Life Adventures Blog

American Jr. High Literature

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:12:17 GMT

U.S. Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature Lesson Plans and Book List

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

Travel through time and story—from explorers to patriots, frontier children to modern heroes—through literature, primary sources, and hands-on discovery. Elementary classes are not graded, but fun and interactive learning. In our Jr. High classes, we strive to introduce your students to some of the skills of analysis they’ll need in the upcoming high school years.

Students will explore the rich narratives of America’s past through carefully selected historical and fictional literature. From the adventures of Beorn the Proud and Columbus, to the courage of Sacagawea and the resilience of Code Talkers, children encounter the people, ideas, and events that shaped the United States. Historical poetry and primary sources—such as Paul Revere’s Ride and the Preamble to the Constitution—allow students to connect with the language, ideals, and civic spirit of our nation.

This course blends reading, discussion, and interactive activities. Students participate in games, group projects, and creative explorations that make history tangible and memorable. Each student will select items to memorize and perform, including patriotic songs, poems, speeches, or the Pledge of Allegiance, building both literacy and civic awareness.

To celebrate the year’s journey, students and families participate in a Celebrate America Party, sharing dishes that honor the cultural and historical diversity of the United States. Students are expected to complete reading assignments in advance, beginning with the first book before the first class. Many texts are available at local libraries or through used book sources.

Prepare for a year of discovery, imagination, and all-American fun, where history leaps off the page and into your student’s imagination!

Book List for American Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

Semester 1

Semester 2

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #USkidsbooks #americankidsbooks

Modern World Jr. High Literature

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 04:24:02 GMT

Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature for the Modern World Era Lesson Plans and Book List

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll contact you with the author.

Crafts, activities, discussion, games, worksheets & play are typical classroom activities in our literature class. Elementary classes are not graded, but fun and interactive learning. In our Jr. High classes, we strive to introduce your students to some of the skills of analysis they’ll need in the upcoming high school years.

Covering abridged versions of the classics, biographies and some really fun literature, we’ll gallop the globe across the modern world of children’s literature. Modern world era begins with the renaissance and continues to present day, usually devoid of information about America unless it's on the world stage. We have a separate year / cycle for exclusively everything about America.

Elementary classes are not graded, but assigned homework is required for this class.

Required Materials:

Semester 1 -

Semester 2 -

David Livingstone – any ( online free)
A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne, abridged any
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, abridged
The Secret Garden abridged by Martha Hailey DuBose or any abridged
War Horse by Morpurgo, Michael
Winged Watchman by Hilda Van Stockum

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #modernworldkidsbooks

Book Club Meets … Love of Learning Jr. High Literature

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 19:23:27 GMT

Book Club Meets… Love of Learning Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

Our six week series "Book Club Meets..." launches students into adventure with The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones and One False Note by Gordon Korman. These fast-paced mysteries invite readers to chase clues across history, geography, science, music, and world cultures—showing students that learning connects everything.

Through guided discussion, puzzles, map work, light research, games, and creative challenges, students will uncover how curiosity, critical thinking, and perseverance fuel discovery. Each book naturally opens the door to exploring topics “under the sun,” encouraging students to ask questions, make connections, and follow ideas wherever they lead.

Six-week plans are provided for each Book Club Meets class, making this series ideal for readers who love adventure—and for students who are still discovering just how exciting learning can be.

5th-8th grade Book List

39 Clues: Maze of Bones, Gordon Korman

39 Clues: One False Note, Gordon Korman

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #39Clues

Book Club Meets … World War II Jr. High Literature

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 19:26:39 GMT

Book Club Meets… World War II Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

With our six week series "Book Club Meets..." students explore World War II through the powerful and accessible novel Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Through guided reading and thoughtful discussion, students encounter history through the eyes of a child, focusing on courage, friendship, sacrifice, and moral choice.

Classes include discussion, map work, vocabulary, light historical context, and reflective activities that help students understand the human side of history without overwhelming detail. Emphasis is placed on empathy, resilience, and standing up for others, making this unit especially appropriate for upper elementary and middle-grade readers.

Each Book Club Meets class includes a complete six-week plan designed to foster historical understanding, strong reading habits, and meaningful conversation in a supportive, age-appropriate setting.

5th-8th grade Book List

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #wwiikidsbooks

Book Club Meets … George MacDonald Jr. High Literature

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:30:19 GMT

Book Club Meets… George MacDonald Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

Our six week series "Book Club Meets..." helps students step into the imaginative and symbolic world of George MacDonald through The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie. These classic fairy tales invite readers to explore courage, obedience, conscience, imagination, and the unseen realities that shape our choices.

Through games, guided reading, silly fun, discussion, creative activities, and gentle literary exploration, students will uncover deeper meanings beneath the adventure—learning how stories can teach truth through fantasy. Emphasis is placed on character development, moral reasoning, and the power of trust and perseverance.

Six-week plans are provided for each Book Club Meets class, making this unit ideal for students ready to enjoy rich storytelling while beginning to recognize symbolism and theme in literature.

5th-8th grade Book List

The Princess and the Goblin, George MacDonald

The Princess and Curdie, George MacDonald

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #GeorgeMacDonald #fairytales #PrincessandtheGoblin

Book Club Meets …Brain Science Jr. High Literature

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:42:59 GMT

Book Club Meets… Brain Science Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

Our six week series "Book Club Meets..." gives an experience where students explore the fascinating world of brain science through literature, hands-on activities, and creative discovery. Using stories connected to the earliest breakthroughs in neuroscience, students will uncover how scientists first began to understand how the brain works—and why it matters.

Classes include discovering and labeling the brain, brain demonstrations, songs, puzzles, mnemonics, and discussion designed to make complex ideas accessible and memorable. The historical case of Phineas Gage is our spine (or brain?). Sensitive students may find aspects of the story intense, but all the activities are age-appropriate care and focus on learning rather than shock.

This unit blends reading, science, and play to build curiosity, vocabulary, and foundational understanding of the brain—perfect for students who love books and want to see how stories and science connect.

5th-8th grade Book List

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #brainkidsbooks

I Survived Jr. High Literature

Fri, 30 May 2025 15:28:01 GMT

I Survived Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

As students read the first ten I Survived books, they’ll learn practical survival concepts such as staying calm in emergencies, basic evacuation strategies, reading natural warning signs, problem-solving under pressure, teamwork, and resilience. Topics include surviving fires, natural disasters, shipwrecks, epidemics, and wilderness dangers—always approached with care, confidence-building, and historical context.

Elementary classes are ungraded and focused on engagement and curiosity, while older students are gently guided toward discussion, reflection, and cause-and-effect analysis. Assigned reading and light homework support comprehension and participation.

This 12-week (one semester) course strengthens reading skills, historical awareness, and critical thinking while helping students understand how courage, preparation, and clear thinking can make all the difference when history turns dramatic.

