Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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College Credit Plus in Ohio

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I started college early and took several courses before I graduated high school. It wasn’t easy to navigate in the mid-90s and it was a new concept. I am glad I did that and would do it again. It was good for me to ease in to college. I attended a local college – now called Clayton State University, then Georgia State University to complete my bachelor’s in English and master’s in education.

Every state and school district and college have different requirements for early college. For homeschoolers, sometimes it’s easier and sometimes it seems more difficult.

I have homeschooled my four children for over sixteen years.

One graduated our homeschool and started early college classes. I did pressure her a little, but she wasn’t as motivated as I would have liked. I wish I could go back and be more gentle.

Two are starting early college classes this upcoming fall semester. This is their choice and I’m excited to help them.

One kid left to go! He’s only twelve and has so many options and interests and we aren’t pressuring him at all.

Information about College Credit Plus for Homeschoolers

Students must be Ohio residents to participate in College Credit Plus. As a military family, this was tricky for us the first year we PCS’ed here from Germany.

View all CCP FAQ’s here.

Students in grades 7 through 12 can qualify for dual enrollment or early college courses.

Earning college credits while still in high school can reduce the time and cost of attending college after high school. It’s great to ease in and get a taste of college courses before committing to enrollment.

The College Credit Plus Program includes courses taken during the summer term also.

Be aware: classes failed or withdrawn with an “F” (or equivalent failing grade) will receive an “F” on the high school and/or college transcripts and will be computed into the high school and college GPA.

Many entry-level courses earned at an Ohio public college are guaranteed to transfer to any other Ohio public college.

In Ohio, there are lots of higher education options:

  • 14 universities with 24 regional branch campuses
  • 23 community colleges
  • More than 70 adult workforce education and training centers statewide

Check with the institution of your choice if they offer College Credit Plus and what their special requirements might be. This interactive map shows you which option might be near you.

Homeschoolers are responsible for purchasing or renting textbooks and supplies. It’s been noted by many that homeschooled students don’t seem to receive as many credit hours as they request or not as many as public and private schooled students.

Note that colleges are not required to modify course content based on the ages of the students. Some content may be for mature audiences.

Students will be expected to follow the rules and regulations set by the college/university. 

Transportation is the responsibility of the student. This can be sometimes difficult since we homeschool parents always chauffeuring our kids around to activities. I try to plan their courses only two days a week to limit travel.

The state education website breaks down the CCP process into four steps.

College Credit Plus applications open in February 1 and close April 1.

How to Navigate College Credit Plus

Step one: Set up a parent OH|ID account as soon as possible and save that login information.

Step two: After February 1, start state application for tuition funding for each child.

We usually request only 10-15 credit hours for the first semester or two so they’re not too stressed.

You have to upload your homeschool intent letter received from your school district.

Step three: Apply to college(s). The applications should be free for high school/CCP students. Pay attention to details like sending transcripts or test scores and if permission slips or extra forms are required. We had to sign maturity forms and permission slips.

Some common college choices:

Step four: College admissions office should contact you and/or the student with a tentative admission letter to send to the state to process tuition funding so there’s no holdup on that end. Upload these letters to state CCP files and submit before April 1!

Sometimes, there are additional requirements and instructions from the colleges depending on several factors such as age of child, test scores, transcripts.

My first child took the SAT, but the math score wasn’t high enough for her to take the college math class without a remedial course or placement exam. This also affected her ability to take some science courses.

My middle child hasn’t take any standardized tests in her life, and the placement exams were waived based on her age and transcripts. But she took the college placement tests to streamline her ability to take college writing and math without remediation.

My third child is deemed too young and is required to take college placement exams for admission into CCP, even though their transcript is almost the same as my middle child’s.

Step five: Funding letters from state should be received about the first week of May, before 5/6. Make sure you send that letter ASAP to the bursar at the college or you’ll be responsible to pay tuition!

Step six: Receive admission letters from colleges and instructions how to register for classes and student IDs. Usually, a physical appointment is required with a registrar to ensure all is understand and done correctly. Only certain core classes are available to CCP students.

It’s an exciting time for our homeschooled teens to enter into adulthood and attend college. We can learn to let go and let them navigate their education and future.

I feel CCP allows homeschooled students to make decisions for themselves and preview college which could help them determine their direction for the future. It might make it easier to enroll in the college of their choice later, after high school. It’s a great opportunity!

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Let me know if your homeschooled child has done CCP!

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Homeschooling in Ohio

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In Ohio, there are a couple different options for filing as a homeschooling family.

