Simply Learning Together Blog
Simply Learning Together is a space for families looking for joyful, connected learning through great literature—using beautiful picture books and engaging novels to teach everything from American history and Science to Language Arts.
Created by Jaimie, a homeschool mom of four, the blog contains a variety of homeschool resources, from curriculum reviews to unit studies and planning tips. Learn more about the journey to a “DIY” approach to language arts and how reading, narration, and conversation can create a simple yet meaningful and well-rounded way to study the subject.
The goal here is simple: to help you build a strong educational foundation fueled by curiosity and connection rather than busy work. Whether you are looking for easy ways to teach Shakespeare or practical planning tips for your school day, you’ll find resources designed to make learning engaging and meaningful for the whole family.
Teach Language Arts in Your Homeschool through Novel Study
When we first started homeschooling, language arts workbooks felt like a chore in our homeschool.
A Simple Way to Teach Shakespeare in Your Homeschool
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...
Teaching Ancient History Through Picture Books
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.
Teaching Writing in Our Homeschool Without Curriculum
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...
Teach Science through Picture Books in Your Homeschool
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!...
Homeschool Novel Study – DIY Language Arts
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.
Homeschool Year Review 2025 – Math and Language Arts
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.
Homeschool Language Arts WITHOUT a workbook
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,...
Learning American History Through Picture Books (FINAL Part)
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!
Learning American History through Picture Books (PART 3)
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...
Adding Picture Books to Berean Builders Science
We recently found Berean Builders science for our homeschool, and we’ve been enjoying it so much more by adding picture books to supplement the content. I’m so excited to share...
3rd Grade Curriculum Picks
One of my kiddos will be a third grader this year, and in this post I plan to share our curriculum picks for the upcoming year. This will be my...
5th Grade Curriculum Picks
I’m so excited to share our 5th grade curriculum picks for 2024-2025. First, can I just say that I can’t believe I have a fifth grader!
Curriculum Picks 2024-2025 – Family Subjects
Our curriculum picks for 2024-2025 won’t change too much from the end of the previous year. I feel great about this! It means we have really found a groove for...
End of Year Curriculum Review – Family Subjects
As we come to the end of the year it’s always good to look back and reflect on the curriculum we use and how it fit with our homeschool.
ABeCeDarian Reading Curriculum – First Impressions
We recently switched our curriculum to the ABeCeDarian reading program. I had never heard of it before and I had a hard time finding a lot of information about it...
Learning American History Through Picture Books (PART 2)
It’s official! History is my favorite subject to teach to my kids thanks to our experience of learning American History through picture books.
Learning American History through Picture Books
Learning American History through picture books sounded so great to me, and I was determined to make it happen this year. Now that we’ve done it, I am so pleased...
The Language Arts Combination I Love
In the middle of our year I found us needing to pause on our regular language arts curriculum, back-up, and review. In this process, I have discovered a language arts...
No-Sweat, Simple Composer Study – Beethoven
One afternoon, my girls and I were enjoying a snack around the table when I decided to play classical music. This is not something I normally do.
Knights and Castles – Middle Ages Mini Unit
We are beginning to study the middle ages in our homeschool, and I’ve decided to make it into a bunch of different mini-units. Our first one will focus on knights...
The Door in the Wall – A Charlotte Mason Inspired Novel Unit – The Middle Ages
The Door in the Wall is a novel that takes place in the middle ages. This Charlotte Mason inspired novel unit will connect both history and language arts.
A Simple Approach to Learning the Calendar in our Homeschool
As a new month arrives, it’s a reminder for me to practice using the calendar with my kids in our homeschool.
NEW (Mostly) Workbook Free Language Arts Method
(Mostly) Workbook Free! Did that reel you in? 😉 Well, this whole method was inspired by my research but also a desire to get rid of the workbooks! They were...
Homeschool Day in the Life – Timed Lessons
We recently adjusted our homeschool schedule so that we have timed lessons. Prior to this, I began researching a few Charlotte Mason methods and read a book, Modern Miss Mason...
Vikings – Homeschool Unit Study
It’s time to learn about Vikings in our homeschool! I’m so pumped because I don’t know much about them (HA!) That doesn’t scare me! It makes it all the more...