Through discussion, games, hands-on activities, and creative play, students will explore history through the thrilling I Survived series. This interactive literature course brings real historical events to life while introducing age-appropriate survival skills connected to each story’s setting and challenges.

5th-8th grade Book List

12 weeks of lesson plans

This books set is for a younger reading level, 4th grade, but are about 100 pages each. That’s a lot of pages, but at an easier reading level, it’s reasonable to do around 1 per week. Feel free to adjust to your readers.

If you're interested, you can get I Survived: Ten Thrilling Books (Boxed Set)

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #survivalkidsbooks

Middle Ages Literature for Jr. High

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:00:33 GMT

Middle Ages Literature for Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Lesson Plans and Book List

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

We will dive into the world of historical fiction, historical characters, and saints. Each week, we explore a new book that brings history to life, focusing on the Medieval era and complementing our Jr. High History class. Students will not only enjoy captivating stories but also develop beginning skills in literary analysis through guided discussions.

In addition to enriching their understanding of history and literature, students will participate in hands-on crafts and activities related to the book of the week, immersing them in learning fun. Young readers deepen their appreciation of literature AND connect with historical themes. It's interactive. It's enjoyable. Join us for a GREAT kids' book club that makes history and literature come alive!

Elementary classes are not graded, but fun and interactive learning.

Book list for Medieval Jr. High Literature

24 weeks of learning!

Beowulf
Brendan the Navigator
Once and Future King: Sword in the Stone
Wulf the Saxon
Arabian Nights
D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow
Robin Hood
Cathedral, David Macaulay
Francis and Clare Francis
DK Knight
The Three Musketeers
Canterbury Tales Nun’s Priest’s Tale
Chanticleer and the Fox
Joan of Arc

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #medievalkidsbooks #middleageskidsbooks

Shakespeare & Classic Literature for Jr. High

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:39:01 GMT

Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature for the Modern World Era Lesson Plans and Book List

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

Through crafts, games, discussion, dramatic play, worksheets which can be done cooperatively, and hands-on activities, students will dive joyfully into great stories that have shaped readers for generations. Our literature classes are designed to be lively and engaging—elementary students learn through curiosity and participation rather than grades, while junior high students are gently introduced to the tools of literary analysis they’ll need for high school and beyond.

Using abridged classics, beloved modern novels, biographies, and Shakespearean drama, we’ll gallop across time and place—from mysterious islands and colonial New England to Renaissance courts and moonlit forests. Students will encounter courage, wit, loyalty, justice, and imagination as they read stories that invite both wonder and thoughtful discussion.

Our Shakespeare unit introduces students to sonnets and several of the Bard’s most accessible and engaging plays, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, and King Lear. Through storytelling, performance, and guided conversation, students will discover that Shakespeare is meant to be enjoyed—not feared.

Additional readings include favorites such as Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, A Wrinkle in Time, The Boxcar Children, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and abridged editions of Treasure Island and The Black Arrow—each chosen to spark imagination while strengthening comprehension and discussion skills.

Our elementary classes are not graded, but weekly homework is required to support reading habits and group participation. This course includes 24 weeks of thoughtfully planned lessons that balance fun, structure, and meaningful engagement with great literature.

24 weeks of lesson plans

Sonnets, Shakespeare

- Merchant of Venice

- Macbeth

- Twelfth Night

- As You Like It

- Much Ado About Nothing

- Midsummer Night's Dream

- King Lear

No Fear Shakespeare (side by side) is a wonderful option for 7th-8th graders

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles & Mary Lamb is great for 5th-6th grades.

Parents, as always, should be the final judge of which version is best for their student.

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #shakespeare #kidsbooks

Book Club Meets … Exciting English Jr. High Literature

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:17:00 GMT

Book Club Meets… Exciting English Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

In this six-week Book Club experience, students dive into the delightful world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl while strengthening essential English skills through play, creativity, and discussion. This class brings language arts to life with wordplay, figurative language, descriptive writing, and character exploration inspired by Dahl’s imaginative style.

Activities include vocabulary games, creative writing prompts, discussion, puzzles, reader’s theater moments, and hands-on projects that highlight tone, humor, and storytelling structure. Students will explore themes such as kindness, consequences, self-control, and imagination—all while enjoying one of literature’s most beloved stories.

This ungraded, highly interactive class is designed to spark a love of reading and writing while helping students see English as something exciting, expressive, and fun.

5th-8th grade Book List

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #RoaldDahl #CharlieandtheChocolateFactory

Kids Eat (Mostly) Free

info.lifehs.net@gmail.com (Jenn MacDonald) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:47:27 GMT

In and Around Fort Wayne

We're starting a new series "In and Around Fort Wayne". Our kick off article is highlighting free or very reduced pricing on kids meals!

Mondays

Flat Top Grill

4150 W Jefferson Blvd

$1.99 kids meals on Mondays

Texas Roadhouse

Kids eat FREE on Mondays

Buffalo Wild Wings

On Mondays, kids 12 and under eat for $1.99 with the purchase of an adult meal

Tuesdays

BurgerFi

7777 Coldwater Rd. (260) 444-4201

4-6pm, receive a free kid's meal with every adult meal purchased

Wings etc.

On Tuesday one free kids meal per adult meal purchases

Applebee’s

Children ages 12 and under eat from the kid’s menu for $0.99 on Tuesdays (with purchase of adult entree)

Bob Evans

Kids eat free with adult meal purchase from 4-9 pm on Tuesdays

Chick-fil-A

Kids 12 and under get a free kid’s meal with each adult purchase, after 5pm on Tuesdays

Denny’s

Kids eat free 4-10PM on Tuesdays

Fazoli’s

From 5pm until 8pm on Tuesdays, kid’s meals are just $0.99 cents with the purchase of an adult entree

Moe’s Southwestern Grill

Free kid’s meal with the purchase of an entree priced $5.00 or more on Tuesday

Noodles & Company

Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal on Tuesday

Three Fires Pizza

5215 Illinois Road Suite 101

Tuesday: Kids eat free! 12 & under from Bambino Menu

Wednesdays

Skyline Chili

4021 Ice Way, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 203-4948

Wednesdays: Dine in only, free kids meal for every adult meal

Back 40 Junction Restaurant

1011 N 13th St, Decatur, IN 46733 (260) 724-3355

Wednesday nights: Kids 10 and under eat free (1 meat, 1 side & ice cream) with purchase of adult

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews

4201 Coldwater Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 484-9888

Wednesdays: 50% off kids meals (may need to show the website coupon code to server or ask for manager)

Thursdays

Back 40 Junction Restaurant

1011 N 13th St, Decatur, IN 46733 (260) 724-3355

Thursday nights: Kids 10 and under eat free (1 meat, 1 side & ice cream) with purchase of adult

Fridays --

Saturdays --

Sundays

Giordanos

10180 DIEBOLD RD FORT WAYNE, IN 46825 (260) 366-4787

For every adult meal you purchase, you can order a free kids entree off the kids menu

Anytime

3 Rivers Natural Grocery

1612 Sherman Blvd. (260) 424-8812

Kids may choose a free piece of fruit each visit, thanks to the Co+op Explorers free fruit program!

