At first glance, Kwanzaa can seem like a daunting holiday to understand, never mind celebrating. Most of what the common person knows about Kwanzaa is along the lines of some candles and eventually gifts. Gifts are the only thing anyone seems to care about anymore, anyway. However, the origins, creation, and celebration of Kwanzaa are much more distinguished and Afrocentric than a lot of people care to know. Let’s talk about some common myths concerning Kwanzaa.   Myth One: Kwanzaa was created a millennia ago, which explains the missing modern touches that holidays like, say, Halloween e ..read more

Halloween Alternatives for Christian Families Halloween is an interesting holiday to say the least. Not only are its origins rooted in death and paganism, but it’s the only time of the year where it’s socially acceptable to dress like the tooth fairy. Or a goblin. Really anything that isn’t a bunny. That’s pretty overplayed. But celebrating Halloween while raising Christian children can seem overwhelming or even counterintuitive at times. And finding safe spaces for my family to enjoy the advent of a new season and the brisk air can prove daunting or even impossible. Here’s my foolproof gui ..read more

7 things you can do to prevent summer learning decline  Summertime is for fun, doesn’t mean learning can’t be done. Prevent the summer learning decline by engaging in the following activities frequently throughout the summer. Your children will be so busy having fun they will disregard the fact they are learning. 7 things you can do to prevent summer learning decline.   Keep their reading interests peaked by participating in a summer reading program that offers rewards for reading. See the list here for National Summer Reading Programs for 2021. Read at least 20 minutes a ..read more

Whether you are a veteran or you’re homeschooling because of covid, keeping your kids engaged can be a challenge. Let’s talk about strategies you can use in your homeschool to keep your kids engaged without the use of screens. Before we do that, I want to discuss why we are even having this conversation in the first place. Let’s look at the effects of our kids being exposed to too much screen time.  Too much screen time affects a child’s sleep pattern.  It can be harmful to their health – increased obesity  It disrupts language, speaking, writing and hinders communication  ..read more

    Self-Care while homeschooling As a homeschooling mom, it’s necessary to practice self-care. Too often, moms who homeschool neglect themselves for the sake of educating their children and managing their home. Do you constantly feel stressed, overwhelmed, experience burnout, and have frequent feelings of not measuring up? We’ve all been there and far too many, stay there. It seems to be an unspoken rule to feel this way if you are a homeschooling mom. Too often, homeschooling moms fill their schedules to the brim in an effort to feel adequate as a homeschooling mom. Let’s examine ..read more

Some may feel the need to learn to spell is obsolete because we have autocorrect at our fingertips to do that for us. It seems learning to spell has lost its value. However, you may want to reconsider that when you think of the importance of spelling in overall learning. One, spelling is an essential component of successful writing. Being a confident speller will lead to confidence in numerous areas of literacy. Did you know, research has found that spelling, comprehension, reading, and writing are all linked? (see one of the many studies here) Teaching spelling equips your child with th ..read more

Hi, and welcome to Kiyana Thomas, Mompreneur, Homeschool blog’s about me page. I’m Kiyana, please allow me to introduce myself. First, thank you for joining me I’m so excited you’re here. A little about me, I’m a woman after God’s Own heart, a mother of five. You can get to know the 4 younger ones on their Youtube channel (THOMAS KIDS COOKING CREW-here) and married to a wonderful and supportive man.   $2 $8 $1                 The post SHOP appeared first on I Am Kiyana Thomas, Homeschool Mompreneur ..read more

Like many new students at home, when I started home school, I tried to recreate the home school version. And it’s not going well. Fortunately, our home school has developed from the earliest days. Today, our daily home school activities revolve around high-quality reading aloud and educational games. Gameschooling education refers to home school education through games. Games school students use games as part of the home school curriculum. In fact, some family students have dropped out of all other courses entirely! Games are an important part of our home school curriculum and family culture ..read more

What is the first thing people say when you tell them you’re homeschooling? We’ve all heard it: What about socialization? I just laugh at this question. My response usually is socialized to what? Let’s talk about the myth or should I say misconception of socialization in your homeschool. Family learning enables your child to interact with people of all ages, from siblings and parents to church and community figures. This not only provides them with real practice of social skills but also allows them to observe it while modeling acceptable social behaviors. So what’s the big deal everyone is t ..read more

When you’ve burnt through all your best ideas and are looking to create some sustainable improvements, read on! First, you have to acknowledge reality When working from home with kids – or managing people trying to work and parent at the same time – it’s important to remember that no two individuals have the exact same responsibilities and demands. Every Family is Different: Different numbers of children, at different ages, with different personalities and needs Different spaces to work in With partners working at home, or not working but still at home Single parenting Caring for oth ..read more