Simple Joys and Big Wins: Teaching at Home with Creativity and Connection

I don’t know about you, but some days I look around at the paper scraps on the floor, the stack of library books that somehow keep multiplying, and the never-ending snack requests—and I wonder if anything I planned today actually stuck.

But then, I catch a glimpse of something that reminds me it’s all worth it. Maybe it’s the way my little ones proudly point out a letter on a sign at the store, or the way my early reader slowly sounds out a word she's seen a hundred times but finally recognizes with confidence. That’s the moment. That’s the little win that means everything.

Homeschooling at this stage isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection—building trust, creating memories, and using creativity to spark curiosity. That’s why I’ve stopped worrying about having the “right” curriculum or a picture-perfect schedule. We learn best when we’re engaged, laughing, and exploring the world together. And sometimes that means baking muffins while talking about measuring cups, or coloring while we talk about a mini history subject 

I’ve found that the best days often come from following their interests. If they’re into animals, we read animal books, act out animal sounds, and draw animal habitats. If the excitement is all about space, construction trucks, or bugs, we run with it! It doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be intentional.

Here are a few things I’ve been doing lately that have worked well in our homeschool:

Morning rhythm over a strict schedule. We keep a gentle routine with time for scripture, songs, and calendar work—plus room to follow the fun.

Creative play tied to what we’re learning. Cardboard castles, puppet shows, painting with veggies—we do it all, and I promise, you don’t have to be a Pinterest pro to make it happen.

Books everywhere. I keep seasonal books and read-alouds within arm’s reach. We have at least one bookshelf, big or small in every room of the house. Even if our day gets wild, storytime grounds us.

Hands-on over worksheet-heavy. I sneak in skills with games, puzzles, and crafts. It doesn’t have to look academic to be academic.

Grace. Always grace. For me, for them, for the messy moments and the missed lessons.

If you’re in a season of doubt or just plain exhaustion, I hope this reminds you that what you’re doing matters. You’re laying a foundation not just of reading or math, but of love, security, and confidence. That’s something no workbook can match.

So light a candle, press play on your favorite teaching playlist, and take a deep breath. You’re doing better than you think—and your kids are so lucky to have you!

We’ve got this—one messy, creative, love-filled day at a time.

– Janille

Butter, Bread & Handcarts: Simple & Fun Ways to Celebrate Pioneer Day

Butter, Bread & Handcarts: Simple & Fun Ways to Celebrate Pioneer Day

Pioneer Day is coming, and it’s one of my favorite times to slow down and remember the faith, grit, and creativity of those who crossed the plains long before us. And no, we’re not heading out with a wagon or making anyone walk 15 miles — but we can have some fun learning and living like pioneers in our own kitchen and backyard.

If you’re looking for low-prep, fun, meaningful ways to help your kids learn about pioneer life, here are some ideas we’ve loved (or are planning to try this year!).

Make Homemade Bread & Butter

There’s something about making your own food from scratch that really connects you to the past.

Easy Pioneer Butter

All you need is a jar or little plastic cups with lids and some heavy whipping cream.

Pour the cream in, seal it tight, and shake, shake, shake.

After a few minutes of shaking, you’ll feel the butter start to form. Pour off the liquid (that’s buttermilk!), and spread your butter on warm bread. Add a pinch of salt if you like.

Let the kids time themselves and take turns shaking—they’ll love it.

Simple Pioneer Bread

You don’t need anything fancy—a basic no-knead bread or bread machine recipe works great. Or try a super simple pioneer biscuit recipe:

* 2 cups flour

* 1 tablespoon baking powder

* ½ teaspoon salt

* ¾ cup milk

* ¼ cup butter

Mix, roll, cut, bake at 425°F for 12–15 minutes.