Chili’s

One free kid’s entree per each adult entree purchased

Golden Corral

Kids 10 and under eat free from 5pm to 9pm. 2 kids per each adult buffet purchased. Kids under age 3 get free food every day

Granite City

Kids eat free with a purchase of an adult meal on Sundays

Mastodon Grill - Holiday Inn PFW

4111 Paul Shaffer Dr., Fort Wayne 46825 (260) 482-3800

Four children may eat free 12 and under with one paying adult for breakfast service and two kids may eat free per one paying adult for dinner service.

IHOP

Kids eat free every Wednesday night 4-10 with adult purchase

McAlister's Deli

Kids meals $.99 with the purchase of an adult meal

Pita Way

4210 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort wayne, IN 46804 (260)203-1200

Kids 12 and under present and accompanied by an adult purchasing an entree (For both in-store and Online purchases) FREE Mini rice bowl with White meat chicken, Gyro, Dark meat chicken and falafel Max of 2 kids bowls per 1 adult

Jr. High Literature: Stories of the Ancients

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:51:06 GMT

Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature: Stories of the Ancients

The lesson plans for this class are available for those outside Life Adventures for $25 from our in house author. These have worked great in our co-ops. Here's a look at what those classes look like. Contact us and tell us which lesson plans you're interested in and we'll connect you with the author.

Games, role play, crafts, activities, discussion & play are typical classroom activities in our literature class. All our elementary classes (1st-8th grade) are not graded, but fun and interactive learning. In our Jr. High classes, we strive to introduce your students to some of the skills of analysis they’ll need in the upcoming high school years.

Let’s explore the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Romans, through their stories, their clothes, their food through crafts and games. We’ll travel through time, have a blast in the past and answer all the questions your kids might ask. It's 24 weeks of fun in literature!

For our final week, everyone brings an “Ancient Roman” dish to share for our Roman Feast!

Elementary classes are not graded, but fun and interactive learning.

5th-8th grade Book List

Gilgamesh, Man’s First Story, Bernarda Bryson
Tales of Ancient Egypt, Green
Golden Goblet, Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Hittite Warrior, Williamson
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
The Children's Homer, Padraic Colum
Horatius at the Bridge
Victory on the Walls: A Story of Nehemiah
Detectives in Togas by Winterfeld, Henry
Augustus Caesar's World
The Bronze Bow
The Ides of April
For the Temple, G.A. Henty
Eagle of the Ninth

#homeschoollessonplans #LifeHSnet #LifeAdventures #jrhighliterature #5thgrade #6thgrade #7thgrade #8thgrade #homeschoolbooklist #ancientskidsbooks

Homeschool Leader's Assistance: Tier 3

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 21:22:32 GMT

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Planning Workshop Videos now available

info.lifehs.net@gmail.com (Jenn MacDonald) — Mon, 15 May 2023 20:21:49 GMT

There are several videos to choose from and all were very helpful talks!

It took us a little bit of time, but we were able to get most of the talks uploaded from the planning workshop!

We made them as inexpensive as we could considering we have website and banking fees to just host them. One video is $1 (plus Indiana tax) and alllll the videos are $5 (plus Indiana tax).

https://www.lifehs.net/homeschool/Annual-Homeschool-Planning-Workshop-2023-Talks-Video-Access

We hope yo u like each and everyone as each mom invested herself and felt it was information that could really help another mom.

I’m sure you can appreciate it’s not always easy to get up in front of a group of people and share your experiences. For some of these moms, it was incredibly difficult. What wonderful servant hearts they have to put themselves in discomfort to be able to help other homeschool moms! Enjoy!!

https://www.lifehs.net/homeschool/Annual-Homeschool-Planning-Workshop-2023-Talks-Video-Access

Homeschool Planners

info.lifehs.net@gmail.com (Jenn MacDonald) — Sat, 06 May 2023 16:27:43 GMT

Designed by homeschoolers for homeschoolers

In our planner pages, we've incorporated all the attributes of a planner that combined decades of homeschooling-made-easier has taught us.

We want everyone to enjoy the fruits of homeschooling without having to reinvent the wheel.

"You don't have to homeschool alone."

You can choose from 2 different styles (Whimsey or Essence of Simplicity). This Essence of Simplicity is a minimalist's dream homeschool planner.

You can also choose which weekly planner pages fit your brain best: Plan A, Plan B, or Plan C!

We have the completed planners available to you as a Digital Do wnload for $10 or a printed comb-bound planner for $25.

This printable digital download or printed & plastic comb-bound Homeschool Planner will help you to track attendance, progress and scheduling activities. We'll help you get and stay organized this year.

VIDEOS are included with each COMPLETE Planner sold to show you how to use this planner! They contain extra tips and tricks plus recorded talks from Life Adventures Annual Planning Workshop!!

Q: What do I get in this download?

Year at glance 2 page spread for all 12 months
2023 & 2024 Calendar with Sunday as the first day
Attendance Sheet 2023-2024
Notable Dates & Goals for the year two page spread
Adventure Planning sheet to make sure your homeschool adds in FUN this year!
Routines for morning, afternoon & evening planning sheet
Student Plan & Transcript Worksheet
Curriculum & Budget Tracker sheet
Book Tracker & Reading Goals
Weekly Planner sheets for each week of the year!
Monthly Goals Reminder Sheets
Grade Tracking Sheet for up to 3 children - Make another copy of this sheet for more than 3 students!
Memory Items Planning Sheet
Weekly Meal Planning Sheets
Hopes & Dreams to begin planning for next year as inspiration strikes!

It's sized as 8.5 x 11 in ready for you to print, 3 hole punch, comb bind, or spiral bind.

Q: How do I download this?

Upon completion of this order, this website will give you a download button.
Additionally, a download link will be sent to the email you entered to pay for this purchase.

Q: Where can I print this?

Here are some possible online possibilities. Life Adventures is not responsible for errors in printing.

Best Value Copy .com
Diggy Pod .com
The Homeschool Print Company .com
Copy centers like Office Depot, FedEx or any other local print center
Your home printer

Q: What format can I bind this?

Really, anyway you'd like! Comb binding, spiral binding, 3 hole punch to keep with your lesson plans...it's your choice!

Take a look at all our planner options! https://www.lifehs.net/homeschool-planners

Acknowledging Homeschool Leaders

info.lifehs.net@gmail.com (Jenn MacDonald) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:01:29 GMT

Unsung Heroes in our Homeschool Community

If moms are unsung, heroes, homeschool moms are truly unsung heroes, and there are crickets where homeschool leaders are concerned. Homeschool leaders, mom and the moms and teach the homeschool teachers. They put so many structures in place to build a beautiful garden, where fertile ground for friendships between children and friendships between parents can grow and proliferate.

