Happy November!

Halloween is over so that means … it’s Christmastime! Some of you are probably thinking that it’s a little bit early to jingle those bells just yet. My husband and I have this discussion every year. He thinks that the Christmas tree shouldn’t go up until December 1st. I’ve always thought it should go up on November 1st (make the most of the season, y’all!). For the sake of our marriage, I usually meet him in the middle and wait until November 3rd.

Wherever you stand on the issue, check out our This Week on TGFL section below for some great ideas to get you thinking about the Christmas season.

Also in today’s feature? Books, homeschooling, nature and wonderful things from around the web.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Mary-Ann

This Week on TGFL

In case you missed it, here’s what’s been happening on The Grace-Filled Life this week:

• Preschool Corner: 10 Budget-Friendly Light Table Ideas (and one Really Budget-Friendly Light Table Substitute)
• Charlotte Mason Inspired: Step-by-Step Christmas Hymn Study

This Week in Nature

It has been so rainy this week that we haven’t been out much at all. But as this post from last year reminds us, November holds the promise of a new beginning.

This Week in Books

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Between the five of us, here’s what we’ve been reading:

Picture Books and Readers

• Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor – This book can be found on my giant autumn-themed booklist, “100+ Autumn Themed Storybooks to Read to Your Child“. If you’re looking for ideas, this list a great place to start!
• Winter Is Coming by Tony Johnston – This is one of my all-time favourite picture books in the history of ever. My girls also beg to read it again and again. It’s a sweet story about a little girl and her nature journal and the animals she observes in the forest. This book can be found later this week on my giant winter-themed booklist, “100+ Winter and Holiday Themed Books to Read to Your Child” (link is live on Monday!).
• Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
• Daniel’s Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla
• Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis

Chapter Books

• Turn Homeward, Hannalee by Patricia Beatty – This book can be found on our Living Book List for Modern World History Studies.
• Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder – This book can be found on our Living Book List for Modern World History Studies.
• North or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson – This is the second book in the Wingfeather Saga.

Adult Reads

• Home Education by Charlotte Mason – I am so excited about this book and the ideas it contains. While I will never be a purist, it’s always exciting to research educational philosophies and figure out what works for us.

This Week in Homeschool

This week, thanks to an amazing science curriculum and a sweet friend, we learned all about pumpkins: whether pumpkins float or sink; the parts of a pumpkin; pumpkin life cycle; pumpkin dissection; and the the pumpkin gospel. We ate pumpkin treats and drank pumpkin hot chocolate. And it was amazing.

We also learned about the Civil War and the Pony Express. My goal this year is to give my girls just a little taste of modern world history, without making it too heavy. Just enough to entice them and get them excited about it.

Snippets from Around the Web

There are so many wonderful things around the web this week that it’s hard to choose just a couple to share with you. Here are some of my favourites:

• How to Use Free Typing Games for Kids
• How to Survive Homeschool Sick Days
• 5 Ways to Bring the Great Commission to Life in Your Homeschool

Don’t forget to check out The Grace-Filled Life Facebook page. It’s your one-stop place for encouragement, inspiration and laughs throughout the week. You can also find TGFL on Pinterest and Instagram. Come visit any time!