parenting – Homeschool With Joy

There’s something magical about curling up with a good Christmas book during the holiday season. In our homeschool, we’ve built a tradition around reading quality Christmas literature together – books that capture the wonder of the season while offering rich language and beautiful illustrations.

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Here is a picture of our Christmas books! These are the books that have earned a permanent spot on our bookshelf (pictured above!) and come out year after year. When the kids were small, I would always put them out in a basket underneath the tree to encourage magical Christmas reading time. Rereading some of these can take me back to my own childhood Christmases!

Early Elementary (K-2nd Grade)

Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick

Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick is a gorgeous “photographic fantasy” follows woodland animals as they discover a mysterious snowman in their forest. The stunning nature photography makes it feel like a nature study and a Christmas story rolled into one. Perfect for children who love animals and the beauty of winter.

Merry Christmas, Squirrel! by Nancy Rose

Speaking of woodland creatures – this delightful book features real photographs of a mischievous squirrel preparing for Christmas.

It’s adorable, funny, and amazingly well-crafted. Kids love the real animal photography combined with tiny props and sets. I love all of Nancy Rose’s books!

The Mitten adapted by Jan Brett

While not strictly a Christmas story, Jan Brett’s The Mitten is a Ukrainian folktale has become a winter/Christmas classic in many homes.

Jan Brett’s intricate illustrations are worth poring over again and again – you will find a new detail with every reading – and the cumulative tale structure makes it perfect for young readers to “read” along.

The Biggest, Most Beautiful Christmas Tree by Amye Rosenberg

This is a classic story about forest animals who work together to find the perfect Christmas tree.

The vintage illustrations and simple story make this a perfect first read-aloud for the youngest readers.

This is the perfect gift for littles from someone who wants to be the Fun Aunt, since the main character is their aunt who comes and brings Christmas to them!

Middle Elementary (3rd-4th Grade)

The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg

“This gorgeously illustrated, full-color classic celebrates a time before email with an interactive picture book full of real letters to read aloud. The Jolly Postman brings a batch of wonderful letters for Christmas, including notes from fairy tale characters. Open this book, take out the letters, and discover what favorite characters would write to each other–and reimagine best-loved tales together.”

A Little House Christmas Treasury by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This collection pulls together all the Christmas chapters from the Little House books into one beautiful volume. If you’re already reading the Little House series, this makes a wonderful companion. The stories capture simple, pioneer Christmas celebrations that help children appreciate the true meaning of the season and understand how people celebrated with joy even with very few material possessions. Complete with Garth Williams’s beloved illustrations!

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

This Caldecott Medal winner tells the true story of Wilson Bentley, the man who first photographed snowflakes and proved that no two are alike. It’s a beautiful blend of science, biography, and winter wonder. Perfect for nature study during the Christmas season.

More Christmas Book Recommendations

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann (various editions)

The original story that inspired the ballet! We have many different editions but I really want this copy. It has audio and tells the story of the orchestra! You can push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky’s score.

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving: The True Meaning of Christmas by by Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain

“Join Brother and Sister Bear at the Christmas Eve pageant as they witness the very first Christmas, and make an important discovery about giving and receiving, a valuable lesson during the holiday season and year around. Young readers will learn the true meaning of Christmas in this addition to The Berenstain Bears Living Lights™ series.”

Christmas Activity Books

My kids (and myself, really!) have always adored the Usborne Dolly Sticker books as well as Magic Painting books! These activity books will give you valuable minutes to get things done, like wrapping gifts, and give your kids something magical to do that is edifying and not just busywork!

Sticker Dolly Dressing The Nutcracker: A Magical Interactive Sticker Adaptation of the Classic Wintertime Ballet

“Use the stickers to dress the doll characters in this exciting version of the The Nutcracker ballet. Clara’s uncle gives her a wooden nutcracker doll for Christmas, which, after a battle with the evil Mouse King, transforms into a real-life prince. Clara and the prince travel through a forest, filled with twirling snowflakes, before arriving the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy, where trees are made of candy floss, cupcakes and candy canes. Clara eventually returns home. Has her experience been real or is it all an amazing dream?”