If you run a homeschool co-op in NE Indiana, we went to honor you. If you run a local homeschool support group in or around the Fort Wayne, IN area we want to thank you. We want to acknowledge all of your efforts and service by having you over for lunch June 14, 2023. We will network with other homeschool leaders and discuss the challenges and victories of serving our beautiful community.

There’s a limit of two representatives from each local local group until we are full and you have to register for this event. If you know of other, homeschool leaders in the area, please invite them!

Honor your homeschool leader by sending them an invitation over facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1158746644795422

And here's the link to the registration https://www.lifehs.net/homeschool/Homeschool-Leaders-Luncheon

Getaways on a Budget: St. Louis

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 22:16:57 GMT

Getaways on a Budget

Welcome to the second of many installments of getaways on a budget. We are all feeling the pressure of increasing costs of living, but we all still want, and NEED , to get away for a few days now and again to refresh. How can a family afford to go on vacation? Tickets, lodging, gas, food, all add up, quickly! Be sure to check out our previous blog post featuring Detroit, Michigan !

Here are a few more tips on how our family of 5 enjoys time away.

1. If you aren't a fan or AirBNBs, you have other options! If you prefer to stay at a hotel, shop around! Is your trip last minute? If so, check out the Hotel Tonight app . It often has deeply discounted last minute rooms.

**Disclaimer that rooms on HotelTonight are guaranteed for 2 adults. I've never had an issue with our family and getting 2 beds, just know ahead of time.

2. Use benefits from memberships you might already have! Are you or your spouse any of the following: Active duty, retired, or veteran, or first responder, have AAA? Always ask if the place you're visiting offers a discount!

3. Make a basic packing list that includes things you need to bring on every trip, laminate it, and keep it in your luggage. If your kids pack their own things, give them one too. This way you can check things off with a dry erase marker as you pack, erase and use it again next time! Never forget toothbrushes or undies again.

4. If you're staying at a hotel, choose one that offers free breakfast . That's one less meal you'll have to prepare or purchase. Even if your family has dietary restrictions, most hotels have fresh fruit. Take advantage and grab a snack f or later!

Our second vacation destination is:

St. Louis, Missouri

Six hours from Fort Wayne you can visit the Gateway to the West, St. Louis, Missouri. Seated in the shores of the Mississippi River, St. Louis is our familie's favorite vacation we've had! Check out some of these awesome attractions:

The Saint Louis Zoo - Another FREE attraction! The zoo is a lovely meander through vegetation and Carly curated exhibits. We enjoyed our visit, seeing several animals that the Fort Wayne Zoo doesn't offer, like Polar Bears and elephants. We took about 3 hours to walk the zoo, with younger ones this would likely take longer.

The St. Louis Arch and Museum - Visiting the Arch and Museum are FREE. The museum is a must see, located beneath the Arch. There are exhibits featuring the Lewis and Clark Expeditions, the physics behind the Arch and how it was built, and colonial St. Louis amongst others. We did not take a tram ride or watch the documentary movie. Both of those are available for a fee (~$15/ person for the tram, $3/ person for the movie, check the website for details). They also offer a boat tour on the Mississippi for a fee as well. We did a boat tour but got a deal on Groupon that was more affordable! Plan for at least 3 hours at the Arch and museum. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the Banks of the Mississippi!

The St. Louis Aquarium , Union Station , and Hotel - The aquarium was a splurge at $25-$27/person over age 12 and$18-$19/ child 3-12. Kids under 2 are free! Unfortunately this aquarium does not offer any reciprocal benefits. That said, the aquarium was awesome!!! They had so much more than just fish. There were several hands on exhibits. We got to have our hands manicured by tiny fishes, see a sloth up close, pet and feed stingrays, see behind the scenes of the shark tank, and so much more! The aquarium is ligatures in Union Station. There are so many activities here including the Wheel, Carousel, ropes course, and several restaurants. All of the activities carry fees, if you're wanting to do several, make sure you look at the combo tickets for a small discount. Finally, while you're here, step into the Union Station Hotel and take a look around. The stunning architecture, curated furnishings, and beautiful stained glass will have the adults oohing and ahhing.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis - take break from the outdoors and visit the beautiful cathedral and museum. It is free to take a self guided or guided tour of the facility. We opted for a self guided tour so we could enjoy the beautiful paintings and structures. We also checked out the small museum in the basement. It was not spectacular, but held some small nuggets of church history.

What else does St. Louis have to offer? So much!!

Forest Park - home to the 1904 World's Fair, Forest Park is home to the Zoo, Art Museum, Science Center, History Museum, and so much more, all FREE!

City garden sculpture park and Laumeier Sculpture Park offer over 100 sculptures and gardens to their visitors. A great way to soak up the sun and get some fresh air. The sculptures provided some opportunity for some fun photos!

Grant's Farm and Purina Farms were closed during the time we were in St. Louis, however, both have FREE admission and sound like they would be perfect for a visit!

City Museum - $20/person 3 and up. It's an indoor playground. Be sure to visit their website for tips if you decide to visit (including bringing knee pads and a headlamp!).

The National Museum of Transportation - an amazing opportunity for anyone that loves vehicles, especially trains! Admission is $15 adults 13 and up, $6/ages2-12. Admission includes unlimited trolley rides. Check out the educators section of their website for some fun activities!

Meramec Caverns - this was another splurge on our vacation, but since so many other attractions were free, it balanced out! $27/12 and up, $24/military/senior, $14/ages 4-11, 3 and under FREE!

Cahokia Mounds (visitors center and museum closed for renovation, grounds open)- site of the largest prehistoric Indian city north of Mexico. An interactive history lesson!

The Botanical Garden - perhaps the largest (79 acres!) and most beautiful gardens I've seen! $14/ages 14+, $7/military, 13 and under are FREE! They offer reciprocity for FW Botanical Conservatory and Minnetrista members!

There are so many other attractions in Saint Louis, this is just a sampling of what we visited or wanted to visit. We also recommend Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, 360 St. Louis, and Pharoh's Donuts for tasty treats and an awesome view at 360! We also recommend doing a "Bridge tour" and driving over the many bridges of the area, the structures are all different and many have historical significance. Walking the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was pretty amazing!

Oh, one more thing! Make a pit stop in the adorable town of Casey, Illinois to see all the larger than life things including a mailbox, barber pole, wind chime, rocking chair, mouse trap, ear of corn, and more! It was a fun stop to break up the 6 hours trip and give us a break from riding and driving. Give yourself an hour or two to walk the town and see the things!

