The Bassett Homeschool Bookstack
One of the perks of homeschooling is that we can complete our schoolwork in much less time than a traditional school day. This means more free time. (But, to be honest, sometimes this is also a downside—like when the kids use their free time to pick fights with their siblings.)
One thing my kids do in their free time is read. A lot.
It is not uncommon to see a dim crack of light under a door long after bedtime. My oldest two daughters have each set a goal to read at least forty quality books this school year. While they are reading multiple genres, their favorite is historical fiction.
History can be so impersonal and boring for kids, not to mention overwhelming. It's hard for most kids to organize timelines and to build a framework of knowledge so that they are able to recall major events from the past in a meaningful way. Because of this, I have always encouraged them to read historical fiction.
I've found when my kids read good, historical fiction they can better learn the details of a time period while gaining empathy and understanding for people who lived in that time period. As a side note, I have also found that most traditional history books dedicate much time to details while ignoring the humanity of the historical event. I do understand why: a history book is a work of nonfiction often without first person interviews. At the same time, I think it's a shame that we don't lean more heavily on historical fiction and first person accounts because I think that this is where students can gain connection, empathy, and where we better learn from the past.
The one tricky thing that many homeschoolers struggle with as their kids get older is finding literature that is both engaging and high quality. There is so much to weed through and it can be hard to offer quality literature options to tweens and middle schoolers. I have been frustrated with the book lists that Pintrest gives as many of them are not books I would want my kids reading. Compounding this is that as kids get older, it simply isn't possible to read every book for yourself to ensure the messages that they are reading are in line with the ethos of your homeschool.
Some of my friends who also homeschool were chatting about this frustration one day at the beach. As we were talking, I rattled off several books that I've used both in our homeschool and also in my classroom when I taught middle grades. As my list was getting longer and longer I realized I needed to create a written list that was organized by era of United States History (my next task will be a list of historical fiction based on world history!)
If you are looking to add more historical fiction to your middle to upper grade elementary homeschool, bookshelves, or classroom I hope you find this list helpful. You can browse and print it off for yourself right here.
I consider these books quality literature and they have a place in our homeschool. When we come across words or cultural norms from the past that are not in line with how any human should be treated or talked about, we discuss just how unjustly people of color have been treated and how those injustices still shape our world today. However, just because they have a place in our home, they might not in yours. Please use your judgment and read them yourself before recommending - I have noted a few in particular that you may want to read first.
My Favorite Afternoon Pick Me Up
NingXia Red is a whole-body supplement. It's a blend of the NingXia Wolfberry (goji berry), fruit juices, fruit purée, vanilla, and a few other essential oils. It has an incredibly high antioxidant rating which makes great for fighting off free radicals in my body. And bonus... it gives me a natural energy boost without caffeine!
I know the first time I heard about antioxidants and free radicals my mind was spinning with the implications and what exactly those words meant. Free radicals occur naturally in our bodies, but there are additional external factors (like pollution, an unhealthy diet, certain medications, and excessive exposure to UV rays) that can trigger excessive amounts of damaging free radicals. These things create oxidative stress (essentially an imbalance in our bodies of too many free radicals) this means our bodies can't detox properly and this causes a host of issues.
That's where antioxidants come in! An antioxidant is something that can slow or prevent the damage that free radicals do to cells. I could certainly eat a bunch of fruits and veggies that are high in antioxidants, but it's pretty hard to get the quantity I really need without supplementing. That's where NingXia Red comes in.
NingXia Red is insanely high in antioxidants (NingXia wolfberries are one of the fruits highest on the ORAC scale, which measures antioxidant levels). Just 1-2 ounces a day of NingXia Red gives my body the daily antioxidants it needs. NingXia tastes delicious alone, but you could certainly add a splash of orange juice to yours!
If you are curious more about Ningxia or want some other yummy recipes, you can head here to read more. A group of friends and I are doing a targeted NingXia Red Challenge in May - we are committing to drink NingXia each day in May. You are welcome to join us! Just grab your NingXia and let me know you'd like to be included. Everyone who participates gets a prize (in addition to more robust health). Cheers to your health!
Snippet of my week
He is Risen! Hoping you and your family had a most joyful Easter!
Thanks for reading! What historical fiction book would you add to this list? I would love to read about it! (When you hit reply, your message goes directly to my email. It’s a private conversation between just us.) I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.