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A Simple Way to Teach Shakespeare in Your Homeschool

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I used to be intimidated by Shakespeare.

I knew I wanted to introduce it to my kids, but it felt overwhelming, because I honestly just didn’t know much about it at all.

Sarah Mackenzie from Read-Aloud Revival was always encouraging me in this area through her podcast, and she’s the one who first introduced me to an incredible resource: How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig.

However, I think you’ll be surprised by what finally made me take the leap.

What really pushed me to try it was a novel I read with my daughter—The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt. In the story, a middle school boy has private lessons with his teacher, and she makes him listen to Shakespeare plays. Reading about his personal growth through those experiences made it an unforgettable read! (I highly recommend!)

That book made me think: We have to try this.

What We’ve Done (And Why It Works)

For the past two years, we’ve chosen one Shakespeare play each year. And we’ve kept it so simple that it no longer feels intimidating.

It’s something we all look forward to.

In this post, I want to show you exactly what we do—step by step—so you can try it in your own home without overthinking it.

shakespeare resources

Start with This Resource

Before I walk you through our routine, I want to quickly mention How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare again.

This book is incredibly helpful—but don’t feel like you need to read it all at once.

  • Start with the introduction and the first chapter or two for a little inspiration
  • Then come back to it when you’re ready to begin a specific play

Each chapter walks you through the plays, and the author also provides passages for memorization. On his website, you can find printable versions of these passages and audio recordings (so helpful!), which makes it easy to plan.

We use these passages for copy work and recitation.

Choosing a Play

If you’re not sure where to start, Ludwig’s book will help with that too.

  • Our first year: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • This year: The Tempest

The plan I’m about to share is based on The Tempest, but you can easily adapt it to any play.

Our Simple Shakespeare Plan (Step-by-Step)

The easiest way to explain this is to show you exactly what we do—almost like a checklist.

Planning

Before you begin:

  • It will help you to read the chapter in Ludwig’s book on your own for your chosen play. This will build your knowledge about the play as you get ready to share it with your children
  • Print any passages you want to use for copy work or memorization
  • Check your library/amazon for picture book retellings

These steps will help you feel a little more confident before starting.

Day 1: Gentle Introduction

Read and discuss a picture book version of the play.

We used William Shakespeare’s The Tempest by Georghia Ellinas. This is such an easy, gentle way to introduce the storyline without overwhelming your kids.

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Day 2: Get to Know the Characters

Create a simple character chart together. Write down each character and a few basic details. You don’t need to know this in advance. Learn as you read. Here’s an example:

  • Prospero: magician, Miranda’s father, Duke of Milan

We do this in notebooks and use colorful pens or pencils—it adds a little fun and makes it feel special.

Day 3: Begin the Passage

  • Play the audio of your chosen passage
  • Read a short section from Ludwig’s book aloud to your children to give background on the play (For this play, I read pgs. 310-312)
  • Begin copy work

This is a very light day, but it starts building familiarity.

Day 4: Practice Recitation

  • Practice saying the passage together
  • Let each child try on their own
  • Continue copywork

This repetition helps, but it doesn’t feel like too much.

Day 5: Deepen Understanding

Read another version of the story.

We read a longer picture book version (The Tempest by Marianna Mayer) for more detail, but you could definitely read the first picture book again.

After reading:

  • My older kids write a narration
  • My younger child draws a picture

Then we continue:

  • Copy work
  • Passage recitation practice

Day 6: Listen to the Play

This is where it all comes together—and it’s honestly the most fun.

We listen to a full-cast audio version of the play (we found one on Audible) for about 20 minutes at a time.

Because they already know the story and characters, they actually enjoy it.

A few things we add:

  • I follow along in a book so I can pause and ask simple questions. This isn’t necessary, but I enjoy it and find it helpful. (The book I own was a gift to me and isn’t in print anymore. This one may be similar: Complete Works of Shakespeare.)
  • The kids color paper puppets while they listen – it’s worth the few dollars. My kids love this! Later, they turn them into puppets and act out scenes

We also:

  • Finish any remaining copy work
  • Keep practicing the passage

Day 7 (and Beyond): Keep It Going

At this point, we’re nearing the end.

We simply:

  • Continue listening to the play in short chunks (about 20 mins at a time)
  • Practice recitation daily
  • Finish puppets and enjoy re-enacting

Sometimes it takes more than seven days—and that’s completely fine.

Sometimes we don’t even finish the whole play.

And I’m okay with that.

The Goal (This Matters Most)

My goal isn’t perfection or completion.

It’s exposure.

I want my young children to experience great stories, rich language, and beautiful ideas. And this simple approach allows us to do that without pressure.

You Can Do This

So what do you think?

Does it feel a little more doable?

It doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a perfect plan. All it takes is a simple starting point—and a willingness to try.

You really can do this!

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Teaching Ancient History Through Picture Books

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A simple, literature-based approach to studying ancient civilizations in your homeschool

Learning history through picture books is an incredibly effective way to build a strong foundation of knowledge.

I experienced this firsthand when we studied American history through picture books in our homeschool while my children were in the elementary years. Later, when we worked through a more advanced textbook covering modern American history, we found ourselves constantly recalling those earlier picture books. They had given us a solid background—and made the new material easier to understand and connect.

As we approach ancient history this upcoming year, I know I want to take a similar approach. But as I began researching, I realized that studying ancient history looks a little different.

A Different Approach to Ancient History

Unlike American history, ancient history doesn’t always work neatly in a straight timeline.

Instead, it often makes more sense to study individual civilizations as their own units. As you do this, the bigger picture begins to come together naturally over time.

I also noticed that dates don’t always align across resources. Questions about timelines—and even the age of the earth—can come up quickly. Because of that, I decided to focus less on exact dates and more on the quality of the content.

If a book presents meaningful, engaging, and educational material, then it stays on my list.

I’m so excited to share this list with you. As the parent, you can always choose how much detail you want to include with your children when it comes to exact timelines and dates.

A Note for Parents

It’s also worth mentioning—some of these books are a little wild.

Ancient history is full of folklore, gods, goddesses, and cultural traditions that may be unfamiliar or even contain beliefs that are different from what you believe.

As a Christian, discussing multiple gods can get tricky with little ones, but I also understand that it’s a huge part of these ancient civilizations. Each and every family will need to make unique decisions regarding this, and I encourage you to do what you think is best.

I do enjoy using these instances as teaching moments for my own children – sharing what we believe as a family and how it differs from what we are reading. With that being said, there are books on this list that I wouldn’t read to my youngest ones (under 8-10 years).

I’ve previewed these books, but ultimately, you know your children best. Please preview these books on your own as well to decide what feels like a good fit for your family.

What You’ll Find in These Book Lists

These lists are built around:

  • A few carefully chosen nonfiction titles for background knowledge
  • Story-driven, engaging picture books
  • Rich literature that helps children experience the culture of each civilization

Once you’ve built a basic understanding of the ancient civilization, you’ll move into stories that bring the time period to life.

I’ve also included a novel for each civilization. This is simply a fun addition if you’d like to include a read-aloud alongside your studies.

Finding the Books

I encourage you to use your local library for the majority of these books. It’s a simple and affordable way to make this approach work in your homeschool.

If you’re unable to find a specific title, here are a few easy alternatives:

Interlibrary Loan
Check to see if your library offers interlibrary loan. This allows you to borrow books from other libraries—sometimes even from across the state or country—and is a great option when your local branch doesn’t have what you need.

Search for Read-Alouds Online
Some of these books can be found as read-alouds online. Try searching the book title followed by “read aloud” and see if it’s available.

