Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Honest. Quirky. Real. Practical tips, candid reviews, and stereotype-smashing humor for homeschooling families.

Honest. Quirky. Real. Practical tips, candid reviews, and stereotype-smashing humor for homeschooling families.

8 Movies Based on Books for Halloween {+Free Printable}

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Written by Tara Mitchell of Homeschool Preschool.

Whether your kids prefer a scary or not-so-scary Halloween celebration, these movies based on books for Halloween are sure to be a hit with your children this fall! From classics to modern tales and preschool to teens, we’ve got you covered with this round-up of Halloween books and movies.

There are a few activities we do every year around Halloween. One favorite tradition is watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown when it airs on TV. This year, we ditched the cable so we’ll be renting it on Amazon, but it’s a tradition my daughter, now 15, insists we uphold year after year.

8 Movies Based on Books for Halloween

This year, though, I’m excited to add a few new movies to our celebrations.

If you want to squeeze a little school from your Halloween fun, download this free Halloween-themed books and movies Venn diagram to compare and contrast book and film versions.

Movies Based on Books for Halloween

Pro tip: Use the books for read-alouds this fall, and save the movies for a fun-filled family movie night complete with Halloween-themed treats.

Coraline

In my round-up of movies based on books for tweens, I noted that my daughter and I discovered that Coraline the movie was based on Coraline the book long after we watched the movie. We loved both! It’s a captivating, spooky tale for Halloween.

I recommend this movie for older kids and tweens. Besides the spooky factor, it deals with some heavy topics to which younger kids may be sensitive.

The Witches

A young boy loves to listen to his grandmother’s tales about witches – the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. Nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face-to-face with some witches as they plot to rid the world of children!

With a mixture of suspense and silliness, The Witches book is an excellent addition to your read-aloud list while you save The Witches movie for family movie night. I recommend both for older children since younger kids may find them too intense.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

You man not think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a Halloween tale, but I like to read it around the holiday since it’s full of candy!

As far as movies go, I prefer the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory movie with Gene Wilder. But, kids might enjoy the Johnny Depp’s version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory better since it’s more modern.

8 Movies Based on Books for Halloween

Harry Potter

I held out for so long on the Harry Potter series. When they first came out, I wasn’t interested in them at all. But, I set a goal to read them all this year. Once I started them, I plowed through them for in a couple of months.

After reading the books, I watched all of the Harry Potter movies. (Well except the last one, because I didn’t want the series to end.) They make the perfect set of movies and books for October!

Be warned that both the movies and the books get quite a bit darker as the series goes on. If you have younger children, you may want to preview the series first.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a great movie for Halloween or Christmas. Or both if you’re a movie buff. Jack Skellington is a favorite at our house! As with many of the movies I’ve mentioned, younger kids might be scared of the Halloween monsters so preview the movie or watch with your child.

I later learned that did not know that the movie is based on a poem that Tim Burton wrote. The artwork in the book version of The Nightmare Before Christmas consists of his original drawings of Jack Skellington and friends.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

This title is for the little ones – or the young at heart! As I mentioned, my 15-year-old still begs to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown every year when it airs on TV. This year, I’m looking forward to continuing the tradition with my grandson.

Who can resist waiting with Linus in the pumpkin patch, watching Charlie Brown say “I got a rock”, or the moment when Snoopy touches Lucy’s lips in the apple bobbing bucket?

We’ll also be adding the picture book version of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to our book collection this Halloween.

Goosebumps

I remember reading Goosebumps books back when I was in middle school. They’ve been around for a while. Kids today love them, too. They’re just suspenseful enough to keep older kids’ interest without giving them nightmares.

I have not seen the Goosebumps movie, but it’s got good reviews. Many state that the movie isn’t super scary and that even younger, elementary-aged kids enjoyed the film. As always, though, if you have sensitive kids or those who might scare easily, preview it.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a classic short story by Washington Irving. It’s perfect for Halloween time. There are several different movie versions of the story including a Disney cartoon, The Adventures of Ichabod, and a full-length movie, Sleepy Hollow, featuring Johnny Depp.

Choose the one that best fits your child’s age range.

I always recommend reading the book or story before watching the movie. This can lead to some lively discussions if your kids enjoy comparing the two versions as much as mine do. Give them a little school credit by having your kids record the similarities and differences on this Halloween-themed books and movies Venn diagram.

What are some of your family’s favorite Halloween books or movies? 

