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Showing posts with label Homeschooling Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homeschooling Ideas. Show all posts
Subtitle: How to do it, and why you may not want to
(The quintessential stack of homeschool read-alouds. These are about half of the books we went through this year.)
How can I help my kids learn to work more independently?
I’ve heard that question so many times, in conference talks, online forums, from friends, and from my own lips. Developing independent learners is something homeschool moms, especially moms of multiple kids, think about a lot.
I remember many days, collapsing into bed exhausted after being pulled in multiple directions all day, and wondering how long I could keep doing this. Helping my kids learn to work more independently became a crucial concern, like it would be the life or death of our homeschool. Now, as my oldest prepares to enter high school, I’ve seen him grow leaps and bounds in working independently, and I’ve learned a few things about helping kids be more independent. I’m sharing practical suggestions and a little straight talk.
1. Don’t push for independence too early.
When my kids were still in elementary school, in a desperate bid to find something my kids could start to do without me, I gave my older kids a workbook for language arts. When I had to be busy with another child, I would ask them to pull these workbooks out for some independent work.
At first the year seemed to go along swimmingly, but eventually I realized that while my kids were progressing to the next lesson each week, they still could not tell me the parts of speech. When we had a minor existential crisis over writing a poem, I realized that what I thought was independent work was really just busy work. In order for my kids to really learn what the workbooks were trying to teach them, I would need to sit down and go over everything with them step-by-step.
On top of that, I had wasted valuable learning time during that homeschool year when a little more effort from me up front would have set a stronger foundation. My kids were not ready to be independent, and that was normal, and I had to learn to accept it.
I think a mistake that we often make is pushing our kids to be independent in their school work too early. Some kids are naturally more independent and make homeschooling look so simple, but we need to be careful of even putting those kids into the “independent” category too quickly. Our kids may appear to be making progress, but if we never sit down and watch them do their work, we can’t really know if they are learning something, or if they are just pushing ahead in the book even when they don’t quite understand a concept. It’s our job as the homeschool mom to help them actually learn, not just get through a workbook. In the younger grades, kids need a strong foundation of understanding, through a lot of help from mom, so hopefully they can be solidly and truly independent in the older grades.
2. Start with checklists.
Once your child is at an age where they can reliably manage their own work - this usually comes in stages, so probably just one or two subjects at first - consider helping them stay on track with daily checklists.
Before I developed our checklist system, I’d often be working with one child, and another would interrupt to ask what they should do next. “I don’t know, go start on your next subject,” ended up being my vague default response - and my poor child, who still didn’t know what to do, would end up deeply invested in a lego game with a younger sibling instead of accomplishing anything.
Eventually I realized that we needed to break out of that habit, and one summer I created a document with a weekly checklist for each child, with all their subjects broken up into days. It looked something like this:
Monday:
-Math lesson -Grammar book -Copywork -Writing video (with sibling) -Read history
Tuesday:
-Math lesson -Grammar book -Copywork -Write outline for paper -Read science lesson
Wednesday:
-Math lesson -Latin -Copywork -Write first draft -Read history -Work on Awana book
Thursday:
-Math lesson -Latin -Copywork -Finish paper -Read science
Friday:
-Math lesson -Art lesson -Copywork -Type up paper -Science experiment with mom
That’s a very simplified example, but you get the idea. I have checkboxes next to each task, and once the checklist are finished, my kids know they are done for the day. I think it is motivating for them to see how much is left and to know they are making progress. It helps prevent wasted time since they always know what else they can work on by themselves (I will sometimes highlight their independent subjects a different color from the ones they need my help with). I even print these checklists for my little girls, but I am the one who manages the checklists for them, since they still need my help for nearly everything. The checklists keep me on track too.
3. Map out the year.
You can’t expect to just hand a child a homeschool curriculum and have them proceed without any help or direction from you.
A couple years ago, as my son entered middle school, I started having an “orientation day” with him toward the end of summer. We sit down with his school books and a calendar, and I show him how many lessons are in each book, how many days we have in the school year, and how many lessons he would have to finish each week to stay on track. I sometimes even write up syllabi and expectations for each homeschool subject - which is helpful, but you don’t necessarily need to go that far.
What I am trying to accomplish with our orientation days is teaching my child how to look ahead at the whole year, and provide checkmarks for them to be able to easily see that they are staying on track. It’s really teaching them how to plan by holding their hand through the process. Some kids may catch on quickly, and for most kids you’ll have to repeat this process every year until they can naturally take it on themselves. I think middle school is the best time to start this - remember, not expecting too much too early, but hopefully helping them learn more planning skills before they reach high school.
