Tag: education

homeschooling

Science in Your Homeschool: Experiments, Exploration, and Excitement!

Jessica Lovett

🔎A question I get asked a lot in my years as a homeschool coach is, “How do I find a science curriculum with a Christian worldview?”

🔭Parents are also looking for science that is engaging and fun, while at the same time also embracing the logic of creation science and not trying to sneakily convince kids that we all magically came from nothingness that randomly exploded other nothingness-es and then was goo for a billion years… then tada! People! But, I digress…

🚀Here are some science-tastic ideas that’ll make your homeschool burst with excitement!

🥽Science doesn’t have to be dry and boring. It’s a world of wonder, discovery, and awe-inspiring moments and fun memories! Like making volcano eruptions in the kitchen sink! Or making square cube-shaped bubbles! Or shooting off a rocket in the backyard!

🔬Science is hands-on, minds-on, and hearts-on learning that’ll ignite a lifelong love for the world around us.

🤓I want my kids to ask WHY and try to solve their questions themselves. Equipping them with the scientific method and a belief that there is a divine logic behind the universe is a gift.

📖As the Bible reminds us, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1) Through science, we can explore the intricate details of God’s creation and marvel at His infinite wisdom.

🌠So, are you ready to embark on a science adventure with your kiddos? Let’s dive in and explore some fantastic resources and ideas that’ll make science a joyous part of your homeschool!

The Good and the Beautiful Science:
For our younger explorers, The Good and the Beautiful science curriculum is my absolute favorite! It’s bursting with colorful pages, captivating videos, and engaging activities that’ll keep your kiddos on the edge of their seats. From observing the wonders of nature, as “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1), to exploring the human body, “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), this curriculum covers a wide range of topics in a way that’s both fun and educational. I wish I’d known about it earlier in my kids’ homeschooling time, but we still have loved using it!

The 101 Series:
As our children grow, so do their scientific curiosities! The 101 Series is a fantastic option for high schoolers. With a charming homeschool dad, hilarious jokes, and visually stunning videos, this series makes science approachable and enjoyable. It covers a wide range of topics, from biology to astronomy, echoing the vastness of God’s creation, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made” (Romans 1:20).

Berean Builders Science:
Dr. Jay Wile’s science courses are another excellent choice, especially for upper grades. His “Science in the Beginning” course is a great starting point, and his physics curriculum is top-notch. With a biblical worldview and rigorous content, these courses will challenge and inspire your students to see “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). And guess what? Timberdoodle has put together awesome lab kits for each course, saving you a ton of time and effort! You can find Dr. Wile’s courses here and the lab kits at Timberdoodle. Trust me – these lab kits save you a lot of time!

Answers in Genesis Science:
If you’re looking for a creation-based science curriculum, Answers in Genesis homeschool science courses are a wonderful option. While I haven’t personally tried them yet, they look amazing and promise to be a great resource for your homeschool.

We have used Answers in Genesis resources galore during our homeschool years, including their books, website for kids, magazine, videos, and more.

Steve Spangler Science:
For some extra science fun, we absolutely love Steve Spangler! He has a show on Amazon Prime called “Xploration DIY Sci,” filled with exciting experiments and demonstrations that reveal the wonders of the world around us. He also offers stand-alone science kits or a subscription service, which we enjoyed when our kids were little. We did every single kit!

While it is not directly creation science based, that subject is expertly avoided in favor of fun and engaging science facts that people across the spectrums of beliefs can appreciate.

It’s a fantastic way to spark curiosity and make science come alive!

🧭Take nature walks, visit science museums, and conduct simple experiments at home. Let’s make science a joyful and memorable part of our homeschool journey, always remembering that “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

🌎Let’s inspire and encourage our kids to stay curious, do experiments, and be amazed about the world and grateful for the God who made it for us to explore.

Scatter Joy,

Jessica Lovett

Need some ideas on starting your own warm, cozy Morning Music Playlist to scatter joy on busy homeschool mornings?

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Holidays, homeschooling, parenting

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

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! 🌞

Scatter Joy,

Jessica Lovett

Need some ideas on starting your own warm, cozy Morning Music Playlist to scatter joy on busy homeschool mornings?

