Magical Elements of the Periodic Table {Review}

 

This unique alphabet book uses the Elemental Dragons to introduce readers to 26 elements in the periodic table.  These 26 dragons each represent an element and have special powers based on the properties of those metals.  Each layout contains useful scientifc information and tons of fun information.  What a special and magical way to learn about the periodic table!

This fun picture book is loaded with information, way more than I imagined.  The illustrations are colorful and engaging.  The characters are full of charm and this book appears to be a great way to introduce the periodic table to young readers.  My only criticism is that the print is indeed quite small and hard to read.  I'd love to see the print enlarged, even if it meant loosing some of the content.  Overall, I was happy with the quality of this book.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Don't Waste Your Money On Preschool Curriculum ll Real Homeschool Talk

 *This post was originally posted on 6/28/22.  Enjoy!

(click on post for video)

 Ready to embark on this journey of homeschooling? Anxious to get preschool started? Great! But hold on just a minute before you pull out that credit card.

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑20yrs led to 👱16 yrs, 👧14 yrs, and 👱 10 yrs. Homeschooling Preschool Favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw8_-SW4Glo How to Make Dancing Ribbons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tqoorr_xpk Color Sorting Activity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OinS-2oNcE Marble Painting Activity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDm_I8jb1uY Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/52903?ref=nav_mybooks Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.

Weekend Links ll May 3, 2024

 

6 Ways to Strengthen Your Child's Working Memory

What Kids Learn From Simply Reading Together

24 Creative Ideas for Family Fun in May

7 Ways to Homeschool In The Spring

Writing Fantasy Unit Study with The Hobbit

This Week: 

What I'm Cooking:

My favorite meal this week was our lettuce wrap dinner.  This is one that I've talked about frequently and it never gets old.  We rip the lettuce, top it with rice and meat and eat ours more like bowls.  Topped with some siracha, .... it's one of those meals that you can stuff yourself with.

What I'm Reading:

I finally got my hands on a copy of Mother and Son by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.  And now that my library has gotten a copy, I want a copy of my own.  There is so much good information and advice in this one.  I need my own copy that I could mark up.  It's really challenging the way I think about my relationship with my boys and I anticipate that it's going to take multiple reading for my to implement everything I'm learning.  Can't recommend this one enough.

What I'm Doing:

I've been trying to plan our school year for next year and it's been a huge challenge.  Really, picking Dual Enrollment classes for my soon to be junior has been the biggest challenge.  We plan on her taking an English class and I've asked her to pick out an elective to go with it.  But it's been hard for her to find one that she's happy with.  It's her first experience with college classes and I think it's intimidating her.  

Wish us luck!

What I'm Enjoying:

Dinner on the patio...

Windy afternoons...

Trying new scone recipes...

World Watch News...

Kitty snuggles...

What are you up to?

What We Read and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll April 2024

 

Daring to Live on the Edge

by Loren Cunningham

Faith and finances are so intertwined.  When finances run tight, it's hard not to question God's faithfulness.  And when finances are plentiful, it's a temptation to feel like we MUST be in his will.  But is that really the way that kingdom finances really work?  This book had a lot of good points in it, lots to consider about how finances can be indicators, tests, temptations, and more!  It was generally a good read.  However, I had two sticking points that stumped me.  First of all, although the book says it's for everyone, whether in full-time ministry or not, I felt like 85+% of the book applied to ministry and missions positions.  Second of all, Daring to Live on the Edge felt very repetitive.  Cunningham tended to repeat himself and beat a concept to death.  Although I loved hearing his testimonies, sometimes it felt over done and a few chapters, I tended to zone out. 

Live Your Truth and Other Lies

by Alisa Childers

We've all heard it... Live Your Truth!  Follow Your Heart!  YOLO!  What if this "sage" advice is actually what's making us anxious and stressed out?  When followed to it's logical conclusion, where does this advice lead?  Alisa Childers tackles some of the most well-known mantras of this generation and examines them in light of Biblical truth, exposing their flaws.  So good, I've already passed it on to my 

16 year old daughter to read as well.

Now and Not Yet by Ruth Cho Simons

See my full review here.

 

 

Christian Heroes: William Carey and

Christian Heroes: Adoniram Judson

by Janet & Geoff Benge

We're continuing through the Christian Heroes with my 7th grader.  This is books 11 and 12 for our year and we've really enjoyed them.  They're inspirational and awe-inspiring.  They're also a great way for my son to be exposed to heroes of the faith.  This Christian Heroes series are well written and very engaging.  We're both loving them.

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

I just love Richard Peck's work.  He always writes with such delightful humor.  And the title of the one caught my eye with the same whit that's he's become known for.  This story is about two siblings, left to make their way in the world.  Jake, the older brother, is challenged to keep his garage running while trying to raise his little sister, Peewee, into a young lady.  Peewee, for her part, wants nothing to do with being a lady, but would rather spend her time working on cars along side Jake.  This story is an endearing story of a young girl trying to balance growing up with her own daring personality.  So funny.  And I especially loved the fact that no matter what, Jake and Peewee were family and looked out for one another.

Tree.Table.Book by Louise Lowry

See my full review here.

Loving Your Adult Children by Gaye B. Clark

See my full review here.

Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright

Return to Gone Away by Elizabeth Enright

These books are AMAZING!  I'm not even sure where I heard about them, but I'm so glad I did.  Written in a similiar style to The Boxcar Children, they contain just enough mystery and suspense while still maintining a sweetness.  The characters are kind without being overly done, and exhibit the type of relationships we all wish our children to have.  So glad I found them before my youngest child outgrew this kind of story.  If you have elementary students, definitely add these two to your read aloud list.

What are you reading?

Loving Your Adult Children {Review}

 

Launching and parenting adult children can be a challenging period for both parent and child.  It's a time of uncertainty and confusion.  How much do you guide?  How often should you share advice?  And the issue becomes even more complicated when there are hurts on one or both sides.  What does it look like to love?

Author Gaye B. Clark takes a closer look at how love endures through the launching years of a parent/ child relationship.  In Loving your Adult Children, she take a grace-centered, Jesus-focused approach to parenting our children in this new phase of life.  This book flips the script by asking readers to focus on their own relationship with the Lord and allowing themselves to be shaped through their parenting journey.

As a parent of a young adult, and two following close behind, this book was very timely.  Launching young adults can be tricky.  Parenthood never really ends and yet, these children must find their own way of doing things outside of us.  It can be a challenging season of life.  Some of my favorite take aways from this book include: 

• "He is a good God, and we can trust him even when we can't see how things will work out."
• "We can feel grief and lament the paind of broken relationships.... But we should not grow bitter, sulk, and stay angry at God or our adult children.  To do this, we need godly friends in our lives, walking with us to help us know when we've strayed from lament and grief and into bitterness.
• "When dealing with those wandering away from the faith, we must recognize that soometimes they'll not start evaluating the deep questions of their lives until they find themselves in a situation where they don't know what to do."

Each chapter includes about 10 questions for personal reflection or group study.  Overall, this was a timely book for my stage of life.  This author really hits the heart of what's happening in a parent/adult child relationship and offers relevant advice and hope for this transition.  A rich read for anyone launching young adults into the world.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review.  All opinions are my own.