Purchase the Books
You can always purchase books and build your home library. Check your local bookstore or order online. I’ve linked each book in this post. These are affiliate links. If you follow one of my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Look for Used Copies
If you’re hoping to save money, used book websites can be a great option. Many offer discounted prices and occasional deals when you purchase multiple books. (www.thriftbooks.com is my go-to)

A Final Note

There are many wonderful books on each of these topics. I’ve chosen ones that I felt were especially engaging and well-suited for this approach, but they are not the only options.

If you can’t find a specific title, simply look for another book that covers a similar topic. It will still serve your purpose well.

Let this be a guide—not a set of rigid rules. Pick and choose the books you want to read. It’s OK if you don’t read all of them. The goal is to learn, enjoy the process, and build a meaningful understanding of history together.

As a heads up, some books may be a bit longer than your average picture book. My advice would be to split it up into a couple days to keep everyone’s attention and really get the most out of the story.

If you’d like a printable book list to stay organized and check books off as your read them, you can get that at the bottom of this post.

Informational Books

For each ancient civilization, I’ve included a selection of informational picture books.

Non-fiction books vary greatly! Some contain chapters and chapters of text, some are in graphic novel form, some contain hundreds of small images with captions…the list could go on.

I’m very particular about the ones I choose. I want it to be easily readable, almost like a story, and I want it to contain interesting images to keep it engaging. The length is also important to me as I have a variety of ages in my home.

I’ve noticed in my research that libraries don’t always have the entire set in a series for these nonfiction books. Because of that, I want to list a few of my favorite series that I think are easiest to read to elementary students.

As you work through these book lists, if you can’t find the specific non-fiction book I list, see if you can get your hands on one from a different series listed below:

  • A Look at Ancient Civilizations by Daniel R. Faust
  • Ancient Civilizations – Blastoff Discovery (Various Authors)
  • You Are In… by Ivan Minnis
  • DK Find Out! by DK Publishing
  • If You Were Me and Lived in… by Carole P. Roman (more story-like than informational, but she does have a few in her series)
  • Technology in the Ancient World by Charlie Samuels
  • You Wouldn’t Want to… (various authors)
  • Life in Ancient Civilizations (Various Authors; Published by Millbrook Press)

Ancient Mesopotamia

A Look at Ancient Civilizations: Ancient Mesopotamia by Daniel R. Faust

Technology in Ancient Mesopotamia by Charlie Samuels (When you get past the introduction of this book, there is a bold paragraph on each page. If I were reading this to my youngest children, I’d only read that bold paragraph and observe the pictures. Older children may enjoy digging deeper and reading more)

You Wouldn’t Want to be a Sumerian Slave by Jacqueline Morley (This series is pretty silly and filled with info. I’d save it for your older elementary kiddos. My suggestion would be to read the larger font so it reads more like a story. Then, pick and choose the small images you want to read about)

The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon by Martha E. H Rustard

Gilgamesh the King by Ludmila Zeman (This ancient myth is part of a trilogy. You could read all three if you wanted to add to this unit.)

NOVEL: The Golden Bull by Marjorie Cowley

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt

A Look at Ancient Civilizations: Ancient Egypt by Daniel Faust

National Geographic Kids: Pyramids by Laura Marsh

Pharaoh’s Boat by David Weitzman (spend a few days with this one – It’s longer, but very interesting!)

Nile Crossing by Katy Beebe (fictional story based in ancient times; will introduce school and hieroglyphics)

Hieroglyphs from A to Z by Peter Der Manuelian

You Wouldn’t Want to Be Tutankhamen! by David Stewart (I’d save this for your upper elementary kiddos)

Cleopatra by Diane Stanley

Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo (fictional tale based in ancient times)

Egyptian gods and goddesses by Henry Barker (If you have older children and want to learn more about the different gods and goddesses of Egypt, this book will do that in a simple way. Preview it and make the call for your family.)

NOVEL: Boy of the Pyramids: A Mystery of Ancient Egypt by Ruth Fosdick Jones

Ancient Greece

If You Were Me and Lived In…Ancient Greece by Carole P. Roman

What’s your angle, Pythagoras? By Julie Ellis

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Laskey

King Midas and the Golden Touch retold by Charlotte Craft (Greek myth)

Surprise, Trojans!: The Story of the Trojan Horse by Joan Holub (Greek myth/legend)

Aesop’s Fables by Jerry Pinkney (a collection of short stories written during these ancient times and still enjoyed today! You may enjoy reading these throughout your study of ancient Greece)

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki (This book is wild! I’d recommend for older children. If you want to learn about the different gods and goddesses of Greece, this book will do that in a simple way. Preview it and make the call for your family.)

NOVEL: The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling (Not a historical novel, but a fictional story based on King Midas and the Golden Touch)

ancient rome

Ancient Rome

You Are in Ancient Rome by Ivan Minnis

20 Fun Facts About the Colosseum by Drew Nelson

DK Find Out!: Ancient Rome – This does not read like a story, but I love this series. It’s very enjoyable to look at, contains great photos, and even some quizzes. It may be a fun one to just skim through and read what interests you.

Pompeii: Lost and Found by Mary Pope Osborne

Mosaics by Nathanial Harris – This is not specifically about the ancient times, but it contains the history of mosaic art and three to four examples from ancient Rome and Greece. Read the intro and look at the story behind a painting or two from Rome. The back of the book contains a few art projects to try on your own as well.

You Wouldn’t Want to be a Roman Gladiator by John Malam (I’d recommend this for upper elementary and beyond. Stick to the larger text on the pages to shorten this read; enjoy picture captions as you are interested)

Romulus and Remus by Anne Rockwell (Roman mythology)

Eat Your Peas, Julius! by Shirin Yim Bridges (the storyline of this one is really pointless, but it’s cute and there’s great information in the back about Julius Caesar as well as the food eaten during this time period)

NOVEL: The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Ancient India

A Look at Ancient Civilizations: Ancient India by Daniel Faust

Ancient India (Blastoff! Discovery) by Sara Green – This is another informational book series. It’s very readable with great images and has a little more detail about the history and daily life of ancient India.

The Elephant’s Friend and Other Tales from Ancient India by Marcia Williams (multiple ancient tales to read, choose one or more)

Once a Mouse… by Marcia Brown (an ancient tale; I’ve listed multiple tales in this Ancient India category. Many tales were told to teach lessons. This could bring great discussion – What lessons do you think were behind these stories?)

Rama and the Demon King: An Ancient Tale from India by Jessica Souhami (an ancient tale)

One Grain of Rice by Demi (a folktale)

Savitri: A Tale of Ancient India by Aaron Shepherd (an ancient tale, may be better suited for your older kiddos)

Under the Bodhi Tree: A Story of Buddha by Deborah Hopkinson (Buddhism originated in ancient India. If this is something you want to explore with your children, this book will tell you who Buddha is and where he came from.)

NOVEL: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (not historical, but it is a classic novel based in India)

ancient india

Ancient China

You Are in Ancient China by Ivan Minnis

Great Wall of China by Kristine Spanier

Ming’s Adventure on China’s Great Wall by Li Jian (a fictional story about a boy that visits the wall and travels back in time with a General; There are a few Ming’s Adventure series books about China. If you enjoy this one, you could look into the others, as well.)

Technology In Ancient China by Charlie Samuels (When you get past the introduction of this book, there is a bold paragraph on each page. If I were reading this to my youngest children, I’d only read that bold paragraph and observe the pictures. Older children may enjoy digging deeper and reading more)

The Silk Princess by Charles Santore (This is a fictional story based off an ancient Chinese legend. More information about the legend is in the back of the book. The process of making silk is fascinating! Dive deep into this with more books/videos if you have interest)

Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior by Faye-Lynn Wu (Ancient Chinese legend; You may desire to compare this to the Disney movie, “Mulan”)

Scroll by Hui Li (fictional story, introduces Chinese calligraphy)

Additional Reading for Kids

If you have early readers in your house, another great option is to assign independent reading as you study the ancient civilizations. Below are a few suggestions. These could also be chosen as a read aloud or played as an audiobook, if you prefer.