Getaways on a Budget: Detroit

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:51:43 GMT

Getaways on a Budget

Welcome to the first of many installments of getaways on a budget . We are all feeling the pressure of increasing costs of living, but we all still want, and NEED, to get away for a few days now and again to refresh. How can a family afford to go on vacation? Tickets, lodging, gas, food, all add up, quickly! Here are a few tips on how our family of 5 enjoys time away.

Shop AirBnB in our near the area we'd like to visit. Use the filters to choose exactly what you *need*. For us that's usually certain dates, entire place, and under a certain price per night. I cannot stress enough to read the reviews, they're going to tell you what you need to know! Staying in AirBnBs is great because you can prepare meals where you're staying ($$$saver!) and you have more space than a hotel room.
Use benefits from memberships you might already have! One of the best local-ish memberships is Minnetrista. It's $125 for the premier family membership and you get reciprocity at the Association of Science and Technology Centers , American Horticultural Society , and North American Reciprocal Museum partners.
Are you or your spouse any of the following: Active duty, retired, or veteran or first responder ? Always ask if the place you're visiting offers a discount!
In the week or so leaving up to your trip, use Google to find out if there are any fun events happening in the area while you're visiting.
Ask the locals! Once you arrive, chat up the locals at the gas station or grocery store and see what their favorite local restaurant or activity is. Sometimes you'll hit paydirt!

Our first vacation destination is:

Detroit, Michigan

Just 3 hours north of Fort Wayne is the Motor City, Detroit, Michigan. Just driving through, the city doesn't seem to have a lot of appeal. However, there are several gems tucked into this area if you know where to look!

Belle Isle- Located in the heart of the city, right on the Detroit River, sits Belle Isle. It is classified as a state park, and does have a nominal entrance fee (it was $9/vehicle when we were there last). Once on the island, you have FREE access to the small, but unique aquarium, beautiful conservatory (under construction until 2024) and outdoor gardens, Dossin Great Lakes museum– check out the amazing Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit, and the Belle Isle nature center where you can see the deer that once inhabited the island, honey bees hard at work, and so much more!

Not only can you explore these indoor activities, there are so many things you can do outside. On breezy days, you'll see colorful kites flying high above the wide open central area of the island, bring your own and join in the fun! You can swim at the public beach area, fish, enjoy a short hike to the oldest marble lighthouse in the country (Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse), have a picnic, play games in the vast grassy area, or simply take in the views of Canada to the south or the Detroit Skyline to the north.

Our family of five easily spends an entire day on the island and we can never see or do everything. Ideally you'd want two days for this adventure.

What else does Detroit have to offer?

The Detroit Institute of Arts-$14/adults; $6/kids; under 5-FREE (membership reciprocity for FW Museum of Art et al.)

Detroit Historical Museum^-$10/adults; $6/kids; under 6-FREE (membership reciprocity for NARM and Time Travelers)

Outdoor Adventure Center-$5/adults 13 and up; $3/kids 2-12; under 2-FREE

Charles Wright Museum of African American History-$15/adults 13 and up; $12/kids 3-12; under 3-FREE (membership reciprocity for NARM and ROAM)

Cranbrook Institute of Science*-$13/adults 13 and up; $9.50/kids 2-12; under 2-FREE (membership reciprocity for ASTC)

Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum-FREE admission

Greenfield Village*^-$33/adults 12 and up; $24.75/kids 5-11; under 5-FREE

Henry Ford Museum*^-$30/adults 12 and up; $22.50/kids 5-11; under 5-FREE

*This museum offers Museums for All, deeply discounted or free admission for people that recieve WIC or SNAP http://www.museums4all.org

^This museum offers discounted or free admission for military, offers vary

What's Your Homeschool Philosophy?

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 02:26:47 GMT

Homeschool Philosophy - The goal that drives your homeschool

Let's talk about each of our philosophies of homeschooling.

Jessica:

So my homeschooling philosophy at the beginning was more like how not to

homeschool because they did it all wrong. I had the wrong motives with the wrong "hardtitude" and that's

why we had such a rough rough beginning. At the time my Philosophy was "I can

do it better. I can teach better than the public schools. I can teach my children better than an entire school of professionally trained teachers.

Now as time has evolved my pride is being stripped and stripped away, thank God, m y homeschooling philosophy is to give my kids what they need right when they need it. It is to meet their needs and just come and meet them where they are. That is my goal of homeschooling.

"My homeschooling philosophy is to give my kids what they need

right when they need it."

Jenn:

I am educating for I don't know what . I know God has a plan for my children. I know that I don't

know what that plan is. I can see their strengths and weaknesses. There's little hints or big hints but

I don't really know what His plan is for them. I'm educating the whole child: their mind, their heart, and

their soul. S o we focus on their emotional education, their psychological education, their religious education and then of course their academics. All of that is encompassed in homeschooling for me.

My kids might end up wanting to become a doctor or a lawyer. I want them educated so they

are well prepared to go into those fields and be the best doctor or lawyer they can be. I f they want to be a mailman or a construction worker or whatever, I want them to be the best

garbage collector or whatever and be happy with the life that they have chosen and God has

chosen with them. My hope is t hey would have all of these skills and abilities in a plethora of different avenues. Most important, though, is that their relationship with Christ and their own dignity and sense of self would be intact.

"I homeschool for . . . I don't know what which mostly means everything.

I'm educating the whole person so academics is a big part of that

but it is just a part."

What is YOUR homeschool philosophy? What is the driving force that guides why and how you homeschool?

Life Adventures Video Channel & Playlists https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt2okhW2Il5FljMSWWh1ILg

Homeschool Philosophy Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHKOnmNWFtc&t=136s

#homeschool

#homeschoolphilosopy

#momfriends

Let Us Introduce Ourselves, We’re Jess & Jenn

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 03:38:06 GMT

We are just a couple of moms who started Life Adventures Homeschool Resources

We are just a couple of moms who started Life Adventures Homeschool Resources, which is a local home school group located in northeastern Indiana. We want to include you in our chats about homeschooling. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and come sit with us and join in the conversation.

Jenn's 2022 Stats:

married 28 years (that's been verified by her husband)
is currently immersed in her 21st year of homeschooling (in spite of her lack of memory at 24 seconds)
5 kids ranging in age from 26-14
graduated 4 kids from her homeschool
homeschooled the kids all the way through
currently homeschooling her youngest
Jenn likes to build homeschool groups (like kids build with blocks)

"I've always known I have significant weaknesses so I shore up my weaknesses by starting a homeschool group."

Jess's 2022 Stats:

graduated with a teaching degree and taught in the public schools
her husband of 18 years (confirmed by her husband) is a public school teacher
3 kids ages 16, 15 & 8 years old
has homeschooled the kids all the way through
is currently in her 12th year of homeschooling
fostered and homeschooled the foster kids
one of Jessica's strengths is servant leadership (although she's insecure about it)

"...and now we do Life Adventures." ~together

Introduce yourself and tell us YOUR stats.

