pure and blameless before Him. Do not miss the prompting to repent when it comes. The chastening of God is for those that He loves. He loves you too much to allow you to live for less than the life He has planned for you. How you respond to sin today could change everything. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Bathsheba, bible study, David, Devotional, repentance, sin --- ### [How can your budget help you chase your dreams?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-your-budget-help-chase-your-dreams/) **Published:** November 15, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I had a vague idea that I wanted to take my writing to a new level. I am sure that you have felt the tug of one more thing that seemed like it is calling out to you, to add it to your life. The pull to change directions can be so strong we can be tempted to move without assessing our resources. ## **How can you know for certain that you can take on one more thing?** > ##### \[Tweet “Do you tend to add one task on top of another, then get overwhelmed and say “No” to everything?”\] I’ve been there, overwhelmed and under satisfied. When I decided that writing was a part of my life I wanted to pursue, the first thing that I knew I needed to do was make an assessment. Every hour of the day was at my disposal, in my bank account. I did not want to bankrupt my family or over burden myself, so I needed to see where those hours were going. Imagine if you were looking to buy a new car, and when you finalized your budget you found that you had the cash for a substantial payment. Would that change the kind of car you would buy? Would you move forward with a purchase with confidence? When you are questioning your schedule, finding free hours is like hitting the lottery. [![Daily-Schedule-778](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Daily-Schedule-778-232x300.png "Daily-Schedule-778 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](http://sagegrayson.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Sage-Grayson-2016-Daily-Planner.pdf) I used this page from Sage Grayson’s website. ([Check our her site for some awesome freebees](http://sagegrayson.com/editors-toolkit/)) These are a few things that budgeting my time did for me. When I parsed out every hour; 8 hours for sleeping, 2 hours of meal prep, devotional time, school hours, family time, personal care, I made a surprising discovery. I had 3 hours of unaccounted for time in my day. - Knowing I had those hours gave me permission to decide how I wanted to spend them. - Knowing I had hours to spare freed me from unreal expectations, guilt and pressures. I am a person with an overactive sense of obligation, but logging my core tasks gave me peace to work for 3 hours uninterrupted without guilt. - Knowing my window of opportunity helped me to not let the hours slip away. I was accountable for those 3 hours every day because I now knew they were there. **Are your hours just wasting away in your account?** Get out a piece of paper and write every hour of the day on the left hand side. Now start logging in your tasks for the day. Keep adding throughout the day so you don’t miss anything. Do it for a week if you have to, but create a budget for your time. If your budget is in the red, start slashing. What can you drop, sift or reorganize to gain the hours you need to take on your dream. If you can’t afford the muscle car you can begin with a scooter, but knowing gives you a place to start. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Create **Tags:** budgeting, goals, time, time management, write, Writing Life --- ### [Giving the gift of Tech Fearlessly this Christmas](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/giving-tech-fearlessly-this-christmas/) **Published:** November 21, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### How Do You Choose? Choosing the right tablet can seem daunting. There is no shortage of options for giving tech, but my first priority is for my kids to be safe online. [![Are you worried about how to keep your kids safe on the internet](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/515obbee9aL._SY300_.jpg "Get a Kindle Fire at a great price › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/515obbee9aL._SY300_.jpg)Are your kids ready for a device You can set them up for a safe and fun experience with Kindle FreeTime#### The technology is in place at a price we can all afford Right now [Kindle Fire](http://amzn.to/1QVPKnp), this powerful little tablet, is available from Amazon for $39, a price you can’t argue with. Even if you only use games as an incentive, you would be remiss to pass up getting in on this deal. On black Friday Amazon even sweetened the pot by throwing in a [FREE 6th](http://amzn.to/1NIBNUD) when you buy 5, and it seems like we never buy less than 5 of anything with a family of 10 kids. Still, it doesn’t Let me first tell you about our experience with these hard working devices. We first bought 6 Kindle Fires to run as a tablet device for placing orders at our restaurant. Our fancy little Motorola devices kept getting dropped and at $700 a piece they were killing us in service and repair. We bought [Griffin Survivor cases](http://amzn.to/1NICXzx) and put these Kindles into full time service for 2 years. We never had another broken device. If it can be broken we have one waitress that will put any device to the test and still the Fire with the Survivor case stood up to the wait staff test. We changed providers at the restaurant 2 years ago and they promised that their little device was smarter and harder working than the Kindle so I personally bought back the 6 Kindles from the restaurant and used them at home for a “get school over with” motivator. They have been running for just a bit over 5 years now and we have just experienced our first failure. We bought these when they were $99 and have seen an average use of 5 years. #### **What if I have a problem?** I had a personal [Kindle Fire](http://amzn.to/1QVPKnp) that lasted 2 years when the charge port stopped working. I called Amazon and they sent a new device 2 day air with a shipping label for my old device. As soon as my old device was processed, I was credited and there was no charge to myself. Service was above and beyond anything I expected. #### **How can I keep my my kids safe on a tablet?** The parental control called Kindle [FreeTime](http://amzn.to/1T66hEJ) make the Kindle a winner for me. I found it very easy to set up and easy to be diligent to maintain my passwords. I’m a password freak. My kids will not be exposed to something sick just because I did not want to get up and sign them in. If you have not needed to take a diligent and active role in internet safety now is the time my friend. Who else is going to protect and teach your kids how to be safe but you. Don’t leave tech teaching lessons up to the kids on the bus, or the librarian, this is your most vital role in this day and age. Kindle FreeTime gives you some great tech training wheels, so you can start off with help. #### **Some things that make me love giving tech: Kindle FreeTime** ***Free Time is Built for kids*** Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is delivered to your children within Amazon FreeTime, the best-in-class parental control suite included on Fire tablets, Kindle eReaders and on Fire TV. ***No surprises*** While in FreeTime, kids do not have access to social media or the internet, and they can’t make in-app purchases. ***Time limits*** Limiting your child’s screen time can be challenging without the proper tools. FreeTime lets parents set daily limits, or restrict certain categories – like games and video – while leaving unlimited time for reading. ***Learn First*** With Learn First, parents can block access to games and cartoons until after educational goals are met. Using Bedtime, parents can control when FreeTime shuts down for the day. ***Individual profiles*** Parents can create up to four individual child profiles, customize each child’s access to content from the parent’s library, and decide which FreeTime Unlimited titles will be viewable in each profile. It’s like giving each kid their very own, personalized tablet. Kids can’t exit FreeTime mode without a password. ***Child-safe Camera*** Kids can take pictures and edit them by adding stickers, drawings, and more. Parents can view photos and videos taken by their children in a separate photo gallery, and have the option to auto-save to Amazon Cloud Drive. #### How to stop the bed time battle You can add Amazon [FreeTime Unlimited](http://amzn.to/1T6ex7s) which is an add-on feature I am considering. We are Amazon Prime members as well as Netflix members and I am considering dropping Netflix in place of going to FreeTime Unlimited because is is so easy to schedule time on our Kindle devices. The kids get a warning that time is running out and then it simply shuts off. I don’t have to set a timer, find you in your hiding place or stalk anyone. It is not without great caution that I give my kids access to technology. I want to take the time to train our kids in self control, limitations and internet safety. If we don’t do it now, then I am missing an opportunity to help my kids prepare for life. I want them to get the most out of tools that are going to come into their hands soon enough. The nice part is that we can use these tools to help us and have some fun. Check out this bundled ready to go from start up version. [Kindle Fire Kids Edition](http://amzn.to/1NIBoS6) includes the Kindle Fire 7″ tablet, Kid safe case, one year FreeTime Unlimited and a two year warranty. Basically peace of mind in a box for $99. [![Keep your kids safe with Kindle FreeTime](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/71D2N8MGhHL._SL1000_-300x300.jpg "Kindle Fire with a 2 year warranty › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/71D2N8MGhHL._SL1000_.jpg)If you are looking to giving tech this Christmas I love the ease Kindle provides for keeping my kid safe#### Could a Kindle be the device for me too? On a side note, I loved my [Kindle Fire](http://amzn.to/1QVPKnp) as an adult device. I upgraded to an iPad because I thought it would be closer in experience to a lap top. In all honesty, the only difference is that the iPad syncs with my devices and uses a more complicated store. Amazon is easy to deal with and all of your purchases are available in your sidebar on your Amazon account. If you want to cancel a subscription, just click and it is done. #### Giving tech can be easy. The folks from Kindle have made it a one click and done option. Read more about our STEM tools and toys review [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/). You can find out what we are using in our homeschool to make gift giving and learning more fun. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** Christmas Gift Ideas, gifts, Internet Safety, Kids, Kindle Fire, Reader, Tablet, Tech, Technology Tools --- ### [Obstacles to Gratitude](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/obstacles-to-gratitude/) **Published:** November 25, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Do you want to increase the level of gratitude in your home, marriage and relationships? In the [previous post](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-terrible-cost-of-ingratitude/) we talked about the terrible cost of ingratitude and how it effects our lives. I asked readers to identify if they were living with the effects of ingratitude? Is it yourself that tends to respond negatively to circumstances? We asked the question, how can a person practice being grateful? #### Here are two ways to increase gratitude in your life. **Reduce Gratitudes Opposition.** Gratitude is a condition of the heart. I find when I am harboring unforgiveness, bitterness or wounded feelings, I slide into ingratitude. When I feel ignored, slighted, overwhelmed or unappreciated, I tend to live out of those feelings. Our heart is the filter which gratefulness first touches. All of these negative feelings create obstacles for gratitude to survive. The good news is; your heart is yours. You may choose with what you would like it full of. Practicing gratitude helps us to see where we need to work on our heart. If you have a deficit of gratitude there could be pain that is keeping you from being free to give kind and loving words to those you love. Don’t live there a second longer than you already have. Begin by journaling your feelings. Ask your self do these feeling match the situation or is there a larger underlying cause? Seek out the root of this pain. If this has been a long standing condition, it is time to call in help. I had a period two years ago where I was in so much emotional pain I needed to speak to someone. There is nothing wrong with needing perspective. There is power in speaking about your situation out loud to another person. Not a gripe session, but truth about your pain and fears. Pain and sorrow are destroyers of joy. Don’t lose another day, don’t let one more pass, where you are robbed of kind words for those you love because of the past. **Acknowledge Your Limitations.** I am a Mother. I am a wife. You may be a Father or a single woman, an executive or a dish washer, but we all have a unique place in this life. You can accomplish much. You can obtain accolades and power. You can change jobs and wives, but no matter what you obtain on the outside you will always be you looking back in the mirror at you. Look well and get to know who you truly are. Seek the truth about your heart, your ambitions, your dreams, and choose the things in life that bring you joy. I have big dreams and goals, and a family of 12. I choose gratitude when I recognize that those goals are going to come at a much slower pace then those of a single young woman. If I ignore my limitations I will cost myself joy. What you perceive is limiting you today, could be your greatest asset. The people in our life are a gift to us. They ALL show us where we need to grow. They all show us that we need to be dependable and flexible, that we need to be honest and brave. They reveal to us our need for growth, love and acceptance. Are you limited by lack of tools, skills, or education? Acknowledging your need, allows you to shift from a place of frustration to gratefulness. Begin to look for opportunities to grow in those areas. What are you frustrated about, take some time to ask yourself why? Is there a limitation you are exceeding, an area you need to build on or communication that needs to improve? What actions can you take today that can increase your gratitude? Paige Yelle has a great little Gratitude Journal on her [site](http://paigeyelle.com). They would make a great gift or you could stuff you stocking with one. [![gratitude-book-line-up](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/gratitude-book-line-up.jpg "gratitude-book-line-up › 200 Fingers & Toes")](http://paigeyelle.com) I hope you know that you are loved and accepted by a good and loving God, who wants the very best things for you. If all of your attempts at gratefulness have failed and you find that there is a place you can not fill, it might be your time to yield to the call of God on your heart? Getting to know God’s love for you is the single most direct path to increasing your gratitude and joy. Read the book of John in the Bible and start getting to know your story today. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Devotional, devotional life, gratitude, personal growth --- ### [Regarding Gratitude and Regrets](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/regarding-gratitude-and-regrets/) **Published:** November 29, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### We all had our Holiday events and I hope you had chance to practice gratitude and truly step back and love the people around you. **So the follow up question is, What would you change?** The best thing about Christmas being right around the corner from Thanksgiving is the fact that we can do some real action in our relationships. I had a hard phone call this Thanksgiving. A guest wanted to come over for dinner but there some very large unresolved issues with the company I had already invited. This member of the family wanted to reconnect. Holidays do that, they stir up the feelings that could otherwise lay dormant all year long. We all long to be a part of a bigger group, a family, a community. As I told my sweet caller, this is a great thing. Feeling isolation is the first step toward reconciliation. ### Did you feel a stirring to connect in your heart this Thanksgiving? **What do you do now?** You have this month to make some connections. Reach out and begin whatever repairs that need to be made. We are all human, we hurt people and we fall short of expectations constantly. Sometimes we royally screw up. We pick the wrong friends, we break hearts and we fall down, but the beauty of the human condition is our capacity to forgive, to learn, to grow up and apply what we have learned. Always be brave and do the right thing, even when the other person might not be in the right completely. Speak out of your heart and be honest. [![There is a sorrow that can drive us to greater things](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2cor7repentance-300x300.jpg "Regarding Gratitude › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2cor7repentance.jpg)Feeling isolation is the first step toward reconciliation The holidays can leave us feeling alone but we can build satisfying relationships**What if the people you wish to connect with aren’t emotionally available or are not in our lives any longer?** There are times that the person you find your self missing is so toxic that reconnecting is not safe or wise. It can leave us feeling isolated and rejected. I had this experience a few years ago. I found myself with one girlfriend after our church closed. In our rural community, members traveled about 40 miles for services and when the church closed it slowly became clear that our little family was breaking up. It was devastatingly sad. I was angry and hurt and lonesome. It took nearly 2 years for us to begin the search for a new church home, but the center of that search was the need for fellowship. I needed people. I needed community and support. Homeschooling ten kids and having a restaurant is very stressful at times and I needed people around us that could encourage us. I needed people that could just say they liked me and my kids, when I did not like us very well. I had to take action to do that. If you found over the holiday that you were alone and you did not like it, take responsibility for you and begin to looks for people that you would like to get to know. A local community church is a good place. A small group bible study can also be a great place to get to know a smaller group of people more intimately. **If you are lacking the deeper connections you desire, don’t wait for another holiday to pass you by.** Begin by reaching out to the people you love. Reach out to the people that love you, if you hurt them, make it right. If you need to work on your feelings find an emotionally healthy, trustworthy friend and ask them to be a sounding board for you. Be gut wrenchingly honest with yourself and the people around you. You will never feel deeply connected to others until you can be honest with and about yourself. > At the heart of gratitude is being honest and truthful, being open to love and vulnerable to feelings. I hope that you find yourself braver than you ever have been before, because you are deeply loved and highly valued and are worthy of deep and satisfying relationships. \[Tweet “Have you repaired a severed relationship in the past? Are you thankful that you did?”\] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** appreciation, gratitude, reconciliation, Thankfulness --- ### [The Antidote for an Addiction to Praise](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-antidote-for-an-addiction-to-praise/) **Published:** January 13, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I am a writer, I like being heard. Most people do. As a writer and a long time people pleaser, I love when people say “good job” or tell me an article was inspiring. If we are honest we all want to be great at what we do. It’s the end goal for most of us. No one’s heart desire it to be mediocre. We are taught to crave praise, first as young children in grade school. We feed off praise for as long as we can keep it coming. For some of us that falls off rapidly in middle school, where there is not enough praise in the world to get you through Algebra 2. But if you find a niche, a place to excel in a talent or skill, you might put this transition into obscurity off until later. We all eventually come to a place where we are challenged by that big wall of rejection, and have to decide do I grow or quit. The first few days in college at a graphic design school were a rude awakening for most of my class. At our individual high schools we were outstanding students. Our art and creativity was nurtured, our ideas were to be explored. For most of us, our art teacher loved us. Then, we are thrust into a class with 80 other most favored, well praised peers. We went, in one day, from outstanding to common. The level of talent in the room was astonishing and the top students that had once been unchallenged were left shaken. I was shaken. I questioned my talent, if it existed at all. Next to some of the amazing pieces my fellow students brought in to showcase their portfolios, my work was a child’s scribbling. I had to dig deep to find that place where I trusted myself and to rise to the challenge. What we wanted to obtain was going to require us to humble ourselves to the point that we were willing to be taught everything about art all over again with new eyes. For another example of how the need for praise can stunt our growth read 2 Samuel 16. Ahithophel counsels Absalom concerning the rebellion against his father. Absalom listened to Ahithophel readily. The verse emphasizes, “Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed by both David and by Absalom.” [![How well do you respond to criticism? You might be allowing praise to frame your view of your self. Read about the unseen danger of craving praise.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/great-job-note-shows-praise-or-approval_My5zbBvd-as-Smart-Object-1-816x1024.jpg "Great Job Note Shows Praise Or Approval › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-antidote-for-an-addiction-to-praise/great-job-note-shows-praise-or-approval/#main)Can an addiction to praise be keeping you from doing great thingsOne can get used to that kind of respect and authority. It can become addicting, creating a hunger for praise. Humility is difficult to maintain in such a culture. If we are not careful we will begin to seek out places where we can readily get more. Praise itself is not the problem, the desire for more, coveting the honors more than being diligent to work in a manor worthy of praise. In 2 Samuel 17:23, we read the tragic end that comes to Ahithophel. Everyone has praised and obeyed his every word, but in one instance, his counsel is rejected, his advice cast aside. He has fallen out of favor. Because Absalom chooses to listen to the counsel of another, Ahithophel puts his affairs in order and promptly hangs himself. This example seems extreme, but how often do we see this in the lives of others or even in our own. We get a response that we find hurtful and we retaliate by cutting off the relationship, a form of death. Of the original eighty students in my class, twenty did not finish to their graduation. I personally know there were a few classmates that could not accept the transition from top of the class to bottom. The blow was too much and their pride kept them from seeing all they could have learned. Humility is a cloak God calls us to cover ourselves in often. Humility, is the act of seeing ourselves for who we truly are. It allows us to accept that we have strengths and a keen awareness of our weaknesses. We can see our need to grow, change, and yield, best when we see ourselves through the lens of humility. It keeps us from creating a false vision of ourselves. When we walk in humility there is a change in our focal point, I am no longer central. If when you look back on your walk of life, do you see many broken and discarded relationships? Is there a trail of little deaths, where challenges arose? Are you the common factor at the “scene of the crimes?” Making praise an indicator of our personal value can cause us to create harmful relationships. Praise is so good to receive, but in life there are times when it comes infrequently. Humility is seeing our value in every circumstance and knowing that praise does not add to us, nor does criticism take away. I encourage you to accept honest criticism and value relationships with people that challenge you to step up higher in life. Don’t know where to start? I love Dale Partridge’s blog “[The Daily Positive](http://dalepartridge.com).” I listen to his podcast every morning and always am challenged to step up a notch in my goals in life and work. Don’t make the mistake of Ahithophel and get so used to praise that you are not ready to be challenged. Accepting it might just end up being the very best thing you’ve ever done. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** 2 Samuel 16, Change, devotional life, Humility, personal growth, Praise, Pride, Relationships, Writing Life --- ### [Talk to the head, talking about conflict](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/what-can-a-bible-times-fugitive-teach-us-about-addressing-conflict/) **Published:** January 14, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Often when we are faced with conflict, how we respond can effect our lives forever. Do you hope that if you let things die down, things can be sorted out later. I can attest to living by that very idea. But in reality the best time to resolve conflict is in the immediate. Can you count on one hand right now five situations that you wished you had addressed right away but feel like it is too late. Do you see the need to change the way you deal with conflict. I encourage you to read the book of 2 Samuel and see the toll conflict took on the Kingship of David. Time and again trouble arose but King David did not address the source. We read an example in 2 Samuel 20. There is a great truth in this story because the wise woman, the main character tells us. She says, “There is a saying in ancient times, Go to Abel for the truth in a matter.” We can learn a great deal about how wisdom deals with a problem that is about to get out of hand. Abel was a city that was harboring a fugitive in the time of King David. The rebellion of Absalom was just put to rest and now Sheba has taken men and called them to follow himself against the King as well. Joab, the captain of David’s army, in pursuit to the city, is called to the wall by a wise woman of the city of Abel. Joab tell her of the fugitive hiding in her city, and its promised destruction if he is not surrendered. Being wise she promises to solve the problem without delay, and she delivers, sending the head of the offender over the wall, post haste. Don’t miss the point here. What seem brutal is actually a parallel the counter to David’s responses in every relationship conflict in his kingdom. We can look all the way back from Bathsheba to Amnon and see there was a serial habit of not dealing with the head of conflict. In the case of Bathsheba, delayed repentance and lack of surrender to consequences led to murder and death. When Amnon raped his sister, David did not respond with a swift and immediate punishment. Failure to deal with the situation sealed rebellion in the heart of Tamar’s brother Absalom, who murdered Amnon in front of all of his brothers. This account in 2 Samuel is also a parable to us. How are we going to deal with conflict. Will we destroy wise counsel as Joab intended by tearing down the city of Abel for one man, or are we going to deal head on with individual conflicts with wisdom and counsel. Minimizing casualties was the wise woman’s concern and it should be our concern today as well. How many times have I snapped at my kids, when a conflict in my head was about a totally separate situation. There are always casualties in conflict, but if we choose to be wise with our words and be direct with the truth in love, we can heal and grow stronger relationships without causing pain to others. I challenge you to think about the way you handle conflict. Are you direct? Are you loving? Have you let situations get out of control because of lack of response from yourself. Let us seek God’s wisdom in how to handle a small situation today and trust him with the outcome. We might not always like conflict and it might be painful, but you can not grow without walking in truth in your relationships. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** 2 Samuel, bible study, conflict, Devotional, devotional life, Friendship, personal growth, Relationships, wisdom --- ### [You Can't Have It All...but you can have the best life for you.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/you-cant-have-it-all-but-you-can-have-the-best-life-for-you/) **Published:** January 24, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Your best life is the one you create with intentions, not the one your are forced into because of circumstances. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* As a young girl I was taught by women that fought hard for a place in the workforce. The euphoria of the win was fresh in the crosshairs of their success and they wanted us girls to know that we could live out big dreams. We could be everything we every dreamed of. It was possible. They were before us, doing it. The smiles they wore promised nothing could stop us. Motherhood was the elephant in the room, we knew that what was not being said was that it was the one thing threatening to complicate life and keep us from achieving our greatness. Let someone else do the Mothering and you chase your goals. That was the mind set I heard all around me. Mothering was as close to a lowly state of oppression there could be without outrightly criminalizing it. Even in college, I have read no less than eight pieces by Gloria Steinem, the champion of feminism. I was in school for graphic design, not women studies, but the message was no less clear. Make your own way and don’t let children get in between you and your goals. Don’t even have children if you can avoid it is a growing theme today. But this tug in my heart kept telling me I knew being a Mother was going to be a part of my life. No one was addressing the reality of working and chasing your drams even as you became a Mother. I talked it over with my female classmates and almost none of them had plans that included parenthood. I could not help but think that if Mothering is going to happen, in some cases even in spite of women’s best laid plans, why not make a plan that included being a Mother from the beginning. ### **A more clear reality is, you can never truly have it all. Having it all is not the same as having the best. We have to choose the very best parts of life.** Everyone is making choices and cuts to stay in whatever industry they are in. Does Mothering have to end up on the cutting room floor if we are making a film about success? I don’t think that it has to. You can Mother and be a success in your field, if you make a plan in advance. I wish there were more teachers that told women up front, you might not be able to have everything they are promising. I want you to choose to have the “best life” for you. What does the “best life” look like for you. That is the thing to determine. My hope for my daughters and for the young women I know, that they can see Mothering as a calling and vocation, just as worthy of planning as being a designer or a surgeon. Even more I encourage them to hone their hopes and dreams into skills that they can use to add to their household while being a Mother. Through computers and online retail, there are so many more opportunities to accomplish your professional goals while at home raising your children. I know the sentiment of dreaming about Motherhood is unpopular and seems backwards, but I have counseled countless couples that had a five year plan. Debt reduction and extended education were on their paper but the baby that came a year after the Honey Moon was not. Some had heavy goals in business and the medical field with large student loan debt to match it. My one girlfriend friend hated handing over her newborn baby every morning to daycare provider but, the school loans were lingering that were not going to go away. They simply could not be paid if she stayed home. I think children deserve the first 5 years of their lives to be spent with the person that most values their precious life and wants to pour every ounce of love into them as possible. That is our role as parents. Our dreams come at a cost; high education debt, long hours, travel, conflicts with children’s school and summer breaks, child care costs. I am not saying that women should not work in demanding fields, what I am advocating is that our daughters deserve a heads-up, a warning that they can be whatever they want but they could choose to do it in a way that allows them to also be the Mother their children need too. ### **I blog about chasing your dreams while chasing your kids.** If you believed you could have it all, and then had children and realized that raising them is what you really wanted, you are not alone. Many of my girlfriends are trying to reconcile all that they were taught in school with the life they are now living. They are Mothering and thriving. There are ways to do both. I was blessed that I had the foresight to know that I wanted to be a mother as my number one job. I wanted a big family all of my life. I knew I wanted to be able to stay at home with my kids. I was married by the time I was eighteen so if I wanted to go to college, it was my responsibility. I worked for a year and saved. When I went to school for graphic design at the community college, I paid tuition up front and got my education for a fraction of the cost. I have been able to work from home and be a partner to my husband in our restaurant business saving us design fees, printing and production costs. We’ve always kept our debt small and lived on what everyone would say is far too little. We do not have it all. But for us, we had our very best life. > \[Tweet “Your best life is created with intention, not the one you’re forced into because of circumstance”\] You do not have to give up your goals and desires. If you are Mothering now and you are feeling the desire to do more, I understand. There is a part of your brain that wants a job that you can finish. For me writing is a goal that has a set beginning and end. I can assess what I have done in the morning, make changes and put it away. I will have to wait eighteen years to know how well I did as a Mother. As your children become more independent there is a hunger to stretch our brains and be challenged in new ways. What do you love to do? What things excite you, or make you cry out of happiness? These are great places to explore. I have always loved to write. I joined NaNoWritMo two years ago and wrote a novel. It was just waiting in there. I just finally made time to let my gifts be used. Do you have a undervalued talent like drawing, singing, baking, design, photography or a degree in something you love that is gathering dust. The question is how can you incorporate practicing these a part of you into your everyday life? You might just need a push like I did. I was writing and journaling every day, but writing that novel made it seem like something more than just a silly habit. I realized I am a writer. What is hiding out inside of you? ### What does this look like in your life? **1. Take a mental assessment of skills and pick the one you want to sharpen.** Start asking yourself what would you like to do more of. What dreams have you put on the shelf? Mothering is all consuming for a time but there is so much more to you as a woman. I would love to see a swell of loving Mothers taking time to do the things that they love for a few hours every week. Exploring new talents and continuously growing. Isn’t that what we hope for our children? **2. Set a time that you want to work on your skill and stick to it.** I wanted to write, more, often and well, so even though I hate mornings and have never gotten up early in my life. Now I get up at 5:30 almost every morning so I can chase my writing goals before the kids get up. I set a hard cut off time for 10am. The older kids help with breakfast and I get at least 3 hours of writing time every week day. If i was more disciplined or have a big project there are 20 hours to be had without the kids losing any of my time. **3. Invest in a way to keep you on track** What if you scheduled one evening to go to the library and take a class online. Join a challenge group and doodle every day for a month. Take a photography class and start to play with pictures. Journal every day and see what comes up out to your heart. [SkillShare](http://skl.sh/1NQDP5M) and [Craftsy](http://www.craftsy.com/all/references?_ct=rbew&_ctp=also-menu) are great places to take a free classes to get started. Tell someone what you are working on. Better yet encourage a friend to join you and check in with each other regularly. You are an amazing beautiful Mother with so many giftings inside of you. My greatest desire is not to see you have it all, but to help you have the very best. I am trying to work on my letter art in my night time idle minutes. What is one skill you would like to commit to try or learn more about? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Growing Up --- ### [Banking the Coals for a Fire in Your Prayer Life](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/banking-the-coals-for-a-fire-in-your-prayer-life/) **Published:** January 30, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I have a great group of ladies in my life. I recommend every woman get a small group of spiritually powerful women to encourage and inspire them. We are all so different. We have different goals and life backdrops going on but when we all show up at the same time on a given Friday morning to pray and share our hearts, I feel like it is something out of a scene from an Avengers movie. ![the_avengers_eating_shawarma__gif__by_marianagmt-d59ygxp.gif](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/the_avengers_eating_shawarma__gif__by_marianagmt-d59ygxp.gif "the_avengers_eating_shawarma__gif__by_marianagmt-d59ygxp › 200 Fingers & Toes") There is a lot of power at that table. I’m not sure what God has in store for us but I am sure that it is big. This week we were talking about prayer. Not my favorite subject. In fact, I put the book for our most current study off because, I have a lousy prayer life. My prayers sound like, “God, go do your thing, because I have no idea. Amen.” This might not be the most effectual way to pray, so I am glad that we are reading Priscilla Shirer’s *Fervent.* We are just beginning but already God is waking me up with prayers at 2am. Which, right now I find annoying, but only because I have been getting up early with my hubby. I know that this is an area that God wants me to grow so I am digging in. During our study, the first question was, “Have you lost your passion?” It took us the rest of our allotted time to get back around to the book, but we shared a lot along the way. We talked about passion and what that term really means. Some of us are in places of passion right now. Fervently scrambling to get every spare hour to work on what God has set before us. It seems so big it eclipses everything else. Some of us are in a latent phase, resting, waiting for further instructions and the birth of what God has placed on our hearts. A few of us are nursing the work God birthed in us. Trusting Him to sustain us along the way. The question arrises, which of us has this passion? My wise friend weighed about passion. She has a tricky-clicky wood stove. She has learned the value of keeping it banked up all winter long. Sometimes, as it happens on odd winter days, it is unusually warm and she has been tempted to spare the woodpile. Through trial and error she has learned that if she neglects to feed the fire all day, she will spend the evening in her upstairs bedroom freezing cold. No matter how bright the day the fire needs fed, all winter long. She has learned to listen to the sounds of the stove. It will let her know when she needs to tend to it. It hisses if it needs more water for the boiler, and she knows the ticking sound of a fire winding down. If she simply pays attention, the stove tells her everything she needs to know about the fire. If she ignores it, she gets cold. The same can be said for our passion in life. Passion is not gauged by how bright a fire can burn, a fire burning too hot can warp the stove and make it less effective. Passion is the steadily banked flame that erupts at the moment that it is needed. Passion is the stove well tended. It gives warmth to the furthest reaches of the house. Our passion should be well nurtured in every stage. When life’s days run warm and there seems little need for our fervor, we bank the flames of our passion and wait for the right time to fan the flame. We never let the fire in our heart go out until it has served its purpose. Our passions wane and our interest might rise and fall but the Lord is steadfast in His purpose for us and He will sustain the work He has chosen if we will but listen. Our task is to grow familiar with the ticks and groaning. To know when to push and when to wait is the challenge, but God is faithful to lead us into our passion at the exact moment that He has purposed from the very beginning. I am glad to know that He is faithful to lead me. He is faithful to bring about my passion as well as my peace. ![FullSizeRender 2.jpg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FullSizeRender-2.jpg "FullSizeRender 2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") I am looking forward to Phase 2 of *Fervent* as we read the next chapter and share what the Lord is teaching us. > Passion is the stove well tended. It gives warmth to the furthest reaches of the house. Have you read *Fervent? W*hat lasting take away did you receive? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, Devotional, fire, Friendship, passion, personal growth, prayer --- ### [The Measure of the Belt of Truth ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-measure-of-the-belt-of-truth/) **Published:** February 2, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If there is one item in my wardrobe that never lies, it’s my belt. My jeans will stretch and shrink. I once washed a pair of well worn jeans, held them up to my body, and was like, who’s pants are these. I’ve stretched and pulled on a shirt, obviously left in the dryer for too long, and improved it’s fit considerably. Try that with you belt. Your belt will never lie. You know what hole is yours and you know when you start using a new one. You can call a taco a salad in your food journal. You can even convince yourself that you are drinking less sodas than you were before. It doesn’t matter because your belt will call your bluff every time. In Ephesians we are called to put on the full armor of God. The belt of truth might hold all of your armor together but a belt also reveals the exact measure of ourselves. We must measure up to who the gospel calls us to be. There is no poking a new hole in the belt of truth. We have to stay in a condition of spiritual fitness at all times. Fervent is a great descriptive. To be fervent about your spiritual walk, your prayer life, and your passion is to be constantly exercising your spiritual tools and then measuring yourself against God’s word, the Christian’s belt of truth, to see where it is pinching and where it has gaps. We can grow fat with pride and we can shrink back and lose our spiritual girth. Measuring ourselves against the belt of truth will always reveal those places to us. If we respond to correction we can continue this spiritual battle in the healthiest shape of our lives. How do you respond when you don’t measure up to God’s truth? This is your opportunity to go to God in prayer and ask him to reveal to you His truth and help you to grow in His words. In the end we know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) but through Christ we are able to serve God as he has called us to. I encourage you to read Ephesians 6 and discover the tools and equipment that God has given you to live out His calling with fervency and success. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** belt of truth, Devotional, Ephesians, Fervent, prayer --- ### [To Be Clothed in Truth, We Need a Better Stylist](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/you-will-look-your-best-when-you-have-a-great-advisor/) **Published:** February 7, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** The Holy Spirit helps us by keeping us from wearing an identity that does not belong to us because He knows exactly who God created us to be. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This week we were reading Strategy 2 in ***Fervent*** by Prascilla Shirer. There was a portion covering Ephesians 6 and the putting on of our spiritual armor. Last week I wrote about how the [belt of truth](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-measure-of-the-belt-of-truth/) never lies to us about who we are in the eyes of God and I wrote about how to keep our [Spiritual passion banked up](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/banking-the-coals-for-a-fire-in-your-prayer-life/) so we are always ready for fervent and strategic prayer. Today I want to tell you about identity with a story about my little sister. My sister likes dressing with style, even after she has had two children. She is one of those people that knows how a scarf works and does not choose shoes according to their utilitarian virtues. I just finished the blush I have had since the sixth grade and I wore red converse to a publishers meeting. I need her in my life. If you really need to know the truth about a dress, she is the one we ask. If any of us have an event this is the sister we bring into the dressing rooms. Her judgement is swift and unsentimental. Don’t get me wrong, she is sweet and ever so very polite. She will hold her tongue and serve you coffee with a smile no matter what you are wearing. She understands the value of a worn pair of yoga pants, but in the dressing room, if you invite her in she will whittle down your pile to just what’s best for you. Go ahead and try on that dress. She will tell you if it’s the wrong cut. Hold that sweater up to your face and she might tell you to try another color. She is a proactive dresser. She will bring in a pile of pretty things right to you, so you can pick out of what you know is going to be right for you. You will find that the selections match you perfectly. When I put them on, I look like the best version of me possible. She knows what I like so well that I always look authentically like myself. In the same way the Holy Spirit helps us by keeping us from wearing an identity that does not belong to us. He shares the mind of God and knows exactly what God created us to become. It reminds me of that lady at the mall with the color wheel offering to help you know your best color, except the Spirit is always perfect in His assessment of what’s most suited for you. If we have given the Spirit permission to speak to our hearts, we have invited Him into the dressing room of our soul. If we trust in God, we can hold up those things that we question and get an honest answer. He will urge us to discard poorly fitting and worn attitudes. He will always bring us good things to put on. It is up to us to put on the truths that remain after our heart has been purged. It is our job to wrestle into them and make them part of our identity. I bought swimsuit last summer. It makes me think of some of the articles in that little dressing room in my soul. There are a few things that he Holy Spirit wants me to put on that just don’t fit. That swim suit I bought pinches and rubs me wrong, just like some of the things the spirit wants me to put on, like love. It is going to take some serious working out to make those commandments fit me well. For now I am squeezing into love and grace and faith. I am squeezing in and letting myself be uncomfortable for a bit. The last thing I want to do is leave gifts the Holy Spirit has given me behind in the dressing room. There are some things that are worth working hard to make them fit. May your heart be Fervent to be dressed in Christ. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, Devotional, Fervent, Holy Spirit, personal growth, prayer, Priscila Shirer --- ### [Making Memorials | Taking Time to Reflect](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-reasons-we-are-called-to-remember/) **Published:** February 10, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Remembering is a vital part of of our daily walk with Christ. You are more today than you were years ago in the past. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ***Remembering is an integral process in our walk of faith. It helps us recall the victories. I strengthens our love for God and it reveals God’s sustaining hand over our lives.*** We bring deeper joy to our lives when we revisit those things we’ve gone through. It is then that we can recognizing our survival rate is 100%. Let me say that again, you have survived 100% of what the enemy has thrown at you. **2 Samuel 22** We read about the last act of the life of David. In his last writings he memorializes all of his adventures, defeats and wins. He recalls all of God’s sustaining promises that held him throughout his lifetime. He testifies about all of his life’s duties and the joys and sorrows that came with each. In hindsight can we can see the true story of God’s faithfulness and provision over the life of David. **It is in recollecting that we recognize the victories that God has brought us through in our lives.** I like the vision that word brings me, recollecting. I picture myself bending and picking up scattered stones, turning them to see if there is still beauty in them, then tucking them back in my shoe box of treasures. When we’re feeling especially nostalgic my husband and I will sit around and talk about the past. We talk about the people that have come across our path and how we’ve interacted with them. We remember the lean years, and the crazy beginning we had. We think of faces and friends. We remember how we helped some of them by standing by their side in hard times. Sometimes we offered them our couch, a shoulder or a listening ear. Every time we do this we are not prideful about our actions, instead, every time we talk about those things that God led us through, it is our faith that is strengthened. We see more clearly in hindsight and can credit God’s endless faithfulness with leading and guiding us. We see His care in every detail that He ordered. We recognize where He loaned us strength. He alone acted as our sustainer. ***Remembering creates a stronger bond of love.*** In the looking behind we see God’s faithful acts He continually guides us. He strengthens our love for Him by every encounter we have along the way. When we recall and recount those moments, our hearts are stirred toward God. The same action happens when my husband and I talk about our early life and courtship. The more we talk about our shared experiences and treasured memories the more tender love we feel for one another. Our love was forged in those treasured moments. As we recollect all of the things that brought us into relationship it strengthens the bonds that sustain us in the hard times. Even now, in the troubling hours and long stretches in between success and good news our past joys and triumphs sustain us. **Remembering helps us to see God’s sustaining hand in our lives.