Last year was our very first year homeschooling our oldest daughter, Abigail. While, both my husband and I were homeschooled growing up, going from homeschool student to homeschool parent and teacher can be kind of overwhelming!

We tested the waters of homeschool pre-k and absolutely loved it. So, this September, we officially started homeschool Kindergarten! Or, Spena School, as we call it. We have been at it for almost two months now, so I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite things to use in our school days(aside from lots of coffee for Mom, a bumbo seat for the baby to chill out in, and lots of outside time to burn extra energy for Abigail) 

Our Must Have Homeschool Supplies:

1. Tons of Crafts

.

If there is one thing that makes my daughter happiest, it is the ability to create something with a giant pack of markers and an even more giant stack of paper. Construction paper, markers, crayons, scissors, glue, paints, and tape are all kept close at hand and always readily available to help stretch her big, BIG imagination.

2. Books, Books, and more Books

We finally got our act together and joined our local library! It has been absolutely wonderful for our school year. We go every Thursday for story time, return our books, and check out a whole slew of new books that sound interesting, fun, and coordinate with our curriculum’s theme for the week. (Things like, Nest, Apple, Leaves, Moon, Sun, etc.) 

3. Youtube

It is amazing to me all of the knowledge that we have right at our fingertips! As soon as Abigail asks a question, if we can’t find it in our books at hand, all it takes is a quick search to figure out the answer. We listen to all sorts of classical music and learn about the composers, watch videos about animals, and learn new life lessons from video shorts that appeal to both me and her! We love taking a brief break from sitting down to dance around the kitchen to music(our favorite- Eine Kleine) and youtube makes it incredibly easy for us to do that. 

4. The Jesus Storybook Bible 

My personal favorite book to read through with the girls is the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is written in words that the girls can understand, but it speaks to all of our hearts in incredibly profound ways. At the end of the day, it’s all about Jesus and every single story- as the book says- whispers His name. I love being able to incorporate that into our school days. One of the biggest, best, and most wonderful blessings about doing school at home! 

We absolutely love homeschooling and have been so blessed by the gift it has been to our family. 

What are some of your absolute must have homeschooling supplies?

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Written by Kari, Contributing Writer

Getting ready for the new school year means many things in our home. Our sleep schedule has to change, our chores change, we supplement differently and we have to ease back into a daily routine.

So, here’s how we make the transition:

How do you transition your kids back into the school season?

The post The Succesful Transition from Summer to School appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Do you remember your first days of school as a child?

I remember it being the like night before Christmas, I was so excited I could hardly sleep. Well, up until about 5th grade, after that, I lost all my excitement lol. Each year I remember shopping for the 1st day of school outfit, getting our school supplies ready, visiting the classroom and packing our backpacks. Then the first day came and the years flew by so quickly. 

Now I am a mom of three and I’m having my own “mom” memories of my children’s first days (and weeks) of school. My two oldest are venturing into kindergarten and first grade this year and we’re already into our 3rd week of how we “do” school, which is a combo of school and homeschool. 

I feel a lot more organized now than I was this time last year when I had terrible morning sickness. Whether you homeschool or your child goes to school M-F, I think it’s a lot of fun to create ways to remember these first days, because they don’t stay little forever. 

Here are 5 First Days (and weeks) of School Traditions:

There are millions and zillions of ideas on pinterest but here are 5 traditions I enjoy doing with my kiddos. In the title of this post I added (and weeks) because it might take a few weeks to do all of these if you’re like me.  

1. Take a photograph

You don’t need a fancy camera to do this… nowadays everyone just uses their phone. Before your child goes into the classroom (or your school area at home), stand outside the school or even by the door and snag a couple smiles. Use a First Day of… sign if you have time to print one out. Then if you want to spruce things up, you can use that photo to create a magazine cover or “about me” picture using picmonkey. 

I borrowed this idea from Between you & Me.

2. Apple for the teacher

Ok, you can never go wrong with this one. If your child has a teacher, let your child help make a card or small gift, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a REAL apple. Teachers work so hard behind the scenes and it’s a sweet gesture to let them know that you as the parent and your child are excited about the school year. I normally like to get crafty, but this year I went with the REAL apple and a small gift I picked up and just wrapped up with a bow.

If you are homeschooling and you are the teacher, well, then go get you a nice cup of coffee one day! I give you permission!!!!

3. Interview

If you’re going to create the photo keepsake from #1, you can use these answers from this interview. I found these a few weeks ago and really love the idea.

Sometime during the first weeks, sit your child down and have them answer the questions. I think it’s best when you just let them answer and to not worry about spelling. And if your child cannot read yet, you could write the answers and let them copy it onto the sheet. This will be so fun to look at when they are seniors. 