Life Adventures Video Channel & Playlists https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt2okhW2Il5FljMSWWh1ILg

Let Us Introduce Ourselves Video https://youtu.be/yk16WaGXrRQ

#homeschool

#homeschoolfriends

#momfriends

#LifeHS

JOIN US on our American History Tour

info.lifehs.net@gmail.com (Jenn MacDonald) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:40:34 GMT

School Trip: Homeschool Edition

GUIDED FAMILY TOUR THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY

May 29 - June 4, 2023

7 days and 6 nights to our nation's founding spaces and places

leaving from and returning to Fort Wayne, IN

Includes

Bus & driver, with all travel arrangements
Hotels & secure overnight accommodations
Bottled water, almost all food (see details)
Experienced tour guide, entrance fees

PLUS no driving, tips, traffic, parking...

Save Time -
No Driving on unfamiliar roads, traffic or parking headaches...

Fundraising opportunities -
Your efforts go to your own family and not for the group

Educational -

Count this dynamic trip on your high schooler's transcript

Friends -
Make incredible memories as a family and make new friends!

More information at https://www.lifehs.net/american-history-tour

If you'd like to do this for your own group, contact Glenn Fountain at https://www.wetravel.com/users/american-history-tours-llc and tell him Life Adventures sent you!

Leaders Guide Launch

info.lifehs.net@gmail.com (Jenn MacDonald) — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 21:03:18 GMT

Homeschool Leader's Guidebook

DIY Homeschool Leaders Guidebook

How do I start a homeschool co-op? Would you like to start a homeschool group in your area and wish you had someone to light up the path for you? Are you running a group and would like to find healthy ways to improve it? We've got digital downloads and group assistance in bite sized pieces each month for a year for you!! Plus we add in all the worksheets, forms and contracts we use to run our group and more! We'll make it all available for you. It's the basics of what you'll need to either create or streamline your own group!

This tier of help answers the WHAT questions - What structure works? What volunteers do I need? What do the volunteers need to know? What should I do next? Plus soooo many other questions.

How do I make a homeschool co-op? Get a Life Adventures Homeschool Leaders Guide

You have t he freedom to choose the type of group you want to establish. We have four successful models available for you to consider:

Homeschool Co-op Group:

A homeschool co-op is a collaborative group where everyone volunteers to share the workload and sometimes the expenses. Discover effective strategies for creating an efficient and harmonious co-op.

2. Homeschool Classes for Fee Group:

This model resembles hiring a tutor but involves multiple classes taking place simultaneously. With various elements in motion, it's always beneficial to seek assistance and advice. Learn how to navigate this type of group successfully.

3. Homeschool Kids Social Club Group:

This group aims to bring homeschool kids together to foster friendships and social interactions. Whether focusing on service-oriented activities, social gatherings, or a combination of both, you have the flexibility to design a laid-back or exhilarating experience based on your preferences.

4. Homeschool Parents Support Group:

Homeschool parents naturally desire to support one another, but it's crucial to avoid wasting valuable efforts. This manual provides guidance on obtaining information and encouragement without exhausting yourself. Join a supportive community of homeschooling parents.

Every month, we will send you PDF materials that we have created and utilized in our homeschool group. Over the course of 12 months, you will become an expert homeschool leader. We present the information in managea ble portions, allowing you to implement it effectively and personalize it according to your needs. As a motivated homeschool mom, this guidance is precisely what you need to establish your own homeschool group.

Have you wanted to look inside how a successful, healthy and dynamic homeschool group structures, communicates, and makes decisions? We're cracking our model wide open for you to examine and create your own robust group to keep it thriving for years to come!

We're including:

1. Worksheets to walk you through the process for yourself

2. Sample Code of Conduct, Family Agreement, and examples handling sticky situations

3. Calendar of activities and prompts of what to do when

4. Suggested Policy Manual, Budget & Start up costs and more!

5. Recommended Volunteer Positions, Responsibilities and how to share the load

6. Sample Summary Proposals for Facility Use, Class Submissions, and more!

7. Representative Facilities Use Agreement Forms, sample emails, and other needed tidbits

8. Field Trip & Adventure Forms + Suggestions plus Class Scheduling helps

9. Recommendations for:

Software applications
Where to find legal help
Insurance providers
Online providers
and so much more!

10. Group Advertising Strategy

In addition you'll get an invitation to our private homeschool leaders social media groups
AND invitations to our yearly leaders retreats !

In addition to the above we WANT TO GIVE YOU MORE!!

FREE LESSON PLANS
We'd also like to offer you FREE LESSON PLANS that we use in our groups from Preschool - Highschool, from core academics to wildly enticing electives, from remedial to honors work!!

FREE Homeschool Lesson Plans Preschool - Grade 12

If you'd like a little (or a lot) more help and are looking for someone to walk alongside you, we have 2 other levels that offer experienced guidance from an experienced homeschool leader!

https://www.lifehs.net/homeschool/DIY-Homeschool-Leaders-Guidebook

Teaching Your Child to Read at Home: Advice from a Reading Tutor

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 16:47:18 GMT

Printed in The Homemade News

“She sobs every time she reads and talks about how stupid she is and that she can’t do it.”

“He gets so frustrated when we’re doing school and after 10 minutes of reading he refuses to read more, even if I threaten to ground him.”

“I want to yell or cry and can barely control my frustration that everything I do to help him read doesn’t seem to be working.”

The above are comments that I hear time and again from parents who come to me, exhausted and disheartened, for help. As a reading tutor, I’ve met a countless number of parents whose children are struggling, and heard so many stories. These parents look dejected and battle weary. They have fought hard. I have so much compassion for these parents who are at their wits end; I don’t want any homeschool parent to be in that position. Here are my tips for how to teach your child at home.

Teach Reading

As obvious as this may seem, it is important. I have never met a child who just picked up a book one day and started reading despite no previous knowledge. Reading is not like eating or talking, an instinctual process. Reading and writing are communication tools or technology that must be learned. Even very young fluent readers have to be modeled reading by their parents and learn the sounds of letters. Teaching the sound of letters and letter combinations is called phonics.

Use Phonics

Phonics is the best way to teach reading. If you think back to a one room schoolhouse à la Little House in the Prairie, the teacher taught phonics. The English language has evolved over 1,400 years. Standardized spelling in English has only existed for about 600 years. For this reason, English spelling is not clear or concise at all. There are innumerable studies from cognitive scientists demonstrating that phonics is the indisputable method to teach reading. Some children easily pick up on the subtle rules of English phonics but others need to be taught those rules. There are many curriculums for phonics. Sing, Spell, Read & Write, Hooked on Phonics, and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons are my favorites, but there are a myriad of amazing programs to try. If a certain program isn’t working for your child, even if your other children did well with it, don’t be afraid to try others until you find the one that works the best.