One way to homeschool is the traditional option, filing a letter of intent to the school district superintendent and providing a standardized test or portfolio assessment at the end of each year to show progress. Any parent with a high school diploma or equivalent can homeschool their children.

Every year, I read stories from parents who had their intents rejected or paid exorbitant fees for local certified teachers to assess their children. I have always tried to avoid standardized tests. Only my eldest ever had to do any – once in Hawaii and once in Utah. I have lots of thoughts about the required assessments from a certified teacher. I see ads all over social media and I get that this is a viable side hustle for teachers and homeschool moms. I just don’t want to be evaluated by a stranger who doesn’t know me or my kids or understand our goals and values. I have a master’s degree in education. I was certified to teach English 7-12, long ago in Georgia. I know what I am doing, probably more than most. It seems there can be a lot of hoops to jump through and I would rather avoid them all.

The other homeschooling option is to register as a Non-Chartered, Non-Tax Supported Schools, or 08 School, as it is called in the Ohio Administrative Code. A parent must have earned a bachelor’s degree in any subject to file as an 08 school. This option is for schools not seeking a charter from the state because of “sincerely held religious beliefs.” They don’t specify anything else, so this is open to interpretation.

There is a list of basic curricula to follow (which is pretty common for most homeschools) and local fire, health, and safety regulations to comply (which we should all do anyway). I like the primary benefit of this option: NO assessment requirement to report.

Each year, I mail in treasury letters, attendance forms, and cover letters to the state and a copy to our local school district. The language in the letters is a little disconcerting, since there are no other pupils or parents other than our immediate family.

I receive a letter from the state each year that I can show to prove we homeschool legally and to get teacher discounts.

I am listed in the state NCNT school listings online. Some people do not like this and feel it is an invasion of their privacy, perhaps opening their home up to local health inspections to ensure compliance. We have never been contacted or inspected.

I like how easy it is to register as an 08 school. I have always homeschooled our four kids and graduated one so far. Our two middle kids are completing high school and opting for CCP next year. My youngest is well into middle school and doing great.

08 School Templates:

We have homeschooled in Texas, Hawaii, Utah, Germany under SOFA, and now Ohio.

Each state has different regulations to follow and paperwork to complete and records to keep.

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Winter Hiking

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As my kids get older, it seems harder to get them outside.

It’s even more difficult in winter, or in inclement weather.

I’m not into cold weather. I don’t like winter. I don’t like being cold. I am a terrible role model. I am trying.

It doesn’t help that most of their peers seem stuck indoors all the time or involved in organized sports and parent-led activities.

My kids like exploring our backyard and woods and the ponds near our house. But sometimes, they want something a little more, and they long to be with other kids.

I see some kids outside in the warmer months, but mostly young kids who attend school together. There aren’t many tweens or teens outside playing like when I was young. When winter rolls around, kids snug up indoors and only seem to venture out at the first snow for a bit of playing.

We have a pretty nice sledding hill in our town that we love to visit when school is in so we have it to ourselves.

When I find any outdoor camps or field trips for older kids and teens, I jump on it to give them the opportunity. No matter the driving time or cost (almost).

When playing or hiking outdoors in winter, it’s important to be prepared for cold temperatures, rain, or snow.

It’s important to wear layers to trap in heat and insulate against wind and cold temperatures.

There’s (almost) no bad weather, only bad clothing.

Base Layer

Thermals are great as a base layer.

We want a lightweight base layer that isn’t too bulky. Natural fibers are best, like cotton, wool, bamboo, or silk.

A long sleeve tee shirt or turtleneck and leggings are often fine under snow suits.

I really like turtlenecks, mock necks, or cowls to keep the neck warm without adding another layer.

I found these absolutely amazing fleece leggings at Walmart.

These Fruit of the Loom sets are fun and affordable.

Cuddl Duds are a good option and readily available online and in stores.

Waterproof Pants

I ordered my son some Columbia snow pants to match his coat.

Snow overalls are a wonderful item for all ages. No worries about anything coming untucked.

I bought these Arctix Fleece Lined Cargo Snow Pants for my kids and they’re perfect.

Their old snow pants became too tight. Is it weird that I’m getting handmedowns from my kids?

Coats

We love Columbia coats for outdoors. They have layers and options and grow with my kids. My middle kids and I also got London Fog coats that are working really well.

Socks

Good warm socks are a must-have to keep feet warm and dry. We like thermal socks or wool boot socks.

Boots

Waterproof and insulated snow boots or hiking boots can get expensive, but it’s necessary to protect feet against the elements.

I bought myself and my middle kids Columbia waterproof hiking boots and good insulated snow boots for my growing son.