Both of the series listed are designed for early readers and follow the same type of story line, kids traveling back in time to solve a mystery. Imagination Station is a Christian series.

Magic Tree House Series:

Imagination Station Series:

More Literature-Based Learning

We love learning through literature in our home. It’s such an engaging way to teach a subject and it makes our lessons memorable and enjoyable. Some of the other curricula I have created to do this are listed below:

American History Through Picture Books – With this literature-rich curriculum, your family will explore major events in American history through engaging stories that make the past feel vivid, memorable, and fun. Learn history together in a way that feels natural, connected, and truly enjoyable.

Science Through Picture Books – Experience science the simple, memorable, and joyful way—through beautiful, carefully selected picture books. These literature-based units give you a curated book list, discussion guides, narration and notebooking tips, enrichment ideas, and optional videos so you can confidently teach foundational science without a textbook. Perfect for family-style learning.

Novel Guides – Transform your language arts with a simple, story-driven method the whole family can enjoy. One novel, flexible plans, and rich learning for multiple ages.

Picture Book Studies – Gentle, one-week language arts units based on a theme. Teach spelling, vocabulary, grammar, handwriting, narration, and comprehension through one meaningful passage per book.

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    Teaching Writing in Our Homeschool Without Curriculum

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    My first experience teaching writing to my child didn’t go very well.

    By the end of it, we were both frustrated. I remember sitting there, trying to help, but constantly jumping in with suggestions like, “What if you said it like this…”

    And afterward, I had this uncomfortable realization:
    How much of that writing was actually hers?

    Around that same time in our homeschool journey, I was also feeling the pull to step away from an all-in-one language arts workbook, which left me with two problems to solve:

    1. I needed a better approach to teaching writing.
    2. I needed a consistent way to make sure my child was still progressing—even without a boxed curriculum

    What Are We Actually Teaching When We Teach Writing?

    One of the biggest questions I had was…

    If we’re not using an all-in-one curriculum, how do we even know what to teach?

    That question is exactly why I created my free guide, Language Arts: Simplified. It helps break down what language arts actually is and offers simple, natural ways to approach it—especially if you’re trying to move away from an all-in-one workbook or if you just want a more flexible approach.

    When you step back and look at writing as part of the bigger picture, it starts to feel a little less overwhelming.

    Writing Is Just One Part of Language Arts

    Instead of treating language arts as one big subject that has to be done all at once, I’ve found it much more helpful to think of it in parts:

    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Speaking and Listening
    • Language

    Once I recognized these parts, it suddenly became so much easier to think about piecing the subject together.

    What Writing Really Is (and What It Isn’t)

    Before we talk about how to teach writing, it helps to understand what writing actually is.

    Writing is the expression of ideas through language. This will look different at every stage.

    Early stages may include drawing or sharing through play. After a year or two, a sentence (or more) will come into play while the parent is there guiding and supporting. Finally, in the later stages (somewhere around 4th-6th, depending on the child) we start to see our children gaining independence by expressing themselves clearly and organizing their thoughts in a structured way.

    It’s not just assignments, prompts, or filling in blanks on a worksheet. This all can grow naturally through hearing good language, reading meaningful stories, and expressing ideas about literature.

    This shift in perspective changed everything for me.

    What We Do Instead: Written Narration

    The approach that completely changed writing in our home is written narration.

    In simple terms, written narration asks a child to take something they’ve read or heard and tell about through their writing.

    I highly recommend the book, “Know and Tell: The Art of Narration” by Karen Glass. This book is full of information about this and will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step.

    Be sure to get your hands on the hard copy because it includes charts, a scope and sequence for implementing this process, as well as student examples to see it all in action.

    As children build written narration skills, they are naturally building fluency in writing. This means they are able to get words onto paper and express themselves clearly without feeling that constant writer’s block.

    The biggest plus side to moving to this approach to writing was that it removed the frustration for us.

    I’ve seen the difference firsthand. Writing no longer feels like a struggle in our home. My kids are more confident, and they actually enjoy the process.

    Developing Written Narration Skills

    The book “Know and Tell..” will guide you through this clearly, but I can give you a basic overview.

    Oral narration has to be developed first. This can easily be done after reading a great picture book you enjoy. Simply ask your child to tell you about the story.

    Once oral narration has developed over time, the goal is to get those same thoughts on to paper. It will be a growing process, starting with just one a week and gradually building into more over time (it can take 2-3 years!)

    When your child is fluently writing written narrations (daily), then you move into more of a formal writing approach. This is where you take written narrations and turn them into formal compositions.

    I’ve seen this develop first-hand in my own home. It takes trust, time, and patience, but it works.

    But What If That Feels Too Uncertain?

    If you’re reading this and thinking, That sounds nice, but I don’t know if I could do that, I understand.

    It can feel uncomfortable to step away from a structured program—especially when you want to make sure you’re covering the “right” things.

    If that’s you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a writing curriculum.

    There are many solid options that focus specifically on writing, such as IEW, EIW, Brave Writer, and Write Shop. I’ll be honest and let you know I don’t know much about these, because I don’t use them!

    But supportive materials are available if you need it.

    The Freedom of Piecing Language Arts Together

    This is what I love most about taking a different approach to language arts:

    You don’t have to do everything one way.

    You’re not locked into a single program.

    Instead, you can build something that actually works for your family.

    That doesn’t mean you’re “winging it.” It just means you understand the parts, and you’re choosing how to put them together.

    For us, written narration has been the best fit. I’ve seen the growth, and I’ve watched the frustration disappear.

    But if that’s not the right fit for you, that’s okay.

    Choose something that is.

    When It Starts to Click

    Something shifts when you begin to see language arts in these separate parts.

    Instead of searching for one more language arts workbook, you might find yourself thinking:

    We’ll read this for literature…

    We’ll use this for writing…

    We’ll practice language with this resource…

    And suddenly, it starts to come together.

    If you want to better understand how all of this fits together, you can download my free guide, Language Arts: Simplified. It walks through each part of the subject and gives you a clear, simple framework to follow.

    You don’t need to rely on an all-in-one to teach writing well.

    You just need a clear understanding of what it is—and the freedom to approach it in a way that works for you.

    This post contains affiliate links. I’m thankful for your purchase through my links that support my blog at no extra cost to you.

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    Teach Language Arts Without An All-In-One Curriculum (A Simple Approach for Homeschoolers)

    Guide Image

    If you’ve ever had the desire to get rid of the all-in-one language arts workbooks, you’re not alone.

    I felt the same a few years ago as I was on the hunt for yet another workbook that would finally be the “right” fit for our family.

    At first, that all-in-one workbook structure feels helpful. But over time, it often starts to feel repetitive and disconnected, leading to this constant search for something better.

    One day it hit me:

    Why is it that I get so much joy reading and talking about literature with my kids, but when we open these workbooks, we dread the task of completing it?

    Shouldn’t these two things be connected? Isn’t reading and talking about literature a part of what language arts is all about??

    I knew there had to be another way…

    A New Approach

    After some trial and error, lots of research, and a few years of experience, we have made habits and routines of learning language arts through the books we love.

    We are no longer flipping through pages of random tasks, but instead we are engaged in great literature, having meaningful discussion, and still practicing different language skills such as spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

    This approach put the spark back into learning – for both my children and me.

    A Simpler Way to Think About Language Arts

    Many homeschool parents rely on all-in-one language arts programs because they don’t want to miss anything. That makes sense, because the subject is made up of multiple parts.

    But what if we simplified the standards of the subject a bit to really grasp what it is?