Make Reading Fun

Read stories often to your children, pointing to the words as you read. As you read, ask them questions to test their understanding of the story. Many of my students struggle with comprehension in addition to reading; because they didn’t know how to read, they weren’t able to develop vital comprehension skills. Questions can be short and easy, such as “Why did he do that?” “What do you think he is feeling or thinking?” “What do you think is going to happen next?”

Reward reading. Reward your child with screen or play time if they read without complaining or for ten minutes; give prizes if they reach a reading goal, such as reading a paragraph. Sing, Spell, Read & Write and Hooked on Phonics have rewards built into the programs.

As hard as teaching is for you, reading is more grueling for your child. It is NOT because your child isn’t smart, or trying. Each child is different and has a different learning style. Your child might already feel inadequate because they compare themselves to other kids. Praise them for trying. Show them their talents in other areas of learning, such as art, music, or engineering. Most importantly, point out their successes instead of their failures. You should correct their mistakes, but not necessarily every mistake every lesson. However, you should applaud or affirm every word or sentence that they read correctly.

Resist Discouragement

Hopelessness is most destructive to your teaching and your child’s learning. If you lose hope that your child will become a fluent reader, or even become a better reader, your child will be able to detect that sentiment and lose hope as well. Therefore, anything that alleviates frustration or stress and furthers your child’s reading is indispensable.

If you start to feel frustrated while teaching, take a break and go do something that rejuvenates you. An important lesson that I learned early in my career was if a child cries, the lesson for the day is over. No child can do the arduous task of learning a difficult skill if they are sobbing. Before they reach that breaking point, and are getting frustrated, take a five minute break from reading and let them do something fun.

Ask for Help

Teaching a struggling reader is a battle. You need comrades in arms. Ask other homeschool moms for advice or curriculum suggestions. Send your child over to a friend’s house for extra reading practice from a different teacher. Do research. Join online groups with other homeschoolers of struggling readers. Don’t be afraid to contact a specialist to assess, offer tips, or assist you in teaching your child to read if they need extra help.

If teaching your child to read seems impossible, it isn’t. The best part of my job is watching my students’ eyes light up when they finally ‘get it’, and after all of their hard work take pride in their accomplishments. This seemingly insurmountable goal is achievable. Take courage. Fight the good fight and finish the course.

Bio:

Kate MacDonald is a homeschool graduate and private reading tutor. She started Dyslexia Tutor Fort Wayne in 2015 and has been working with struggling readers and dyslexic students and graduating fluent readers since. You can contact Kate or visit her website for more information at https://www.dyslexiatutor.net/

Needs of Moms

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 16:51:24 GMT

Printed our local homeschool magazine, The Homemade News, Jan 2020

Every mom I know has more on her plate than she knows what to do with. Every mom I know is looking for ways to simplify and optimize just to get some peace and space.

Is this just the way life is? A stage that will pass? Or is something about motherhood today off balance? motherhood has changed a lot in a generation or two. Mom guilt seems like it’s sticking around.

This amazing time in history lets us have it all… a career, a family, relationships, etc. But it also puts pressure on us to do it all. Statistically, moms are spending more time working AND more time with their children. We’re all working more, sleeping less, and often more stressed.

One major thing has changed in motherhood in the last few generations is the level of support. Of course there are exceptions and this can vary based on where we live and how much family we have nearby, but overall, we’re trying to do more with less support.

And that is the one thing we all seem to need and want the most right now! Real community and support. we all love our families dearly and want to do the best we can for them. That if we’re being honest, we feel like we’re failing at that some of the time… or even a lot of the time.

That motherhood may be the most fulfilling thing we’ve ever done, but it’s also often the most exhausting.

This applies no matter what stage of motherhood we are in. If we are single moms, stay-at-home moms, working moms. We all feel it and we’re all in this together.

Moms are incredibly powerful. Our everyday actions shape the next generation. Our buying decisions shape markets.

Let’s use this power to set the example in another way… Moms are incredible. They care for the little people (and oh yeah, grow and birth them too!). They care for their loved ones (all of them), work, volunteer, cook, clean, learn, teach, decorate, listen, drive, organize, coordinate, celebrate, and basically keep all the wheels of life moving.

It doesn’t matter where or how you work or how successful you feel… odds are you work overtime (and care tremendously while you do it).

So if we’re so amazing, why don’t we feel like we are most of the time?

We could talk for hours about the support moms need from their kids, their partners, the workplace, and the culture. I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb when I say that improvements could happen in all of those areas. For moms (and women in general) to thrive, everyone needs to take responsibility for their share of the balancing act.

And we haven’t quite figured this out as a culture. Case in point: how many times is a man asked “how they balance it all“? (Probably the most common question I’m asked by men and women alike…. here is my answer if you’re interested.)

#1: Recognize That Different Opinions Don’t Equal Judgement

Moms are vulnerable to a constant input of opinions from all sides. It takes strong mental and emotional boundaries to be able to take in different ways of thinking and filter out the worry that an opinion is a judgment on our own life. And I’d argue that it’s a skill that we as moms need more than ever.

#2: Model Respectful Conversation Even in Disagreement

love, kindness and respect are things we should give freely to every single person.

In a world with so much pain, division, and hostility, we need to all become a gentle army who can say honestly and to anyone we meet “I love you and I respect you” without any qualifiers. Who can be kind to everyone, even when we disagree with them. Who have the courage to be able say “I fundamentally disagree with you, and I’d like to have an open and kind discussion about this topic while maintaining mutual respect.”

Is it possible? I think so! We may have to break some engrained habits and it may take some practice, but what better to model to our children…

#3: Look for What Connects Us

We all worry about our kids, our health, our families, our careers, and whether we’re doing it “right.” We all feel insecure. We also all do a lot of hidden work that no one ever sees or acknowledges.

It can be really easy to admire another mom, to see what she does well, and to never say anything about it all. Let’s start saying it! It only takes a second to compliment another mom and improve her whole day, if we can only look for and seize the opportunity.

After all, who else can understand what we’re going through and what we need but another mom on this same crazy ride?

#4: Seize Opportunities for Real Connection & Community

As moms, we’re given a lot of advice about “leaning in,” slowing down (aka “enjoy every moment!”), and “washing our faces.” These are valuable perspectives, but I’m starting to realize that what I need most as a mom is to let other people in.

In other words, more than anything, moms (and our entire culture) needs real and meaningful community.

I get it… we’re busy. We exchange thoughts, feelings, and information on social media and through texting all day long. In this wonderful and crazy modern world, the days where we live in the same neighborhood where we grew up, surrounded by extended family and friends, may be gone for most of us. And we are feeling the effects as parents.

The fact that things have changed doesn’t make authentic community any less important… it just means we have to be more intentional about cultivating it.

