A Mother’s Résumé

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October 28, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 16 Comments

I haven’t worked at a “real job” for at least a dozen years.

It’s frustrating that introductory small talk still focuses on “What do you do?” and is disdainful or even scornful of motherhood as a vocation. People even dare ask or mention that my education was a waste. It’s like my only worth is in a salary or job for pay outside my home.

These microaggressions don’t endear me to people whom I’ve just met. They dismiss me as unimportant because I don’t have a salary and it’s so frustrating.

Motherhood isn’t valued in American culture. Homeschooling is still considered weird.

There’s little purpose to keeping up my LinkedIn profile.

I can’t imagine going back to teach at any school, at any level. I sometimes miss the classroom, but the hassles and negatives don’t outweigh the few positives. I don’t have current state certification and I don’t have any desire to jump through hoops to recertify.

If you hired someone to do the work of maintaining a household, especially if you have children, the cost would be approximately $ 90,000 a year. This is what a “traditional” at-home spouse would get paid today to clean the house, be a personal shopper and personal assistant, run errands, and take care of the children.
Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John Gottman, Ph.D., Julie Schwartz Gottman Ph.D., Doug Abrams, Rachel Carlton Abrams M.D.,

Things You Didn’t Put on Your Résumé

How often you got up in the middle of the night
when one of your children had a bad dream,

and sometimes you woke because you thought
you heard a cry but they were all sleeping,

so you stood in the moonlight just listening
to their breathing, and you didn’t mention

that you were an expert at putting toothpaste
on tiny toothbrushes and bending down to wiggle

the toothbrush ten times on each tooth while
you sang the words to songs from Annie, and

who would suspect that you know the fingerings
to the songs in the first four books of the Suzuki

Violin Method and that you can do the voices
of Pooh and Piglet especially well, though

your absolute favorite thing to read out loud is
Bedtime for Frances and that you picked

up your way of reading it from Glynis Johns,
and it is, now that you think of it, rather impressive

that you read all of Narnia and all of the Ring Trilogy
(and others too many to mention here) to them

before they went to bed and on the way out to
Yellowstone, which is another thing you don’t put

on the résumé: how you took them to the ocean
and the mountains and brought them safely home.

~Joyce Sutphen

As a mother for the past 19 years, I can attest to having quite an impressive work history and specific skill set.

The mental workload of being a mother far outweighs any “job” I’ve ever had.

As a teacher in various school and classroom environments, then as a homeschool educator for the last 15 years, I honed my expertise by focusing on my students’ unique needs.

As a military spouse, I retained my skills and honed a lot of new ones over the last decade and a half.

There are no gaps in my work history. I worked constantly, year-round, daily, overnights, with no vacation days, through sickness and injury, and during two deployments with no assistance or support.

Experience

Director of Child Development

$39,744 average annual salary

Oversee social, academic, and emotional development of students from birth until adulthood
Develop educational programs and standards
Design program plans, oversee daily activities, and prepare budget for activities and curriculum
Support gross and fine motor skills
Maintain instructional excellence

Educational Leadership

$88,390 average annual salary

Knowledge of pedagogy and methodology
Relationship building
Continuing education in field regarding trends, concerns, issues
Global mindset
Plan cross-curricular lessons for various ages, abilities, interests
Conflict resolution
Extensive library
Use of technology
Personalize feedback on student assignments
Advise students regarding academic courses and career opportunities
Encourage students to present their views and participate in discussion
Share personal experiences and values
Record keeping

Project Management

$134,182 average annual salary

Initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time.
Establish expectations
Be proactive
Organization
Risk management
Delegation
Teamwork
Growth Mindset

Life Coach

$46,678 average annual salary

Discuss needs and goals
Develop strategies and plans
Keep records of progress
Evaluation
Adjust goal strategies as needed
Assist manage stress and increase productivity
Excellent listening and questioning skills
Confidence to challenge in a caring way
Support goal-setting, personal growth, and behavior modification

Domestic Engineer

$59,496 average annual salary

Oversee operations of all systems and procedures
Budget for and allocated appropriate expenditures
Delegate operational tasks to promote equal labor division
Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of all work, play, and living areas
Food purchasing, preparation, and storage
Multi-tasking
Home economics
Laundry expertise
Basic mending ability by hand and sewing machine
Organization and efficiency

Religious Advisor

$58,130 average annual salary

Education about religion and faith through various books, activities, social justice, music, tradition, travel
Evolve faith through experience and learning
Help understand spirituality to promote peace, healing, and union with God and others
sensitivity, empathy, and understanding
Ensure proper growth and relational development
Spiritual counsel and advice
Meet their spiritual, emotional, and relational goals
Meditation and contemplation

Protocol Officer

$71,135 average annual salary

Research traditions and customs
Distinguish between time-honored tradition and mindless repetition
Knowledge of preferences and customs of each person
Prioritize welcome and respect
Educate daily on etiquette and customs for various situations
Minimize or eliminate any opportunity for embarrassment or offense
Establish and enforce consistency using logic
Develop itineraries and agendas
Identify security risks and create safety plans

Travel and Event Planner

$41,873 average annual salary

Research, suggest, and decide where to go, methods of transportation, car rentals, hotel accommodations, tours, and attractions
Advise about weather conditions, local customs, attractions, necessary documents, and currency exchange rates
Visualization
Organization and planning
Plan and execute ceremonies and special events

Budget Analyst

$71,590 average annual salary

Manage family finances, analyze and prepare monthly expenditures
Estimate future financial needs
Research of domestic economic and spending trends
Develop projections based on past economic and spending trends
Technical analysis, monitoring spending for deviations, and preparing monthly and annual reports
Analyze investments and their market performance
Education about financial terms, issues, trends, economic history

Historian

$55,800 average annual salary

Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance
Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as collect data sources such as books, pamphlets, and periodicals
Thorough investigative and research skills
Analyze and interpret information
Interest in human behaviour, culture and society
Enquiring mind

Personal Stylist

$50,346 average annual salary

Attention to detail
Analytical mind
Problem-solving ability
Knowledge of fabrics, colors, seasonal items, accessories, etiquette
Knowledge brands, designs, trends

Personal Chef

$62,282 average annual salary

Customize unique meal and snack plans
Skilled at recognizing flavors and judging the balance of seasonings
Knowledge of kitchen tools and appliances and their uses
Procure and organize various recipes
Shop for all groceries within budget
Prepare the meal in a timely manner
Clean up the kitchen to excellent standards
Store leftovers promptly

Chauffeur

$22,440 average annual salary

Transport people to various activities in a safe and timely manner
Stock vehicles with amenities
Keep vehicles shiny and clean
Vehicle maintenance and repair

Waste Management

$64,000 average annual salary

Plan, implement, and coordinate comprehensive waste systems designed to maximize waste prevention, reuse, and recycling opportunities.
Evaluate the success of plans and make changes as necessary.
Minimize the impact of waste to protect the environment.

Plumber

$50,620 average annual salary

Unclog sink drains and pipes as needed
Replace salt in home water softener
Humidify and/or dehumidify the air in home
Repair water supply lines, waste disposal systems, and related appliances and fixtures

Special Skills

Good at untying knots
Feeding picky children and spouse
Finder of lost things
Making shoddy rental houses comfy and homey
Empath
Introvert
Comforter
Creativity
Innovation
Initiative
Time management
Stress management
Interpersonal relationships
Excellent verbal and written communication

Research

I can research anything. I enjoy researching. I loved researching literary, psychological, and educational analyses in university – and all the details of citing the sources properly. I can find anything on Google. Over time, I just have learned the best keywords for a search. I can find the best whatever we’re looking for in minutes, before we move to a new base or city. I research what we’re learning about in our homeschool and design my own curriculum.