Accessories

Waterproof gloves are great, but bulky. My kids prefer texting gloves even if they’re not waterproof. They like to take pictures or look up items on nature apps.

Even with hooded coats, we need hats to keep our heads and ears warm.

Winter Hiking Gear

Snowshoes or grips

Walking sticks

It’s fun to come back inside where it’s warm for tea or hot cocoa!

Winter weather here in Ohio seems to change rather suddenly lately. It was really warm until January, then we got blasted with snow and it’s been very cold. I do look forward to spring.

What’s your favorite outdoor winter activity?

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Relaxed Homeschool Schedule

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When I began homeschooling my eldest back in 2005, I thought we needed lots of structure, routine, and a strict schedule. We were coming out of a school mindset and it took a while to learn how to relax and plan and live the homeschool life.

We’ve shifted our schedule so many ways over the years with babies, toddlers, moving across the country and world. There were years when I tutored to make some extra money. I’ve provided my kids with reading lists, daily and weekly checklists, worksheets. We have homeschooled year round most years and other years, taken a long summer break. Some years, we only have a few weeks of a summer break or just a very short, vague transition into a new history cycle.

We have probably done everything in the name of productivity.

I’m more about prioritizing rest and being stress-free these days. I don’t want my kids to be anxious over school work, tests, jobs, or anything else that society claims is more important than rest, physical and mental health.

Now that we’ve been educating at home for over sixteen years, it’s pretty streamlined and more comfortable. I do love having big kids and teens who are more independent. My children have a voice in their schedule and education and life and we want to help them budget their time wisely.

Alas, the days when our academics were done before lunch are long gone. Nowadays, we do blocks of academic work with several breaks – in the mornings, before and after lunch, before and after dinner. I’m more interested in flow and the kids having free time to relax and create.

We don’t limit screens. We offer a huge variety of activities and options in our home for creativity, hobbies, and more.

Relaxed Homeschool Schedule

This year, we are focusing on Year 2 in our history cycle.

Morning

I don’t set alarms unless we have appointments. I try not to make appointments in the mornings.

The kids and I wake up whenever we do so naturally.

I provide a hot breakfast every weekday morning. Dad does weekend duty. I have a pot of Yorkshire Gold tea.

I give the cats their little snack inside little mouse toys. I refill the bird feeders. I check the garden. I unload the dishwasher and start laundry.

After everyone is awake and fed, I do read alouds. I usually have a stack of history, literature, living books that I read for each unit of our curriculum.

Depending on how late it is, I have instituted “science time before lunch” to ensure it gets done. They’re each doing a different science, so they have to work more independently and ask for help as needed. If they need to eat first, they know they need to do their science right after lunch. Sometimes, they have questions for Dad later.

We’re flexible.

Afternoon

The kids usually have leftovers or organic semi-homemade ramen for lunch. I usually have a protein smoothie. The kids watch a show or play video games during lunchtime.

I encourage the kids to rest during and after lunch, but not for too long.

Language time is early afternoon. Latin, Greek, Russian, whatever is interesting.

I do have individual reading and writing assignments that the kids are responsible for in history and literature and they have to fit those in how and when they can. I help them budget their time and some weeks, we work through weekends or finish up later or take two weeks if we need it.

The kids have lately asked to do chores for pay and even created little charts for themselves. My son just wants his pay direct to the Pokemon app. The middle kids want theirs direct deposited monthly into their accounts. I love that they’re helping more and learning about money.

The kids have some extracurriculars in late afternoons/early evenings: art class, aerial arts, baseball practice. Saturdays, one takes ice skating lessons. I usually drop the kids off and use that hour to run errands or even get in a quick workout at a nearby park outside. Sometimes, I just sit in the minivan and read.

Evening

Dad usually works on math and some science with the kids when he gets home from work.

I try to have a nice homecooked dinner for the family every night. Some nights are getting difficult with baseball and extracurricular classes. I still make something in the slow cooker or a casserole so everyone can eat when they can.

Friday nights are for homemade pizza and movies.

I like to walk around our neighborhood pond in the evenings. It’s a great way to unwind and I love seeing the birds and bunnies, and sometimes deer.

Bedtime is around ten and all devices are plugged in away from bedrooms and WiFi is turned off by midnight so we sleep better.

I still read to my son a story each night.

Our Schedule Through the Years

What’s your schedule look like?

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Our Curriculum for 2021-2022

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Whew, it has been a year, y’all.

We spent most of last year isolated and anxious. While our actual lifestyle didn’t much change, just the knowledge that we couldn’t and shouldn’t go out was hard at times.

We’re looking forward to a better year now that we’re vaccinated.

