Hi Reader, Last week, I watched my oldest daughter graduate with a Master’s in Theology and the Arts from the most prestigious university in Scotland. When I began homeschooling her way back in kindergarten, I had no idea we’d keep going through high school. I couldn't imagine that this five-year-old girl—a late reader, quite attached to her mama, rather nervous about new experiences—would grow up to travel the world. She'd live in Austria, Uganda, and Scotland… all before the age of 24....
27 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, What if I told you there’s an Icelandic Christmas tradition where the whole point is to spend an evening sitting around, sipping hot cocoa, and reading books? Sign me up, right? On today's episode, we’re revisiting an RAR favorite: Jolabokaflod (“Yule Book Flood,”). Today, we're going to talk about how it started, and how you can bring the magic of this (beautifully simple!) bookish tradition into your home this Christmas. In this episode, you’ll hear: Where the Icelandic Yule Book...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
You know Reader? Since creating the first iteration of Christmas School several ago, I have met thousands of homeschool moms all over the country. If I had a candy cane for every one of them that told me Christmas School was the best part of their entire homeschool year… ... I mean, I’d have a lot of candy canes, that’s what. Here’s what I want you to know: doing Christmas School will make December unlike any other part of your school year. Your kids will learn a ton. You will have a blast....
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It’s the merriest time of year at Read-Aloud Revival, and families everywhere are gearing up for Christmas School! 🎄 Each year thousands of homes join in, which means the Christmas School books sometimes sell out quickly. This year, two titles in particular — Cobweb Christmas and Apple Tree Christmas — are becoming harder to find. But don’t let that stop you from jumping into Christmas School. We’ve made sure you’ll have everything you need. I explain everything in this short video...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, We all know there is no shortage of Christmas picture books out there. But for a book to make it onto my kids’ Christmas stack or onto a Read- Aloud Revival Christmas Book List, it has to be excellent. And the books we choose for Christmas School? Those are the ones that go above and beyond excellent and are some of our most treasured, tippy-top favorite Christmas read-alouds. Today, I have the delight of sharing my conversation with the author-illustrator of one of my all-time...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Well okay, it’s because we have a lot to do, obviously. 🤪 So listen, Reader... Our homeschooling lives are pretty packed before the holiday season begins. And that’s exactly what Christmas School is for. It's your family’s guide to slowing down, savoring the season, and waiting in joyful hope for the birth of Our Lord. And goodness, I do love a whole month of school that feels nothing like school. :) What time of year is better for that than December? Thousands of families around the world...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, I've got a bonus pick-me-up for you today! It's a short, 8-minute episode that speaks to the pervasive fear so many of us mothers have. This fear feeds into our anxiety about our homeschools, our kids, and our parenting, and it convinces us that we're not doing a good enough job with any of it. The underlying problem is that we believe that God is disappointed in us as mothers. But God is not disappointed in you. He is not surprised by anything you are facing in your life, your...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, You know what I know? The fact that you have a hard time keeping up with everything on your to-do list before the Christmas season begins. (I only know this about you because it's 💯 true for me, btw.) Just keeping up with the homeschooling (when it’s NOT a holiday season) is a lot. I've been homeschooling for nearly two decades now. 😱 😅 So today I wanted to share my top tips for homeschooling through the holidays. They’re the tips I follow every year during the holidays, because...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Have you ever worried that you’re not meeting all of your child’s needs—academically, emotionally, spiritually, or even socially? Pretty much every day, right? You’re not alone. Most of us have wondered at some point whether we’re giving our kids everything they need. In this episode, I’m sharing a replay from one of our Circle with Sarah live sessions. RAR Community Manager Kelsey Murphy and I dug into what education is really for, because if we know what it’s for, we’re better...
2 months ago • 1 min read