** If there is one thing God encourages in his word it is remembering. The Israelites constantly were commanded to leave pillars of rocks behind them for the sake of remembering. God established festivals and events. Strung through the calendar months, held from year to year were remembering celebrations. They were instructed to pick up and examine the individual events of the past and keep them constantly before them. The Hebrew children could not forget the things that they had been through and the successes that they had obtained through the Lord. God does not want you to forget the battles that you have fought hard and long for. Are your victories cast aside and forgotten? This is why remembering is a vital part of of our daily walk with Christ. It helps us see that we have grown in Christ and though we are not as perfect as we hope to be we are closer to God than we were a few years ago. Establish the habit of remembering. This week take a few minutes of your morning time to spend in remembering the good things that you have done for the people around you. See that you are a vital part of God’s plan. If you have a prayer journal read through it and remember the prayers God has answered for you in the past. Let me know what your favorite triumph God led you through is. You might even write out your psalm of victory like David did in 2 Samuel 22. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** 2 Samuel, David, Memorials, Remembering, Testimony --- ### [The ONE conference wrap up](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/one-conference-wrap/) **Published:** April 4, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I had a great weekend at the ONE conference hosted by 1229 Ministry in Des Moines, Iowa. Nancy Guthrie shared several great messages over the weekend. Her words coupled with great worship with The Museum has me refreshed and renewed. I was glad to spend some time reviewing the message with these great discussion questions provided by 1229 Ministry. I am posting them here in hopes that anyone who went will share their thoughts as well. I am glad to see God doing big things with women here in my hometown. # What external forces are shaping your internal dialogue? Expectation, reputation, what people think about me. I often wonder what strangers think about me before I have a chance to tell my mind to shut up. It amazes me how easily the external creeps in on me. The external, the temporary, the “shoulds”. I hesitate, when I should speak out. I speak, when I should let silence continue. Everyone runs me in different directions somedays. But only for a moments. Because, I am not the same. Jesus is moving in me, creating space for me to grow, live and breathe freely. I’ve been growing in this cocoon of divine protection. Deep in my heart God has been doing a work. A deep eternal work, within me. Like the butterfly, every part of me had been softened, liquified, broken down to the most base parts, and then rebuilt around a whole new structure. God speaks constantly. Clearly. In every circumstance. I listen more and more every day. I am not very externally motivated. My pressure comes from myself. I desire to please all the wrong people for all the wrong reasons. I fail to bring glory to God. But still He is changing me. His voice is shaping my internal dialogue. # When Nancy talks about what captivates you, what comes to mind? I am captivated by a good story. God constantly captures me with tales and parables every time I open the word. He speaks in visions and deposits wisdoms that are not my own. That God sees fit to whisper in my ear, of the mysteries of this world, captivates me. That the God of the universe loves when I laugh, captivates me. He hides treasures for me every day. On great days, I identify that all of this is from Him. On good days, I thank Him. On bad days, I blame Him. But the constant thing in all of this is how He has captivated me. I never forget Him. God has proved Himself strong over my life for so long and has remained true to Himself. Great, good or bad; all the days are now His and not my own. He has captivated me. # How difficult or easy do you think it is to change what captivates you? I appreciate my child like side more and more all of the time. I am easily filled with wonder. The down side is that I am also easily distracted by small, shiny objects and birds. Life distracts me. Bills distract be. Naughty children distract me. Momentarily. These same things drive me back to my savior as well. I change my interests and hobbies constantly, but my love is fierce and steadfast because it has been earned so doggedly. # When you hear the phrase “offer your body as a living sacrifice”, what does this make you think about? How do you personally think you could obey this command? There is a cartoon we once had, about the life of Noah. I was not a childish show but thoughtful and deep. At one point Noah is describing to his sons what obedience looks like. He tells Shem to question God. Shem answers back in shocked tones, “Question God?” “Why, yes. Question, shout, cry, but when the answer is clear, Obey!” So they continue the work, but Noah says two words as a closing to their conversation, almost as a mumble to himself, “drink offering.” The scene ends and the Bible story continues but the words have hung there, in my minds-eye for 16 years. Obeying is being poured out. To the point of empty. Only the failing jar of flour was miraculously filled. Only the oil that was poured out, filled jar after jar. The water in the jugs, would have remained only water, if no one had dipped out the first sip of wine. ## Pouring myself out is hard on days when I want to reserve the best of me my own will. I don’t want to be an offering, when every child has a long story to tell and I have work to do. I don’t want to be an offering when there is house work to be done and I think my task list as valid as my husbands. I don’t want to be a living sacrifice. But, I want to be a sweet smelling aroma to my Lord. Read about how God reacts to an offering. I want to cause God to delight, to turn away wrath, to bless. So I crawl up and submit myself to be consumed. I pour out as a drink offering. I dip down into places where I am sure I have nothing to offer and I come up with good wine. I give little cakes all day, and never, does my supply fail. I submit to be burnt and find I’ve been refined. And in that I praise Him. # What is one thing that has stuck out to you this weekend as you have listened to Nancy and worshiped under The Museum? What do you think God might be trying to teach you through this? ### I am a worshiper. There is a moment in worship where everybody falls away. I don’t care what people think, I don’t care what I look like. I am just at the feet of the maker of all creation and He hears my voice. He knows me and is pleased with me. I can feel His great love for me in worship time. No matter my trials, if I surrender and step out to worship He never rejects my praise and I leave restored. I have a true relationship with God that can not be shaken, instead, it has been forged by circumstances. Depth is often hard come-by. There is no cheap side road short cut to dependence on God. Praise Him for your trials, because nearness to God is the crown you will obtain. There is nothing sweeter in all of this life than to be His own. ### “I am yours and you are mine” ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Tadpole Season, Watch out for Cannibals](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tadpole-season-watch-out-for-cannibals/) **Published:** June 15, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** What kind of Christian are you? Are you a nurturer and protector, or a cannibal of your fellow man, and fellow followers in Christ? **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* This is the time of year that the bullfrogs make their glorious resurgence. Their noise fills the crisp morning air and accompanies the lightning bugs in the evening time. Around this time, tadpoles fill up every deep puddle along the country roads. Before I paint too “Twain” a picture, of the quaintness of it all, let me tell you what I learned during tadpole season a few years ago. My kids had the great idea to to bring home a bucket of tadpoles and put them in the little wading pool. Their hope was to watch them to grow into frogs, hopefully before some predator came along and ate them. I learned a few things during that season of tadpoles. Bullfrog tadpoles of are nothing like the cute little things you might be imagining. They are huge, fast, super gross snot balls. They are more disgusting if they are in a pool you used to like to use. We discovered that tadpoles can become carnivorous, they actually can become cannibals. We unknowingly flipped some instinctive, natural trigger when we dumped them, unwittingly, into close quarters. In the bumping and stress, some of those little blobs developed a hard beak-like mouth and began to attack and devour their brothers and sisters. The interesting part was, you could’t tell by looking at them. You couldn’t guess which ones were going to turn out to be destroyers of their brethren. They all started out like all the rest, but soon they started picking on the weak, and the sick. Nibbling at them. Leaving a trail of weak and destroyed pollywogs around them. Those that survived the attacks never lived to thrive like they should. I don’t know why those tadpoles were like that, except it gives me a great analogy about how some people behave when they become hard to the trials and weaknesses of humanity. As I edit this post, I can not help but be humbled by the timing in light of world events. The hopelessness of this world seems to be pressing in on me. You too? Perhaps you’ve seen or experienced this as a young Christian or perhaps you’ve seen this in yourself at times, when thrown in fray. Maybe you have felt defensive in a situation with the person who has not yet discovered the truth of God’s word. The question is will you grow hard and seek to defend and destroy. Will you also tear apart those that are weaker than you or will you protect nurture and strengthen. Will you help people who are weak or firmly oppose those that could be called to grow alongside you? In today’s culture we are challenged constantly with opposition. Our character shines when we respond like Christ in our words and in our motives, but mostly essential in our actions. What kind of Christian are you? Are you a nurturer and protector, or a cannibal of your fellow man, and fellow followers in Christ? We are called to be reconcilers and a witness to the testimony of Christ and in doing so we allow the light of God to shine in a darkened world. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** encouragers, faith, helpers, hope, love, personal growth --- ### [Breaking the Surface,the 3rd Wave of Motherhood](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/breaking-the-surfacethe-3rd-wave-of-motherhood/) **Published:** June 27, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Have you ever felt like you were just holding your breath, waiting to beat out the clock? Motherhood has hit me in many waves. We race. We hold our breath, but eventually we break the surface and swim our own channels. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have you ever felt like you were holding your breath, waiting to beat the clock? Are you wondering when life starts to look a little more like you thought it was going to be. Mothering has come in waves over the years, each one washing away the last and making me a new and stronger version of myself. When I was little I was obsessed with holding my breath underwater. I read an article in the my Jaques Cousteau Encyclopedia about pearl divers and decided I would grow up to be one. Needless to say, I spent a great deal of time at the bottom of the pool holding my nose and counting. Two things I know about holding your breath on the pool floor; there is immense pressure, you can feel it in your ears, and if hold your breath for a long time everything falls away until all you can hear is the whoosh-whoosh of the pool filter and the pumping of your blood in your ears. For years I held my breath everywhere, but I never could break my pool time. I think it’s because in the pool, I had total concentration on one goal, keeping my air in and my heart beat slow. That was the past 10 years, with lots of littles in the house. There was always a bit of pressure and my ears were certainly full. I did a lot of being still, staying home. I did try keeping my heart rate down and all. It was a time of sacrifice and patience. I learned to innovate and to lean on God and trust Him to meet my needs. This year I broke the water’s surface in life, just like I did when I was a kid holding my breath in the neighborhood pool. I came up panting, my lungs burning, thirsty for fresh air, but the sky looks clearer than I have ever noticed before. There are years that you swim hard for the prize. For years you worked long crazy hours. Years you paid down the mortgage or incurred huge chunks of debt by getting a degree you needed. Swimming till every fiber burned with the effort. There are the years that you hold your breath and wait until you think your lungs are going to burst. Raising littles, caring for parents, building your own business, counting, holding, waiting for bed time. The whoosh-whoosh of little hearts was my comfort during these years. Babies napping on your chest. Please just tell the laundry to wait. I’ve been swimming hard and then holding my breath for the last 20 years. Thrashing though uncharted waters and alternately counting the time and keeping my heart rate slow. Our first home, two moves, two restaurants, 10 kids all home for school. One, two, three, just get through the day, breathe in gulps. To say it has been a whirl-wind is an understatement. We’ve been running toward huge goals that required total focus. We paid off our business and our mortgage with very little income and far less breathing room for extras, like tires and shoes. Read about my boots [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/preparing-your-heart-for-gratitudepreparing-your-heart-for-gratitude/). I’ve been raising littles which makes you hold your breath and be still more than you ever thought possible. (more about days with littles [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/when-events-with-kids-are-not-fun/)) but suddenly I’ve broken through the surface of water. It is new and I’m not sure where I am going but I’ve learned to trust God and my instincts over the last 20 years. **If you are swimming hard, press on.** There will be a day when you get to let up and enjoy the prize. I hope you have plenty of people to encourage you along the way. I know I needed lots of pep talks and hugs during the hard years. God and I had many chats over chocolates in my closet. ![swim2-181-1843.jpg](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/swim2-181-1843.jpg?w=12096 "swimmer › 200 Fingers & Toes") **Are you holding your breath, waiting.** You are building endurance, trust and a quietness that will serve you well, when you feel the tug to become overwhelmed again. Enjoy the opportunity to slow down and really see the world around you. I loved the excuse to blow off chores because the littles needed to go outside and run. The dishes can wait, trust me. Follow your children’s lead more often than you want to, it will lead you to great experiences. **Are you breaking through?** There is this new place in life where we have a little more control, room to make plans and [set goals](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/how-can-your-budget-help-chase-your-dreams/). This is the time we’ve been training for. The frantic race and the quiet depths collide to give us the opportunity to make our own stride. I hope you find the sky clearer and the company enchanting. Don’t get me wrong, I still fight every day for the time to write. Every post is dotted with 1000 interruptions, but I am doing something new. Something I really want to do. The past was training that gave me deeper lungs and the fierce endurance I have now. I am ready for this new thing, wherever it leads me. What is it that thrills you? What is it that you want to explore, test, try, see? I would love to hear from you. Which season are you in right now? Where do you need encouraged the most? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** Change, hope, mothering, personal growth, self image, Writing Life --- ### [Broken to Be Made Soft](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/2540-2/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### \[Tweet “I deal with a lot of broken stuff over here. If you have kids avoiding breakage is a way of life, but God has a purpose for brokenness”\] #### **I have dishes I never use.** Yes, I have heard people talk about using the good china with the people you love and not waiting for a special occasion. But those people are not living with my kids, those people are living with civilized humans. I am guessing that good china users probably have a dish washer with a gentle cycle. I am not there; I purchase glassware in bulk at Sam’s Club. I no longer care what style is available, because they aren’t gonna last that long. At the store we purchase jelly based on the shape of the jar. My favorite is on sale right now for $2. They are lasting longer than any glass we’ve ever bought. #### **We all are avoiding breakage.** Broken stuff costs us time, money, and frustration. In life we are little different. We avoid “breaking down” with every fiber of our being. We smile and hide our pain for as long as we can bear. We hide our hearts from each other. We act “civilized”, and it is killing us. I was discussing brokenness, recently with a friend. Truly trying times that left us feeling shattered. There was no comfort verse that eased the chaotic moments when it felt like life was falling apart. Instead of reaching out, we cried alone in our closets and in steaming hot showers, because we did not want to burden anyone with our brokenness. We know we all have trials and difficulties, but knowing others hurt doesn’t help us to share our burdens in trying times. So, what will it take for us to share our burdens with one another; to connect in a way that helps us truly know that we are not alone in our struggles? When will we truly see that we are never alone. In sharing with my lovely hearted friend, I was reminded of that truth. In being heard, in communing with each other’s hearts, my burdens were lightened. It was the communion of her fellowship that reminded me of the period of time at our church when we, as members of the body, made homemade lavash bread every week for communion. This element of communion is specially prepared. Even as it is made, it is a representation of Christ. It is mixed of flour and water, earth and water, the mundane and the divine. A touch of salt, the bitterness of tears, and the reminder to be salt and light. It is crushed, stretched thin, rolled out, then pierced with a fork and sliced with a knife. These are reminders of the marks that Christ took upon His own body on my behalf, just as the whip sliced His flesh and the spear pierced His side, the bread carries the scars thorough the fire. As we prepared the bread, it reminded us of the ultimate sacrifice that was made for us. #### **Driving home, I thought of what my friend had shared about brokenness** I had in my minds eye, taking the bread and putting it in my mouth in communion. The bread is stiff and unyielding as it is broken, but as you placed it on your tongue and pressed the hardened shard against the roof your mouth; in the crushing and breaking, it became soft. When it was made soft it could be consumed. Only when it was broken, could it became a part of us. How often I avoid brokenness, softness, yielding. Treating my heart like old wedding pattered china instead of the Holy Bread. It is in brokenness; though crushing, it allows us to be softened. Brokenness is what makes us tender in areas where we were once hard and unyielding. Our broken life can lead to softness for people God wants to reach. Over time I have seen that being broken is not something to avoid or manage. It is not a weakness, because in our brokenness Christ is made strong. **Thing we gain in our brokenness** - In our weakness, we yield the power of self, and realize our intense need for God’s love to become a part of our life. He alone can give us hope for the future; hope to sustain us in brokenness. - In being broken we have the opportunity to ask for help from our community. - We are asked to live, momentarily, apart from our own strength. Weakness actually gives us the ability to be strengthened in ways we may not have known that we needed. - Brokenness is an opportunity to take part in the transformation from stiff-necked pride to humility. - Brokenness is communion with Christ, and an invitation to enter communion with your friends as you reach out and share your burdens with them. You’ll be surprised to find out how much you have to offer one another. I hope you have endured the breaking in this life with more grace than I have at times. It is unavoidable. Pain, sorrow and sadness are a part of life, but the sweetness of joy and the greatness of hope are ours in Christ. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** avoiding pain, bread, brokenness, comfort, communion, connecting, devotional life, difficulties, trials --- ### [This Summer, Say "Yes"](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/summer/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Do your ever get an invitation that you really want to accept, but you have far too many chores to really allow your self the luxury of an outing? This is how I was feeling a few weeks ago. Summer should be relaxing compared to the life we live while homeschooling 10 kids, but it feels like there is no room to breathe. I am usually very good at protecting my low energy state. I find balance between giving to others, and saying no; both with my conscience clear. This summer has been a roller coaster ride. Are you finding it to be the same? I was just asking my husband is this is how time is going to move for us for now on. Warp speed. The month of May bleeding right into the middle of July. Life moves at high speed in this middle stage of life. I need endurance. Errands, chores, and obligations fill up my mornings. Schooling, piano, garden (not so much this year), and making food take up my days. Baseball looms large over summer nights. The calendar is increasingly looking more and more full with no let up in sight. My mind says protect. My mind says don’t add one more thing, but my mind is a lousy processor when I am overwhelmed. I tend to say no first, and regret it later. So can I make a mid-summer plea? Say “Yes”. \[Tweet “Say “yes” to the good stuff more than you think you should. “\] #### **Somebody save Me!** I had a friend call last week, she invited a few friends over to swim in the pond with their families for the morning. My immediate thought was “No way.” It was the last week of baseball, with a tournament scheduled for the weekend. My husband has been umpiring on all of his evenings off and working extra hours to shift his workload to be able go to games. RUN, has been our theme since the day we stopped school for the summer. I really wanted a day off to catch up. In the end, I turned my friend down. I did not see how play was a good use of my time when I was already on my toes trying to stay above water. I got a message the night before the event, my friend had an afternoon appointment so we couldn’t seem rude if I wanted to get home. She also passed along an offer from the “Boss”, her husband was going to join us and grill burgers. Another friend called and offered to lend life jackets. One by one my objections fell away and I was pulled in by the love of my friends. [![accept the invitation for fun](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/IMG_0290-1024x1024.jpg "take the invitation › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/IMG_0290.jpg)You dont tell littles you dont like dandelions right Well dont miss the fun summer has promised for you by saying No to what it brings you**It was not all glitter and rainbows.** I had a crappy, cranky morning. I was not happy about leaving the pile of chores that I failed to get done early in the morning. I had a bunch of work waiting for me when I got home and I was taking my 3 “littles” to a pond. On the way, I missed the turn twice, and then took the wrong trail down to the pond and took a got an unintentional hike. I didn’t want to wear a life jacket. I did not want to swim. I did not have enough coffee. What I am saying was, if I were a toddler, I would have needed a spanking and a long nap. What I got, was much better. I got to float. I had littles counting on me so I jumped in the water. I didn’t take long for all the crankiness of the last few weeks wash off like gravel dust. I paddled around the pond and wore myself out. I needed to exert myself. I swam with the littles, who are so brave and trusting. We bobbed and floated and raced each other. In an hour, I came out of the water a new woman. My friends laughed and shared lunch while the kids played, my body was nourished, but my spirit was renewed. No regrets. I said yes to the better thing. This summer you are going to get behind on chores. The laundry pile is going to be insane after a water play day. Dinners will run late and sometimes you will have to be creative, think toast, bananas and Nutella. But Summer is made to be dotted with magical days. Don’t say no. Go hiking. Go to lunch with your friend. Say yes, and let the water wash the dust away from your weary soul. [![When your toes don't touch, just float](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0070-1024x1024.jpg "This Summer Just Say Yes › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_0070.jpg)I was overwhelmed with obligations and chores but what I really needed to do was float for a bitIf you’ve chased your “littles” at the lake, or had a rough day at the park, you might like to read the post about our terrible day at the ball park and be reminded why we do these exhausting things to ourselves. Check out [when events with kids are not fun](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/when-events-with-kids-are-not-fun/) Enjoy the summer and take time to float. Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** chores, Friendship, fun, obligations, parenthood, play, rest, summer --- ### [6 Steps to Help You Be a Creative Mama This Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/summer-play-mom/) **Published:** July 17, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Summer is rapidly playing out right before our eyes. Are you missing it? Being a creative Mom is a hard act to balance. Add Summer break and a lack of routine and it is nearly impossible to keep track of your projects. How do you guard your creative time? Here are a few ways that I make sure I have time to be a creative Mama over the Summer. #### **1. I am kind to myself** Summer throws us off. Sports reek havoc on our nights, sleepy-heads ruin our morning plans. Before I get frustrated I remember to give us some grace. Summer is made to be spent up. If we are burning the evening eating late night pizza after the game and watching an extra show or two on the weekend because we don’t have to be anywhere, we are spending our summer well. Remember to allow Summer to stand apart from the rest of the year if you can. Getting frustrated kills my creativity faster than anything. You are wise to spend time being creative when you can and embrace life with joy when it is full. #### **2. I am willing to throw out a perfectly good schedule** If it is not working, revamp it. There is no reason to keep a schedule that fits the school year in the Summer time. Acknowledge the difference and move forward. The sun is shining longer, sunrise is early, events run late into the evening hours. Allow yourself to flex. Changing back over an exhausting week in August, is still better than being miserable all Summer long. #### **3. Create creative times for everyone This Summer** You might not get studio time like you imagined it, but you just might get something you never imagined. Take time out to watch your kids be creative. Tell stories. Go out into the woods and wander. Deadlines are killing my joy just like any other Mother with a goal, but don’t let that be an excuse to kill wonder. My Summer motto is, “Say “yes” way more than you want to.” It has served me well, even if I ever learn to fully trust it. I just do it, because I am always glad I did. #### **4. Get up early** Yes, everyone’s hours are packed in the Summer, but if you are like me, you are older than you once were. We don’t stay up late like we used to. I have gotten smart and use my Circle By Disney to schedule the router to drop out at 2am in the Summer. I can go to bed knowing everyone has no good reason to be up much later than that. I can go to bed peaceful knowing my kids are safe and that the internet connection is secure and on a timer. When I go to bed early, I get up before the kids. I read, jog (when I am feeling rested) and write for a few hours before the house wakes up. I love waking up before the place erupts for the day and having my first cup of coffee in peace. With 10 kids it is the only time the house is quiet and my brain is all mine. #### **5. I offer a lot of unstructured play time** This used to be the standard of Summer when I was a kid. I know the world has changed but there are safe ways to encourage this. It starts very young. I did tons of hands on play when the kids were little. Cardboard was my medium of choice because we were young restaurateurs and it was in my price range. (Free) I can make anything out of cardboard. Because I am a genius? No, because my kids didn’t care how good it was. Oatmeal-can knight helmets is my specialty. We created everything we ever wanted, and now my kids do the same thing themselves. I am not going to lie, it is a ton of work up front to build creative kids but after 5 years they start taking over the work load and now I just throw out boxes of cheap supplies and the older kids could entertain 20 little kids for hours. #### **6. I make time for me in the Summer** This is very hard for some women. I understand your struggle. I ignored my heart for many years thinking I was serving my family by sacrificing my desires for them. I was wrong. Taking care of my heart has made me a healthier woman. I did not have to take away from my family to do it either. I have great friends that respect my love for my husband and love my insanely huge family. Their love and fellowship feeds my soul. We meet weekly during the school year for a home Bible Study. I have writing, which is a passion of mine, that I have intentionally cut a space to make time for it. I have creative time with the kids. I love trying new crafts. [I love being creative](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-ways-i-make-sure-i-have-time-to-be-creative/). I make time to learn something new almost every day. I listen to a podcast every time I drive a long distance in the car. I read about 80 books a year. I am intentional about feeding my heart. What drives you? What is a thing you want to learn? Be intentional and get it on the calendar. Take a class, join a group, engage a friend to make it more fun but don’t let Summer get away from you. I hope that you are nourishing the creative Mama inside of you. I would love to hear about your passion. What is it that you love to do? What is it that you used to love to do that you have forgotten about? Do you want to pick it up again? I would love to hear about it. Leave me a comment about your hearts desire. Share about how you have made time to do what you love. Your idea could help this Mama out. \[Tweet “What is it that you love to do? What is it that you used to love to do that you have forgotten about?”\] Don’t let Summer get away from you. Be a [creative Mama](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/gifts-for-the-creative-woman-in-your-life/). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Create, projects **Tags:** Create, creative mama, creativity, motherhood, mothering, play summer, scheduling, self care, women --- ### [Happy, More, Better...Struggle](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/struggle/) **Published:** July 28, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Like all responsible people this morning, I was watching a YouTube clip. A monarch caterpillar morphing into its chrysalis and it was like watching me get out of last year’s swim suit. (it has not been a good year for my motivation) As he struggled, his caterpillar skin piled up at the top of the chrysalis. It was bizarre to watch, as before my eyes he swelled and changed into a bright green shell. I had never see the process up close before. He was literally a naked worm inside his cocoon. He left all the flashy stripes and protective markings were left at the entrance, as well as any chance for retreat or turning back. As he wriggled and squished out of it’s skin I couldn’t help but think, “someone told you you were going to be a butterfly, right?” #### I bet no one told him about this step, did they. Once he was all the way inside, the chrysalis began to shake wildly. I am sure he was just doing that Spanks jiggle test and getting the right fit, but all I could think was, “I hear ya, Buddy. No one warned me either.” #### I was once told being a butterfly was just as easy. I first heard it as a youth kid. Every concert and revival the emotional speaker was offering a come to Jesus speech that offered an end to all of my heart ache and pain. The “Happy, More, Better Plan” is what I like to call it now. Everyone tells you about the butterfly, but they forget to mention the chrysalis. There are years of growth and change that follow that simple little prayer. In that little chamber of time is where the struggle of a lifetime is happening; the losing of your old ways and habits. The softening of your heart, like the liquified flesh of the caterpillar. I am still tempted to break out and go back to the old ways. You’ll want to yell when you are angry, for the momentary bliss of screaming and watching people scramble to fix the problem, but instead you learn humility and honesty. Temptations to medicate and run from your pain still come, but you learn to choose facing who you are head on. You will master making the hard decisions when no one is looking. #### Growing wings is a mystery. No one sees what happens in the secret chamber of the chrysalis. It is an internal work that stretches a great part of the butterfly’s lifespan. So it is with our walk of faith. Victory is not won with a quick prayer at a concert or revival. Faith is the internal working of the God of the universe, giving you wings. Helping you struggle and stretch, so one day you emerge unrecognizable. Ready to fly. Have you have asked God to fix your troubles, change your life and save you? Don’t despair, he longs to fill you and give you His Spirit. If I have learned one thing in my lifetime it is this; Life does not get easier – You get stronger. Look to God for strength, and hope, and find true believers, who know this changing of a heart is a life-long process. Let them to support you while you grow and struggle. It is worth it. \[Tweet “Life does not get easier – You get stronger.”\] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** butterfly, chrysalis, devotional life, faith, salvation, struggle --- ### [Why Children Hide During a House Fire](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/hiding-in-a-house-fire/) **Published:** August 2, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### When you hide, no one can see that you need help I imagined a frightened child, continuing to hide, even as responders cried out, braving the flames. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. I had to go to the hallway to collect myself. This was not how I had planned to react at my children’s fire safety field trip at our local station. Our friend, who is a fireman and first responder, had invited a small group of us to bring our kids to get the tour and run through the house fire simulator. We were having a great time exploring the equipment and hearing the sounds of the engines and sirens. A few of the guys were off to the side, getting ready to demonstrate their suits for the kids. My heart was not prepared for what my friend shared as he showed the kids the mask and respirator. #### Hiding is a natural response in children A high number of children die in house fires because their first response is to hide from the flames and from their rescuers. In their terrible fear, they seek to be hidden, almost assuring they will never be rescued. The most likely to hide are children who accidentally started the fire themselves. Their fear of the immediate consequences was stronger than their fear of the fire. They could not see the long term suffering, because they were but little children. The fire man encouraged them to never hide in a fire. He told them to stay where they could be safe and still seen, and to cry out as often as they could. As the fireman finished telling us about the danger of hiding, he heald out his respirator and mask. He talked about why they wear them. Each child tried it on. My friend told them about how the mask brings the fire fighter clean air and the suit keeps them safe from the flames, so that they can enter hot fires to look for people that need to be saved. The whole idea was to have the children become familiar with how first responders look in full gear. The goal of dressing up and touching the equipment is to dispel fear and build trust. The goal of programs like these is; if kids ever have an emergency, they would not hide from the people that are trying to save. When they are familiar with them, they willingly follow their instructions, and come out from the fire, safely. [![Hiding in the Fire](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/fire-brigade-vehicles_zkveowFu-300x225.jpg "Fire Station Field Trip Lesson For Life › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/fire-brigade-vehicles_zkveowFu.jpg)A simple field trip taught a deeper lesson about the dangers of hiding#### The one who lacks sense says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten secretly is tasty.” Proverbs 9:16b-17 #### Why are you hiding \[Tweet “The truth is that sin often makes us hide, even while smoke is filling up the room”\]That is why we are instructed to not hide our failings and secrets in the dark corners of our soul, but to seek wisdom. We create accountability by **humbling** ourselves and **asking** for help in areas of trouble from a trusted friend or counselor. More over this is why God asks us to seek His face and know Him. Only gaining trust in the Father and knowing His face can keep us safe when He comes to rescue us. #### We have a way out of the flames, even if the fire is of our own creation God is not unlike my friend, His heart wants every person to be familiar with Him. He wants no person to be lost. One day The Father will call every man to leave his sin. Those that are familiar will follow because they know they can trust Him to lead them to safety. Those who hide are consumed by the very fires they began because they continue to hide instead of crying out to be saved. Read Proverbs 9:13-18 and answer why secrets are destructive to our lives, and what is the value of accountability? You can find a more in depth study of these Proverbs and more from SheReadsTruth.com. I am getting so much out of this guide. If you want to know more about read this recent post [HERE.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/keep-your-peace-this-summer/) I am not affiliated with them but can not stop sharing about their studies. Their app has built a great community as well. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Danger, devotional life, fire, hiding, life lessons, Proverbs, SheReadsTruth --- ### [I Saved a Life, and I Feel Terrible](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-saved-someone-i-feel-terrible/) **Published:** August 8, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I listen to my husband on the phone, saying I did a good job. It seems like a million years ago that the kids were having a fun time at the lake splashing in the shallows. In a moment everything changed. He says I did the right thing. I was watchful and alert and it saved my daughter from drowning. So why do I feel absolutely terrible? #### It happened so fast. The moment was silent. From my view point my daughter was holding her little friend by the waist and ducking her head under the water. I could see the green mossy rocks all around her. Not wanting to be very far away when the kids lay in water, I was less than four big strides away. She went under once. The kids on either side of her were playing, laughing. She went under the second time, I broke my conversation with the other parents. Still, I was not alarmed, I just could not figure out what my girl was up to. Kids were standing to either side of her, not more than two feet away, splashing in the waist deep coolness. Her head broke the surface, the child she was holding was staying above water. Was she just getting her head wet to cool down? I had already called out to them that we were leaving in a few minutes. You know how kids are, they need to get as wet as possible right before we leave, so my car can smell like a swamp for a week. We did not plan on swimming. In all honesty, I caved. I had said,”No”, but the day was so hot. I had stayed much longer than we intended. In the company of old friends, we had such a great time catching up on each others lives. I was buoyantly happy and feeling generous. I broke my cardinal rule; no water without life vests. I am always so adamant. We never go swimming at the lake because of the turbidity of the water. The silt makes it impossible to see your own feet, let alone a child swept under the murk. This spot in particular seemed so safe. I could see the mossy rocks. Just waist deep. I had made all of these calculations instantly as they begged to take a quick dip to cool off. [![Being at the waters edge in life](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/mg-i5a1867-300x214.jpg "I saved a life, why do I feel so terrible? › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/i-saved-someone-i-feel-terrible/girl-splashing-water-in-lake-by-her-leg/)When being a hero feels less than heroic where do we turn for the truth during difficult times in lifeI knew something was wrong the third time she struggled to clear the waters surface. Her eyes were wild, as much white showing as her icy blues. I could see she could not breach the water’s surface to take a breath, I was already on my feet. Not more than four steps away and she was drowning, silently before my very eyes. All I had to do was get behind her and give both kids a shove toward the shore. Splashing past the other children and stepping around her, I discovered the source of her trouble as I stepped down into nothing. #### There was no ground below my feet. Ages before we had gotten there, maybe for years, the current had been working on this spot; wearing away the footing stone by stone. As soon as there was a gap big enough, the current created a swirling eddy and it continued to bite chunks out of the artificial beach, leaving a gap in the shoreline. It dropped off sharply, straight into the depths of the lake. I experienced a split-second of panic. How would I save these two children as well as myself? I sunk down deeper and spread out my donut Converse clad feet until I caught the lip of the gap. With a shove the kids were back on solid ground, the top of my hair not even wet, but my heart was soaked in foreboding. I saved the kids. But I failed so badly. #### These are times that you cannot trust your voice. My voice was telling me of all the terrible factors that led to a near disaster. Every one of the safeguards had been hacked down by my own hands. I was clearly the one to blame. It was my decision to give in, I was the one that put my kids at risk. Certainly, I should have known the dangers and should have kept them safe. In life there is no guarantee of safety. #### ***Life guards are the most likely to see a person drown*** We work with hurting and broken people in everyday life. If you are in outreach, ministry, recovery or are a compassionate listener then you are at the waters edge more often than the rest of the world. \[Tweet “The truth is that life at the waters edge is not safe. People drown. But people get saved as well”\]. I remember a young man we invited into our house. He was so troubled, but he was also overwhelmed by the love at our house. We gave him a cot for a few days. He ended up deciding treatment was the only way he was going to survive living. We were so glad to help him. He was dying before our very eyes and we were just waiting for him to throw up a hand. The kids loved him. They still put peanut butter on their pancakes because of him. #### We prayed for him every night, joyful that he was getting the help he needed. Four days into his treatment we got a call. Our friend checked himself out. He wasn’t ready for help. He chose to go back to thrashing in the water while the current of dependency continued to cut more ground out from under him. We felt sick. As friends, we did all that we could do. Even though we removed every obstacle for him to get the help he needed, it was not enough. #### Life is not safe. Living is hard. We need others to give us clarity. My Mother talked to me the day after the incident at the lake. I cried, she listened. As I berated myself, she told me that I did the exact right thing. She said I saved a kids life, even if I felt like everything I had done was so wrong. Because I could not see the good, I had to choose to hang onto her words. I had to believe her words, even while I wept the tears that needed to be released. #### This is why God left us His word If we are a life guard in this world, we feel lost at times, but we are never alone. The word is our shield and comfort. God is a strong tower, where we are welcomed as we seek refuge. The strong do not need refuge, it is for the times we are weak. God knew we were going to need comfort, we were going to be weak, we were going to be broken down. There are times we are going to need to hear ***someone else tell the truth about us***. I have said these things to you, that in me you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 I hope that in times of trouble you will be wise to borrow from a voice wiser than your own. Listen to the one that tells you to keep living at the waters edge no matter what the cost. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Community, devotional life, faith, fear, recovery, refuge, safety --- ### [3 Steps to Becoming an Avid Reader](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-steps-becoming-a-reader/) **Published:** August 15, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I was never what you would call a reader. My first “F” was in the 2nd grade. I failed reading, and now I read about 80 books a year. We homeschool with a literature based curriculum, yet into adulthood I was never a reader. In fact I lived in a house with no books when I was a little girl. We now have about 1,800 books in our personal library, but my love for books started with the seed of one classic. One green, aged, beauty that has followed me through every move and arrived safely at my seventeenth and final house. My most prized possession is my personal 1945 copy of Hans Christian Anderson’s Fairy Tales. It is worth exactly $4.95 on eBay but the stories I love are priceless. [![Becoming a reader in 3 steps](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/IMG_0388-225x300.jpg "What does it take to make a reader › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-steps-becoming-a-reader/pew-pew-100/)One great story is all it takes to make reading a valuable venture#### One great book is all it takes to become a reader. Reading is something I have grown into over the years, because I was not a good reader in school. The letters did not always behave for me and reading for school or a class caused me extreme anxiety. I never passed a spelling test in all of my years as a student, and I believed that meant I was stupid. After all grades don’t lie! (I hope you do not believe that) Letters and reading became much hated failures. Reading for pleasure was something I had not dreamed of until I was an adult. Up to that point I had only been assigned books, I had no idea that there were books you would read for the pure joy of reading. Two things changed my view on books; I read the fantasy series by Piers Anthony and later, an ardent English Major brought sacks of books to church for me to read, every few weeks. The day I read *[Ogre, Ogre](http://amzn.to/2bfPvDL)* I discovered the world of fantasy fiction. I was transformed from nonreader to series consumer overnight. I discovered the joy of reading for my own pleasure for the first time. A few years passed and my former Sunday School student became my best book-lending dealer. He brought sacks of book in every genre. Historical novels, crime and espionage, current fiction; with each new book I discovered a place I had never been and often times in a book I never would have thought I would have enjoyed. #### With seven children under eight (yes, you read that right!) books became my retreat and vacation destination. Reading became an extended free college and social network for a homebound Mom like me. My mind was alive and hungry for more, but I was not able to be as mobil as I had once been. Reading a book fit my station in life perfectly. Over the years I read to learn new things. Crochet, knitting, painting and later blog and design have all been learned by reading. There is no lack of information on every subject. What do you want to learn about? What makes you happy? There is a book for you there. #### I remember the first book that made me think of popular books differently. It was not because it was a great book, but because it was a horrible movie. I had just read *Congo* by Michael Crichton when I found out the movie was in the theater. The movie was in fact, terrible, but with the book so fresh in my mind I realized something powerful. People are always saying that the book is so much better than the movie, and that had me wondering if it could be true. What movies had I liked? What if it was true? This was a theory I decided needed further investigating. I began with *Gone with the Wind*, and was amazed to find so much more story and background than the movie implied. When I saw *The Lord of the Rings and loved the movie I knew I had to read the whole series* and I never have really stopped reading since. ### Three Things I Have Learned About Becoming a Reader 1. Never discount the possibility of developing a love affair with books. No one hates reading, but many people are reading the wrong books. Reading for your own education and pleasure is a world apart from the assigned reading of high school and college. 2. There is no set stage or age where you can’t enjoy a book. A book can help me wind down when I am extremely busy. Books were my comfort, I read when I was lonely as young mom, nursing a baby for the eighth time of the day. When I an energetic, I enjoy times where I read 4 books at a one time, keeping a pace of 80 books a year, and when I am insanely busy, I enjoy the times that it takes me all summer to get through one. 3. There are so many authors who are amazing writers. Good writing breaches all subject matter. Never turn a good author away based solely on the subject matter. I am not a civil war buff but I loved all of the books by [Jeff Shaara](http://amzn.to/2b6g5QW) and went on to read several other series by him because of his great writing style and use of historical documentation. \[Tweet “It’s not that you don’t like reading: you’re reading the wrong books”\] Want more book recommendations? Check out my good reads profile. I usually update it in chunks when I have built a good return pile for the library. [HERE](https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9886801-amber). What are you reading right now? Leave me a comment and I will tell you what I am reading as well. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Read **Tags:** Books, Homeschool, literature, reading, What Im Reading --- ### [The Door In The Wall; How Misdirection Keeps Us From Seeing God's Hand](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-door-in-the-wall/) **Published:** August 24, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Illusionists understand the human capacity for misdirection. They are counting on it. While we are looking at the hat, the rabbit is moving in spaces unseen, right before our very eyes. In our times of direct focus and intention we can miss action that reveals the trick. Have you ever found yourself tricked, looking at the wrong pocket or the other hand during a card trick. In all probability you weren’t looking there on accident. It was exactly where the illusionist wanted you to be looking. The trick only works if you believe you are looking in the right place all along Yesterday, I was caught looking at the wrong hand. There is a business purchase I am ready to make. The finances were all lined up nicely to cover it. I had one final hurdle to cross before I could click send. I had it all planned out. Offer ends in 12 hours and 47 minutes. #### There I was, watching that hat. Waiting for the rabbit to appear. In reached the white gloved hand and with a flourish, it came up with nothing. It was a funny moment, suspended there in time. The answer was “No” there would be no job. There would be no budget for things I needed. My heart sank as I thought for an instant, that “No” was my final answer, but then in my heart, I knew I heard a resounding “Yes”. In an instant I knew I was only looking at an empty hat and not looking to my source. God had me ready to make this purchase not because I had a job lined up to pay for it, but because I was going to need one. He already knew and set a plan that was even better into motion. \[Tweet “Misdirection is the tool of the enemy of our soul”\] #### I heard that David Copperfield stole the Statue of Liberty. (ok, I just lost 20 minutes to youtube research, he did and the early 90’s was amazing) If Mr. Copperfield convinced all of New Yorker that their national symbol was gone, how much more will the enemy of our soul make disappear; our joy, and our peace. The trick is that it is not gone at all, his tactic is to simply obscure our view. With slight of hand and misdirection our attention is turned away from the plan of God, all while it is in plain sight before us. If I have learned one thing on this journey of life it’s that I can; without a doubt, trust that God has a good purpose for me. In every circumstance He has provided for me in ways that were above and beyond what I expected. It is not that He uses the source I think He should. I’ve learned to trust Him, just like I trust my husband. Next time life throws up a wall, stop and listen to what God has to say about it. What I thought I was going to do on my own, my husband and I are doing together and it will be even better that I had thought. #### Are you trying to be your own source of joy, happiness, contentment? Even harder, are you trying to be everyone else source of peace and hope? Stop following the illusion and seek the true source for hope and peace. Every thing I have ever needed I have found in Him. Even toddler shoes and Buzz Lightyear, but that is another story. [via GIPHY](http://giphy.com/gifs/labyrinth-maze-gif-6uU0vQORUyshy) The good news is that I did make a purchase for my business. **Where I saw a wall, God had place a door.** Now, I can offer a course I know will help Homeschool Moms have their best year ever without changing out your kids or curriculums. #### We are key to homeschool success, yes, us Moms. The six part series covers: showing love uniquely, comparison traps, the power of our influence as Homeschooling Parents, the gift of flexibility and the importance of community. Included are many true examples from which I share where these things caught me off guard and how we have grow through them over the last 13 years of teaching at home. You don’t have to learn over the next 13 years, subscribe and get them in your email at home. If you subscribe to [200fingersandtoes](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com) you will get my posts for the series free every Monday as I introduce them. I am looking forward to sharing with you and getting your input. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** dependence, Devotional, devotional life, disappointment, faith, faith builders, Focus, hope, misdiretion, trust --- ### [Showing Love in Your Homeschool | In Due Season Volume 1.0](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/love-in-your-homeschool/) **Published:** September 5, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### What if the middle of your homeschooling years could be as exciting as that first one? In Due Season is a series for the long middle stretch before you. Beginnings are great, and planning for the end is satisfying, but the middle can be a long, winding, uncharted road. This series is full of weekly encouragement for the time in-between that anxious first day and the moment you walk your child down the aisle in their cap and gown. Every Monday I will provide practical ideas that you can apply right now. We’ll look at simple shifts in school set up. I will offer challenging conversations about our homeschool mindset. This course was designed to help you have the very best homeschooling year ever, no matter where you are in your homeschool experience. Sign up for our email today so you don’t miss the one post that could change your year. My hearts’ desire is that you never lose sight of the end of the road in your homeschool journey. We want to help ensure a strong finish by helping you live well in the middle. #### **“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9, ESV.** The full course with study guide questions will be available for purchase in the future. The truth is, I wanted you to have it first. I’ve broken it up into a smaller devotional series. Every Monday I will add a post highlighting areas where we have learned important lessons over the last 13 years of home schooling. I have only included the the top 5 lessons that have changed the way I homeschool for the better. We have truly learned to love our children through our school time, even though we still face plenty of challenges along the way. #### **Will this be a valuable study for you? I am sure it will.** **Have you struggled with comparison?** I share personal stories that I am sure you will see yourself in. **Do you know why you homeschool?** We talk about how knowing “why” you do something will help you stay the course through difficult times, as well as helping you to make critical changes. **Do you want to learn more** about **flexibility**, the importance of your **influence** and the relevance of **community?** They are vitally connected to homeschooling your family. Please, invite a Mom or a family you know that is homeschooling. Forward a copy and share it with a friend at church. Go get some coffee and your favorite chair. Grab a quiet corner, a pen and spend some intentional time looking at ways to grow stronger as a homeschool family. I hope you are encouraged as we make this year your very best ever. Over the next few weeks we will talk about distractions; especially how we can focus on our children as individuals. I originally developed this course for the member site SchoolhouseTeachers.com. I have enjoyed sharing it with their members and have had great feedback from them. If you are interested in online classes for your kids they have hundreds of other courses offered for all age ranges. I encourage you to become a schoolhouse member. You can click [**here**](http://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/landing-page-weary) to get started today. #### I look forward to spending the next few months getting to share with you. Sign up for my email today and get the weekly recap right into your mailbox. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** goals, Homeschool, In Due Season, Introduction, parenting, School --- ### [Focusing on The Players | In Due Season Vol 1.1](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/focus-on-the-players/) **Published:** September 12, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### I can identify the exact moment when a board game stops being fun, can’t you? You hear the giggles lessen and the arguments increase. If you intervene you know where the focus will turn; the score. As soon as winning and losing becomes the primary focus, the kids forget about the fun they were having. \[Tweet “To have your focus on the win, is the best way to miss the game.”\] #### We can do the same thing in homeschooling. If we aren’t intentional with our purpose, homeschooling can send us into the same cycle of lost focus and divided hearts. Keeping score and comparisons can cost us the joy that being together should bring. **Do you struggle with looking at the other players score around the table of life?** I’ve been envious of my friends relationship with their daughters, it came so naturally and mine was so hard. I’ve been frustrated by my non reader when I hear about all the books his friend has read recently. It is so easy to get drawn into comparing, it is difficult to keep it from clouding your expectations. I’ve been distracted in so many ways through the years that we have been homeschooling. I have had failures using the wrong tools, or a great new type of learning method with the wrong kid. We lose sight of the big picture when we don’t focus on the individual players; our children. Each individual is unique and their educational needs are just as unique. If we get drawn into comparison, we are likely to miss questions that could lead your child to success where there is difficulty. We’ve had our share of challenges along the path with 10 different personalities to learn to respond to. The more I meet their needs as individuals with love the more growth I have seen in their schooling and our relationships. #### Comparisons drew us in If we fail to count for each individual students situation, we can begin to drift. Each one of my children has a different learning style, strengths and weaknesses. I have the blessing of seeing them grow through the them. When I focus on meeting their needs without comparing them to an ideal standard I can meet their needs. We can play to their strengths and plan for their weaknesses. I hope you know that no family is as uniquely qualified to meet your child’s need as your own. There has never been a greater time in history to homeschool. No matter what challenges you and your child will face; resources abound and many answers are just a few clicks away. Look for helpers and encouragers that will lend you their wisdom when you ask and a willing shoulder when you just need supported. If we only talk learning styles and curriculum choices, it is like looking at only the game board without paying close attention to the key players. #### Our Love Needed to be Stretched** As parents we are growing as constantly as our kids. Why do we need this series of lessons? Because, ignoring our own heart and the need for truth and constant growth is a dangerous pitfall. We have to intentionally avoid pride and fear by stretching ourselves daily. The pressure to win will tempt us, when it does we begin to focus solely on schooling goals and achievements and lose sight of the heart of our student. In the end, academic goals are nothing if we fail to show Christ’s love to our children in ways that will effect their life. The gift of homeschooling is only one of the many opportunities we have to uniquely show love to our children. I want to make sure that we strive to make it focused on shaping their whole person. **Coming** **Soon** *In Due Season* the full course and daily journal questions for digging deeper about your individual school will be available on October 1st. Subscribe here and we will send out an invitation to you first. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Focus, Homeschool, In Due Season, love, parenting --- ### [Show Love By Giving Time | In Due Season Vol. 1.2](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/show-love-by-giving-time/) **Published:** September 19, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### **We show love by giving our time.** \[Tweet “Time is our most precious and finite resource”\] Time. There is no more to be had, no place to buy an extra tomorrow. As homeschool parents we have left jobs, careers and opportunities behind to give instruction time to your child. We calculated and intentionally structured in our lives, yet in the everyday thick of it; between language arts and math, I let time slip away. Little scenarios chip away at our structure and whole days can go to waste. We show our children love best in our schooling by setting aside solid chunks of time for their learning. Don’t make the same mistakes I made and let business, phone calls or other interruptions eat away at your instructional time together. #### What I am not asking is for is more time in the books More work is not the key to the equation, and I am not talking about ending playdates and sick days. All of those “Field Trips” to see *Star Wars*, totally excused in my books. What I am talking about are bringing an end to those time-sucks, the dividers of intention. The little interuptions that leave all of you frustrated at the end of the day. Think of all of the little things that sabotage your concentration and interrupt the flow of a great lesson. How many of those could you eliminate very easily today? Knowing these are keeping you from loving your kids to the fullest helps you make changes that matter. Let me give you my personal example. **The main time-sucker last year was my phone.** I had great intentions, I was not going to sneak in some Dots, or scroll FaceBook during silent reading. Please sister, that is what hiding in the bathroom is for. The trouble started innocently enough. We had a bunch of Usborne, “internet-linked” books in our school reading list. The links were right there, it was legit school. I thought I would be a very cool Mom if I let the kids watch the video clips when we read. I did think it would be a great tool for school as well. We could watch a relevant video, convert measurements, check dates and use the timer. If I had more self control it might have been fine. Instead it turned into a dinging, vibrating, distraction. I had emails, and calls and little chirps that I still don’t know what they are allerting me to. If you spend more time looking at a screen that at a beautiful little face, you might want to make some changes because you are missing the very best stuff. #### **My phone was one example of the interruptions that broke our concentration and allowed the unimportant seem urgent.** Almost every call and message that stole my attention could have waited three hours for a class break, but the dinging called me away from my priority. I did not see the importance of being intentional with our school time. By the weeks end I could see that I failed to protect our time and it was obvious on every one of my kid’s faces. Our attention reveals what we value. When every call takes precedence, when every time the dryer dings, we leave, we are sending our child a message. The message is that we are not really here for them wholeheartedly. Oh, man do I know how hard that is some days. Being wholeheartedly present is the greatest challenge of homeschooling. It is the greatest challenge of every relationship really. Have you ever talked to you husband while he is in the middle of a business deal or tried to talk to a teen who is in a Marvel themed meme war on her phone. You stand waiting for an answer in silence, feeling forgotten about. You know the hurt divided attention can cause because it happens to every one of us. Being intentional is the cure. Being honest with our selves is a great place to start. Start by saying; I can not do it all, I have to choose. Is it laundry or love? Is it reading email or read-alouds? Knowing I have to choose makes it much easier for me to stop doing things that don’t matter during school time. #### The truth was, I served my kids poorly when my attention was divided. What are distractions that you can cut out of your day? Great news! Changing is not all that hard. We did some looking at our interruptions and created some ways to work around them. The phone did not make this year’s schoolroom accessory cut. It stays up stairs, silenced. If I protect our time, I show that I value our time. I can fully engage in our reading and class time without distractions. Showing my love for my children means making them my priority. We’ve made many thousands of tweaks and shifts to our school day over the years and we will make hundreds more, but knowing intentional time shows love has helped me remain focused on the task at hand. #### By setting aside time for them exclusively without distractions I value to our school day and show my children love. What are areas where you need to make changes in your day right now? What changes to your schedule can you make so there are fewer interuptions? Do you look your children in the face? I found I did not do it nearly as much as I want to. I hope you take time this week to reconnect while you school together. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Homeschool, In Due Season, mothering, priorities, tips --- ### [Honor Your Chid's Gifts and Interests | In Due Season Volume 1.3](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/honor-gifts-interests/) **Published:** September 26, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### Let me share three unique ways we show love by honoring our child’s unique gifts and interests in our school life. #### **I keep the focus on each individual child and their interests, and avoid a school day where I am the only one winning** #### **I have a son that loves to win.** My son is deeply committed to wiping us all off the board when we play a game. His drive makes the game less enjoyable. I constantly have to remind him, there is no game if he offends his brothers. The purpose of game nights are to enjoy each others company as a family. When we get focused on a goal of education alone, we do the same to our children. It is easy to get lost in the teaching and measuring, we can forget these are unique kids and we have a tiny window with them. Take the time to find out how to serve them best and lead them in their interests. We have many requirements to keep in mind; college standards, graduation credits and record keeping for the states in which we reside. We should not lose sight of those requirements. If we allow those to be the only influences in our child’s education, we can miss the unique opportunity homeschooling allows us. We show love by incorporating our children’s interests into their education. What does that look like? Take an inventory of your child’s interests. Now, ask them what they want to learn more about. Are you doing anything with those subjects during school hours or are opportunities to explore what they are passionate about few and far between? > I encourage you to make it a priority to add a class in a subject area that your child is currently interested. Get creative in how you can incorporate their skills, talents and interests into their education. Making what they love creditable shows that you value it. Validating our children makes them feel secure and loved. #### **Connect With Similar Interests** #### **I have a daughter who loves to write**. We had a curriculum that was heavy on writing, which was great to give my daughter a foundation for her love of writing. The problem was that she was not getting a lot of personal creative writing time due to her academic requirements. The next school year, we decided to cut way back on the amount of assigned and graded writing. Instead we created a novel writing class. We dove into [NaNoWriMo](http://nanowrimo.org) (National Novel Writers Month) and began a crazy challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November. We gave her full class credit to write her own novel. As a result, she has dedicated a lot more time and care to her writing. By carving out time we affirmed that her writing is valuable. She shares her writing with me because, I first showed that I was interested. The best part of the experience is how we were able to connect with a common ground. I am a writer; NaNo gave us a bridge to strengthen our relationship. She ended up with 36,000 words in her novel over the month. The book is still in the works, it might be forever, but the experience will never be forgotten. #### **Affirm The value of Your Child’s Independent Interests** #### **My oldest son is a gamer.** You don’t have t know about a subject or even like it to apply this concept. I am not a huge fan of gaming, but as a school assignment my son wrote me a great persuasive report in defense of gaming. He cited several real benefits and defended it in detail, for school credit of course. I am sure some of your kids would like a copy. Instead of objecting to an activity he was clearly enjoying, we are looking further into computers, game developers and app coding. > **It is important to note that these are not areas I am naturally interested in, but I am interested in my son.** In fact, the more he shares, the more curiosity I develop in the game creating industry. I am a little bit fascinated by the growing trends of young classical instrumentalists creating video game music. If we are humble and give ample time to listen, we can all learn something from our kids. I encourage you to search for ways to show love to your children by validating their interests academically. It might stretch you. You may have to enroll your child in an online class or commit to lessons of some sort. There are many great ways you can connect your homeschool to the interests your child loves. \[Tweet “One of the greatest gifts of homeschooling is being the person that cheers the loudest for your son or daughter”\]. Cheer them on in the things they love. Then they will trust you to lead them in the areas they like less. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** gifts, Homeschool, In Due Season, love, parenting, talents --- ### [Embrace Your Homeschool Without Comparison | In Due Season Vol 1.4](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-without-comparison/) **Published:** October 4, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** There is no shortage of great advice out there, but the best advice is to find what is working well for you and maximize it **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* In the last few weeks we talked about ways to show our children love in our Homeschooling time. We are going to continue this month by taking about comparison. If you would like access to the full 5 month course change your homeschool mindset and daily journal study guide pages sign up HERE and get instant access to the full text. #### First, I encouraged you to practice being intentional and focused with significant blocks of time. I hope you enjoyed greater peace while you focused on instruction without distractions. Did you give yourself permission to get rid of a few distractions? What were some of the things that make your day stumble? I have a no laundry policy during school. In theory we are right next to the laundry room, but stopping to fold the next load never happens at a good point and only ended up being a chance for the kids to escape to the back yard. #### Last month I asked you to explore your child’s unique interests and gifts. We already talked about several ways I was able to incorporate my kids interests into our school day. I hope that you were inspired to look for ways to incorporate your kids interests into your educational plans. What is one way that you were able to show interest in your child’s talents or found a unique way to add them to some portion of your lesson plan. I hope that you and your child were encouraged and excited about the idea of making their interests creditable for school. #### In this month’s lessons we talk about the fact that comparison will kill your joy We have learned the significant lesson of embracing a personalized homeschool. Finding the best fit for your family is a challenge, but when you find it, it will fuel your passion and interests. We will be talking about how to avoid the comparison trap in your life as well as build a schedule that works for you. There is no shortage of great advice out there, but the best advice is to find what is working well and maximize it. Don’t feel obligated to change your world drastically to fit homeschooling. It should become a part of the life you are already living. As a veteran Homeschooler I can say without a doubt that one of the best skills I have developed is the ability to trust myself. Trusting my instincts did not come naturally. I have had many missteps along the way that have helped me grow over the last 12 years of homeschooling. I know that with enough fits and starts you will undoubtedly come to a place where you can be confident with your family exactly as you are. #### The best advice I can offer is to embrace being you! \[Tweet “Embrace everything about you, your quirks, your schedule, and your crazy life”\] If you are like many homeschool families, you might not fit the public-school mold. To be quite honest, in our family, we do not even fit the homeschool mold. I have had a lot of lessons in making comparisons to help me embrace our crazy uniqueness. Do you think you have found your fit in the world of homeschooling? Is comparison ever a challenge for you? Next week I will share some ways I have been challenged with comparison. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Comparison, Homeschool, In Due Season, Joy, parenting --- ### [Comparison is a Killer of Joy | In Due Season Volume 1.5](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/comparison-the-killer-of-joy/) **Published:** October 10, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Comparison will ensure that you have hard time finding your stride. I remember, early in our marriage, I kept thinking I should be more like my husband. He was outgoing. The man could work circles around me because he was a tireless producer. Literally sleeping just 4 hours, he would work an 18-hour day, go back to bed and do it all over again the next day. He could keep that pace for weeks. I tried once, sleeping for less than six hours. Even before I was a mother I was pretty sure that the exhaustion was going to kill me. It did not take me long before I accepted the reality that I was not wired like my husband. I was never ever going to measure up if I was going to measure myself against him. If I had kept pushing myself to be like him, I would have ended up miserable and worn down. #### No one has a school like yours. If you choose to school at home, you will quickly discover that your home life is unique. \[Tweet “Advice is helpful as a guide, but comparison is a horrible leader”\] ( please feel free to tweet that right now!) Comparison will always leave us feeling like we are falling short. This is an attitude I still have to battle all of the time. I have learned that I will never measure up. I can not continue to measure myself against other families and what they do. What works well for them might not work for me at all. #### Setting Goals Keeps You From Getting off Track One of the ways that I avoid comparison is to set goals for our family. I measure by healthy comparisons, as I look at the progress we’ve made toward our goals. I have a “why” paper, a rough school mission statement. With it I can check back to see if my focus is getting off course. There is a big difference between two critical motivations for making changes. One we need to make in order to make our day better, the other we make when we fall for the comparison trap. Making changes is a regular part of homeschooling. If the motive is to help our schooling or our student, then we endure the growing pains of transition. If, however, our motive to change our school or our child is driven by less than sound reason, those changes are destined to lead to frustration. One type of change can strengthen our joy while the other steals it. When I feel like I am losing my joy, when I get frustrated with my kid’s progress, I have found it was my heart that needed some work. I have to step back, pray and reevaluate, checking to see if I need to push through or change some of our goals. I have to ask the hard question; am I working to impress people rather than following our purpose. I still have to guard against comparing my choices to others. #### Do you struggle with comparison? Where has it caused you to feel pressure in your homeschool? Check out the ***In Due Season*** post about showing love uniquely in your homeschool [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/show-love-by-giving-time/) and learn more about the value of incorporating your child’s gifts and interests in your school day [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/honor-gifts-interests/) In my full course we talk about the pitfalls I experienced in the comparison trap myself. We create a set of goals with your journal pages to keep your family on track. Read more at [www.indueseason.net](http://www.indueseason.net) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Comparison, goals, Homeschool, In Due Season, Joy --- ### [We aren't breaking horses | Notes on Parenthood](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/breaking-horses-notes-on-parenthood/) **Published:** October 16, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I had a lesson in child training from a prisoner and a horse. There was a gem in my FaceBook news feed. I rarely watch videos in the quiet of the morning but a few days back I watched [this video](https://www.facebook.com/azcentral/videos/10153878068519032/) about horse training. It was a short piece about a prison in Arizona that pairs inmates with wild horses. This was not some survivor reality show, although the horses survival depends on the training they receive. The method they taught the prisoners to gentle a horse was what caught my attention. As a person who works with a lot of children, this spoke volumes to me. How I choose to interact with the kids around me, so much like these wild horses, either builds up or breaks down their trust. These horses are untouched and wild, yet are trained by inmates who have never had so much as a goldfish for a pet. I am about as equally prepared and trained for what every child needs. Like these inmates, I can bring them along side me and we can work it out together, without the bucking and spills I am used to. #### Do you work With Children? As a mentor and a volunteer in an afterschool program, there is so much to take away from this short piece. The idea I that resonated with me was this picture of reducing the pressure, and making success obtainable. The child’s success should be, and often is, our goal at home and when I volunteer, but often I forget and miss the mark. Often it is me, who is holding the carrot just out of reach and allowing frustration to overtake the student as well as the teacher. If we fail to make success obtainable we fail to reach the people God has sent to our lives. #### Training is about so much more than getting the horse into a coral How many times have I been frustrated because I didn’t get my lesson time, when I should have changed gears. I am so busy with the idea of getting the horses into the coral that I start pushing and shoving. All the while forgetting that I should be more concerned about what side of the fence they want to be on. Happy horses want to be on your side of the fence. The same goes for our kids and children and the ones we work with. It’s true, it is exhausting to continually check our will at the door and listen. It seems counter intuitive to bend down your ear when you could just demand, but the end goal is the heart of the child. Listening ties heart strings, deepening connections that can last a lifetime. Our plan, agendas, and circumstances. They can cut us off from offering grace to those we are called to extend it to. I do it when I am tired and underprepared for school. I place success up on a shelf away from my kids I voulunteer with. Especially when I decide that obeying a rule is more important that listening with my whole self. [![Are you a cowboy or a whisperer?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/horse-halters_My7x-PO_-185x300.jpg "Choosing your tools wisely › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/breaking-horses-notes-on-parenthood/horse-halters_my7x-po_/)No matter what words you choose to speak you are always training\[Tweet “You can lead by picking up a whip or by opening the gate a little wider, either way you are training”\] #### Which will you choose; Cowboy or Whisperer? I’ve played the cowboy, throwing a heavy saddle of demands on my kids and riding them. For who’s sake? Not mine, not theirs. Dominance of will is always a losing battle, but a heart in submission; full of love and trust, builds a life long connection no one can break. One process leads to trust and connection and one leads to “brokenness.” If I want kids who can not be broken I must choose how I speak. Every time I open my mouth, I am training. \[Tweet “Happy horses want to be on your side of the fence”\] Are you a cowboy or a whisperer? How can you be different for the better of those you are training? What did you think about this video? Leave a comment and let me know. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** example, horse whisperer, parenting, training --- ### [Comparison Will Make You Work Without the Passion to Drive You | In Due Season 1.6](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/comparison-work-without-passion/) **Published:** October 17, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Comparison can keep you running in the wrong direction for your school. Have you tries a curriculum because your friend loved it only to find your kids hated it? We can feel pressure to keep at it because we should feel just as enthusiastic. We are subject to SO much pressure as homeschoolers. Your future is in your school. It doesn’t help when ever well meaning soul has input for you, and some of it is far from supportive. We have to know our goals and what direction we want to take our school. Otherwise we will be tempted to change direction every time something is not working. #### Don’t fall for it! Comparison is a trap. I remember being envious of a homeschool family who taught their children all about herbs and medicines. Their passion was intoxicating and I wanted to emulate their little adventure. Problem was, I know nothing about the herbs or medicine, nor was I terribly passionate about either at the time. I was disappointed because I could not muster the same enthusiasm they had. Eventually the project fell flat. What have you tried because everyone loved it, but for you it just fell flat? How did you respond? Did you feel like YOU failed, or were you able to switch gears and move forward. #### Comparison is a thief; it will steal the joy right out from under you. It was not until years later, I learned that this family had been planning on doing long term missionary work in a third world country. They were passionate, not because it was fun to learn these things, but because they had a deeply connected purpose to the work. I didn’t have a swamp, or snakes or anyone that was very interested to learn about them. My daughter was not old enough for self directed research like she is now. It was a miss, because I was looking at someone else interests. In contrast, when I have looked to my children’s strengths and interests for ways to make our school better I found an abundance of ideas that sparked a new joy in our school day. #### **The interest gave us the passion to pursue the work.** I get joy from watching my kids explore things that they are talented in. My little girl is in love with drawing so in the morning while I meet with the older kids, she uses an IPad to draw using kid friendly tutorials. I could do a formal class but I wanted to capture her interest right now. My son is obsessed with making “skins” on his computer game. He is beginning an online class to learn to write code that he can use in the same game. Capturing your child’s interests and incorporating them into some part of your school day should be part of your yearly planning. When we are personally connected to our work we all are much more motivated to show up, the same is true for our kids. Every time we take on classes or responsibilities because we want to measure up to someone else’s experience, we do our family a disservice. And worse, we make homeschooling more difficult than it needs to be. The best thing I ever learned was to continue to make small changes in our schooling until our day fit our family the very best. If something is not working don’t be afraid to make a change and try something new. I find that having a good set of goals for my kids helps me stay on track. When I know what I want them to learn this year and have clear reasons attached to it, I am less likely to get distracted. Do you set goals? What is one of your goals for this year? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Comparison, goals, Homeschool, In Due Season, Teaching Home --- ### [The day I lost my crap at church; Running on Empty](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-day-i-lost-my-crap-at-church-running-on-empty/) **Published:** October 29, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### How far can you drive on an empty tank? To many of you, this question seems like a crazy question. #### You can’t drive on empty. Right? Then there are those of you who had an exact figure drop into your mind. I’m talking to you today sister. You are my people. Racing through errands, trying to get one more stop in with that little yellow blinking beacon lighting up your dashboard. Do I stop? Nope. Instead I am thinking through the rest of the week to find the ideal time to get gas. A time that is not, right now. I have 26 miles. This is what I know that I can safely on empty. Knowing that has not helped me solve the madness. My husband still sends me texts like this one, with like, a thousand question marks. ![Empty Gas Tank](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/closeup-of-a-gas-gage-displaying-that-the-car-has-an-empty-tank-shallow-depth-of-field_rKoZpO0Ho-1024x683.jpg "Empty Gas Tank › 200 Fingers & Toes") Why?? What is your aversion to getting gas? Why I must play dashboard bingo with the warning lights. (I’ve had four lit up at once, but they weren’t totally vital) What will I win when they are all lit up? Probably a $60 tow. #### In reality it is not the empty tank that is the problem At least I am not convinced it is really bad for the car or anything. (I am no expert, but I did listen the “The Car Guys” on NPR and they are on my side on this one) The problem arrises when I get up in the morning and get a call that a kid needs a ride in 10 minutes to be 20 minutes away, or life as we know it will end. I grab coffee and gather my things, hop in the car and BOOM! That little yellow light is staring me in the face. Now, I have to go too far to make it on empty, and I don’t have time to fill up. Have you been there? ##### FUN FACT: I have a Suburban which takes regular gas, and a Sprinter which takes diesel. The Sprinter has a 22 gallon tank and uses the diesel pumps, which are designed to fill enormous tanks rapidly. It takes no more than 3 minutes to add 21.6 gallons. ##### The Suburban has a 44 gallon gas tank. I could hand wash the car, knit a sweater, and still have time to go inside and pick out my snack before the gas would be done pumping into that beast. I tweeted about it the last time I had to get gas. > At the [\#BP](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BP?src=hash), The real reason no one goes back to regular from [\#diesel](https://twitter.com/hashtag/diesel?src=hash) [\#slowgaspumps](https://twitter.com/hashtag/slowgaspumps?src=hash) > > — 200fingersandtoes (@kingspie) [October 8, 2016](https://twitter.com/kingspie/status/784818247333969920) “>Read My Tweets Here #### In life I am not very different in the care of my soul-tank. I let my soul run on fumes, all the warning lights are blinking, but I have places to be. I’ll catch a quarter or a half-tank when I can. A few hours on my own, a quick visit with a friend, a few pages of reading. Just enough to fool myself into thinking I am taking care of me. Then like a few weeks back, I run out of gas completely. Um, it is not pretty… **Let me tell you about the day I totally lost my crap at church** Wednesdays are rough, the tank is at low, we blaze through the yelling get-ready routine and the shoe scramble, while I throw granola bars at children and yell science quiz questions. We drive and hour away for science classes where I occupy little ones as we both half heartedly do school neither if us want to do. I was hungry, we are always chaotic, but when I am hungry we are a mad stampede of obnoxious. After a few hours of corralling littles, I head off to take one of my girls to ballet. It should be a peaceful hour long reprieve, but I brought the 5 year old. He heard there were dinosaur toys, and who am I to squelch his enthusiasm for paleontology. Have you seen the kid? He is so sweet…but chatty. I was not in the mood for chatty. Instead of a planned quiet time, I named 10,000 dinosaurs and listened to them battle. (fairly quietly) Because I was running on fumes, thinking about the next thing, I was not really engaged in his conversation. I was thinking about what a bad idea this was and regretting losing my window of quiet. After all I was prepping for tonight’s Sunday School class. (Do you feel this going south fast) To get to church, I race from ballet, pick up all of the kids, 9 of them, and all of their school work, which can NOT be left behind and drive an hour home. There we have a glorious 15 minute pit stop before we head out to evening services. After a quiet dinner at church with my kids and about 100 church friends, we head off to our respective classes. As always, teaching was great. I love the kids. We laughed and wrapped up our lessons by playing a game. That is when there was a knock on the door. “Could you guys please play more quietly, we can not hear in the class below you.” If I were a sane and rational person like I usually am (insert maniacal laughter) I would have said, “so sorry for the trouble” and moved on. But I was not. I was neither sane nor rational. I was a frazzled nerve, exposed-wire,kind of raw. What I heard was more like, “Why can’t you control those kids, who let you teach, I bet this is how you parent, you kids are always so loud this must be why you would let your class get so out of control…” I heard a thousand things that were not said. I heard the echoes of an empty tank. The toxic fumes you should never breathe. They entered my nose and intoxicated me with offense. Still, I was ok. I held my crap together. I smiled and had the kids finish their game at the table. #### Listen up, the enemy of our soul does not play fair. He does not stop at enough. He is a trouble making Diva, and he was about to get in one more round. Class wrapped up and I gathered my three littlest ones in the noisy hall where all of the kids were being released. Hungry, tired and a lot worn out from the day, I had one last message to pass to another Mom. Her little one came raging down the long hall singing at the top of his lungs, just as the woman who had popped into class came “shushing” up the stairs. To be fair, the kids were crazy loud, and I don’t know what kind of important moment was happening in the class just down and around the corner. I will never know because I grabbed my three little ones by the wrists and I bolted. I left them all in the dust as some primeval flight instinct kicked in. The kids were crying about their hands, I was shushing and muttering about the yelling lady, (who was not actually yelling – hello, empty tank interpretation) my heart was racing, as I dragged all three kids out the door, down the stairs and across the street. I wanted to run away. If I could have, I would have gotten in my car and driven away; a scene the enemy of our beautiful church would have loved, but I had kids in class, so I waited. I waited and I sang. #### Worship is like honey to my soul In my wrecked turmoil. In my agitation and anxiety, I sang. In my emptiness, when I brought nothing to God but a broken down soul to church, God cradled it. Where I brought emptiness and a flurry of the unimportant, God quieted me. He did not leave me alone. Because God, the God who created the heavens and the earth, sent His own Spirit to dwell in me. He knows me intimately and worship is our love language. I sang to myself while the youth group played volley ball. I sang and got full. #### Offense comes, often with a purpose we don’t expect; to reveal our own deficits. I carry many hurts and wounds. They leave tender places, or worse still healthy places that I protect as though they are wounded. Protecting a phantom pain. Keeping people at a distance. Making appearances more important than hearts and souls. God want to fill up those empty place and fully heal those old wounds and scars. All of this is exactly what we are covering in our Women’s group with Lysa TerKeurst’s ***[Uninvited](http://amzn.to/2dYojJA).*** A book I need more than I thought I did. Instead of bring Christ with me to church, I brought my past hurts and allowed them to speak louder than the truth of the word of God. I am thankful that He speaks to me Thankful that God did not call me to live feeling less than, left out and lonely, but instead calls me to live LOVED. He is offering the same gift to you today. Don’t lose it. Don’t pass up your chance to get your tank filled up. ![Gas pump](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/JM-Industrial-444rrr.jpg "Gas pump › 200 Fingers & Toes") As women it is extremely hard for us to make time for ourselves. Mental and physical demands keep us running. What are the best methods and practices you have employed to keep your self from running out of gas? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Embracing You and Your Unique Homeschool | In Due Season Volume 1.8](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/embrace-you/) **Published:** October 31, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Over the last few weeks we talked about two ways to show our children love in our Homeschool time. We are going to wrap up our posts taking about comparison. I hope you had a chance to sign up and download the free study guide to get the most out of this series while it is up here on the blog. When the series is over these posts will only be available in the full e-course. I would love to hear your feed back from what you have read so far. What road blocks have you identified with the most? Have you found these lessons helpful? Don’t miss the next 3 months of FREE posts, every Monday, by subscribing at the bottom of this post. #### **In the [first lesson](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/show-love-by-giving-time/), I encouraged you to practice being intentional and focused with significant blocks of time.** I hope you are enjoying greater peace while you focused on instruction without distractions. **Did you give yourself permission to get rid of distractions?** **What were some of the things that make your day stumble?** I have a no laundry policy during school. In theory we are right next to the laundry room, but stopping to fold the next load never happens at a good point and only ended up being a chance for the kids to escape to the back yard. #### **Showing love while we school is one of the unique blessings of homeschooling. In [lesson two](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/honor-gifts-interests/), I asked you to explore your child’s unique interests and gifts.** We already talked about several ways I was able to incorporate my kids’ interests into our school day. I want you to be inspired to look for ways to incorporate your kids’ interests into your educational plans. **What is one way that you were able to show interest in your child’s talents or found a unique way to add them to some portion of your lesson plan?** I hope that you and your child were encouraged and excited about the idea of making their interests creditable for school. #### **In the second series of lessons we talk about how comparison will kill your joy** We have learned the significant lesson of embracing a personalized homeschool. You can read more about [Comparison](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/comparison-the-killer-of-joy/), [Maintaining Passion](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/comparison-work-without-passion/) and Finding [Your Families Rhythm](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/family-schedule/) in the pervious weeks lessons while they are still up on the blog. Finding the best fit for your family is a challenge, but when you find it, it will fuel your passion and interests. We will be talking about how to avoid the comparison trap in your life as well as build a schedule that works for you. There is no shortage of great advice out there, but the best advice is to find what is working well and maximize it. Don’t feel obligated to change your world drastically to fit homeschooling. It should become a part of the life you are already living. **As a veteran Homeschooler, I can say without a doubt that one of the best skills I have developed is the ability to trust myself.** Trusting my instincts did not come naturally. I have had many missteps along the way that have helped me grow over the last 13 years of homeschooling. I know that with enough fits and starts you will undoubtedly come to a place where you can be confident with your family exactly where you are. If I can help shorten the learning curve along the way, I want to do that for you. I built [***In Due Season***](http://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/directory) as an online course with detailed daily journal exercises for you. I wanted every parent to create a personalized map. One that fits you and your unique school with the help from a fellow traveler. #### **The best advice I can offer is to embrace being you!** \[Tweet “Everything everything about you, your quirks, your schedule, and your crazy life”\] If you are like many homeschool families, you might not fit the public-school mold. To be quite honest, in our family, we do not even fit the homeschool mold. I have had a lot of lessons in making comparisons to help me embrace our crazy uniqueness. **Do you think you have found your fit in the world of homeschooling?** **Is comparison still a challenge for you? Check out the previous lessons or jump right into the full course to start creating your own road map to the best year yet.** If there is anything I can do to encourage you in your homeschooling journey, don’t hesitate to leave a comment and reach out. This is my hearts desire, to encourage and walk along side of you. I had great women in my life who were leaders in their homeschooling community. They spent huge amounts of time leading others and sharing what they had learned. I gleaned more from them than I could have ever learned on my own, I hope to pass on a fraction of their wisdom to you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your homeschool journey. You are awesome for working hard to follow this path for your family. Keep pressing forward, helping each other along the way and IN DUE SEASON you will reap a great reward. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Comparison, Embracing You, Homeschool, Homeschool Helps, Homeschooling, In Due Season, Lessons, parenting --- ### [When Trouble Comes](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/when-trouble-comes/) **Published:** November 2, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* My thoughts are very raw. My heart is saddened to tears about the events in the recent weeks, but the news about the Des Moines Police Officers slain is too much to bear. I would like to share my journal with you from this morning. I now that I’ve had time to make edits. I think it is important to share now so be forgiving of my writing and hear my words. I remember the first time I snuck out to cruise around with some guys we had met earlier that day. They were cute and older. They seemed very cool as they pulled up to pile us in. I was “hanging out” at a friends house and wouldn’t be missed for a few hours. The guys laughed and teased us, in good nature. As we got further from home their tone became serious. The driver pulled over, and looked back at us, two girlfriends were squished like sardines in the back seat and I was up front in shotgun. “If you hear gun shots get down on the floor.” He looked to me, “Recline your seat all the way back, and I will get you all out of there as fast as I can.” The day before I had been at the rollerskating rink. I was in the 7th grade. At first we thought he was making fun, trying to scare us, but his tone convinced us otherwise. He told us about the first time he had been involved in the cross fire of a shooting. They didn’t connect the chaos and the pop of gunfire with the danger they were in. The car load of boys slowed to survey he seen as a bullet grazed their car. Later they showed us where it had left a scar in the metal. Suddenly, driving in cars seemed a whole lot less fun that I thought it was going to be. It was a lesson I learned the hard way. A lesson about the truth of Detroit. The news doesn’t mean much if it is not effecting you, it is the reality of a 7th grade mind as much as it is a part of human nature it’s self. I don’t think I was ever so glad for a night out to end. Though there was not an incident while we looped their favorite spots, cruising was off my list of desired activities for sure. I would stick to a summer of Rock-N-Bowl down at the local bowling alley and skate nights. I did not have to return to those street we passed. I didn’t live there. It wasn’t my city. In high school, I moved to Des Moines, Iowa. I remember when my Michigan friends came to visit for a week in the summer, we took up cruising again. I wanted to show them my town. We scooped the loop like all respectable teens and pit stopped at Java Joe’s for open mic night. We played endless boards games while the place was packed out with teens and young adults. We headed out just as the Civic Center croud started filing in. It was late as we made a few final rounds. My friends were awed at the cleanliness of our downtown. A single newspaper skittered across the open space of the beautifully paved, four lane road. They asked me questions like where all of the homeless people were and crime stats. I told them about how a police officer had not been shot since the year we were born. I also told them about the great guys I knew that ran “Door of Faith” ministries downtown and the efforts they made to drive around and pick up homeless folks who wanted a meal. I was proud of my city. So proud to stay and raise my family in safety. I can not say those things to my friends today. Last week a beautiful boy was riding in the car with his family when a bullet from an unknown assailant destroyed his brain and eventually ended his life. He had visited the church of a minister I know. He said he was a good kid. His family will never be the same again. Then, three days ago my husband got a call from one of our purveyors. He wasn’t going to make it into town. A bullet had passed through the window of his car barley missing his passenger and wedging itself in the visor of his car. He would need to provide forensic evidence and witness testimony. He was shaking, both angry, and afraid. An inch difference and he would have had to make the hardest phone call of his life. He would have to tell his best friend that his son was dead, senselessly. I can not say the things I told my friends, because today two Des Moines Police Officers are dead. They were found shot, in separate incidents, in their cruisers. All evidence at the scene appears to point to the fact that they were ambushed. Murdered, with clear intent. For the first time in 39 years an officer gave his physical life for the city he loved. I mourn for my city. I mourn for the families of those who are involved, I can not imagine the physical pain they are enduring right now. I mourn the world I live in, that I can not escape the violence, death and hate. I wept bitterly, and only composed myself because I need to write this. I need to take the kids to class. I imagine the dead 14 years old boy’s father has to go to work today. I can too, but like him I will not be the same. This city will not feel the same. I pray we rise up and say “Not here.” Please, pray for us today. I know many of my friends live in worse places and rough neighborhoods. I know there are individuals the cannot escape the cycle of violence and poverty. Pray that we see with clear eyes the world around us and don’t forget to make the difference where we can. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Setting Your Homeschool GPS | In Due Season Volume 1.9](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/set-your-final-destination-in-your-homeschool-gps-and-keep-from-getting-lost/) **Published:** November 8, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Setting a final destination in your Homeschool GPS will keep you from getting lost. Setting out on the journey of homeschooling is a huge undertaking. The route will change and alter with every child, but the end destination is that fixed point in the future; graduation day. On the outset of any trip we set the address of our final destination into our GPS device. Immediately we know how long our journey is going to be and could plan our stops along the way. I want to share with you about how I set my GPS for homeschooling. **Some people call it a mission statement, I just call it my “Why” page.** But first I want to talk about why you need a page like this in your homeschool. **You’re “Why” page is a buffer against disappointment, comparison, fear, and frustration.** On the days when those things are your worst enemies, your “Why” page is going to be your constant beacon. You will pull it out and reread these precious words to remind you exactly why you chose homeschooling in the first place. Your “Why” page will be your compass-rose; it will serve as the key to reading the homeschool map you are building with these posts. **Your why page will remind of your purpose with passion and honesty**. It will help carry you through times when disappointment makes you want to quit. Your “Why” page will carry you through times when you feel like you are not doing enough, or not measuring up to the standard others are holding against. **Your “Why” page is the constant standard.** It should include the truths that you should measure yourself against, so that you don’t fall victim to the opinion of others but instead are constantly redirected and strengthened by your own purpose, God’s truth and your mission statement. Do you have a mission statement for your homeschool already in place? Leave a comment and let me know if you have found your mission statement helpful in your homeschool journey as well. Sign up for my email list and receive a PDF download of our personal home school mission statement as an example to help you build your own homeschool GPS. Next week I will share about my first solo trip in 17 years and how to build a GPS for your homeschool. See you then. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season --- ### [Mother of 10 Shares Top 5 Time-Tested Books For Parenting](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mother-of-10-shares-top-5-time-tested-books-for-parenting/) **Published:** November 9, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **My 5 Time Tested Books For Parents** Some of these books, I have reread over and over again. Many I have shared with other parents. Several, are my favorite gifts for new parents. All of them, I offer now to you, in hopes that they are helpful to you and as always I would love to hear your time tested favorites. ***Bringing Up Boys By James Dobson*** This book was the most helpful in allowing me to understand, that I will never understand. Boys. Men. Their world. The way they think and are. I love the freedom to not get it. I loved the peace that it afforded me. If you have boys it should be required reading. If you are having trouble with an active boy, this was a great way to reframe your mindset about him. ***Shepherding a Child’s Heart By Tedd Tripp*** How do you respect a child and still be the disciplining authority figure in their life. Mr. Tripp explains it in the best terms ever and the underlying theme is respect. Respect of your role as a parent and also respect for you child as a person created by God, with unique purposes and gifts. Tedd is a writer that still speaks with so much authority and wisdom, I just saw him at a the [Homeschool Iowa](http://www.the-niche.org) conference last year and everything he shared about respecting your teens was so completely convicting. His teachings have remained relevant over the last 20 years and he remains one of my greatest influencers in parenting. ***The Heart of Anger By Lou Priolo*** If you have had an anger problem in your house, if you have had trouble with anger in the past or if you do not respond well to conflict, then this book is one that should be on your shelf. It helped me get the root of destructive behaviors faster than any other tool in our tool box. This book is full of practice exercises to help you work through things that trigger angered responses in your children. Getting to the heart of anger is the fastest way to get the the root of the problem and start the process of healing and Spiritual renewal. ***Don’t Make Me Count to Three By Ginger Plowman*** This book is like the “love child” of all of the previous three. Where Priolo offer much detailed advice and Tripp much biblical input, Plowman gives a practical application, a picture of the process. She guides you through exactly how to use everything you read and covers many clear examples with her own little ones. He voice is clear and warm. If you have been put off from other parenting books because you felt they were harsh or cold, you will love Ginger for writing this book just for you. Ginger also helps use the correct words to identify behaviors that should be “put off” such as lying, complaining or unkindness. In this biblical application of God’s words, we are correcting behaviors while loving our child. We stop saying naughty or brat and learn to name and identify behaviors we are working on. This helped me be more intentional about disciplining with clarity, which is something I really wanted to develop in my family life.She offers many ready scripture references to talk about character qualities we should all desire to have. ***Proverbs For Parenting by Barbra Decker*** If you would like to apply scripture to your kids lives, this book was a great resource. We had a ready tool that taught us how to respond with the truth of the Word of Gods without being threatening or oppressive. No one had to write a scripture 1,000 times. We had great talks about what a fool looks like according the the word of God and how a fool succeed in life. (spoiler alert: he did not) We discussed what the character of a wise person looks like and the success that comes from acting wisely. Those scriptures are seed sown, all of us benefit from them even today. I am an affiliate for ChristianBook.com and they are happy to provide you with easy and convenient links to these products. They are great people and they will pay me some change if you make a purchase, but they don’t charge you. It is how advertising works. It is a good thing because they carry all of these great books in one place. [![](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/product/3/35266x.gif "35266X: Bringing Up Boys, Hardcover Edition")](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=35266X)**[Bringing Up Boys, Hardcover Edition](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=35266X)** By Dr. James Dobson / Tyndale House “>Bringing Up Boys [![]( "78644: Shepherding a Child"s Heart: Parents Handbook")](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=78644)**[Shepherding a Child’s Heart: Parents Handbook](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=78644)** By Shepherd Press “>Shepherding a Child’s Heart [![133731: The Heart of Anger](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/product/1/133731.gif "133731: The Heart of Anger")](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=133731)**[The Heart of Anger](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=133731)** By Lou Priolo / Grace & Truth Books “>The Heart of Anger [![04649X: Don"t Make Me Count to Three!](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/product/0/04649x.gif "04649X: Don"t Make Me Count to Three!")](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=04649X)**[Don’t Make Me Count to Three!](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=04649X)** By Ginger Plowman / Shepherd Press “>Don’t Make Me Count to Three [![860639: Proverbs for Parenting: A Topical Guide for Child Raising from the Book of Proverbs, KJV Edition](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/product/8/860639.gif "860639: Proverbs for Parenting: A Topical Guide for Child Raising from the Book of Proverbs, KJV Edition")](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=860639)**[Proverbs for Parenting: A Topical Guide for Child Raising from the Book of Proverbs, KJV Edition](https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1191175&item_no=860639)** By Barbara Decker / AB Publishing “>Proverbs For Parenting All of these books were a great comfort to me when I wanted to grow into parenthood. This is a small sample of the books I have read, but these are my top 5. I would love to hear your favorites as I am working on a list for our class. I will share your top responses with them too. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [The Divided Kingdom and Kids on the Bus](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-divided-kingdom-and-kids-on-the-bus/) **Published:** November 10, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I am a teacher. It is what I do everyday, even when we aren’t doing school here at the house. At church I have the privilege of teaching the children every few weeks. It just so happened that I was teaching our Wednesday night class this week. I don’t find it coincidental that the scheduled lesson was about the ancient kingdom of Israrel being divided. We are in a similar place as a nation today, just as we were four years ago and will likely be again. That we endure, undivided as a Nation, is a glowing testimony to the rest of the world. Our Bible lesson was a reminder about what it means to disagree and how we can do it without destroying the relationships around you. Even though the lesson was for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders, I think it is a lesson the bares sharing today. We started with a survey at the beginning of class. We picked out two swanky locations for a virtual field trip; McDonalds or Burger King, because we needed a kingdom divided and nothing does that faster than BK curly fries. We tallied the votes, and determined we were going to Mickey-D’s. Then we talked about the trip for a bit. How are we going to behave? Those of you who are going to get what you wanted. Are you going to gloat, call names and brag about your cooler selection of toys the other place doesn’t have? You who are headed to a place you don’t want to go, are you going to fall to the floor and pout during the trip, are you going to starve in protest, and trash the place when we get there? What happens if we do this? Our lesson from the bible showed us the result. We talked about the Kingdom of Israel, two kings, one country. A people that could not agree, so they were divided. Further and further. Until they were so divided that even God could not speak to them. Divided to the point that they fought against each other as enemies. We all wanted to go somewhere this week As a nation we all raised our hands and tallied up what we wanted. Some wanted one president and some wanted another. Only one group got their way, but that is day one. We are all still going to get on the same bus and make this trip, together. What kind of trip is it going to be. I hope we have a trip that is one like the kids offered. We asked what they could do to make it a great trip even though some people didn’t like the place they were going. They said they could tell them about the toys that the other place offers, they can share their favorite items and ask the other kids what they like and look for similar items on the menu. They suggested they still sit together and even let each other be a little sad. Our kids are smart. They know what it is like to ride on the bus when it is miserable. It is better when we are kind to each other and thoughtful. We are faced with the same choices as adults. United or divided? Humility, peace, sincerity, and prayer, endless prayer. Let’s make sure everyone on the bus is safe, even if they are a little bit sad, or a whole lot angry. Division cost Israel 400 years, and unfathomable collateral damages, eventually leading to an entire nations captivity and destruction. We don’t have to guess about what to do next God left us instructions, what to do in case of emergency, and I am following them today. “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 Our first instruction is a personal call to relationship with the living God. To become a people called by His own name. The word says, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood a holy nation, His own special people. Our second instruction is to humble ourselves. True humility is to not think more highly of yourself than you ought to. What are you doing to change the world you live in for ther better. It is our duty to reach out across all party, social, and economic lines to show the face of God to the world Our third instruction is to pray and seek God’s face. Seek a personal revival. Pray for those areas we have not been diligent to pray for in the past. Which should help us identify where we need to work on our soul. Fourth, be intentional in your walk with God. Turn from your wicked ways. It says what is means and we know that we all have places we need to identify with honesty. We will be dealing with our sin nature until the time we die. We speak when we should listen. We listen to the wrong people for too long. We lie when we feel justified to do so. We hate when we should love. Even if it is for a moment, it is still wicked, and we are hurting people with our actions. The last part is amazing, because the God of heaven, who formed the earth and probably has better things to do, doesn’t. He is waiting. Listening. He hears you. Heaven is not so far that God can not hear you, forgive you and bring healing to our land. Healing is a strong word but nothing short of healing would be good enough for God. He is the restorer of hearts and the deliver of our souls. He alone will respond to these promises because He alone gave them. I pray you are encouraged, awakened, humbled and ready to get on the bus together ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [The guy that took the safety pin to a whole new level](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-guy-that-took-the-safety-pin-to-a-whole-new-level/) **Published:** November 15, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* You might be seeing news clips in your feed about people wearing a safety pin on their clothes. It is to show that they are a safe person. If you are in need of a friendly face, if you are feeling anxiety about the future, if you are fearful for your safety, you can be reassured when you see a person wearing a safety pin, that they are making themselves available for you. I appreciate the sentiment. I spent many years as an outsider, on the fringes of life, long black trench coat and combat boots included. I know what it feels like to search the crowd for a face that you can trust. I understand fear. I know it’s palpable effect. I understand the debilitating reach it can have, seeping into every facet of living. Making the day to day actions of living, seem impossible. There were troubled times, for a period my heart raced on and off for years. Nights where I wanted to flee, get away from everything and start over. I was looking for safe people too. There is a man who did so much more than wear a pin on his shirt. I met him in passing for many years, and although I had little trust for him, he always invited me to get to know him better. A pin was far to small an action to declare his trustworthiness. Instead, he was pierced by spikes; crude iron nails in his hands and feet, so there would be no mistake that He was safe. His open hands are before you today. In a world looking for safety pins, there is one who offered to be pierced on our behalf. Still, I was unsure I wanted what He was offering. Church people had hurt me deeply. They judged me by my actions and never once stopped to question my pain. They told me I was lost, but failed to acknowledge the depth of that statement in the reality of my life. They asked me to conform my heart to a standard I could not obtain, no matter how hard I tried. I hated their judgement and their self righteousness. I knew of their hypocrisy, the things that they struggled in silence with but never shared with others. The problem lied in the fact that they were not the ones that kept calling out to me. Church people were not the ones that were pierced for me. It was Jesus who sacrificed himself in my stead and He would not leave me alone. The more I got to know Him the more I learned that He was safe. He cared for my heart. He wanted to heal my pain and create a source of love and peace. My endless searches had brought me nothing but heart ache, pain and loss. I had cost myself so much in 18 short years, but none of that caused Him to turn His face from me. I was not sure about how this relationship was going to work out. I was not the kind of person Jesus people recruit. At least not the ones I had known. I met new ones, people like me who are learning to trust. People who didn’t behave in all the right ways, but couldn’t shake this Jesus, who kept showing up in their life over and over again. He did not reject me. He was safe. He was patient, kind, gentle and good. He made me want to be better. I read that one day Jesus asked a blind man, “Do you want to be made well?” Um, that seems redundant. The man was blind, I am sure he wants to see. But Jesus doesn’t just kick down doors and heal the sick. He knocks, He swings by a few times a week, He invites you over for dinner. When you are ready, He asks you personally, face to face. He waits for your words. For myself, it took six years. I prayed the prayer with my pastor, because I believed in God and I did not want to go to hell, but I kept this whole Jesus person at arms length. I didn’t need to know what a wreck I was, thank you very much. I was well aware. I had no desire to be oppressed and shamed. I had lived as a faker for many years. Staying under the radar, new schools, new friends every year, I learned to blend and fade. As an adult, I was sick of it and wanted to be authentic. I was pretty sure Jesus couldn’t handle me. For six years Jesus just stopped by regularly for coffee. People at the church loved on me. They shared their struggles and failings. They were authentic. I began to believe I belonged next to them. We were making changes to live a more successful life that the ones we had before. I was in a woman’s bible study the day I knew Jesus was ready to ask me, “Do you want to be made well?” I had just read about the woman who Jesus had forgiven, she was as big of a mess as I had ever been. She returned to Him at a dinner party and opened a jar of perfume, anointed Jesus’ feet and washed them with her hair and her tears of gratitude. Jesus told the mocking jerks around the table that they didn’t get it, or Him. (my paraphrase) He said, “those who are forgiven much, love much.” By then I knew people who walked out love. They were glaringly kind compared to the folks who let me know I was breaking the rules as a teen in pain. I wanted to be more like them. I wanted to be forgiven much, if it would help me grow to be able to love much. So, I prayed, and like a new lover, I revealed every secret, one by one to this Jesus and waited for Him to reject me. Never once did he wince or break away from me in shame. He knows my every thought and intention, and still wanted me to learn about Him. My life is changing, it is a truly beautiful, painful, messy, ecstatic with joy and love, kind of life. My life has the clean, whole-hearted love, and hope that I only imagined it could have one day. This God is not like you have been told, He wants you. A safety pin was not enough. He was pinned to a cross to prove it. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Christmas is The Best Time to Give Tech - What I Want Under the Tree](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/giving-kids-tech-wishlist-2/) **Published:** November 27, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* There a millions of TECH gift options out there and just as many retailers to choose from. How do you narrow down the list of tech gifts and choose the one your kid is going to love? I am glad you asked. In my annual tech review last year I recommended Kindle Fires and their freetime program. You can check it out [here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/are-you-considering-giving-the-gift-of-tech-this-christmas/). > ###### This post may contain affiliate links and as such when you choose to make a purchase the retailer pays me a small sum. You don’t incur any charge for this and I get to share products I love while supporting my family, so if you like something enough to buy it please click through my link to buy it and we both win! #### As Always, I Say: Start with your child’s natural interests I want to translate my kids interests into a love of learning, tech gifts are a great way to do that. Could you see their little faces on Christmas morning if you passed out math workbooks? Not the same thing, but give them their own mini robot to program and challenge and you become a hero and a savvy parent. [![How do you know what to pick](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/519QQX1432L-300x263.jpg "STEM is all the rage › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/519qqx1432l/)Competition in the field of STEM toys is great because it means there are a lot more high quality products to choose fromI have said before I have a few kids that are gamers. I want them to see that there is so much more behind the scenes of the game without making it a boring school lesson. This year I am using the excuse of Christmas to add to our Tech selection for gamers with these great gifts. #### **Build their own computer with Kano** With [Kano](http://amzn.to/2fskUnb) your child builds a computer from the ground up. There are many systems out there, some require more tech savvy than I have. Kano is for a parent like me, who wants her kids to learn what she missed out on. The Kano build system is very similar to a lego kit. Each part is identified as you connect them. The brain is a Raspberry Pi 3 motherboard and everything in contained within a kid proof case, with stickers, because kids love stickers. Talk about making computers less intimidating. [![u kids can grow their own tech skills at home](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/713RjM-cZ9L._SY500_-300x300.jpg "Build a computer as simply as a block project › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/713rjm-cz9l-_sy500_/)Just like the little booklet your kids are familiar with already KANO walks through the project step by stepA few of my kids still love MineCraft, so connecting with their natural interest is easy. With Kano you can move from playing the game to creating your own elements with computer code. Kano does all of the work by creating code modules for your child. They will be playing their way to being a real life programmer. I get to be fun by allowing them extended computer time knowing full well it is a STEM class in disguise. #### Extend the life of a tech gift you already own If you already have a Raspberry Pi or Kano computer you might be interested in their new project kits. Kano’s Pixel Kit, Camera Kit, and Speaker Kit are all great Tech challenges. Check out their site to see when they will be available. Kano constantly produces new code modules and apps to play and modify so the play extends on and on. You don’t have to fear that your kiddo will get bored and forget about KANO. The have been producing new material all year long, and we can’t wait to begin building our own games and apps. #### **Balance is always a good thing, don’t forget to go outside** Want to add an active phase to balance out your computer time? If you already have a trampoline there are several interactive games like this [combo kit](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00540QHDU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=200fingandtoe-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00540QHDU&linkId=b61d6a2eef50cdc83ca9510a95e9c301) that you can attach to your trampoline to give it a new layer of interest, and one that doesn’t involve jumping off the garage, which is how my kids like to spice it up. I am always looking for ways to update any high dollar purchase we have ever made (they are few and far between) and the [trampoline]() is one item we have missed a lot since losing it in a storm a year ago. I am pretty sure we will be replacing it this soon and something like these games might make it extra fun. We plan to camp out on ours when the weather turns nice again, because coyotes can’t eat you if you are off of the ground. At least that is what the little guys over here tell me. Speaking of outdoor play, we also love our [slackers 50-Feet Slackline Classic Set with Bonus Teaching Line](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007S3MHMG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007S3MHMG&linkCode=as2&tag=200fingandtoe-20&linkId=f09e06d55edbe23838b73a9fd10e159d)![](//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=200fingandtoe-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B007S3MHMG) I definitely have my eye on their [Ninjaline](https://slackersline.com/product/ninjaline-intro-kit/) overhead obstical filled line to extend the play space and add an extra challenge to our outside play area. The slack line [saved our sanity during our whole house remodel](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/7-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/). It has been in perpetual use for the last three years and always a fun challenge for visiting kids to try out. #### Don’t let Christmas take you off course. Know your Goals! Confession, I am not the one to send Christmas shopping around here. I am very practical and frugal. In years past we have tried very hard to keep Christmas for all 12 of us under $500. Being frugal has it’s benefits. In just short of 15 years, we payed off our house and business, but that left no room for spending for several years. The great thing is that now we are finally in a place where we can save up for the things we want. I can dream of fun things that are not socks and jeans. We get to pick a few great things and we can still afford the things we need to do, like pay for health care and our taxes. #### **Christmas could be your chance to go big** We are finally in a place where we have some breathing room. To be honest it feels really good. For years I was a Scrooge at Christmas, counting down to the last pennies, scratching things off the list. If you are there don’t lose heart. I am so thankful for those years. We build our faith and financial integrity. This Christmas is the first time I can allow myself to consider things that would normally be an automatic “No.” I hope you are determined to get out of debt so you can be in the position we find ourselves this year. It the first time in years that I am thinking of getting a few items for Christmas, that I have been dreaming of for years. [![looking for fun tech that will last](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/61JpQAMbLDL-300x300.jpg "Giving Tech This Christmas? › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/61jpqambldl/)My annual Christmas review of the items we would love to add to our house and homeschool[Lego Mindstorms](http://amzn.to/2gAGTJs) has been on our Science/Tech wish list for years. It has never made it into the school budget. My older kids are getting to the age where they want very little for Christmas. I plan on combining all of the older boys for one big item. That way I can fill their stocking with all the little things they asked for. With this robotics program, I hope to get one more year of cooperative play before the oldest graduates and moves on to adult life. My son is interested in computer sciences. Lego Mindstorms offers the chance to explore robotics. The Mindstorms team issues a new challenge every year. Your child gets to meet the challenges of a fun obstacle course they create themselves to solve the challenge. Learning coding has never been more fun. #### **Or just take a taste of TECH with a smaller kit** We have four older boys to share these projects and we homeschool. With those factors, I can justify the bigger investment, but price should not keep you from exploring robotics. I choose a larger sized kit for school sized sharing. The [DIY starter kit from Makeblock](http://amzn.to/2gJJPax) might be a better fit for one child. They can build and program using Scratch code. The Makeblock kit has two configurations and a clear coding interface makes is easy to learn and use right out of the box. The programming is open enough to grow in complexity as your child learns more robust coding language. There are many kits in every range of prices and interests. Take a look for yourself, click any one of the links and it will take you to the STEM toy category for more choices. [![Giving Tech at Christmas has never been more fun](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/71B8LYBZmZL._SL1000_-300x300.jpg "Makeblocks teaches coding and electronics › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/71b8lybzmzl-_sl1000_/)Do you want to introduce robotics to your kids and get to play at the same timeI want nothing more than my kids to pass me up in the world of Tech. They are going to need to hurry because I am learning as fast as the are. These kits and their integrations make learning code instantly rewarding. Building a challenge course and solving problems you create together is a great way to help your kid create problem solving skills. Those translate into real world learning they can use forever. #### Unleash their inner beast on a really small scale with movie making There is also a [Stopmotion Explosion](http://amzn.to/2ftQJkl); an animation movie making kit we’ve had our eye on for a few years. We added computers to the our schoolroom last year. Since then, we are always looking for 3 dimensional ways to use them. Plus I have a love of stop animation ever since I watched **Clash of the Titans** when I was little. Your kids might just make the next **Voyage of Sinbad**, just on slightly smaller scale! [![Tech makes imagination a reality](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/81URDK93VzL._SL1500_-300x169.jpg "Creative platform just kicked it up a notch › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/81urdk93vzl-_sl1500_/)I have been a fan of stop motion films since childhood This could help me translate my passion to my kidsWith any one of these you and your kids could live some creative moments during the winter break and all year long. You don’t even have to tell them that they are learning, but I bet they will be telling you. What are some of the favorite Tech gifts that have lasted at your house? I would love to add them to my list. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** Christmas gifts for kids, giving, Homeschool, robotics, STEM, Tech --- ### [Your “Why” is a reminder of where you should keep your focus | In Due Season Volume 1.12](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/your-why-is-a-reminder-of-where-you-should-keep-your-focus-in-due-season-volume-1-12/) **Published:** November 28, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I have an overall vision for my school, which is long term, and I have year long goals as well. You could have a page for each child to create individual goals as well. When you are done put them somewhere you can access them readily. You can put them up in a public space and share the vision with your family. With older children, they might have a page they have created for themselves. We add character goals with academic goals. When discouragement comes, when test scores disappoint, when behavior problems take precious class room time, read your “why” and be reminded that you are on a much longer journey than today. My page to helps me to refocus many times throughout the year. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Mary Did You Know - Loving, even in the promise of sorrow](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mary-did-you-know-loving-in-sorrow/) **Published:** December 7, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I am beginning to understand why there is such a connection with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Over the last few weeks there have been 7 deaths in our small community. Lives altered forever. Among those were three teens that went missing over the weekend. Searchers found them yesterday, after three days of waiting, in the wreckage of a terrible single car accident. Of all of the outlandish or wild speculations people had, no one ever imagined such a heart breaking tragedy had already come to pass. We did not know as we prayed for them to come home. The news of their death was a total shock. As a mother my heart was pierced with the pain that I knew these three mothers are experiencing. I was shocked and cried but my grief is but a shadow. When my sorrow is played out, I get to wipe my face and move forward, but this day will never be the same for them. It will hang in their memory forever, never far out of focus. #### Mary Did You Know? In [Luke 2:22](http://biblehub.com/luke/2-22.htm), the Holy family presents Jesus and Mary, to the temple to receive their ceremonial purification. It was there that Simeon; promised by the Holy Spirit to see the savior-messiah, takes the infant Jesus, in his arms and speaks a blesssing over him and Mary. > Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him, 34and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, ‘Lo, this \[one\] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against — 35(and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) — that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.’ Mary has to hear these words and wonder. “A sword will pierce your soul.” What is the meaning of this cold, harsh truth, spoken over her tender heart as a blessing, even while she holds her warm, squirming baby boy. The promise of a sword piercing her very soul hanging in her memory forever, never far out of the main focus. Mary watching with joy as her son grows stronger. Did she fear loving him, knowing what was promised? In [Matthew 2](http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-1.htm) the Magi, arriving in a huge and strange caravan, come to give honor to the one born King of the Jews, as shown to them in their charts of the heavens. They come bearing gifts; gold for a King, frankincense for a Priest, and myrrh a expensive spice used in the preparing the bodies of the dead. #### Mary Did You Know the Price of the gift you received? Did her heart give a flutter as the scent of myrrh filled the room? Did she remember those who had passed before her, the silence as the women around her worked in their grief preparing their loved ones for the grave. The work of women, life and death. Did she remember the promised sword? Yet, she did not guard her heart, she loved. She encouraged. Mary yielded, even as we all, as Mothers, must. She loved her boy, man, God; because he was first, her son. She stored every moment, knowing they were already measured. She might have sold off the frankincense and gold, but did she keep the myrrh, to remind her that there was an end she would have to accept one day. #### Mary Did You Know The Sorrow to Come? As I read about the kids, being found already gone three days; after I wept, I thought of Mary. I thought of the prophecy of the sword piercing her soul. I knew there were no truer words ever written. The piercing pain of loss. I have never tasted the sting that Mary received the day her soul was pierce by the death of her firstborn son. But it comes. Every day, Mothers weep somewhere. The longer I live, I understand more and more, the indentification with Mary. Those that are still here. Long after Christ is Glorified and seated on the throne in heaven. We are here. Still finding socks of a child who will never wear them again. Still knowing the dates that come sharply into focus several times a year. #### Mary Did You Know the Hope We are Assured of? Mary treasured these things in her heart. It is repeated several times in the gospels. I am thankful that our heart can hold so much more than just sorrow. It is strong enough to carry hope, love and joy; at the same time as sorrow, pain and grief. There is room for both. #### Mary Knew…yet she poured into Jesus all of the years that she had. We are given but one option, we must love blindly and without limit, because we do not know the future for our children. Every day is a treasure. I will treat each one as if it has an expiration date, and use it up all of the way. I pray for our community and offer my open hands. There are no words that will bring you more comfort than shared tears, a treasury of memories you have stored in you heart and a hoped forward eternity together one day. Blessings, Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional, Parenting **Tags:** children, Magi, Mary Did You Know, parenting, Sorrow --- ### [Choosing a Curriculum to Survive and Thrive in Your Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/choosing-curriculum/) **Published:** December 13, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### **When choosing a curriculum, the truth is: It is All About You** Have you ever wondered what I use at home for a school with 10 different grades? Yes, 10 kids in 10 different grades. Have you wondered how I haven’t just completely lost my mind? That is ok. We get that a lot. In our homeschool, I use the curriculum that fits ME best. I translate that to each of my kids the way they hear it best. #### **Making a curriculum choice is a very personalized decision.** It has to fit you as the teacher, as much or even more than it has to fit the kids. If you hate it, the school day can feel like drudgery. The curriculum you choose will directly effect the success of your day. My advice is to get one you love. That way you can be enthusiastic about and translate it as needed to fit your kids learning style. #### **What if I hate school already and it is only December** This is a sign you are using a curriculum you hate and the reason why I am wiring this now. I want to help you because January and February are high burnout months for homeschoolers. Don’t quit when a few small changes could make all of the difference in your school. You can do this homeschooling thing and you can do it really well. I know you can because I have somehow managed to find my way with 10 very active and energetic kids. One of the reasons I can stay such an active resource as a homeschool Mom is that I have a lot of students. It works for me and I am thankful. Each of my kids have different needs and learning habits. It stretches me and makes me search for tools to help me. That is great because I get to share them with you. There might not be a magic bullet curriculum, but I have found the fit for me. I don’t think that you, as the parent and teacher, are considered enough in the curriculum choosing equation. When you are first starting out, the truth is that it is all about you. **Shop around for a Curriculum for your kids but First, Two Points** 1. #### Know your personality. I love my curriculum. There is a huge binder that I loving call “Mom.” It tells me what to do every day. Knowing my personality, I can tell you this is a great fit. Indecision kills my productivity more than anything. When you leave me a list, I am a happy person. My husband knows this, if he wants something done he is specific and clear. Those seem to be the only kind of instructions that I will follow. *What stalls you out in your school day?* My dear friend who introduced me to the curriculum that I love and have used for the last 13 years, used it for less than a year. I am glad I met with her during the “Love-it” stage. She hates being told what to do. She loves to wing-it and create unit studies about topics of interest. This works for her and her family. I would sink where she swims. *What kinds of activities do you get excited to do?* We all like to get our information differently. That is why my number one rule of curriculum curation actually has nothing to do with school or learning styles. It is about knowing you. How do you as a regular, human, adult, person like to receive instructions. Structured with details, or with lots of room to make your own plan? This will help you know what kind of curriculum to look for. #### 2. Know Your Lifestyle Take time to gauge how your days run before you ever start school. Start looking at your long term academic goals. These were the two biggest factor in choosing our curriculum. As for my day; I spent out days reading books while the kids were small. We were young restaurant owners so, I was alone for long portions of the day with 5 children, 5 and under. Reading was our wind down activity. We read in the mornings. We read at nap time and at bed time as well. I wanted a curriculum that gave us school credit for doing exactly what we were already doing every day. *What activities are a priority in your day?* We all have strong desires to see our children succeed in different areas. Embrace those passions because they can translate our enthusiasm for a subject to our children. I also knew my academic goals for my kids early on. Reading is important to me. I didn’t read for joy until I was an adult. If I wanted my kids to grow up and be more than readers, if I wanted them to love books I was going to have to model that. Knowing that reading is vital in child development, builds leadership skills and increases the likelihood of continuing on in higher education, I created a world where reading was prominent before school was even on the radar. *What are some of your long term academic goals and hopes for your kids?* #### Is there a right way? What if I value hands on learning? There are plenty of boxed curriculums and learning kits to keep you busy well on to graduation. My friend just loves textbooks. She loves knowing everything is covered and all in one place. I would die, but she is happy, happy, happy. She looks at my stack of nearly 50 reading books and feels her skin crawl. Knowing yourself is the key to thriving with the curriculum you have chosen. Your personal learning style and current life style **are** factors in choosing the right curriculum for your family. #### Knowing this might change everything for you? I hope this helps you see where you are having troubles with your curriculum. Whether it is because of learning style of lifestyle, a few small changes can correct the problems and get you on track to the best school year ever. Next time I will share about how three of us use the same curriculum very differently because we have learned this truth. It is helping us thrive exactly the way we are. I want to help you do the same. Leave a comment and tell me one thing you took away from this article. Do you know how you like to receive information? Do you have a unique lifestyle that would your school? I would love to hear from you. [![feed my soul words on a page](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_1771-e1442087575489-300x122.jpg "We read, we are the book house › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/img_1771/) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting, Read **Tags:** burnout, curriculum, Homeschool, Homeschool Helps, parenting, reading, starting homeschool --- ### [Skip the books! How to make STEM studies a reality in your homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/skip-the-books-how-to-make-stem-studies-a-reality-in-your-homeschool/) **Published:** January 5, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have you ever bought a circuit set with high hopes of you kid using it with joy; only to throw it away piece by piece as you find them strung out on your kids bedroom floor? Have you ever found the half finished model of the ship you were intending to use to teach the kids about sailing? Is it just me, who lives in the land of good intentions. [![What kit is waiting for you to finally get some time?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_0924-300x300.jpg "Want them to remember their lessons? › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/pew-pew-100-5/)Hands on learning is the most effective way to gain retention rates and keep kids learning longer#### **What happened to our projects? Real life got in the way, that’s what happened.** I’ve done the same thing. That’s why we are taking a leap when it come to our approach to STEM learning this month. We have always had science kits and side projects. We have done unit studies using electricity and water power. We’ve researched ships and wind. We’ve built models of the solar system and the like. All of these were done alongside our regular school work. Usually ending in a flurry because we had to wrap it up to get to “real”school. #### **This year we are taking a leap into our STEM projects like never before.** We are taking the month off of our regularly scheduled school to dive deep into our projects. I am giving myself permission to shift what is usually a side project into the main focus of our school for the month of January. [![u kids can grow their own tech skills at home](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/713RjM-cZ9L._SY500_-300x300.jpg "Build a computer as simply as a block project › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/713rjm-cz9l-_sy500_/)Just like the little booklet your kids are familiar with already KANO walks through the project step by step#### For the first time ever, I am totally psyched to get back to school after Christmas break. Would it be an amazing refresher for you if your family could do the same thing? What would that look like if you had school the way you had wanted it? We have three classes over here and three coordinating projects for them to master over the next month. Read my [tech giving review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/%ef%bb%bfgiving-kids-tech-wishlist/). Have you heard about some of the programs we are incorporating into our school this year. Our older boys are exploring robotics and programming with [Lego Mindstorm](http://amzn.to/2hNT8rt). With a Junior and Senior to lead the other two middleschool boys; I am leaving much of the teaching and research up to the older boys. They will learn the program and problem solve to overcome obstacles and challenges on a course they will design. My older daughter and myself will finally get to explore making movies with stop action animation. We are using [Stopmotion Explosion](http://amzn.to/2j0RBKF); the HD camera and the software provided in the kit will work on my iPad or on our school computers. I am looking forward to this program more than the kids. The younger girls aren’t left out of the leaning. Our [Kano](http://amzn.to/2i6vL8p) computer provides a robust course in computer programming and code writing. Do you want girls that can thrive in a tech world? I always have. I love that Kano is not pink. It does not have a glitter cover, it has real games and live apps your kids can explore, manipulate and build. If they want glitter they are going to have to learn to code it themselves. #### What are the top three things you would you learn with your kids if you could put off some of your obligations. I am giving you permission to take a look at these “side” projects as real, viable, legitimate school. Maybe this year you could take a STEM block as well and really dig into a new tool or skill by giving it the time and attention it really needs. [![How many project kids are in your house right now?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_0922-300x300.jpg "Digging into STEM studies › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/pew-pew-100-3/)Setting aside time to do those extras you never get around to might be the best school choice ever#### There are a ton of options out there. What have you been putting off because you don’t have the time? Tell me in the comment section. Instead of throwing away another little kit, get one you can spend a class’ worth of time on and then schedule it in. Take the time you all really deserve and make it fun. These are your years and you get to shape them how you want to. \[Tweet “Don’t let opportunity pass you by because you were busy with the obligations of life.”\] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Homeschool, Homeschooling, Kano, kidcoder, learning tools, lego mindstorm, programming, STEM, teaching kids code, teaching tech --- ### [The Truth About Flexibility | In Due Season Volume 1.16](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/truth-flexibility-due-season-volume-1-16/) **Published:** January 9, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I have been blessed with an easy going personality. I have often left the house with 3 diapers and a wipes package and filled the hours with various free ways to entertain seven small children. Being flexible comes more naturally to me and with ten children, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for it. But, don’t get me wrong, there are times when I want my way. I want it now, like the Willie Wonka candy-gobbling Blueberry girl. Now! There are times when homeschooling feels like all the decisions need to be made now. What classes, what subjects, what curriculum and what format? The list can be never ending and overwhelming and sometimes times I feel the Blueberry girl from Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory is breathing down my neck. Now, now, now. Everyone need answers, now. My child wants changes, now. I want results, now. Sometimes our brain mis-labels flexibility. It will tell us that we are quitting, being flakey, wishy-washy, noncommittal or irresponsible. Being flexible is not those things. The wisest parents I know are ones willing to stop when something is not working. They ask advice of others. They weigh out the options while still being open to input. As parents the hardest part of homeschooling is often the volume of decision making. Doing the very best thing for our family can mean changing course in the face of opposition, risking offense, or the very real pain of monetary loss. Though these are difficult, they are changes are made by wise, brave and strong parents who are willing to endure the temporary pain to have a better schooling experience. Don’t be too quick to confuse flexibility for quitting. I invite you to see flexibility as a valuable tool for your homeschool and use it to create the very best outcome for your children. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season --- ### [We Influence With Our Words | In Due Season Volume 1.19](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/influence-words-due-season-volume-1-19/) **Published:** January 30, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Early in our home-school experience I had the blessing of being challenged on a daily basis, by a very strong willed daughter. I was not so Pollyannaish in my descriptions of the situation while I was in deep in the trenches. I am thankful that I had a standing coffee date with a wise friend. I would use the time to vent my frustrations. My friend would gently reshape my words and feed them back to me, making the bitter become sweet. She reminded me of how precious my daughter was, and what a gift from God she is in my life. I did not always enjoy that part of our talks. Sometimes I left our coffee time kind of irked. I wanted to complain and wallow in my sorrows, but the truth was set right out in front of me. I could choose to reshape this situation with my words. If I could not change my child, I could change myself and the way that I interpreted her actions. I could choose to stop taking her behavior personally and pick up better tools to parent her. Complaining is passive, raising a child is active. I needed to start acting differently if I wanted to have a different attitude. It had to start with my words, because my words were speaking to my heart. To begin with I prayed; often and daily, because change is hard and you need a partner that sees further that you can. I asked God to help me see my daughter as He sees her. As my heart softened, I began a new running narrative about my daughter. Instead of strong willed I told friends about how she is a strong and fierce woman that was going to need every ounce of determination God gave her to fight for those without a voice. I began to talk about my daughter being an advocate for the powerless. Today, many years later, she is growing into the vision I created. I am still frustrated by her fearlessness and determination, but I knew that if I tried to break, instead of harness her strength, she would never be able to live out the desires of her heart. If my dear friend had not challenged me to value the power of my words, what narrative would my daughter have had to grow into. What narrative are you writing about your child? Here is a free peek at the study guide for this lesson. This and all 24 lessons with their weekly study guides are available at [In Due Season](http://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/indueseason) If you are ready to start building a road map to your best school year yet, check it out today. \[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IN-DUE-SEASON-1.19-PDF.pdf” title=”IN DUE SEASON 1.19 PDF”\] ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season --- ### [Curating A Heart of Praise | In Due Season Volume 1.20](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/curating-heart-praise-due-season-volume-1-20/) **Published:** February 6, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you have read the Bible much you will notice that over and over, we are cautioned about grumbling and complaining. There are days, I have given over to my internal dialogue. You might know what those days are like. When you’ve already had the argument, twice, before the actual meeting. Days when the Lord and your windshield both know exactly what you are thinking. These arguments take up precious space. We cannot listen well to our children or our spouse when there is already a formed argument unpacking its suitcase in our mind. Capturing our thoughts before they escape is noble, but taming the quiet spaces of our heart and mind should be our goal. The words out of our mouth are strongly tied to having a successful and peaceful homeschool. The negative is present, yes, that will always be true in our life, but like a cloud it can make it harder to see the true landscape. What if we take an intentional period to look at the unclouded landscape before us and marvel at the things that bring us joy. What are the things you love about your day, your spouse, or each of your children? Every morning this week I would like for you to choose an area of your life and write a whole page of things that you love about each. Add the areas that you struggle with to the list. If, like me, you have an area that you are really struggling to see reasons for joy, find a friend of strength and character who is willing to help see for you with faith filled eyes. If you are experiencing sorrow and cannot find comfort in your situation, seek the truth in God’s word. It has been my solace many times over. Curate a collection of praise and allow yourself to change your narrative. Practice speaking great things about your homeschool, family and spouse and help to create change in your life. A heart of gratitude must be continually cultivated to grow seeds of love. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season --- ### [Being Influencers in Our Home | In Due Season Volume 1.21](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/influencers-home-due-season-volume-1-21/) **Published:** February 13, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I admit that this year, as I read endless headlines in praise of teachers, I felt a little resentful. Before you think I am a terrible human, I will remind you that I am very much made of flesh and blood. As such I am subject to frustration and disappointment as often as I am to joy and elation. I work very hard for my family and probably like you, without much recognition. Not many children thank you for making them productive members of the human race; not before they enter it full force themselves. I know I didn’t. I’m still calling my Mother to tell her I’m sorry on a weekly basis. I am pretty sure it’s the standard Mother/Daughter contract. Ingratitude and strife can wear you down. For me my tank ran out somewhere in the middle of hearing about professional assistant’s week, Teacher’s week and Nurse’s week (and Mother’s DAY). Feeling unappreciated, I was getting ready to put on a good pout. But, I happened upon an article about a rural teacher. I read about the lengths she went to make sure her kids had their needs met in her classroom. I read about the expenses she scrambled to cover out of her own pocket. I saw pictures of her classroom and the extent that she tried to reach out to all the different learning styles. I read, and I was humbled. I read and my heart was reset, like a badly healing bone. I was not in this place in life for a bouquet and a coffee mug. Like that teacher, I was here to inspire and lead my children. We are here for so much more than we can see from today. I am so grateful for the position that I am in. Can you step into this place as well? We are blessed to be a part of our children’s education, even when it’s overwhelming. Not unlike any other teacher, we all have likes and dislikes. We all get a little crazy come late May. As I read about this precious teacher’s love for her class, I was inspired. Isn’t that what great teachers are? Inspirers. Leaders. Influencers. I was reminded again of the power influencers have over the people near them. Her example of faithfulness and joy made me want to strive a little harder. Find the influencers for change, for learning, for hope and grace in God’s truth. Surround yourself with them and strive to be an influencer in everything you do. Remembering those that inspired you is a great way to be continually pushed forward. Praise is a poor motivator for leadership, but knowing you are striving toward a prize that is eternal should give us hope in our trials. In due season there is a harvest we will obtain and that is a prize worthy of all our striving and stumbling along the way. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season --- ### [Is your new blog struggling to gain traction? This one tool helped me.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/is-your-new-blog-struggling-to-gain-traction-this-one-tool-helped-me/) **Published:** February 16, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Are you sick of blogging for your Mom and sisters? Get your writing in front of real people and build an audience yourself. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Have you ever felt like you are spinning your wheels when it comes to your blog? Like no matter what you try, it is just your Mom and sister reading your your blog posts? I totally get it. I felt exactly the same way! I had no idea how to get my message out of my own social circle. As a stay at home mother for the last eight years my circle was more like a spot. It was not like a had a lot of friends I could convince to share my writing, so how was I going to be heard. I could join a bunch of forums but it seemed like it was always the same few people who would chime in over and over again. I started looking for a better way to get my message out into bigger channels. That is where I heard about Ruth Soukup. I ordered her book “How to Blog for Profit Without Selling Your Soul” and completely revamped the way I blogged. With her book I built a blog I could not only reach more people with but one I could now use to monetize. Last year I decided I was ready to take a chance and enroll [Elite Blog Academy]() course. I wasn’t sure how to make money with a blog, but I had followed Ruth’s instructions before. I knew she was clear, practical and easy to follow. There was no risk of getting stuck in some tech jargon that was way over my head. I am so glad I did! In the time since I started Elite Blog Academy, my readership has grown from 2 to 5,000 followers. By following the steps in the program I was able to build an audience that reads my writing. My page views have gone from under 200 a month to over 2,500 a month. My goal of reaching consistently over 1,000 pageviews was ticked off in months. Now, I can apply to even better affiliate programs. Do you have long term goals but aren’t quite sure how to get there? EBA laid to a simple map for me to follow. Through a powerful combination of practical training videos, insightful handouts, purposeful assignments, and interactive live webinars, Elite Blog Academy will empower, enable, and inspire you to take you blog to the next level, whether you’ve just started or have been blogging for years. But the best part about it is not even just the information that it provides, but the fact that it will give you a comprehensive framework and a step by step plan of action for how to get the results you want. This totally life-changing course promises to produce measurable results, and comes with a 100% money-back guarantee, which means you’ve literally got nothing to lose. However, you should know that enrollment for Elite Blog Academy is extremely limited, and will only be open for five days, beginning on February 22nd. I missed the window for enrollment when I was finally ready. I had nothing to do but wait six months for the doors to open. I’ve got great news! This won’t happen to you, because before the doors open, Elite Blog Academy is offering a FREE training series called [Blogging Made Simple](). It includes three powerful video lessons intended to help you eliminate the overwhelm and instead focus on the tasks that will help you make the biggest impact. If you are a blogger or have even just thought about blogging, you will NOT want to miss it! ![Take your blog to the next level](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Blogging-Made-Simple_-Ruth-Photo-1_FB-20_larger_-1200x627-2.jpg "Blogging-Made-Simple_-Ruth-Photo-1_FB-20_larger_-1200x627-2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") You can sign up to join the EBA waiting list and get the free training [HERE](). There aren’t a lot of blogging resources I can recommend wholeheartedly, but I can say without a doubt that [Elite Blog Academy]() was one of the best investments I have ever made into my blog and my personal life. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** blog & writing life, For the Writer **Tags:** Blogger 101, blogging, Blogging Made Simple Video, Business Building, EBA, Elite Blog Academy, Ruth Soukup, SheSpeaks, Writing Life --- ### [How to Create a Platform That Will Support Your Writing Dreams](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/platform-support-dreams/) **Published:** February 22, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you are a blogger, you know all too well how overwhelming it can feel to juggle the day-to-day demands of writing a blog with the big-picture strategy of creating a profitable business. If you are anything like me, after the frustration simmers down, you looked for someone to guide you through the process of creating a successful blog. You want to write and get published, but you are told that you need a platform. The complicated details can make you lose sight of your true passion. It can make you scream, “I just want to write, dang it!” I have just the tool you need. Have you thought, Who would tell me, step by step, what I needed to do to grow my traffic. Is someone out there who can help me give potential publishers real numbers, the kind that will make them look at my writing. Can I do all that and still get my writing done? Ruth is your “Little Red Hen” she will help you alone get it all done. #### That is exactly what Elite Blog Academy was designed to do. Build your platform! Last year I decided to take a chance and enroll in the Elite Blog Academy course. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I would be able to learn everything new and apply it, but I was willing to take the chance because I knew Ruth’s site was working awesomely for her. And after seeing her in person, I knew she could teach. #### I knew that I want to write professionally, but where do you begin? I attended an expensive conference and learned how important your platform is to potential publishers. My blog was getting out to about seven people at the time. I knew that if I was going to come back next year with a book idea, I was going to have to bring the numbers to back me up. It was at the same conference that I met Ruth from Elite Blog Academy. I am so glad I did! I was ready to dig right in but her program wouldn’t open until February, so I had to wait. In the mean time I consumed her book and free material. I build my blog up from scratch using Ruth’s clear and easy instructions. I went from paper and pen to blog expert in six months. When the doors for Elite Blog Academy opened I was ready to get to work. Because everything is laid out, I was able to work every time I had free time. This year I will be able to show a publisher 150 well read blog posts. 3,500 Twitter, over 1,200 Instagram followers and over 2,500 pages looked at every month. People are reading because I learned how to get in front of people. Your writing can do the work, but without people reading, it doesn’t matter how good your writing is. Do you have a book idea and want to do what it takes to stand out from the rest of the people who just have ideas. EBA can set you apart. ![Plie 100%](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_0979-1024x1024.jpg "Plie 100% › 200 Fingers & Toes") #### You might have different goals, so is EBA right for you too? It really depends. Elite Blog Academy is for people who are committed to following the process. As a member of EBA, I’ve noticed that the thing the most successful graduates have in common is a willingness to roll up their sleeves and get to work, and to put 100% of their effort into completing the assignments in order. If the commitment isn’t there, then this is not the right program for you. It’s also not for people who are going to insist that they’ve already heard this all before, or who are going to argue that a task seems too basic or whine that it’s too hard. It’s not for bloggers who just want to just “skip to the good stuff” picking and choosing the lessons they pay attention to, then complaining when they’re not getting results. The EBA process is designed to create success, but it only works if you are willing to commit to actually doing the work. #### What’s included with EBA? Through a powerful combination of practical training videos, insightful handouts, purposeful assignments, and interactive live webinars, Elite Blog Academy will provide you with a concrete framework intended to help you refine your message, grow your audience, monetize your platform, and transform your blog into a successful and profitable business. **Through four powerful modules, you will learn how to:** -Eliminate blog confusion by creating an organized framework that sets the stage for everything you do. -Create killer content that gets noticed and shared. -Discover the secret to harnessing Pinterest, the most powerful free marketing tool in the world. -Understand what is not working in your current monetization model and instead develop concrete goals and a solid plan for achieving them. -Dramatically increase your site’s passive income by mastering the four key strategies of optimizing ad network revenue. -Take advantage of the critical—but often ignored—connection between SEO and ad revenue. -Overcome your fear of private advertising and instead learn to approach brands with confidence. -Learn what it really takes to earn a six-figure income from your blog, then develop your own product along with a successful marketing plan to sell it. -Create a solid working business plan to take your blogging platform to the next level. It is possible to create a successful business from a blog, and Elite Blog Academy shares exactly how it’s done, step-by-step. [![](https://eliteblogacademy.com/2.0/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Course-Includes-with-text1.png)](http://eliteblogacademy.com/aff.php?p=Amber200fingersandtoes&w=EBA) #### Here is what the course includes: 12 Comprehensive Unit Videos 12 Detailed Unit Workbooks with Video Outlines 16 Powerful Handouts 30 Purposeful Assignments Additional Training Webinars Accountability & Community within a Private Forum An EBA mobile app to access the forum on the go A weekly newsletter for added encouragement & motivation Elite Blog Academy is designed to be self-paced, but should not be completed in less than 12 weeks. Building a platform with your blog is not for the faint of heart, and this course requires a willingness to buckle down and get to work. That said, for those who are willing to do the work, it also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. Anyone who completes the course and has not seen measurable results in both traffic and income growth will get your money back, no questions asked. That’s a pretty incredible promise, but it means that you’ve literally got nothing to lose. Enrollment for Elite Blog Academy is extremely limited, and will only be open for five days, beginning today! Don’t miss it and have to wait around like I did. If you are ready to finally take your blog to the next level, sign up now to secure your spot! (And if you enroll by tomorrow at 11:59pm, you will also get access to a free Early Bird Bonus–the Daily Productivity Guide for Bloggers, which looks pretty cool!) [CLICK HERE TO ENROLL IN ELITE BLOG ACADEMY]() ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** blog & writing life **Tags:** Blog, blogging, EBA, Elite Blog Academy, Freelance, Working Mom, Writing Life --- ### [Being Intentional About Fellowship | In Due Season Volume 1.23](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/intentional-fellowship-due-season-volume-1-23/) **Published:** February 27, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* We have to be intentional about building communities for ourselves, because trials will come. Difficulties will landmine your path. You will need a shoulder to lead on, and it is better if you build relationships before then. #### A few years ago I found my self completely alone. My parents had moved away. Our church closed. It was a difficult time to walk through, but the worst part was the loss of our community. We had attended since we were baby Christians, and continued faithfully for 16 years. All of our friendships were based in this Holy meeting place. If you are from a rural area you will understand the difficulty in gathering regularly at any other times. Members drove from a 60-mile radius. Visiting a friend at home might mean a day trip, so meeting at the church was the standard for every event from Women’s Bible study to play group. We all tried to keep connected after the closing, but distance and the business of everyday life made it difficult. I had one dear friend, but one friend is not enough to meet the need for a community. #### We struggled with moving on. We resisted finding a new church. We were hurt, sad, angry and hesitant to begin visiting churches with a sign that said “fresh meat!” It was almost two years before desperation set in. I, as a stay at home, homeschooling mother of 10, needed a community. I had boys entering High School. Our school was entering territory that was uncharted. I had a child that was a challenge to teach at home. #### Have you ever been discouraged? Has life ever just punched you in the gut and you needed to find the ropes for a minute? I was discouraged. What I needed, was to wind my arm around the ropes and let them hold me as I caught my breath. We need to surround ourselves with people that will encourage us along this path we’ve chosen. We had no one to lean on. We knew it was time to find a new church home. #### We were telling ourselves we were fine, on our own. We could worship. We read the Word and do good in the world, but we couldn’t do what the Body of Believers was created to do. We were made for fellowship and we couldn’t do that on our own. We need to be a part of something larger than ourselves. Look at any sporting event and you will see the evidence that this is true. We are made to crave fellowship. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IDSV1.23Social-2-300x300.jpg "IDSV1.23Social-2 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/intentional-fellowship-due-season-volume-1-23/idsv1-23social-2/) In the end we searched out local church some friends had invited us to. We wouldn’t be total strangers, but we would be new enough that we wouldn’t be asked about our old church’s end over and over. No one cared where we were from any way. They were glad we came and embraced us, as is. In the end, we found a new community. I have made some great friendships. We are serving and growing in ways that are new and exciting. The tearing apart of what I knew, led me to something new. What once felt like a terrible loss, now feels like the beginning of something even better. Don’t let isolation lead to discouragement in your homeschooling. Find a community you love. Build one if you have to. You can always check in with a web based group or your favorite encouragers online at their blogs, but don’t let that replace real human companionship. Share hugs, tears and laughter with each other and come away encouraged and stronger. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** building a life you love, building friendships, Community, homeschool community, homeschool support, Homeschooling, support --- ### [The Best Way to Get Unstuck When Life is Overwhelming](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tractors-friends/) **Published:** March 6, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### What I Learned About an Engine; What to Do When You Are Stuck ### \[Tweet “A little fellowship was all I needed, and the last thing I thought I had time for.”\] #### A little fellowship was all I needed, and the last thing I thought I had time for. What do a broken tractor and friend have to do with freeing my soul? My friend has a smart kid. He chose to purchase an old tractor and rebuild it for his 4-H project this summer. It was involved. Parts were hunted for and scrubbed with toxic blends to get down to the clean metal under all that gunk and neglect. Deals were brokered for rusted out rims that were deemed unfixable. Every obstacle was an opportunity to see this family problem-solve. All of this haggling, wheeling and dealing, was leading up to one fate filled day that the engine would be started. The true test of all the collaborated effort, many months of work and the years of collective skill from 3 generations were on trial as their kid turned the key. Only, nothing happened. The gears were jammed. The engine was frozen and couldn’t exert enough power to free itself. Good thing there were a lot of older farmers on hand for the day’s event. They had a bit of wisdom to offer to the situation, as they often do. #### This is when I learned a life lesson from a tractor and a couple of old farmers. Apparently when an engine seizes up, you bring in another tractor, hook it up to the works and it gives the engine a pull. It sounded like really bad advice to me. Since the biggest thing I own is a lawn mower, I did not counter their collective years of intuition. Instead I did what any good friend would do. I hid as far away from the garage as possible. Pretty soon, an engine revved. I cowered, listening. Then came the shouts, followed by applause and the purr of an old engine; brought back to life by the skilled hands of an attentive 14-year-old. I am pretty sure that in that moment, it was as close to God as a farmer can get. [![What to do when your overwhelmed and stuck?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/JM-Industrial-dsc_2418-300x200.jpg "A little fellowship was all I needed, and the last thing I thought I had time for. What do a broken tractor and friend have to do with freeing my soul? › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4105)I learned an important life lesson from a tractor#### Just a while back, I was a like that rebuilt tractor. Everything looked good, but my engine was locked up with indecision. I was invited to an impromptu BBQ, and I just could not muster the energy to go. I was rung out towel weary. Pulled and stretched with everyone’s needs and my own responsibilities. We were in the final stretch of the baseball season, when I tend to grow a little thin. I am generally a low energy person and do a pretty good job of protecting that. For some reason all of the possible good reasons for me to take on outside projects cropped up into a four-week stretch. I was feeling frazzled. There were 437 emails to respond to. Three articles were due, and a week and a half was left of the ball season. Everything in me wanted to say no. I had every good reason to say no. It was my right to say no, but the truth was that this was exactly the good stuff I needed the most. I was going to miss it. #### Then a tractor pulled alongside me, and helped me get unstuck My friend called in the morning. She graciously reached out to me one more time. Her husband had even offered to grill burgers. She also had an appointment in the afternoon, so I could leave with plenty of time to work. With her loving kindness and accommodating spirit, it was like she had pulled up alongside of me and hooked up to my seized engine. She pulled just right, because my indecision broke away. My obligations broke loose long enough for me to embrace what really fuels my engine. Relationships. I spent the morning swimming with my three littlest ones, exerting my cranky muscles and eating the best grilled back-strap from local venison. #### The crust that was making me cranky all week was washed away in that little pond. I think my engine was purring on the way home. If someone offers you a few hours of play time, don’t pass it up because you are too busy. Say yes, if you can. Let good company set your seized-up engine free. You will always have my company on this long road of the middle season. [![Hope for the weary Homeschooler](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/old-machine_MyQG9HqO-300x201.jpg "There is always a seat for you here › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?attachment_id=4108)Remember that we are running a long race If you need a friendly pull I am here for that very purposeBlessings, Amber ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** Community, Farmer, fellowship, Friends, Friendship, Homeschool, In Due Season, Relationships, Stuck? --- ### [How to Avoid Getting Lost on Your Homeschool Journey](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/avoid-getting-lost-homeschool-journey/) **Published:** March 8, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Traveling alone doesn’t have to be terrifying. Last summer I traveled alone for the first time in 16 years. It was ridiculous, how nervous I was. I have flown several times, just recently before that, but I on those trips I had someone else leading me. In life there are so many things that are on you. Every twist and turn it brings you can quickly exhaust you and make you feel overwhelmed. #### Because I knew I was going to be in charge of getting where I needed to be, I made some special preparations. This was a solo trip, it was on me to make it safely to my destination. Because I am a frugal (cheap) traveler, my journey was split up between three separate planes, and then a 40-minute cab ride. And as luck would have it, both of my layovers were less than 40 minutes in huge, unfamiliar airports. I knew I would have to plan for where I was headed as soon as I landed. Not trusting in my phone alone, I printed my itinerary and plane tickets for handy reference. I kept them close by. Ok, I clenched it in my fist for most of the journey. This paper was my life line to getting there. #### My itinerary was my life line to getting where I wanted to be Whenever I was nervous, or when we were heading to the next leg of my fights, I would pull out my itinerary and mentally check where I was, and where I wanted to be. I could see that I was getting closer to my destination at every leg of the journey. #### You “Why” page is exactly like that itinerary This is the purpose of my “Why” page for my homeschool; a place to gauge our travels and make sure we are getting nearer our destination or goals. Some places call it your purpose statement, goals or value statement. It is a statement that will be true for all of the years that you homeschool. A directive that you can refer back to on those days when you feel like graduation is so far away and the airport is confusing. My page is what I pull out every time I want to quit. We all want to quit sometimes. Your “Why” page should remind you about what gave you the initial passion to shift your whole world, jump over conventional wisdom and do something radically different for your family. \[Tweet “Drop me a note and tell me why you started this journey of homeschool”\] I would love to hear about what keeps you focused and engaged on the hard days. What is your vision for your schooling? Maybe you have never really thought about it. Next week I will share a little more about our “Why” page and how we created it. Until then start thinking about what your “Why” looks like. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** In Due Season **Tags:** "Why" page, goals, Homeschool Helps, homeschool support, Homeschooling, In Due Season, starting homeschool --- ### [Scarred fields and Scarred people](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/scarred-fields-and-scarred-people/) **Published:** July 17, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Yesterday I noticed two dark green cuts running through the field rolling by on my right. Someone must have lost a cow or just decided to cross through on their four wheeler to get to the next field over, laying down crop as they drove. The two lines gave evidence, long after whatever had cut the path was gone. The scar told a story. Since I didn’t know the story, to me it was just an ugly scar marring an otherwise perfectly ripe field. I don’t see lines played down in a crop field often. I’m in Iowa. I rarely pass large fields of something other than corn or soy beans; one too tall and the other, too bushy to show a story of who has been cutting through the field. You notice these things when you live in farm country. The fields and farms become as familiar as passing the coffee shop and library, as interesting as street traffic because they are ever changing. I never tire of country drives. \[Tweet “Country drives are cathartic for the soul, because beauty is in the life before you, not the tiny picture in the rear view mirror.”\] We once drove an hour out of the way to show the kids a field of golden wheat as it as being harvested. I thought they might find it as beautiful as I did, but on this day passing that gem colored field, it wasn’t the beauty that made me take notice. It took me a few minutes to even figure out that it was alfalfa, standing in stubby green glory. The slice through the rows, the cut, scarring the crop, bothered me. It nagged my mind as I drove in the quiet car; all the children asleep, worn out from the day at the lake. #### We all carry scars. We often view scars as making us less than perfect. Maybe you have scars from a tragic accident, from wounds inflicted on your own flesh, or the scars no one can see, but are there, deep in your heart. The truth is some scars fade very little. My scars are 22 years old and are no less noticeable that they were twenty years ago. Self inflicted scars, ugly reminders of cuts I made to distract me from the pain in my heart. The pain I thought would always be there is a whisper, but the scars, I have to cary those forever. My kids have asked about them. I brushed them off and ignored them for a long time. I built up a great deal of fear about the conversation that I would one day be forced to have with them, about scars and wounded hearts. #### **The only thing greater than my shame, is my story.** I know what God can do with a broken heart, a used up girl, and a scarred up soul. I shared with my son and daughter, about my brokenness, it was not as terrible as I thought. God gives grace and wisdom. The truth did not leap out and kill me right there. After sharing with him about why I had these scars, I felt known, and it felt good. I encourage you to speak and be known as well. Those people you think will never understand your pain might be hiding scars on their hearts that match. No one gets out of this life unwounded by love, death, and circumstances, but we have a greater purpose. We can tell others, you can live again. Vibrantly. Don’t let your wounds keep you from being know. Speak. Love. Seek Gods truth about who you are. You are more valuable than you will ever know. #### God spoke to my heart as I passed the next field. It was different from the rest because it was naked. Nothing but light green stubble with patches of dirt, the crop was already harvested. The field was now dotted with 1,200 pound bales of hay. Bales that would keep milk, butter and beef in production through the winter. Corn and beans might be the main crop around here, but every farmer has a hay field. Every bale will feed and nourish the herd when the farmer needs it. I could not tell which bales held marred, scarred, broken plants or even those that were from poor soil or rich. Every part of the field was harvested because every part was useful, every broken blade would serve it’s purpose. #### Every part of the field was reaped because every part was useful. \[Tweet “Every broken blade would serve its purpose.”\] What the Lord has redeemed is His own. You are His own and you have a unique and powerful story of faith and redemption to share with the world. Working with the Lord of the Harvest makes your life a beautiful testimony to His grace and love, overcoming every obstacle until we are made perfect in Him. I hope that you can see past the rear view mirror and into the harvest before you. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** cutting, harvest, hope, mental health, purpose, redemption, scars, world mental health day --- ### [The Widow's Mite, The Patron Pendant of Writers](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/patron-of-writers/) **Published:** August 19, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Tying ourselves with others through talismans, reminders, treasures, or gifts is a way of reinforcing the bond of friendship even though distance may separate. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The exchanging of gifts is a deep part of every culture. Tying ourselves with others through talismans, reminders, treasures, or gifts is a way of reinforcing the bond of friendship even though distance may separate. A friend bought me a beautiful bracelet from [Fashion & Compassion](http://www.fashionandcompassion.com/collections/bracelets/products/tribal-bracelet), which is not so noteworthy, except for the fact that we had only met the day before. We were both a bit overwhelmed, attending out first SheSpeaks conference, both Mothers traveling alone for the first time. It was an instant comfort knowing there would be someone to meet up with for coffee and catch a ride to the hotel with at the end of the night. We had lots of opportunities to share our life experience with one another and talk about what led us to SheSpeaks. My friend wanted to bless me with a little bit of beauty and kindness, so perfectly matching my personality that she must have been led by angels. That night in my hotel room God reminded me I had brought a necklace along with me. I knew immediately that it was for’ her. I did not intend on wearing it for the remainder of the conference. I wore it on my flight only. I often wear it when I go somewhere that I know I will have to lead or speak or generally “be a big girl.” I wore it as a reminder, because the coin is worth more than the value stamped on it’s face. It is an ancient coin, unearthed and set in silver, hanging on a little braided box chain. The coin is a one cent, widows mite, the same coin spoken about in the scripture in Luke 21:1-4. > **The Widow’s Two Mites** > 21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,\[a\] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (NKJV) My new friend, recently widowed, was just beginning on this miraculous walk that God was leading her through, but the coin was not a symbol of her status in the worlds eyes. As I gave her the coin the next morning, a small token of friendship and gratitude, I told her what the coin held in meaning to me. The scripture spoke of the widow putting her two small coins in the offering. I have felt like that widow, when my resources were low. I was stretched beyond my abilities and, I too, still wanted to give an offering to God. I felt I had little to offer compared to those who had more than enough. It was in those times that God graciously reminded me that I have the power of my words. I’m sure you have heard the idiom, “putting in your two cents.” > I can speak life. I can speak truth. I am a writer and speaker and every time I do those things, I pour out an offering with the words of my lips. I may look like a Mom, a wife, just a homeschooler at face value, but like the two little coins, I am so much more. I told my friend, who is just on the outset of a writing career, her words will always be her resource. She will always have the words of her testimony and the truth in her heart to offer to the world around her. The widow with the mite coin should be the patron saint of writers everywhere, a reminder that we have a gift to offer that is greater than all of the riches brought easily, out of excess. A treasured reminder that we are worth more than what we see on the surface. A keepsake that whispers to us that the one that matters sees us. The one that forged us sees our true value and is pleased. Keep writing my friend and hold nothing back. If you are wondering about the SheSpeaks conference, it was a wonderful experience and I met so many amazing women, each with a story to share. I truly hope each one of them is able to go out and touch the world in the area her heart is kindled toward. These women were powerful in their conviction, sweet in friendship and passionate that the world not tangle another soul in lies that each of them has suffered through. I was inspired, strengthened and encouraged to be with 800 like hearted friends for the weekend. I was awed at the honesty, transparency and grace. This was not church, these ladies mean business and their business is changing lives and offering hope to a lost and dying world. Be on the look out for some great writers, leaders and speakers coming out of this group. Pray for them often and a sincere thank you to [Proverbs31.org](http://proverbs31.org) for hosting all of us. I hope to do it again. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Devotional, Fashion&Compassion, Friendship, gifts, gratitude, SheSpeaks, value, widow's mite --- ### [God wants to change your definition](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/god-wants-to-change-your-definition/) **Published:** July 7, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* There is a curious thing God does in the life of Sarai and Abram leading up to entering the promise land. He changes their names. As he changed their names he changes their personal definition. #### A New Covenant The main place I think of where we change our names today, is in marriage. As we enter that covenant we exchange one life for another and receive a new name. The act is a symbol of fidelity, an outward testimony of the life long merging of two historical family lines. I became a part of my husbands family nearly 20 years ago and took his name, happy to be under his headship, if I can still say with out sounding archaic. My hearts desire was for a family of my own. I thought I was getting a new name, but like always, God one-upped me. God is in the business of changing names and hearts. Sarai meant, princess, but with an undercurrent that could be defined as argumentative, contemptuous or quarelsome. Not exactly the Disney type. Abram meant honored father, though Abram was yet to obtain that honor. God changed both of their names by adding the Hebrew letter “h” to each of their given names. This letter can be used as a symbol for the breath, it is as if ***God added His breath to these two***. When God breathes into a life things start changing. Sarai became Sarah, Abram is now Abraham, by changing their names God was entering a person to person covenant, showing that He alone called them to higher things. Sarah remains princess, but with a definition that leans toward pure, happy, Lady or Noblewoman. Abraham remains honored father, but now the meaning is shifted to define him as a father of Nations. When God gets a hold of you, it can change you down to your very definition. \[Tweet “What words described you before meeting Jesus on the road? What words describe you now?”\] #### Let God Define You God is not done changing names, He is doing the very same thing today. He did it for me. First, you should know that I have a thing for the definitions of names. The meaning of a name means a great deal to me. My kids name’s were agonized over in detail to make sure that they made a statement about who God was to them and who they were to God. Imagine my suprise when I began first pouring over baby name books and discovered that God had changed my name. He had not only renamed me, but in fact, He redefined me. #### The Girl Without A Middle Name My Grandmother was old school Dutch when it came to naming her kids. Apparently two last names is all a kid can handle, so my father and his sisters have no middle names. When I was born the tradition was passed on. I was the only girl in grade school without a secret name to share with only my very best friend. My middle-name-less-ness was the bane of my elementary years. I squashed the problem by lying about it. I made up my own middle name to satisfy curious fourth graders, and told everyone my middle name was Marie. A habit I eventually grew out of and forgot, but I never forgot how much I wanted a middle name. That empty space between my names bothered me. #### I Leapt at the Chance to Change My Name While preparing for my wedding day I realized that my marriage was actually a free shot at a legal name change. I knew I wanted to take my Great-grandmothers middle name as my own. On my wedding day I signed our certificate with three names; my current name, a treasured middle name from my past, and the name that encapsuled my future. It was a pretty awesome day, but that was not good enough for God. Finally getting a middle name seemed monumental at the time, but it was not until three years later that I realized the full extent of what God had orchestrated on my behalf. #### God Knows Your Name I was reading “The Name Book” by Dorothy Astoria which had become a favorite pass time. We were expecting our first child and I was knee deep in name study when I read that Marie meant bitter. My life outside of Christ was bitter. My search for happiness outside of Him was bitter and without peace. God changed my name, and in doing so He changed my definition. I chose my “little Grandma’s” name because I loved her, but God led me to it because of its meaning. Johanna means “delivered” and “God is gracious.” By His own hands have I been delivered into Him. His grace covers me every day. Like a treasure map, God layed out all of these things before I was born so I could see that His hand has been at work in my life from my birth. He breathed His breath in to my life and changed so much more than my name, He changed my definition. If you don’t like the words that you would use to define your life, you are in the perfect place. God wants to rename you. He wants to call you “His own.” Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:10 ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** Abraham, Abram, covenant, Marriage, Name, Redeemed, Sarah, Sarai --- ### [On the dry ground](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/on-the-dry-ground/) **Published:** June 17, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right, and on their left. Exodus 29:14 Today I am reminded that the same water that threatens to suffocate and smother me, did not destroy me. Instead of bringing death, troubled seas opened up and became a path. There are days that all I can see, is the waters. Mounting, piling up on both sides. Trials, temptations, deadlines, failures, unanswered prayers. They build and threaten to crash in over me. So many days I fail to see, fail to acknowledge, fail to thank God, that I am on dry ground. **I am on dry ground.** In the midst of this vast ocean of turmoil, filled with circumstances that once threatened to drown me, I am standing. They are pushed aside and I, weary as I may be, am walking on dry ground. Though the wall surrounds me on every side, I am not crushed. I will not drown. I have made it my hearts desire, to grow steadfast, firmly planted in Gods love. My hope is that when I find my self at the edge of the water, with an army to my back, I will not cry out “God has forsaken me,” but will cry out in faith, **“Lord, make a way!”** Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters and your footsteps were not known. Psalm 77:19 Lord, You make paths in the ocean. Take me with you. Show me the dry ground, when all I can see is the water. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** drowning, faith, gratitude, miriam, Moses --- ### [What Do You Want From Me? Here's mud in your eye.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/what-do-you-want-from-me-heres-mud-in-your-eye/) **Published:** July 12, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he replied, “I want to see!” Jesus, God made flesh, is face to face with a blind man. Not only has he known this man from the beginning of time as his creator, but he has know about this very moment as God, it’s author. All of eternity has led up to one moment, a meeting with this blind beggar and still, Jesus assumes nothing. He stops, faces the man, and asks,”What do you want me to do for you?” Does this seem a bit ridiculous to anyone but me? The man is blind, his inability to see has left him destitute, it’s obvious he wants to see, right? So why is Jesus asking such a simple question? The fact is, Jesus does not move on our person without our permission. The sad truth is that when He asks, we often say no thank you to Jesus’ expertise. We have a free will and can continue wandering in blindness if we desire to do so. You see it every day in the lives of people around you, groping in spiritual darkness, living the same troubles every day, never gaining victory, blind. The moment the Holy Spirit stirs your heart to belief Jesus is asking, what do you want Him to do. If we want God to move on our behalf we need to begin by asking Him. What is it you want from Him. Do you know what you want from Him today? What is holding us back? Why do we resist speaking out and asking God for the things that we need ?Are we afraid that he will refuse us? Do we fear revealing our deepest need to God because we fear His reaction. Do I fear what He will ask me to do something in return. This is a legitimate fear. The truth is that no matter what God does, He will want to change your life forever. He will ask you to do something, He will ask you to follow Him. Jesus is known for responding in unexpected ways. Another blind man found this out when Jesus spit in dirt and spread the paste over his empty sockets. To spit, in the Jewish culture, is a vile and disgusting thing. If a person spits in the road you can no longer walk here because it is considered unclean. You would cross the street and pass it on the other side. I am guessing that this was not the answer the blind man expected, but he wanted to see. Jesus can use the vile and unclean to make something clean and new. How much more can Jesus take the curses and dirt from our lives and use them to give us new eyes to see. Eyes that see your world in a whole new way. I encourage you today to know God is asking “What is it, that you want me to do for you.” He is asking because His desire is to meet your deepest need. It is a journey that begins when you ask. **And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see (Luke 18:41 – 18:43 NLT)** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Are you asking all the wrong questions. Exchange, where is God, for here I am.