Inspired Education

It’s summer! Which means…we’re still learning! Each summer I choose a few things for us to learn about. This summer, we’re focusing on nutrition and cooking/baking!

We’re loving our new nutrition curriculum, Growing Up Nourished! Today’s lesson is on food miles. My kids are currently going through all of our food in the refrigerator and pantry to find where it came from. We were surprised to find an item from South Africa!

We started our Memorial Day study today! Today’s focus was on the Civil War and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Even though we’ve been using this study for several years, we still gain so much from it each year. This year I am adding in books that I have thrifted throughout the year. So thankful to Brighter Day Press for these amazing studies!

They did it!! Ambleside years 3 and 5 are complete! This year has been so amazing. The growth I have seen in both kids surpasses anything I could have imagined.

They both continue to love ALL biographies. They both also chose a family read aloud as one of their favorite books from the year. These books go on so many adventures with us - hotels, camping, etc - that I often think they choose them partially for the memories we made while reading them!

Happy May to all of our friends who follow a traditional school calendar!

Long Division Acronym

One day I went to my friend’s house, and her mom was making brownies! We couldn’t wait to eat them! As soon as they were ready we both took a BIG bite…and spit them out! Why were they so salty?! Her mom accidentally grabbed the salt instead of the sugar! Oh no! Whatever you do…

Don’t
Make
Salty
Brownies!!

Divide
Multiply
Subtract
Bring down

I tutored a student today who LOVED this story! I had her write DMSB above every long division problem that she worked. She made a small dot under the letter each time she completed a step. It was so fun to see her go confidently from step to step!

Today we started the chapter in The Jungle Book about a mongoose. We had so much fun watching videos of mongooses fighting cobras! We all decided if we lived in a place where cobras lived, the mongoose would be our favorite animal!

Happy Easter to our friends near and far! Books are always a part of our kids’ Easter baskets. Our gifts to our children are little messages to them of what we think is important. Each year, we gift them books that we pray will grow their faith, knowledge, and relationship with God.

Y5
Devotional: Wild Faith

Our daughter was accepted into a zoo internship for the summer, and she could not be more excited! She is passionate about a future career with animals. This devotional highlights a different animal each day and points something about that animal back to Jesus. A lizard that walks on water and a see through glass frog are just a few examples she will find in this devotional!

Activity: Gratitude Journal

I chose this journal because of the beautiful mandala style coloring activities each day.

Reading: Circle C Adventures

My daughter has followed the character of Andi since Andi was 6 years old in the series Circle C Beginnings! The second series follows Andi at 9 years old. Now my daughter gets to follow her on adventures at age 12!

Y3

Devotional: You Can Trust

This devotional asks a new question every day. What if I get it wrong? What if I’m afraid of the dark? What if I’m too young? The devotional unpacks the question using a Bible verse and great explanations. This is perfect for my little guy who has big feelings and lots of what if questions.

Activity: Gratitude Journal

This gratitude journal is very simple. Each day has a place for what you are grateful for and why followed by a simple activity. Less reading and more drawing made this the perfect fit for a busy, energetic boy.

Reading: The Dead Sea Squirrels

This series was recommended to us for its humor and historical Christian fiction stories. I can’t wait to see if he likes it! Review incoming soon!

Our plan is to come along side them both in their gratitude journals and devotionals. We have chosen to complete gratitude journals in the morning to start the day off right. If I do the gratitude journal with my son, my husband will be with my daughter. At night, for their devotionals we will switch and be with the other child. We’re looking forward to this special one on one time each day with them!

I have the privilege of tutoring several kids in reading each week! Does your kiddo need some fresh, fun reading activities? Feeling stuck and not sure where to turn next? Message me the details, and I’ll share my favorite reading resources with you! From sight words to nonfiction decodable readers, I have found so many amazing resources for readers at all levels. There are some amazing reading blogs that even share some of these resources for free! Please let me know if I can help and point you in the right direction! ❤️

We raided World Market for gluten, dairy, and dye free treats from Europe! We’re up to 27 countries we can all name and label in Europe. I once stuffed my carry on full of dye free candy on a layover in Germany, and now my kids constantly wish we lived in Germany for the dye free candy life! 😅 World Market is as close as we get for now 💙

My year 3 doesn’t know it, but he slid right into year 4 readings today! He finished the last of his year 3 readings yesterday. Since it’s March and sister still has several weeks left, we just kept going into some of his week 1 readings for Y4. We picked up all of the history and mythology readings. I also added in Thirty More Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin (Y3.5) as an independent read, as 50 Famous Stories Retold was one of his all time favorite reads.

Following a continuous history timeline throughout the years makes it easy to start and stop anywhere. We will wait on Y4 literature because we will take a few months off for summer.

We’re in the final push for those of us who follow a traditional school year! Many blessings on you and your family as you reach toward the finish line of your curriculum goals for this school year!