Homespun by MB

Author: MORGAN

  • Give Your Homeschool Morning Routine a Fresh Update with New Ideas and Thoughtfully Curated Rhythms

    Routine.  Dreaded by some, loved by others.  I happen to love routine; thriving with predictability and thoughtfully curated spaces of time.  Kids specifically thrive in routine.  Not that our lives need to lived with rigid, unmovable days drawn up on a chart with no exceptions or room for spontaneity.  But I find with areas like school, a well practiced routine helps my kids know what is expected of them and helps our mornings run so much smoother. 

    Some homeschool families, like my own family as I was growing up, ran a tight ship with start times, snack breaks, and lunch breaks.  I have found that a looser time schedule works better for my family.  Try our what works for your family!  When you’re trying new rhythms, try to stick to the plan for a week or two to see how your kids react.  And I don’t mean the whining and complaining; I mean hopefully a calmness that comes with the predictability. 

    In our house, a strict start time doesn’t really fit in this phase of life.  I work evenings a few days a week and if the evenings get late, I prioritize flexibility to sleep in a little bit the following morning and take things slower than the other days of the week.  So because of that, we begin our school day anywhere from 8-9:30am or so.  Give or take haha.  I try to give my kids a heads up when we’re about 15 minutes out from starting.  This way they can wrap up whatever activity they are doing and won’t put up a fight when I ask them to sit down for school. 

    Every school day starts with reading a Bible story and then we discuss the story using the S.O.A.P. study method. 

    Scripture – get into His Word!   

    Observation – what was the story about?  What things stand out?

    Application – how can this story apply to our lives today?  What have we learned?

    Prayer – we pray over our day and add any prayer requests in there. 

    We have read and enjoy the Kids’ Storybook Bible.  Every story points back to Christ and it is truly so beautiful how the Bible and the whole world revolve around Jesus.  The Louie Gigglio kid devotionals are also books we like. 

    Storybook Bible https://amzn.to/3CKQOw5

    Louie Giglio Devotional Books

    How Great is Our God https://amzn.to/4i12Ccm

    The Wonder of Creation https://amzn.to/438uvea

    Indescribable https://amzn.to/3QsPZuI

    After our Bible story and prayer time, we dive into whatever chapter book we’re reading outloud at the time!  My mom read so many books outloud to us growing up in a similar school morning routine and it’s one of the best takeaways from my own homeschool experience.  The kids love the stories and as the list grows of books we’ve read together, I realize again and again how it is not time wasted; but it’s time we have spent together with a good book, a cup of hot chocolate, a cozy blanket on the couch, making memories and forming relationships that will last a lifetime. 

    The Read Aloud Family https://amzn.to/41jN2TK

    Once we are done with our cozy cup of hot chocolate and the good books, we start the school part of homeschool.  With elementary aged kids, we focus on reading, handwriting, and math.  I have found that subjects like science, social studies, history and government, are all covered during normal everyday conversations.  Whether it’s a question about something we see when we’re out and about, or conversations about what we see on a hike or at the park, or discussing groceries, how to plan a menu, and making lists, I am amazed at how much my kids glean from normal experiences in childhood!  School and learning isn’t limited to a classroom or designated school time.  We are always learning, even as adults!  One of my goals for myself and our family homeschool is to raise lifelong learners.  So my kids need to see me learn and dig into new topics or try and fail at something new.

    Now onto the schoolwork.  We use the Good and the Beautiful Math and I love the simply laid out lessons and review every day.  We have used it for two and a half years now and I plan to use it as my daughter enters kindergarten in the fall!  For reading, we considered Hooked on Phonics and a book called “100 Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read.”  In the end we decided on “100 Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read” but both look like comparable methods to teach your child to read.  Reading for my oldest has been an uphill battle, but he is taking such strides!  I will be sharing more on his journey in future blog posts.  But simply put, he has a condition called strabismus that makes it difficult for his eyes to point at the same thing, making one eye turn off.  We have been doing weekly vision therapy at Omni Vision Learning Center in Monticello, MN.  I couldn’t recommend them highly enough!  Because of that, we have taken reading lessons slower, allowing time for him to not be frustrated and taking breaks when we get frustrated. 