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/are-you-asking-all-the-wrong-questions/) **Published:** July 29, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_1234.jpg)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_1234.jpg) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional --- ### [Join me for a featured series, 10 sanity savers when remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/join-me-for-a-featured-series-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) **Published:** August 26, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* If you have a house that is going to need work at any point in time you are going to want to follow this series. My family of 12 just finished sweeping up the last of the dust from our huge whole house renovation. We are not handy. We have never done this before, but we have been plotting and planning since we moved in. In fact since July of 2001, when we moved into our 1900’s farm house. It was the kind of house that Bob Villa dreams of, a four square with great structure and handsome wood features. Our goal was to save it from disrepair, but in reality it started to fall apart as soon as we bought it. Truth is, that it what 100 year old houses do. We loved our big farm house and living out of town. We committed to chickens and dogs as we bought a local restaurant and sold the one we ran in a bigger city. We knew that this was where we wanted our children to grow up. We spent the next 12 years paying down the mortgage and planning for phase 2. We began construction in early May of 2013. We had a plan, but as it often happens, things did not go according to our plan. We learned a ton of very practical tips along the way and we did do a lot right. We are very happy with the results compared to our expectations. I was only reduced to tears one time. (we were displaced for 6 months) Our home is just recently starting to look like we live in a remodeled home. While it is still a ways from being finished, I would love to share 10 practical things we learned from our construction project. If you are tearing down walls now or if you are just gathering information for a future purchase, you will use every suggestion that I have to offer in your project and they will save you money or brain cells. For me these 10 tips saved both. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** projects **Tags:** construction, renovation, tips --- ### [#1 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers when Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/1-of-top-10-tips-from-our-renovation/) **Published:** August 26, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### **1. We hired an architect.** Old houses have personality. They have character and they have big quirks that can make or break your project. An architect can help you sift through you wants and desires and assess what is possible, practical and what is gong to take too much of your remodeling budget. Ever situation is unique. For our project, we wanted to move industrial kitchen equipment safely into our home. We knew that the crumbling basement wall were going to need repair to support project. We knew that we had a stick holding up the kitchen, but our architect helped us see the extent we were going to have to truly pull off of the house to get to the true trouble spots. [![top 10 renovation tips](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2013-06-05-16.59.21-2-169x300.jpg "good bye scary basement › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2013-06-05-16.59.21-2.jpg)this stick was the number one reason we hired an architectAn architect can help you head off a costly big project. This might not be what you want to hear. I know it was not what we wanted to hear when Gretchen explained that renovating our attic would not be as cost effective as building a small addition. I dreamed of that attic studio since we moved in. I had brochures from skylight companies in my house file, but our architect brought facts to the table. No hope and dreams, just raw numbers, and the numbers did their own talking. I am happily working out of my new office today and I love the space. It is literally ten feet from my garden and easy to sneak away to for a quick article. In hindsight, Gretchen saved us from serious disaster. Truth be told you contractor is there to do the work that you ask him to do. He was more than willing to get me moved into the attic, but having the architect tease out every obstacle helped us get a very clear picture of the costs. Our architect helped us develop a floor plan that suited our lives and needs. She saw ways to compliment the features of the house and maximize it’s beauty. I am glad that we involved her at the planning stage and consider her fee money well spent on our project. Get picky if you can. Choose an architect that is a good fit with your project. We searched online locally and by word of mouth among our general and sub contractors to find architects in our area. We chose our architect because she had just returned from India, where she spent a year retrofitting old buildings into orphan living quarters. We felt like she was familiar with older buildings and had see first hand the challenges that they bring, and with her experience we knew she would understand why maximizing storage and useable space was a premium for us. ### **The Big Picture** 1\. An architect can and will save you money. 2\. Don’t fall in love with your idea, be open to input and ask to see the cost comparison in dollars. 3\. Find and architect with experience in projects similar to yours because that is what you are paying for. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** projects **Tags:** renovation, saving money, tips --- ### [#2 of the Top 10 Sanity Savers when Remodeling](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/2-of-the-top-10-sanity-savers-when-remodeling/) **Published:** August 28, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **2. Create an idea file** During our remodel we embarked on a dream that we had actually begun 15 years earlier with a box of scraps. It was full of pages with ideas, wants and likes, before “likes” were a thing. One of my favorite memories of the whole project was the day we pulled out our three ring binder, my fancy version of an idea file. We are talking before Pinterest and Houzz.com, a true paper file, ripped from the pages of my favorite magazines. There was the stone fire place and indoor pizza oven, they did not make the cut, but many of the pages in that original collection gave us the vision for the project before us. Everyone should have an idea file, if you don’t have one, start today. Let me tell you though, it is much funnier if you started 15 years ago when you were just a little baby of a child with first home buyer’s lust in your eyes. Ours was begun in the 90’s, back when I dreamed of a loft with lots of chrome and glass. Fast forward twenty years, ten kids and a gravel road out of town and yo can guess that we did a lot of purging from that file. We also saw the foundation items we loved way back from the beginning repeated over and over every year. Those were the items featured and built on in our renovation. Fast forward to the modern age. For our project I found a site called Houzz.com. It quickly became my favorite way to spend an evening. Designers, architects, decorators and thousands of other professionals share their best work on Houzz making it a great place to see current trends in design as well as traditional homes, room by room. Here are two ways Houzz.com worked wonders for me. 1. I linked my architect to my Houzz.com profile. She was able in one evening to get a feel for exactly what I wanted my home to feel like. She basically walked through my dream home, digitally. It is also a great place to find a professional in your area. I am in a smaller market but I made sure to add every one of the contractors I used to Houzz with a review of their work. 2. When I wanted to explain what I wanted to my contractor from 60 miles away while he was at the hardware store, I used my Houzz file. I sent him the link to the exact picture showing what I wanted my open shelves to look like in my kitchen. Because Houzz made it simple, I got exactly what I wanted. When I was working with Ravenwood Design in Colorado, three states away, trying to explain the cabinet finish I wanted, again Houzz made it easy to link up and get the look I wanted. Better yet find the look you want and hook up directly with the professional if you can. [http:/](http:/divahref='http://www.houzz.com/photos/3501347/Kitchen-and-Dining-Room-industrial-kitchen-dc-metro'imgsrc='http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/d8f1d3870164229d_8-9633/industrial-kitchen.jpg'border=0width='500'height='334'//a/divdivstyle='color:#444;'smallastyle='text-decoration:none;color:#444;'href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/industrial/kitchen'IndustrialKitchen/abyastyle='text-decoration:none;color:#444;'href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/architect/c/Silver-Spring--MD'SilverSpringArchitects&BuildingDesigners/aastyle='text-decoration:none;color:#444;'href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/bennett-frank-mccarthy/bennett-frank-mccarthy-architects-inc'BennettFrankMcCarthyArchitects,Inc./a/small/div) [![using idea files at 200fingersandtoes.com](http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/d8f1d3870164229d_8-9633/industrial-kitchen.jpg)](http://www.houzz.com/photos/3501347/Kitchen-and-Dining-Room-industrial-kitchen-dc-metro)Create an idea file. Like this Ideal photo from Houzz.com. We directly based elements of our kitchen from this photo [Industrial Kitchen](http://www.houzz.com/photos/industrial/kitchen) by [Silver Spring Architects & Building Designers](http://www.houzz.com/professionals/architect/c/Silver-Spring--MD) [Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc.](http://www.houzz.com/pro/bennett-frank-mccarthy/bennett-frank-mccarthy-architects-inc) Pinterest was another way that I worked on the overall feel of our project. I used it for more of the interior design than structure and floor planning. 1. Collect products and retailers by category. Bathroom. Basement. Then get an overview of how those pieces looked together. Keeping the whole house remodel cohesive but giving rooms their own personality. 2. There are a million ways people recycle everyday items into cool pieces for their homes. Collecting ideas was a great way for me to keep an eye out for items I could repurpose in ways I would not have ever thought of. [http:/ ](http:/adata-pin-do=embedBoardhref=https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/spaces-that-inspire/data-pin-scale-width=80data-pin-scale-height=200data-pin-board-width=400Follow200FingersandToes'sboardSpacesthatinspireonPinterest./a!--Pleasecallpinit.jsonlyonceperpage--scripttype=text/javascriptasyncsrc=//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js/script)[ Follow 200 Fingers and Toes’s board Spaces that inspire on Pinterest.](https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/spaces-that-inspire/) Feel free to check out either of my online idea files. I will be adding some finished room comparisons as we get more of them finished, but if you have a project take advantage of the technology that is right at your fingertips. [](http:/adata-pin-do=embedBoardhref=https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/spaces-that-inspire/data-pin-scale-width=80data-pin-scale-height=200data-pin-board-width=400Follow200FingersandToes'sboardSpacesthatinspireonPinterest./a!--Pleasecallpinit.jsonlyonceperpage--scripttype=text/javascriptasyncsrc=//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js/script) [](http:/adata-pin-do=embedBoardhref=https://www.pinterest.com/200Fingers_toes/spaces-that-inspire/data-pin-scale-width=80data-pin-scale-height=200data-pin-board-width=400Follow200FingersandToes'sboardSpacesthatinspireonPinterest./a!--Pleasecallpinit.jsonlyonceperpage--scripttype=text/javascriptasyncsrc=//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js/script) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** projects **Tags:** House Keeping, renovation, tips --- ### [3 ways I make sure I have time to be creative](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/3-ways-i-make-sure-i-have-time-to-be-creative/) **Published:** September 4, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Taking time out of my crazy life to be creative is not something I have placed value on. There never seems to be enough time in the day for chores let alone for making additional messes. In the last few years I have felt the slump of letting thing that refresh me slide down lower and lower on the to do list. I told myself when I was younger that I would never become an artist that did not draw, but that was exactly what I had become. Do you find your self in the same place I was? The first step toward the cure is allowing myself to admit that being creative feeds me. I am refreshed when I take time to play even as an adult. Here are three very practical ways I got back into the creative swing of things and the best part, all of these helps are under $20. ### **Join a challenge group or contest.** For myself, I wanted to write more. I joined the NaNoWrimo challenge last November and write 50,000 words. A feat I might have never imagined doing if I had not taken the plunge. They hold their annual contest every November and smaller Camps in the summer. If you are looking for a smaller challenge to get you writing again, I suggest 750.com as a great motivator if you love badges and incentives. They do a smaller monthly challenge to write 750 words every day for one month. I have used the site for 5 years and though in that time it has gone to a paid site ($5/month) it is less than you would pay for a good journal and the site is indexed, private and searchable as well as exportable. This really got my writing back on track creatively. ### **Have supplies on hand that you find convenient to use** I had a nice drawing book and pencils that I loved, but they were expensive so I never used them. They seemed like they were for a real project, so they got dusty until I got practical. Buy cheap drawing books whenever they are on sale. Hoard a small glut of them, they are much less precious looking when there is a pile. I love my [watercolor set from Koi](http://amzn.to/1OlcolV). It is easy to use but behaves like high quality Japanese cake color should. Everything is right in the kit so no looking for the lost brush or searching for a water cut that you can stain the inside of. You literally just add water. I had a full set or Rapidograph pens, but a few needed repaired. Again, cost was keeping me from being productive. When I saw a set of 6 [Micron pens](http://amzn.to/1JWEmEN) for under $10 I decided it was worth trying a new brand. I was not disappointed. In fact these two items have become my top gifts to give friends this year. [![watercolor with Koi kit](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-08-15-15.09.46.jpg "Nourish your Soul › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-08-15-15.09.46.jpg)Create write read### **Get a few books to get you started** I am a doodler. If you fill the margins of everything to then there is good news for you. The doodle has been elevated to an art form by the Zentangle. There are plenty of books on amazon, just search and you will feel like you are entering a respected art form. I have “[The Art of Zentangle](http://amzn.to/1JWFsjN)” who just put together a kit at a great price kits as well. If you are a perfectionist or are afraid to do “bad art” then zentangle is a great choice for you because there is no right way to do it. It is also great for a busy Momma, because you can break the page into a bunch of small portions and do them over time, so there is no fear of getting interrupted or distracted. I love the fact that I can take a few minutes every day to create something that looks very complex. In all truth was a bunch of repeating lines and dots, but I won’t tell if you don’t. [![Take time to be creative](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/image-e1441406082407.jpg "Zentangle › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/image.jpg)Making time to be creative is simpler that you thinkWant to play with the kids more but not sure where to begin so it is fun for even you. The folks over at Tinkerlab created “[A Hands-on Guide for Little Inventors](http://amzn.to/1OlcJEY)” so you can go beyond the foaming volcano. Add some LED lights and even make a robot of sorts. Whatever the activity might be, the point is to bring back the fun of feeling inspired. Whatever feeds your soul, find a way to do it. This winter I am working on my hand lettering. What is an activity you would like to find the time to do? Try these three steps and let me know if they helped get you started. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Create, projects **Tags:** 750words.com, art, Create, koi watercolor, micron pens, NanoWrimo, write, Zentangle --- ### [When events with kids are not fun](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/when-events-with-kids-are-not-fun/) **Published:** August 11, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* It was not for the thrill of seeing how long it would take for my skin to crack open and peel. It was not even because we love badly performed minor league baseball. No. We sat in the blazing shadeless inferno that we call the Iowa Cubs stadium because as parents, that is what we do. We do the thing. My daughter won tickets through the summer reading program for this weekend. Twelve tickets to anything is not something we really feel like we can pass up at this point in life, so we headed to Des Moines hoping for a little cloud cover. There was not a cloud in sight, 90 in the sun, no shade, $4 per Gatorade. That kind of opposition was hard enough, but being in the cheap seats, we also has the disadvantage of being where no one cares about watching the game. Up stood the row in front of us. Up went the ladies across and down. Up went the family beside us. Home plate was down there somewhere but you could only get a clear shot in increments. By the third inning I knew we were done for. I wanted this to be great and I felt really badly that another thing we did with the kids seemed like a failure, but riding home I remembered that this is just a small part of the story of their lives. There will be many more opportunities, this was just one. [![Do the thing. Parenthood.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_1592-e1439302664250-300x300.jpg "Summer reader rewards › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_1592-e1439302664250.jpg)When events arent as fun as we hoped be encouragedWhat was your last thing. I am sure you can recall it right now. Maybe it was the recital that was really bad, with awkward bad coffee after. Or it was going to the 18th feature film where people are blue or animals talk. If you have kids you know that there are a lot of days to fill. You can’t just stare at each other for all of them. So we break out and have an adventure. We fry in the sun. We get eaten by mosquitos. We curse and hit the trailer hitch with a hammer; that could just be us, all for our children. Then there are moments that we have our solcistice events, peaks in the life line of parenthood. A day at the lake when everyone laughs and sleeps on the ride home. A long hike where everyone finds a pinecone and learns to skip stones really well. Like, even you are impressed, well. But for every one of those glory days there are days where you go to the zoo and all of the lions are sleeping, the penguin tank is being cleaned and the tuna sandwiches are a soggy mess. We don’t do these thing to be great, we hope they are but that is not the end goal. The end goal are these little people, we do all of this because it takes a ton of memories to build a person. We do all the things because we are parents that love our kids. We go to the events and zoos and sci-fi book parties because every year that little warm hand is filling up more and more space in our own. When I let go I want their heart to be as full as my hand. Do the thing, that last summer blow out trip, hike, or visit and don’t feel bad if it doesn’t really live up to expectation right now. What we are saying with our time is “I value you”, “I want to be with you.” The thing doesn’t matter as much as the company. If it should to be 90 degrees in the shade and you leave the game at the top of the third, you might want to stop off and get an ice cream, we found it very refreshing. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** baseball, disappointment, encouragement, events with kids, mothering, parenting, personal growth, summer reader --- ### [Check out Bloglovin](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/check-out-bloglovin/) **Published:** August 18, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ``Follow my blog with Bloglovin">`` Bloglovin is a great way to pull all my blogs I love to read into one place while not clogging up my email. Don't get me wrong there are quite a few golden blogs I subscribe to. They come straight to my email because I do not want to miss their latest posts, but for every one I subscribe to there are 10 more blogs that I watch from the fringes. Bloglovin helps me follow them in one convenient place. Check Bloglovin out and you could stream line your scroll list. You might even unclog you FaceBook feed a bit. No matter how you follow your favorite blogs be sure to add 200fingersandtoes.com to your follow list and take a peek at blogs I follow at Bloglovin as well. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Read --- ### [What makes a common vessel, supernatural?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/saving-the-best-for-last/) **Published:** July 14, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** What makes a common vessel, supernatural? **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The words I read today gave me hope. Actually they made my soul soar. It was at the end of Jesus’ first miracle. The wine steward sips the water turned to wine and compliments the smart groom. “…but you have saved the very best till now.” Referring to the fact that the groom has saved back the very best wine for late into the ceremony. Sometimes I feel late to bloom, late in the ceremony of life, but I am excited to see that God tends to save back some of the very best, for late in the game. Maybe you are feeling emptied out. It is late into the party all the jugs of wine were strewn about with a lot of dancing still left to do. There are days I feel emptied out as well. Unable to give any more, unable to answer one more request, but every child seems to be holding out a cup saying fill this. When you are empty you can get that feeling like the party is you, and it is getting ready to break up. Have you every run into the end of you? It is a surprising and fearful place, but I love how God responds to empty vessels. Emptiness is an opportunity for God to show off His best party trick. Water basins fill with wine, empty jugs overflow with oil, a flour jar that does not fail till the drought ends. **An empty vessel turned over to the power of God is an amazing thing.** What makes a common vessel, supernatural? The empty moment. The moment you reach the end of you turn to God and say fill me up. It could be the beginning of God’s very best work in your life. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, brokenness, Devotional, emptiness, faith, hope, personal growth, SheReadsTruth --- ### [What I'm Reading for August](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/what-im-reading-for-august/) **Published:** August 9, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I was feeling starved for a good book, or five, so I hauled the kids to the library and took a few minutes to check out my favorite shelf, New Releases. I was glad to see a few titles that caught my eye and a couple of “old friend” authors that had new books for my summer reading pleasure. Alexander McCall Smith and the further adventures of Bertie await me. I have been on a Joyce Carol Oates rabbit trail ever since I found a free Kindle book by her about a year ago. Check out my GoodReads profile to see just how long ago I updated my reading selections. No more delay, it is back on the wagon for me. [![Reading selection for August](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_1569-e1439098578921-300x300.jpg "August 2015 Book Selections › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_1569-e1439098578921.jpg)Read Good Books This Months selection for my a Book every Saturday challengeFeel free to share what you are reading right now and please do like to my Good Reads profile. Take the reading challenge and set a goal to read a few more books than last year. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Read **Tags:** August Picks, Books, New Releases, What Im Reading --- ### [Ahoy, moonlight house keepers!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/ahoy-moonlight-house-keepers/) **Published:** July 17, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I just swept my house, in the dark. It needed to be done. The kids needed to go to bed. The place was really quite a mess. The kind of mess that used to make my husband a little panicky, but he has been around us for a while and knows the difference between literal disaster and a ten minute sweep through. This was bordering on disaster. This was end of ball season, kid sitter, life on the run, birthday party dirty. I was not so much sweeping, as I was debriding the living room, like a pirate scraping barnacles from the side of his ship. Not for of the love of his ship as we are led to believe in romanticized peg legged adventure movies, but because literally the ship would sink under the weight of a million tiny free loaders, if the work was not done. Some how cleaning the room with the lights down low made it seem less daunting of a job. Gone was the pressure of saving the handless Lego man, the ace from the current deck of cards, the seven erasers I just gave the kids out of the prize box. Gone, is what they now are. Good night clean room. Good night handless Lego man. Good night to all the little barnacles in the trash. Sometimes we just need to get the job done, no punch line, no car chase. Just you the mess and ten minutes, maybe, in the dark. Here is to all of you that had to get the job done. We made it. See you again tomorrow. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** chores, House Keeping, mothering --- ### [Value wasted](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/value-wasted/) **Published:** April 14, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* “I could have a real job, get paid and have lunch with adults that appreciate my company” This is something I might have said to my less than appreciative home-school students, maybe more than once. We have all been there. Spinning our wheels, waiting for the ground under us to catch, all the while you just seem to be doing nothing but sinking. Some days I crave appreciation more than a shower or a stain free shirt. The fact is, I am a Mom, appreciation is not really in the cards for me for quite some time. You could say that I have chosen the path of most resistance. I stay home with 10 mad copies of my genetic code, all day, and lead their education, and feed them (mostly) nutritious meals. None of this is on a kids top ten list of valued acts. There are times that I am left feeling rung out, poured out if you will. This is not a complaint. Actually I offer you an encouragement. You might just be exactly where you need to be. We live in a world where God’s math does not make much sense. There was a widow, left in debt. Debts so great that she could never repay them. In fact, her sons were to be taken from her to satisfy it. In desperation she went to the Prophet of God, hoping to see if he could offer a way out. The Prophet asked the woman what resources she had on hand. A little oil was all she had in the house. Gather every jar you can get a hold of from every person your life is connected with. Bring them into your house, shut the door, then you and your sons pour every last drop of that oil out, until all the jars are full. Then sell them, pay your debt and live life with your sons. If you have read the story you know the woman did exactly as she was told. She collected every jar in the village, big small, misshapen, chipped, all of them. Every one was filled to the top from that little jar. That is God math. (what little supply you have) + (what God called you to do) = satisfaction Another woman, this time a guest at a crowded afternoon lunch meeting. Men arguing, debating politics and religion, women whispering questions to each other, but everyone of them fell silent as the spiced scent filed the air. The alabaster jar lay broken. The tax collectors stopped mid sentence, calculating the cost in their heads. The scene before them did not add up. The woman weeping at the feet of the honored guest did not look like a woman accustom to finery. She looked rung out. No ornaments adorned the mass of curls that she was using to wash the strangers feet. Her lips quivered as she whispered “Master”, over and over. The other guests could only see the broken vessel, they could not perceive that the moment was right to pour a years wages out, on the feet of the Master. Take heart. I see. He sees, what the world can not comprehend. What the world calls wasted. A life filled with gifts poured out at the feet of God. Gifted musicians, teaching grade school children. Leaders, Mothering. Men and women that every day turn their back on reason and not for wealth but for His Glory, work for a kingdom not of this world. He sees. Jesus said, “You did not offer my water to wash my feet, but this woman has not stopped washing my feet with her tears” Forgiveness motivates. When God reaches down and changes a heart, perspective shifts. Reality becomes clear. True value is revealed, for some for the very first time. A life poured out in service of an invisible God baffles the world, but Jesus’ response is the one that is eternal. While the world shakes their head and wonders about the waste, it is Jesus that recognizes the pouring out of your life is the most extravagant gift. Greater than perfume, more costly than oil. All the while, the world is left asking, who is this God, that calls the hearts of men to serve him forgetting about the cost. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, Eternal, Mary, sacrafice --- ### [You can lead a horse to water, just not on the Sabbath.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water-just-not-on-the-sabbath/) **Published:** July 16, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** There is a danger we face as Christians. It is the danger of forgetting who we are. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Since Biblical times people have been defending Gods statutes in the name of religion. Isn’t it time we asked what God says about people. The people He died for, the people that are just one degree of separation from us “Christians”. The broken and hurting masses who we sometimes dismiss with a sweep of the hand and generalizations. There is a danger we face as Christians. It is the danger of forgetting who we are. We can easily fall into the temptation to clean up our act on Sunday. Say all the right words and smile through our pain for two hours to go back to life, but every false pretense, every fake smile, every hidden sin is a brick in the wall of separation we build between us and the world. What the world needs to see is authentic Christianity. Jesus was not fond of wall builders. He went so far as to call them white washed tombs, dead on the inside. In the book of Luke the rulers of the synagogue took offense as Jesus healed a woman who was crippled for 18 years, because it was the Sabbath. The time was not right for her to be healed, they argued. Don’t you follow the rules! It truly was the day of rest, but the way Jesus responds tells us what He thinks about our walls. I find interesting. **Luke 13:15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” 17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.** These men have forgotten about people, in their rule-keeping game. Men who would not let their animal go thirsty have forgotten how to have compassion on the sick, lost and dying. Humility is the cure, humility is remembering that we are all a little bit lost and every one of us is dying. The only thing that sets us apart from the rest of the world, is the well, from which we drink. The well of life, Jesus Christ. The difficulty is not in the leading the horse to water, the hard part is to make him thirsty. Look around and you will see that this world makes you thirsty. Thirsty for something to quench the questions in your soul. There are many hockers out there shouting about how they can quench your thirst, but it is only for moments. We have all come to a place in our walk where we were left unsatisfied. Jesus is the only one to offer water; that if you drink of it you will never thirst again. As Christians we are comissioned to find those that are thirsty, those that are not satisfied with the bitter water the world keeps giving them, and show them the fountain of life. We are a people made to say, the redeemer of you soul stands waiting for you, ready to lead you to waters that will quench the longing of your soul. He stands ready to remove the tethers that bind you to sin and death. He is saying come and drink. In a world that is looking for answers from Gods people let us be circumspectful and never forget that the world is full of the people Jesus came to die for. That is the message that should be ringing out in these day we live in. You and I will never be ready enough, cleaned up enough, or righteous enough to live a life that follows all of the rules. That was the point. The law was given to show that there was no way to please God through keeping the law. That I why He offered a better way than the law. He offered Jesus. God paid your way, all you have to do is drink. The sign that you ready for the water Jesus is offering is that you are thirsty. That is the only prerequsit for living a God life. Thirst for something better. **Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6** ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/The-Thirsty.gif) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, Devotional, faith, gratitude, Living water, personal growth --- ### [Bring the breaking in me, reduce me to love.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/bring-the-breaking-in-me-reduce-me-to-love/) **Published:** June 9, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Broken ground is ready to recieve a seed, whereas hard ground can not. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **The truth is that God loves broken ground.** I have the blessing of living in farm country, and there is not a more lovely sight than good dirt turned over to the sky. When you see earth that is almost black against a blue spring sky you can not help but imagine the harvest that is going to stand in that field come fall. **Broken ground is ready to recieve a seed, whereas hard ground can not.** Sometimes our hearts grow hard when we have protected it from pain for a long time. Other times we will our hearts to grow hard because feeling what is in them is too painful. This is not too hard for God. His word says he will take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh to replace it. He will help you to feel again. He willl sow his words in your heart and you will see a harvest of love, joy and true peace. **Broken ground allows roots to run deep.** There are times that we come to the end of our own strength. We feel plowed through, exposed to the elements. Undone. This is the place of healing. In my garden I have noticed one thing over and over, the plants I don’t want, have deep roots, while the plants I paid for seem to pull right out, sometimes entangled in the weeds that grow near them. Open ground lets us get to the roots that were hiding deep under ground. Roots of pains and hurts that were so deep we covered them with a lot of dirt. But the truth is no matter how much dirt that root is burried under it always threw up new shoots. When God brings you to a place where the dirt off your secret pains is thrown off, it is not so you can be ashamed, it is not so you can be exposed, it is simply because He wants you to ask him to lift it out of you. Jesus is the master gardener. If I want a good harvest you know the weeds have to go. How much more does the God that created you, desire for you to have a harvest of abundance in your own life. The breaking is all part of the cycle of planting and harvesting. God is faithful, when no one else is. God is truth, when the voice in your head lies to you. God wants you whole. You are His own. I have had a time of breaking, a few months past. I did not enjoy it, I did not ask for it. In fact I was having a hard time figuring out what to do with all of these horrible feelings that were surfacing in me. I wrote and prayed and met an impass. I wanted to get past my past but could not in my own strength get closure, but God was faithful to bring me some helpers, a call out of the blue and a small group bible study that gave me a place to talk. I had some ground that was stomped hard by things that happened in my life. I had ground that was hard because of sin I did knowingly. Let’s not be shocked, we are sinners by nature. God did not care if the sin was my own, or situations I had no choice in, He only wanted me free from them all of them. His word was my comfort and instructor, but in the end I had to share my self with the God that made me. I had to be exposed, to be known. You can not clean a part of you if you do not first expose it to the water. This is the heart of repentance. Speaking to God about who you are and asking Him if he still can love you when you continue to fall short. He is faithful. I am not rejected. I am both sheltered and armored by God. My heart feels lighter and I am not left broken. God took the roots of bitterness and pain and planted a seed. He folded under the flesh of my heart an incorruptable seed of healing. I will water it with His words. I will continue to pull the choking weeds, because God promises I will reap a harvest, and I plan on sharing. God is faithful, when all others are faithless. Trust in Him and know His healing mercy. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** brokenness, Devotional, Easter, healing, hope, pain, personal growth, sowing --- ### [Mothering, a matter of the heart.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mothering-a-matter-of-the-heart/) **Published:** May 5, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I’ll admit, sometimes I get a little irked. Please hear me out to the end though, and hear me with you heart. I see that “Nurses Appreciation Week” is coming up, as well as “Teachers Appreciation Week” and I know there is a celebration of Administrative Assistants that may be stretched a week as well, and then there is Mother’s Day. Before you get out the pitch forks, know that as a homeschooling Momma, I love, LOVE public school teachers. I am in awe how you get through an art project with 24 little people. I know how you love each and every one of those kids and give them your very best. My Mother is a nurse and I know first hand the hours on their feet, the uneaten lunches, and the full bladders. You hold hands and comfort with super human will and them go home and cry yourself to sleep. It’s just that, I am, “only a Mom”. I get just one day to celebrate. At first it seemed a little unfair. Fortunately I am a fairly rational person so I turn to reason. Logically some teachers would need a week to have a turn with all of their students and nurses are much the same, touching so many different patients. Spreading out the period of appreciation makes a lot of sense, but this did not make me feel any better. Then I thought about the things I love most about Mothering. They are not the big things. They are the weak cup of coffee, with way too much creamer; brought slopping over, by a first time coffee maker, beaming with pride. Chubby fingers, yellow with dandelion’s pollen bringing me flower after flower. There is the warm little hand that slips into mine as my daughter learns to read, the squeeze that follows because she is so excited to be doing it “for real”. It is the “for real” that gets me. The moments when I am Mothering. Those are real. Those are my every day gifts. My students will not pass to the next grade and leave me behind, nor will my patients. They will always return for another band aid, and I hope they will call me to ask how to soothe a little grandchild one day. I am a mother and will be forever. I would love a week of attention and flowers, but the reality is not one of us is working for that. We all do what we do because we love it. Teachers, everyday teach; some in crummy schools for little more than gas money, because they love children. They are addicted to the “aha” moment, pouring in as much knowledge as they can in a school year. Nurses put their lives in danger regularly, and in return small children cry at the sight of them; for giving them shots that make them feel better. The things that make our jobs crummy will always be there, but a day to reflect on all the things that make Mothering awesome is just what I needed. That moment, I see when I close my eyes, that overwhelms me with love for my place in this world, that is Mother’s Day in my heart. What is your mothering moment? ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Parenting **Tags:** appreciation, love, Mother's Day --- ### [If Only...](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/if-only/) **Published:** April 24, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* These words are the rally cry of the discontent, the co-dependent, and the depressed. I was in a relationship (a million years ago) that gave me a serious case of the “if only’s”. If only my boyfriend was in better health, we would be happy. If only my underage self could hang out at the bar with him, we would be happy. If only I did not wear the shoes he hated, we could be happy. The list was exhaustive and exhausting. I found that for every fix, there was a new obstacle to our happiness. The conclusion was that our unhappiness was a permanent condition. I was not a healthy girl back then. When I was not healthy I had a tendency to make poor choices about life. I’ve observed that most people also tend to surround ourselves with people that are also, equally unwell. Just a few years later and in a healthy relationship I looked back and shook my head at some of the miseries I put myself through. As a stable (see: covered by Jesus) woman, I could see how much wasted time I spent trying to solve a problem that plainly should not have been a part of my life. I made choices and lived out the consequences, to my own hurt. I can shake my fist at only myself. I thought I knew what I wanted and in pursuit of it I left behind my friends and family, seeking my own way. It did not end well. The last few years of what should have been my childhood were squandered and wasted in my plan to grow up my way. Reading in the book of Chronicles, I see that ancient Israel had a plan to grow up their own way as well. They looked around and saw that every other great Kingdom had a King leading them. In their own eyes they had fallen behind the times. This Ark was no longer adequate to head the parade. They wanted a man, not an invisible God, to represent them. They wanted a great man to lead their armies into battle. They basically wanted the jeans every other kid was wearing. Samuel was God’s mouth piece, speaking to the people in the Old Testament, so God instructed Samuel to tell the people all of the things a King would require of them. A king would take their strongest men for his army, the best horses for his stables, and their daughters for servants in his house, their lands for vineyards and so on. The people replied that they did not care about the long term costs, they saw today only, and just like children they cried “If only” before the God of heaven. If we had a king, our neighbors would stop harassing us, we would be respected, if only, if only… Up until this time they had God as their “King of Kings.” He led them. He defended them. He nurtured and protected His people, when the people followed and obeyed Him, they had peace and no enemy could defeat them, but like children, they thought they knew a better way. They cried out for a king and God gave them one. Sometimes God lets us have what we want; the problem is we don’t always want His best, we want our plan. I saw this just a few weeks ago when my sons wanted to take the test to get their drivers permit. I was glad to take them over there, but I asked them to read the book first. Every time they mentioned taking the test, I would respond, “Did you read the book?” They were sheepish at first, saying they would find the book and read it, but after a few more rounds they grew prideful. They knew they did not need to read the book. They just needed a ride to take the test. One fateful day their Dad was home early enough to take them over for the test. I waited at home hoping for the best, but knowing all too well that they had not taken time to read and study. As I suspected, they both came home empty handed. Why did I let them go? Why didn’t I get the book out and quiz them? As a loving parent, I do not want my kids to fail. But if they do fail I want to allow them to fail now, while the collateral damage is still small. The price for ignorance and pride only gets higher the older you get. I want my boys to learn to trust my wisdom. I want them to see that I want what is the very best for them, and sometimes that means letting them see the fruit of ignorance. Why did God allow Israel to set a King in the place of Himself? Because they wanted their own way. He gave them exactly the king that they expected. Striking, powerful, skilled and director like. And when they had had enough of their kind of king, God chose a young shepherd boy named David. So unking like that his own family forgot he was out in the fields when Samuel came calling for supper. God will let you choose the path for your life. He will even redeem squandered years as He has for myself, but he can not erase the consequence of sin. Sin always destroys, separates and kills. I lost years, Israel lost their divine protection, Saul lost his life, even David lost his first child, all because they thought “If only I had…” Build your trust on God’s word, and if it seem as though God had abandoned you, let me encourage you, He is never far off. Samuel 7:3 …If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, put away you false idols and sin. Determine to obey only the Lord; then He will rescue you… 2 Chronicles 7:14 then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. That might seem like you’ve got to get it together, or be holy, but the truth is the turning to Him and seeking after Him is all God is looking for you to do. He will set everything else in motion to bring you to Himself if you just answer His call. ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8438a7fd00facf586a98d9fe6b793650600d584a5622ea8f9158ec9410710f55?s=300&d=mm&r=pg) 200fingersandtoes@live.com [See Full Bio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) [ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/author/200fingersandtoeslive-com/) **Categories:** Devotional **Tags:** bible study, mothering, sacrafice, washing Jesus feet, widow and the oil --- ## Pages ### [Welcome, homeschooling friend!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/) **Published:** September 18, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # Homeschooling can take your family anywhere. The choice to homeschool is very personal. Your family is unique, and no one has your dynamic, collective gifts or specific challenges. Working with me will help you define your goals, choose the right curriculum for your family, and save you time and money. I’ll be there every step of the way. [](#next) ##### I am so glad to meet you. ## I’m Amber, ## Your Homeschooling Courage Lender! I created this website as a Homeschooler GPS to help you define where you want to go and get there faster. You are capable, savvy, and wise. You don’t need to be told what to do! You can feel in your gut that homeschooling is the right path. What you need is help **ASKING** the right questions. I found the tools, methods, and resources that fit our family best, and you will, too. Over the last twenty-five years, homeschooling has taught me where the trouble spots are. What can I do for you? As a consultant or in my courses, I’ll ask questions to help you determine the kind of homeschool experience you’re looking for. As we clarify your family’s needs and gifts together, we will find the path to your success. I’ll believe in you first and help you trust in yourself. On the **BLOG**, I share tips, tools, and resources to help you homeschool joyfully, build lasting relationships, and achieve your goals. Get ready to grow from wandering tourist to seasoned local in the homeschool community! - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_7468-864x1536.jpeg "IMG_7468 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### SEcond generation ##### Homeschool MoMMA to 10 ##### LIttle (& NOW BIG) HUmans ##### entrepreneur wife & Business Partner ##### Speaker & Writer - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_9197-1536x1536.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes") ### 01. [#### IN DUE SEASON HOMESCHOOL COURSES](#service-one) [⤅](http://www.indueseason.net) [In Due Season Courses are created to ask specific questions to help you define what you are looking for. When you know what questions to ask you will get the results you are looking for in your homeschool experience.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sales-page-2/) ### 02. [#### THE 200 FINGERS & TOES BLOG](#service-two) ⤅ My blog is where I have been reviewing products for homeschoolers for the last five years. Along the way I share a little wit and wisdom. I also share where I will be speaking and new homeschooling events you will be interested in. I share my favorite bloggers, authors and homeschool leaders with you. [Subscribe to the blog and join the community.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog/) ### 03. [#### IN DUE SEASON HOMESCHOOL PODCAST](#service-three) ⤅ In Due Season is where we share the latest technology, teaching tips, and practical tools to support your family‘s goal of homeschool to create a life on your own terms. Get equipped to prepare or encouraged to continue, as I join you on a journey to your best homeschool year yet. Listen [HERE](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-due-season-homeschool-your-guide-to-living-well/id1502155155) ##### JOIN MY NEWSLETTER TO RECEIVE… ## the latest tips and reviews --- Subscribe [Built with ConvertKit](https://convertkit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ###### I have made huge progress in terms of the morning chores and my personal morning routine has improved a lot since setting these goals.*Thank you so much for the exercises. It was very helpful!