    Suddenly, it doesn’t feel like such a monster of a subject anymore. Seeing each of it’s parts can help us truly grasp the subject and how to tackle it with a different, more natural approach – no all-inclusive workbook needed!

    At its core, language arts is four parts working together:

    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Speaking & Listening
    • Language (grammar, spelling, vocabulary)

    When you understand these pieces, something shifts.

    You’re no longer relying on a workbook to tell you what to do.

    You start to see how language naturally develops through reading great books, having meaningful conversation, and writing regularly.

    But Is This Enough?

    This is usually the biggest question.

    If you step away from a full curriculum…are you doing enough?

    With a simpler approach, nothing is getting skipped. You’re still covering everything—you’re just doing it in a more connected and meaningful way.

    Instead of checking boxes, your child can truly get engaged with literature and language.

    Taking the Leap

    Even when this approach makes sense, it can still feel hard to start.

    Without a workbook you might be wondering: “What exactly is language arts? How do I know what to cover? What does this look like in my daily schedule?”

    An all-in-one workbook may feel safer, but is it truly bringing your family the joy you desire while reading and learning together?

    If we look at language arts from a different angle, the leap starts to feel a little bit easier.

    A Simple Way to Bring It All Together

    This is exactly why I created my free guide:

    Language Arts Simplified

    It breaks the subject down into clear, manageable pieces and shows you:

    • A simple breakdown of each part of language arts
    • An understanding of what your child truly needs to learn
    • Practical ways to meet those goals
    • Flexible options so you can build an approach that works for your family

    You Don’t Need a New Curriculum

    There’s no need to start over or buy something new.

    You just need a clearer understanding of the subject—and a natural way to approach it.

    Download the Free Guide

    If you’ve been wanting a simpler, more connected way to approach language arts, you can download the guide below.

    My hope is that it gives you the clarity and structure you’ve been craving—so you can move forward with confidence and finally feel at peace with your approach to language arts.

    Get the Free Guide

    Subscribe to get Language Arts Simplified sent straight to your email.

      We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
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      Teach Science through Picture Books in Your Homeschool

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      I love to teach science with picture books in our homeschool. The thing about picture books is they’re great for every age. From toddler, to teenager, to me – the adult! We can learn so much through one book.

      Over the last couple of years I find myself moving further and further away from textbooks and workbooks in multiple subjects and focusing more on literature-based learning. It has been such an engaging and memorable way to learn.

      There’s something about a science textbook where every time I open up to start the lesson, I dread reading it out loud. It’s like I already know it will be hard to keep their attention the whole time. This year I bought a science text for my older girls that they were taking in our co-op and thought we could just use it as a family study since it was made for elementary ages…I couldn’t do it!

      The thought of reading it to my youngest ones (ages 5 and 6) was overwhelming. I’ve been thinking a lot about my youngest two and how fun these elementary years can be – so much wonder and curiosity and play through learning. I want to take advantage of these years and enjoy what we are reading. This is what led me to create my newest literature-based curriculum – Science Through Picture Books.

      In this blog post I’ll share a little more about what it is and how it works. I’ll let you know my plans as I work on piecing units together over the next couple years to create it for my own family. Picture books have brought so much joy to our homeschool, and I hope it can do the same for you.

      This post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

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      An Overview of Science Through Picture Books

      Science Through Picture Books was created as a family study for your children ages kindergarten through fifth grade. It will be made up of multiple units, and each unit will contain a list of twelve books.

      These twelve books can be read at any pace you like. Read one per week and finish the unit in twelve weeks OR two per week and finish the unit in six weeks. Read three per week and finish in four weeks…and so on!

      You have the choice to read as many as you’d like throughout your week, making the unit fit into your family schedule as you desire.

      Each book is paired with an optional video. These are short videos to enrich the lesson from the stories and can provide more visuals and discussion opportunities with your children.

      As you read these books, I will guide you in introducing and discussing the stories with your children. (See example in photo above) For each book, I give you notes on reading it aloud, a script for introducing it to your kids, and optional discussion questions and narration prompts.

      Science note booking is also an option. I will teach and encourage you to practice narration as you read this books. The unit will list multiple ways to keep record of your science notebooks in order to differentiate your note booking for different ages and skill levels.

      Finally, I provide you with a list of enrichment activities that you have the option to add to your studies. The activities range in prep and difficulty containing super simple ideas or more complex projects that take a little more time.

      What is a Lesson Like in Science Through Picture Books?

      Picture this: Gather at the table, snuggle up on your couch, or lay out a blanket in the grass. Read a book and have your children narrate to you. It’s that simple. If you’re not familiar with narration, I’ll guide you through all of that in this guide. 

      Some of you may like to go a little further, and that’s encouraged if it brings you joy! You’ll see in the section above all of the additional videos and activities that are included in this unit. The point is, you can make this as simple or as complex as you’d like.

      Unit Topics – Meeting the Standards

      As a homeschooling mom, I try not to focus so much on the standards, but at the same time I know that some may feel peace of mind knowing they are following a certain standard as they teach their child. So, in this section, I hope to do my best to meet both sides in the middle.

      As I researched science standards while developing this curriculum, I realized that they are not the same across the country. Common Core standards exist, focusing on literacy through science in grades K-5, which is great, because you’ll get plenty of that through these books!

      Some states have their own unique science standards while others have adopted the Next Generation Science Standards, released in 2013. (NGSS)

      My hope is to provide a variety of science units for families to choose from to help build a foundation of knowledge in the subject. These units will focus on three out of the four disciplinary core ideas listed in the NGSS: physical sciences, life sciences, and earth and space sciences.

      These categories will guide me as I choose themes for the different units. The standards will not be stated in these units, because my intention is to make this a family study, which would be an extensive list covering multiple grade levels. However, if you’re curious about what these standards are, I encourage you to do your own research on their website which provides free, downloadable lists of the standards for each grade. 

      One thing you may notice is the majority of the standards can be met through these books and your discussion. Reading the standards can feel very “official” or possibly overwhelming, but remember that the goal of these elementary years is to build a foundation – the NGSS will tell you the same thing! We aren’t trying to reach a mastery of topics. We are encouraging curiosity and igniting their desire to learn even more!

      Look-Through the Curriculum

      Want to see inside one of these units? I know sometimes that can help get a better idea of what a specific curriculum is all about. Head to my YouTube channel to learn more about this and see inside the unit guide.

      Watch the Video Here.

      Future Units

      These units will be published as I complete them with my own children. I have a goal to complete four this year. We may or may not get to more than that. Here’s what you can expect this year:

      Each unit will follow the same pattern as I mentioned above in the overview.

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      Choosing Books

      I work really hard to research and read tons of books for these units. I enjoy it very much as I get to know authors and illustrators while increasing my knowledge on different topics.

      There are hundreds of books on these topics. However, my goal is not to provide you with tons and tons of books. I hope to give you a simplified, streamlined list in order to help you build a foundation of science knowledge with your kids.

      A beautiful, informative picture book always engages my children and me. Some people might refer to these as living books. These are the books that draw your attention and make you eager to listen and learn. It never fails when I read a great picture book with my kids, we are wanting to read more! It’s like it can spark a certain curiosity to dig deeper. 

      That’s exactly what science should be in these elementary years. We want to spark our children’s curiosity to learn more about the world and increase their desire to explore and experiment and even question ideas. All of this will develop their knowledge of science topics as well as their critical thinking skills. 

      When it comes to collecting these books for your family, the library is such a great way to do that. With the list of books in hand, you can easily put books on hold as you prepare for the unit! It’s such an inexpensive way to learn science with your kids.

      How to Use these Units

      In my own home, I use these units as our whole science curriculum. I don’t find it necessary to add anything else. Even as I research standards, I am confident that the content and the discussions provide my children with an excellent foundation in science knowledge.