4. Remember that independence does not mean mom can be hands-off.
Another mistake I see in homeschool circles (and that I have made myself) is the tendency to become a little slack on checking up on your child once they have reached a certain level of independence. This is how you reach Christmas break and take a peek inside your child’s Latin workbook only to realize they are two months behind (ask me how I know).
Even if your child is on the correct lesson number, remember that it’s still your job as a homeschool mom to make sure the understanding of the subject is there. You should frequently ask your more independent child about what their science book is covering right now, take a peek into their workbooks often, make sure you are grading their papers and tests so you can help shore up any areas where they are struggling. Be ready to answer questions, edit their papers together so they can learn how to improve their writing, and expect to have to research the answers to confusing math questions.
If you find yourself never doing any of these things, I’d encourage you to check yourself. Are you too busy with your own projects or outside commitments to make sure your kids are progressing as they should? Are you spending too much time on your phone, and not enough time enriching your child’s homeschool experience by actually talking with them about what they’re learning?
The truth of the matter is, there really is no point when a homeschool mom can just lean back and rest on her laurels, until her kids are graduated - maybe not even then. Homeschool students are always going to need help, direction, tips, discussions, and check-ins with mom. These things aren’t a chore, but an opportunity to pour into and connect with our kids through their education. Don’t wish those tasks away - don’t push your kids too much to not need you. They do need you, you are their best and only teacher, and being there for them is the beautiful thing about homeschooling.
I’d love to hear any more tips or encouragement you have on this subject! Comment below.
A couple years ago I shared a list of our favorite Christmas picture books to read together. The kids and I love a beautifully illustrated Christmas book while sitting near our Christmas tree and having a treat! I've expanded our favorites list quite a bit since then, and have sorted through nearly two hundred Christmas picture books to make this list!
The list is broken up into three sections, depending on what you’re looking for. The books related to the Nativity and the Christian faith are listed first, and there are some beautiful books in there for believers. Not every Christmas book labeled as “Christian” has a biblically solid message or points to Christ, but I feel that these ones did a good job of pointing to the true meaning of Christmas - Christ’s birth!
The next category contains books that focus on Santa. I know some families that like to avoid or minimize the topic of Santa Claus at Christmas, so the ones with a story centered around Santa are separated out for your convenience.
The last category are full of just general Christmas stories, focused on the celebration of the holiday itself. Some of them may reference Santa briefly, but he’s not a big part of the story.
I hope this list is useful for you as you look for Christmas books that resonate with your own family! You can also see my original book list here, which contains different titles than this list. And don’t forget to scroll to the end of the post for a printable list that you can take to the library - which includes all my picture book recommendations for Christmas from both posts!
Christian Christmas Stories:
The Spider Who Saved Christmas by Raymond Arroyo - This is a Christmas fable, about a spider who saves the lives of Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus as they are fleeing to Egypt. This book is very sweet, and I love that it focuses on the Nativity - I do make sure to tell my kids that this story is not in the Bible, it's just an imaginative story. Also note that the story does involve fleeing the soldiers who were killing the baby boys in Bethlehem, so make sure your kids are ready for that part of the story.
The Gift Of The Christmas Cookies by Dandi Daley Mackall - I loved this book! A mom tells her boy about how Christmas cookies got started as a way of telling peasants about the Nativity, and the boy realizes he can use Christmas cookies to spread the good news of Jesus's birth the same way. I think this would be a fun and meaningful book to read before a Christmas baking day, especially if you have nativity-shaped cookie cutters!
Song Of The Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones - A lovely book highlighting all of creation rejoicing in the birth of Christ!
Humphrey's First Christmas by Carol Heyer - A funny story about a camel who loses his greatest treasure - his carpet-blanket! But in the end, he meets the Baby Jesus and gives up his greatest treasure for the King of kings. Very sweet and humorous twist on the Nativity story.
Fear Not, Joseph! by Julie Stiegemeyer - The Nativity story from the perspective of Joseph. This book sticks pretty close to the biblical narrative, with a few details filled in. It seems like Joseph is often left out of the story in Christmas picture books, so I liked that this book focused on his perspective! Great notes from the author in the back too.
The Legend Of St. Nicholas by Dandi Daley Mackall - I love this version of the story of the real St. Nick. A boy is wandering through a mall, thinking about everything he wants to buy for himself, and then hears a mall Santa telling the story of Saint Nicholas and his gift-giving. In the process he refocuses on the joy of giving at Christmas. Very well-done book.
The Little Shepherd's Christmas by Carol Heyer - A beautifully illustrated version of the Christmas story from a shepherd boy's perspective.