Frugal

We have learned to thrive with one income. We’ve learned to survive with one vehicle. I’ve worked with very tight budgets as we’ve raised and homeschooled four kids all over. We focus on eating well and traveling and living life to the fullest. We’re investing for the future with 529s, IRAs, mutual funds, life insurance, and retirement plans. We’re paying down debt.

Multitasking

I can do it all and do it well. When life gets hectic, I’m in charge to streamline everything. I have a great memory and seldom get sidetracked for long.

Adaptable

Things change. We’ve received written orders that have changed last minute. We had to cancel plans to travel on vacation in order to PCS. We’ve had extensions fall through. We’ve experienced deployments. I have to stay flexible. I have to be strong for my kids.

Critical Thinking

I don’t want my kids just to regurgitate information and blindly obey. I want them to know right from wrong and question everything – me, tradition, reality, authority – why? why? WHY?

Observation, analysis, interpretation, reflection, evaluation, inference, explanation, problem solving, and decision making

Understand the logical connections between ideas.
Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas.
Recognise, build, and appraise arguments.
Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning.
Approach problems in a consistent and systematic way.
Reflect on the justification of their own assumptions, beliefs, and values.

Education

M.Ed. secondary English education, gifted endorsement

B.A. English literature with minor in psychology, cum laude

Summary

As a military spouse, I have some unique skills.

I may have developed these abilities anyway.

But my life is very different than it could have been because I married an Air Force officer, my dad retired from the Army Reserves, and both my parents worked as GS employees since forever.

Being a military spouse can be like having a full-time job. Much of the expertise I’ve developed over the years are highly transferable and marketable in the workforce.

All in different seasons and different bases, I have worked outside the house, stayed at home, worked from home, and considered going back to school. I have a master’s degree in education, so that’s essentially an expensive piece of paper at this point since I don’t want to go back to teach in a school.

Every day, I develop and further solidify impressive marketable life experience just by supporting my active duty husband, being a stay-at-home mom, and homeschooling my kids.

I may not have an impressive résumé or curriculum vitae, but I know what my abilities are.

My worth is not only in what I do. My value is not in the income I bring or don’t bring into our household. As a wife, mother, and homeschooler, I have intrinsic value in the efficiency of my household management.

The TRUTH about the military spouse job search.

There’s little to no personal fulfillment.

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Schedule with Teens

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July 23, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 10 Comments

It’s slowed down lots now that my kids are older.

When they were little, it seemed like I constantly ran, was perpetually exhausted.

It’s so much easier now.

We protect our time and space for peace.

Each child has only one or two activities so we’re not overscheduled.

My eldest daughter is starting college and does private art lessons.

My middle daughter practices aerial gymnastics and makes jewelry.

My youngest daughter does fall soccer and art lessons.

My son does fall and spring baseball and weekly ninja classes.

They’re all so independent now. Time slips through my fingers.

I try to wake up early to make breakfast, clean the kitchen, start laundry, get my writing completed for the day.

Bedtime is often haphazard. There is seldom snuggling, stories, and prayers anymore. Often, we do reading and devotions after dinner on the sofas after evenings walks and before wind down down, so something definitely is lost and I miss it.

I try really hard to do tuck-ins but it’s often spurned these days. I’m often ready for bedtime and sleeptime before they are.

The best times are when we gather to listen to tree frogs, watch for backyard bats, notice the moon and stars and clouds, have a heron sighting, taste a tomato and herbs that we grew, giddy over first snowflakes, rolling thunder, the smell of rain on a hot summer day, the intricacies of a perfectly formed veiny golden leaf.

I refuse to curate perfection for social media or have a showroom house.

I refuse to give up ties to Nature.

We cycle with the seasons.

We seldom set alarm clocks. We’re not rushed. We flow.

There are some things we do year-round for continuity.

It’s just good to be flexible.

Our Schedule with Teens:

In summer, we’re at play.

We sleep late, stay up late with the sunshine.

We eat breakfast or brunch whenever we get up, usually between 8 and 9. The kids pack themselves picnic lunches and hike into the woods. We have family dinners outside on the deck if it’s cool enough.

We catch up on Netflix shows.

We enjoy observing the hummingbirds and woodpeckers and other critters that come to our backyard feeders.

The kids often swim down the street with their friend at his pool. We play with water balloons and water guns.

They go on bike rides or rollerblading.

Boredom is a good thing and sparks imagination and creativity.

We look at the night sky. We watch thunderstorms.

I want to teach them a lifetime of wonder.

In fall, we begin a new school cycle.

We read together every morning after breakfast.

They complete their lessons and have the afternoons mostly to themselves to do what they want.

We cook more with cooler weather. It’s fun trying new recipes.

We go on nature hikes to look at leaves.

Learning is a lifestyle for us, but we are more focused and scheduled in fall and winter.

Family dinners are often rushed, later, or on the go with soccer and baseball season.

We enjoy celebrating the harvest festivals. Fall is a magical time.

In winter, we’re at rest.

While the world seems to go to sleep and become dormant, we snuggle up indoors with candles and blankets.

We read more and watch educational shows.

We practice Hygge.

We still go outside on walks to look at nature changes.

We make soups and stews and bake a lot.

Family dinners are more of an event. We have the time to be more elaborate.

We celebrate feasts and festivals.

In spring, we awaken.

We stretch towards the warm sun like flowers blooming after the winter.

We’re finishing up our school lessons for the year.

We look forward to summer while we watch the world wake up and be reborn.

We greet each new bud and shade of green with awe and joy.

We’re ready for playtime again.

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Teaching Kids About Money

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July 1, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 9 Comments

I’ve always talked openly to my children about money.

It never occurred to me to be any other way. My parents were open with me and I learned so much as a teenager, sitting in on their meetings with financial advisors, housing brokers, and bankers.

My husband’s family did not discuss finances and it shows.

It’s important that I actively teach my kids about finances.

State and federal salaries are public knowledge, so I’ve always been open with my kids about what we have, how we save, investing, and spending.

While I don’t necessarily expect them to maintain all my values explicitly, I want them to have the knowledge to make wise money decisions.

How I Teach My Kids About Money

Value

From as early as they express interest or show readiness, I teach about value.

Value isn’t just monetary worth. It’s the regard it is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.

I hold certain things with very high value that others do not. It’s about priorities.

When my kids accompany me while shopping, I constantly point out value to them, why we buy this item instead of that item. I’m not brand loyal, except for a very few items that have proven quality.

It’s important the kids assist me while shopping and conversations often come up about our purchases and shopping trends.

When our toaster went belly-up, I researched a good replacement instead of just ordering one or rushing out to the store to purchase what was in stock.

We also discuss waste and limits. We eat leftovers. We prefer sustainability practices.

As my kids grow, they will develop their own priorities and set their own value to goods and services.

Quality is better than quantity.

Saving

My parents opened savings accounts for each of our children when they were born.

We encourage our children to contribute to their savings when they’re older and start working part-time jobs.

We explain the importance of having some liquid emergency savings for contingency.

We teach about investments. We teach about insurance.

We have 529s for our children for higher education. We have IRAs and mutual funds for retirement.

Pay yourself first.

Giving

Philanthropy is important.

I believe being generous should be a life goal.

While we are not wealthy by any standard, we donate often to charities with our funds and handmedowns.

We look for needs to fulfill. We don’t expect recognition or thanks.

Giving is more than just offering money. It’s a way of life, an attitude. Generosity of spirit.

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” ― John Bunyan

Spending

Many think spending is the easy part of money management.

After monthly bills are paid, investments funded, savings bumped, what is left over?

Sometimes, it’s not much.

I have a spending plan instead of a strict budget. We shop for groceries every week and clothing and miscellaneous as needed.