Sticker Dolly Dressing Christmas: A Festive Christmas Dress-Up Adventure with Glamorous Balls, Ice Skating, Ballet, Carriage Rides and More

“Dress up the dolls for the festive season with a range of colorful outfits!

Scenes include a glamorous masked ball, an ice skating adventure, a trip to the ballet, a magical carriage ride and lots more Christmassy activities.

With hundreds of stickers of dresses, cosy coats, beautifully-wrapped gifts, ice skates and tutus to get the dolls ready for the festive season.”

Enchanted Christmas Magic Painting Book

Magic painting books are no normal paint with water books, with lackluster illustrations and weak colors. These are absolutely beautiful with artful settings like sunsets, beautiful forests, and more. I absolutely love all of these books and can never get enough of them! Plus, the paint doesn’t get messy because you are *only* using water, not the palette style of books. It is easier and more fun at the same time.

Bring the magic of Christmas to life in this adorable interactive activity book!

Winter Wonderland Magic Painting Book: A Winter and Holiday Book for Kids – A Mess-Free Festive Activity with Water-Activated Unicorns and Northern Lights for Children

“Filled with wintry whimsy, from ice-skating unicorns to snow castles, northern lights and other fantastical delights. Use the brush provided to sweep water over the designs and festive colors magically appear!

A mess-free way to keep children busy for long winter nights and for the holidays. Simply tuck the waterproof back flap under each page as it’s painted, to stop water from seeping through to the rest of the book.”

Notebook Doodles Christmas: Coloring & Activity Book (Design Originals) 32 Festive Designs of Reindeer, Penguins, Gifts, Snowflakes, Stockings, Trees, Treats, and More, on Perforated Paper

“This fun and engaging coloring book for ‘tweens is filled with 32 festive designs of charming Christmas scenes, reindeer, penguins, presents, snowflakes, stockings, trees, animals, and so much more, from talented artist Jess Volinski.

Along with uplifting creative art activities for young girls and fill-in prompts with inspirational hand-lettered sentiments, Jess also includes instructions on basic coloring techniques, fully colored examples, and motivational quotes to go with every design.”

Building Your Own Christmas Reading Tradition

In our home, we keep all our Christmas books together on a special shelf. On December 1st, we bring them out and they become part of our daily rhythm throughout the Advent season. Some families like to wrap Christmas books and unwrap one each night. Others create a Christmas book advent calendar.

However you choose to incorporate these books, the key is consistency. When children know that certain books appear every December, they begin to associate those stories with the warmth and joy of the season. These books become part of your family’s story.

Looking for more book recommendations? Subscribe to my email list for monthly resources, suggestions, homeschool encouragement, and free printables like our recent Themed Stocking Stuffer Guide to help make every Christmas stand out in memory! The first one in the series focuses on Jane Austen ideas!

homeschooling, parenting, travel

Homeschooling Through Life’s Storms: Finding Joy in the Journey

August 29, 2024December 17, 2025 Jessica Lovett

Homeschooling is a beautiful adventure, but let’s be real – sometimes life throws curveballs that make it feel like you’re navigating a ship through a storm.

Whether you’re battling illness (of your own or of other family members), dealing with real estate headaches (buying/selling houses is no picnic!), or trying to keep up with lessons while traveling, it can be overwhelming. But take heart, dear homeschooler!

With a bit of creativity and a lot of grace, you can keep your homeschool ship sailing smoothly.

🤒When You’re Under the Weather

Being sick is no fun, especially when you’re the captain of the homeschool ship.

Here are some tips to keep things afloat:

Embrace Flexibility: It’s okay to take a break. Use this time for independent reading, educational videos, or quiet activities like puzzles and coloring.
- Quiet Activities:
  - Puzzle Globe
  - Mudpuppy Geography Puzzles
  - ThinkFun Games, like Cat Crimes
  - Richard Scarry’s Big Busy Book
- Recommended Channels:
Simplify: Focus on the basics. Math and reading can be enough for a few days. Remember, learning happens in many forms, and rest is important, too. Sometimes it’s better to take a few days off and then accomplish more when you are revived rather than hunkering down and forcing things to keep going at a speed that is untenable.