Christmas Is Here by Lauren Castillo - The words of this book are just the Scripture text from the KJV, but the illustrations are lovely. The book starts with a family visiting a living Nativity, and then flashing back to what happened on the night Jesus was born.
A Star For Christmas by Trisha Romance - A carpenter moves to a new place and works to build a house in the woods. The local villagers comes to help him, and so he decides to make them a very special gift for Christmas. A sweet story that points to Jesus's birth.
A Churchmouse Christmas by Barbara Davoll - Christopher Churchmouse wants to make something to celebrate Jesus's birthday in this sweet story told in rhyme. If you've read any of the other Christopher Churchmouse books, this one is especially fun as all the characters make an appearance.
Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson - A mouse named Mortimer finds a house that is perfectly sized for him - the problem is that it's filled with statues! He just tosses them out and enjoys the comfortable manger - until he learns the Nativity story. Very cute story, and a creative way to point to the Nativity.
‘Twas The Evening Of Christmas by Glenis Nellist - Written in the metre of “The Night Before Christmas”, this book focuses on the story of Jesus's birth instead. I love this one!
The Lightlings by R. C. Sproul - A gorgeously illustrated, imaginative retelling of the story of God sending His Son to save us. The additional discussion questions in the back are excellent for guiding a discussion about Jesus's birth and the gospel, complete with Scripture references!
Santa Stories:
Little Red Sleigh by Erin Guendelsberger - A little red sleigh wants desperately to be Santa's sleigh and help bring joy to children everywhere, but on her journey to the North Pole she learns that things in life come more gradually. She brings joy to a little girl as she goes sledding on Christmas Day, and Little Red Sleigh realizes she is already fulfilling her purpose.
The Night Santa Got Lost: How Norad Saved Christmas by Micheal Kerne - This was a great find for us this year! The book is written as a twist on "The Night Before Christmas", but the real treasure is the history of NORAD's tradition of tracking Santa on Christmas Eve, and the other Christmas-related military history stories in the back. We found it delightful, and this book would be a great jumping-off point for other studies about history and the military, writing short stories, etc.
Mouse's Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corduroy - It turns out there was a mouse stirring on Christmas Eve, and this book shares the story of how a mouse helps Santa, and Santa helps the mouse find a friend. Very cute!
Rudolph Shines Again by Robert L. May - Rudolph starts to feel sorry for himself as all the reindeer pick on him for being Santa's favorite...until one day, Rudolph's nose stops shining. This is a cute story about the "continuing adventures" of Rudolph beyond the traditional tale!
The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett - All of Brett's illustrations are so Christmas-y, and in this story, Teeka must train the reindeer to pull Santa's sleigh.
Truffle's Christmas by Anna Currey - Truffle can't decide whether to ask Santa for a hula hoop or a blanket. He settles on asking for the hula hoop, but the next night he gives up his blanket for the baby mice. So he goes on a journey to see if he can change his request to a new blanket instead. Really cute little story!
The Finest Christmas Tree by John and Ann Hassett - A quirky story about Farmer Tuttle, who was a Christmas tree farmer until his customers started to dry up. Then suddenly he gets a note, and tiny little figures carry off one of his Christmas trees!
Carl's Christmas by Alexandra Day - In this book, the dog Carl is tasked with watching the baby while the parents go out (not realistic, but cute). He takes the baby on all kinds of Christmas adventures through the rest of the book. This is a wordless book, so it would be a fun writing project to have kids write their own words for each page.
Fletcher And The Snowflakes Of Christmas by Julia Rawlinson - Fletcher is a classic in our home at this point, and in this book the little fox Fletcher worries that Santa won't be able to find the home of his rabbit friends, since they just moved to a new burrow. This is a sweet Christmas story, highlighting friendship with beautiful illustrations.
Other Christmas Stories:
The Christmas Owl by Ellen Kalish - In this story, none of the animals know what Christmas is, until an owl's tree is cut down and taken to the big city to be a Christmas tree. He is sent to an owl rescue and shown kindness and care by the humans there, and afterward he thinks he understands a little better what Christmas is.
A Wish To Be A Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe - A large pine tree is never picked as a Christmas tree, and tells his woes to the forest creatures. They appreciate the big tree, and set out to show him how much they love him by making him into a Christmas tree. Really sweet book about friendship.
Fletcher And The Snowflakes Of Christmas by Julia Rawlinson - Fletcher is a classic in our home at this point, and in this book the little fox Fletcher worries that Santa won't be able to find the home of his Rabbit friends, since they just moved to a new burrow. This is a sweet Christmas story, highlighting friendship with beautiful illustrations.