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Make Pioneer Soap (The Easy, Kid-Safe Way)

Okay, no lye or campfire here—just a fun, safe way to feel like a pioneer:

* Buy a glycerin melt-and-pour soap base (found at craft stores or online)

* Let kids melt cubes in the microwave with your help

* Pour into molds (silicone muffin molds or even cookie cutters work)

* Add dried lavender, oats, or essential oils if you want to get fancy

It’s simple, quick, and they’ll love using something they made themselves.

What Was Life Like for Pioneer Kids?

Talk with your kids about what it was really like to travel in a handcart or wagon.

* Most families walked hundreds of miles

* Kids often carried water, gathered firewood, or helped push carts

* There were no grocery stores, no electricity, and very few toys

* Nights were spent camping—in the heat, rain, or snow

You can even have your kids pack a “mini pioneer handcart” using a laundry basket. Give them 5 minutes to gather what they’d bring if they had to walk across the country. It’s a fun discussion starter!

Make a Yarn Doll

One of the simplest pioneer toys was a yarn doll—no sewing required!

All you need is yarn and scissors. Wrap yarn around a book about 30 times, slide it off, tie off the head, and snip to make arms and legs. There are tons of tutorials online if you want a step-by-step, but honestly, they don’t have to be perfect—the charm is in the simplicity!

Play Old-Fashioned Games & Read Pioneer Stories

Introduce your kids to the Oregon Trail computer game—a classic that’s still a great way to understand pioneer challenges and choices. If you don’t have a computer game handy, plenty of books about pioneer life and the Oregon Trail bring those adventures to life in stories.

For some quiet time, try a fun Pioneer Day word search to build vocabulary and get kids thinking about pioneer life:

Pioneer Day Printable Word Search:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pioneer-Day-Printable-Word-Search-For-Fun-July-Holidays-11843394

Eat What They Ate

Try making a simple pioneer meal together. Here are a few authentic (or inspired) ideas:

* Johnnycakes (cornmeal pancakes)

* Baked beans and cornbread

* Dried fruit and jerky

* Simple soups with potatoes, carrots, and onion

* Homemade root beer (Okay, root beer and ice cream may not have been something pioneers actually drank and ate a lot, but it sure is fun to make a homemade treat!)

Easy Ice Cream in a Bag (A Sweet Pioneer-Style Treat!)

If you want a fun, hands-on sweet treat that kids can make themselves, try this classic:

You’ll need:

* 1 cup half-and-half or milk

* 2 tablespoons sugar

* ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

* Ice

* 1/3 cup salt (rock salt or kosher salt works best)

* 1 quart-size ziplock bag

* 1 gallon-size ziplock bag

Instructions:

1. In the quart bag, combine milk, sugar, and vanilla. Seal tightly.

2. Fill the gallon bag halfway with ice and salt.

3. Place the quart bag inside the gallon bag and seal the gallon bag tightly.

4. Shake the bags for about 5–10 minutes (wear gloves or wrap the bag in a towel because it gets very cold!).

5. When the mixture thickens into ice cream, carefully remove the quart bag, wipe off salt water, and enjoy!

Why It Matters

Celebrating Pioneer Day isn’t just about remembering the past—it’s about honoring faith, family, work, creativity, and courage. Let your kids feel those values in the things they create, the stories they hear, and the memories you make together.

Even if you only manage one simple project, it’ll mean something. And it might just stick longer than a worksheet ever could.

Cough Drops and Chapter Books: How We Keep Going

 I'm Back... finally! (And Here’s What We Do When I’m Too Sick or Tired to “Do School”)

I know it’s been *months* since I’ve posted. I’m so sorry for the silence! Life hit us hard this season — we’ve had one sickness after another rolling through our house like a parade of germs. Just when one person started feeling better, someone else went down.  Then we had so many places to go and things to do, then right back to sickness all over!  And let’s be honest, when Mom’s sick or completely drained… everything slows down.

So today I wanted to share something that’s been on my heart — how we’ve still managed to keep learning going at home during those days (or weeks!) when I just couldn’t manage a full lesson, printables, or anything that looked like our usual routine.