I’ve been homeschooling my four kids for about seventeen years now. My younger three have never attended school.

My eldest attended day care, preschool, and one month of third grade at a DoD school. She’s on her own now, working full-time and living in her own apartment.

We learn year-round and love having freedom to learn when and how and what we want. We love being able to take breaks for field trips, extended travel just for fun or educational purposes, sun days, snow days, movie days, game days, park days.

Most of the anxiety I had in the beginning years has faded away and I am mostly in awe of my kids’ abilities and interests. I learn so much from watching and learning with them.

I highly recommend the books by Louise Bates Ames. A good guide to follow are the What Your ?-Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. His books have some problems, but it’s a great jumping off point.

We had somewhat of a break this summer, just continuing with math and science since we take those slower than other works. The middle kids each did a week of art camp – film photography and ceramics – and my third child did another two weeks of an art workshop they won on scholarship! My son did a week of baseball camp at a local university.

We often celebrate the end of summer and beginning autumn and a new school year with not back to school activities.

7th Grade

My youngest is working on 7th grade material this school year.

10th Grade

This was my favorite grade and age to teach when I taught public school.

My two middle kids are well into high school now. I’m keeping track of their credits in a transcript for their future needs. Our high school goals are four full year credits of English, math, science, social studies, with two full year credits of foreign language, and multiple electives for creative arts and physical activity.

Some electives the middle kids are pursuing in addition to sports are cooking/baking, creative writing, drawing/animation, arts and crafts, jewelry making.

Ohio doesn’t allow students to work until age 15, and my middle kids are already looking forward to their first part time job later this year – maybe at our Dairy Queen around the corner or a locally owned shop or volunteering with the Red Cross. My second child already volunteered over the summer with an invention camp and works once a week as a coach assistant with aerial gymnastics. She should start getting paid for coaching soon!

It’s exciting thinking about the kids learning to drive. My eldest waiting until she was eighteen and we didn’t push her. We signed Tori up for the required Ohio classroom drivers’ education. She will then take the state test for a learners permit and take the road driving classes before getting her full license next spring!

Together

We still do lots of morning read alouds together for Bible, church history, natural history, world and American history, and lots of multicultural literature.

We are working on Year 2 in our history cycle. I love, love, love year 2 and I cannot wait to dive deep into the literature this year.

Our main text this year is The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade  by Susan Wise Bauer. I just purchased the Study and Teaching Guide: The History of the Medieval World: A curriculum guide to accompany The History of the Medieval World by Julia Kaziewicz. My middle kids are completing the critical thinking questions for each chapter.

See how we do history. Our main curriculum Tapestry of Grace (and the way I supplement it each year) covers all the humanities – history, literature, art, music, philosophy, government.

My kids are very active with skating/roller blading, cycling, hiking, walking, playing the Wii and Switch, in addition to their classes and sports.

This last school year looked very different for some kids and families with online school, hybrid, or new homeschoolers. We have an opportunity to examine what worked and what needs improvement in our education systems.

You might also like to see our other homeschool years:

Recommendations:

How is this school year looking for your family?

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What if kids ask to go to school?

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We have four children and my younger three have been completely homeschooled. My eldest attended day care as a baby and toddler and private Christian 4K before we began homeschooling, then one month of DOD 3rd grade.

We have adapted and evolved as homeschoolers over the years, meeting the needs and desires of our kids with their changing interests as we moved every two to four years with the military. It’s been a lot.

As proactive as I try to be, anticipating issues that may arise, it didn’t really occur to me to have a plan or speech prepared if or when my kids asked to go to school. I mean, don’t lots of kids who attend public or private school ask to stay home all the time for various reasons? And those parents probably just laugh and tell their kids to hurry up or they’ll miss their bus. There isn’t even a discussion because school is mainstream and expected. Most families send their kids to school.

We try to have discussions rather than shut down questions, but sometimes it’s very hard to articulate if I don’t have preparation. I’ve said many things I regret and made egregious mistakes while parenting. I’m so glad we homeschooled and I would do it all again, with more confidence.

What if kids ask to go to school?

Here’s how we responded to our kids when they asked to attend public school.

Our eldest wanted to attend the DOD high school in Germany when she was about fifteen. We had a hard time during those teen years. Everything was a battle. I tried to reason with her. We had different educational values than other families. We had so much freedom and traveled and learned what and how we wanted. The school schedule wouldn’t allow any freedom or absences or tardiness. I reminded her how miserable she was in that month of third grade, how bored she was in preK. She just dug in her heels and did everything to thwart our final homeschooling years.