The Boxcar Children – Novel Unit
The Boxcar Children is an adorable, classic novel to add to your homeschool routine. This novel unit will provide you with optional activities, crafts, and library topics to enrich the...
My All-Time-Favorite Laundry Hack
I feel like I’ve tried all the laundry tricks in the book – one load a week, complete it all on the weekend, every other day. Let’s be honest, I’ve...
Homeschool Morning Routine – Morning Checklist
Our morning checklist is the tried and true practice that has stuck around over the years. As homeschool moms, we are always adjusting routines and curriculum to better fit our...
Simple Preschool in the Kitchen
Get ready for a list of preschool fun in the kitchen! These simple activities can provide a variety of learning experiences for your little one.
Homeschooling after the Holidays
The holidays have come and gone, and I have mixed feelings about starting up our homeschool again.
The Christmas Pig – Book Review
We read two novels together as a read aloud for Christmas this year. The first was “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (find the review for that one here) and the...
December 2022 Homeschool Highlights
I’ve had the best time sharing our homeschool highlights with my email list this month. So much so that I’ve decided to make them into a blog post.
Practical Stocking Stuffers for Learning and Creativity
I tend to be a practical gift giver, choosing gifts that are fun but also useful and helpful to our home. As a homeschool family with four kids, I like...
Our Favorite Christmas Party Games
For the past few years, I’ve thrown myself a big Christmas/birthday party to celebrate with my family. We love to get together for the holiday, and Christmas Eve is also...
Christmas Picture Book Activities
When we get to the holidays, our schedules tend to fill up. I know in our homeschool, I’m ready to wind down as we prepare to celebrate. I’m always looking...
Inexpensive Christmas Cards for $30
This year I did some experimenting and was able to order our Christmas cards for just $30. I was motivated to do this when I went to my usual source...
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Book Review
One of our Christmas read alouds this year was “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson. I chose the book because it was on the Read Aloud Revival holiday...
Logic of English Foundations A Review
This is my second child I’ve taught to read, but my approach has been completely different from my first. This year we used Logic of English Foundations A to teach...
Homeschool Math Curriculum Switch
This year I made an unexpected switch in our math curriculum. For the longest time, I was nervous to pick something new from what we started with in our homeschool....
Christmas Homeschool 2022
This Christmas in our homeschool, I have plans to do a mix of things, but I’m definitely trying to keep it simple. The season is busy enough as it is,...
Simple Thanksgiving Unit Using Picture Books
When we get to the holidays, our schedules tend to fill up. I know in our homeschool, I'm ready to wind down as we prepare to celebrate. I'm always looking...
Building a Roman Road Dessert
When we get to the holidays, our schedules tend to fill up. I know in our homeschool, I’m ready to wind down as we prepare to celebrate.
Ancient China – Homeschool Unit Study
We just wrapped up our Ancient China unit study, and it was a blast! I added in a Magic Tree House book to go along with our unit (#14: Day...
Science Unit Study – Weather
This science unit study about weather was quick, simple, and easy to put together! We did multiple activities that took no time at all, and we continue to talk about...
Simple Science Unit Study – Space
We just wrapped up our first science unit study of the year focusing on Space. Using a variety of books, food, and activities we learned so much together!
Caddie Woodlawn: Homeschool Book Club – Read Aloud Activities
Caddie Woodlawn is a beautiful story about a young girl growing up in the mid to late 1800s. Based on the story of a real girl, she lives in Wisconsin...
The Adventures of Reddy Fox – Homeschool Read Aloud Activities – Homeschool Book Club
"The Adventures of Reddy Fox" by Thornton Burgess is a short, classic novel based on a young, mischievous fox. This quick read is great for children of all ages and...
Homeschool Book Club
Homeschool book club is something I started in my home in order to connect with other homeschool families near me. It’s a homeschool group that focuses on literature by reading...
Raising Chicks – Tips and Stories From a First-Timer
We bought our first chicks this year, and it feels like we are diving into this huge unknown world of chickens. Neither my husband or myself has any experience with...
More Than Words Curriculum Review
I chose More Than Words: Level 1 for our bible curriculum this year because I wanted something that could guide us in our studies through scripture. In our previous two...
Why we stopped Horizons K mid-year
I really did not think this would happen, but we stopped Horizons K mid-year. I love Horizons! We’ve used it for three years with my oldest daughter (now in Horizons...