Because learning doesn’t have to stop just because you’re on the couch, in bed --- or even in the van!

Here are some of our go-to simple, fun, and creative learning ideas for those “Mom is sick/tired/overwhelmed” kind of days:

Audiobooks and Story Time TV

If I can push a button, we’re doing school. Audiobooks are a lifesaver. I queue up favorites like Magic Tree House, Winnie-the-Pooh, or Little House on the Prairie. For the older ones, Harry Potternor.Fablehaven, and we snuggle under blankets while they listen. Sometimes I even just play old episodes of Reading Rainbow or Storybots — and you better believe that counts as learning.

Books, Books, and More Books

Reading is always a win — especially when I'm low on energy. I encourage the kids to get creative with how and where they read. They’ve built forts and turned them into cozy reading caves. They’ve read under tables, in closets, and behind couches. I don’t care where they’re reading — I just love that they are. When I can’t do much, I pile a bunch of books in the living room and say, “Pick some and read however you want.”

Tell Me What You See

If I’m horizontal on the couch and can’t even talk much, I open up a famous painting, photo from nature, or even a picture book page and say, “Tell me what you see.” It’s amazing how much language, storytelling, and observation skills come from something that simple.

Life Skills Count

If I’ve got enough energy to stand at the stove, I’ll ask one of the kids to “be my helper.” Reading a recipe, measuring, stirring — all of that counts. If I’m not up to cooking, I let them do something small like sorting socks or matching lids to containers. Is it glamorous? Nope. Is it real life math and problem-solving? Yes.

Board Games & Building Stuff

Uno, Memory, Zingo, Super Why, or even a pile of magnetic tiles = instant learning. It builds focus, turn-taking, pattern recognition, and strategy. Best of all? The kids think it’s just fun. No lesson plan needed.

Yes, Screens Can Help (But They're Not the Whole Plan)

No, this doesn’t mean I park them in front of a screen all day and call it school. But yes — educational shows and even some games can help fill the gap when I can’t. I just try to be intentional. Wild Kratts, Octonauts, Numberblocks, Bluey, Super Why, Word World, and kid friendly baking shows still offer vocabulary, science, and problem-solving. A little screen time isn’t the enemy — especially when I’m running on empty.

Sticker Workbooks & Independent Drawings

If I can set them up at the table with a pencil or stickers and say, “Can you show me how to make a story with pictures?” — that buys me rest and gives them practice with creativity, focus, and storytelling.  Sometimes I have them draw me pictures of stories they read or the show they just watched. Zero prep. Zero expectations. Total win.

Teach Me Something

My kids love pretending they’re the teacher. I’ll say, “Can you teach me something you remember?” and suddenly I’m learning all about dinosaurs, letters, Mario Kart, or jellyfish. They feel important, and I get to listen and relax.

Car School Counts Too

Sometimes it’s not sickness that slows us down — it’s just real life. We’ve had weeks where it feels like we live in the van. Between appointments, sports, church, errands, and all the other places we have to be, it can feel like there’s no room for “real school.”

But here’s the thing — learning still fits, even on the go.

I keep a basket of books and brain-boosting games in the car. We’ve practiced skip counting at red lights, listened to scripture or chapter books on long drives, and turned grocery store runs into scavenger hunts for colors, prices, or categories.

Sometimes the best discussions happen in the car anyway — especially when everyone’s buckled in and can’t wander off.

So no, it doesn’t have to look like desks and notebooks to count. Drive time can be school time, too.

If you’re reading this in bed with tissues in hand, or feeling like you’ve failed at homeschooling this week because you’ve barely managed to feed everyone — you’re not alone. You’re doing more than you think. And learning is still happening, even on the hard days.

Letting go of the perfect plan isn’t giving up — it’s just adapting. And sometimes, survival mode school is exactly what’s needed.

Sending love and a reminder: rest is part of the rhythm.