As my children get older and acquire their own money from gifts or small jobs, they learn how to spend it on items they want. They also learn about sales tax.

When teens get their first part time job, they learn first-hand about taxes and other deductions.

I recently had to have a conversation with my eldest about what she termed “our money troubles.” When I was confused, she explained she didn’t want to burden us financially. I was still confused. She asked why I always said we didn’t have any money.

When I say I don’t have the money, I mean that we have prioritized saving and investing over instant gratification.

I can afford almost anything.

I have the ability to accept risk of credit and debt, but I choose not to, so to me, that means I don’t have the cash money to buy something I consider frivolous or valueless.

I choose to make different financial decisions based on what I value. And I choose not to incur further debt.

Instead of buying another car, we are choosing to share vehicles right now.

Instead of choosing to travel or vacation, we are staying close to home and occasionally go on day trips nearby.

Opportunity Cost

It’s important to learn and teach the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen.

For instance, if my son wants to buy YuGioh cards with his birthday money, he can’t buy the BeyBlades. He has to make a choice.

I make harder choices all the time.

We batten down the hatches and get very frugal if an emergency comes up, like a car repair or pet surgery. We like to pay cash and not use credit cards whenever possible.

If I choose to get takeout for dinner one busy night, we have to eat home-cooked meals and clean out the freezer and pantry the rest of the pay period. It sometimes requires creativity.

We often wait for the hit movie to go to online streaming (even if we pay $5 to rent it) instead of paying so much for 6 of us to see it in the theater.

If my daughter needs new shoes, I wait to buy myself something, even if I “need” it.

It’s really important to learn the difference between needs and wants in our consumer post-capitalism society.

We discuss propaganda, marketing, and advertising. We discuss ads on social media and games.

I’m always last. I go without so they can have abundance.

Allowance or Commission

I don’t give my kids an allowance.

No one gives me an allowance.

We all complete chores that makes our household run smoothly.

Allowances aren’t natural. Commissions for small jobs work better and teach financial lessons.

My kids often ask if there’s some special task they can complete for some spending money and I almost always oblige.

Many banks offer teen debit cards that help them to learn how banking works. My kids all had savings accounts from birth and they added checking accounts when they began working part-time.

Often, I create little jobs they can do for a few dollars so they learn the value of working for pay. If they don’t do a good job, they don’t get paid. Sometimes, they have to go back over their work to do it well.

Debt

Living as a middle class American, we grew up thinking and believing that debt is just a part of life.

We live in an instant gratification disposable society. Advertisements are everywhere, affecting our emotions by telling us we aren’t good if we don’t have the newest smartphone, car, clothes, or toys.

Debt is a risk many accept as being a normal and expected part of our society.

Debt can also be slavery and devastating during financial downturns.

I actively teach my children that debt is typically bad in most, if not all, circumstances.

I know few people who are able to pay cash for cars or houses.

But we know many people who would be bankrupt or even homeless within a month if all their debt was called in or they lost their jobs.

I don’t believe in using credit cards except in emergencies.

Credit cards are ways to help teens and young adults gain credit, but they must be monitored well and paid off each month.

I don’t believe in student loans for college.

We have one car loan and one credit card. We are paying off a consolidation loan.

I teach my kids that by using loans and credit cards, you are paying twice.

You can’t pray debt away. I don’t buy into the prosperity gospel at all.

Personal Financial Goals

Everyone develops his or her own financial goals based on priorities, past history, income, and interests.

We choose to invest for our future.

We limit our instant gratification. It’s easier sometimes since we move around so frequently and can’t justify buying things just to sell them if we can’t take them with us.

We choose to travel rather than buy frivolous gifts, usually.

I choose to buy cut flowers every week to brighten my dining room. It’s something that makes me happy and I value that.

My kids seldom ask for things when we go shopping. When they do, it’s something super practical or for all of us. They understand the difference between needs and wants. They seldom ask to eat out.

I choose to buy the best quality food and cook most things from scratch because I enjoy it and it’s healthier for us. Yes, it costs more than beans, rice, ground meat. But we seldom eat out – which does cost a whole lot for a family of 6.

An acquaintance lives in a house valued at a $half million. Then I learned they haven’t invested anything for their kids’ college or for retirement. They just spend everything.

How do you teach your kids about value?

What are your financial goals?

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Year 2 History Resources

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June 17, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

Year 2 History: Middle Ages and Renaissance Times

It becomes really fascinating when you study world history chronologically and see how interconnected everything is, all the causes and effects.

We use Tapestry of Grace for book lists, but I also peruse Ambleside Online and other lists for a well-rounded history curriculum. I want all sides and perspectives.

We use this spine history text as a guide, especially for my younger three kids: The Story of the World: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance.

I go to the library about every week and get what I can.

I shop thrift stores, yard sales, half-price and used bookstores to get books we love to read again and again.

Other books we use throughout our history studies – over several years, when it applies to our time period:

This Country of Ours by HE Marshall
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
The Struggle for Sea Power by MB Synge
Magic Treehouse
If You Grew Up…
American Girl Collection and Real Stories From My Time
The Royal Diaries
Dear America

We love Netflix and Amazon Prime for streaming. We sometimes view YouTube.

Famous Men of the Middle Ages is a good read this year.

Monks and Mystics is good church history.

See how we do history.

Year 1

Year 3

Year 4

I am trying to teach real history, from every perspective. I want my children to understand that the winners wrote most of the history I learned. I love learning along with my kids and opening my mind to new ideas.

I want to learn and teach my kids about accurate events and stories involving colonization, racism, religion, and war.

I’ve read these books to help me educate myself:

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

It’s my job to teach my kids Truth and sometimes it’s really hard to face it and learn alongside my kids the issues my parents, public school teachers, and curriculum conveniently left out.

The Middle Ages and Renaissance time periods are fascinating and so many ideas during this time set the stage for our modern governments, literature, arts, and way of life.

We focus on exploration, colonizing, slavery, church missions and how European white supremacy created the world we are trying to salvage.

Unit 1: The Fall of Rome and Medieval Asia

History

Topics:

The Fall of Rome

Celts

St. Augustine

Byzantine Empire

Medieval Indian Empire

Hindu

Buddhism

Islam

Medieval China

Genghis Khan

Medieval Japan

Samurai

Medieval Oceania

Books:

Across a Dark and Wild Sea

Augustine, the Farmer’s Boy of Tagaste

Calligraphy by Fiona Campbell

The Story of Writing and Printing by Anna Baneri

I am Eastern Orthodox

Let’s Take a Walk through the Orthodox Church

Piece by Piece: Mosaics of the Ancient World

Step-by-Step Mosaics

The World My Church

Places of Worship in the Middle Ages

In the Heart of the Village: The World of the Indian Banyan Tree

Snake Charmer

The Usborne Book of World Religions

Muslim Mosque: Places of Worship

Mosque by David Macaulay (like City and Cathedral)

Empress of China

The Grand Canal of China

Heroes: Great Men Through the Ages

Heroines: Great Women Through the Ages

A Samurai Castle

The Great Wall of China by Leonard Everett Fischer

Literature

Beowulf (I love Seamus Heaney’s translation)

Augustine Came to Kent

The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica

The Man Who Loved Books

Marguerite Makes a Book

Moonlight Kite

Otto of the Silver Hand

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The Last Snake in Ireland

The Abbot and I: As Told By Josie the Cat

How the Monastery Came to Be on the Top of the Mountain

The King’s Chessboard

Once a Mouse…

The Prince who Became a Beggar

The River Goddess: A Hindu Tale

Ali, Child of the Desert

Hosni the Dreamer

The Tale of Aladdin

Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac

The Legend of the Kite

The Lord of the Cranes

Maples in the Mist

The Warlord’s Puzzle (There’s a whole series!)