Make Explode the Code FUN – Adding variety to the workbook pages
Explode the code is set up with a very consistent format. I love this, because it’s easy for my daughter to follow. However, it wasn’t long before I was itching...
The Courage of Sarah Noble – A Homeschool Read Aloud Experience
The Courage of Sarah Noble is a super short, sweet story of a girl and her father. Based on a true story, Sarah and her father must travel long distance...
Addition Activities for your Homeschool Math Lesson
Sometimes I look at a lesson and think, “This is going to get frustrating today…” That’s when I know I need to change it up. I usually do this by...
What is Homeschool Kindergarten really like?
Have you been researching about homeschool kindergarten and reading that it can take as little as 30 minutes? If you’re anything like me, this is possibly blowing your mind. What...
Homeschool Day in the Life with 4 Children – Ages 7, 5, 2.5, 1
Days in the life are so interesting to me. I love seeing how other families live out there day. I feel like I can learn something from everyone. The differences...
Simple Homeschool Activity: Seasonal Themed Self-Check
It’s just after Christmas, and I have the cutest activity to share with you, but don’t think this is just for Christmas! Scroll down and I’ll show you how you...
Halloween Activities for Kids – Write and Play Mats
There’s something about October 1 that makes you want to spin around and soak up the season! Maybe it’s the sweater weather…or the turning leaves…but for me it’s the approach...
A Simple and Fun Alphabet Curriculum for your Letter of the Week
The Alphabet Workbook is a simple and fun no-prep curriculum with repetitive opportunities to practice letters while also incorporating other early learning skills. It’s the key to our success in...
Homeschool Curriculum Picks 2021-2022
It’s hard to believe this will be our third year homeschooling. What a fun, unexpected journey it has been! This year I will have a second grader and one in...
At Home Science Experiment with Low Prep and Less Mess
I love how excited kids get about science experiments. There’s just something about the word “experiment” that gets them all worked up and ready to learn. Something that makes Mom...
How to Potty Train Your Child…the Wrong Way!
The thought came to me the other day when I checked on my child in the bathroom. She was upset as she was flushing the toilet so I picked her...
40 Simple Activities for Every Day this Summer
We are officially on summer break! I am starting to think about ways to add some simple activities while providing learning experiences on the way. I do not like to...
5 Steps to Start Homeschooling
I never planned to homeschool, so when I started to think about doing it, I was starting from scratch. It was unfamiliar to me, and I didn’t know anyone personally...
A Faith-Based Read Aloud Unit for Mrs. Piggle Wiggle
I chose to read Mrs. Piggle Wiggle with my kiddos because it was light, short, and funny. I also discovered that through each chapter, we could have great discussions about...
Homeschool Preschool Curriculum Review
Teaching preschool to my four year old has been such a rewarding experience. The amount of growth that happens between 4 years and 5 years is incredible, and to be...
First Grade Homeschool Curriculum Review
Curriculum can sometimes feel overwhelming. As a parent, you want to do what’s best for your child. There are so many wonderful options out there, so what do you choose?
Adding Classical Conversations to our Homeschool
I think when some people begin to consider adding Classical Conversations to their homeschool, they think it might be too much. It may feel overwhelming and hard to grasp what...
Classical Conversations: Overcoming My Fears and Jumping In
We joined Classical Conversations for our second year of homeschooling. I had looked into it my first year, but I was intimidated and nervous to commit. Although it felt like...
My Favorite Tools To Teach the Alphabet at Home
When it came time for me to teach the alphabet to my second child, I ran into a few obstacles. I was new to the alphabet game, and I was...
11 Flash Cards Games To Add To Your Math Lesson
You can get flash cards at the dollar store! They’re an inexpensive tool to practice math facts. Let’s steer away from the old, boring drill method and find ways to...
Simple DIY Valentine’s Day Activities for Every Subject
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and it’s always fun to prepare something special to celebrate. There have been times when I’ve hunted around for different activities to print and cut...
10 Tips for Homeschooling With an Infant
When I first found out I was pregnant with my fourth baby, I was immediately scared of what it would be like to homeschool with an infant at home with...
Secret Garden Read Aloud Experience
Reading Aloud is such a great habit to form with your family, but what if you could take it one step further?