🏡Navigating Real Estate Woes

Selling or buying a home can be a rollercoaster of emotions and seemingly-endless tasks, from signing forms to tacking repairs that pop up and have to be done NOW. Not to mention the total upheaval of moving!

Here’s how to keep homeschooling on track:

Incorporate Real-Life Learning: Use the experience as a learning opportunity. Teach your kids about the real estate market, budgeting, and the moving process.
Create a Portable Homeschool Kit: Keep essential supplies in a portable bin or backpack. This way, you can easily transition from one location to another without missing a beat.
- Sonlight Lapbooks: These are wonderful – we have tried a couple – and easy to bring along with you. They have everything you need, even glue stick!
- Power Homeschool: This is a good option for school on-the-go. We used it when we were moving and all our curriculum was in a box. FYI, the high school biology does push the theory of evolution as proven science.
- Green Kids Craft Kits: These are also super fun kits that have great lessons for kids under 12 or so, depending on learning levels.
Stay Organized: Keep a checklist of tasks and deadlines. Involve your kids in the process – they can help pack, organize, and even clean. They can even learn organization and computer skills making labels for boxes and helping to keep things going smoothly.

🧳Homeschooling on the Go

Traveling can be an enriching experience, but it can also disrupt your routine.

Here’s how to make the most of it:

Plan Ahead: Research educational opportunities at your destination. Museums, historical sites, and nature reserves can provide hands-on learning experiences.
- Museum Finder
- National Register of Historic Places
Pack Smart: Bring along portable learning materials like tablets loaded with educational apps, workbooks, audiobooks, and travel-friendly games. We never go anywhere without stuff to do and a snack! We use Kindles with the browser blocked and only approved apps sparingly. I love sticker puzzle and activity books because they don’t have small pieces to get lost (I’m looking at you, Legos!) and are easy to take anywhere.
- Good and the Beautiful audio books, learning apps, and videos.
- RAR Recommended Audio Books
- Usborne Sticker Dressing Explorers, First World War, and Heroes books.
- Barefoot Books Sticker Atlas

🧩When Life Gets Complicated

Sometimes, life just gets complicated. Not through any fault of our own, sometimes, I might add! Maybe it’s a family crisis, a job change, or something else entirely.

Here’s how to keep your homeschool steady:

Prioritize: Focus on the most important subjects and let go of the rest for a while. It’s okay to scale back. Just keep going! That’s what is important. A rope of consistency running through makes a big difference!
Seek Support: Lean on your homeschool community. Whether it’s friends, a local church, co-ops, or online groups, don’t be afraid to ask for help. People are happy to bring you a casserole, feed your dog, or jump in when needed! Let others be a blessing to you.
Practice Self-Care: Remember to take care of yourself. A well-rested and healthy parent is better equipped to handle the challenges of homeschooling. Whispering Wildflowers hot tea, David Arkenstone music, and a really engaging fictional novel that has 0% to do with my real life problems go a long way for me.

Finding Joy in the Journey

Homeschooling through difficult times is no easy feat, but it’s also an opportunity to teach your children resilience, adaptability, and the importance of family.

Your children will learn that there is constant change in life and that it is possible to sail through these things without giving up, becoming frazzled, or running away from the problem.

Embrace the changes, find joy in the little moments, and remember that this too shall pass.

Your homeschool journey is unique, and every challenge you overcome together strengthens your family’s bond.

Keep sailing, brave homeschooler. The storm will pass, and the sun will shine again. 🌈

Scatter Joy,

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Holidays, homeschooling, parenting

Homeschooling Through Summer: A Joyful Approach to Year-Round Learning ☀️

June 10, 2024December 17, 2025 Jessica Lovett

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, let’s chat about a delightful secret to a stress-free homeschool year: embracing summer learning!

Now, I know what you might be thinking – “School in summer? No way!”

But trust me, this is not your average, boring summer school. This is homeschooling with a twist of sunshine, a sprinkle of fun, and a whole lot of joy.