Cool Melons-Turn to Frogs!

A Carp for Kimiko

The Bee and the Dream

The Boy who Drew Cats

The Crane Wife

In the Moonlight Mist

Kongi and Potgi

Little Oh

Mr. Pak Buys a Story

The Rabbit’s Judgement

The Seven Gods of Luck

Sir Whong and the Golden Pig

The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy

Yoshi’s Feast

Animal Dreaming

Dingoes at Dinnertime

The Drums of Noto Hanto

The Inch-High Samurai

The Samurai’s Daughter

Sword of the Samurai

Three Samurai Cats

Fa Mulan by San Souci

The Hunter by Mary Casanova

The Legend of Mulan by Wei Jiang

Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

The Master Swordsman and the Magic Doorway

The Paper Dragon

Beautiful Warrior

Bitter Dumplings

The Donkey and the Rock

The Dragon Prince

The Emperor and the Kite

Kat and the Emperor’s’ Gift

The Weaving of a Dream

Activities

Music from this period

Art from this period

Visit museums

Make your own book

Calligraphy

Quill and ink

Illumination – see our project

See our St. Patrick Unit and Ireland Unit Study

See My St. Nicholas unit

Sand art – see our project

Weave cloth

Eat with chopsticks

Make or go out for Indian, Chinese, Japanese food

String block printing

Origami

Make a kite

Compose haiku

Make poppycock or Bombay mix as a snack

Learn to use a boomerang

Make a paper lantern

Church History

The Church: Life in the Middle Ages

How the Bible Came to Us

Movies

Unit 2: Middle Ages in Europe

History

Topics:

Clovis

Charles the Hammer

Charlemagne

Merovingian Dynasty

Franks

Moors

Vikings

Alfred the Great

Battle of Hastings

Bayeux Tapestry

Crusades

King Arthur

Saladin

Magna Carta

King Richard

Diaspora

Marco Polo

Ivan

Sulieman

The Plague

Joan of Arc

War of the Roses

Books:

Medieval Paris by Anna Cazzini Tartaglino

Paris by Renzo Rossi

Ten Kings and the Worlds They Ruled

The World in the Time of Charlemagne

Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky

Leif the Lucky

The Grandchildren of the Vikings

Cathedral by David McCauley

Great Building

The Tower of London

William the Conqueror by Robert Green

A Farm Through Time

A Street Through Time

A City Through Time

A Child Through Time

A Three-Dimensional Medieval Castle

Castles by Gillian Osband

Castle at War

Clothes and Crafts in the Middle Ages

The Medieval World

Knights by Philip Steele

Knights by Catherine Daly-Weir

The Middle Ages by Jane Shuter

Till Year’s Good End

Harold the Herald

Knights Treasure Chest

El Cid

Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam

The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green

The Adventures of Robin Hood by Marcia Williams

Magna Carta by C. Walter Hodges

Ten Queens by Milton Meltzer

The Golden City: Jerusalem

The Silk Road by John Major

Suleyman the Magnificent and the Ottoman Empire

The Black Death by Tracee de Hahn

Life During the Black Death by John M. Dunn

Medieval Times by Giovanni di Pasquale

Plague by Katie Roden

Women in Medieval Times

Joan of Arc – my unit study

The Little Princes in the Tower

Literature

The Duke and the Peasant

Favorite Medieval Tales

The Beautiful Butterfly

Celeste Sails to Spain

The Three Golden Oranges

The Marvelous Blue Mouse

East o the Sun and West o the Moon

Hiccup: The Seasick Viking

Odin’s Family

The Mystery History of a Viking Longboat

Sword Song

Norman and Saxon poem by Rudyard Kipling

A Medieval Feast by Aliki

Castle Diary

Knight’s Castle

The Reluctant Dragon

Saint George and the Dragon

Knights of the Round Table

The Making of a Knight

Sir Cumference (There’s a whole series!)

Canterbury Tales

Chanticleer and the Fox

Bestiary

Saint Francis (see my unit study)

The Saracen Maid

Queen Esther (see my Purim unit)

The Rabbi Who Flew

Raisel’s Riddle

Snow in Jerusalem

The Tale of Meshka the Kvetch

A Perfect Pork Stew

Baboushka the Three Kings

Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave

Clay Boy

The Littlest Matryoshka

The Old Man and his Birds

The Girl Who Lost Her Smile

The King the Prince and the Naughty Sheep

The Legend of the Persian Carpet

The Seven Wise Princesses

Adventures of Tom Thumb by David Cutts

Three Sacks of Truth

Up the Chimney

Richard III

Activities

Music from this period

Art from this period

Visit museums

Fleur-de-Lis art

We visited Paris and saw Saint Denis

We saw the Tapestry of Bayeux

Thor’s Hammer clay pendant

See or make a tapestry

Make or go out for Spanish food

Make oat cakes

Play chess or checkers

Design a coat of arms

We visited London

Learn archery

Celebrate Passover

Jewish responsa

Make Charoset

Tzedakah

Make a Mezuzah

Make borscht

Make Faberge eggs

Make Gingerbread

We went to Cologne

We visited Prague

Church History

Early Saints of God by Bob Hartman

Movies

Arn: The Knight Templar

Kingdom of Heaven

Henry V

Richard III

Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse

The Crusaders

Unit 3: Renaissance and Reformation

History

Topics:

Mansa Musa

see my Shakespeare unit study

The Tudors

The Borgias

The Medicis

Martin Luther

The Reformation

Books:

Lives of Extraordinary Women

Outrageous Women of the Renaissance

Famous Men of the Renaissance and Reformation

Kings and Queens of West Africa

Sundiata

Anni’s India Diary

The Taj Mahal by Christina Moorcroft

A Medieval Cathedral by Fiona MacDonald

King Henry VIII by Robert Green

Reeking Royals

Tudor Odours

Copernicus by Catherine Andronik

Galileo by Leonard Everett Fisher

Galileo for Kids

Galileo’s Leaning Tower Experiment

Galileo by Jacqueline Mitton

The Planets by Gail Gibbons

Science in the Renaissance

Elizabeth I by Greenblatt, Carrie Hollihan, Carol Greene, Diane Stanley, Kate Havelin,

To Be a Princess by Hugh Brewster

Art History

See how We Do Art

Art and Civilization: The Renaissance

The Art of the Renaissance

Breaking into Print

Fine Print: about Gutenberg

The Printing Press by Richard Tames

How a Book is Made by Aliki

In the Time of Michelangelo

see my Michelangelo unit study

see my Bernini unit study

Italian Portraits: Images across the Ages

Lives of the Artists

Leonardo da Vinci: authors – Mike Venezia, John Malam, Sean Connolly, Norman Marshall, Diane Stanley

Leonardo da Vinci for Kids

Leonardo and the Flying Boy

Leonardo’s Horse

What? series Richard Muhlberger

The Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel

Katie books by James Mayhew

Pish Posh Said Hieronymus Bosch

Literature

Bernal and Florinda

Three Swords for Granada

Africa Calling, Nighttime Falling

Ashley Bryan’s African Tales

Mansa Musa by Khephra Burns

Nanta’s Lion

Traveling Man: The Journey of Ibn Battuta

The Foolish Men of Agra

Premlata and the Festival of Lights

The Rumor: Jataka Tale

Sacred River by Ted Lewin

Savitri by Aaron Shepard

Stories from India by Vayu Naidu

So Say the Little Monkeys

The First Story Ever Told

Jackal’s Flying Lesson

Koi and the Kola Nuts

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters

The Spirit of the Maasai Man

This for That

A Medieval Monk

The Inquisitor’s Tale

The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane

Brother William’s Year

Cathedral Mouse

Children of the Sun

Galileo’s Treasure Box

The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci

Starry Messenger by Peter Sis

Uh Oh Leonardo by Robert Sabuda

I, Juan de Pareja

She Was Nice to Mice by A E Sheedy

The Queen’s Progress

The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser

Shakespeare

Activities

Music from this period

Art from this period

Visit museums

Learn Latin

Learn Greek alphabet

Scientific Method

Potato Painting

Stained glass with tissue paper or craft kit

Solar system model

Pisa drop experiment

Look at constellations

We like castles

We went to Versailles

We went to Porto, Portugal

We went to Bruges, Belgium

We visited Amsterdam

We went to Venice, Rome, Florence

Church History

Saint Francis (see my unit study)

