Tag: homeschool

Helping Teens Navigate Technology: Free Printable of Biblical Principles for Phone Use

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

As parents and mentors, we know that technology isn’t going anywhere—and neither is the phone in your teenager’s hand. While smartphones can be tools for connection, creativity, and even spiritual growth, they can also be doorways to distraction, comparison, and temptation. So how do we guide our teens to use their phones wisely and in a way that honors God?

That’s exactly why I created a free printable of Biblical principles for teen phone use—a simple, Scripture-based guide that helps teens filter their phone habits through the lens of God’s Word.

📱 Why Biblical Principles Matter in the Digital Age

Our teens are growing up in a digital-first world. Many of them have never known life without constant connectivity, social media, or instant access to information. But the Bible still speaks clearly into today’s world—even the world of screen time and social scrolling.

By grounding our digital choices in Scripture, we help our teens:

  • Develop discernment in what they consume and share
  • Set boundaries that protect their hearts and minds
  • Remember their identity in Christ—not in likes or followers
  • Learn to use their phone as a tool for glorifying God

📖 What’s Inside the Printable?

This free printable includes:

  • 4 Biblical principles to guide phone use
  • Key Scripture verses for each principle
  • Black and white florals so you can place the guide on display in your home wherever you charge your phones

Whether you’re a parent, youth pastor, or small group leader, this resource is a great way to open up healthy, faith-filled conversations about technology.

✨ A Preview of the Principles

Here are just a few of the Biblical truths included:

  • “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.” – Ephesians 4:29 → Is my phone use loving toward others?
  • “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.” – 2 Timothy 2:16 → Does this glorify God?

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Tips for Using the Printable

  • Print it out and hang it by your teen’s charging station or desk
  • Use it as a conversation starter during family devotions
  • Include it in a youth group lesson on digital discipleship
  • Revisit it regularly and revise your teen’s phone boundaries as needed

📥 Download Your Free Printable

Click the link below to download your free copy:
👉 DOWNLOAD

This resource is my gift to you—because I believe our teens don’t need more rules, they need wisdom, grace, and a Biblical foundation to navigate a world that’s always online.

Let’s raise up the next generation to be light-bearers—even on their phones. 💡📱

Have you used this printable with your teen or youth group? I’d love to hear how it’s impacted your conversations! Drop a comment below or tag me on social media.

Training Week 7: Finding the Right Fuel

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Happy Patriots’ Day/Marathon Monday! I have to admit, listening to all the local commercials for the Boston Marathon and hearing a variety of runners share their “why”–what they’re running for, what charity they are supporting, etc, has been inspiring. It’s also left me feeling a little inferior while training for a mere HALF marathon. But I am glad there is such a thing! It’s definitely more accessible to the average, busy mom who doesn’t have ample training time at her fingertips. (Me!)

During week 7, I logged about 22 miles of running for the week spread over 45-minute, 60-minute, 30-minute, and 75-minute runs. It was a great week weather-wise and I felt really good overall. Since ditching the weighted vest for my runs, the training has gone smoother. I’ve noticed more gains and just felt stronger overall. This could also be due to the training work finally “kicking in.” I do love the weighted vest for walking and increasing strength in other areas–it’s especially good for women as it helps mitigate bone density loss as we age. But for running? It just wasn’t working for me. You can read my previous posts if you want to know more about that.

Last week I mentioned wanting to figure out my plan for pre-run fuel. I have been an early morning workout person for years. I get up, workout, THEN get ready for my day and have a little post-workout-something. Lately it’s been a protein shake made with raw milk and chocolate protein powder. It’s worked for me; or so I thought. The truth is, I am often starving by the mid-morning which can either lead to over-snacking or undereating if I’m really busy and then my attitude plummets along with my blood sugar and it just isn’t good for anyone. I also wanted to have a plan to eat something before my longer runs that would sustain me, so that’s what I’ve been practicing. I’ve read that bagels are a popular choice for runners but as someone who bakes all her own bread products, bagels are not always at the ready around here. Instead, I’ve been making overnight muesli and loving it. I take a pint-sized mason jar and put in about 1/3 cup of oats, some flaxseed, chia seeds, coconut, a little brown sugar, and some diced apple. I top it off with milk and stick it in the fridge overnight. In the morning it’s ready for me to enjoy right when I get up. I noticed a big difference in my workouts this week. I ate the muesli before my 45 and 60 minute runs and then didn’t have anything before a bootcamp on the bike and my 30 minute run and I really noticed a lack of energy during those workouts. I also noticed it staved off mid-day hunger when I started the day with fuel before a workout. (I still have my protein shake after.) I think this is going to be my new routine for all my workouts. But I’m curious about what works for others as far as pre-run or pre-workout snacks? If I get bored of this, how should I mix it up? In the past before a long run, I’d have half a banana but I’m really not a huge fan of bananas in general so I would just choke it down. But maybe if I mix it with oatmeal? Let me know what you do!