      You do have other options to consider:

      • As stated above, use this on its own for your homeschool science curriculum. More units coming soon!
      • Use the book list as a supplemental resource to enhance a science textbook you plan to work through.
      • Let the booklist be your guide as you create your own unit study stretching across multiple subject areas. 

      However you decide to use it, I can promise you one thing – You’re going to love these books! 

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      Stay in-the-know About Releases

      If you’re not on my email list already, you’ll want to join now, because that’s where I will announce new releases. Each time I publish a unit, I’ll send out an announcement with a link. I know joining email lists can be frustrating at times, but it’s the best way to communicate with you all.

      Emails are sent to announce product releases, sales, and to share the videos I make on YouTube. I hope you’ll connect with me there!

      Interested in more Literature-Based Studies??

      American History through Picture Books – Work through the timeline of history, one picture book at a time.

      DIY Language Arts Novel Guides – Make LA a family study with these novels! No more workbook.

      DIY Language Arts Picture Book Studies (K-2nd) – Practice LA skills through books you know and love.

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      Homeschool Novel Study – DIY Language Arts

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      Novel study has been the most fun and engaging way for us to learn language arts in our homeschool, and adding in a DIY outlook has been so freeing. Two and a half years ago we actually eliminated an all-in-one language arts curriculum workbook to solely focus on novel study, and it’s been the best decision for us.

      We like to call this method DIY Language Arts because we are able to take any novel of our choosing and use it to learn all the parts of language arts including spelling, vocabulary, grammar, narration, handwriting, and more.

      After a couple years of adjusting and finding good rhythms for this, I am now able to share these novel studies with you. Multiple studies are available, but sometimes it’s nice to see inside one, and that’s exactly what I want this blog post to be for you.

      Included in this post is a download to receive an entire week free for one of the novel guides. In the text below, I’ll walk you through how it works, so you know exactly how to incorporate it into your homeschool. I can’t wait for you to try this!

      This post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog

      Look-Through a Novel Study

      If you would like to see a video of this particular novel study sample for “The Sign of the Beaver”, you can check out this link where I share more details. You can also see a complete look-through of one of the first studies I published. This will give you a better idea of all of the information and resources that come with the novel study. The novel studies have been updated since then and look much nicer now, but the content is still the same.

      Language Arts Overview

      Included in this sample is the “Language Arts Overview” page where I break down the subject explaining exactly what it is and how this novel guide meets the criteria for the subject. A clear and simple chart will show you this evidence.

      Language arts can be so overcomplicated in our minds, but by breaking it down and understanding what it is, we can get a better idea of how a novel can truly allow us to study the subject in its entirety.

      What age is this novel study for?

      These novel studies were created to be for the whole family. I’ve used them in my own home with one of my six year olds all the way up to my eleven year old. All of your kids will enjoy these novels, and the activities and work that are included are made to be able to adjust for different levels. If you purchase a novel study, I include the steps to walk you through this entire process in detail.

      Weekly Pattern

      Each week follows a pattern. Your daily tasks will look very similar (reading, discussion, narrating, copy work), but we will rotate an additional activity each day. This makes scheduling easy, and it allows you to loop different language arts skills for better focus instead of cramming everything in to an all-in-one lesson. The looping looks something like this:

      • Day 1: Spelling and Vocabulary
      • Day 2: Grammar
      • Day 3: Enriching Literature and Writing
      • Day 4: Dictation and Bonus Activity

      Let’s take a look at each day. As I describe each of these activities, you will have a better idea of how to use the free sample provided in this blog post.

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      Spelling

      On the page labeled, “Spelling and Vocabulary Samples”, I have provided a couple of pre-made spelling lists. Multiple options are provided to help differentiate the words for the level of spellers you have. This is just an example to help you get started. You are encouraged to pick whatever words best suit your children. The words/list you choose can be recorded in the chart on the daily task sheet.

      On the day one task sheet you’ll notice “Spelling Activity” is listed. I’ve got you covered with options for this. Practicing the words can be as simple or as hands-on as you’d like. In this sample, I have provided you with multiple spelling activities to try with your family. Some are extremely simple. Others are a little more involved. The great thing about this is you can do what feels right for your week.

      As you practice the words, make a note of the ones your kids know well and the ones they don’t quite have memorized yet. This could be a simple checkmark next to the word in your spelling chart. Then, each day after that, remind them of these words. Have your child practice the missed words throughout the week. Spend about a minute or two each day reviewing the words that are needed. The final spelling assessment will be in their dictation.

      Vocabulary

      Optional vocabulary words are chosen for you in the “Spelling and Vocabulary Samples” list. Once again, you have the option to choose the best words for your family. We aren’t doing matching worksheets or flash cards. Instead we will focus on meaningful discussion the whole family can participate in. When you read the weekly passage aloud to your children, this discussion will come pretty naturally. A discussion might look something like this:

      1. Ask your child, “What do you think ____ means?” It doesn’t have to be a formal definition. Sometimes my child will describe to me with motions or sounds and then try to explain herself. Let this be casual. If she knows it well enough, move on to the next word. If not, move to step two.
      2. Next say, “Let’s look at the sentence and see if it can give us some clues to make a guess on what ____ means.” Read the sentence again that includes the vocabulary word. Then, encourage your child to make a guess.
      3. If the child is still not able to come up with a definition that is close to the real thing, look it up in the dictionary. This is a great way to practice dictionary skills. Sometimes you can even practice the process of looking it up on a phone or computer.
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      Grammar

      There are many, many grammar lessons that can be taken from a passage. Throughout the guide I will provide you with one grammar focus on day two of each week. You have the option and are encouraged to practice more grammar, if you desire. In the full novel guide, I provide you with detailed information about grammar studies and how to engage in meaningful grammar lessons while practicing passage study.

      In my home, we also enjoy using a grammar review workbook alongside these novel guides. We have used Fix it Grammar in the past and now we use Easy Grammar. (See this video for details) The novel passages give us more opportunity to review what we have learned in those workbooks and see it in a more meaningful way.

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      Enriching Literature and Writing

      On day three of the week, a picture book is chosen for you to read aloud to your children. This particular book will teach a little science as we learn about the life cycle of bees.

      I encourage you to check your library for this, but I will mention that it’s also read aloud on YouTube HERE. This picture book is an enriching option that provides your children with an exciting story related to the novel, and it will allow you to stretch your novel study across multiple subjects.

      I also use these picture books to practice written narration with my older children. Written narration has been such a beneficial practice in our homeschool (watch this video to hear more). Once I read the story, my oldest child will write a narration about the book.

      Dictation

      Dictation happens on the fourth day of the week, and I have provided you an option to help your younger writers in this process. Not all of your children will be ready for dictation yet, but those that are can complete dictation in two different ways.

      The first option is for your beginning writers. I have provided you with a fill-in-the blank dictation option that uses a shortened passage and contains the spelling words from one of the spelling lists.

      The other option is a full dictation where your child will write down the passage as you read it out loud. Feel free to dictate just one or two sentences, especially if you’ve never practiced dictation before. If you have a strong writer, you could try dictating the entire passage.

      For more information about dictation and how to do it, check out this article.

      Copy Work

      The copy work will match the weekly passage. You have multiple options when assigning copy work in order to best meet the needs of each of your children. In this sample, I have included the shortened copy work as well as the full passage.

      The goal of the copy work is to finish it by the end of the week. It may not take that long, but I challenge you to encourage your child to go slower with their best effort. I like to give short and sweet daily copy work assignments with the reminder that it has to be their best writing. In my experience, these short bits of copy work assigned over the week turn out much better than long, daily assignments.

      Download the Novel Study

      You can access the free sample to this novel study at the end of this post.

