Category: Book Reviews

Book Reviews, Curriculum Reviews, Homeschooling

The Most Hilarious Way to Teach Homeschool Physics

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

The Most Hilarious Way to Teach Homeschool Physics with the Wile E Coyote Physical Science Genius Books from Timberdoodle

Here’s a little homeschooling secret — a confession, really. Science at our house doesn’t usually involve experiments. There, I said it. There are so many great hands-off ideas for studying science, though. I’m not anti-experiment — that would be a weird stance to take, ha! — but I just don’t have the bandwidth to carry out hands-on science all the time!

Fortunately, I am able to actively supplement elementary science and nurture scientific literacy in many different independent ways. One fun idea? Highly-illustrated science books. An even more fun idea? Hilarious science books.

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Book Reviews, Homeschooling

Board Books are Just as Important as Shakespeare

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Board Books are Just as Important as Shakespeare - Here's Why

You know what I’ve done during this pandemic? I can tell you what I didn’t do. I didn’t write a book, learn a new trade, renovate a house, become fluent in another language, or read Anna Karenina (I’m on page 77 of 963).

I didn’t do any of those impressive things “they” say you should have done during lockdown.

What I’ve done? I’ve read a lot of board books.

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Book Reviews, Curriculum Reviews, Homeschooling

Finally, a Kindergarten American History Curriculum!

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Sonlight's New Kindergarten American History Curriculum!Does an accurate American history curriculum for kindergarten actually exist?

A good homeschool history curriculum is difficult to find, isn’t it? And US history is particularly hard to teach.  I have very little tolerance for oversimplified books which whitewash the complexity of our nation’s beginnings, idolize outward morality, virtue, and character, or put Columbus and Washington on a pedestal of American exceptionalism.  But most truly accurate US history books are geared toward a much older audience, and aren’t designed to give a broad sweeping overview to sensitive kindergarteners or first graders. American history is messy, ugly, grim, and often brutal. Teaching true American history to small children — even with picture books — is not easy.

So how do we find accurate US history books which will capture the tender imaginations of precious five- and six-year-olds?

Continue reading “Finally, a Kindergarten American History Curriculum!” →

Book Reviews, Curriculum Reviews, Homeschooling

Review of Apologia Science Journal (Zoology 2)

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

PIN IMAGE for Review of Apologia's Junior Notebooking JournalLife has been crazy. Here’s how we put elementary science on autopilot.

So, it’s been a little bit whole lot bananas around here trying to homeschool my bookish daughter with a high-needs infant in the mix — one who doesn’t tolerate baby carriers, has reflux, needs to be held in very specific ways, doesn’t nap unless he’s held, has mostly no interest in gripping toys, and is homebound (hello, preemie NICU graduate + flu season).

And at six months now since baby was born, advice like “just take a break” doesn’t fly. (Truthfully, that never works with my intense, academic-minded daughter anyway. Breaks in routine mean a breakdown in behavior.)

So as I planned our year, I knew dropping science wasn’t an option.

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Book Reviews, Homeschooling

Reading Challenge Ideas for 2020

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

PIN for reading challenge ideas for 2020

Reading Challenge Ideas for Kids and Adults

Ah, a fresh decade is such a tidy feeling, don’t you think? As a short-sighted, math-challenged five-year-old, I remember wondering if I’d be alive in 2000. Whoops! Here we are, twenty years past the furthest future my kindergarten self could imagine.

[We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

I’m starting out this futuristic decade with a couple of fun reading challenges. I’ll be plotting them in a brand-new notebook — this dotted Leuchterm1917 bullet journal. (Any else suffer from the fear of messing up a new journal, or is it just me? My writing always seems so messy. I like printing and pasting, though.)

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Book Reviews, Homeschooling, Poetry & Words

Jesus Heals: a Baby Believer book (& my story)

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Jesus Heals: A Baby Believer primer, and my story

At 22, I sat in a doctor’s office and listened as the doctor told me I’d likely never have kids. My body, she said, wasn’t 22. It was 60.

“Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong…” -Andrew Peterson

Time marches on.

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Book Reviews, Curriculum Reviews, Homeschooling

Homeschooling with Graphic Novels (like Robin Hood!)

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

PIN IMAGE: Homeschooling with Graphic Novels

Do you use graphic novels in your homeschool? Like Robin Hood and his merry band of thieves, graphic novels can be a bit of an edgy subject in conservative home education circles. But they’re amazing! And there are so many good options. (Keep reading to see my list of favorite graphic novels for your homeschool.)

A few years ago when Aveline was five years old, she quietly colored her entire face green with a marker, then hid in the entryway planning an ambush. When my husband came home after work, she jumped out and screeched, “What is your business in Sherwood Forest, papa?!” (Sugar and spice and everything nice, right? This is also how I learned Crayola washable markers are not washable on the skin.) From the day she was first introduced to Robin Hood and his gang, she’s been in awe.

[Disclosure of Material Connections: I received a complimentary copy of The Adventures of Robin Hood from Timberdoodle in exchange for writing and publishing this review. All opinions — and photographs! ;) — are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.]

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Book Reviews, Homeschooling

Secret of the Hidden Scrolls (AND a BOOKLIST of my favorite series!)

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Book Series Recommendation Gift Ideas Stocking Stuffers

If you’re raising an eager little reader, you know how hard it is to keep up with that voracious appetite for reading material. And you also know the only thing better than finding a good book is realizing the book is part of an entire series. MOAR BOOKZ!

If you’re looking for early chapter books with just the right amount of adventure (time travel! kid-sized explorers! Biblical lands!), I think you’ll love this series. It’s especially perfect for early-grade readers, but my kiddo who usually gravitates toward middle -grade novels is still SUPER excited about it (I mean, look at that face!)

Continue reading “Secret of the Hidden Scrolls (AND a BOOKLIST of my favorite series!)” →