Book of Common Prayer

Manuscript Illumination

Places of Worship: Christian Church

Child’s Guide to the Mass

The Reformation by Fiona MacDonald

Reformation Sketches

see my Reformation unit study

Movies

Pillars of the Earth

World Without End

A Man for All Seasons

10 Things I Hate About You

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Unit 4: The New World

History

Topics:

Counter Reformation

Age of Exploration

Magellan

Vasco da Gama

Aztecs

Mayans

Incas

The Middle Passage

Walter Raleigh

Books:

A Long and Uncertain Journey

Henry the Navigator

Pathfinders

Around the World in 100 Years

The World of Columbus and Sons

Magellan’s World

The Discovery of the Americas

Forgotten Voyager: Vespucci

Maps and Mapping by Barbara Taylor

Roanoke: The Lost Colony by Bob Italia

Sir Walter Raleigh by Susan Korman

Sir Walter Raleigh and the Search for El Dorado by Neil Chippendale

Sir Walter Raleigh by Tanya Larkin

The Whole World in your Hands

Westward Ho!

Jacques Cartier by Donaldson-Forbes, Blashfield, Humble

John Cabot by Larkin, Shields

Newfoundland by Jackson, Beckett

A 16th Century Galleon

Defeat of the Spanish Armada

Pirates by Gail Gibbons

Ship by David Macaulay

See Inside a Galleon

Sir Francis Drake by Larkin, Champion, Duncan, Gerrard, Rice

Literature

The Boy Who Held Back the Sea

Huguenot Garden

Katje the Windmill Cat

Things Fall Apart

Barracoon

From Slave Ship to Freedom Road

Brendan the Navigator

Follow the Dream by Peter Sis

Encounter by Jane Yolen

Morning Girl

Pedro’s Journal

Secrets in the House of Delgado

To the Edge of the World

Cuckoo by Lois Ehlert

Fiesta Feminina

Mario’s Mayan Journey

Moon Rope by Lois Ehlert

Musicians of the Sun

Arrow to the Sun

My Song is a Piece of Jade

Rain Player

The Lion’s Roar by Stainer

Duncan’s Way

How Snowshoe Hare Rescued the Sun

The Huron Carol

Kayktuk

Rough-Face Girl

The Princess and the Painter

Shipwreck by Claire Aston

Activities

Music from this period

Art from this period

Visit museums

Make a compass

Make a boat

Eat sweet potatoes and cassava

Mayan math

Aztec hot chocolate

Church History

Mr. Pipes and the Hymns of the Reformation

Church History in Plain Language

The Age of Religious Wars

Movies

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Journey of August King

Sankofa

Lions Among Men

Tula, The Revolt

I’m still adding to my list. I love researching and learning with my kids.

See my Pinterest board for Year 2 History:

Linking up: Anita Ojeda, Welcome Heart, Kingdom Bloggers, Let it Shine, Purposeful Faith, Mary Geisen, Abounding Grace, Home Stories, April Harris, Mostly Blogging, Worth Beyond Rubies, Soaring with Him, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Life Abundant, Sarah Frazer, Gingersnap Crafts, Our Three Peas, Apron Strings, Debbie Kitterman, Creative K Kids, Mommynificent, Marilyn’s Treats, Rachel Lee, Try it Like it, Quiet Homemaker, Chic on Shoestring, Anna Nuttall, Answer is Choco, Della Devoted, Momfessionals, Fireman’s Wife, CWJ, TFT, Susan Mead, Lyli Dunbar, Counting My Blessings, Life with Lorelai, Uncommon Suburbia, LouLou Girls, Create with Joy,

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Stop Making Everything So Educational

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May 20, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 12 Comments

I remember when I was a new homeschooler, another homeschool mom was at a field trip with her three kids and their notebooks.

My daughter didn’t have a notebook.

I kinda panicked. Should my daughter have a notebook? Was I a bad homeschool teacher?

We just came to enjoy the outing.

I’m over those thoughts now. I have developed confidence in my parenting and homeschooling over the years.

Why does everything have to be so educational?

Many of us are still so indoctrinated by the idea of school that we recreate it at home.

Everyone is so enraptured by STEAM activities, but it’s a st-r-e-t-ch to have a toddler or preschool STEAM unit study for kids who just want to play with blocks and magnets.

Trust me, they’re learning.

Psychologists and others have raised alarms about children’s high levels of stress and dependence on their parents, and the need to develop independence, self-reliance and grit…Children with hyper-involved parents have more anxiety and less satisfaction with life, and that when children play unsupervised, they build social skills, emotional maturity and executive function. ~Claire Cain Miller

Why must we have scripts and plans and printables for everything?

We speak of dreams as boundless, limitless realms. But in reality often we create parameters, conditions, and limits within which our kids are permitted to dream—with a checklisted childhood as the path to achievement.
Julie Lythcott-Haims in How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success

Stop Making Everything So Educational

Earlier Academics?

I’m concerned about the push for younger and younger kids to begin learning academics.

When I was in Kindergarten, I mostly played and had storytime. There wasn’t a chalkboard in the room. It was only a half-day program and we left before lunch.

My least favorite part was table time with teacher-led crafts and instructions on coloring within the lines and cutting out flower patterns cleanly.

I excelled with rule-following. I learned to be obedient and invisible.

I remember winning a coloring contest, which was just a printed page that I very lightly and neatly shaded inside the lines with colored pencils.

Free playtime was monitored and timed. It was very gender norm, with girls playing house and dolls and boys playing with building materials like blocks and Legos.

I’m not concerned about my toddler reading or doing math.

I want my kids to play and learn about themselves and the world.

Make Learning Fun?

Learning is fun!

Only unnatural learning has to be made fun.

Learning should take place naturally rather than with constant printables, YouTube videos, teacher-made crafts, box curriculum, scripts for teachers, tests.

I’m not interested in lessons on standing in line or raising hands. I’m not going to take my kids on a library field trip to learn how to use the library. My kids don’t want an etiquette course unless it involves dining with someone famous and somewhere in the UK.

Learning is fun when we’re interested in the subject.

It’s amazing to me how my children find subjects to learn about all the time – whether it’s an extension of our history and science reading, a video or song, exploring the creek and woods behind our house, or looking up trivia.

Coercive Learning?

Our school system is based on shame-based learning.

Children learn quickly to avoid punishment or humiliation. Then they learn how to take standardized tests, like little lab rats in a maze.

This is not real learning.

This isn’t passion for an interest to explore.

Teacher intimidation is encouraged in teacher education programs, coined “classroom management” and principals will mark a teacher down during evaluation for a student throwing away paper or sharpening a pencil since it cuts down “time-on-task.”

Coercion is the practice of compelling a person to behave in an involuntary way (whether through action or inaction) by use of threats, intimidation, or some other form of pressure or force.

Arguments are that society is coercive for success.

But we choose to follow speed limits, go to appointments on time, submit to work deadlines, eat healthier, exercise, etc.

By choosing not to do good things, there are typically natural consequences.