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Using Mini-offices in Your Homeschool

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When my kids were little, mini-offices were all the rage in homeschools and classrooms. A while back, I referred to them in a blog post and was surprised to learn that there are people who have never heard of a mini-office.

I’m not going to lie. It made me feel a little old.

So, I decided that I needed to fix that. I mean, people not knowing about mini-offices. I don’t think there’s much I can do about getting old.

Using Mini-offices in Your Homeschool

What Are Mini-Offices?

Mini-offices are really similar to anchor charts that are all the rage now (with the hip young parents – I didn’t know what they were until last week). A mini-office is two or more file folders glued or stapled together and filled with helpful tips, reference charts, and resources for students.

A mini-office helps a student focus on the task at hand, and the resources inside allow him to work more independently than he might otherwise be able to on his own. He’s got a quick reference for things like the spelling of common words or place value.

Old-school mini-offices are also beneficial to homeschooled kids who often school at the dining room table with several siblings. Because the file folders stand up, they give students some personal space and limit the distraction siblings may cause.

How to Create a Mini-Office

I based the original mini-offices that I created for Josh and Megan on the writing center Brianna used. All you need to create a mini-office is:

  • two or more file folders (I like using the brightly colored ones)
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Printables
homeschool mini-offices

First, lay the two folders flat so that the right side of the first folder overlaps the left side of the second, creating three sections. Glue the overlapped sections together. (You can also staple them or use packing tape.)

The two overlapped parts form the middle of the mini-office. You may need to trim the file folder tabs so that the office will close flat.

homeschool mini-offices

Next, cut out a variety of charts, tables, and resources for whatever your kids are working on. My kids had a writing mini-office and a math mini-office.

Types of Mini-Offices

When the kids were younger, one of my big goals was to avoid invented spelling in their writing. No, there’s nothing inherently wrong with invented spelling, but because Josh has dyslexia, when he was little it was easy to get a misspelling stuck in his head.

So, their writing mini-office had a word wall and other spelling resources, along with writing resources such as a 5W’s hand so that they could remember to include who, what, where, when, and why.

writing mini-office

A math mini-office might consist of:

  • a 100 number chart
  • a multiplication or addition table
  • ordinal numbers
  • colors
  • months and days
  • coin values
  • shapes
math mini-office

It might also include a map of the United States just because I thought it was nifty.

Mini-offices aren’t necessarily just for young children either. An older student might appreciate a file folder with reference tools such as:

  • mathematical order of operations
  • formulas for finding an area, perimeter, or slope
  • Periodic Table of Elements
  • Classification chart
  • Strong verbs

Math Mini-Office Resources

Look for resources for your mini-offices wherever you find your favorite printables, such as Teachers Pay Teachers or Mama’s Learning Corner.

writing mini-office

Two great sites for mini-office printables are Teaching Heart (warning: the site is old school – it’s my original spot for printables) and Jessica Meacham’s Mini Offices (also an original, but the site has been updated).

math mini-office

For specific printables that I used, other than Teaching Heart and Jessica Meacham, check out these resources:

Using Mini-offices in Your Homeschool

Come on, y’all. Bring back mini-offices! I hope your kids love them as much as mine did. The mini-offices are something that Josh and Megan both remember.

Have you ever used mini-offices before? If so, are you old like me? {grin}

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8 Tips for Creating Lifelong Readers

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Written by KT Brison of Lit Mama.

Creating lifelong readers is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children. Because reading tops the list of the best ways to get and stay educated, the importance of getting your kids hooked on books early and keeping them hooked cannot be overstated.

8 Tips for Creating Lifelong Readers

Studies have shown that readers excel academically, have better critical thinking skills, and utilize a more extensive vocabulary than non-readers. That means that when you raise a lifelong reader, she will be able to think about what she’s saying, express herself effectively, and learn for a lifetime.

That’s the stuff.

Why Creating Lifelong Readers Is Important

Reading prepares kids for other academic tasks. Experiencing the world through books gives them a basis for understanding history, current events, human nature, and complex problems. Books can even help your kids put geography into context.

Reading books gives your kids a better grasp of language. Seeing how grammar works in a story helps them grasp mechanics where endless worksheets often fail. It’s easy to teach paragraph construction and sentence fluency when your child has experienced both in books.

Also, if they have to be addicted to something, let it be books. Books provide an escape from life’s daily stresses. They transport us away from our worries and give us time to relax. Where else can you learn and relax at the same time?

