What We're Reading in May 2022

We're heading into our summer schedule. In the next few days, we'll set aside our formal academics and take a looser approach to learning. But while we'll ignore the math sheets and grammar pages, we'll still make time for reading. 

We'll keep our regular weekly visits to the library. We'll stay up late reading under covers. And we'll continue to enjoy a chapter or two from a read-aloud after lunch. 

How to Host a Book Club for Reader-ly Tweens & Teens

In the last few years, I've noticed a trend on Instagram. My feed has been flooded with wonderfully curated pictures of poetry tea times and book adventure clubs hosted by area libraries, homeschool co-ops, or even just individual families. These posts usually start with some kind of convincing preamble like, "Do you have a child who doesn't like reading? Wanna get them hooked? All you have to do is host a monthly book experience to encourage even the most reluctant of readers to keep turning pages."

12 Clean New-ish Novels for Middle Schoolers

There's an unwritten rule imposed upon homeschool families that would have us all believing new novels are bad. Always. We're supposed to stick to classics, books written before the 1960s, and titles produced by Christian publishing houses. Only.

Trouble is, even some classics and older books have gruesome scenes, disparaging language, and questionable content. And on the flip side, there are many new-ish and contemporary works that are perfectly appropriate.

The Brave Homeschool Planner 2022-2023: A Planner by Homeschool Moms for Homeschool Moms

Extras always seem to weigh me down. They require work, rob me of my energy, and breed unnecessary guilt. As a busy, work-at-home, homeschooling mom, I don't have time for that. I'd rather focus my effort on things that bring me joy and add, not detract, from my day. And so I purge all the extras, guilt-free. I prune away any non-essentials...of my time, of my home, of my school.

What We're Reading in March 2022

A few months ago, I put in several Requests to Purchase at my local library.* I had heard about many soon-to-hit-shelves books that were coming out from interesting authors and I wanted to read them all. So, I hopped onto my library website, filled out their short RTP form for each title, and waited.

March arrived and so did all the books I had requested. All of them. At the same time. Needless to say, I have a giant stack of just-released books stacked up on my nightstand and spilling over onto the floor.