Mistletoe by Tad Hills - Mistletoe loves to be outside in the snow at Christmastime, but her friend Norwell likes to be warm and cozy - so she sets out to make him a present that will allow them to spend more time together. Cute illustrations, and fun for knitters!
The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains by Annie Silvestro - A tree grows in a Christmas tree lot right next to a train track, and loves the feeling of the trains whooshing past...until a family comes and takes the tree to their home. Will she ever see a train again? This is a cute one for kids who love trains.
Finding Christmas by Leslie Evans - In this story, Hare, Mouse, and Squirrel find a wounded Sparrow, and give up all their presents to help a creature in need. I loved the reference to the Bible verse in the very back, and stories that highlight sacrifice and selflessness at Christmas are always welcome.
The Perfect Tree by Corinne Demas - Bunny wants to find the perfect Christmas tree, and all his friends tell him what to look for - but when he finds it, he can't bear to cut it down. This is a basic finding-a-Christmas-tree story, but we enjoyed it!
A Christmas Wish For Corduroy by Don Freeman - If you like the original Corduroy book, you'll enjoy this Christmas backstory that explains how he got his cute green overalls!
Lighthouse Christmas by Tony Buzzeo - Two kids, who have moved to an island with their dad to be the new lighthouse family, try to figure out how to celebrate Christmas with no resources, since their supply ship is delayed by the weather. The information in the back of this book about the "flying Santa" program that brought Christmas cheer to lighthouse families was especially interesting, and would make a great Christmas research project for homeschoolers who do "Christmas School"!
I Love You More Than Christmas by Ellie Hattie - An adorable book about a bear family enjoying all that Christmas brings. Younger kids will enjoy all the interrupted endings of the poem!
The Magic Of A Small-Town Christmas by Megan Alexander - Cute illustrations depicting Christmas traditions in a small town. I enjoyed this book since my little town has some unique Christmas traditions as well.
The Peterkins' Christmas by Elizabeth Spurr - My kids know the Peterkins from A Peterkins Thanksgiving, and so they were greatly amused by this zany Victorian family's Christmas hijinks. This is a longer book, but also pretty fun!
Winter's Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan - An old man finds himself lonely at Christmas, until a lost mare reminds him to always to keep hope - in an unexpected way! This is a sweet Christmas book for horse-loving kids!
Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant - A beautiful picture book about a Christmas train that brings presents to poor boys and girls in the Appalachian mountains - and how one of those boys grows up and finds his way back to Appalachia. This book makes me want to cry for a reason I can't pinpoint - we loved it.
Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray - An old woman and a boy decide to plant a Christmas tree farm - and after ten long years the trees are ready to sell. This book is an imaginative look at what it would be like to grow Christmas trees, and as a homeschool mom I noted that the built-in math problems abound!
An Orange For Frankie by Patricia Polacco - Get ready to tear up at the end of this book. A sweet story about a boy named Frankie, who loses his Christmas orange - but his family pulls together and creates an orange for Frankie.
Cranberry Christmas by Wende and Harry Devlin - We rejoin the gang of Cranberryport, as Mr. Whiskers tries to save the skating pond and also get his house ready for a visit from his sister. The "Cranberryport" books are all delightful, and this is a fun Christmas story!
Christmas In The Country by Cynthia Rylant - A little girl shares her favorite parts of celebrating Christmas in the country with her grandparents. The illustrations in this are very cute, and all the traditions shared are sweet and nostalgic.
The All-I’ll-Ever-Want-For-Christmas Doll by Patricia C. McKissack - A story of a family in the south during the Great Depression. A little girl wants a Baby Betty more than anything - and she gets one on Christmas morning! The problem is, there is only one between herself and her two sisters. A sweet story for a reminder that people are more important than things. Some Santa talk in this one, but that's not the focus of the story.
The Story Of Holly And Ivy by Rumer Godden - A doll in a toy shop wants to be given to a little girl, a little girl wants to spend Christmas in a real home, and a woman wishes she had a child to pour her love on at Christmas - and all these stories come together in this adorable and sweet book.
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett - This book along with the next two are a trio of books about Gingerbread people! This book is a fun play off of the traditional gingerbread man story - but the Gingerbread Baby is not obnoxious and gets away in this one.
Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett - In this one, the Gingerbread Baby is lonely when the little girl leaves for school, so he goes in search of a friend.
Gingerbread Christmas by Jan Brett - In this book, a whole gingerbread band joins the Gingerbread Baby and plays sweet music in the town square...until someone decides the band looks pretty tasty!