By speeding while driving, I could endanger myself or others. I am discourteous to others when I am late. My body will get sick or injured if I don’t eat well or exercise.

Grades, shame, and humiliation are not natural consequences.

Many kids are encouraged to work harder at school than ever before in our history.

But for what?

Children now often spend more time at school and at homework than their parents spend at their full-time jobs, and the work of schooling is often more burdensome and stress-inducing than that of a typical adult job. ~Peter Gray

Intensive parents monitor children so closely that there is no wiggle room for unorganized play.

We live in a punitive society, still based on Puritan ideals.

Zero-tolerance policies create a school to prison pipeline. Students are taught to combat authority instead of learning. They just learn from fear. They’re conditioned in avoidance. The ones who rebel or think outside the box are punished for nonconformity.

When is Playtime?

A child’s job is to play.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. ~Mr. Rogers

Exploration boosts creativity.

Pretend play boosts social skills.

Unorganized, unsupervised, undirected play is vital to children.

Loose parts and multi-tasking simple toys are best for healthy child development. They invite creativity more than single-use electronic teaching toys.

I wonder why so many children in the last few decades are developing issues with self-regulation and are on meds to help them with executive functioning and self-control?

We’re drugging our children so they can “succeed” in failing school models.

They’re cutting recess, music, and art from schools and replacing it with more and earlier academics and testing. This isn’t right or healthy.

These are the most important aspects of being human.

When I feel out of sorts, it’s because I need more outside time in nature, more music, more art.

I see parents at the park, directing their children how to play on the playground equipment.

I hear parents warning their kids: be careful, don’t play with the rocks, don’t go near the creek, don’t get dirty.

Kids are bombarded with warnings and aren’t allowed to be children, to explore, to take any risks.

Signs are posted in public spaces to stay off the grass, away from the water. No this, No that.

We live in a fearful society and kids are suffering from Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Having taught many children of all ages for over ten years – public and private, elementary, middle school, high school, and college – I have homeschooled my four children these past fifteen years.

We need to just let children be children.

Linking up: My Pinventures, Inspo for Moms, Mostly Blogging, Welcome Heart, Create with Joy, Anita Ojeda, Mrs. AOK, Abounding Grace, April Harris, Home Stories, Jaime Wiebel, Insta Encouragements, Mary Geisen, Meghan Weyerbacher, Purposeful Faith, LouLouGirls, Welcome Heart, Our Three Peas, Jessi’s Design, My Life Abundant, Sarah Frazer, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Worth Beyond Rubies, Soaring with Him, Gingersnap Crafts, Try It Like It, Penny’s Passion, Creative K Kids, Over the Moon, TFT, Mommynificent, Apron Strings, Unshakeable Joy, Debbie Kitterman, Crystal Storms, Rachel Lee, Anna Nuttall, Answer is Choco, Quiet Homemaker, CKK, Simply Sweet Home, Della Devoted, Momfessionals, CWJ, Crystal Waddell, Susan Mead, Counting My Blessings, Life with Lorelai, Being a Wordsmith, Kingdom Bloggers,

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Year 1 History Resources

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April 8, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

Year 1 History: Ancient Times

It becomes really fascinating when you study world history chronologically and see how interconnected everything is, all the causes and effects.

We use Tapestry of Grace for book lists, but I also peruse Ambleside Online and other lists for a well-rounded history curriculum. I want all sides and perspectives.

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 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.

I shop thrift stores, yard sales, half-price and used bookstores to get books we love to read again and again.

Other books we use throughout our history studies – over several years:

This Country of Ours by HE Marshall
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
The Struggle for Sea Power by MB Synge
A Child’s History of the World by Hillyer
Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
Magic Treehouse
If You Grew Up…
American Girl Collection and Real Stories From My Time
The Royal Diaries
Dear America

We love Netflix and Amazon Prime for streaming. We sometimes view YouTube.

We love making fun maps with salt dough (also here), cookies, or play dough.

The Holman Bible Atlas comes in handy throughout this school year.

See how we do history.

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

We actually begin this school year with our family history. We make a family timeline and learn our family tree.

Ancient history consists primarily of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

We also chronologically study other early cultures like Sumeria, Phoenicia, and Assyria along with China, India, and the Americas.

Ancient Times is probably our favorite historical year.

Unit 1: Earliest Times

Earliest Peoples
Ancient Babylon
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Israel

Learn about Pyramids

Make cuneiform writing.

Make apple, chicken, or doll mummies.

Celebrate the Jewish feasts – Dance, Sing, Remember, Jewish Holidays all the Year Round, Walk with Y’shua through the Jewish Year

We celebrate Passover, Purim, and Hanukkah every year now.

Visit a museum or exhibit on Egypt or archaeology

We visited an Egyptian exhibit in Houston our first year homeschooling. We’ve been to the Egyptian exhibits at the Vatican and Louvre, also Chicago and Cincinnati. We love natural history museums!

Church History

Abraham’s Great Discovery

Books of Moses

Mythology

Creation stories and myths: In the Beginning

Miriam’s Cup

Movies

Joseph: King of Dreams

The Prince of Egypt

The Ten Commandments

Tut

Unit 2: Early Civilizations

Ancient India
Ancient China
Phoenicians
Ancient Americas
Early Greece

History

Ancient India

DK Ancient China

The Great Wall of China

Anno’s China

The Emperor’s Silent Army

Ancient Americas to see for Yourself

DK Ancient Greece

In Search of Knossos

Literature

One Grain of Rice

The Empty Pot

Hittite Warrior

The Story of Little Babaji

Keepers of the Earth We really like the books by Joseph Bruchac

See my Native American book list

Activities

See my China Unit Study

Make or go out for Greek, Indian, Chinese food

Practice calligraphy

Learn about henna

Make a mosaic tile

Play Parcheesi

Play with tangrams

Make a sand painting

Make a beaded headband

Visit a museum or exhibit on ancient China, India, Americas

We saw the Terracotta Army in Cincinnati.

We visit Native American sites when we can.

Church History

Mythology

Philosophy

1 and 2 Samuel

Movies

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Apocalypto

Unit 3: The Greek Empire

Divided Kingdoms of Israel
Assyrians
Babylonians
Persians
Persian Wars with Greece
Classical Greece: Athens & Sparta

History

These Were the Greeks

Famous Men of Greece

Horatius at the Bridge

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth

Herodotus

Archimedes

Literature

Aesop’s Fables

D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths

Hamilton Mythology

Bullfinch’s Mythology

Black Ships Before Troy and EVERYTHING Rosemary Sutcliff wrote

EVERYTHING written by Padraic Colum

Activities

Make Papier Mâché Greek vases

Visit a museum or exhibit on Greece

We visited several places in Greece

Church History

Mythology

Philosophy

Old Testament Prophets

Movies

Unit 4: The Roman Empire

Etruscans found Rome
The Roman Republic
The Roman Empire
Ancient Celts
Life of Christ
Early church history in the context of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire is split
Fall of Western Roman Empire

History

DK Ancient Rome

Augustus Caesar’s World

Famous Men of Rome

These Were the Romans

Ancient City

City: A Story of Roman Planning

Cleopatra

The Punic Wars

Caves, Graves, and Catacombs

Step into the Celtic World

Raiders of the North

Ancient Celts

Literature

The Aeneid

In Search of a Homeland

Julius Caesar

Antony and Cleopatra

Androcles and the Lion

Mary

Jesus

The Parables of Jesus

Brave Cloelia

Muhammed

One Hundred and One Celtic Myths

Celtic Fairy Tales

Fairy Folk of the Irish Peasantry

Celtic Fairy Tales

Early Irish Myths and Legends

Roman Britain Trilogy: Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch, The Lantern Bearers

Activities

Learn how to make olive oil and try different kinds

Make pasta

Have a Roman feast

Visit a museum or exhibit on Rome

We visited Rome over Christmas one year

We visited Ireland and saw Tara and Newgrange.