As far as mid-run fuel goes, I’ve gotten pretty good at sipping water from a small bottle I bring with me, and sucking down an energy gel. I love these gu packets from Amazon and am especially partial to the raspberry lemonade flavor. If you’re a runner, I’d love to know what you prefer for in-run energy!

Week 8 is the big one. Essentially the climax of the training, week 8 ends with a 2-hour run and I’ll be targeting around 12 miles for that one. At the beginning of my training I said I hoped to complete the half-marathon in about two hours. That has become more like a dream than a hard goal. I’ve stated before that I’m not fast (obviously) and this is my first ever big race. I’ve never even seriously run a 5k or 10k race. And all of the coaching I’ve had through this process has stressed letting go of time goals if it’s your first race. “Just complete it and enjoy it.” So that has become the goal. I know the race course is much less hilly than my neighborhood where I train so I have some hope that I’ll achieve a faster time than I’m used to. But I also know that race-day jitters are real and that can also impact my time. So for now, I plan to just complete the race and enjoy it. My husband and kids have finished my playlist and they are so excited for me to hear it on race day. (I am too!) This week is going to be crazy as it’s my son’s birthday, I have a homeschool convention, and the 2-hour run to prepare for. If I survive this week, I know I can crush the actual race.

Meanwhile, enjoy some pictures from our week and Easter weekend! The spring weather brought us outdoors for school to collect pond water and study it under the microscope. We delighted in seeing tiny micro-organisms look like monsters as they zoomed across the petri dish! My oldest likes to hold painting classes for her siblings in her bedroom and the boys and I had a fun game night one night when both girls were away for the night. If you’ve never seen the 2014 documentary “Fed Up”, I highly recommend it. I had my oldest two watch it and write a paper on it for school. We’d already been on a journey to limit added sugar and make more things from scratch but this film really solidified some of our ideas. So in that same vein, I made Easter candy at home–peanut butter protein “eggs” and homemade peppermint patties. Of course, they got some traditional favorites during their egg hunt. Easter weekend was a large order weekend for my cottage bakery and a successful one! I also have pictured one of my favorite methods of recovery: an epsom salt bubble bath.

Half-Marathon Training Week 6: The Shift

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

How ironic that last week I said I was sticking to my run schedule this week no matter the weather–and I ended up running in the snow… twice. It is April, right?! When I started training at the beginning of March I honestly didn’t expect it would still be this cold (and snowy!) on week six in April. But here we are.

Good news is I got just under 9 miles in my 90-minute run in the snow! I was hoping for a little over 9 miles, but I’ll take it. It was a good week of training despite the weather. If you had asked me last week how I felt about the upcoming race, I would have said I couldn’t wait to be able to say it was over. But this week there has been a shift. I’m now more than halfway through the training and when I think about the race being over, it makes me a little sad. I think I’ll be sorry it’s over.

This week I have more than one long run, but nothing over 75 minutes. I’ll be focusing more on nutrition and pre-run meals. I have typically worked out on an empty stomach in the past. It’s just easier schedule-wise if exercising is the first thing I do in the morning. But that’s something I need to change for the rest of my training. My recent 90-minute run had me feeling pretty weak and hungry. So I’ll be experimenting with pre-run fuel in the upcoming weeks to see what works for me and if I notice endurance gains. Starting with overnight muesli for my next 45-minute intervals run.