    The Good and the Beautiful Math https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/products/math-2-course-set/

    Hooked on Phonics https://amzn.to/3X7s6gl

    “100 Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read” https://amzn.to/4gHWnJj

    Finally, we include handwriting.  We have focused so much on vision therapy, that for a while handwriting took a back burner.  But we have recently added it back and it’s been a great addition.  We use the Good and the Beautiful handwriting.  The price point is great and it’s simple, straight to the point, and easy to follow.  It also includes short Bible verses to copy, which I love! 

    As a homeschool family, we abide by state laws.  Those requirements vary from state to state, but one way we daily keep up with state requirements is tracking what we do.  What lessons we do, subjects, etc.  Below is an example of what we use to track our schoolwork.  It’s a simple table from Microsoft Word and can be easily changed to suit your needs.  Use it as a launching pad for your own ideas and method of homeschooling!

    Depending on your family dynamic, what your individual homeschool goals are, or how many kids you have, your routine could look similar or very different.  I hope this outline of our day gives you a place to build your own routine.  Find what works best for your family!  That’s the beauty of homeschooling.  It’s totally individual and can be shifted to meet your needs.  Enjoy these days with your kids! And building a day you enjoy and that works for your family will help you do that. Happy homeschooling!

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    Note: I do earn a commission if you purchase from these links, but it does not affect your price. Thank you for reading!

  • Low Tox Traveling Swaps for Lower Stress and Better Health

    Low Tox Traveling Swaps

    One of my favorite things is traveling.  Traveling with kids can be next level, but seeing their excited faces experiencing something for the first time is so worth the extra work.  Often when leaving home, we leave all the comforts, products and rhythms behind.  Each time we travel with the kids, I add more low toxic swaps to our camping rhythm and feel more comfortable being away from home as we use the brands and products we know and trust.  Below I have outlined the swaps we have made from typical camping and traveling, learning more all the time.  Since using low tox products is a conscience effort, I hope these ideas are a launch board for your next trip. These products can be incorporated into hotel traveling, camping or staying with relatives. 

    Highlights

    Cookware and Kitchen Swaps

    When we travel, I bring a few of my key tried and true kitchen items.  A cast iron skillet is a must on any camping trip.  Along with the cast iron skillet, I bring my normal oil to season it after washing (I use organic coconut oil for seasoning).  I make sure to bring a stainless steel pot (or 2) for warming dish water and cooking.  Keep an eye out for used stainless steel pots at second hand stores or garage sales.  I used to bring my pots and pans from my kitchen each time, but now I have accumulated two pots designated for camping that can stay with our camping bin.

     

    Here is a cast iron skillet I like https://amzn.to/4hW6qeS

    Organic Coconut Oil is a great oil for seasoning your cast iron skillet. Since it’s saturated, it is stable and doesn’t oxidize easily like conventional oils. https://amzn.to/3CI1RWR

    Plastic Swaps

    Growing up, we used plastic everything when camping.  Cups (hello 2001 Olive Garden kids cup), plates, cutting boards.  Everything that could be was plastic…but the more research that comes out about the harm of plastic to our bodies (and our environment), the more I choose low tox swaps, even for camping.  Corelle dishes are low profile, shatter resistant and work well for camping.  I also love stainless steel cups and wood cutting boards when camping too. 

    Corelle dishes can be found at the thrift store or your Grandma’s cupboards, but if you’d like a new set, you can find one on amazon like this https://amzn.to/43hSlof

    The stainless steel cups we use and love are found here https://amzn.to/4i1g7sx

    Clean Coffee and Clean Water

    The morning coffee ritual is also an area to consider when looking at lowering toxicity.  First, I start by grinding my favorite beans at home to bring on the trip.  I store in glass mason jars labeled and ready to go.  When I buy coffee my non negotiable is organic. And for decaf coffee, I make sure it is Swiss Water Processed so it’s not decaffeinated using harsh chemicals.  My favorite brand is Kicking Horse.  My ideal method to make the coffee when on the road is the French press.  And make sure to have a couple coffee cups on hand – we bring travel mugs from home or a couple coffee mugs rather than Styrofoam. 