4. Write a story

After the first day of school, sometime over the next week or so have your child write about their first day. I created a printable for you to use. Again, if your child needs help, write it out and let them copy.

Feel free to use the First Day of School Printable or just write a story on your own paper or even use this journal which great for early elementary-age throughout the school year. 

5. Draw a Self Portrait

Use whichever medium your child likes best, whether crayons, paints or pencils and have then create a self portrait. I once learned in a college art class that when you’re able to capture yourself in art you are then able to capture other people or things around you with a greater understanding. While I do not know it that is true because I never liked self portraits myself, I want my children to know they are great works of art from Jesus

In Ephesians 2:10 it says “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them“. “His Workmanship” could be translated as “His work of art” which is what we ALL are! We still haven’t made out self portraits but hoping to this week. 

I hope you enjoy all of these ideas! 

What are your first days of school traditions? 

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Written by Contributing Writer, Jenn @ A Simple Haven

For me, August feels a bit like January. It’s a time to evaluate routines, dream about the (school) year to come, set some new goals, and get inspired.

My kids aren’t even school-aged yet, but having been a teacher for so long and with my husband in school, I naturally break the calendar into semesters.

So I look forward to the fall semester with anticipation, knowing that I have just one more year with my big girl before she starts formal schooling, that my little guy will be a preschooler by Christmas, and that I only have a few more months before baby #3 makes his appearance.

I get much inspiration from books, so this month, I am turning to old favorites to refresh me for the months ahead. I’ve also picked up some new ones that I have a feeling I’ll be referencing for years to come.

My plan for now is to homeschool, so several of the books listed have a homeschool-y bent. However, having been a high school teacher for six years, I can confidently say that the principles in any of them can be applied no matter what schooling choice you make.

Quality parenting/educating books abound, but to keep the list manageable, I picked only the ones I find most inspiring, encouraging, or grace-filled.

On Parenting

The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Simply put: this book made me excited to be a mom. I was pregnant with my first when I first picked it up and I remember thinking, man, this motherhood thing is more important that I realized.

But rather than leaving me overwhelmed by a list of to-dos, Sally simply inspires me to love my children well, nourish their souls, and rest in grace.

Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic

Blessed be the brief book on parenting. Not only do I feel like I lose brain cells with each pregnancy, my attention span in non-fiction has never been awesome.

Full of personal anecdotes, practical wisdom, and encouragement from another mom “in the trenches” (read: at the time of publication, she had five kids five and under, with one set of twins), this short reads is one of my favs.

Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne

I’ve not finished this one yet, but I find myself recommending it to friends already. As a recovering over-committer and one prone to sensory overload (toys with lots of noise and lights do me in), I naturally tend toward an uncluttered schedule and environment for my kids.

But through scientific studies and his many years teaching and counseling families, Payne makes the case that the simple, slower, uncluttered childhood is vital for our kids’ well-being. And he makes such a childhood seem do-able for any family.

On Educating

The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer

The classical education Bible. I was years away from having school aged kids when I picked this up, but as a former teacher, I was amazed at the logic of the classical approach to learning. (Or rather, at the illogic of many of our public school ways).

But even if you’re not homeschooling or following the classical method, this book is an excellent resource for supplementing your child’s education. It’s full of annotated resource lists and includes practical guides to approaching each subject at all grade levels.

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macauley

A inspirational guide to making education rich, joy-filled, and soul-nourishing. McCauley draws a lot on Charlotte Mason’s teachings and the result is a book that makes me excited about hours of outdoor play, nature journals, and reading quality books with my kids.

On Finding Quality Books for Kids

Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt

An annotated list of books for kids of all ages, organized by genre. It’s such a fantastic resource and I find myself returning to it year after year.

Read for the Heart by Sarah Clarkson

Another fantastic resource for children’s book recommendations, written by Sally Clarkson’s oldest daughter. Bonus: Sarah just launched an online literary resource/publishing house called Storyformed. It’s pretty great.

What are your favorite sources of inspiration for parenting and education?

*note: this post contains affiliate links, thank you for supporting this site. Read full disclosure here. 

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Written by KT @ One Organic Mama, Contributing Writer

I took this picture ^ at 7am in mid-July… when I woke up and just HAD to plan my classroom and the whole month of September…  

If back to school for your family includes buses, supply lists, lunch boxes, and letters from your children’s teachers, then this post is for you! If back to school includes homeschool curriculum, beautiful bookshelves with organized bins of supplies, and your dinning room table, you already know what I’m about to tell you Like all homeschool teachers, I am a teacher too.  

