We have officially entered camping season! One of my favorite parts of camping is sitting around the campfire, roasting s’mores, and telling campfire stories. Sometimes, we use Mad Libs to create silly stories, just like the ones included with The Happy Camper (more on that in a bit!). Sometimes, we take turns making up scary…
Crazy Fun Summer Reading Activities!
Do you remember learning to read? I do… nostalgic music strumming … I was aching to learn to read. My big brother knew how. My big sis did too. But poor little Sarah was just not old enough. Or so she was told. However, across the street lived a retired teacher, who, as it turns…
Teaching Letters and Sounds | Free Printable!
When it comes to teaching letters and sounds, I should really be saying ‘sounds then letters,’ because teaching sounds actually comes first! The ability to hear and manipulate sounds is called Phonological Awareness, and it is the first step in teaching a child to read. In fact, phonological awareness is even more important for…
What is Phonological Awareness? From Rhyming to Reading
As you likely know, I am a huge proponent of waiting until children are developmentally ready to learn skills. It is not developmentally appropriate to teach most 3-year-olds to read. But it is developmentally appropriate to teach most 3-year-olds to rhyme. And rhyming is the very first phonological awareness skill that little ones should learn!…
Farm-Themed Literacy Activity: What’s in the Barn?
Did you know that a cow has four digestive components, not four stomachs? Does it surprise you that chickens are the closest living relative to the tyrannosaurus rex? That is only the beginning! Our latest unit study, On the Farm, is full of so much fun, hands-on learning. And today, I’m going to share a…
The Best Children’s Books About Nature
Our own backyards are home to so many interesting plants and animals, making it the perfect place to cultivate a love of nature with your little one! I gathered 10 of the best children’s books about nature for you to dive into while exploring the great outdoors (or the great backyard). The Backyard Naturalist Family…
Summer Alphabet Games & Activities
With some absolutely beautiful weather this week, summertime—and all that it stands for—is calling me! It’s a time for fun in the sun, loads of play, and exploring this incredible world of ours. It’s also the perfect time to do some one-on-one learning with little ones. No matter how incredible a teacher is, there is nothing…
Grade One Literacy Curriculum Review
Today, I’m excited to share a look inside my Grade One Literacy Curriculum! If you’re not familiar with my resources, let me give you a brief introduction before we dive into Grade One Literacy. I am a big believer in quality over quantity, which is reflected in all of my homeschool resources. Children do not…
Morse Code Activity for Kids with Lego
You may have heard that our latest Family Unit Study just dropped in the shop—Inventors and Inventions—and let me tell you, it is SO cool! The Inventors and Inventions unit is filled with fun and creative activities, all culminating in making your very own invention using the Design Thinking process. Today, I thought I would…
Inventors and Inventions | A Homeschool Unit Study
Do your children love to create and design? Have they ever wanted to create a novel invention? I’m excited to introduce our amazing, hands-on Inventors and Inventions unit study! This unit will inspire your children with the stories of some great inventors of all times, then guide your children in using the design thinking process…
