Reading Thanksgiving books together is one of my favorite November traditions! Some help us learn about history, others bring out the fun of holiday traditions, and still others encourage gratitude long after the Thanksgiving dishes are put away. These Thanksgiving living books include longtime favorites from our home. You’ll find picture books, poetry, and nonfiction…
I’ve talked a lot about using picture books to help teach good character qualities here at Our Journey Westward. For that matter, I’ve talked a lot about using picture books to teach, well, everything. Bill Peet’s stories are some of my favorites for helping children recognize kindness, honesty, courage, and the consequences of poor choices….
You already know how much we love literature around here. Maps, quizzes, and geography games are useful, but wonderful books help kids form meaningful connections with the places they are studying. This collection of world geography living literature includes some of our favorite picture books for exploring countries and cultures with elementary-aged kids. This post…
Some children can calculate just fine until a math problem asks them to figure out what to do. That’s where problem-solving picture books can be especially helpful. Through engaging stories, children can watch characters work through challenges, try different approaches, notice patterns, make mistakes, and eventually find solutions. These books give children opportunities to recognize…
This hands-on, literature-based math activity will help your younger students gain a concrete understanding of the concept of standard measurement. Target Age Range: K-2 Skills Covered: non-standard measurement, standard measurement, making comparisons, fine motor skills, reading Understanding measurement doesn’t have to be hard for little ones. In fact, teaching it early with concrete materials builds an…
If you’ve been around here long, you know I love living math! One part of living math that makes so much sense for kids is connecting math concepts with literature. If you’ve never tried it, you’ll be amazed by the understanding gleaned from a simple book that teaches the topic in a fresh way. This post contains…
Now that I’m a “boy-only mom” (because my daughter is in college) choosing read-aloud books requires a new consideration. Will the potential book appeal to my boys? I can’t get away any longer with reading books that have any sort of girly-girl flavor. Lucky for me, there are TONS of wonderful living books to fill…
No matter what has changed in our homeschool over the years or how old my children have grown, one thing has remained constant… read-aloud time. My children still remember so many of the books we’ve enjoyed as a family – and so do I! Whether snuggled under blankets on the couch or lounging on a…
Any time is a good time to read a fantastic picture book, but when that book serves double duty as an educational tool, it’s truly a “keeper.” The character building picture books listed below are definitely keepers. We know that good character is best taught through example, right? The saying goes that way more is…
Winter is the perfect time for snuggling up with books – lots of them! Over the years, we’ve returned to certain books time after time during the winter. I thought I’d share our list of winter books for kids and give you an idea of some of the extension activities we’ve used to turn the…
Enjoy the magic of Christmas with this precious literature-based lesson, which includes a special service project for your family to do together. You’ll love the Silver Packages book activity so much that it might even become a Christmas tradition. Traditions help families build relationships and give children a sense of peace and security. Because they…
Books are incredibly effective tools for teaching. Charlotte Mason homeschoolers certainly understand that fact as it pertains to subjects like history and science. But did you know that the connection between math and literature can be just as powerful? It’s true! One of the best tools I’ve used to help my children understand math concepts…