More food pics from the week! It was Italy week in our homeschool and I probably had the most fun making food this week–from homemade pasta with the kids to tiramisu, Italian doughnuts, biscotti, and everything in between. I snapped a couple pictures on my long run in the snow last week. Still hoping for better weather this week! And the last photo of my oldest and youngest kids cracking up on family game night makes me smile. Have a great week, friends! 🙂

Half-Marathon Training Week 5: Rough Week

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

This past week of training was tough. Last week, week four, I called the “no quit zone.” If I wasn’t so determined to NOT quit, week five might have been the week to do me in. It wasn’t so much the physical running as the mental game–mustering the motivation to run in less-than-ideal weather, and honestly just fitting the runs into an already crammed schedule. The mental load was a lot, and I don’t want to sugarcoat this process or give the false impression that it’s been easy.

The week started with an easy 30-minute run on a rainy Monday morning. I don’t mind running in the rain, generally, but I am hoping for an improvement in these cold, windy, and overall dreary weather patterns we’ve had lately. Next was a 45-minute intervals run, which I knew would be tough but I was pleased with how strong I felt. Then came the hard part. I couldn’t figure out where to fit in my next 30-minute run because my next two mornings were going be jam-packed with making and baking sourdough for my cottage bakery plus the early morning weather was set to be very cold and very windy. I had to get the run in before my long 75-minute run on Friday, though. Saturday I had to get my son to a karate tournament early so I wasn’t fitting a long run in that morning! After agonizing over when to tackle that 30-minute run, I finally decided to try to squeeze it in Wednesday afternoon after book club and hair appointments with my girls and before my son’s karate class; soliciting help from my oldest with dinner that night. It was supposed to be an easy run, but it was one of the harder ones I’ve had. I had worked out that morning–completing a 45-minute bike & strength bootcamp (one of my favorite forms of working out that I can also do indoors early and in the dark, unlike outdoor running) and had a busy day of sourdough prep, homeschooling, teen girl book club, and haircuts for my daughters. I thought the run would be a nice way to get fresh air and clear my head but it ended up feeling rushed and the weighted vest I’ve been wearing caused more severe chafing on this particular run. It was painful. I took Thursday off from running and only did some conditioning strength training and an easy cycling class. On Friday I had my long run and was aiming for 7-7.5 miles in a 75-minute window. But I didn’t plot my route ahead of time and didn’t count on a pretty steep hill I ran into on a road I had never been on before. I decided to give the vest another try and wear it differently but the chafing came back with a vengeance so the run only granted me 6.5 painful miles. By the end of the week I felt exhausted and defeated. Thoughts like “this isn’t working”, “this isn’t the right time of life for me to train for something like this”, “will it ever warm up or NOT be windy on a run?!”, and “I can’t do this” flooded my head.

But, I’ve already passed the “no quit zone” as I said, so here we are! I’m thankful that the vest issue is fixable. I’m ditching it while running for now. I still think it’s great for walking and increasing strength for push ups, etc, but it’s the bumping that occurs while running that is causing the problem. So, so long! I’m grateful that my bad ankle is holding up well. It talks to me sometimes after a speed run but on long runs it really does okay and doesn’t hurt after. I’m also thankful that my husband and kids are stepping up to help out where they can and are encouraging me. I’ve enlisted them to put together my playlist for the race and I can’t wait to listen to it and guess who added which song. I’ve been nervous about the mental aspect of the race and if I’ll be able to keep myself motivated without a coach encouraging me in my earbuds like during the training. I think having a playlist made by my favorite people will help!

This week, to alleviate some of the stresses of last week, I’ve written out my training schedule and am determined to stick to it, no matter the weather. If a run doesn’t go as planned because of the wind and rain, so be it. The mental strain of trying to save my runs for the best weather days of the week is just too much. I keep telling myself that the weather is bound to turn at some point! Running without the vest will be liberating and I hope to see an improvement on my pace. My long run this week will be 90 minutes and I plan to plot my route beforehand so I don’t get surprised by more unexpected steep hills. Some hills are fine, but I don’t want too many–I’d like to be able to keep a somewhat steady pace to really practice for the race. I already know that my training route is more hilly than the race route, so I am well-prepared in that area. My friend and I are celebrating her upcoming birthday by getting massages and lunch–so I will be primed and ready to get a good 9 miles in during the 90 minute run! I’m more confident that I’ll be able to achieve this goal without the vest and if my route is planned ahead of time.

