Christmas-y Homeschool Shennanigans!

We’ve had a crazy year. We’ve been on track with our curricula all year, too, despite that fact. 😱

But this week I plan to get behind just a bit. And that’s ok. Instead of our regular subjects (Language Arts, Math, Sciences, Languages, and History, etc.), we’re taking the week to participate in Nutcracker Art History Week!

Today was Day 1. I didn’t realize there was pre-party work, so we caught up. We learned about musicians and artists, read some of The Nutcracker, and watched “A Very Nutty Christmas” with Melissa Joan Hart. That last part was just something I added in. Ha.

A Van Gogh/ Nightmare Before Christmas/Seussian-inspired tree by me.

A mouse. By T-bug

Christmas Tree by R

Picaso inspired Nutcracker by R

Nutcracker by T-bug

We might actually get a bit behind all month. My primary focus this month is all things Christmas-y. We’ll be reading some of my favorite books: A Christmas Carol, The Greatest Gift, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, etc.

We’ll watch our favorite Christmas movies and find some new favorites.

We’re also reading a chapter of Luke each day this month.

Credit to whomever it is due. 🙂

We’re going to learn to make traditional family recipes and we’re going to bake and decorate cookies.

We’ve already been working on handmade gifts.

The boys painted these. Aint they cute?

The secondary focus this month is Intro to Shakespeare. I’ve meant to do this for a couple years and it kept getting pushed to the side.

We’re learning about his life and reading a few of his plays that have been adapted for children. I have to say, though, I’m consdiering writing my own adaptations. I haven’t read one yet that I’m completely satisfied with.

And speaking of writing, I’ve been working on a Christmas story. My kids (especially T-bug) seem really excited about it. I hope I can make it as awesome as they hope it will be. More on that in a future post. (I know, I know, I have other WIP that need attention…)

Besides writing, I’ve been painting a good bit, packing, cleaning, and catching up with a few of my writerly friends.

Aside from WftP editing duties, I haven’t done much in the way of blogging. I hope to get back to Books by Trista (with more author interviews, etc.) and Mississippi Folklore soon. But for now, family life beckons and I’m looking forward to soaking up all the holiday memories with our little family and all of our folks and friends that I can. If I don’t get back to you this year, good luck with all you do. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God bless you and yours.

Much love,

T