Subscribe to download your music playlist ideas printable!

Your password to the resource library will come in instantly after your email is confirmed.

homeschooling, joy, parenting

Cultivate a Joyful Home Environment

Jessica Lovett

In a way, your home environment is just as important as your homeschool curriculum. You’re not going to feel like doing your curriculum to the fullest if your homeschool environment lacks joy.

However, doing that takes a lot of work. It doesn’t just happen!

🖼️Not to sound materialistic at all but merely artistic, making sure to have objects around you that lift your spirits is something worthwhile.

If you spend tons at Hobby Lobby but none of it speaks to you personally, it is in vain… The stuff becomes like a clanging cymbal yelling at you to clean them as they sit and collect dust – if you don’t actually have love for them. (Extremely loose paraphrase of 1 Cor. 13:1)

🐿️I have lots of irons in the fire at any given moment and can also tend to be kind of… SQUIRREL! So, having practical helps to keep me on task are extremely useful.

⏲️The kids use Time Timers for their schoolwork and I have been known to steal one and use to it time myself for tasks around the house, too! Generally, takes longer to worry about washing all the dishes (also do avoid washing the dishes and make more dishes pile up while not actually washing them) than it does to march over and just do it.

🧼The Clean With Me podcast sounds like an extremely silly idea, but it is actually really useful, too. It is basically a Comforting Mom Voice telling you, “Ok, do the next thing! Good job! Now, on to folding those towels…” and my brain actually needs this or I’ll get distracted and go off and forget what I was doing because I’ve decided to paint a scratch I see on the wall or teach my dog to do a new trick or something that popped into my mind. Just bein’ real, here!

📖Beyond keeping chaos reasonably banished so it isn’t a distraction while doing schoolwork – or a hindrance to actually finding the schoolwork – try to incorporate things in your home that make your kids see the uniqueness of your family – maybe photos of things you’ve done together, books that you’ve read together, and things that even have an inside joke kind of nature.

In honor of my it’s-none-of-your-business-th birthday being yesterday, and my reflecting on our home a bit, here are some things that spark joy for me around our house!

Treehouses! And, art from music, movies, and books that we love. Epic tales add an epic vibe to your home.

Adding your passions to your home adds joy. Love Jane Austen books? Decide to make your home more romantic and add some Regency-era touches. Love books about Scotland? Add some plaid here and there, some tin whistles on the bookcase! You get the picture!

I love energizing quotes from people who give me inspiration. This is merely a World Market greeting card that jumped out at me, with a sneaky fortune cookie fortune peeking out from the bottom. It reads, “A house without books is like a room without windows.”

This is the same as above – a World Marketing greeting card… They fit perfectly in standard 5×7″ frames.

Flowers from my family for my birthday! I love the exotic vibes of this vase, too. I love to get flowers from our garden to add some life to our home.

Having a signature scent is also useful. The kids said it didn’t smell like home when we moved until I lit these Sherlock’s Study candles from my beloved Frostbeard Studio Candles!

The Forest Feast, Gatherings is an amazingly beautiful and artful cookbook that my parents gave me for my birthday! Erin Gleeson is a photography and cullinary genius.

You can never have too many candles… Well, maybe you can. But, I haven’t found that place, yet!

Books from family and from random used bookstores, plus an Aladdin’s Lamp from a friend who traveled overseas add a bit of whimsey. No one has come out of this lamp in a cloud of purple smoke as of yet.

As a wise person once said, “It’s not hoarding if it’s books!” Especially C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien ones.

Don’t be afraid of a little silliness or books that may not fit everyone’s standard of Books that Smart People Read. You can learn a lot in Star Wars and Star Trek books. Hey! Wait a second… Who put Pride and Prejudice in there?!

Lastly, artistic creations by your own kids – like this Lego rendition of our family – are always welcome editions.

Scatter Joy,

Jessica Lovett

Need some ideas on starting your own warm, cozy Morning Music Playlist to scatter joy on busy homeschool mornings?

Subscribe to download your music playlist ideas printable!

Your password to the resource library will come in instantly after your email is confirmed.