We were a bit isolated in our small German village, but used our free schedule to travel regularly around Europe and took plenty of day trips. She participated with a small drama theater on base and we did activities with the homeschool group. Her good friend attended the school; they would most likely have been a year apart and rarely seen each other during the school day, but that didn’t matter to my daughter. We had almost completed my homeschool agenda of academics at the time she wanted to attend school. She would have been repeating courses or wasting time. We discussed unfair dress codes and how she would have to remove her piercings and keep her hair natural colored, but she said she was actually ok with that, but she won’t do it at a job now. I also worried she wouldn’t take it seriously and drop back out at the first struggle or get into trouble at the school. We had a horrible experience during a middle school math week in Utah and I really didn’t want to give a public school any power over my child.

To me, it felt like she just needed to fit in and be mainstream. She felt she was missing out. She thought she would get to socialize and make more friends. She wanted to experience the milestones and social aspects of school – dances, clubs, graduation, prom. She did attend some dances in Germany and in Ohio when we moved back to the States. She even flew to Canada to attend prom with friends.

When we moved to Ohio, she started college early and worked part time and complained how ignorant her classmates were. She felt left out and overeducated and more grown up and independent than her peers.

My eldest is now twenty, almost 21, and still regrets she didn’t go to school. She feels like an outcast when her friends reminisce about school and she doesn’t know what their words and phrases mean so she can’t join in their conversations. She doesn’t feel special, but overeducated. She quit college and is working full time and moved out last November. She has said that homeschooling ruined her life. I feel awful. And there’s no way I can make amends or fix this.

While there are many, many things I wish I had done differently as a parent and teacher, homeschooling is still our choice as a family.

It’s hard when school is the expectation of society. People ask my kids, “What grade are you in? Where do you go to school?” and it becomes embarrassing sometimes. It seems more acceptable to homeschool after this last year, but it’s still odd and different. I realize we are in a unique circumstance in our ability for me to stay home to teach our kids. The pandemic certainly highlighted many issues with our society, education being an important one.

Our third child asked to attend school after we had lived in Ohio a few years. It felt like the same issues all over again. I was a little more prepared this time around to field the questions and manage the discussion. We affirmed them about their feelings. We expressed our family and educational values. We explained why we homeschool and why we don’t choose school. I further reiterated our freedoms with our schedule and curriculum. We discussed bullying, teacher control, discriminatory curriculum, gun violence, 20 minute lunch periods, public school timeline, overcrowdedness, lack of funding, unfair dress codes. We expressed concerns about how schools don’t protect or respect LGBTQ+ kids. They would probably have to keep their hair natural colored. I am very concerned about school violence and we really focused on those issues that have increased the last few years. They are more social than my other two kids at home, but school isn’t really conducive to socializing. School looks glamorous and fun on TV and in movies, but that’s certainly not reality.

Then the pandemic hit and I felt like I could breathe a sigh of relief because no one attended school for months. Our lifestyle didn’t change that much. While we couldn’t go out and that felt suffocating at times, we didn’t have to vastly adapt like school families did.

We have a hard time finding like-minded friends for myself and the kids. I refuse to compromise my values or put myself and my kids in a potentially dangerous social situation with families who express gun rights, white supremacy, capitalism, and homophobia.

It’s frustrating that many parents don’t allow their children to be active online. During the pandemic, my kids would have and could have developed some online friendships but many parents refuse their kids access to social media like Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, TikTok, Discord. I understand their hesitancy, but it makes it harder on teens who want friends.

We are now (possibly) over that hump. I think my kids are more on board now about homeschooling. We are striving to give our kids opportunities and experiences that wouldn’t be possible if they attended school. We’ve gotten back into our extra-curricular classes like art, aerial gymnastics, and baseball. Their neighborhood friend is coming back around and they just picked up where they left off. We aren’t so depressed and isolated like we were all last year.

As more people get vaccinated, there will be safer field trips, outings, get-togethers, park days.

My middle two kids attended an art camp for a week this month and were so exhausted getting up early and being out all day every day. I can’t imagine what it would be like if my kids were gone all day every day.

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Time Travel Unit Study

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I’ve always had a fascination with the possibility of time travel.

I read a lot about black holes and strange phenomena. Maybe it was a safety net to attempt to learn about the unknown and unexplainable when I felt my life was falling apart. I found refuge in books. I escaped into worlds that seemed safer than my own.

As a kid, I really thought I’d have more Bermuda Triangle issues than I’ve had in my lifetime. I even panicked a bit as I flew along the edge when I was 14 on a trip to Puerto Rico.