Despite the busy week and the training discouragements, a lot of good things happened! Here are some pics!…1-4) It was “Spain” week in our homeschool and I had so much fun making food I remember eating when I studied there in college. I didn’t use a recipe for the Spanish tortilla, paella, or flan–just pulled from my memory. My host mom would shake her head at my miserable flipping of the tortillas (see first photo) but it was still fun to try to show my kids how it’s done like she showed me! The churros were the biggest hit, though. 5) I facilitate a book club with my oldest and three of her friends. I seriously love hanging with teens and hearing their thoughts on deep subjects. I take them to a local cafe and treat them to drinks and pastries and we discuss our book. It is truly a highlight for me. 6) The girls got haircuts and Emmalyn (age 9) went short! The style looks super cute on her. 7-8) Our youth group had a karaoke competition Saturday night and Abby and her friends did AMAZING! After the competition they opened the floor to anyone who wanted to sing and Emmalyn sang with a couple other young girls with their big sisters backing them. It was adorable and so fun to watch. I love watching teens have fun and be ridiculously creative when they are given the space to be. Randy and I had a truly fun night with them. 9) Eli (age 7) came in second place in kata during his tournament on Saturday! He’s a purple belt and already racking up more trophies than he has room for.

Wish me luck on getting those 9 miles in later this week!

Half-Marathon Training Week 4: No Quit Zone

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Finished off week 4 with the first 60 minute run of the program. My goal was to get in 6 miles during that run but I only covered 5.5. I was pretty bummed but also tried to give myself grace because I was running against strong winds most of the time (yay for early spring in New England) and I was running on tired legs. I don’t ever plan to do all four of my runs for the week in four consecutive days, but that’s what ended up happening last week due to weather and scheduling conflicts. So it was my fourth run in four days and the wind was not in my favor. But I got it done.

I’m calling this time the “no quit zone” because I feel like here, at the end of week 4, is where things are getting tough. The novelty of the training program has worn off. The runs are getting longer overall so it takes more mental fortitude to get out and go. And my body is feeling it. There is soreness and blisters and lots of athletic tape. But I’m also learning that not only can I run on tired legs, but I can push my pace at the end of runs. Continuing to strength train regularly, cycle, stretch (something I often struggle to fit in), and incorporating epsom salt baths twice a week are helping! The weighted vest is becoming somewhat of a hassle as it’s caused some sores where it “hits” me in the front of my chest during runs. If you’ve ever watched The Office–I feel a little like Andy on the “Fun Run”! 🙂 BUT, I’m planning to continue wearing it to train, just not on my walks until after the race and I can let myself heal. Then it will just become something to wear on walks and hikes and probably not for regular runs after this. Next week I have some easy 30 minute runs, a 45 minute interval run, and a 75 minute run to close it out. My goal is to get 7-7.5 miles in during that run. I’m not dreading it. I’m actually looking forward to it! And I can sense the morning temps rising just a little which makes me smile. Running in 3 layers and gloves is getting a little old.

Lots of pics to share this week! It was “France” week in our homeschool. Our focus this school year has been world geography: ecology and cultures. It’s science and history combined and it’s been so fun to “travel” around the world. I’ve tried to make at least one dish from each country we study but for France, I wanted to do so much more! I have Ina Garten’s “Paris” cookbook so it was my companion all week. Not everything is pictured, but we made baked eggs and herbs, omelettes, and French toast for breakfasts. And of course, crepes! I made Julia Child’s “boeuf bourguignon”, a provencal vegetable soup, croque monsieurs (basically a ham sandwich with a gruyere sauce on top), and tried a new recipe for sourdough baguettes–still needs work! One of our absolute favorite desserts is creme brulee so it was really fun to make it again! I like to tell the kids about the first time I ever had it in Paris and didn’t know what it was at the time but loved it!