Construction Site On Christmas Night by Sherry Duskey Rinker and A. G. Ford - Very similar to the classic 'Goodnight, Construction Site', except a Christmas version!
If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff - In the same tradition as If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, one thing leads to another in this Christmas version!
The Gift Of The Magi by O. Henry illustrated by Robert Sauber - A beautifully illustrated version of O. Henry's classic Christmas tale!
A Cowboy Christmas by Audrey Wood - Evan's cowboy friend, Cully, is a big help around the ranch ever since Evan's father died - but then at Christmas, Cully doesn't come home one night and Even and his mother must go looking for him. A sweet story that gives a peek into what life may have been like in the Old West. This one has a sweet ending.
The Christmas Crocodile by Bonnie Becker - A crocodile causes chaos for a family at Christmas, until the family sends him away - or so they think! A humorous Christmas book!
A Christmas For Bear by Bonny Becker - This is a funny book about a bear who has never hosted a Christmas party before. His friend Mouse arrives and is worried that there are no presents - only pickles! I highly recommend reading the bear with an English accent.
Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble - A story about a terrible blizzard that brings down a family's apple tree. One of the daughters is heartbroken, because the tree used to be her "art studio" - but her father finds a way to bring the feeling of the old tree back for the girls. Sweet, old-fashioned Christmas story.
Suzy Goose And The Christmas Star by Petr Horacek - Suzy Goose spots a star in the sky and goes on a journey to see if she can snatch it for the top of the animal's Christmas tree...until she gets lost! A light, simple Christmas story.
If I Could Give You Christmas by Lynn Plourde - This book features a sweet Christmas-themed poem from a parent to a child. What really makes this book shine, in my opinion, are the absolutely beautiful illustrations of animal kids and parents.
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry - This delightful book features Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree, which keeps getting chopped smaller as small animals use the cut-off top as their own Christmas tree. Very cute and humorous for the kids!
Merry Christmas, Anne by Kallie George - A cute Christmas story surrounding Anne of Green Gables, and inspired by the book! Our family just read L. M. Montgomery's classic together, so this is a fun picture book to add to our stack this year.
The Queen And The First Christmas Tree by Nancy Churnin - This story is based upon the life of Queen Charlotte. The title is a little misleading in that I’m not sure she can claim the first Christmas tree, but she was the first to popularize Christmas trees in England. I love this for a Christmas history tie-in!
For a printable Christmas picture book list, click here!
Enjoy, and Merry Christmas until I write again!
For several years now we've celebrated Reformation Day, and while we could do the same things each year and my kids would be perfectly happy, I like to change things up a little to keep the day interesting for them. So this year, the night before Reformation Day, I locked myself in my room for a couple of hours and threw together a spur-of-the-moment plan.
I had been mulling over our options all day, and the idea for this scavenger hunt just came to me. Everything in this post I threw together in an hour, and I was a little unsure if it would come together, but my kids loved it and it also led to some good conversations about theology and the gospel!
You can read more about why we celebrate Reformation Day here. All of my Reformation Day posts, including many more ideas for marking the day, can be read here.
Organizing The Scavenger Hunt
For this scavenger hunt, I hid a series of clues that when put together spell out the word "REFORMATION". On each slip of paper I wrote a household scavenger hunt clue adapted from this website, but any household clue hints will do! Hints like these led the kids from clue to clue, but in between searching for each clue we would pause and do activities related to the corresponding letter in the acronym REFORMATION.
The activités for each letter of the acronym are listed below. I also created a printable of all this information which you can download below, but keep in mind you may want to get all the links opened in your browser ahead of time so you have them ready before your kids start finding the clues.
Resources You Will Need
1. Reformation ABCs. In addition to the printables above, you will need the book Reformation ABCs by Stephen Nichols. I centered the scavenger around this book and you will need to read the corresponding pages in the book for several of the acronym letters. If you are willing to put a little work in to research some of these topics yourself, you could make do without buying the book, but it is a fun one to have around!
2. Optional: Another book or video about Martin Luther. For an optional book option, you can also get another book about Martin Luther to read to your kids so they have more background information about this central figure of the Reformation. We read this Martin Luther pop-up book, because I think it is a great one to introduce Luther and the Reformation to my littler kids in a way they can more easily understand. You may also consider watching the Torchlighters Martin Luther episode, which is a great introduction for kids!
