I needed a curriculum to help my teens learn the books of the Bible, their placement, importance, history, authors, and more.  So, I pulled together some tools and started writing my own guides for them.  I hope you enjoy.  If you join us, please leave a comment on the website. ​This post contains affiliate links.

While visiting Athen, Georgia recently, everyone kept telling us to stop at the State Botanical Gardens.  I imagined it to be walking around in the heat, looking at flowers and that was about it.  Nothing exciting, right.  After being told several times we had to visit, we decided it must be worth the trip and you know what... it was.  Here is a little of what we experienced in our time there, what we learned, what we would do different, and how we made the most out of our short visit.  I hope it helps you when you decide to tour this beautiful corner of the world. 
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Bear Hollow Zoo is a unique experience in Athens, Georgia.  They are home to a variety of wildlife animals that are non-releasable.  Non-Releasable means they have encountered life challenges that they could not overcome and have been placed at Bear Hollow Zoo to live out their lives.  They may either be residents due to physical or behavioral challenges and they serve as ambassadors for their species to the curious public.  The public that visit have the opportunity to observe these animals as they are there to educator visitors about wildlife.  Best of all it's FREE to visit.

Because I never seem to have it all together, I knew I'd be forgetting something for the first day of school for the kids.  So, at the last minute on Sunday night, James roll into the local Walmart to grab some fun breakfast items and a few fun school supplies to make things a little more interesting for the kids.  It's a good thing too because Nora Jean woke up and declared "I do not want to go to schoooooool!" from underneath the covers of my bed.   Going to school to her means I have to brush out that unruly mop of hair first thing in the morning.   "We have a choice of pannnnncakes or douuuughnuts."  I sing back at her.   Then I make my way to Gunner's room clapping and singing "wake up, wake up it's time for breakfast!"  I'm extra loud with him because anytime he sleeps past the crack of dawn, he's not so easy to wake up.

They both wobble out of the the bedrooms and down the steps to the basement kitchen where I have bacon ready, doughnuts on a tray and scrabbled eggs in the pan.  They can choose to have pancakes as well, because those just come straight from the freezer.   Jake slides by me in the kitchen first and Evan is in the recliner petting the cat when I come down.  Both are ready for food...aren't most teenage boys.  Jake makes himself a cup of coffee with a. splash of sweet cream and I make their plates.  I'm starting to feel like I just might be able to pull this homeschool gig off.

I wanted to find a variety of things to do with the letter "L" including things that are fun from Love to Learning.  I have put together another fun list of letter recognition activities, this time for the letter "L".  These alphabet activities are nature-based learning and coordinated well with an outdoor learning environment.  The activities will be ranged from letter activities for 3-year old to preschool and a few for toddlers as well.  You'll find some cool ideas on how to teach your child to recognize the letters of the alphabet and the sound/symbol correlation".  The benefits of nature theme learning allow your child to disconnect from technology and get back to the basics.  I've even included some printable alphabet activities and letter K games.

For more information about the Homespun Preschool click HERE
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As always, please click on the link above the photos to be taken to the original post.

We started introducing word families today and spelling them as well.  We include real and nonsense words.  There are so many reason we should be using word family studies and benefits that will grow with the child's learning.  Here are some common questions, answers, and more at home ideas.

I wanted to find a variety of things to do with the letter "K" including things that are fun from Kingdoms to Kindness.  I have put together another fun list of letter recognition activities, this time for the letter "K".  These alphabet activities are nature-based learning and coordinated well with an outdoor learning environment.  The activities will be ranged from letter activities for 3-year old to preschool and a few for toddlers as well.  You'll find some cool ideas on how to teach your child to recognize the letters of the alphabet and the sound/symbol correlation".  The benefits of nature theme learning allow your child to disconnect from technology and get back to the basics.  I've even included some printable alphabet activities and letter K games.

For more information about the Homespun Preschool click HERE
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As always, please click on the link above the photos to be taken to the original post.

Our story is simple.  I am a former teacher, having taught 1st, 4th, & 5th grades as well as a 3 year old Pre-K.  At home, I haven' t put forth the effort in the past that I have in the classroom because, well, my kids were in a classroom.  I got to rely on their teachers and that made me their educational support person at home when needed.  Now, I am home with our Kindergartener because of Covid-19.  I have 5 kids, 3 in school and 2 at home, only one I am responsible for.  Next year, it will be 2 when sister is ready for kindergarten.  For now, she is at a Montessori school learning some amazing readiness skills for Pre-K, just like brother did.  I get to be home with him and I get to teach the way I wish I could have always taught.  

I have put together another fun list of letter recognition activities, this time for the letter "D".  These alphabet activities are nature-based learning and coordinated well with an outdoor learning environment.  The activities will be ranged from letter activities for 3-year old to preschool and a few for toddlers as well.  You'll find some cool ideas on how to teach your child to recognize the letters of the alphabet and the sound/symbol correlation".  The benefits of nature theme learning allow your child to disconnect from technology and get back to the basics.  I've even included some printable alphabet activities and letter D games.

For more information about the Homespun Preschool click HERE
​
As always, please click on the link above the photos to be taken to the original post.

I have put together another fun list of letter recognition activities, this time for the letter "A".  These alphabet activities are nature-based learning and coordinated well with an outdoor learning environment.  The activities will be ranged from letter activities for 3-year old to preschool and a few for toddlers as well.  You'll find some cool ideas on how to teach your child to recognize the letters of the alphabet and the sound/symbol correlation".  The benefits of nature theme learning allow your child to disconnect from technology and get back to the basics.  I've even included some printable alphabet activities and letter A games.

For more information about the Homespun Preschool click HERE
​
As always, please click on the link above the photos to be taken to the original post.

As a foster mom with little ones and an educator at heart, I'm always reading into ways to help my babies deal with the trauma they go through.  I used these in my classroom years ago and they help children extend their focus, give them a sense of calm, and they enjoy finding these treasures among their toys.

​The last few weeks I have taken the time to do a few fun things with the boys.  One of them that I wanted to share was how we made our own terrarium.    I try to look at everything before I throw it away to see if it has a new life.  This cookie container from the grocery store looked like a perfect container for the kids to make a terrarium.