Here are a few ideas to start meaningful Lenten traditions for your family. Following the format that we use when we design a Sonlight Unit Study, these suggestions include literature, crafts, and cooking.
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You’re toying with the idea of homeschooling. You’re beginning to imagine what it could look like to school at home instead of sending your kids back to public school.
You may be searching online for some school desks and chairs. You’re probably researching curriculum, and maybe you’ve even begun to map out what a day of school at home would look like.
Before you get too deep, let me give you some advice...
Your homeschool doesn’t have to look like a public school experience.
In fact, it really doesn’t need to. You have to understand that many public schools are great at what they do, but they teach to the masses. You aren’t teaching to the masses. You have an audience of one...or maybe a few more, but nonetheless, your school won’t need to be a duplicate of public school.
Your child is probably thinking the same type of things. If you’ve talked to them about homeschooling, they are likely beginning to visualize what that might mean. Different children react differently to the news of an educational shift. Some may be overjoyed while others may be resistant to the upcoming changes.
So what should you do to prepare yourself and your child for your new homeschooling journey? Here are a few tips to help shift your mindset from public school to homeschool.
Yes, it’s a real word! I looked it up in the dictionary.
Deschooling is the process of phasing out of traditional schools and moving into alternative methods of education.
Deschooling can be very effective, and summertime is a great time devote to deschooling. During this time, you’ll want to allow your child free reign to explore what they want to explore. The goal is to let your child decompress from the stressors of school and just relax. This is particularly helpful for children who are uneasy or resistant about a switch to homeschooling.
You’ll want to focus on your relationship during this period of time, so your part during deschooling is to be sure to have lots of conversations, and spend plenty of time together relaxing and having fun.
You’ll probably be able to take your cues from your child as to when they are ready to begin formal learning again. This period of time lays a strong foundation for the parent-child relationship, and it prepares both of you for the task at hand.
Deschooling also helps you put some distance between you and your preconceived ideas of schooling, and it will help your child do the same. Your child is much less likely to say, “That’s not the way we do it at school,” when they have been out of school for a few months. Coming into homeschooling with an open mind will be beneficial to everyone.
I have always been a huge proponent of learning your child.
I believe that especially as homeschooling parents, we need to become students of our children.
We need to know what makes them tick, what inspires them, and what withers them. When we learn these things, we can develop a plan for teaching at home that is tailor-made for them.
Knowing what type of learner your child is will help you choose curriculum and schedule your day. For example, if your child is very active and has a short attention span, they would probably benefit from RightStart Math, which is a hands-on math curriculum involving shorter lessons, minimal paperwork, and plenty of tactile opportunities. On the contrary, if your child is more solitary and enjoys working independently and quietly, they will likely enjoy Horizons Math. If your child is very logical, they would probably be a good fit for the Singapore Math program.
Of course, don’t panic over these choices! Your biggest job now is to learn your child. Once you do that, you can call Sonlight Advisors to help you choose the curriculum that best fit your child. (Their advice is free.)
Are you wondering how to become a student of your child? Well, while I tend to go with more informal mental notes about my children, you may prefer list journaling. Your list journal may include things that make your child light up, things that make your child sad, and even a list of favorite books and activities will help you develop a good synthesis of your child.
You might even create a mind map including all that you learn about your child’s personality. These are just a few suggestions. The main idea is to study your child. Learn their personality and their likes and dislikes. This will help you make informed decisions on curriculum and schedules and will set you up for success from the start.
In studying your child, did you learn that they love to read upside down, hanging off the couch? Maybe you learned that they like to draw curled up on the swing outside. If so, your child probably won’t do much of their work in a school desk. You’ll probably want to plan for flexible work areas. You’ll probably want to make a mobile caddy that holds supplies so they can do their lessons anywhere they like.
On the contrary, if your child loves working independently and having a set space to do their work, they may enjoy having a designated work area that looks more like a traditional desk set-up.
You may want to meet with your child and have them help you develop a daily routine for homeschooling. You might start the conversation like this:
From these questions, you may discover that your child would rather work hard for a few hours and have the rest of the day to play, or you may discover that your child would prefer several breaks in the day. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll be able to break out of the typical school schedule and create a flexible schedule that embraces your child’s strengths.
Most of us grew up with tons of worksheets and textbooks, and don’t get me wrong...I loved worksheets, but not everyone thrives with them.