      If you enjoy this first week and you’d like to complete the novel study as a whole, you can find the entire guide here. This guide will include much more information about the DIY method and will even teach you how to take any novel that you choose and use these same patterns! The how-to guide is GOLD! You’ll learn so much about language arts and the simplicity of a good novel study.

      There are multiple novel studies available and more coming soon. To see more novel options, click here.

      Picture Book Studies for Grades K-2

      If you like the idea of book studies in your homeschool, check out my new picture book studies for your younger ones. These one-week units focus on one beautiful picture book and provide you with a passage for the week. This passage will allow you to practice copy work, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar.

      Each week also includes an outdoor activity as well as an optional bonus activity at the end of the week. These book studies are so much fun! Use them for one week or grab a themed bundle for the month!

      See all of the picture book studies available HERE.

      Download Free Sample

      Join my email list and receive a free one-week sample of the novel study for “The Sign of the Beaver”. This is such a great way to get an up-close look at what this DIY Language Arts learning style is all about.

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        Homeschool Year Review 2025 – Math and Language Arts

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        Our 2024-2025 homeschool year is coming to an end. As we close it out I am reflecting over what worked for us and what needs to be adjusted. In this blog post, I will focus on math and language arts, sharing the curriculum we used throughout the year and letting you know some details about them in the process.

        This year I had a 5th grader, 3rd grader, and Kindergartener. I feel silly saying that because the more and more I homeschool the more I realize the grade level means nothing, but I do feel it can help someone who is looking for experiences with an age range.

        I recorded a video where I share all of this information below with a little more detail. If you’d rather watch than read, check out that video HERE.

        This post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

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        5th Grade Math

        For math this year we continued with BJU Press. We have had quite the math journey as we try to figure out what math curriculum is the best fit for us. (more on that journey HERE) However, I feel like we have finally found it in BJU! We started it in her 4th grade year and continued it this year for Math 5.

        I love that BJU has a Work Text and an Activity book. I teach the lesson using the Work Text which gives me plenty of practice problems. Sometimes we can do the evens and then I assign her the odds for independent work. OR – they also have an Activity Book that has a page of practice with a page of review on the back.

        I’ve worked in math curricula before where I’m constantly having to search out extra practice to make sure she understands, and I just never feel that way with BJU. The Teacher Guide is mostly used for grading purposes, but it is definitely helpful when I need it for teaching. The script provided guides me with topics I’m not comfortable with, which I find to be so beneficial!

        To see more about BJU and how we use it, check out this video HERE.

        5th Grade Language Arts

        For the last two and a half years, we have ditched the all-in-one language arts curricula and instead complete all of our language arts studies through novels. We like to call it DIY Language Arts. By reading novels together and studying passages we are able to practice spelling, vocabulary, copy work, grammar, and more!

        This is our favorite way to do language arts because it provides us with so much freedom and to be frank – it’s just FUN! After finding a good groove, I’m now able to share how we do this with all of you through novel guides.

        If you want to see more about these guides, check out this video HERE.

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        3rd Grade Math

        We started third grade using Math With Confidence. This child in particular completed level one and level two, and everything went well! It was a great fit. Naturally, we moved on to the third grade level.

        After we got into it, we hit somewhat of a wall. Math lessons were a struggle. Things weren’t clicking, and the two of us were clashing – maybe you have had an experience like that. I had been hearing about an online program called CTC math through a few different podcasts, and I thought to myself that I’d give it a shot until I could figure out what move to make next.

        Two things I liked about CTC Math is that it wasn’t full of games. (There are 2-3 you can play, but they are basic facts practice.) I also heard it was capable of diagnosing how to best help your child at their level of math.

        Once I was able to figure out how to diagnose her math abilities using their program, she started to thrive. She gained so much independence and I was able to step back some and not push her so much (I admit – I was pushing, and I shouldn’t have been.)

        Our experience using CTC has been amazing, but I will confess that I do miss the paper-and-pencil part of math. I’m not quite certain how I want to tackle this issue, but I’ll be thinking about it over the summer.

        3rd Grade Language Arts

        This year we still focused on a lot of reading skills. Every child is unique in when they gain fluency to read, and she needed more time. It’s been a growing process for both of us, but I’m thankful for all that we have learned together.

        We started the year finishing a reading program called Abecedarian. (It’s now called Sharpen Reading) I absolutely loved this program. (You can see a look-through HERE) It really built her confidence and gave us so many tools that we still use today as we practice reading skills.

        We completed Level B-1, and then I felt like I wanted to add other parts of language arts into our studies. We had spent so much time focusing just on reading. Since reading was still a skill she needed to work on, I wanted to find something that would help me be consistent but still provide all the parts of language arts.

        I chose the Good and the Beautiful to do this. It was a great transition tool to get us from focusing just on reading to adding other aspects of language arts at a level that best suited her. Speaking of levels, I did not place her in the third grade language arts workbook. I used their placement tests to pick the level that would be best for her.

        This whole year I’ve really let go of the “grade level” thing and it’s been such a weight off my shoulders. I knew it didn’t matter and that our homeschooling choice gave us the freedom to do this, but I think this was the year I actually believed it.

        We finished out the year doing a novel study to test the waters a bit and see how it goes. We do this following the DIY Language Arts method I explained for fifth grade. We just finished our first novel and will finish a second before our school year is done. It’s been so nice to make Language Arts a family study!

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        Kindergarten Math

        I thought kindergarten would be a breeze this year since it was my third kindergartener to homeschool. In a sense, it was. I was so much more at peace with what I wanted to accomplish, but there was definitely a learning curve when it came to figuring out what type of learner she was and how to best help her learn.

        We started kindergarten using Math with Confidence. I knew it would be great because it’s gentle, hands-on, and fun! My daughter apparently thought differently (ha!) Her personality is like an eager beaver where she wants to skip the fluff and do the work.

        Eventually we quit using the teacher guide so much and that’s really what Math with Confidence is all about. So, I came to the conclusion that it probably wouldn’t be a great fit for her. She finished the workbook quickly without any issues, and we weren’t even half way done with our year!

        I didn’t want to move up to first grade math, so I took the opportunity to test out a math curriculum I’ve never tried before. (It’s so nerdy, but I enjoy exploring new curricula when I can.)

        This is when we started Simply Math K from the Good and the Beautiful. It was very cute. I love the pictures and the stories are so sweet. My complaint though is I felt like it was not enough at times. The text would teach a new skill and provide 3-5 problems and then the student is practicing something else. I felt like it was constantly little “tastes” and all I wanted to do was sit a little longer in the one skill. Does that make sense?

        Even with our experience, we just about finished the book and then I decided to switch her to BJU Math 1. This is the same curriculum her oldest sister uses, and they have pretty similar personalities. It makes sense why BJU felt like the better fit.

        So, we are finishing out the last 6 weeks of school in BJU Math and we’ll continue with it next year.

        Kindergarten Language Arts

        For language arts, we spent some time trying out a few things I already had in order to save a little money. I started her with Logic of English, and it was a flop pretty quickly. I have nothing against LOE. I used two different levels with another one of my children. However, it wasn’t the right fit for this child.

        She started the year knowing all her letters and sounds and was even blending sounds and reading books. So, when we sat down to do a Logic of English lesson, it was almost overkill. She wanted to goooo! Read, read, read…remember I mentioned she was a little eager beaver?

        I wasn’t sure what to do so we used something else I already have which is called Treasure Hunt Reading. This is a really great resource and it’s very inexpensive! You can learn more about it HERE. This was a great book to keep us practicing reading/phonics skills until I figured out my next move.

        While all of this is happening, I had just switched my 3rd grader to The Good and the Beautiful. Their Language Arts programs come with these awesome tools called Reading Booster Cards and Booster Books. They’re amazing!