Right now, one of my kids is learning how to write a formal essay about why nature is important (using the Good and the Beautiful curriculum) and the other is listening to a lecture on Hamlet (for free via Hillsdale College online). Note that I did not *ask* them to do those things.

My son was interested in Hamlet because of Usborne books and the complete Shakespeare looking ruefully at him from our bookshelves, as well as cultural references. My daughter is an artist and wants to be able to write better. She is quoting poetry in her essay that she found on her own.

Learning on your own takes practice! It is sometimes difficult to even understand what you want to pursue, but showing your kids this art is a worthy aspiration and one that will lead them to much joy and fulfillment – not to mention less idle internet-surfing/time-wasters when they are adults and out on their own.

The Magic of Summer Homeschooling

Why ditch the traditional school calendar and continue learning through the summer? Let me share a few reasons that might just change your perspective:

🦥Savor the Slowdown: Summer is a time for relaxed rhythms, spontaneous adventures, and rainbow-colored popsicles. I strive to weave this laid-back spirit into our homeschooling routines, fostering deeper connections and embracing the joy of learning.
🤗Sibling Harmony: Let’s face it, even the closest siblings can get a bit prickly when cooped up indoors… and in Texas, it is too hot to go outside by our bookworm standards! By shifting to a lighter summer schedule, we can open up more opportunities for independent play, library or around-town adventures, and creative pursuits. This not only reduces conflict but also allows each child to explore their interests at their own pace.
⛓️‍💥Learn Without Limits: Traditional school years can feel like a race to the finish line, with pressure to cram in a year’s worth of material before the last bell rings. But homeschooling through the summer gives us the freedom to explore subjects at a leisurely pace, dive deeper into passions, and create a truly personalized learning experience.
🍂A Gentle Transition to Fall: Instead of abruptly jumping into a rigorous fall schedule, easing back into a routine over the summer can make the transition feel more natural and less overwhelming for everyone. When we tried to end in May and start again in August, it was always a struggle – even for me. This alleviates that burden.
🧳Adventure Awaits: With a flexible summer homeschool schedule, spontaneous trips and family adventures become a breeze. No more worrying about missing school or falling behind!

Sprinkle Joy into Your Summer Homeschool

Here are a few tips to make your summer homeschooling experience truly joyful:

🕵️‍♂️Let Curiosity Lead the Way: What is your child interested in? What are their academic weakness that might need extra help? Work on making those two things mix. If your child is artistic but struggles with math, try Art Makes Me Smart! Does your child struggle with language arts? Find a curriculum that delves into things they like – be it pirates, fantasy books, or comics. Whatever sparks your child’s interest will help spark learning, too. Let them choose their own adventure and watch their enthusiasm for learning blossom.
💞Connection is Key: Use this time to strengthen your bond with your children. Read aloud, play games, go for nature walks, and simply enjoy each other’s company. Let your kids see you reading and learning for pleasure and for knowledge and they will copy you.
⌛Keep it Short and Sweet: Short lessons or activities are perfect for summer. Aim for 1-2 hours of focused learning each day, leaving plenty of time for play, relaxation, classic movies, and family fun.
📖Less is More: Don’t feel pressured to cover a vast curriculum. Choose a few subjects that your children are passionate about and dive deep. Allow them to explore their interests at their own pace. Maturity plays a key with this, as well. Pushing something that your child isn’t ready for is much more difficult than just waiting until their brain is physically ready and it immediately jives with them.

“It is normal for a fifth-grade aged student to be writing at a third-grade level, reading at a fifth-grade level, and doing math at a seventh-grade level. A child who succeeds at two subjects and cries over the third may still be showing immaturity – and the answer may be to drop back to a lower level in only the third subject.” ~Susan Wise Bauer in Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child’s Education (a book I highly recommend to all parents!)

Remember, don’t view learning as a Thing to Do and then move on, but as a continuous Way of Life.

By embracing a slower pace and a more relaxed approach during the summer months, you can create a joyful learning environment that fosters connection, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Embrace the freedom you have in creating your own joyful home environment, and let your homeschooling adventures unfold! 🌞