Church History

Mythology

Philosophy

Masada

The Gospels

Paul

Early Christians

Movies

The Passion of the Christ

I’m still adding to my list. I love researching and learning with my kids.

See my Pinterest board for Year 1 History:

Linking up: Blogghetti, Bloggers for Kingdom, Create with Joy, Pinventures, Inspo for Moms, Squishable Baby, Mostly Blogging, Our Holiday Journey, Modest Mom, April Harris, LouLou Girls, Meghan Weyerbacher, Purposeful Faith, Timeless Mama, Mary Geisen, Our THree Peas, Gingersnap Crafts, Jessi’s Design, Becoming Press, My Life Abundant, Raising Homemakers, Soaring with Him, Welcome Heart, Worth Beyond Rubies, Penny’s Passion, Creative K Kids, Over the Moon, TFT, Sarah Frazer, Wise Woman, Mommynificent, Apron Strings, Debbie Kitterman, Crystal Storms, Try it Like it, Rachel Lee, Coffee with Us3, Faithful Pursuit, Chic on a Shoestring, Anna Nuttall, Answer is Choco, CKK, Simply Sweet Home, Della Devoted, Momfessionals, Life with Lorelai, Lyli Dunbar, Susan Mead, CWJ, Fireman’s Wife, Counting My Blessings,

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Groundhog Day Unit Study

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February 1, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

February 2nd is celebrated as Imbolc, St. Brigid’s Day, Candlemas, and Groundhog Day.

We certainly want to see the end of winter!

The kids loved making crafts and playing with light and shadows.

We like to watch the groundhogs on TV, if he’ll see his shadow. We read books about groundhogs.

We have a family of groundhogs who live near a pond by our house and they really do come out of their burrows at set times every day. They are fuzzy potatoes.

Groundhog Day Activities

Groundhog Books

ProSchool Membership - Productive Homeschooling

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Year 4 History Resources

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January 14, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

Year 4 History: 1900-Present Day

It becomes really fascinating when you study world history chronologically and see how interconnected everything is, all the causes and effects.

We use Tapestry of Grace for book lists, but I also peruse Ambleside Online and other lists for a well-rounded history curriculum. I want all sides and perspectives.

We use this history text as a guide: The Story of the World: The Modern Age.

I typically look at the unit overview and make a checklist of books, topics, and movies. We don’t follow the weekly plan exactly.

I go to the library about every week and get what I can.

I shop thrift stores, yard sales, half-price and used bookstores to get books we love to read again and again.

We love poetry and literature, and I’m always adding to our collection. I want to read them all!

Other books we use throughout our history studies – over several years:

This Country of Ours by HE Marshall
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
The Struggle for Sea Power by MB Synge
Magic Treehouse
If You Grew Up…
American Girl Collection and Real Stories From My Time
The Royal Diaries
Dear America

We love Netflix and Amazon Prime for streaming. We sometimes view YouTube.

See how we do history.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

I’ve read these books to help me educate myself:

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

I wasn’t thrilled with how the units were divided in our history curriculum for year 4.

It didn’t seem to give us enough time to cover WWII. Korea and Vietnam were skimmed over. Very little discussion about South America or Africa. The last unit was scarce with literature or history selections and I’m sorry but I think lots has happened in the world during my lifetime.

Great literature has been written in the last century. So much history has happened. It’s hard to connect the dots for kids since we have to look at the origins of the conflicts that could be hundreds of years ago. For church history, we discuss harm missionaries often cause to indigenous peoples or misusing the Bible and wrong doctrine. We like to read other accounts and texts from many religions and faiths.

A wonderful thing is we can actually talk to living people about their memories of recent historical events.

I have the freedom to do my own research and take as much time as we want on different topics of interest.

Unit 1: World War I

Literature

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wind in the Willows

The Burgess Bird Book for Children

History

Topics:

Henry Ford

Teddy Roosevelt

Albert Einstein

post-colonial South America

Immigration

Titanic

Jazz music

Temperance Movement in USA

WWI

Russian Revolution

Harlem Renaissance in USA

Books:

Activities

Any museum, site, or exhibit

– See My WWI unit study. We visited Flanders.

Paper Dolls

Music from this period

Art from this period

Church History

Movies

Rough Riders

American Experience: America 1900

Unit 2: World War II

Literature

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

The Red Pony and The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Brave New World

History

Topics:

Disney

The Great Depression – see my unit study

Dust Bowl

Prohibition in USA

FDR

Eleanor Roosevelt

Photography

WWII

Stalin

Mao

Communism

Jewish History and Customs

Books:

Terezin

The Cat with the Yellow Star

Night

A Father’s Promise

We Will Not Be Silent

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

Sachiko

Activities

Any museum, site, or exhibit

– See my WWII unit study. We visited Prague, the Anne Frank House, Dachau, and Normandy.

Paper Dolls

Music from this period

Art from this period

Church History

Movies

Annie

Bright Eyes

Our Town

The Inn of Sixth Happiness

The Sound of Music

White Christmas

Life is Beautiful

Unit 3: Civil Rights and Conflicts in Asia

Literature

One Grain of Rice

The House of Sixty Fathers

Homeless Bird

The Empty Pot

My Side of the Mountain

The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure

Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock

Old Yeller

Where The Red Fern Grows

Onion John

The Cricket in Times Square

The Phantom Tollbooth

Fahrenheit 451 (see my unit study for this book!)

James and the Giant Peach

Langston Hughes poetry

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963

Lilies of the Field

The Lotus Seed

History

Topics:

Civil Rights

Communism

The Cold War

Cuba

Korea

Vietnam

Cambodia

Space Race

Books:

So Far From the Bamboo Grove

Mission Control, This is Apollo

Activities

Any museum, site, or exhibit

See my units: China, Vietnam, Korea, Diversity here and here

Paper Dolls

Music from this period

Art from this period

Church History

Movies

Ghandi

The Manchurian Candidate original and remake

MacArthur

Cry, the Beloved Country

Lilies of the Field

To Kill a Mockingbird

Unit 4: Cold War, Terrorism, 9/11, Current Events

Literature

James Herriot’s Treasury for Children

Have Space Suit – Will Travel

I, Robot

The Breadwinner

Tasting the Sky

Citizen of the Galaxy

Tunnel in the Sky

The Hobbit

Fly Away Home

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Indian in the Cupboard

History

Topics:

The Cold War

Communism

Berlin Wall

Computers and Technology

Internet

The Middle East

Arab Spring

Cambodian Killing Fields

Rwandan Genocide

Rise of Terrorism

Popular Culture

Civil Rights

The Fellowship Foundation

Enron, WorldCom, Lehman Brothers

Central Park Five

Black Lives Matter

#MeToo

Books:

Red Scarf Girl

Tales of Persia

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

Countdown

Revolution

Anthem

Activities

Any museum, site, or exhibit

Paper Dolls

Music from this period

Art from this period

Church History

#ChurchToo

#Exvangelical

Joni: An Unforgettable Story

Dorothy Day

Oscar Romero

Movies

The Neverending Story

Remember the Titans

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Indian in the Cupboard

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

When They See Us

I’m still adding to my list. There is still so much being learned about recent events and I love researching and learning with my kids.

See my Pinterest board for Year 4 History:

Follow Jennifer’s board Modern History on Pinterest.