Some public schools use a lot of worksheets and textbooks because it’s an effective way to teach a lot of children at one time. But you aren’t in the same position. You have a significantly smaller class size which will allow you to do much more oral discussion. You won’t need a worksheet or a book report to tell you if your child read the assignment. You’ll be able to talk about the book with them.
As a homeschooler, there is far less need for worksheets. If you choose Sonlight curriculum, you’ll also learn that a lot of learning happens with living books instead of the traditional textbook. In reality, learning happens all the time, everywhere, not just in worksheets and textbooks.
You CAN teach your kids at home! A well-planned curriculum makes it so easy, and you can trust that you are giving your kids all the academics they need.
Christmas Day has a wealth of wonderful, time-tested traditions. So many memory-filled activities have enriched our holidays throughout the years. But what about Christmas Eve? Do you have low-stress traditions?
Continue readingChange can be hard. Even when we’re unhappy, our ruts of familiarity can keep us locked into less than ideal situations. Or maybe you’re fallen prey to the very common sunk cost fallacy. You’ve already invested half of a school year with a certain program or educational choice. It’s too late to change now, right?
Continue readingHistory tells us that shortbread finds its roots in the 12th century. Legend has it that Scottish chefs baked shortbread in the dark and dreary winters and put slits in the cookies to represent the rays of the sun. Fast-forward to the mid-16th century and we find that Mary, Queen of Scots was known for her love of Petticoat Tails, a crunchy, thin version of shortbread that was sprinkled with caraway seeds. According to History UK, shortbread was an expensive luxury and common folks only enjoyed it on special occasions such as weddings, Christmas, and New Year.
There are many variations and recipes for shortbread, but in its basic form, it is a simple, buttery cookie created with three basic ingredients: butter, sugar, and flour. Variations occur with the type of leavening (baking powder or yeast) and flavorings (almond, chocolate, fruit, etc…). I fell in love with shortbread as a young mom and added it to our Christmas tradition over the years. It adds a simple but flavorful addition to our annual cookie tray.
DOWNLOAD THIS RECIPE HERE!
This PDF file is formatted to print the same size as Sonlight's Recipe Cards so you can easily add it to your recipe collection!
Combine butter, sugar, and almond extract in a large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add all remaining ingredients. Beat until well mixed.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place a couple inches apart on a cookie sheet.
Flatten balls to ¼” thickness with the bottom of a buttered glass dipped in sugar.
Bake for 7-9 minutes at 350 degrees or until the base of the cookies are lightly browned.
I recommend checking your cookies after 7 minutes. Since the tops of the cookies do not brown, it is easy to over-bake them. Your goal is a light to medium brown on the bottom of your cookie.
Cool cookies for 1 minute on the cookie sheet, then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Cool completely before adding glaze.
Stir together all glaze ingredients in a small bowl with a wire whisk. Decorate cookies with glaze and a sprinkling of sliced almonds.
You don’t need to be Scottish to enjoy this buttery, chewy bit of goodness. Be sure to add this recipe to your own Christmas Cookie Collection. Sonlight has some great recipe cards where you can record this new favorite. Let your kids decorate the recipe cards with fun Christmas stickers or decorations.
Legend tells us that the first gingerbread men were created at the request of Queen Elizabeth I. She asked her bakers to mold pastry into shapes of her favorite courtiers and gave them to VIPs who came to visit during the holidays. She wanted ginger “biscuits” that were edible caricatures.
Whatever the origins of these holiday favorites, making gingerbread cookies was part of our family Christmas tradition when I was growing up. Our German heritage likely generated the inclusion of lebkuchen (a German-baked Christmas treat resembling gingerbread) which I was happy to carry on to my own family’s traditions. Recipes that find their roots in your ancestry are a great place to begin forming traditions for your children, and it provides an opportunity to delve into a little family history at the same time.
DOWNLOAD THIS RECIPE HERE!
This PDF file is formatted to print the same size as Sonlight's Recipe Cards so you can easily add it to your recipe collection!
In large bowl cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses.
(Note – molasses comes in different “strengths” or varieties. You may be familiar with light or dark versions of name-brand molasses, but there is also blackstrap, treacle, and sorghum. Choose your favorite depending on the flavor you’re after.)
Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle (as long as overnight).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface roll dough to 1/8” thickness. Cut with cookie cutter.
Keep in mind – the thinner you roll your dough, the crispier your cookies will be. The thicker the dough, the chewier the cookies.
Place on an ungreased cookie sheet to bake. Bake 8-10 minutes.
Remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack for cooling.
When completely cooled, decorate as you like. I enjoy leaving some without decoration – Queen Elizabeth’s gingerbread biscuits are great for dunking in your favorite hot drink!
Now is a great time to begin curating recipes to develop into your own Christmas traditions. Sonlight has some simple recipe cards where you can record your favorites and create your own Christmas Cookie Collection.
It’s officially my favorite season. Christmas fills my house with joyful music and family gatherings as we wait in hopeful expectation for Christ’s arrival. While carols, gifts, and yummy treats are nice, the true meaning of Christmas is much better, bigger and broader than the boundaries of one day. I invite you to remember and reflect on why we celebrate. Let us not forget that Christmas commemorates God’s perfect love coming to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. This is an opportune time to have Christmas conversations with your children, teaching them, gently, the true meaning of the season.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7
The true meaning of Christmas is that Jesus arrived on Earth to rescue us from our sins. In His arrival, we garner hope and peace with God. Let us remember and rejoice, that God gave His Son to us to make us part of His family.
To inspire Christmas conversations among your family, we’ve collected some favorite Sonlight Christmas books. These books provide an outlet to not only experience the Christmas season in other cultures but also in other walks of life. From homelessness in France to Yorkshire farmland, use this list to explore the true meaning of Christmas with your children.
The classic Christmas tale captures the spirit and meaning of Christmas. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge as he visits his past, present, and future to finally open his heart to those around him. This story is filled with love, goodwill, mercy, and self-redemption.
When a couple struggles to scrounge up enough coins to buy Christmas gifts worthy of their devotion, they make sacrifices to afford the perfect gift. After realizing what the other has done, they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found right in their humble apartment and not in a store.
A simple but pleasurable Christmas story for all ages. A boy and his aunt are stuck on a lighthouse island over Christmas. When the retired lighthouse keeper goes out to the rock to substitute in for the current keeper, she brings her nephew. They fully expect to be back to the mainland in time for Christmas. But as the days pass … something has gone wrong. This is a story about betrayal and forgiveness. A telling lesson on how to prepare one's heart for the coming of the King when there is so much anger and hurt.
Set in Paris at Christmas. A homeless family meets a homeless man who begrudgingly adopts them, and they form a new family unit. A delightfully warm story.
Reeling from her mother’s death, father’s new marriage, and two new step-siblings, Violet finds a letter from her mother that includes a list of things to do to celebrate the yuletide season. With a good look at family, and how to deal with emotions, Violet learns some moving lessons.
A comical and impactful story of incorrigible children who discover the true meaning of Christmas. When the dictatorial pageant leader breaks her leg, a hapless mom has to figure out how to lead the pageant. This is both uproariously funny (truly laugh-out-loud funny) and a tear-jerker.
Pages of beautiful watercolor and digital media illustrations make this Christmas classic retold a perfect choice for younger family members. All the key elements of Dickens's timeless story are intact, but scarier and sadder points are missing. A charming introduction of an age-old story to a younger generation.
A lovely story of a middle-class high school girl from the city thrown into rural 1937 living with her country grandmother. The vast changes in landscape and tradition give this young lady quite the shock, but the story is filled with adventure and heart-warming experiences. There is a lovely chapter on how Grandmother surprised her granddaughter for Christmas.
SEE THE BOOK | SEE THE PROGRAM HBL 100
A few days before Christmas the Vanderbeeker family finds out that their curmudgeonly landlord refuses to renew the lease on their brownstone. Five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to change his mind. A wonderful story of sibling cooperation and community among neighbors, this is a perfect family read-aloud.
Travel to Northern England in the early 1900s and explore the tales of a Yorkshire country vet. From the animals to the townsfolk, these stories are family treasures. The highlight is The Christmas Day Kitten; the story of an unlikely dog owner pushed into cat ownership. When a stray cat brings a woman her kitten on Christmas Day only to die hours later, the woman and her Basset hounds welcome the kitten into their life. One of the best gifts this human has ever received and it turns out she is a cat owner at heart.
Told in brief, daily narratives by seven year-old Vicky Austin, this is a wonderful story of one family's tradition of doing one Special Thing each day before Christmas. Full of creative ideas for holiday activities, the story also focuses on family relationships as they prepare for a new addition to their family.
What books inspire Christmas conversations in your family? Tell us in the comments or share your favorites with #sonlightstories on your favorite social media outlet.