Creating lifelong readers is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children. Because reading tops the list of the best ways to get and stay educated, the importance of getting your kids hooked on books early and keeping them hooked cannot be overstated.Click to Tweet

How to Raise Lifelong Readers

If you want your kids to be lifelong readers, you have to make literature a genuine part of their lives. Here are a few tips for doing that:

Start Them Early

When I say early, I mean immediately. I read to my boys in the womb. You don’t necessarily have to start that early, but it’s a good idea to begin reading aloud to them from birth. Studies show that children who have been read to all their lives are an average of 6 months ahead of their peers when they start school.

Six months. The earlier you start, the better the advantage for your kids

Surround Your Children with Books

I don’t just mean placing a bookshelf in their bedroom with select children’s books on it. Have a bookshelf in every room with a wide variety of books on them. Supply baskets of books where little people can reach them.

Consider follow my lead, and have stacks of books everywhere. Well, that may be a bit obsessive. I could use some of them as coffee tables.

Read in Front of  Your Kids

Children love to imitate us. The best way to get your kids hooked on reading is to let them see you read. My boys tease me about always having a book close to hand, but they are the same way. I don’t point it out. Instead, I smirk on the inside.

8 Tips for Creating Lifelong Readers

Read to Them

Don’t stop reading to your children when they learn to read for themselves. Life, video games, and outside fun might disrupt the habit of personal reading. My boys are teenagers, but we still read aloud together every day in our homeschool. It’s just a small reminder that stories are wonderful and they should take the time to read some for themselves.

Let Them Choose the Books

Kids like to have a little control over their lives. If they’re choosing the stories they read, they’re going to be more interested in reading. Sure, it might mean reading Green Eggs and Ham a million times, but it’s worth it if that means they’re going to love books forever.

Make the Library a Regular Thing

The library is a perfect place to allow your kids to choose books. Experiencing a weekly trip to a spot rich with books where they get to be in control will create an extraordinary emotional bond between your children and books.

Use Stories to Supplement Other Lessons

The more kids interact with books, the more they will enjoy them. If you’re learning about the American Revolution, incorporate an appropriate chapter or picture book into your lessons. It’s easy to find novels that will augment lessons in history, science, geography, and even government.

Show Them You’re Interested

Ask questions about what your kids are reading. What’s their favorite part? Who is their favorite character? How would they like the book to end? You could even schedule family book talks so the whole family can discuss what they’re reading. Kids are more likely to be interested in a book if they know others are interested in it, too.

Providing a literature-rich environment is easy, and it’s not much harder to encourage your kids to be readers. With just a little bit of effort, you can give your kids the best advantage of their intellectual journey.

What have you done to encourage reading in your homeschool?

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3 Movies Based on Books for Tweens to Watch This Summer

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Written by Tara Mitchell of Homeschool Preschool.

The less-structured days of summer make life challenging for parents who try to limit screen time.  What’s a mom to do when the temperatures soar, or the rain pours, and the kids are begging to watch TV or play video games all afternoon?

Make the most of it with these three movies based on books for tweens!

3 Movies Based on Books for Tweens to Watch This Summer

I don’t mind putting a movie on for the kids when it’s raining or too hot to go outside – or when I just need to get stuff done. I love to watch movies based on some of our favorite read-alouds. These three book-based movies are perfect for tweens, and you can find all of them on Netflix or Amazon.

Movies Based on Books for Tweens

Netflix labels each of these film adaptations as “Movies for ages 11-12.” If your tween has already read the book, take a few minutes after the movie to compare the two versions. My daughter loves to compare (complain about) the differences between the book and the movie.

If he or she hasn’t read the book, grab a copy for them to read before or after watching the movie. (My vote is before because the book almost always ensures that the film makes more sense.)

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia is one of my favorite books, and my daughter loves it, too. I first read it in my college Children’s Literature class. We had to read 25 Newbery Medal winners, and this was one that I chose.

3 Movies Based on Books for Tweens to Watch This Summer

Readers follow along as Jess and Leslie form a friendship, and invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, a horrible tragedy occurs (be sure to have some Kleenex on hand), and one of the children must learn to lean on family while dealing with grief.