I have been teaching history and humanities in high school for 10 years. Although I might have more students every year than those of you who homeschool – I think you can agree with most of these back to school tips about this new school year – Last year I wrote to you as a mom, this year, I’m coming to you with my tips as a teacher! 

Here are my Top 5 Back to School Tips – as a teacher! 

This is how I would like to relate with my student’s parents, and am sure most of your child’s teachers feel the same way. 

1.  I want to hear from you!  

I want you to email me if your son had a rough morning getting ready for school or your daughter had a great softball game last night, and let me know!  I would love to check in with your kids and get back to you about how they are making it through the day.  Email me, call me, and I promise I will listen, read it, and as soon as I have a minute get back to you!  You know your kids better than I do – help me know them as the complex people they are so I can serve you and them better and more completely.

2.  I want you to hear from me!  

Sometimes teachers get a reputation for only ever sharing bad news, poor grades, and behavior that needs improvement.  I have made it my mission to share good news, once a week, every week, with some of my parents, a few each week.  I will shoot off a quick email about a great response your son had, a well written essay from your daughter, or a picture of your student from a mock trial we ran in class.  Just because you don’t hear from me doesn’t mean great stuff it isn’t happening – but please send me an email to check in – and I will let you know what fun your kids are having in class.

3.  I know, the supply lists are crazy.  

10 years ago I was given a $200 budget for classroom supplies.  This past year it was closer to $10.  I have 125 students.  I promise to only list what we need to encourage a healthy, love of learning, and address diversity of teaching and learning styles.  Will you promise me something?  If the list is too much for your family, please let me know.  No one in my classroom will go without, be embarrassed, or suffer because they can’t provide supplies.  Please let me know! 

4. I’ve been waiting!  

All summer, in between summer camps for my kids, and creating a superhero bedroom for them, I have been reading, writing, studying, re-working curriculum, tweeting to last year’s students about current events, creating fun activities, planning my bulletin boards, essay prompts, and collaborating with my fellow colleagues.  I promise to be excited about learning this year – can you join me?  I think our positive attitude can help our students develop the same eagerness to learn that we have!

5.  We’re on the same team!  

If your goal is to develop and nurture life long learning and curiosity within your children – let’s team up!  That’s my goal too.  I know sometimes our vision of that might be different – but if it ever seems like our classroom and homework activities aren’t doing that – ASK – please – I am happy to explain what we are doing and why.  If it’s not working for you or your family – there are LOTS of different options and I am happy to individualize and find something that matches your needs.   

Good luck to you all this year no matter where your classroom is.  I know I can’t wait! 

What does back to school look like for you?  What are your suggestions for others?

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Written by Kari, Contributing Writer

With school starting soon and routines getting back in order, if your child attends school, packing a lunch is a part of that routine. I’m not sure about where you live, but the choices for ‘hot lunch’ are not acceptable at my daughter’s school, so everyday is a ‘cold lunch’ day. I understand the convenience of your child eating hot lunch at school, but the overall consequences are nothing short of disastrous.

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And no, I’m not exaggerating.

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Understanding where food comes from, how it’s made and what ingredients or chemicals are in the food, it’s not too hard of a decision to make your child’s lunch if you are proactive in your child’s health.

A year or so ago they even made a decision to make school food “healthier” by getting rid of all milk choices over skim and 1% milk. How is this healthier? I like to inform other parents, who are health conscious like me, that having your kids drinking this low-fat and fat-free milk does nothing but deprive them of necessary fats and spikes their insulin levels every time they drink it. Not a habit you want your body doing constantly.

And now that they are wanting to add aspartame to the flavored milk – that makes it even worse. I won’t even go into the fact that the milk comes from conventional cows that have been pumped full of antibiotics and hormones. But serving our kids this kind of milk isn’t helping the obesity issue nor the type 2 diabetes epidemic among our kids.

So…how as parents do we keep our children well-fed during school? How can we make it simple, yet not boring? How can our kids enjoy eating cold lunch while most kids around them are eating hot lunch?

Well, I’m in my 5th year of making my children lunches for school and I have a pretty good handle on what works for my kids on a day to day basis. Not all of my suggestions may work for you, your schedule or your child’s tastes, but it’s a good starting point and can spark ideas in you that you can successfully implement in your house to make sure your kids have a healthy lunch box too!

Some items I like to have on hand to make packing easier are:

• thermoses for hot meals
• various size Pyrex bowls with lids that little hands can take off easily, but are strong enough to not cause leaking
• reusable snack bags (I have cloth/canvas ones, but sometimes I still use regular old Ziploc bags)
• insulated lunch bag
• ice packs (I always stick these inside Ziploc bags in case they break or leak – and this has happened several times)
• reusable utensils and stainless steel water bottles

*If you don’t want to send your kids to school with glass (some ages this may not be realistic), then find plastic containers that are BPA-free.