baked eggs & herbs — the kids have requested we have this more often!
boeuf bourguignon
creme brulee is sooo good!
croque monsieur

A few more pics from an animal-filled week… I brought the kids to New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, MA to meet an injured hawk and take a microscope class. It was really fun! Reminded me of Animal Adventures in Bolton, MA; another place we like to visit. For three weeks in a row, we have been trying to get chicks to add to our chicken flock. We currently have 12 egg-producing chickens and want to add 6-8 more chicks this year. But the poultry industry has been hit hard lately and chicks are scarce and in high demand. We struck out twice by being too far back in the line when the farm store opened. But the third time is a charm! The kids and I waited in line (with our camp chairs) for 90 minutes Friday morning and got four chicks (the current customer limit). Abby and I plan to go back one more time to try for four more and then we’ll be done for the year. Wish us luck! After last week, I decided to go for my long run when we got home which was a physical test. I was nervous about running after drinking my morning coffee (a latte, at that). Ha! I generally prefer to run first thing in the morning, after eating maybe half a banana at most. But I pulled it off so I plan to do my 75 minute run this Friday after getting our last four chicks. It’s good prep for race day since the race is at 9:00, not 6:00 when I generally run. After a fun night out in Boston with Randy Saturday night, I am ready for week 5!

It was COLD!
peep peep!
Randy and I got a night out in Boston Saturday and we had a blast!

Half-Marathon Training Week 3: Why Do You Run?

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One night recently when Randy and I were sitting at a bar on a date, I overheard a conversation happening next to us about running. A woman was talking about a race she had either recently ran or had coming up (NOT the Boston marathon) and a man was effectively questioning the point of running as competition. “With all the competitive sports out there, why go running? You can do that anywhere, any time! I guess there’s something about people running ALL TOGETHER?” I didn’t hear the woman’s reply but it got me thinking. Do people look down on running as a “sport”? Is it even considered a sport? I understand that a lot of people get bored while running and it’s certainly not exciting to watch like other sports. So does that make it pointless? Why do people run? Here are some reasons I do:

As I’ve said before, I’m not naturally athletic. I’ve worked hard over the last few years to build my strength, agility, and endurance. Running allows me to push myself to be better (measurably, with a pace watch like a Fitbit) without anyone watching and without worrying about letting a team down if I don’t perform well. The only person I can really disappoint is myself. But there is also self-discipline involved because while there’s no one for me to let down, there’s also no one else encouraging me to get out of bed and go when I don’t want to. I have to be my own “hype” person and encourager when things get tough. So in this way, running builds mental discipline and stamina without the fear of failing a team.

More personally, I have almost no hand-eye coordination! I was born cross-eyed and had surgery on my eyes as a baby. I now wear glasses to help but my depth perception still isn’t perfect. This makes sports that involve throwing and catching balls VERY hard for me. So really; running, cycling, and lifting weights are my best forms of physical activity and I just compete against myself. So “with all the other competitive sports out there,” that’s why I choose to run. Why do you? Or if you don’t, what’s your preferred method of competitive sport?

Some questions I’ve been asked about my training:

What are you using to train? I use the Peloton app! They have a half-marathon training program as well as a full marathon program. The half-marathon program consists of 10 weeks and four runs per week varying in length and difficulty.

What weighted vest are you using and are you liking it? Here’s the link to the vest! I have it set to the lowest weight, which is 11 lbs. The added weights were “bumping” against my ribs too much and after two runs, it was a little painful so I ditched those and left it at just the sand-filled vest. It still adds enough weight to slow me down–my pace is not nearly as quick as it’s been in the past without the vest. I love-hate using it! Love it because I know it’s making me stronger but hate it because of the obvious: it’s challenging and I know I’d be faster without it. I do find it relatively comfortable all things considered. I wear it while walking my dog and while doing my push-ups everyday. (THAT’S challenging!)

How far have you run so far? The farthest I’ve run in one session in this program so far is 4-4.5 miles in 45 minutes. I’ve done that about five times. Next week I have my first 60 minute session and hope to get in a solid 6 miles at least. I’ve run for an hour before but not recently! Again, these are slower times than I’m used to due to the vest and the cold–I’m still waiting to be able to run and breathe comfortably in over 30* temperatures!