3. Optional: Printed Music For Hymns. I included three hymn options in this scavenger hunt, and I have the lyrics included in the printable I created, but it's sometimes nice to have the sheet music. I recommend downloading "Hymns To The Living God", which is a free hymnal from G3. All three of the hymns are included, and you can print out the corresponding pages by referencing the index at the end of the hymnal. You'll need:
-A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
-O Worship The King
-O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
4. My Reformation Day Scavenger Hunt Printable. This document includes all the information below which you can print as your parent "cheat sheet", the REFORMATION acronym that you can cut into strips and hide for the clues, and lyric sheets for the hymns.
5. Optional: Supplies for the fortress craft. I was excited to find this great craft (originally recommended to me in this blog post), you'll want to get the supplies for that ready ahead of time if you choose to use it. One significant item is toilet paper rolls, so start collecting those before Reformation Day!
6. Candy or another easy snack reward. To keep my kids excited about the scavenger hunt, I built in some small snack moments. We used candy, but any quick snack food will do!
7. Dirt/worm pudding, or another Reformation Day treat. There are lots of ideas out there, but worm pudding is a favorite of our family! You could also do marshmallow hammers, or door-shaped cookies, etc. This is a fun final reward to wrap up the scavenger hunt!
All the rest of the information for the scavenger hunt is included below, or once again, you can download the printable that includes all this information here!
R is for the Rhine River
-Read “R is for Rhine River” from Reformation ABCs.
-Locate the Rhine River in an atlas and see which countries it runs through.
-Eat one candy from the reward bowl!
E is for Erasmus
-Read this: Erasmus published a version of the New Testament translated into Greek and Latin directly from old manuscripts, because of a movement called “ad fontes”, which means “back to the sources”. This was an idea popular at the time of Luther - many thought to get the most accurate information, they should go as close to the original source as possible, especially regarding ancient documents. This movement eventually led to the reformers searching for the truth about what was going on in the church by going back to THE source - God’s Word! Erasmus unintentionally influenced Luther and the Reformation.
F is for Fortress
-Luther wrote the great hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. Let’s do a fortress craft together! Younger kids may also enjoy this coloring sheet.
-Read Psalm 46 and talk about how God is our fortress in times of trouble.
O is for Oxford Martyrs
-Read “O is For Oxford Martyrs” from Reformation ABCs.
-Read Acts 5, and take note of Acts 5:41. Why do you think the disciples, and later on the Reformers, rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus?
R is for Reformation
-Look up the word "Reformation" in the Websters 1828 dictionary.
-Now read about the Five Solas of the Reformation on Got Questions.org. How did the Five Solas address different problems in the Roman Catholic Church?
-Luther hoped to reform the Catholic Church and bring it back to God’s Word. Was he successful? Do you think there are any things in Christian churches today that need “reformation” to be more in line with God’s word?
-Eat a candy from the reward bowl!
M is for Martin Luther
-Read “M is for Martin The Monk” from Reformation ABCs.
-Optional: Read another book about Martin Luther or watch this Torchlighters Martin Luther episode.
-Eat a candy from the bowl!
A is for “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
-Let’s sing Luther’s great hymn!
-Eat a candy from the reward bowl!
T is for Tyndale
-Read “T is for Tyndale” from Reformation ABCs
-Eat a candy from the bowl!
I is for Indulgences
-Read “I is for Indulgences” from Reformation ABCs.
-One of the major complaints Luther had for the Catholic Church was regarding indulgences. He rightly thought it was disgraceful that the clergy were telling the people they could purchase a proverbial “ticket to Heaven” (ie: less time in Purgatory) with money. Read the Five Solas again if necessary, and discuss the what the gospel is. How are we truly forgiven and saved? In light of that, can you see why indulgences were such a terrible distortion of the true gospel?
O is for “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing” or “O Worship The King”
-Let’s sing one (or both) of these hymns together!
-Read about some of the ways that Luther changed church music (scroll down to where it says “Church Music”). Talk about how we have some wonderful hymns, like the one we just sang, because of the reforms Luther made in music.
-Watch a video about how Luther changed the way we sing in church.
N is for “No Other”
-One of the greatest moments of the Reformation was the Diet Of Worms, when Luther declared:
I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council, because it is clear that they have fallen into error and even into inconsistency with themselves. If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this way brought into subjection to God's word, I neither can nor will retract anything; for it cannot be either safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.
Let’s discuss that quote - what did Luther mean when he said “Here I stand, I can do no other?” (As some versions of the quote are rendered). What was he standing on?
-Read the “B is for Bible” page of Reformation ABC’s. How is the Bible like a treasure map? And what (or who) is the great treasure it’s meant to lead us to?
-Let’s pray and thank God for His word, for how the Reformers bravely stood on the Word of God and recovered the gospel. And let’s thank God for saving us by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone!
-Finish up with our Diet Of Worms treat (or other special Reformation-themed snack)!