A few rules about the contents:

1. Always have protein in the lunch.

This is good for stabilizing blood sugar levels and helps keep tummies feeling full longer. Good choices are cultured milk (like Kefir or Amasai), fish, beef, chicken, turkey, bison, raw cheese, eggs, raw leafy greens, beans, legumes.

2. Include healthy fats everyday. 

Those healthy fats are so important for our kids. They assist with cell repair, hormone function, brain health and more. They will also keep your kids feeling full longer. Examples of healthy full-fat foods: avocados, full-fat plain yogurt, whole milk cottage cheese, whole milk, cheese, nuts, grass-fed butter, eggs, coconut oil, etc.

3. Good, energy giving carbs!

Those kids need energy so they aren’t falling asleep during their long days. Good carbs are fruits, beans, legumes, whole-grain grains (sprouted or soaked are best), blueberries, raspberries, chia seeds, flaxseed, almonds, honey, quinoa, etc.

4. Clean water.

Make sure they have good, clean water to drink while they’re at school. Most schools allow your child to have a water bottle at their desk – or at least access to their water bottles while they are in class. Having water as the beverage option is perfect in lunches, especially since lunch is either before or after recess – they’ll need to stay hydrated.

Here are a few ideas from my house:

Leftovers.

This is always the easiest and most convenient. I cook healthy dinners, so they gets healthy lunches.

Soups.

During the colder months, the crockpot is my friend. Sending warming and beneficial soups (like chicken noodle or vegetable soup) is a fun change for kids.

PBBH.

For those days when my kids just want a sandwich, they get a homemade spread of peanut butter, butter and raw honey on real sourdough bread, with some Enjoy Life! mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top. They love it!

Healthy ‘sides’.

Think summer sun pickles, slices of raw cheese, chips and homemade salsa, homemade banana bread, roasted chickpeas, etc.

Probiotics.

My children get full-fat yogurt at least 3 times a week in their lunch. I add some raw honey, a tad bit of grade B maple syrup and chia seeds. Not only is this filling, but gives their immune system a good boost and will give them satiety and lasting energy.

Outside the box.

Have you tried cheese quesadillas? These take about 5 minutes to make in a skillet with tortillas, cheese and coconut oil. Fold in half, slice and put in a thermos so they stay warm. Pasta with meat sauce is always a winner. Noodles and butter with parmesan cheese. Sliced hard boiled eggs, raw cheese and crispy sourdough bites. Burritos and enchiladas are quick and easy and filling! We also do French toast, pancakes and waffles quite often. If we make any on the weekend, we make a bunch extra and freeze them, pop them in the oven while the kids are getting ready, prepare with grass-fed butter, grade B maple syrup, cut up in pieces and put into a thermos. It’s always a hit. You can also try homemade crispy chicken nuggets (grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free is an option) with a side of ranch dip made with yogurt and seasoning.

The possibilities are endless, especially if you do leftovers a lot. Just make sure you have some extra when you prepare meals and you’ll have a variety of lunch options for your child. Figure out what your child will and will not eat. How much time do they have for lunch?

If you put too much food in, it will most likely all come back home. If you find certain items they just won’t touch – exchange it for something else. I realized over four years that school lunches are a battle I choose not to fight. I can concentrate on certain items at home for breakfast and dinner or snacks rather than fighting everyday when they’re not getting consumed at lunchtime.

Try to stay away from controversial foods. By this I mean if your child drinks Kombucha – have them drink it at home instead of at lunch. Yes it’s healthy. No it’s not harmful. But we shouldn’t be those parents trying to ‘make a statement’ with items that may be controversial in the sight of the school leaders. Kombucha does contain small traces of alcohol – so leave it at home and pack water, milk (or dairy alternative) or spa water for a flavored water alternative. My daughter thoroughly enjoys her Black Cherry Chia Raw Kombucha – but she never takes it to school. Most of those above lunch ideas can be found in my cookbook, Real Food. Real Kitchen. So Good!

If you find your child feels left out when her classmates are eating pizza and cheeseburgers – then maybe you can plan a couple meals during the month where the leftovers she takes will be what her classmates will have for hot lunch, like pizza, just healthier versions. I’ve done this for my daughter and she was really appreciative that I did that for her.

Packing your child’s lunch doesn’t have to be a burden for you, nor does eating it have to be boring for them! My daughter gets more comments on her lunches and all the kids wish their mommy and daddy would make their lunch like hers! That’s a sign that kids are open for something new and creative when it comes time for lunch at school.

How do you make your child’s cold lunch fun and healthy?

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