Time for this week’s round up. Staying away from social media during lent has led to taking way less pictures, and I think that’s a good thing. We’re just enjoying our days and the GRADUALLY warming temperatures. Here are some pics from the week. 1-3) On Monday I took my three older kids to the Van Gogh Immersion Experience in Worcester, MA. It was fantastic! They are still open Thursday-Monday and if you’re local, you should check it out! I homeschool my five kids and love the freedom in learning it affords us. 4) We’ve made quite a few varieties of cookies this week! Emmalyn made some on her own and little bit of flour she got on her cheek was too adorable. 5-6) My gorgeous cousin is expecting her first baby and the girls and I went to her baby shower Saturday. It was a nice treat after my long run that morning.

This week started the official beginning of spring! In case you haven’t seen it yet, check out my spring activities BINGO sheet for families! How many of the screen-free activities can you check off as a family? Here’s the link, and the bingo card will come straight to your inbox. Happy spring! https://stan.store/raising_little_seekers/p/get-the-free-spring-bingo-card-now

Training Week 1

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This week was my first week of training for the half marathon and I finished a little late! I told myself at the beginning of this that I wasn’t going to let weather become a factor in my training. I want to run in inclement weather, figuring it’ll only make me stronger for the race. But my “long run” this week came on Friday, when we had wind speeds up to 45 mph. I laid in bed listening to trees, wires, and our fence sway and bang in the wind and I thought, “No way. I may as well run in place! I probably won’t move at all if I go out there!” So instead of finishing on Friday, I took my final run of the week on Sunday morning. I don’t plan to train on Sundays in general, but it was nice that there were hardly any vehicles on the road.

Week one was a challenge. The temps were below freezing most of the mornings, making it hard to breathe well. I’m also training with a weighted vest, which I’ve never done before. I have 11 lbs of vest on while I run and that has added an additional breathing challenge. Why the weighted vest? My hope is to improve my strength, bone density, core, and give myself an improved race time by running the actual race without it. My pace is much slower than I’m used to with the vest and probably also due to the cold. It’s hard to be efficient when your body is fighting the elements. I keep my spirits high by reminding myself that the worse I start out, the more improvement I should see over the next nine weeks. (Right?!)

This week I have 30 minute progression run, a 20 minute recovery run (the last of the 20 minute runs for the rest of the training), and two 45 minute runs: an interval and an endurance run. Last week my goal was to just get through the cold and finish the runs. This week I would like to see small improvements in my time and endurance. And if not that, then my hope is to at least feel better/more efficient on my runs.

I have one more week of my strength training program, which is hypertrophy focused. Meaning, the goal is to lift as heavy as you can for a short amount of time to BUILD muscle, rather than maintain it the way condition training does. I’ll be glad to have it finished so I can focus more on my runs, rather than try to balance the two. I’m also revisiting the push up challenge that I completed in January: doing a push up for every date of the month. But of course this month–it’s with the vest! 🙂 If anything, I’ll at least have some killer triceps at the end of this–summer is coming! 😉 On to week two!

Here are some quick pics from last week. My weighted vest, the spring bingo card that’s FREE in my shop (in case you missed it, you can download it here), the kids “mining for chocolate chips” as we listen to The Endless Steppe on audio, Noah making potato pancakes to go along with his presentation on Poland, and Eli’s karate team warming up at their tournament on Saturday! Eli came away with second place in kata and fourth place in weapons. He did great!

24 Screen-Free Spring Activities for Kids

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Spring Into Action: 24 Screen-Free Ideas for a Fun and Refreshing Season

Spring is the perfect time to shake off the winter blues, breathe in the fresh air, and get outside. As much as we love our screens, it’s nice to take a break every now and then and embrace the simple joys of the season. If you’re looking for some creative, screen-free activities to enjoy with your kids this spring, why not try something a little different? To make it even more exciting, I’ve created a Spring Bingo Card packed with 24 fun, nature-filled activities to help you unplug and make the most of the season.