You can download a printable with all this information here!
Enjoy!
Fall is my favorite time of year, as it is for so many people, and I'm surprised that it took me so long to assemble a list of our favorite autumn picture books. These books all capture different aspects of fall, or just have an autumnal vibe!
We are a little picky about fall picture books. It has to have a bit of a nostalgic or cozy factor to make the list. I also didn't include books that have too much of a focus on Halloween, since we don't celebrate Halloween in our family - most of these books don't have an allusion to Halloween at all, and if they do it's very brief and I tried to make a note of it. As a result, this is truly a list that focuses on the season of fall and not any particular holiday!
If you want to expand this list a bit, I also have a list of Thanksgiving picture books that we love as well!
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak - A beautiful picture book about the transition from summer to fall. This whole series is lovely for the changing seasons.
The Turnip by Jan Brett - This is the story of a particularly huge turnip, and how the animals must get it out of the ground before it snows. This story was fun, and really captures that transition period between harvest and winter.
Autumn Story by Jill Barklem - I love all the Brambly Hedge books for each season! In this one, Primrose goes wandering in the woods, gets lost in some hidden tunnels, and is finally found by her parents and friends. The cozy illustrations really make these books.
The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown - This is a funny story about a scarecrow boy that wants to go work with his dad, but his dad doesn't think he's ready...until he sneaks out one day to scare some crows on his own!
The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson - Using repetition and simple monochromatic illustrations this book tells the story of an apple pie being baked and shared. This would be a cute one to read before actually baking an apple pie!
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall - All about the process of growing apples and making apple pies. I associate apple pies especially with the fall, and this would be another book to add for an apple pie theme.
County Fair inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder - This is part of a picture book series related to the Little House On The Prairie books. In this volume, Almanzo's pumpkin is contender in the county fair.
The Pumpkin Runner by Marsha Diane Arnold - Based on a true story of a sheep farmer who beat out a bunch of younger contestants in a long-distance race in Australia...by eating pumpkins! I don't know if the pumpkin part is true or not, but the pumpkins make this a delightful book for fall nevertheless.
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger - A yellow leaf desperately holds on to its branch, afraid to let go, until he finally finds a friend to make the jump with him. Very sweet story.
The Berenstain Bears Harvest Festival by Mike Berenstain - The Berenstain Bears are classics, and this is a particularly cute one as the family goes to a harvest festival and then talks about all the blessings God sends us in the fall.
Johnny Appleseed: A Tall Tale Retold by Steven Kellogg - This is our favorite book version of the story of Johnny Appleseed, a frontiersman who planted many apple tress in the Ohio wilderness, and how his legend grew. The illustrations are fun, and it ends on a perfect note for a tall tale.
Hooray For Fall by Kazuo Iwamura - Mick, Mack, and Molly, adventurous squirrel children, are back in this cute fall adventure in their brand-new red sweaters, knitted by their mother! They explore the woods and make note of all the fall changes. We like all the books in this series.
Bear Has A Story To Tell by Philip C. Stead - Bear has a story to tell, but everyone is getting ready to hibernate for the winter and can't listen. Maybe he'll finally get to tell them when they wake up in the spring - if he can remember it!
Fletcher And The Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson - Fletcher notices the leaves are falling off his favorite tree, and he desperately tries to prevent them from leaving. Dejected, he realizes he can't stop the leaves from falling...but then something beautiful comes to take their place. This book is sweet and poignant, and my kids love all of Fletcher's adventures.
Little Tree by Loren Long - In this book, a little tree holds onto his leaves too long, until he realizes he'll never grow unless he lets them book. A beautiful story and touching message.
Lawrence In The Fall by Matthew Farina - Lawrence doesn't have a collection to bring for show and tell at his school, until his dad takes him on an adventure in the woods. He finds a beautiful leaf collection to share with his classmates.
The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri - All the animals want a squirrel to join them in their fun, but Squirrel is too busy getting ready for winter. This would be a fun story to start explaining hibernation for small children. The illustrations are also bright and fun!
Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland - This book explains all the changes we see in nature as fall approaches, in the middle of the season, and as it starts to come to an end. The illustrations in this one are also so luminous and pretty!
Count Down To Fall by Fran Hawk - This book is probably one of my personal favorites for fall - I love the woodland illustrations. The book is written in verse as we explore the way many different kinds of leaves change in autumn, and they even include aspen trees, which are my personal favorite.
Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller and Anne Wilsdorf - Sophie finds a perfect squash, and starts treating it like a doll and taking it with her everywhere. Her parents try to convince her to give it up, but she won't until it starts to get soft and squishy - then she tucks it into a warm dirt blanket until it greets her again in the spring. I was amused by this book as a parent - you know it was written because some child somewhere really did become attached to a squash!