* ##### – Sarah n. ##### DISCOVER THE RIGHT COURSE FOR YOU ## HOMESCHOOL HELP My courses will get your child learning as fast as possible while making it impossible to head down the wrong path. There is no one size fits all homeschooling solution. You know your family best, so it makes the most sense for you to discover the tools that will fit your lifestyle and goals. Our Homeschool RoadMap course is designed for you to get a real plan and vision for the future of your homeschool. While The 30 Days to Homeschool Reset is created for any family that needs to get back on track with accountability for EVERYONE! It always starts with us as homeschool leaders. Our courses are here to shorten the learning curve and skip right to the good stuff. [Learn More](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sales-page-2/) [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/6KeyToSuccessCourse-Image2-1024x768.png "6KeyToSuccessCourse Image2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Homeschool-StartUp-Image-2-1024x922.jpg "Homeschool StartUp Image 2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### REVIEWS, COMMUNITY & ENCOURAGEMENT ## Catch Up on the Blog Back in 2008, I started writing about our little homeschool life. Over the years I spent more and more time consulting with families wanting to homeschool and parents asking important questions online. Answers turned into blog posts and articles. I have a huge archive of resources for you. Writing has given me an opportunity to review curriculum for magazines and homeschooling companies. Be assured, I use every product I review. I share what problems they solve and how you could benefit. You have millions of options out there in the world. I hope by reviewing resources I can help to narrow down the world of choices for you a little. [Learn More](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog/) [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2260-1024x1024.jpg "Homeschooling the Careful Student › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### HOMESCHOOL HELP ON THE GO ## Podcast Hit the ground running and listen to a friendly voice as you navigate the beginning of your homeschool experience. Is the podcast just for beginners? No way! I am always learning from other homeschool parents, even after twenty years of teaching at home. Do you need a homeschooling quick startup guide? I started the IN DUE SEASON HOMESCHOOL podcast to help parents jump into teaching at home for the first time. We’re gearing up for a second season that will have more tips for growing homeschooling families and those looking for how to structure their homeschool life. I will be talking with homeschooling parents about their successes and obstacles. I can’t wait to share more stories with you. - [](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep008-what-we-are-using-in-our-homeschool-this-year/id1502155155?i=1000489681810) ##### [Welcome, homeschooling friend!](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/) [](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep10-managing-paper-in-your-homeschool/id1502155155?i=1000624827735) ⤅ [](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep10-managing-paper-in-your-homeschool/id1502155155?i=1000624827735) --- [More from the Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-due-season-homeschool-your-guide-to-living-well/id1502155155) ## Top Resources - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Untitled-768x1152.jpg "Government & Economics Unit Study › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Free Download ### FREE Government & Econ Curriculum Guide for High School [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/econ-government-unit-study-for-multi-age-homeschool/) - [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Grab.png "Grab › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/outdoor-play-gift-ideas-that-parents-really-want/) - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce-placeholder-1024x1024.png "woocommerce-placeholder › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Free Download ### Looking for Fun & Games? Read the **Outdoor Play Ideas** article and download the FREE Family Gift Guide [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/outdoor-play-gift-ideas-that-parents-really-want/) --- ### [Grab Your Free Book List: Stories That Help Kids Build Resilience](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resilient-readers-book-list/) **Published:** March 15, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Parent-book-recommendations-724x1024.png "Parent book recommendations › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Resilient-Readers-At-Every-Age-683x1024.png "Resilient Readers At Every Age › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Read-About-Characters-Who-Struggle-724x1024.png "Read About Characters Who Struggle › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Free Reading List ## Raise Kids Who Don’t Quit Some of the most powerful lessons children learn come from the stories they read. Inside great books, children meet characters who struggle, make mistakes, face fears, and discover courage they didn’t know they had. These stories quietly help children understand something important: **Hard things are part of the journey.** And when children see characters keep going, they begin to believe they can too. ### Sign Up and Download the FREE Resilient Readers Book List Below Discover meaningful books filled with strong characters who model courage, perseverance, and character. ## Grab Your Resilience Book List for All Ages & Parent Guide Send My Resilient Reader List ##### In this free guide ## Inside the Book List This curated list includes **stories children truly love**—not just books with good messages. Inside you’ll discover books with characters who: - face real challenges - learn from mistakes - persevere through difficulty - choose courage over comfort - grow stronger through struggle **Parents Often Tell Me** “My child needed exactly this kind of story.” Many children struggle with discouragement when something feels hard. The right book can remind them that **every hero’s story includes a challenge**—and that perseverance is part of becoming stronger. ### Why Stories Matter So Much Children don’t build resilience by hearing lectures about perseverance. They develop it by watching characters navigate difficulties and grow stronger. When kids read stories about courageous characters, they begin to understand: - Failure isn’t the end of the story - Hard things are worth doing - Courage grows through practice - Character develops over time The stories they read today often shape how they respond to challenges tomorrow. ### Perfect For Families Who Want to Raise Children who are… - courageous readers - thoughtful kids who persevere - children who aren’t afraid to try again - young people who understand that growth takes effort Whether you read aloud together or your children read independently, these stories help build **emotional strength through literature**. ### A Gift for Parents Who Love Books I created this list because I believe stories shape the way children see themselves and the world around them. The right book at the right moment can encourage a child to keep going when things feel difficult. And sometimes that courage begins with a character in a story. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7.jpg "7 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Six-Keys-1024x1024.png "Six-Keys › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/16-1.jpg "16-1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/9.jpg "9 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8.jpg "8 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1A4C3C98-2A5D-43DF-88F2-FFC5EF6A5E50_1_105_c.jpeg "Six Key to Your Successful Homeschool Year › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Hi, I’m Amber. ## I’m a homeschooling parent and lifelong advocate for helping families discover great books that build both imagination and character. Over the years, I’ve seen how powerful stories can shape a child’s courage, perseverance, and love of learning. That’s why I created the **Resilient Readers Book List**—to help parents discover stories that inspire children to keep going even when things are hard. You can find more ideas for encouraging reading and character development at **200 Fingers & Toes**. ## Help Your Kids Discover Stories That Build Courage --- Download the **FREE Resilient Readers Book List** and begin building a family library filled with stories that strengthen character and resilience. Send My Resilient Reader List --- ### [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/book-reviews/) **Published:** January 27, 2026 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-george-milton-7034380-scaled-1.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034380 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-george-milton-7034379-scaled-2.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034379 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-george-milton-6954210-scaled-1.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954210 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Bookhousereads – Reviews ## This House is Built on Books Welcome to the corner where I share the latest books I’ve been reading. Here you will find reviews of the books I gave three stars or more. A three-star review is a solid book I could recommend **without reservations**. I like a challenging reading level, so a three-star rating is a great YA novel or perfect for a new adult reader. Four stars are for books that I personally loved, maybe it was the genre or the setting, but it hit me right. If you see a five-star rating, it is because I think everyone should read this book, and if you did, I want to talk about it with you. Send me your favorite quotes, tell me who you loved and hated! I want to help you get a great reading habit started! We can all use some help finding a few good books. The truth is, I never loved reading as a kid. Being dyslexic and painfully shy made reading out loud a study in counting paragraphs and managing anxiety. It wasn’t until adulthood that I found a taste for reading. A teenager from our church knew I was home with the kids a lot. He would fill a sack of library discards and, probably, his own stash, and send them home with me on Sunday afternoons. I was hooked from the first bag. I read every night after the kids went to sleep. I could consume a mass market book in one sitting, but Pillars of the Earth took me a week! Now, I drive a delivery route and LOVE audiobooks, but my book stack is still pretty tall. I read about 100 books a year and discovered that I don’t have a type; they just need to be good. To help our children love reading, I read for like a million hours! Nap time, bedtime books, and picture books in the afternoon. By the time we started homeschooling, I knew I wanted credit for doing exactly what we were already doing – reading as a family. We found a literature-based curriculum, and #thebookhouse was born. Now, we have over 150 feet of shelved books, curated over the last 25 years. My two greatest pieces of advice for parents: 1. Read as much as possible to your children for as long as you can. Help them LOVE books. 2. Become a reader yourself. Let them see you actively maintain the reading habit. Now, most of our kids are adults. I love reading their book recommendations and sharing my own. I read a broad spectrum of books. I love character-driven stories, fiction, historical fiction, philosophy, history, business, and self-help, too! I recommend good books, fun books, deeply wounding books, challenging topics, soul-searching books, and everything in between. ###### Book Reviews - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/sweet-Pea-1-683x1024.png "sweet Pea › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034380-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034380 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034379-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034379 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-6954210-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954210 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pexels-jasmine-carter-888894-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "pexels-jasmine-carter-888894 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-12-scaled-1-768x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 12 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-11-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 11 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-10-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 10 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-9-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 9 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-7-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 7 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-5-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 5 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-2-scaled-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") --- ### [SixKeysBook](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sixkeysbook/) **Published:** November 23, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ### [In Due Season Courses](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sales-page-2/) **Published:** December 11, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # Discovering the Best Homeschooling has to Offer **You will spend the first year of homeschool learning with your kids and discovering how they like learn. You know a lot about them right now and that will help you create a better homeschool plan. With our courses you will spend the next couple of months creating a personalized plan to get the tools in your hands for the best school year possible.** **With** **In Due Season Courses will you will have a whole school year’s head start! What are you waiting for?** [](#next) - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_3355-1024x1024.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/0F539EAD-37B9-48F1-BE92-C959756B024C-1-1024x1024.jpg "› 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Which Course is Right for Your Family? --- Are you new to homeschooling? You can start to build your own homeschool philosophy from the ground up right now[. *The Six Keys to a Successful Homeschool Year*](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/six-keys-to-your-successful-homeschool) is the course that will walk you through every important question to ask before you start. Are you currently homeschooling, but the last few weeks have left you frazzled? I’ve been there too. When I went to work out of the house a few days a week, I needed help creating a new normal. I thought we had homeschooling down to a science. We had been doing it for fifteen years. The *[30 Days to Homeschool Reset](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/30-days-to-homeschool-renewal)* shares exactly what I learned about creating accountability for myself and my students. Need a quick start-up guide without getting bogged down with all the details right now? Grab my FREE *[The Homeschool Quick Start-Up Guide](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/the-homeschool-quick-start-up-guide)* right now! It is full of resources; since it is digital, there are links to most of them. I want you to know that help is at your fingertips. ###### Ready to change your life? ## Sometimes it is a little change that make a big difference! ##### here are the top 3 ways to make homeschooling better 1 Find out where you are losing momentum, energy and joy in your homeschool week. 2 Set accountability in place to make sure everyone know what is expected of them. 3 Personalize your homeschool to fit your students learning needs and your desired lifestyle. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Instagram-Story-1.png "Instagram Story (1) › 200 Fingers & Toes") --- ##### Your kids Don’t have a year to waste ## You Need to Get Started with the Best Information for Your Family. ## I help you find it! As small business owners, homeschooling gave us the freedom to live life on our terms. Our curriculum helped us teach each of our children in the way that fit them without having to change everything ten different ways. #### My greatest resource for a great experience was older homeschooling mothers. They answered my questions, shared their stories and learned many lessons the hard way so I didn’t have to. #### Now, I am doing the same thing for homeschooling families; sharing what I have learned along the way. I wrote this course to be your personal guide. As you complete each unit, you will feel confident to choose curriculum and determine course work for your individual children. By investing in yourself, you will bypass beginner mistakes and save time, money and possibly your most important relationships. #### As a working, homeschool mom; I know how little time we can actually carve out for ourselves. So, I kept the workload concise but made sure there was room for deep answers in the journal homework. I’m in! Sign me up! ##### Introducing ## Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year My purpose in creating In Due Season, is that no parent ever quits homeschooling because they didn’t find the support they needed. - If your goals are to get your child back on track and get them back in school, I can help. - If you want to create a homeschool plan so your family can travel for the next two years, we can do that. - If your goal is to create a solid plan to keep you accountable and confident, you are in the right place! You can ensure a strong homeschool finish by getting help for that season in the middle. I’ve got the map and will share with you where the most common roadblocks are. These pesky setbacks keep family’s from having homeschool. They are no so unique, which makes it easy to teach you how to be on the lookout for them. Over the years of helping parents create a plan, I’ve defined SIX common places that cause students to lose hope, parents to lose focus and families to get sidetracked from what should have been their greatest family adventure. I created clear examples in the weekly units along with daily journal questions. Your journal answers will create a personalized plan that fits your individual school needs and be the map you need to stay the course when the terrain gets difficult. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mockup-featuring-a-macbook-placed-on-a-desk-at-an-office-2441-el1-1024x683.png "mockup-featuring-a-macbook-placed-on-a-desk-at-an-office-2441-el1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Let’s get down to business ### Here is what we cover… - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Instagram-Story-2-1024x680.png "Instagram Story (2) › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### UNIT one ## DEMONSTRATING LOVE WITH OUR HOMESCHOOL --- Homeschooling might be one of the most unique opportunities we have to express our love to our children in ways that will shape them well into adulthood. If we lose focus of that gift we are falling short of our calling. In this Unit we will walk through three ways that we use our school time and create a personalized plan to value your children and connect more deeply during your school time. ##### unit Two ## EMBRACE YOUR HOMESCHOOL WITHOUT COMPARISON --- The best advice I can offer is to embrace being you! Everything about you, your quirks, your schedule, and your crazy life. If you are like many homeschool families, you might not fit the public-school mold. To be quite honest, in our family, we do not even fit the homeschool mold. I have had a lot of lessons in making comparisons to help me embrace our crazy uniqueness. Together we are going to help define what your homeschool needs to look like to help each one of your students thrive. - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0488-1024x1024.jpg "Boo › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![Starting With Graduation in Mind](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_2238-1024x1024.jpg "Starting With Graduation in Mind › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### unit Three ## HAVING YOUR OWN MAP TO GUIDE YOU: YOUR “WHY” PAGE --- Setting out on the journey of homeschooling is a huge undertaking. The route will change with every child, but the end destination is that fixed point in the future; graduation day. On the outset of any trip we set the address of our final destination into our GPS. Immediately we know how long our journey is going to be and can plan for the journey. I want to share with you about how I set my GPS for homeschooling. Some people call it a mission statement, I just call it my “Why” page. Six UNITS: Complete the course and give yourself the perfect homeschool plan. Don’t guess, this school year is too important. You can grab the course and be confident about your choice to homeschool. [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/StartUpCover-791x1024.png "StartUpCover › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://indueseason.mysamcart.com/checkout/the-homeschool-quick-start-up-guide) ### Claim Your FREE Book All the tips, ideas, and resources to get you started homeschooling right away [I want my FREE copy](https://indueseason.mysamcart.com/checkout/the-homeschool-quick-start-up-guide) ###### *The greatest gift homeschooling has to offer is the relationships you build with your kids along the way. If you miss that, you miss everything!* ##### Amber ##### $99 ###### Six Keys to Success Course Access to Six Keys Course Daily Journal Exercises Weekly Email Reminders Lifetime Access to All Updates Email Support from My Team Enroll Now ##### $289 ###### Homeschool Consultation & Six Keys Course Pre-Call Prep List One Hour Consultation Call One Hour Follow Up Meeting Personalized Recommendations and Resource List Access to Six Keys Course at 20% off Daily Journal Exercises Weekly Email Reminders Lifetime Access to All Updates [Enroll Now](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/homeschool-consultation--six-key-course-combination) - [![Create a Map to Be Your Guide](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/white-ipad-2-stand-landscape-768x576.png "Get your homeschool Road Map and Stay on Track › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://indueseason.mysamcart.com/checkout/build-your-homeschool-why) ## Try One Unit Now Set your homeschool GPS with a “Why” page. This chapter is so important I want everyone to use it. You will never lose your way if you use the “Why” page we create to stay the course. [Send My GPS](https://indueseason.mysamcart.com/checkout/build-your-homeschool-why) [### Find More Resources & Tips on the Blog](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog/)[##### Access now ⤅](#) ### Need a Reset Right Now? [##### Access now ⤅](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/30-days-to-homeschool-renewal) --- ### [IDS Podcast](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/podcast/) **Published:** November 12, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* The In Due Season Homeschool Podcast was created to help parents transitioning to homeschooling with NO prior homeschool knowledge. You are in the right place if you are still looking for how to start. The beginner-level ideas, tips, and resources I share here will help you get started. In the In Due Season Homeschool Podcast, you will learn about homeschool philosophy and ideology. The more parents know, the better choices they can make for their family. I trust YOU to build the life you all deserve. Thank you for making 200 Fingers & Toes a part of your homeschool support system! - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/d26e522b-cd7f-435d-9e19-859798afd647-14-1024x1024.jpg "Releve › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_7468-576x1024.jpeg "IMG_7468 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Most Popular on the ## In Due Season Homeschool Podcast On the podcast, I share the latest technology, teaching tips, and practical tools to support your family’s homeschooling goals and help you create a life on your terms. As you listen, you will be equipped to prepare and encouraged to continue. I look forward to joining you on this journey to your best homeschool year yet. [##### [Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to know](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep11-homeschool-graduation-facts-you-need-to-know/id1502155155?i=1000625778205)]() ⤅ [##### Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep09-developing-organization-skills-in-your-homeschool/id1502155155?i=1000623942050) ⤅ [##### What is So Scary About Homeschool, High School?](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep005-what-is-so-scary-about-homeschool-high-school/id1502155155?i=1000471345335) ⤅ [##### The 2 Keys to Consider Before Buying Curriculum](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep002-the-2-keys-to-consider-before-buying-curriculum/id1502155155?i=1000468585932) ⤅ [More from the Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-due-season-homeschool-your-guide-to-living-well/id1502155155) ## Listen HERE to the IDS podcast or on your favorite player. - [Counting the Cost to Homeschool](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/Counting-the-Cost-to-Homeschool-e2r4dui) - [EP11 Homeschool Graduation Facts You Need to Know](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP11-Homeschool-Graduation-Facts-You-Need-to-Know-e28if0q) - [EP10 – Managing paper in your homeschool](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP10---Managing-paper-in-your-homeschool-e2881f6) - [EP09 Developing Organization Skills in Your Homeschool](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP09-Developing-Organization-Skills-in-Your-Homeschool-e27tsjf) - [EP008 – What We are Using in Our Homeschool This Year](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indueseason/episodes/EP008---What-We-are-Using-in-Our-Homeschool-This-Year-eitt4c) --- ### [Featured Portfolio Item](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/featured-portfolio-item/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034380-scaled.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034380 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034379-scaled.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034379 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-6954210-scaled.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954210 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Featured Project ## Name of Project Toffee chupa chups pie sesame snaps shortbread. Croissant gingerbread croissant danish ice cream. Lemon drops I love danish macaroon halvah I love cheesecake halvah pie. Sweet dessert gummies marshmallow sesame snaps cookie soufflé. Gummies tart sesame snaps lemon drops pastry. Topping chocolate bar dessert tart soufflé. Chocolate cake I love cake oat cake I love sugar plum I love powder. Shortbread I love donut gummies pie croissant. ###### Featured Project - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034380-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034380 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034379-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034379 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-6954210-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954210 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-6954180-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954180 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-jasmine-carter-888894-683x1024.jpg "pexels-jasmine-carter-888894 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-12-768x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 12 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-11-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 11 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-10-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 10 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-9-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 9 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-7-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 7 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-6-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 6 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-5-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 5 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-3-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 3 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-2-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") --- ### [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/gratitude/) **Published:** October 2, 2023 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Copy-of-Funnel-Bundle-Graphics-1024x1024.png "Copy-of-Funnel-Bundle-Graphics › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Gratitude Journal ## Increase Gratitude this Season Help your students practice gratitude with ease, simplicity and just the right amount of structure to help them create the gratitude habit for themselves. Enter your information for the FREE Gratitude Journal sample pages. Subscribe [Built with ConvertKit](https://convertkit.com/features/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&utm_content=form&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=dynamic) ## Make **gratitude** a part of your daily homeschool practice? Get the book! This [Student Gratitude Journal](https://amzn.to/45eeP6S) was created to help your whole homeschool practice thankfulness. With a journal of their own, students will have a place to note **inspiring stories** from their daily reading. Sections are provided to write their **scripture memorization**, **quotables**, and **five lines for gratitudes** to the practice easy for every age. There is even a section for special **notes and memories**. I created this little journal to be a treasured keepsake of your gratitude journey together. The beautiful, full color, 90 page [Gratitude Journal is now available for purchase. ](https://amzn.to/45eeP6S) (this post contains amazon affiliate links, Amber Smith is the author) [![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gratitude-Mac-Up.png "Gratitude-Mac-Up › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gratitude-Mac-Up.png) --- ### [Work with Me](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/services/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ##### So many ways to share ## A Message of Empowerment A public figure I admired once shared some sage advice on choosing my blog topic. What can you talk for an hour about? I immediately knew that Homeschooling was the easy choice. I’ve been steeped in homeschool culture from my teen years. As parents, we’ve raised ten very different students while homeschooling. Originally public schooled, I’ve experienced the strengths and weaknesses of parochial, private and gifted schools. Homeschooling was the hail mary, last hope for salvaging my education. My history as a struggling student has left me with a deep empathy for parents who are dealing with kids who are falling through the cracks of the current system. I speak about the challenges of raising gifted kids and the freedom homeschooling can offer. I have several sessions about focusing on your children in homeschool planning, the dangers of comparison, and how a lack of accountability can derail a homeschool year. This last year I spent a great deal of time speaking for online conferences with top homeschooling speakers. As part of the an online teaching community, I offered monthly teachings in FB Live format. I’ve also spoken at Homeschooling 101 events in the state of Iowa. [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) - ![Sonlight Ambassador Homeschool Help](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_3668-1.jpg "Raising Them on Sonlight › 200 Fingers & Toes") ###### how can we work together? ## Freelance Services Do you have a message to share and need a writer with a background in homeschooling? Experienced homeschool freelance writer. Let’s talk about your project today. [Work With Me](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/speaker-contact-form/) ## Speaking for Your Events Topics include: Homeschool Planning, Accountability for the Whole Family, Creating a Homeschool “WHY”, Fearlessly Approaching Teaching High School and more. Let’s talk about your event and topic needs today. [Contact Me](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/speaker-contact-form/) ## Become an Affiliate Students of In Due Season Courses can earn sales income and you help parents have their best school year yet. Have an audience that you want to share with? I can help you by providing a live teaching, email templates or article for you blog or podcast to help you promote the In Due Season course to your readers. [Learn More Here](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/) ###### At the core of who we are ## *I am passionate about helping homeschool families find the tools and resources to help them have a successful school year.* - ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/C8A14374-6BAB-477B-89BF-5A53DBDA4C0D-1-1024x1024.jpg "C8A14374-6BAB-477B-89BF-5A53DBDA4C0D › 200 Fingers & Toes") [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) ###### real events with real results - ## “I learned so much from these sessions, I am so glad you shared your message” > This is the best feed back I can get from an event host. I love knowing that listeners have actionable steps that they can take away from a session and begin to implement right away. Kerry Klein Beck, Life Skills Leadership Summit - ## “There is so much to take away from this session.” > Interview sessions are one of my favorites. I spoke with Ana Willis during her “For Such a Time as This Summit” and had a great time sharing with her audience about creating accountability for the whole family. I love learning from other leaders in the homeschool blogosphere. Ana Willis, For Such a Time as This Summit ## Freelance Writing #### Do you need a writer with a background in homeschooling? Connecting homeschooler with the products and services that help them solve problems is a huge part of my writing efforts. As a seasoned homeschool freelance writer. I offer online articles with a high SEO return guaranteed. I’ve written for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, the Sonlight Blog, Homeschool Iowa Magazine and many online publications. You can see more samples of my work for [Sonlight here](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/projects__trashed/sonlight-ambassador/) and other samples at my [Linkedin profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/200fingersandtoes/). I have also been a member of TOS and the Timberdoodle review teams. Let’s talk about your project today. [Learn More ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/speaker-contact-form/) [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) ##### What Terry said: Amber, the articles were just what I needed! They were well-written, concise, and blended well with my own writing style (important for blogs). Thank you! I will definitely utilize your services again the the near future! ##### Last years conferences were amazing! My hope is to keep encouraging and equipping the next generation of homeschool parents through online and in-person events. [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) ## Speaking #### Sharing a Homeschool Message of transformation #### Booking Online or in person through 2022 Online conferences were a huge help for new homeschoolers and are still a great way to connect with your readership. Need a speaker? I’ve spoken for homeschool leaders; Ana Willis, Kerry Klein-Beck, Heather Bowen and more. I can prepare a pre-recorded session, youtube linked recording and live sessions as well as interviews. [contact me ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/contact-me/) ## Become an Affiliate #### share my course with your audience Not everyone has time and the resources to build a full course for homeschoolers. That doesn’t mean your audience can’t get access to great tools. Click the link to learn more about the [In Due Season Courses](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sales-page-2/) now. Earn sales income as you help your readers have their best school year yet. I can provide a teaching or article for you blog or podcast to help you promote the In Due Season course to your readers. [Learn More ⤅](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/) [Contact me ](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/) [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) ##### From Amber Sharing resources is at the core of our vision for helping homeschoolers. Becoming an affiliate is one of the ways I can give back to my audience when they share our course with a friend. --- ### [Sonlight Ambassador](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sonlight-ambassador/) **Published:** August 29, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** A year's worth of Helpful Homeschooling articles written for Sonlight Curriculum Blog. Science to High school transcripts and every where in-between **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ## I wanted my kids to fall in love with great books from an early age. Sonlight was the natural choice. We have used Sonlight since I placed my very first order in April of 2005. At our blog, I’ve always written with the homeschool community in mind and I often share how we use Sonlight with our unique family. In March of 2017, I wrote and article on the blog, [How Do You Homeschool Multiple Grades at the Same Time](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/homeschool-multiple-grades/). The response was huge. The good news was I had a ton more to share, so when the [Sonlight Blog](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425) contacted me and asked if I would like to be an Ambassador for them, it was an easy, “Yes!” Sonlight offered a full curriculum in exchange for writing articles over the 2017-2018 school year. Since we already owned every Core (HBL as they are called now) we chose Sonlight’s [AP British Literature](https://www.sonlight.com/630-MD) and [AP Psychology](https://www.sonlight.com/690-00), for my daughters college prep. *\[As a Sonlight Ambassador, I received curriculum in exchange for my posts\]* ## Raising Kids Who Love to Learn Literature and reading are a passion that I did not come by until I was an adult. I had learning difficulties that made reading aloud traumatic and spelling impossible. Those experiences defined how I felt about books. As an adult I began reading for pleasure and found our how much I had missed by not reading. When it came [time to choose a](https://www.facebook.com/groups/430009671042492/about/)[ ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/considering-homeschooling-create-a-plan-for-your-first-homeschool-year/)[curriculum](https://www.facebook.com/groups/430009671042492/about/) for my own children, I wanted them to fall in love with great books from an early age. Sonlight was a natural choice for its all-in-one nature and the abundance of deep and rich reading material. [![Sonlight Curriculum](https://www.sonlight.com/images/banner-full-468x60.gif)](http://www.sonlight.com/rewards/AS20131425)Sonlight is a fit for any family; large or small, multi-grade or for one child, advanced learners and children with learning difficulties, US based or families living abroad. In fact, it was developed with missionaries in mind. That was one of the factors that pushed me to choose Sonlight over other curriculum providers. I wanted my children to develop a broad worldview that was not US centric. Sonlight has given my rural, Iowa kids, a million points of connection with kids all over the planet. ## Let me tell you more about how we school with Sonlight… > [How Homeschooling Gives Young Athletes a Massive Advantage](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-athletes.html) read more about creating a schedule that lets your students skills grow> [5 Vital Road Markers of a Homeschool Plan for Gifted Learners](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschool-plan-gifted-learners.html) Homeschooling an advanced student? Check out how to support their unique needs> [Raising the Advanced Reader: Challenging While Protecting](https://blog.sonlight.com/advanced-reader.html) > [When Your Child Says “I Can’t”: Raising Kids Who Problem Solve](https://blog.sonlight.com/i-cant.html) > [Raising College Ready Students with a Literature-Rich Curriculum](https://blog.sonlight.com/college-ready.html) > [Help! I’ve Lost My Homeschool Groove! Here’s How to Find It Again](https://blog.sonlight.com/lost-homeschool-groove.html) > [3 Homeschool Hacks to Get You Through Winter and Past Spring Break](https://blog.sonlight.com/through-winter.html) > [Transition to College with Advanced Placement in High School](https://blog.sonlight.com/advanced-placement.html) https://blog.sonlight.com/four-year-high-school-plan.html > [Yes, You Can Homeschool Through High School!](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschool-through-high-school.html) > [What You Need When Launching Your Homeschool Adventure](https://blog.sonlight.com/launching-homeschooling-adventure.html) > [How to Clean Up Your Homeschool Schedule Like You Tidy a Room](https://blog.sonlight.com/clean-up-homeschool.html) > [Why Teens Need to Experiment (and Fail) with Career Exploration](https://blog.sonlight.com/career-exploration.html) > [Homeschooling Away From Home During Crisis or Displacement](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-displacement.html) > [Pursuing Passions and Sharing the Best Parts of You](https://blog.sonlight.com/pursuing-passions.html) > [Managing a Large Family Homeschool for the Not So Organized Mom](https://blog.sonlight.com/managing-large-family-homeschool.html) > [Vaulting into Homeschool: Where to Set the Bar of Expectations](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschool-expectations.html) > [When Your Goals Don’t Match the Norm: Reflections on Senior Night](https://blog.sonlight.com/reflections-senior-night.html) > [Why I Had to Break Up with Last Year’s Homeschool Schedule](https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschool-schedule-breakup.html) > [Why We Have a No Toy Policy](https://blog.sonlight.com/no-toy-policy.html) > [3 Brilliant Ways to Foster a Love for Reading in the First Five Years](https://blog.sonlight.com/reading-five-years.html) > [Help for the Homeschool Mom Who Hates Science Experiments](https://blog.sonlight.com/mom-hates-science-experiments.html) --- ### [In Due Season | Build Your Own Homeschool Road Map](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/in-due-season-road-map/) **Published:** November 15, 2019 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* When I was building my own Homeschool Road Map, it took years. I am so grateful that we live in a digital age. To learn about homeschooling; I attended conventions, I read all of the books by my favorite speakers, subscribed to magazines and researched child development and learning styles like a librarian. I came away with a lot of information, but I was going to have to walk it out by trial and error. Now, we can meet, right here through blogs and social media. I can share what the best tips that have worked for our homeschool life. Wouldn’t it be great if the essentials you needed to get started were all in one place? This is why I wrote In Due Season and created an online course. I want to t a fast track the transition from unsure to confident. ## **My hearts desire is that no homeschool family turn back to public school just because they didn’t have the road map they needed.** There are six identifyable places that have caused us to stumble in our homeschooling journey. None of them have to do with a curriculum or program, but are life areas common to every household no matter your circumstances. Homeschooling challenged me in ways I was not expecting. I want to share my map, so you can plan your way around these pitfalls. Click the link for access and the full course description and find our how to get help building your own homeschool road map. [ Find Out More: In Due Season – The Road Map for Your Homeschool Journey](https://indueseason.samcart.com/products/six-keys-to-your-successful-homeschool) ## Are you looking for homeschool leaders like yourself? Twenty years ago, I was a young mama thinking about homeschool, I gathered information, but I needed a person. What I needed was a face, a woman like me, who was figuring it out and telling me I could too. I am blessed to be a second generation homeschooler, but in the past I was a public school rebel and a high school failure! At the time my own mom chose to homeschool me, we were at the tail end of my family’s exit from public school. Because I was a Junior, I went to community college for classes and missed their day-to-day example. Furthermore, the examples I did see were different from my family. Twenty years ago, the homeschooling women in our homeschool community were blessings and warriors in their own right. They are the ones who brought homeschooling into light and fought for legal protection, but I felt like I was so unlike them. ## We are a new wave of homeschoolers These women were polished, higher education oriented, proper. It was the years of jean jumpers and kids wearing ties. It seemed like every one of their kids played the violin and was studying calculus as a preteen. In that era, there was an air of needing to prove to the world that homeschool kids could achieve. It was a critical point in homeschooling’s history, but it didn’t look like the life I wanted to build. I knew I was wanting to homeschool, however, I didn’t see me in those examples, so I wasn’t sure if homeschooling was still for me. If I am to be honest, polished and reverent are not top attributes in my bio. I wear red converse to church, read ALL of the books, love to laugh loud. Driven in education? Not at the cost of listening. I listen to my kids and gauge their education according to their abilities and our learning goals for them. I’m not homeschooling for a cause, I am homeschool for MY kids. > I searched for women like me, and came up empty. Do you feel like this? Would you like to find a community of Moms who want to do the very best for their kids? I’ve created a [FaceBook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/430009671042492/about/) for course Members like you. Moms who are looking for input and encouragement. Mom who are asking great question and searching for the best help with their homeschool. Women with goals in life and for their kids, who want to find the road map with the shortest path to get there. The course is open for sign ups, so join us now. The closed FB group is for course participants only and will not be a time suck, It will be a place to check in with the weekly prompts, share insights and help your homeschool. I will be available for a weekly Q&A based on that lessons theme. --- ### [Contact Me](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/contact-me/) **Published:** December 16, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ### How can I help you? --- ##### Learn how we can work together Do you have a conference, project or blog that needs a contributor? I have been writing for the homeschool market for eight years. As a reviewer and freelance writer, I’ve worked with large and small vendors to showcase their strengths and highlight their benefits. Sonlight Blog, Timberdoodle Review Team, This Old Schoolhouse Magazine and Schoolhouse Teachers, are a few of the companies I have worked with to help get their message in front of more readers with SEO optimized posts. I would love to help you accomplish your goals. Email me with the details, and we can discuss working together. [Let’s Work Together](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/speaker-contact-form/) ##### Book a Homeschool consultation with me Are you ready to jump into homeschooling and do it right from the start? Bypass frustration and create a plan from the ground up that is made for your family. Do you have a specific homeschooling issue or questions about getting started? Invest in your homeschool and save time and money this year! Let me do the research for you and share my collection of resources to help you get the answers you need, right now. [choose a package](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/homeschool-consultation) ##### Have a topic suggestion, need a guest or want to be featured on the In Due Season podcast? ### Fill out this form with your ideas and contact information! [Thank you for connecting, let’s get started!](https://forms.gle/3fXHfikgPyErZszg9) --- ### [Speaker Contact Form](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/speaker-contact-form/) **Published:** December 22, 2021 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Name \*First Last Business Name Business Email \* Contact Phone Number and Extension Tell Me About Your Event or Writing Opportunity \* Submit![Loading](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/plugins/wpforms/assets/images/submit-spin.svg) --- ### [Category Silo](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category-silo/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* - [![Promotional book-review collage: the novel Yesterday Year with a rainbow gradient cover, a quoted blurb, and author Amber J. Smith with a 4-star rating.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Review.png "Yesteryear Review › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - ## [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.If you’re looking for an honest Yesteryear review, you’re probably wondering whether Caro Claire Burke’s much-discussed tradwife novel lives up to the hype. After finishing Yesteryear, I found myself thinking less about social media and… [Read More](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) ###### latest from the blog - [ ![Blog hero: girl on a swing with large teal title '3 Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year' and a white banner reading BLOG | 200FINGERS & TOES](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Peaceful-school-year-post-4-768x768.png "how to have a peaceful homeschool › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) ##### [Three Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-768x960.png "Books Like Jade City › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) ##### [9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated Loyalties](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) - [ ![Blog header image reading: Title '9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer' in bold green letters over a grayscale photo of a person reading, with a white strip showing 'BLOG' and '200FINGERS & TOES' on green background.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9-Quick-Ways-to-Get-Your-Kid-to-Want-to-Read-This-Summer-768x768.png "9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) ##### [9 Quick Ways to Get Your Kid to Want to Read This Summer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-quick-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-want-to-read-this-summer/) [##### Homeschooling](#blogging)| [##### Parenting](#tutorials)| [##### Projects ](#productivity)| ##### Devotional ## Homeschooling ##### [More from this category ⤅](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/for-the-homeschool/) Find the latest reviews, tips and resources to help you find the tools you need to meet your homeschooling goals. Every review item has been used by students in our homeschool so we can share what we really think and how you could benefit. Our greatest resource is the twenty years of homeschool experience with our ten kids. With four grads and six students still in school, we are finding our way and making changes every year along the way. - [ ![Promotional book-review collage: the novel Yesterday Year with a rainbow gradient cover, a quoted blurb, and author Amber J. Smith with a 4-star rating.