As an adult and parent to four children, I am coming to terms with my fascination with myth, legend, unexplained phenomena, and even new and experimental science. I am remembering my hobbies and loves of my childhood and youth and I feel safe to impart the appropriate parts on to my kids.

We watch a lot of movies and shows. I love having film night with pizza each week. We read lots of books in our homeschool. There is no such thing as twaddle. Everything has its place. I often include fun books in our morning read alouds to break up the seriousness and often tragedy of history.

I refuse to just leave it alone. We discuss and analyze and compare and contrast what we read and watch. I love cinema history.

Many of these shows and books flashback to 1989 or thereabouts – and I remember suddenly how I felt, what I experienced, how I lost so many parts of myself in the rush to grow up, trying desperately to live up to expectations and make money, to become successful and stifle who I am.

I often fantasize to the point of anxiety what I could say to myself if I could travel back to make corrections.

We laugh at the potential paradox in shows and books. We wonder how things would be different if history were changed.

Time Travel Unit Study

My kids haven’t seen or read all these in the list. Use discretion and preview for content.

Resources

Do you think time travel is possible?

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Mice Unit Study

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My son loves books about mice.

I think I understand the attraction of anthropomorphic mice in adventure stories. I enjoy reading them aloud at bedtime.

When we feel small, powerless, invisible, and lonely, escaping into a magical world of talking mice with happy endings is a great way to cheer up as we experience their fun adventures.

There is catharsis and safety in lovely fairy tales. I’m so glad my children love to hear and read stories.

My son and I look forward to bedtime and another chapter about mice escaping and outwitting enemies, cats, and people, philosophizing about power and control and whether they even matter in the grand scheme of life.

He’s almost 11 this year and I cherish these moments together, reading and snuggling, and giggling over animal antics.

Mice Books We Love

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck

Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers by Gigi Priebe

Poppy series by Avi, illustrated by Brian Floca NEW: Ragweed and Poppy!

Ralph Mouse (3 book series) by Beverly Cleary 

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo

Stuart Little by E. B White

Mouse and Mole by Joyce Dunbar

The Mouse Mansion series by Karina Schaapman

Chester Cricket and His Friends (7 book series) by George Selden

Rats of Nimh Trilogy by Robert C. O’Brien 

Redwall by Brian Jacques

Library Mouse (5 book series) by Daniel Kirk 

The School Mouse, A Mouse Called Wolf, and Martin’s Mice by Dick King-Smith

Geraldine Woolkins (3 book series) by Karin Kaufman

Mac and Cheese by Sarah Weeks

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood

Geronimo Stilton series

Word of Mouse by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem

Frederick, Geraldine, Alexander, Matthew, Tillie, Nicolas, The Greentail Mouse, and MORE by Leo Lionni

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie books by Laura Numeroff

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson

Mousetronaut by Mark Kelly

Chrysanthemum books by Kevin Henkes

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Maisy books by Lucy Cousins

Norman the Doorman by Don Freeman

Town Mouse, Country Mouse by Jan Brett

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Mouse Tales and Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel

Angelina Ballerina books by Katharine Holabird

By Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes:

Of course we love the animal tales from Beatrix Potter too!

Want to extend the lesson?

What is your favorite story book for this season?

Linking up: Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Create with Joy, LouLou Girls, Our Three Peas, Suburbia, Grandma’s Ideas, Grammy’s Grid, OMHG, Anchored Abode, Soaring with Him, InstaEncouragements, Ridge Haven, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, Ducks in a Row, Penny’s Passion, Crystal Storms, Debbie Kitterman, Slices of Life, Mommynificent, Chic Shoestring, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Katherine’s Corner, Simply Sweet Home, Lyli Dunbar, CWJ, Imparting Grace, Being a Wordsmith, Try it Like it, Everyday Farmhouse, Mostly Blogging,

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Ancient Times Book List

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As my kids get older and are growing out of picture books and sometimes get bored with assigned readings, I look for more appropriate books for the entire family to enjoy.

We still gather in the mornings and most evenings for story time. I still read aloud and show any pictures like the library story lady.

We use Tapestry of Grace for our main curriculum and book lists, and I also peruse Ambleside Online and other lists for a well-rounded history curriculum. I want all sides and perspectives. See How We Do History.

We use this text as a guide, especially for younger kids: The Story of the World: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

For older kids: The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome and The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations and Warfare in the Classical World.

I go to the library about every week and get what I can. Sometimes, I even rent or buy eBooks to save money.

We expand our home library every year and extensively update every new history cycle.

For ancient history this year, my kids are 14, 13, and 10.

My girls are doing the rhetoric level and we still read aloud together many of their selections because I love to learn too. This is their last cycle with ancient history.