    My favorite coffee https://amzn.to/3CRd0oe

    My favorite Swiss Water Processed decaf coffee hhttps://amzn.to/3CQWfti

    Stainless steel and glass French Press https://amzn.to/3X7NJwP

    Another important swap is water.  As I have continued in my crunchy journey, I have learned the importance of clean water.  There are a few good options for water on the go, but my preferred method is RO (reverse osmosis) with minerals added back in.  I fill jugs at home (or a water station I know and trust) and bring enough water for our trip.  I plan for 1 gallon per person per day.  Between drinking, brushing teeth, etc. this has been a good estimate and we’ve never run out. 

    We have used these watertight jugs for transporting drinking water. They are plastic, but have a built in spout that can be hidden inside for stacking jugs. https://amzn.to/42XLr7a

    These glass water jugs are on my low tox swap list! https://amzn.to/4b5lkx2

    Grocery Staples

    Groceries are also important if trying to limit toxins on the road.  I make a menu at home with a simple table in Microsoft Word.  Filling in meals and snacks and making a grocery list from that.  The more I can prep at home, the better.  From chopping onion, cracking eggs into mason jars and cleaning veggies, to freezing meat in the correct quantity (doubles as a ice pack as it thaws), and mixing and labeling spice mixes, it all saves time and dishes on the road.  If you have electricity on your trip, we have found great success with a small mini fridge in the back of our vehicle.  We plug it in when we’re at the campsite and close the rear hatch on the cord. It gives us more freedom because we don’t need to buy ice! 

    Another good idea is stocking prepackaged snacks from brands you know and like.  Great brands like EPIC meat sticks and dried beef are great for hikes and car rides.  There are many flavors to choose from.  Even stores like Aldi now carry organic dried beef and raw organic nuts and fruit which are great options when traveling.  I have also put together my own trail mixes ahead of time, which avoids cheap ingredients and unnecessary additives like food dyes and seed oils.  My favorites for a trail mix are Lily’s chocolate chips, organic coconut, nuts and dried fruit.  Quick and easy! 

    EPIC dried meat sticks, like salmon, bison, venison and beef https://amzn.to/41kCiod

    Lily’s Chocolate Chips https://amzn.to/4hRTMOg

    Natural Fiber Bedding

    One last area we have made steps to be more low tox is bedding.  Rather than sleeping in polyester sleeping bags and sweating all night, we bring cotton sheets and our pillows from home.  A good night’s sleep is so important, especially with kids along!  Having natural fibers on our skin as we sleep is important.  We also have a black out tent that we love.  It helps us sleep better and helps our kids sleep to a normal time rather than waking up as the sun rises, which is much earlier in the summer.  It also stays cooler in the tent during the day for naptimes and bedtime can be at a normal time in the evening even if it’s still bright out. 

    We love cotton sheets for sleep. Here is a link for good quality cotton sheets https://amzn.to/4i44jpz

    We have the 10 person Coleman Dark Room Tent. It’s quick to set up and truly is so dark inside. Revolutionize your sleep while camping! https://amzn.to/3QnxZCa

    Traveling is so worth it!

    Traveling, although a lot of work, is so much fun and is a great family activity. There are so many areas of low tox living to explore as we learn more each day how the items we use daily affect the way our bodies function.  These are just a few of the traveling swaps we have made and it truly helps me feel more relaxed as we travel knowing I’m not disrupting all the hard work towards health we strive for at home.

    Pin this blog post to reference later! Happy travels!

    Note: I do earn a commission if you purchase from these links, but it does not affect your price. Thank you for reading!