It may not feel like it right now where I live (today we had chilling 45mph winds and freezing temps) but spring IS around the corner so get ready now! Before we know it, the mild weather will be here and our kids will be clamoring to get outdoors. See how many of the squares you can check off! Can you get BINGO, 5-in-a-row? Or go try to cross off every square! The choice is yours.

Here’s your ultimate screen-free spring bingo card, with 24 fresh ideas that will leave you feeling refreshed and reconnected with nature:

DOWNLOAD NOW

Eric Carle Author Study is HERE!

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

One of the reasons I began Raising Little Seekers was so I could put the units I created as a public school teacher (and then used in my homeschool) together in a “pretty package” and offer them to the general public. I’ll admit, this process hasn’t been easy. I am a novice graphic designer at best (and an utter failure/copycat at worst). Though my ideas are genuine and well thought out, I generally just throw them together in my planner and go from there when executing them. It’s the presentation for public consumption that has had me struggling–that, and finding the time to do it! All that to say that this journey has already taken longer than I hoped when I started out. The first unit I released was the Fruit of the Spirit family devotional. You can read more about that here. Then came my composer study on Pyotr Tchaikovsky, which is a 6-week close look at the composer, his ballets, and his country of origin. I didn’t necessarily promote that unit very well (again, something I struggle with) but my kids and I had a really good time listening to his music and studying his ballets when we went through it ourselves! But this next unit is very dear to me as it is one of the first units I ever actually wrote when I was a public school teacher. During my final year of teaching, I was (wrecklessly) moved from the fourth grade to the first grade–in the middle of the school year. It had been decided that the first grade needed more help and that I was the teacher for the job. It was a frightening experience but I stepped up to the challenge. And then I proceeded to make my own curriculum and write several author studies along the way. The first of which was an author study on beloved author and artist, Eric Carle. I have since taken the lessons from this unit and put them together in a comprehensive way and aligned it to today’s kindergarten standards.

So let’s dive into the colorful world of Eric Carle! In this comprehensive kindergarten unit, you will find 14 unique lessons across the curriculum–meaning, they will hit on language arts, math, science, art, and more! You and your child will read over 15 of Eric Carle’s beloved children’s books. You will dive into time, calendar knowledge, number sense, plants, moon phases, colors, optical illusions, food, and conversations about friends and socialization. All while reading some truly remarkable picture books. What could be better to jump start your child’s education?! Or what could be better to add a little “umph” to the end-of-the-year slog we homeschooling mamas sometimes feel?! Because this unit is only 14 lessons long, you could easily take anywhere from 7-14 weeks to complete it. There is also an accompanying set of printing practice pages that is FREE with or without a purchase of the author study. So even if now is not the time for you to purchase another resource, you can absolutely get the Eric Carle themed printing pages for free from my shop.

Ultimately, I really hope you enjoy this Eric Carle author study. It is the first of (hopefully) many! And if you’re ever in Western MA, be sure to check out the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art!

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12 Special Ways to Start a New Homeschool Year

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Starting a new homeschool year can be daunting for both kids and moms! There is this tension between excitement for a new routine and the sadness that summer break is winding down. As homeschooling moms, many of us like to have a plan in place. We’ve spent countless summer hours combing over curriculum, getting input from fellow homeschoolers, picking out books, and planning potential field trips. And then comes the first day. We want everything to go smoothly or else… all seems lost. So how do you ensure a great start to the school year? While there is no guarantee, there are certainly some special things you can do to kick off a new year in memorable ways. The start of school doesn’t have to just be about new clothes or new school supplies. Those things are important and in a lot of ways, they define this time of year. But there are also so many unique, fun activities you can incorporate that you may not have thought about yet. Some of these may become new first day of school traditions for your family, or they may be things you try just this once. Please don’t let these ideas overwhelm you or add to your to do list. And no way could anyone be expected to do them all! My hope is that you pick one, maybe two ideas to help create a fun day for you and your kids as you start a new homeschooling year. 

The good news is that first day of school does not have to encompass the whole of what we want to accomplish for the year–not even close! If our goal in homeschooling is to deepen our relationships with our children and give them a rich, meaningful education that is full of love and adventure then let’s let our first day of school be just that–a family day full of adventure! This is what makes our ability to homeschool special. 