In today’s world, community might look a little more like a dinner club with friends. Or a moms’ night out group. Or in our case, a neighborhood that feels like a small glimpse back into earlier decades and where kids roam freely and zip around on bikes under the watchful eye of friends we love.

Get rid of the word “busy.” Reverse engineer the schedule and build in times to connect. Forget the clean house or the fancy snacks. Easier said than done, I know, but it is so, so needed and worth it.

#5: Most of All, Moms, Let’s Have Each Others’ Backs

If the mommy wars have ended, it’s time to rebuild.

Until the world figures it out, let’s stand in the gap for each other. Let’s look for the opportunity to slay mom guilt and replace it with affirmation and support.

Let’s push ourselves out of our comfort zones and not be afraid to learn a new way, a new opinion, a new skill.

Let’s stop ourselves when we feel threatened by what another mom is doing well and take a deeper look at why…

Let’s put down the to-do list, flip on the porch light, and let others into our messy, imperfect lives.

Moms have a unique power to shape the next generation , and we can make a difference for the women trying to “do it all” after us. I firmly believe being vulnerable is our new superpower, and a huge gift we can give to other moms and in turn, our daughters.

Hi, I'm Jenn MacDonald

jenn@highlanddove.org (Jenn MacDonald) — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 02:10:13 GMT

Jenn loves the sun, ocean, and swinging in a hammock chair.

Almost no matter what a child or mom struggles with, I have been there and done that and Jesus is who got me through. Helping families experience the freedom to be who they were created to be is a mission I try to live out in my own life and help others with.

I graduated from South Side High School and have been homeschooling since 2002. I'm involved in my 19th year of homeschool and have graduated 4 of her 5 children who range in age from 23 to 11 and abilities from highly academic to overcoming struggles with Dyslexia and ADHD.

My homeschool runs on the classical model with a 4 year cycle for history, literature, religion and science. She and like-minded moms offer those classical classes to Life Adventures in history, literature & science. [2018 America (Yr 4) / 2019 Ancients (Yr 1) / 2020 Middle Ages (Yr 2) / 2021 Modern World (Yr 3) / 2022 America (Yr 4) ]

My children are my greatest accomplishment. My oldest daughter, Kate MacDonald, graduated from 12 years of homeschooling and currently tutors students with Dyslexia. My second daughter, Emma, created works of music during high school. Currently she and her husband are stationed in Dayton as he is serving in the Airforce. My son Andrew is an apprentice plumber with Rolf Griffin, and my son, Peter, works with my husband doing online marketing. My youngest son, Will, is taking classes through Life Adventures.

My favorite quote: "Never tire of loving" ~ Saint Mother Teresa

Hi, I'm Jessica Koerner

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 01:54:50 GMT

Jessica loves summer, being barefoot in the grass, and blowing things up.

I love all living things. I'm a master gardener, master naturalist, and I want to love whoever God has put in my path. I feel my students' struggles intimately and I don't hesitate to get right in there with them to help.

I studied at Anderson University and IPFW, graduating from the later in 2003 with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and an accreditation in Middle school Science. In 2006 I studied Emergent Literacy through IU, Bloomington, working towards her Master’s. In summer of 2019, I fulfilled a dream, graduating the Indiana Master Naturalist Program through Purdue County Extention, working with Fox Island and Little River Wetlands to preserve natural habitats and wild life in Fort Wayne.

My teaching resume includes:

teaching in public elementary school classrooms
teaching struggling readers through small group intensives
teaching autism specialized preschool
private tutoring
running a homeschool co-op in her home for 5 years
teaching through Northside Homeschool Co-op
Teaching ICAN life skills through Purdue County Ext for 4 years
homeschooling her 3 children ages 16-7

I think my strongest skill in teaching is my ability to adapt to the children’s needs. Having taught a very wide range of abilities and disabilities gives me the experience to differentiate my instruction; reaching children where they are. I have always known that teaching would be my life’s work, and I am so grateful that it has lead me to homeschooling and teaching other homeschoolers.

My greatest joys in life are serving my children and husband. I have lots of hobbies, especially gardening and painting.

Life Adventures Blog

American Jr. High Literature

U.S. Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature Lesson Plans and Book List

Book List for American Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

Modern World Jr. High Literature

Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature for the Modern World Era Lesson Plans and Book List

Book Club Meets … Love of Learning Jr. High Literature

Book Club Meets… Love of Learning Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

5th-8th grade Book List

Book Club Meets … World War II Jr. High Literature

Book Club Meets… World War II Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

5th-8th grade Book List

Book Club Meets … George MacDonald Jr. High Literature

Book Club Meets… George MacDonald Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

5th-8th grade Book List

Book Club Meets …Brain Science Jr. High Literature

Book Club Meets… Brain Science Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

5th-8th grade Book List

I Survived Jr. High Literature

I Survived Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

5th-8th grade Book List

Middle Ages Literature for Jr. High

Middle Ages Literature for Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Lesson Plans and Book List

Book list for Medieval Jr. High Literature

Shakespeare & Classic Literature for Jr. High

Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature for the Modern World Era Lesson Plans and Book List

Book Club Meets … Exciting English Jr. High Literature

Book Club Meets… Exciting English Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature

5th-8th grade Book List

Kids Eat (Mostly) Free

In and Around Fort Wayne

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays --

Saturdays --

Sundays

Anytime

Jr. High Literature: Stories of the Ancients

Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature: Stories of the Ancients ﻿

5th-8th grade Book List

Homeschool Leader's Assistance: Tier 3

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Planning Workshop Videos now available

There are several videos to choose from and all were very helpful talks!

Homeschool Planners

Designed by homeschoolers for homeschoolers

Acknowledging Homeschool Leaders

Unsung Heroes in our Homeschool Community

Getaways on a Budget: St. Louis

Getaways on a Budget

St. Louis, Missouri

Getaways on a Budget: Detroit

Getaways on a Budget

What's Your Homeschool Philosophy?

Homeschool Philosophy - The goal that drives your homeschool

Jessica:

Jenn:

Let Us Introduce Ourselves, We’re Jess & Jenn

We are just a couple of moms who started Life Adventures Homeschool Resources

Jenn's 2022 Stats:

Jess's 2022 Stats:

JOIN US on our American History Tour

School Trip: Homeschool Edition

Leaders Guide Launch

Homeschool Leader's Guidebook

DIY Homeschool Leaders Guidebook

Teaching Your Child to Read at Home: Advice from a Reading Tutor

Printed in The Homemade News

Teach Reading

Use Phonics

Make Reading Fun

Resist Discouragement

Ask for Help

Needs of Moms

Printed our local homeschool magazine, The Homemade News, Jan 2020

So if we’re so amazing, why don’t we feel like we are most of the time?

#1: Recognize That Different Opinions Don’t Equal Judgement

#2: Model Respectful Conversation Even in Disagreement

Jr. High (5th-8th grades) Literature: Stories of the Ancients