Linking up: Try It Like It, Our Holiday Journey, Jaime Wiebel, CWJ, CKK, Jessi’s Design, Timeless Mama, Wise Woman, Quietly Reminded, Penny’s Passion, Modest Mom, Abounding Grace, April Harris, Home Stories, LouLou Girls, Mostly Blogging, Mrs. AOK, Inspo for Moms, Our Unschooling Journey, Rachel Lee, Over the Moon, TFT, Imparting Grace, My Life Abundant, Purposeful Faith, Oh My Heartsie Girl, MaryAndering Creatively, Crystal Storms, Susan Mead, Simply Sweet Home, Blended Blog, Create with Joy, Fireman’s Wife, Coffee with Us3, Chic on a Shoestring, Anna Nuttall, Answer is Choco, Creative K Kids, Momfessionals, Counting My Blessings, Lyli Dunbar, Crystal Waddell, Life with Lorelai, Spiritual Sundays, A Book and More, Pieced Pastimes, Our Mini Family, Pam’s Party, SITS Girls, Being a Wordsmith, Blogghetti,

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My Educational Influences

This post may contain affiliate links. See disclosure. Check out my suggested resources.

January 12, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 14 Comments

Education is supposed to influence us.

And it does.

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. ~Mark Twain

Don’t confuse education with intelligence.

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. ~John Dewey

Looking back, I realize that I was so isolated as a middle-class suburban white girl. When I went to college in downtown Atlanta, it was eye-opening. So many different people from different backgrounds. It helped me to grow and learn about the world.

When I became a teacher, I grew some more as I learned along with and about my students and fellow teachers.

When I became a mother, I wanted more than public and private schools could offer my children.

When we travel, we learn even more, expanding and shaping our views.

My Educational Influences

Past Teachers

Most of what I learned in school is negative.

Of course, I learned to write and multiply, but mostly to bend the rules.

I learned to avoid punishment. I was scared of my teachers. I was scared of bad grades.

I had teachers who yelled, tied students to their seats, gave detention for silly things, shamed and ridiculed, refused to allow bathroom passes, threw chalk and erasers and koosh balls, flirted with students…and lots more.

I was a good student. I learned to be invisible. I made good grades.

I had few positive teacher influences. Mostly, I learned what not to do as a teacher.

University Teacher Training

I got a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Yeah, pretty useless in any job market. If I had it to do over, I would at least have gone with journalism. It’s like having a degree in reading.

I earned a master’s degree in education with a 14-month urban education program to get quick teacher certification. And a job.

The program was kinda a joke. Pedagogy and methodology classes. The professors were out of touch with real schools and classrooms. The assignments were irrelevant. Most of what I was taught wasn’t feasible in an actual classroom when I got teaching jobs.

The other dozen students or so in the program were idealists who thought they were going to change the world. Most went to get teaching jobs in wealthy suburban white schools and districts.

Teachers don’t have a lot of autonomy in their classrooms.

We were taught how to manage students with punitive coercion such as humiliation and threats.

Administrators cater to parents and the school board. It’s very political. There’s lots of standardized tests that don’t really mean much.

Students are just seen as numbers and not as living, breathing, changing, growing human beings.

A poignant quip:
Someone asks: “What do you teach?”
Teachers respond: “English.” or “Science.” or “Math.”
A wise teacher responds: “Students.”

Homeschooling opened up a lot of doors for me as I did my own research into the world of educational philosophy.

I had to slowly unlearn everything I had experienced and been taught as a student and teacher.

My Favorite Educational Philosophies

The Well-Trained Mind and Classical Education

The Well-Trained Mind was the first homeschooling book I ever bought. I don’t remember how I found it, probably in an online forum as a great place to begin.

And it was.

Part of the school dilemma results from an over-focus on testing results; home educators are free from that pressure, so you won’t have to decide between test prep and expository writing. ~Susan Wise Bauer

I began homeschooling in 2005. My eldest was almost 5 and I was pregnant with my second. Number three followed a year after number two.

I liked the classics outline and resource lists for each year. It appealed to the intellectual in me as I set about developing a classical education for my daughter.

I loved the foundation on literature and history and still do. We all learn Latin together.

We never focused so much on a lot of memorization and writing early. I don’t like all the rules and scripts in CC.

The Well-Trained Mind was a perfect jumping off point for me as a new homeschool mom and offered us a good transition from school ideas to homeschooling freedom.

Charlotte Mason

I soon learned about Charlotte Mason after our first year of homeschooling.

It seems a softer side of classical education.

I love the idea of living books and nature study, art and music appreciation and history.

I’ve always felt these subjects are so important.

Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life. ~Charlotte Mason

Ambleside Online is a great resource but I needed more structure for our growing family.

We love notebooking.

We began to acquire an extensive home library.

Maria Montessori

When my son was born, I encouraged him with self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play – from birth.

Montessori has five key areas of learning:

practical life
sensorial
mathematics
language
culture

Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed. ~Maria Montessori

I included my middle girls and son in all aspects of our lives and schooling. It’s amazing how autonomous kids can be if we let them.

Rearranging our school room and providing many opportunities for practical play with small real tools helped our household dynamics.

Rudolf Steiner and Waldorf Education

Waldorf education is independent and inclusive. It upholds the principles of freedom in education.

Waldorf or Rudolf Steiner education is based on an anthroposophical view and understanding of the human being of body, soul, and spirit.

I love the holistic ideals of Waldorf.

Art and music are so important to me and I love all the fun, natural materials in the Waldorf community that encourage learning this.

I love the focus on imagination.

We love nature and the outdoors.

It helped me become a gentler parent. We flow.

Summary:

I learned how to incorporate ideas and lessons that worked for us.

I believe in playtime and lots of informal, natural learning – especially outside – until the child is about 7 or 8 years old.

We work in a nice flow with the seasons, taking breaks frequently to enjoy the weather or rest when we need it.

I think there are lots of benefits to many different educational philosophies.

I love that, as a homeschooler, I have the freedom to pick and choose this and that for my children to learn best as individuals and different stages – practical Montessori, imaginative Waldorf, nature-y artsy Charlotte Mason, Latin and history classical.

It takes courage to do things differently.

Linking up: Create with Joy, Our Holiday Journey, Modest Mom, MaryAndering Creatively, Pinventures, Mostly Blogging, Mrs. AOK, Inspo for Moms, Abounding Grace, Timeless Mama, Home Stories, April Harris, Purposeful Faith, Wise Woman, Jessi’s Design, Welcome Heart, My Life Abundant, Meghan Weyerbacher, Our Three Peas, Gingersnap Crafts, Sarah Frazer, Jaime Wiebel, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Penny’s Passion, Quietly Reminded, Crystal Storms, Rachel Lee, Over the Moon, TFT, CKK, Imparting Grace, Debbie Kitterman, Try it Like it, Simply Sweet Home, Blended Blog, Susan Mead, Fireman’s Wife, Creative K Kids, Coffee with Us3, Faithful Pursuit, Anna Nuttall, Answer is Choco, RCH Reviews, Momfessionals, Counting My Blessings, Lyli Dunbar, Life with Lorelai, Create with Joy,

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Vietnam Unit Study

This post may contain affiliate links. See disclosure. Check out my suggested resources.

January 7, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

There’s so much more to the history and culture than what the news shows us.

I want my children to understand Asian history in our chronological studies of world history. I don’t want their education based on American stereotypes.

Our {evangelical and expensive} history curriculum was a little disappointing after WWII, so I had to research and find my own material to teach my kids about history that happened in my parents’ lifetime.

I want to learn real history along with my kids, not just an American or white perspective.

Vietnam Unit Study

Topics:

Indochine colonialism
Vietnam War
Vietnamese Independence

Activities:

Eat in a Vietnamese restaurant
Learn to read and write in Vietnamese
Watch Vietnamese cartoons
Watch films and discuss
Visit a museum to view Vietnamese art
Visit a Vietnam Memorial
Read about Vietnam
Learn Asian geography