I like to start off with a special breakfast. In our house, this usually means I’m up early making doughnuts–but a trip to Dunkin Donuts or the local bakery is just as good! I also like to have a letter written to each child from me on their plate. This is my way of letting them know how special they are, how much I love them, and what I’m excited about for them in coming school year. And of course, we start our day in prayer for the new year. 

Once it’s time to start school, we generally don’t cover all subjects on that first day. I typically pick one or two we all enjoy and focus just on those. I know it’s tempting to get right into the new school schedule, but it’s also nice (and beneficial) to ease in and get a feel for how long things will take to get done. This is hard to do if we’re trying to cram everything in all at once. Don’t forget to leave margin in your schedule! This is a great mentality to maintain, not only for the first day of school, but for the whole year. This also leaves room to get those first day of school pictures, if you want!

To make that first day special, think location. Can any of the subjects you want to cover be done outside? Taking school work to a park or playground can be a really unique and fun way to start the year. If science is one of the subjects you want to start with, one of my favorite things to do is take a nature walk! If you’re a hiking family like us, or have older kids, hitting the trails or hiking a mountain is totally doable for that first day! Pack some art supplies or even a math worksheet to complete at the summit. Hiking outside is an excellent way to wake up the brain and how many kids get to say they did school at the top of a mountain?! So much fun.

Speaking of math… is it a dirty word in your household like it is for a few of my kids? Math is one of those non-negotiable subjects that everyone loves to hate. I know it seems senseless to not get it in on the first day of school, but you can still change it up a bit. Consider using that first day for review games rather than a full lesson. Or maybe you take it as a mental math day, (which could turn into a once-a-week routine)! There are so many fun things to do for math on that first day of homeschool. From games to experimenting with recipes as the math lesson, the possibilities for a fun start are endless. 

One thing I definitely have to get in on that first day of school is a read-aloud. Reading out loud is something I do with my children everyday during the school year and as often as I can in the summer. I get so excited over read-alouds and picking the new books I want us to experience together! While we do want that first day of school to feel special, it’s important to also incorporate some aspect of the routine you’re striving for in the coming year. For us, reading aloud is a big part of that routine. I would be remiss if we skipped it on the first day. It’s also an easy one to do outside, at a park, on a trail, or on a picnic blanket with the whole family. 

Whether you do one, two, or more subjects on the first day, I highly recommend ending by lunchtime. We typically do this all year (with a few exceptions), but I find it to be especially important on day one. It’s so nice to have that afternoon to debrief or adventure. So what about a special lunch? If you can’t get in that special breakfast (or maybe you do but what’s one more special meal?) you can totally make lunch a fun meal, too. Is there a certain lunch that is everyone’s favorite? Can you go out for lunch to celebrate the first day? Or if you have the capacity, can each child make his or her own lunch? This, too, can become a weekly tradition that can also help foster independence in the kitchen. 

Once school work is done for the day, consider taking an adventure in the afternoon. Go for a hike on a new-to-you trail, visit a park or botanical garden, or just go out for ice cream and talk about the day and your hopes for the new school year! This is a great way to include your kids in the “planning” of their education. Figure out what they are hoping to learn this year. (You may want to do this before the first day of school, but if you don’t get around to it, it’s totally fine to use that first day as a strategy session with your students.) 

You could also consider making the whole first day into a field trip. If you know you’re starting with a particular topic in science or history that lends itself well to museum or outdoor exploration, why not start there? Imagine surprising your kids with a field trip when they are expecting to wake up start school work. Priceless. 

Whatever form it takes for you, I encourage you to make the first day of a school a special treat for your kids. The most important thing is to remember the reason for choosing to homeschool, and don’t allow yourself to become a slave to your curriculum choices. 

While you want to have a plan in place and maybe you’re ironing it out the week before or the night before, try not to overplan. Let yourself (and your kids) ease into the school year. Don’t stress. Remember that you are the best person to raise, disciple, and teach your kids. And home is the best place for them to learn! You’ve got this.

Be sure to download these free printables with tips for the first day and reminders for the homeschooling mom and post them in your school planning area or on your vision board if you have one. They are great reminders not only for the first day of school, but for your school planning year round.

click to download printables