        I started using them with my Kindergartener and we developed the simplest routine. Practice the cards…read a book. We did this every day! If we didn’t read a booster book, we read from the Good and the Beautiful Nature Readers. (Another fantastic resource!) This simple routine allowed us to practice reading consistently while we built her writing skills with handwriting practice.

        Final Thoughts

        As you can see there was definitely an adjustment period where we had to figure out good fits, but ultimately we found things that worked. You’ll notice it was different for each kid! I’m so thankful we can plan our homeschool according to each of their gifts and abilities.

        If you want to hear more about this year with a little more detail, check out this video HERE.

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        Homeschool Language Arts WITHOUT a workbook

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        Have you been wondering if you could teach language arts without a workbook in your homeschool? It seems do-able and much more inviting than opening a workbook each day. Well, I’m here to tell you – you CAN! And it’s so freeing and fun! It can completely change the attitudes of this subject in your home, in the best way!

        A few years ago we did just that. I was having the hardest time teaching language arts, mostly because it was boring and the workbooks really felt like a chore to get through. Add the fact that I have multiple students to teach, and it really just wasn’t great for any of us!

        This is when I began to research passage study and novel-based language arts. There are multiple curricula options available to walk you through something like this, but I still was looking for even more freedom. That’s when I started practicing and using the term “DIY Language Arts”

        This post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

        DiY Language Arts Template

        What is DIY Language Arts?

        As I mentioned in the introduction, over the past few years I have been passionate about letting go of an all-in-one language arts curriculum. They are great for pacing and consistency, but most of the time we found them to be boring and repetitive in our home. I want my children to love literature and since it is such a huge part of language arts, it’s important to me that we all find enjoyment in learning about it. Otherwise, in my experience, reading becomes more like a chore. 

        Using this DIY (Do-It-Yourself) method of language arts, we have been able to have so much more freedom, letting go of the workbooks and instead choosing what we learn based on passages from great novels.

        Choose A Novel

        First, we choose a novel we want to read and all of our studies come from passages in that novel. One passage per week is how we started. The novel works around our schedule, making it so much more enjoyable than trying to fit a novel and chapters into certain time frames. Since all of the passage studies revolve around the novel, it becomes simple to plan and inexpensive to purchase. We can almost always use the library to collect books.

        Passage Study

        As we read, I choose a passage from the upcoming chapters each week and that becomes our focus. What’s going on? Who’s involved? What are the emotions? Next, that passage provides us with new vocabulary to discuss as well as spelling words to practice for the week. Each day, my children write portions of the passage practicing their handwriting skills and getting accustomed to reading and writing well-written sentences. 

        Narration + Meaningful Discussions + Enriching Literature

        As we read the novel together, we practice narration and have meaningful discussions. This has allowed us to eliminate the need for busy-work worksheets and instead encourage connection and conversation about what we are reading. Through the addition of children’s literature, we can expand our language arts across multiple subjects as we relate our story to something in history or science or the arts. My older children use these engaging stories to practice writing skills. 

        Dictation/Assessment

        Finally, through the use of dictation, I am able to assess my children and their progress from the week. I can check spelling skills and punctuation use as I dictate the weekly passage. This pattern of passage study has been educational, flexible, and honestly just much easier and enjoyable than completing a workbook every day.   

        Family-Style

        This method of language arts works for my whole family! Currently my school-aged kids are 6, 9, and 11. We love that we can do language arts all together. With simple adjustments to copy work and spelling lists, each of my kids can participate in this study, making planning and time management so much easier in our homeschool!

        novel guide

        New Guides Available

        After doing this for a few years and forming rhythms, I’m so excited to share what I have learned with you all. Recently I created DIY Language Arts novel guides where I walk you through a complete novel PLUS I share with you the research and strategies I use to put something like this together. My goal is to help you be able to DIY your own language arts in your home whenever you choose. It’s freeing and FUN! The newest guides are linked below:

        The Secret Garden

        James and the Giant Peach

        Passage Study Chart

        If you are familiar with passage study or if you do something like this style in your own home, then you may enjoy the new Passage Study Charts. These charts break it down so simply providing a passage, sample spelling and vocabulary lists, chapters to read for the week, and weekly enriching children’s literature. This simple chart is perfect for someone who loves a little more freedom but wants decisions made already!

        Passage Study Chart – The Secret Garden

        DIY – Blank Planning Template

        Ready to plan your own? Before I made the guides, I used a simple template (pictured above) to help me organize and plan our passage study. By making quick notes at the beginning of the week, decisions were made and the process of studying the passage became easier. Plus, it doubles as a great record for our novels and how we have used them throughout our school year. This is a FREE template! Get yours below.

        Passage Study Template

        Final Thoughts

        I’ve done a lot of research on the different pieces of language arts and what it ACTUALLY is. I honestly think the subject gets over-complicated and as a result we end up with endless worksheets and exercises that feel more like busy work than meaningful education.

        Imagine if your language arts could suddenly feel like a little book-club in your home. Book after book you can make connections, expand your learning across multiple subjects, learn from character experiences, and MORE and you study language arts as a family. This method simplifies the process, makes learning meaningful, and truly creates much better connection than a workbook.

        I hope you’ll give it a try! If you do, share it with me here or on social media (@simply.learning.together). I love chatting about this so if you have questions, let me know. I also have multiple videos on YouTube sharing our experiences with this over the years:

        Language Arts Without a Workbook – You Can Do IT!

        DIY Language Arts Playlist

        More Literature Based Studies

        I absolutely LOVE adding literature to our homeschool studies. Recently we completed our study of American History using nothing but picture books! It was amazing! And so much fun! Check it out here:

        Learning American History Through Picture Books (FINAL Part)

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        Learning American History Through Picture Books (FINAL Part)

        American history books

        Two years ago I was on a mission to learn American History through picture books, and I am thrilled to say that we did it! It’s been hard work getting here in regards to research, but we have all enjoyed the process – I have learned more American History than I ever did in my own schooling, and my kids have actually enjoyed each and every history lesson we’ve learned together.

        In the beginning of this project, as I researched different picture books for specific topics, I always ran into the same problem – there were so many! Which one should I read? Which one would give me the best information to teach the topic? The more and more books I found, the more I wanted to stream line the idea and make it much simpler. That is exactly how Learning American History through Picture Books came to be.

        As you journey through the timeline of American History, a picture book will take you through each event, and all the books are chosen for you – one book per topic. (We’re focusing on quality over quantity here, and I’m so excited about it!) I’ve organized them all into a simple book list making it easy for you to follow along, check out books from the library, and plan for simple history lessons.

        Starting as early as the Viking explorers in Unit 1, this curriculum will take you all the way through current times. To learn more about this curriculum and the different units, start HERE.

        This post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

        The Final Unit – Part 4

        It’s bittersweet to come to the end of this since it’s been a big project of mine for the last couple years. My kids and I have learned so much, and we have had a blast doing it.

        This newest unit will cover the time period after World War II through current times. You will touch on topics like the Cold War, the space race, the Vietnam war, 9/11, and so much more! Specifically this unit ends about the year 2003, as the last book in the main book list covers the invasion of Iraq in that same year.

        The following is a breakdown of each unit and the time period it covers:

        Unit 1 – Explorers through the Treaty of Paris (1000-1783)

        Unit 2 – Constitution through Civil War (1787-1865)

        Unit 3 – Reconstruction through World War II (1865-1945)

        Unit 4 – Post World War II through Current Times (1945-2003)

        You can also purchase all of the units as a bundle for a discounted price.