We felt the movie stuck pretty close to the book and enjoyed the characters’ portrayal of the story. Be warned – it is a tear-jerker. This story deals with some pretty heavy, real-life themes and may not be suitable for young or sensitive children.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I haven’t read any of the books in the Series of Unfortunate Events set (my son did, though) or watched the movie. There are a total of 13 books in the series, and Jim Carrey stars in the movie version.

3 Movies Based on Books for Tweens to Watch This Summer

The book series and the movie have good ratings on Amazon. The reviews say that the film doesn’t follow the books very closely, and it only goes through book three. Don’t let this deter you, though. This deviation provides an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast the books and the movie.

Netflix has also released a series based on the books. There are two seasons with eight episodes each. Each episode covers two books from the series.

Coraline

A few years ago, my daughter and I listened to the audiobook version of Coraline. We had already seen the movie and didn’t realize it was based on a book. After we learned about the book, we listened to it in the car as we drove to and from Nutcracker rehearsals one October.

3 Movies Based on Books for Tweens to Watch This Summer

I honestly don’t remember how closely the movie follows the book since we saw the film at least a year or so before we listened to the book. My daughter and I loved them both, though. Be aware that the story has many dark moments. Sensitive kids could find this movie frightening.

Do you have some favorite movies based on books for tweens? Leave a comment and let us know!

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3 Picture Book Authors to Include in Your Spring Unit Studies

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Written by Tara Mitchell of Homeschool Preschool.

Picture books aren’t just for young children. The colorful illustrations and concise wording are ideal for piquing a student’s interest in a subject, explaining a concept in a new way, and introducing kids of all ages to a wide variety of topics in a non-threatening way.

I am a huge fan of using picture books in my homeschool lesson plans. No matter what topic we’re investigating, I scour the library for books to supplement our studies. When my kids were all in elementary grades at the same time, it was not unusual for us to leave the library with 50 or more children’s books.

3 Picture Book Authors to Include in Your Spring Unit Studies

3 Picture Book Authors to Complement Spring Unit Studies

Plants, insects, and animals are perfect topics for spring unit studies, and these authors have a variety of books to round-out your lesson plans.

Each of the authors has multiple books on one topic so you can use them to compare/contrast, explore a variety of themes, and engage your learners all season long!

Eric Carle: Bugs

Eric Carle’s books are classic childhood reads in my house. While he has authored books covering a wide variety of themes, I love to add titles about bugs and insects to our spring studies.

We always kick off our spring bug unit with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I typically order caterpillars, as well, so we can get an up-close look at the butterfly life cycle.

Picture Book Authors for Spring

In addition to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you can read:

  • The Grouchy Ladybug
  • The Very Busy Spider
  • The Very Quiet Cricket
  • The Honeybee and the Robber

Additional theme tie-ins:

  • insects (discuss why is the spider not an insect)
  • bees (try an egg carton bee craft)
  • adjectives
  • story sequencing
  • compare/contrast two of the bugs you read about
  • life cycles

Lois Ehlert: Plants

The bright images in Lois Ehlert’s books capture kids’ attention. She has many books that you can use to supplement your study of plants and flowers. I’ve always enjoyed reading Planting a Rainbow with my kids. It’s great for helping kids understand how bulbs and seeds grow into plants and flowers.

Picture Book Authors for Spring

In addition to Planting a Rainbow, I suggest picking up:

  • Growing Vegetable Soup
  • Eating the Alphabet
  • Waiting for Wings. 

Additional theme tie-ins:

  • vegetables and fruits
  • healthy eating
  • the life cycle of a plant
  • colors
  • alphabet
  • butterflies and their life cycle
  • gardening
  • verbs (planting, growing, eating, waiting)
3 Picture Book Authors to Include in Your Spring Unit Studies

Beatrix Potter: Animals

No spring book study is complete without Beatrix Potter’s stories of Peter Rabbit and his friends. Her tales can certainly be enjoyed any time of year. However, spring lends itself to the study of bunnies, frogs, and ducks, all of which play a starring role in Beatrix Potter books.

In addition to The Tale of Peter Rabbit, be sure to consider:

  • The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
  • The Tale of Jeremy Fisher
  • The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit
  • The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
  • The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Picture Book Authors for Spring

Additional theme tie-ins:

  • gardening
  • obedience
  • pondlife
  • good manners
  • life cycles
  • nature study

No matter what you choose to study this spring, look for opportunities to expand the lesson with a picture book or two. Dig out a book from your favorite children’s author or explore a new one.

What are some of your favorite picture books for spring?

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