My son is in dialectic level and the girls even though they’re working the rhetoric level often love to hear those readings again.

And we still pull out of some of our well-loved picture books with gorgeous images and lovely stories.

I love, love, love historical fiction or living books. I love how it uses an author’s imagination to bring real life to historical events that are often boring in textbooks.

I often read adult historical fiction alongside my kids’ reading and our read alouds. The Red Tent is still a favorite. Some biblical fiction is hard for me to swallow and others are delightful or informative.

I still love T.L. Higley books. I enjoyed The Restoration Chronicles by Lynn Austin.

The book Pontius Pilate: A Novel by Paul L. Maier was recommended to me by a pastor and I might read it aloud to my family this Easter. Flames of Rome and his Skeleton Series look good too.

It’s often difficult to find engaging historical fiction for ancient times since we only have fragments of history and many ancient peoples had no written records or were wiped out by war or natural disaster. I don’t want to rely solely on religious texts as our reading material.

We’re learning more about parallel histories to the people of the Bible, different voices to fill in the real story. We’re learning about ancient Americas and Asia and Africa. I love seeing the full tapestry.

Favorite Ancient Times Historical Fiction

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

A Cry From Egypt and A Stand at Sinai by Hope Auer

Tirzah by Travis Lucille

Adara by Beatrice Gormley

Twice Freed by Patricia St. John

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

God King by Joanne Williamson

Hittite Warrior by Joanne Williamson

Victory on the Walls by Frieda Clark Hyman

Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray

Within the Palace Gates by Anna P. Siviter

The Pearl-Maiden by Henry Rider Haggard

Pharaoh’s Daughter by Julius Lester

The Eyes of Pharaoh by Chris Eboch

Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Journey for Tobiyah by Barbara E. Morgan

Vinegar Boy by Alberta Hawse

The Corn Grows Ripe by Dorothy Rhoads

Run With Me, Nike! by Cassandra Case

The Ides of April by Mary Ray

Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray

The Roman Britain Trilogy by Rosemary Sutcliff

I’m sure I will add to this list over the next few months as we finish our ancient times history cycle year.

What’s your favorite ancient studies book?

See my Pinterest board for Year 1 History:

Linking up: Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Mostly Blogging, InstaEncouragements, LouLou Girls, Suburbia, Our Three Peas, Grandma’s Ideas, Anchored Abode, Soaring with Him, Ducks in aRow, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, Eclectic Red Barn, Penny’s Passion, Mommynificent, Debbie Kitterman, Ridge Haven, Slices of Life, Simply Sweet Home, Try it Like it, Answer is Choco, Wordsmith, Momfessionals, Embracing Unexpected, Lyli Dunbar, CWJ, Everyday Farmhouse, OMHG, Create with Joy,

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Best Books of 2020

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I love to read and I love passing on this hobby to my children.

We read aloud various books for our homeschool every morning and most evenings.

While libraries were closed most of this year, I utilized online eBook library services, added to my Kindle reading with Kindle Unlimited and even purchased some eBooks and physical books I couldn’t find anywhere that had great reviews and I really wanted.

I didn’t read very much fiction this year! I read a few eBooks when I needed a break from all the seriousness, but they were nothing special.

It certainly has not been an ordinary year. I watched shows a lot more, played more games, wasted more time than in previous years.

I tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy with our homeschool and household, but some days and weeks were really hard.

My Favorite Books We Read in 2020

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas–and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.

I read this book aloud in our homeschool and it was very enlightening. I highly recommend it. I love the writing style of Jason Reynolds!

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

This book is imperative for anyone who has experienced trauma or to help us understand loved ones.

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you’ll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research on the world’s top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule.    
David Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable—generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see.
Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.

I enjoyed this book – part parenting, part coaching. I see parents pushing their kids too early and I want to make sure my kids are balanced.

The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

The Color of Compromise is not a call to shame or a platform to blame white evangelical Christians. It is a call from a place of love and desire to fight for a more racially unified church that no longer compromises what the Bible teaches about human dignity and equality. A call that challenges black and white Christians alike to standup now and begin implementing the concrete ways Tisby outlines, all for a more equitable and inclusive environment among God’s people. Starting today.

I read this book almost exactly a year ago. It was fascinating and I learned lots and confirmed things I thought I knew. Really helped my deconstruction.

Jemar Tisby just released another book too: How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice

Motherwhelmed: Challenging Norms, Untangling Truths, and Restoring Our Worth to the World by Beth Berry

Today’s mothers are struggling; though, it’s not for the reasons most moms tend to think. We’ve been conditioned to believe our inadequacy is the reason we can’t seem to “keep up” or enjoy mothering more, but nothing could be further from the truth.