        American history picture books

        Favorite Books

        Since the whole point of this unit is for me to research and pick what I think is the best book for each topic, it’s so hard for me to narrow down my favorites! However, if I had to pick a few, the following were the ones we enjoyed the most. I share these to give you an idea of the kind of beautiful, engaging books you’ll be reading to your kids. You will look forward to reading these books each and every lesson!

        Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

        Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race

        Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

        HELPFUL LINKS

        The favorite books listed above are the types of stories that walked us through history. They are unforgettable! Each picture book beats a textbook paragraph any day of the week! You can find ALL our favorite American History books in my Amazon store front HERE.

        Each of these units comes with a list of videos to enrich the learning of certain stories. Not every book is connected to a video, but sometimes I felt like some background information was helpful. Or, at other times, the video might fill in a gap from one story to the other. The following is the direct link to each video listed in part 4. For more information on each of these videos, you’ll want to check out the descriptions in the curriculum.

        Videos List

        Cold War by Christian Palacios (Video Length – 4:31) 

        The Korean War: 5 Things to Know | History by HISTORY (Video Length – 3:54)

        Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech | History by HISTORY (Video Length – 4:57)

        Vietnam War Simplified!  By Maomaw (Video Length – 4:33)

        Apollo 11: Landing on the Moon by NASA (Video Length – 2:36)

        A soldier’s account of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Video Length – 2:43)

        Coloring Pages

        Finally, I’d like to share a link to my Pinterest board that contains the coloring pages we used to help us record our narrations. This is an optional part of the curriculum, but it’s such a simple task that I enjoy so much. The narration process is amazing to me, and I love looking back and reading their words of how they remember each story. It’s the perfect little product of learning to hang on to.

        Pinterest Board – American History Part 4

        history picture books

        What’s Next?

        Honestly, I have no idea (ha!) Here’s the thing…I have poured my heart into this over the last two years. I am so passionate about what it is and how much better it is than any kind of history textbook you will ever buy. With that being said, I am having such a hard time trying to decide what we will do next as a family. I don’t want to let this style of learning go!

        I am in prayer about this, because I don’t want to give up reading picture books…EVER! However, I am in a busier season of life that makes it tricky to create and research. I also feel a pull to focus on science for a bit because I feel like a slacker in that subject! My point is – something is brewing…I just can’t pin it down quite yet.

        You’ll probably never stop hearing about picture books from me – I use them in almost all of our subjects. So, I hope you’ll stay tuned for what’s to come…even if that’s not clear to me just yet. Although deep down, I know a textbook won’t cut it for me. 😉

        (EDIT – It’s been a few months of prayer, reading, and writing…and I’m back with more literature-based curricula! See below)

        NEW Science Through Picture Books

        We had so much fun learning history through these amazing picture books. I knew Science had to follow suit. Read more about it HERE.

        Looking for more literature-based curriculum?

        For the last few years, my children and I have created a novel-based language arts program that is family-style and enriched with great literature each week. I’m so excited to share a NEW guides with you on how we do this in our home. If you’re tired of an all-in-one language arts workbook or if you’re itching for a great novel to read aloud to your kids, you’ve got to try this method!

        Novel Guides

        You can watch multiple videos about this method of Language Arts on my YouTube Channel HERE

        Posted on by

        Learning American History through Picture Books (PART 3)

        1

        I can’t believe what a joy it has been learning American History through Picture Books. When I first started this, I wasn’t sure where it would take us. Here we are – continuing the timeline of history and loving every minute of it!

        We have all learned so much studying American history this way, and the best part about it is it sticks! These picture books are unforgettable, and this simple form of reading them with my kids has been the biggest blessing while studying history.

        This post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of my links I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

        American history picture books

        How it Works

        This blog is introducing part 3 of the American History through Picture Books series. It covers the time period after the Civil War all the way through World War II, 1865-1945. (Part 1 covered explorers through the treaty of Paris, 1000-1783; and Part 2 covered the Constitution through the Civil War, 1787-1865). You can read more details about Part 1 and Part 2 in my previous blog posts.

        Each unit comes with a timeline to mark important people and events in history. Every piece of the timeline correlates with a picture book to teach that topic. So when you start the unit, you can gather the first 10-15 books from your library. Then you read one book after another, working your way through history. It’s that simple!

        All the books are chosen for you. There’s no hunting or figuring out the best read. With extensive research I have read through hundreds of picture books, choosing the ones that I feel best engage my children and explain the topics. I’ve made a picture book checklist that you can check off as you complete a book, and using your library to collect the books keeps this extremely low cost!

        World War picture books

        Best Ages/Grades to Use This

        I created this curriculum for my own children. I have four kids, and we started this when they were ages 3, 5, 7, and 9. All four of them listen to these books as we read them together in the morning. It has been such a beautiful and easy family study that everyone can enjoy. They love looking at all the pictures and hearing the stories. Most days it doesn’t really feel like a lesson!

        If you have lower to upper elementary aged children, this is a fantastic way to set a strong foundation for history. These engaging books will be fun to read and will provide great discussion, even for little ones! The best part – they will remember the books. I can’t tell you how many times we come across something and one of my kids will say, “Hey, remember when we read about this in that book…” We have made multiple connections like this throughout our studies.

        If you have older children these books can still be enjoyed! Once you reach upper middle to high school age, you may want to add more detailed research to deepen the learning of each event, but the picture books have the same effect.

        I personally think you could use this for any age to bring your family together and learn history. I’m in my thirties and I have learned more about history in the last year and a half than I ever did in all my years of schooling. As you read these books with your kids, I hope you enjoy the learning process as well. For me personally it’s been incredible, and I’m so grateful to learn alongside them.

        DOWNLOAD PART 3 HERE

        american history narration

        Helpful Links

        All of the picture books are linked in my amazon storefront. Your support in using the affiliated link is so greatly appreciated.

        American History Picture Books

        This unit also uses optional coloring pages to help develop a narration notebook. These coloring pages can be found on my Pinterest board linked below.

        Coloring Pages – American History Part 3

        Video List

        We watched the following videos on YouTube. The videos are short and really helped us to fill in some pieces to our timeline. Each title is linked to the video. To see how these videos fit in the timeline for American History, download the part 3 unit here.

        Coast to Coast: America’s First Transcontinental Railroad

        The Battle at Little Bighorn | History

        Star Spangled Adventures Ep. 21: Ellis Island

        History of the Model T | The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation

        *OPTIONAL VIDEO* WWI

        ROARING 20S OPTION 1: What happened in the Year 1920?

        ROARING 20S OPTION 2: Rise and Shine K-2nd Grade Social Studies Lesson…

        The Dust Bowl and the Depression

        BrainPOP Presents: World War II (REMAKE)

        American History through Picture Books – Complete Curriculum

        I am so excited that this history curriculum is now complete. This has been a project I have been so passionate about over the last couple of years, and I am thrilled to share it all with you. You can now get ALL of the units to this curriculum which makes it a COMPLETE American History curriculum spanning from the explorers in 1000AD all the way through modern times (2000s).

        Unit 1 – Explorers through the Treaty of Paris (1000-1783)

        Unit 2 – Constitution through Civil War (1787-1865)

        Unit 3 – Reconstruction through World War II (1865-1945)

        Unit 4 – Post World War II through Current Times (1945-2003)

        You can also purchase all of the units as a bundle for a discounted price.

        NEW Science Through Picture Books

        We had so much fun learning history through these amazing picture books. I knew Science had to follow suit. Read more about it HERE.

        Looking for more literature-based curriculum?

        For the last few years, my children and I have created a novel-based language arts program that is family-style and enriched with great literature each week. I’m so excited to share NEW guides with you on how we do this in our home. If you’re tired of an all-in-one language arts workbook or if you’re itching for a great novel to read aloud to your kids, you’ve got to try this method!

        Novel Guides

        You can watch multiple videos about this method of Language Arts on my YouTube Channel HERE