Pumpkin Day At The Zoo by Susan Meissner - All the zoo animals get a pumpkin treat in this colorful book! The illustrations in this one are delightful, and I love that it's written in verse.
Tractor Mac: Autumn Is Here by Billy Steers - Fergus, a new calf on the farm, starts to become afraid when everything starts to change in the fall - until he finds out the reasons why and experiences all the fun autumn can bring! I included this one especially because of the illustrations - they are so bright and cheerful and perfect to get in the mood for fall fun.
A Fall Ball For All by Jamie A. Swenson - A gorgeous picture book - the art really makes this one for me. Forest animals all gather to enjoy an autumn windfall "ball".
How Many Seeds In A Pumpkin by Margaret Macnamara - A class of children make guesses about which pumpkin holds the most seeds - and find out that size is only one factor for how many seeds a pumpkin makes. This book is also a great opportunity for a math tie-in with skip counting and multiplication.
The Scarecrow's Dance by Jane Yolen - The illustrations in this book are moody and almost creepy, but the story is cute - a scarecrow gets blown off his stake and dances down the corn rows. Then he hears a sweet prayer from a child, asking for blessing on the scarecrow in the field so they can get a good corn harvest - and the scarecrow realizes the best place he can be is right where he was all along.
Too Many Turkeys by Linda White - A really fun book about a couple who keeps a turkey...but then have trouble as all the turkeys of the forest are drawn to their yard. Fred gives away their gardening secret to the neighbors to solve their turkey problem!
Sweater Weather by Matt Phelan - This is a book of very few words, but the quirky illustrations of a rambunctious bear family were very relatable to us as a large family!
Peepers by Eve Bunting - Two boys help their dad with his leaf touring business, and make fun of the leaf "peepers" behind their backs...until the end, when they realize they sound an awful lot like the peepers as they enjoy the beauty of early winter. My kids laughed at this one. We all related to it since we live in an area with alot of "peepers"...and we sound like them when going on leaf excursions too! One mention of Halloween in this one.
When Fall Comes by Aimee M. Bissonette - This picture book is really beautiful, and explores the way animals - and people - prepare for fall and winter.
In The Middle Of Fall by Kevin Henkes - I really like this book for the younger crowd - bold illustrations, and simple text about all the colors of fall and the transition to winter.
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise - This book isn't specifically related to autumn, but to me it had a fall vibe. An owl applies to be a knight, and to his surprise is accepted! He becomes a night watchman, and uses his courage and wits to befriend the dragon that has been gobbling other knights up. Really cute book overall.
Sleep Tight Farm by Eugenie Doyle - A lovely picture book about all the ways a farm might need to get ready for winter. There are a lot of things related to harvest in this book, which is why I'm including it in the fall list, but it could be great for early winter too.
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hill - This book shows how a family in the 1800s might have worked to support themselves throughout the year - then the man takes a trip to the market in the fall to sell their produce and trade for wares to last them through the next year.
Earl The Squirrel by Don Freeman - The kids and I enjoy this story of a little squirrel who accepts too many gifts from a little girl, until his mother insists he start working to gather his own acorns. The illustrations are really retro and cute!
Miss Suzy by Miriam Young - Another squirrel story! Miss Suzy loses her cozy home and is rescued by a band of toy soldiers. This is an adorable story with a fall feel to it.
A Fall Treasury Of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom by Angela Fererro-Fanning - This is a very kid-friendly craft and recipe idea book. We didn't read straight through it, but we flipped through for ideas, and I loved the cute illustrations too!
The kids remembered a couple books recently that I didn't get from our library this year, so I may very well be adding to this list in the future!
For a printable version of this list, click here!
Bonus Books!
These are books that I'm adding to this list as I find them - eventually I will add them to the printable, but for now, here they are.
The High Hills by Jill Barklem - Part of the Brambly Hedge series, this story follows Wilfred and Mr. Apple as they get lost high on a mountain and are forced to spend the night. As always, the illustrations are adorable, and the ones in this book made me think of late fall.
Otis And The Scarecrow by Loren Long - Otis the tractor plays fall games with his friends, but they can never get the scarecrow to do anything except give a grumpy face. But that doesn't stop Otis from making sure the scarecrow isn't lonely during a rainstorm. Sweet book about friendship. One mention of jack o'lanterns.
The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry - This was a precious story about a lonely scarecrow who makes friends with a crow. It's written in verse, and the illustrations are lovely!
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