We aren’t failing as mothers. We’re mothering within a culture that is misleading and inadequately supporting us.

Motherwhelmed is a deep, yet lighthearted exploration of the messy frontier of modern-day motherhood we’re all struggling to navigate. With compassion, realness, and rich storytelling, Beth Berry:

  • Illuminates the mindsets and narratives keeping us feeling overwhelmed, disempowered, anxious, isolated, and riddled with self-doubt
  • Provides the perspectives and tools needed for mothers to rewrite their stories and reclaim a sense of wholeness
  • Shares from her 25 years as an idealistic, passionate, all-in mother of four daughters
  • Reminds us of our worthiness and reframes our importance

This is not a book about parenting. It’s a book about mothers, our greatness, and how important it is that we thrive. It’s about untangling ourselves from the stories keeping us trapped and deconstructing those we’ve outgrown. It’s about daring the lives we’re here to live and, thereby, giving our children permission to do the same.

Until we begin to organize our lives around not only our children’s worthiness but also our own, mothers everywhere will continue to bear the brunt of cultural pain and dysfunction. This matters because we cannot be the changemakers we’re meant to be while so heavily burdened.

I’m actually still reading and rereading this. It’s so, so good and I have to step away every chapter or so to process it all.

In Pursuit of Flavor: The Beloved Classic Cookbook from the Acclaimed Author of The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis

Decades before cornbread, shrimp and grits, and peach cobbler were mainstays on menus everywhere, Edna Lewis was pioneering the celebration of seasonal food as a distinctly American cuisine.
 
In this James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame-inducted cookbook, Miss Lewis (as she was almost universally known) shares the recipes of her childhood, spent in a Virginia farming community founded by her grandfather and his friends after emancipation, as well as those that made her one of the most revered American chefs of all time. Interspersed throughout are personal anecdotes, cooking insights, notes on important Southern ingredients, and personally developed techniques for maximizing flavor.
 
Across six charmingly illustrated chapters—From the Gardens and Orchards; From the Farmyard; From the Lakes, Steams, and Oceans; For the Cupboard; From the Bread Oven and Griddle; and The Taste of Old-fashioned Desserts—encompassing almost 200 recipes, Miss Lewis captures the spirit of the South. From Whipped Cornmeal with Okra; Pan-Braised Spareribs; and Benne Seed Biscuits to Thirteen-Bean Soup; Pumpkin with Sautéed Onions and Herbs; a Salad of Whole Tomatoes Garnished with Green Beans and Scallions; and Raspberry Pie Garnished with Whipped Cream, In Pursuit of Flavor is a modern classic and a timeless compendium of Southern cooking at its very best.

I loved reading Ms. Lewis’ stories and trying out her recipes, some of which are very similar to what I remember my grandma, aunt, and cousins making.

The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma’s Table by Rick Bragg

Margaret Bragg does not own a single cookbook. She measures in “dabs” and “smidgens” and “tads” and “you know, hon, just some.” She cannot be pinned down on how long to bake corn bread (“about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the mysteries of your oven”). Her notion of farm-to-table is a flatbed truck. But she can tell you the secrets to perfect mashed potatoes, corn pudding, redeye gravy, pinto beans and hambone, stewed cabbage, short ribs, chicken and dressing, biscuits and butter rolls. Many of her recipes, recorded here for the first time, pre-date the Civil War, handed down skillet by skillet, from one generation of Braggs to the next. In The Best Cook in the World, Rick Bragg finally preserves his heritage by telling the stories that framed his mother’s cooking and education, from childhood into old age. Because good food always has a good story, and a recipe, writes Bragg, is a story like anything else.

This book felt like home to me. I remember hearing similar stories about my matriarchal ancestors. I am seeking my lost heritage.

See my favorite books of 2019 and my favorite books of 2018. See my favorite life-changing books.

What was your favorite read of 2020?

I have a big stack of books and more eBooks waiting for me this year!

Linking up: Random Musings, Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Create with Joy, LouLou Girls, InstaEncouragements, Our Three Peas, Anchored Abode, Grandma’s Ideas, Soaring with Him, Ridge Haven, Ducks in a Row, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, OMHG, Try it Like it, Katherine’s Corner, Penny’s Passion, Crystal Storms, Slices of Life, Mommynificent, CKK, Imparting Grace, Wordsmith, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Simply Sweet Home, Grammy’s Grid, Embracing Unexpected, Lyli Dunbar, Create with Joy, Everyday Farmhouse, Mostly Blogging,

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