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Review-768x1152.png "Yesteryear Review › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) ## [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - [ ![Blog hero: girl on a swing with large teal title '3 Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year' and a white banner reading BLOG | 200FINGERS & TOES](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Peaceful-school-year-post-4-768x768.png "how to have a peaceful homeschool › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) ## [Three Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-768x960.png "Books Like Jade City › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) ## [9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated Loyalties](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) ## Parenting ##### More from this category ⤅ You know what I am an expert at? Absolutely nothing! But, they still let me have ten kids. Actually, I am an expert at learning to do better than I did before. Some years my progress is swift and others my growth comes at a crawl, but my goal is to keep growing toward the best parent that I can be. Join me for the journey. Let’s encourage each other and you will probably hear a few crazy stories along the way. - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/teen-resilience-post-4-768x768.png "Books to Build Resilience › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/five-high-school-books-that-teach-resilience-and-strength-now/) ## [Five High School Books That Teach Resilience and Strength Now](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/five-high-school-books-that-teach-resilience-and-strength-now/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Start-Homeschooling-without-Overwhelm-768x768.png "Start Homeschooling without Overwhelm › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/start-homeschooling-without-overwhelm-a-simple-plan-that-actually-works/) ## [Start Homeschooling without Overwhelm (A Simple Plan That Actually Works)](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/start-homeschooling-without-overwhelm-a-simple-plan-that-actually-works/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HomeschoolRoom-Cover-768x768.png "HomeschoolRoom Cover › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/) ## [9 Readaloud Books that will Help Kids Learn From Failure](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-readaloud-books-that-will-help-kids-learn-from-failure/) ## Projects ##### [More from this category ⤅](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/projects/) House remodels, square foot gardening, crafts, blogging and entrepreneurship. You will find something for your creative side. We are in the middle of a building project so we will be sharing a (not-so) tiny house reveal. - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/img_9445.png "img_9445 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-gardening-revolution-is-now-tiny-gardens-everywhere-reviewed/) ## [The Gardening Revolution is Now: Tiny Gardens Everywhere Reviewed](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/the-gardening-revolution-is-now-tiny-gardens-everywhere-reviewed/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/92b9a-0b1c-4a90-ae92-d0c6f1195-768x958.jpeg "92b9a-0b1c-4a90-ae92-d0c6f1195 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/22-essential-reader-gifts-to-show-you-love-them/) ## [22 Essential Reader Gifts to Show You Love Them](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/22-essential-reader-gifts-to-show-you-love-them/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/sweet-Pea-1-768x1152.png "sweet Pea › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sweet-pea-a-bookhousereads-review/) ## [Sweet Pea – A BookHouseReads Review](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sweet-pea-a-bookhousereads-review/) ## Devotional ##### [More from this category ⤅](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/for-the-heart-and-hands/devotional-life/) God knows that he made me a story teller. Often in my quiet minutes, He speaks to me. I don’t have a lot of quiet minutes, and I am more of a Mary, in that I like to store tings up and think them over. But, when I do share it is from the heart and I hope it encourages you. - [ ![10 things we learned from our renovation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2015-06-07-20.53.15.jpg "10 tips from our whole house renovation › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/knowing-the-phase-of-life-youre-in/) ## [Knowing the Phase of Life You’re In](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/knowing-the-phase-of-life-youre-in/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0008-768x768.jpg "IMG_0008 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mary-did-you-know-loving-in-sorrow/) ## [Mary Did You Know – Loving, even in the promise of sorrow](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/mary-did-you-know-loving-in-sorrow/) - ## [Your “Why” is a reminder of where you should keep your focus | In Due Season Volume 1.12](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/your-why-is-a-reminder-of-where-you-should-keep-your-focus-in-due-season-volume-1-12/) --- ### [About](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about/) **Published:** April 16, 2020 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ##### Mom & Beyond ## I want to live a more creative fulfilling life while raising these kids! That means getting intentional about what matters and being willing to grow to get there. ##### Live the life you dream of… ## Homeschooling gave our family the freedom to live life on our terms again. Six minutes. That is the current average amount of that a father spends with his children on any given day. This bleak future was not good enough. We chose to beat average. As restauranteurs, we wanted family life to be a priority, but I knew were going to have to be creative if we wanted to succeed in the business and raise a big family. ###### Homeschooling means more life together. Homeschooling was our creative solution to a huge time problem. Now, we create our own hours, school days and even year round schedules. Our kids stay up late to have time with Dad. They sleep in so Mom can work on her writing goals. Homeschooling help us both keep working as parents. ###### Are you feeling hopelessly stuck? Maybe you are already homeschooling and have some big dreams too. There was a time when I thought I couldn’t live out my goals and still be a good mom to ten kids. I though my life would have to wait, but I discovered that if I wanted to reach my goals my family could actually help me get there. ###### You can be creative, goal oriented and a homeschooling mom. Let work together to get your homeschool organized, and your goals fired back up. There was a time I was unhappy, depressed and bored. Feeling stuck, I wanted my husband to make me happy, I wanted my kids to make me happy, I even expected God to make me happy, but I had no idea how much I could help every one of them by taking better care of my own needs. I started writing as a way to follow my own passions and goals. ###### Together we will find your dreams again and prove that they don’t have to divide you from your family to be fulfilling. I took back the responsibility of caring for my own soul, self-care became a real life event instead of a wish or hope. And, I found joy at home too! ###### *Live creatively again. Learn about how self-care is a vital part of serving your family.* ##### Let’s do it together ##### Welcome to 200 Fingers & Toes ## Your Homeschool Coffee Friend I blog to encourage you. I am not always all that great at mothering ten kids. As I share about my experiences, I hope you see that you don’t need to be great, you just have to be willing. Willing to do whatever you are called to do with the expectation that God is going to show up and meet you there. Through stepping out into big opportunities I’ve learned to face my fears and keep moving by inches and footsteps. I have become more creative and free every year since I discovered that I am responsible for taking care of my creative soul. Are you ready to step out and be brave? Let’s do it together. ## Are you neglecting yourself? We can get tricked into thinking it is a great sacrifice to put ourselves aside. In reality we are hurting the people we love by not allowing your best self to shine. Do you want to take better care of yourself, but don’t because you’ve been led to believe that it is self centered or that you don’t have the time? In these pages I share how I made time to develop my own skills and interests, without taking away from my family. Even with 10 kids, a restaurant and a busy homeschool day. You can do this. My marriage and family is stronger than ever because I am stronger than ever. I want you to have that same feeling. I am a Mother, a wife, a Homeschool teacher, blogger and a writer sharing my story of how God changed my life, turned my world upside down and led me down a path of creativity, forgiveness and a healthy dose of self love. Now, I want to offer hope, help and guidance to new homeschool parents who are finding their own way. ###### We all want to live a more creative fulfilling life while raising our kids. The stories that excite me the most are hearing about your wins! I want to help ignite a spark, follow a notion, or rekindle an idea God placed on your heart. I don’t want to take this journey of growth alone. While I share my journey, I invite you to jump right in and walk along. We can cheer for one another along this path to our most creative and fulfilling life. --- ### [Courses old](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/courses/) **Published:** September 5, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ![You have a support community already](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Vol.-22-FB.jpg "Homeschooling? Would you like the map to a better year? › 200 Fingers & Toes")## Let’s Get You a Map and a Guide Encouragement, a listening ear, a place to ask my real questions; are you looking for this too? The truth is that you can do this alone. I did, by trial and error, but the best gift is that you don’t have to create your homeschool path alone. [In Due Season](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/indueseason/) was built for you. With this course you will create a personalized road map for your unique and individual family. The course provides a six month support system, a frame work with weekly journal prompts. Your answers provide a how-to guide that will lead your to your best homeschool year ever. > Imagine a year that is confident, unapologetic, peaceful, connected and focused on the most important things you want to instil in your children. Maybe you are just thinking about homeschooling? This would be an invalueable resource to plan and prepare, just like I did. Are you returning to homeschooling after trying another public or private school. Maybe, you have just returned another curriculum, or it is still sitting with two weeks used, because you just aren’t getting it. I know that feeling. You are not failing, homeschooling is a struggle. It is hard, but you can do hard things. The things I am most proud of are the ones that took the most struggle to achieve. ## Want a peek at the Road Map? I have created a FREE mini-course with our most popular lesson. Creating your “Why” page. This one activity has kept me on track in the hardest times. My personal “Why” page gives me the most clarity and direction in this homeschool journey. I share what works for me, because I know it can apply to you too. ## [Click here for: How to Avoid Getting Lost on Your Homeschool Journey FREE Mini Course](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/why-free-mini/) ![WHY page Mini-coures](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/InDueSeasonV1.26MapFB.jpg?fit=1024%2C686&ssl=1 "Create Your Own Homeschool WHY Page › 200 Fingers & Toes")Join me and start walking with a friend toward your best year yet ## Sign up for the full In Due Season Course and SAVE 30% with our [Winter Reboot Special Price](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/indueseason/) Over the last fifteen years, I have found my feet, and walked a path that fits us. I found a confidence and community in homeschooling. If there is one thing I have learned it is that NO ONE is unqualified to give their kids the education they need and deserve. If you feel called to homeschool then I will help you find the tools and skills you need to stand firm, with encouragement from a Mom who has been there. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_2241.jpg "The First Batch Turned Out Pretty Good › 200 Fingers & Toes")Make it to the finish line with your hearts intact and your goals metDo you need a more personalized plan or do you need to create a plan fast? A consultation with a personalized call will help fast track your year and help you connect with tool that will fit your child’s learning style and goals. You don’t have to guess and you do not have to struggle for another school year. Get the details for a Personalized Consultation [HERE](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/homeschool-consultation/) and I would love to hear from you. --- ### [About Me](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about-me/) **Published:** March 21, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** I created this Blog to encourage caregivers to find their passion. Fix something, sing, run, write, try a new craft or art form. There is not a better time to nourish your soul than today. I hope to give you some ideas and inspire you see that there is no reason you should let burn out creep in. You have so much more to give when you are filled up. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* There is always a sticky surface or a sticky face around here, but with ten children that is exactly what you would expect. What you would not expect is the grace it takes to manage every day in this house. I am still a woman with creative dreams and desires. Over the years I have learned that I am the one responsible for making sure my heart is full. I did not always live this way. There was a time I was unhappy, depressed and bored. Feeling stuck, I wanted my husband to make me happy, I wanted my kids to make me happy, I even expected God to make me happy, but I had no idea how much I could help every one of them by taking better care of my own needs. #### I took back the responsibility of caring for my own soul, self-care became a real life event instead of a wish or hope. > ### Live creatively again. Learn about how self-care is a vital part of serving your family. I blog to encourage you. I am not all that great at Mothering 10 kids. I hope you see that you don’t need to be great, you just have to be willing. Willing to do whatever you are called to do with the expectation that God is going to show up and meet you there. I’ve learned to face my fears and keep moving by inches and footsteps. I have become more creative and free every year since I learned that I was responsible for taking care of my creative soul. #### Are you neglecting yourself? ### I was, and I wasted vital years waiting to be taken care of, growing more resentful, and getting my feelings hurt. We can get tricked into thinking it is a great sacrifice to put ourselves aside. In reality we are hurting the people we love by not allowing your best self to shine. Do you want to take better care of yourself but don’t because you think it is self centered or that you don’t have the time? I want to show you how I made time to love me, without taking away from my family. Even with 10 kids, a restaurant and a busy homeschool day. You can do this. My marriage and family is stronger than ever because I am stronger than ever. I want you to have that same feeling. [![image](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/image.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "200fingersandtoes › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sample-page/image-5/#main) I am a Mother, a wife, a Homeschool teacher, blogger and a writer sharing my story of how God changed my life, turned my world upside down and led me down a path of creativity, forgiveness and a healthy dose of self love. Now, I want to offer hope, help and guidance to new homeschool parents who are finding their own way. #### We all want to live a more creative fulfilling life while raising our kids. I want to help ignite a spark, a notion, rekindle an idea God placed on your heart. I don’t want to take this journey of growth alone. While I share my journey, I invite you to jump right in and walk along. We can cheer for one another along this path to our most creative and fulfilling life. [![IMG_1177](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IMG_1177.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1 "IMG_1177 › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://i0.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IMG_1177.jpg?ssl=1) --- ### [Shop](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/shop/) **Published:** September 23, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ### [Cart](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/cart/) **Published:** September 23, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ### [Checkout](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/checkout/) **Published:** September 23, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ### [My account](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/my-account/) **Published:** September 23, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ### [Sales Page](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/sales-page/) **Published:** September 23, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* # An eye grabbing and attention seeking title goes here Bear claw oat cake cheesecake carrot cake chocolate bar chocolate bar pudding lemon drops donut. Powder chocolate bear claw powder toffee cheesecake bear claw cake. Dragée cupcake lollipop gummi bears biscuit. [](#next) - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-6954180-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954180 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Welcome to Your Product or Course --- Jelly dragée marshmallow biscuit bonbon jelly-o. Cheesecake ice cream sweet roll chocolate pie gingerbread jelly beans. Lollipop tiramisu cake candy canes sweet gummi bears pudding donut jelly beans. Caramels tootsie roll pie macaroon. Jelly-o brownie chocolate cake gingerbread oat cake jelly. Gummi bears pudding sweet roll cake cupcake. Soufflé marzipan carrot cake sweet roll bonbon jujubes. Bonbon sugar plum danish. Jelly beans tiramisu apple pie dessert. Brownie sweet roll chocolate. ###### Ready to change your life? ## Your challenge and things that frustrate you that I’ll solve. ##### These are the types of things you struggle with 1 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean diam dolor, accumsan sed rutrum vel, dapibus et leo. 2 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean diam dolor, accumsan sed rutrum vel, dapibus et leo. 3 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean diam dolor, accumsan sed rutrum vel, dapibus et leo. ##### Happy Notes ## “Best business investment I’ve ever made!” Cookie candy muffin jelly cookie. Gummies topping chupa chups liquorice caramels candy canes pie chocolate cake marzipan. Sesame snaps jujubes icing cheesecake sweet roll pastry cupcake cupcake sweet. Sophie Reily ## “Olivia is a miracle worker!” Candy gummi bears liquorice jelly tootsie roll shortbread lemon drops carrot cake. Ice cream fruitcake gummies halvah pudding chupa chups bonbon topping bonbon. Sesame snaps powder tiramisu tootsie roll toffee gummies. Toffee croissant marzipan gingerbread chocolate cake ice cream powder. Cupcake brownie cheesecake sweet jujubes marshmallow macaroon oat cake jelly. Jess smith - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-jasmine-carter-888894-scaled.jpg "pexels-jasmine-carter-888894 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-11-scaled.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 11 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-5-scaled.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 5 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034379-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034379 › 200 Fingers & Toes") --- ##### But you know what? ## I’ve been in your shoes.. and there is a better way! You are going to tell them all about it right here. But be sure and not drag on too long because, remember, this is about them. You want to share enough so they no longer feel alone, but the focus is going to be on the solution and what they can find for themselves should they invest in your services. [I’m in! Sign me up!](#enroll) ##### Introducing ## Name of your course here Marzipan soufflé apple pie danish tootsie roll macaroon gummies lollipop. Donut toffee liquorice marshmallow. Powder jelly beans cookie sugar plum toffee marzipan marshmallow marshmallow candy canes. Sugar plum dessert candy canes oat cake sesame snaps fruitcake carrot cake carrot cake. Dragée apple pie chocolate bar sweet roll powder halvah pudding. ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/olivia-computer.png "olivia-computer › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Let’s get down to business ### Here is what we cover… - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-1-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Module one ## Name of Module One --- Marzipan soufflé apple pie danish tootsie roll macaroon gummies lollipop. Donut toffee liquorice marshmallow. Powder jelly beans cookie sugar plum toffee marzipan marshmallow marshmallow candy canes. Sugar plum dessert candy canes oat cake sesame snaps fruitcake carrot cake carrot cake. Dragée apple pie chocolate bar sweet roll powder halvah pudding. Caramels candy canes apple pie. ##### Module Two ## Name of Module Two --- Marzipan soufflé apple pie danish tootsie roll macaroon gummies lollipop. Donut toffee liquorice marshmallow. Powder jelly beans cookie sugar plum toffee marzipan marshmallow marshmallow candy canes. Sugar plum dessert candy canes oat cake sesame snaps fruitcake carrot cake carrot cake. Dragée apple pie chocolate bar sweet roll powder halvah pudding. Caramels candy canes apple pie. - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-6-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 6 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-11-683x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 11 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ##### Module Three ## Name of Module Three --- Marzipan soufflé apple pie danish tootsie roll macaroon gummies lollipop. Donut toffee liquorice marshmallow. Powder jelly beans cookie sugar plum toffee marzipan marshmallow marshmallow candy canes. Sugar plum dessert candy canes oat cake sesame snaps fruitcake carrot cake carrot cake. Dragée apple pie chocolate bar sweet roll powder halvah pudding. Caramels candy canes apple pie. ###### *Olivia has been the best copywriter I have ever worked with! She is patient and writes the best content that I could have never come up with myself.* ##### Sophia R ##### $99 ###### Payment Plan First thing included Second thing included Third thing included Fourth Thing Included Fifth Thing Included [Enroll Now](#) ##### $299 ###### One time Payment First thing included Second thing included Third thing included Fourth Thing Included Fifth Thing Included [Enroll Now](#) --- ### [Instagram](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/instagram/) **Published:** September 23, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* Hi there Instagram friends! Welcome to our page dedicated to all of our lovely followers. Below you will find all the most helpful links and content that you’re looking for without scrolling all the way through our site! [Page link](#) [page link](#) [page link](#) [page link](#) [page link](#) ## Latest on the Blog - [ ![Promotional book-review collage: the novel Yesterday Year with a rainbow gradient cover, a quoted blurb, and author Amber J. Smith with a 4-star rating.](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Yesteryear-Review-768x1152.png "Yesteryear Review › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) | [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) | [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) ## [Yesteryear Review: Is Caro Claire Burke’s Tradwife Novel Worth Reading?](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/yesteryear-review-the-darker-side-of-being-a-tradwife/) - [ ![Blog hero: girl on a swing with large teal title '3 Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year' and a white banner reading BLOG | 200FINGERS & TOES](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Peaceful-school-year-post-4-768x768.png "how to have a peaceful homeschool › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) ## [Three Unexpected Secrets to Having a Peaceful Homeschool Year](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/three-unexpected-secrets-to-having-a-peaceful-homeschool-year/) - [ ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/5-768x960.png "Books Like Jade City › 200 Fingers & Toes") ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) ## [9 More Books Like Jade City with Complicated Loyalties](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/9-more-books-like-jade-city-with-complicated-loyalties/) --- ### [Resources](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/resources/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ##### Some of my ## Favorite Tools & Resources Bear claw oat cake cheesecake carrot cake chocolate bar chocolate bar pudding lemon drops donut. Powder chocolate bear claw powder toffee cheesecake bear claw cake. Dragée cupcake lollipop gummi bears biscuit. [](#next) [](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?page_id=80045&preview=true#next) - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-6954180-683x1024.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954180 › 200 Fingers & Toes") - ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-12-768x1024.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 12 › 200 Fingers & Toes") ## Freebie One Sweet biscuit sugar plum. Halvah chocolate bar jujubes. Dragée donut candy gingerbread muffin. [Access now ⤅](#) ### Download Title of Freebie Two [##### Access now ⤅](#) ### Download Title of Freebie Two [##### Access now ⤅](#) ###### our fav business tools ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/R316_horizontal.png "R316_horizontal › 200 Fingers & Toes") Brownie jelly candy canes I love chocolate cake liquorice cupcake. Tiramisu marzipan I love cookie muffin. I love marzipan ice cream macaroon I love sweet roll cake muffin. [Visit Site](#) ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/R316_horizontal.png "R316_horizontal › 200 Fingers & Toes") Brownie jelly candy canes I love chocolate cake liquorice cupcake. Tiramisu marzipan I love cookie muffin. I love marzipan ice cream macaroon I love sweet roll cake muffin. [Visit Site](#) ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/R316_horizontal.png "R316_horizontal › 200 Fingers & Toes") Brownie jelly candy canes I love chocolate cake liquorice cupcake. Tiramisu marzipan I love cookie muffin. I love marzipan ice cream macaroon I love sweet roll cake muffin. [Visit Site](#) ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/R316_horizontal.png "R316_horizontal › 200 Fingers & Toes") Brownie jelly candy canes I love chocolate cake liquorice cupcake. Tiramisu marzipan I love cookie muffin. I love marzipan ice cream macaroon I love sweet roll cake muffin. [Visit Site](#) ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/R316_horizontal.png "R316_horizontal › 200 Fingers & Toes") Brownie jelly candy canes I love chocolate cake liquorice cupcake. Tiramisu marzipan I love cookie muffin. I love marzipan ice cream macaroon I love sweet roll cake muffin. [Visit Site](#) ![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/R316_horizontal.png "R316_horizontal › 200 Fingers & Toes") Brownie jelly candy canes I love chocolate cake liquorice cupcake. Tiramisu marzipan I love cookie muffin. I love marzipan ice cream macaroon I love sweet roll cake muffin. [Visit Site](#) --- ### [Portfolio](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/portfolio/) **Published:** September 21, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* ###### portfolio - [![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-1-scaled.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 1 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Featured Project](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/featured-portfolio-item/) - [![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-2-scaled.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 2 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Featured Project](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/featured-portfolio-item/) - [![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Restored-316-Feminine-WordPress-Themes-4-scaled.jpg "Restored 316 Feminine WordPress Themes 4 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Featured Project](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/featured-portfolio-item/) - [![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-6954180-scaled.jpg "pexels-george-milton-6954180 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Featured Project](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/featured-portfolio-item/) - [![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-jasmine-carter-888894-scaled.jpg "pexels-jasmine-carter-888894 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Featured Project](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/featured-portfolio-item/) - [![](https://demos.restored316.com/olivia/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/pexels-george-milton-7034379-scaled.jpg "pexels-george-milton-7034379 › 200 Fingers & Toes") Featured Project](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/featured-portfolio-item/) ###### *Olivia has been the best copywriter I have ever worked with! She is patient and writes the best content that I could have never come up with myself.* ##### Sophia R --- ### [Blog](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog-2/) **Published:** February 24, 2021 **Author:** Restored316 **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ### [Welcome, to the Blog](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/200fingersandtoes/) **Published:** August 14, 2015 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** You and I were made for this. You don't need to know everything right now because every resource you need is available to ensure you succeed. The most important truth is this; no one cares more than you do when it comes to helping your child flourish. This is your chosen occupation, your calling and you can rock this. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* I’m Amber. Homeschool mother of ten, or exactly 200 fingers & toes. This blog is where I help busy, entrepreneur minded families, find the best tools and resources to build a homeschool that gives them the life they have been hoping for. ![](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/801A9320-FFD4-47EC-AE0D-CE42048F1AAA-300x300.jpg "Working Families Aren't Cut Off from Homeschool ing › 200 Fingers & Toes")Mom writer reader and homeschool courage lenderI write reviews for product we have used here at the house. Many articles I share are about the mindsets and road blocks we have overcome in the twenty years we have been involved in homeschooling. As a writer and small business owner I share my struggles and wins along the way. All of this while keeping ten kids alive. I started sharing my experiences because I wanted you to know; you can reach your family’s goals. If I can write, run business and lead this troop, you can too. Let me know where you are looking for help or encouragement. You will defiantly find some here. Stick around for so much more. #### What to do from here… 1. Put your email in the sidebar and hit subscribe. You will get the latest posts in a simple format right to your email box so you can read them when you want to. 2. If you got here because you need homeschooling help now, you are in the right place, check out my posts [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/blog/) and if you want to start on the right foot without wasting any time at all, read more info about scheduling a Parent to Parent call right [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about-me/homeschool-consultation/). You can also check out [my courses page](https://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/course/indueseason/) and read about the best tool I created for parents who want to build their road map, and bypass the pitfalls we have experienced. 3. I am a writer at heart and I love the word of God. I have a few [DEVOTIONAL](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/devotional-life/) essays. I add more from time to times. On the blog I often share about writing life and books I love as well. 4. After you have visited the resources you need, I’d love it if you would “like” and follow us at the [200 Fingers & Toes Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/200fingersandtoes) I share a ton of great additional content from many of the true pros I follow. #### Why follow Me? I am a mother of 10, there are literally 200 fingers and toes over here, getting into my stuff every day. That might make it sound like you could never relate to me. Actually, I can relate better. Between raising ten kids, and being restaurant owners for 25 years, we’ve been through just about everything. Sometimes I feel like my house is the entire human condition amplified. ![](https://i2.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_1363.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 "Rosy › 200 Fingers & Toes")We built a bigger table and God continues to fill it grab a seatHomeschooling has given us our best life. I am thankful for the opportunity we have to do it. I want to help others achieve their family goals and if homeschooling is a part I know I can help you. #### Homeschoolers are my tribe. I want a community that challenges and inspires me everyday. As a reluctant homeschooler myself, I get the very real challenges we all face with our kids. This drop out, turned sixteen year homeschool vet knows that NO ONE should ever be discounted, every kid has the potential for great things. With a k-12 school, I’ve learned as much as 5 average sized families about reaching the heart of an individual, and I’m still learning every day. I love the homeschool community with a passion, and someone needs to welcome this next generation with the same grace and love I was given. We need support and room to make mistakes and still be a part of the community. Does the old strict, overachieving, religiously staunch homeschool mold feel a little like wearing your older brothers shoes. I tried fitting in when I was a young mom, but now I don’t, and I am hoping that you will learn to make your own way faster than I did. Homeschooling successfully is really about knowing what works best for you and your children. Homeschooling, parenting and the world around us is changing, but I think we can embrace the future and thrive better if we find our own individual fit together. Thanks a ton for sticking around to the end. If I can help you in any way on your journey in life drop me a comment. I might not solve your all your problems but I will encourage you from the sidelines while you find it with me. Blessings, Amber, Doug and our 200 fingers & toes ![](https://i1.wp.com/www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_2210.jpg?fit=819%2C1024&ssl=1 "IMG_2210 › 200 Fingers & Toes")#### --- ### [In Due Season | Homeschooling in the Middle Years](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/200fingersandtoes/in-due-season/) **Published:** February 17, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** Encouragement for homeschool families in the middle season. Study guide pages for the Schoolhouseteachers.com article series "In Due Season" **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* What if the middle of your homeschooling years could be as exciting as that first one? **In Due Season** began as a series of monthly articles produced for [SchoolhouseTeachers.com](http://schoolhouseteachers.com/2016/02/in-due-season/) to encourage homeschool families during those middle years. If you would like to become a schoolhouse member click [here](http://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883) to get started today. You can have instant access to over 200 courses for all grade levels with more added every day. We use CODING, SPANISH and ART no regular basis to supplement our regular schedule. If you have followed the link from a lesson, thank you for reading and I hope you are encouraged and challenged to take a fresh look at your school week. I would love to hear more about your homeschool experience and your family. I hope that you can set aside a time each week to use these worksheets. Get a quiet corner and a pen and spend some intentional time looking at ways to grow as a homeschool family. Be encouraged as you make this year your very best ever. My hearts desire is that you never lose sight of the end of the road in your homeschool journey. I hope to help ensure a strong finish for your family by helping you live well in the middle. #### **Let us not grow weary of doing good,** #### **for in due season we will reap,** #### **if we do not give up.** #### **Galatians 6:9** [In Due Season Lesson 1 | Showing Love ](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/In-Due-Season-Lesson-1-Guide-PDF.pdf "In Due Season Lesson 1 Guide PDF") [In Due Season Lesson 2 | Comparison](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/In-Due-Season-Comparison.pdf "In Due Season Comparison") [In Due Season Lesson 3 | Your “Why” as a Road Map](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/In-Due-Season-Lesson-3-Your-22Why22-as-a-Road-Map.pdf) [In Due Season Lesson 4 | Flexibility](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/In-Due-Season-Lesson-4-Study-Guide-.pdf "In Due Season Lesson 4 Study Guide") [In Due Season Lesson 5 | Influence](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/In-Due-Season-Lesson-5-Sudy-Guide.pdf "In Due Season Lesson 5 Sudy Guide") [In Due Season | Lesson 6 | Community](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/In-Due-Season-Lesson-6-Study-Guide.pdf "In Due Season | Lesson 6 Study Guide") [![](http://schoolhouseteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/ST%20Affiliate%20Banners/ST-Affiliate-468x60.png)](http://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=37883) GREAT NEWS – In Due Season – the full course is finally finished. The expanded Lessons and Daily Journal pages are online. This course will build a personalized map to your best year ever, [click](http://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com) to read more. --- ### [Homeschool Consultation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about-me/homeschool-consultation/) **Published:** July 25, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Excerpt:** My desire is that no parent quits homeschooling because they feel unequipped. I want to share my lessons and failures so you have greater joy and success, everyday. **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Personalized Advice for You, Schedule a Homeschool Consultation I get lots of emails that ask for homeschool advice for large families and sibling groups, and while I do my best to answer them either by way of a blog post or with an email reply, some situations are better handled with actual face to face (or voice to voice) interaction. Because of my busy schedule, it may take me weeks to get to your question by either of those methods. It normally takes me at least half an hour to respond thoughtfully to a complex homeschool dilemma. A blog post can take several hours of my day. My solution to the problem is to offer homeschool advice in a more personalized way for you. For a live consolation with me, send me an email with an overview of your circumstances and some suggested times you would be available for an undistracted call. (I am in central time zone.) I will send you payment information and set an appointment. The rate is $36 per hour with a one hour minimum charge. After the first hour, time is charged in half hour increments, even for follow up calls. I am also available for ongoing consultation such as weekly check-ins for accountability. #### Do not waste another bundle of cash guessing about what might work this year. Talk to a Mom who has been through the learning curve. Whether you are new to homeschooling or just needing to make a major change, a great start is with this consulting package, for $70, the cost of the math book you hated last year, you get something you are guaranteed to love: Initial 1 hour personalized meeting based on your email profile and description of specific areas of focus (no wasting time) Follow-up recap e-mail, including links and references to help you follow up on suggestions (so you can take immediate action) Two 30 minute follow-up meetings once a week for two weeks (for accountability or troubleshooting) Sign up [HERE](http://4and20blackbirdsdesign.zippycourses.com/directory) for full instructions and downloadable prep guide for you personal call **My Areas of Expertise** - Sonlight Curriculum - Large Family Age Grouping - Literature Based Learning - Empowering Parents by Simplifying Learning - Self-Care and Soul Maintenance - Consulting for Curriculum Companies If you need input from a veteran homeschool parent, I can help. I understand the demands of a busy home with 10 children. We’ve been restaurant owners for all of our married life, so I know the struggles of doing it all on your own; as well the joys of having Daddy wanting to jump in, but not knowing where to start. We’ve been navigating schooling at home for 13 years and have met with many of the common mistakes. My heart’s desire is that no parent ever quits homeschooling simply because they feel unequipped. I want to share my lessons and failures and ensure that you have greater joy and success, every school day. As a parent of a varied range of ages, I can offer broad and knowledgable critiques and feedback for a homeschool curriculum or for an educational website. I am also available for product reviews and testing. As a blogger and online content creator, I have enough experience to offer basic social media marketing for homeschool curriculum providers. Please email me (200fingersandtoes@live.com) for rates and references. --- ### [Affiliate, Disclosure and Sponsor Policy](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/about-me/disclosure-and-policy/) **Published:** July 28, 2016 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* **Advertisements and Sponsored Posts** 200 Fingers & Toes does accept payment for advertising and for sponsored posts. Please, do feel free to feed the writer! When I am compensated for my time to provide a product review, I will disclose that fact within the post. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own honest assessments. **I will only endorse products or services that I believe**, based on my expertise and evaluation, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This blog does not contain content which might present a conflict of interest. Paid ad content content will always be identified with a disclosure clause. **Affiliates** Links to the following retailers are **affiliate links** and **do** generate commissions when you purchase through that link: Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Groove Box, Shiracha2Go (because they were offering it) There is **no added cost for you**, by the way. So if you plan to buy from these retailers, I would appreciate your buying after clicking on my affiliate link. This is not an all inclusive list. Additional affiliate links may be used at 200 Fingers & Toes that are not listed here. **Privacy Policy** This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by myself. For questions about this blog, please contact Amber@200fingersandtoes.com. This policy is valid from 28 July 2016 [![policy keeping](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/badge-small.jpg "I disclose › 200 Fingers & Toes")](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/badge-small.jpg) --- ### [For The Writer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/for-the-writer/) **Published:** January 5, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* #### Are you an avid reader, writer or enjoy devotions with a new view on a Bible theme? Here are the latest posts for you. \[symple\_divider style=”double” margin\_top=”20″ margin\_bottom=”20″\] \[symple\_tabgroup\]\[symple\_tab title=”**Reading**“\] Readers are special people. We are folks who love stories, we celebrate authors and we believe you can’t read enough books. I use #[thebookhouse](http://www.instagram.com/200fingersandtoes) on Instagram for good reason. Reading is an activity I do every day and hope to impart to our kids. Check out the most recent books we have been loving. Follow the link [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/projects/read/) for all things book related: reviews and props to the pros that keep me going at home, in our homeschool and in my writing life \[/symple\_tab\]\[symple\_tab title=”**Blog & Writing Life**“\] Do you want to reach more people with your writing? Are you getting started with platform creation? Ask me anything. Follow this link [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/projects/blog-writing-life/) to hear about all of the tools that I use as a writer and blogger. I Post about tools that make it easier for me to get on with writing and get more post views. If you are a writer you might want to learn more, or if you want to share your favorite tools and blogs with me, jump on over. I could use all of the help I can get. \[/symple\_tab\]\[symple\_tab title=”**Devotional Life**“\] Are you looking for a devotional recommendation? There is nothing better to help sharpen your creative mind than to hear a familiar story from a new perspective. The devotional books I read continually inspire my writing. There is always a post forming in my mind as I dig a little deeper into my favorite passages and authors. Click [HERE](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/devotional-life/) to find out what I am reading about right now. There are plenty of book recommendations as well. Please feel free to leave a post link in the comments if you have a devotional thread on the same scripture I’ve written on. I love hearing other peoples responses to the Word of God. \[/symple\_tab\]\[/symple\_tabgroup\] \[symple\_flexslider unique\_id=”Read” post\_type=”post” taxonomy=”Read, Devotional Life, Blog & Writing Life” term\_slug=”” count=”12″ order=”DESC” orderby=”date” thumbnail\_link=”post” img\_crop=”true” img\_width=”700″ img\_height=”250″ title=”true” animation=”slide” slideshow=”true” randomize=”false” control\_nav=”true” direction\_nav=”undefined” slideshow\_speed=”7000″ animation\_speed=”600″\] --- ### [For The Heart and Hands](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/for-the-heart-and-hands/) **Published:** January 5, 2017 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ## MailPoet Page ### [MailPoet Page](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?mailpoet_page=captcha) **Published:** August 16, 2025 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* \[mailpoet\_page\] --- ### [MailPoet Page](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/?mailpoet_page=subscriptions) **Published:** November 17, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* \[mailpoet\_page\] --- ## Landing Pages ### [PluginOps Page - 81674](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/vibrant-life/) **Published:** April 27, 2024 **Author:** 200fingersandtoes@live.com **Content:** *We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this review or post, but all opinions are our own.* --- ## Categories ### [Devotional](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-heart-and-hands/devotional-life/) --- ### [Parenting](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/parenting/) --- ### [Read](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/read/) --- ### [projects](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/) --- ### [Grow](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-heart-and-hands/grow/) --- ### [Create](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/create/) --- ### [House](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-heart-and-hands/house/) --- ### [Growing Up](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/personal-developement/) --- ### [In Due Season](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/in-due-season/) **Description:** A series of articles about Homeschooling for SchoolhouseTeachers.com --- ### [blog & writing life](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/blog-writing-life/) --- ### [Homeschool](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/) --- ### [For the Writer](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-writer/) --- ### [For the Heart & Hands](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-heart-and-hands/) --- ### [Curriculum](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/for-the-homeschool/curriculum-we-love/) --- ### [Book Reviews](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/category/projects/book-reviews/) --- ## Tags ### [bible study](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/bible-study/) --- ### [Mary](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/mary/) --- ### [Eternal](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/eternal/) --- ### [sacrafice](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/sacrafice/) --- ### [Easter](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/easter/) --- ### [Living water](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/living-water/) --- ### [Moses](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/moses/) --- ### [Devotional](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/devotional/) --- ### [mothering](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/mothering/) --- ### [widow and the oil](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/widow-and-the-oil/) --- ### [washing Jesus feet](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/washing-jesus-feet/) --- ### [Mother's Day](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/mothers-day/) --- ### [appreciation](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/appreciation/) --- ### [love](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/love/) --- ### [brokenness](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/brokenness/) --- ### [healing](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/healing/) --- ### [personal growth](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/personal-growth/) --- ### [sowing](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/sowing/) --- ### [pain](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/pain/) --- ### [hope](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/hope/) --- ### [miriam](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/miriam/) --- ### [drowning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/drowning/) --- ### [faith](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/faith/) --- ### [gratitude](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/gratitude/) --- ### 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[What Im Reading](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/what-im-reading/) --- ### [August Picks](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/august-picks/) --- ### [Books](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/books/) --- ### [New Releases](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/new-releases/) --- ### [summer reader](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/summer-reader/) --- ### [events with kids](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/events-with-kids/) --- ### [baseball](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/baseball/) --- ### [disappointment](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/disappointment/) --- ### [parenting](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/parenting/) --- ### [encouragement](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/encouragement/) --- ### [House Keeping](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/house-keeping/) --- ### [chores](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/chores/) --- ### [widow's mite](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/widows-mite/) --- ### 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pens](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/micron-pens/) --- ### [koi watercolor](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/koi-watercolor/) --- ### [NanoWrimo](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/nanowrimo/) --- ### [Garden](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/garden/) --- ### [spring](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/spring/) --- ### [planning](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/planning/) --- ### [growing](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/growing/) --- ### [Garden Journal](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/garden-journal/) --- ### [remodel](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/remodel/) --- ### [Claw Foot Tub](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/claw-foot-tub/) --- ### [Flooring](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/flooring/) --- ### [house](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/house/) --- ### [moving day](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/moving-day/) --- ### [contractors](https://www.200fingersandtoes.com/tag/contractors/) --- ### [Proverbs 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