Since the inception of the interwebs, viral has become a tricky word. It has its roots in things like viruses, infections, and germs. And yet, in our digital days, viral speaks more of popularity than poison. I guess we can chalk it up to our ever-evolving zeitgeist which is, unapologetically, like a virus--moving, growing, and multiplying in contagious ways.
That said, several of the posts from The Unlikely Homeschool have gone viral over the years. And while that term--viral--has always soured in my mouth, I've come to realize that it just might be the perfect word for describing how something spreads on the internet. After all, "popular" does not always mean "best." And sometimes, the very best I have to offer ends up in the slush pile the moment I hit "publish."
I'll not begin to theorize why one article resonates with moms and another flatlines. But, I can say with absolute certainty which ones have been the most popular based on click numbers alone.
The 10 Most Popular Posts of 2022
12 Clean New-ish Novels for Middle Schoolers
Books for tweens and teens are becoming increasingly abysmal, filled with inappropriate language, graphic sex scenes, and general hopelessness. Wading through the muck to find both clean and captivating books can feel overwhelming, especially for moms with voracious readers. But take heart, a handful of authors are dedicated to writing stories that don't push envelopes or sidestep morality. These twelve titles are proof of that.
Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2022-2023
As my kids tiptoe towards their teen years, we spend less and less time learning as a group in order that they can each have more time exploring their own passions in the school day and beyond.
Top Literature Guides for Homeschoolers
A literature guide, while not always necessary, can be a helpful tool for teaching a child to think critically about what he is reading and for broadening his vocabulary. It can provide direction and act as a kind companion for the mom who never learned literary analysis skills herself or does not have a strong background in the classics.
The Best Books I Read in 2021
Unprecedented. That seems to be the most overworked word in the American lexicon these days. It's been pulled into so many sentences that if it gets stretched any further it just might rip clean through. But, "unprecedented" feels like the perfect label for the kind of reading year I had in 2021.
30 Stocking Stuffers for Teens {all under $10}
I don't like wasting precious time in decision fatigue, trying to figure out what I want to buy for each of my kids. So years ago, I put together a formula for buying both their under-the-tree gifts and their stocking stuffers. Here's a look at some of the gifts my teens have especially enjoyed finding in their stockings or ones I think they'll like in the future.
A Planner By Homeschool Moms for Homeschool Moms
Education is a discipline. For your kids, but also for you. Just as a runner needs a clear and known track in order to know how best to get to the finish line, you need an organized and efficient plan for your homeschool day. As I've said before, a plan brings freedom and lets you put your entire homeschool day on autopilot so that even when interruptions come, you can still have forward motion. It lets you slow down and enjoy the journey. So many of the pieces of a homeschool mom's day are out of her control. Homeschooling shouldn't be one of them.
Monthly What We're Reading Lists
The reading lists I post each month continue to be some of the most loved additions to The Unlikely Homeschool blog. Be sure to peruse the suggested titles mentioned in the comments sections too!
Favorite Read Alouds from 2021
Not surprisingly, my kids rate books much differently than I do. Some of the titles they collectively place on the top of our "favorites" list don't garner nearly as much praise from me. (Case in point: #4 on this particular "favorites" list probably wouldn't have even made it into the top 10 if the choice had been entirely up to me. But I suppose that's the nature of a communal vote. In a democratic system, my vote holds the same weight as my ten-year-olds. Since he doesn't always know how much editing on the fly I have to do when reading certain books aloud, his opinion is a bit skewed from the get-go.)
Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow
Before God made humanity, he made a home for them. He built a sacred place, and you can do the same. Your home can give others a real picture of the Gospel. It can show your deep raw needs and your ugliness, but it also can show the love of Christ lived out even in the midst of your brokenness. Every person who enters your house has a divine appointment to be there. When you invite others in, you have an opportunity to point the homeless to a true and lasting home, Jesus!
What I've Learned from 10 Years of Blogging About Homeschooling
When I started this blog, I planted a lot of flags, proclaiming what I knew to be true about myself, homeschooling, and even humanity. Turns out, many of my firmly held beliefs from those early years have changed.
In addition to the faves from 2022, the following posts have continued to capture your attention year after year.
Perennial Favorites
Hymn Index {the WHY, HOW, and WHAT for Morning Circle Time}. I can not tell you how happy it makes me feel that these old songs are making a resurgence among the homeschooling community. In so many ways, they are like a contemporary connective tissue for our faith--weaving generations together through the worship of God.
Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe because one upside of a global pandemic was a return to baking.
ABeka vs. BJU Language: Why I Switch Midstream. Apparently, when you switch from the most popular homeschool program to the second most popular one, folks want to know why.
50 MUST READ Books for Middle School. In my opinion, middle school is a time to start developing personal opinions and convictions on many topics while under the protective umbrella of home. Books are a great conduit for development.
30+ Books for Christian {tween & teen} Narnia Fans. The fantasy genre can often feel like a mixed bag of witchcraft, darkness, and evil. But it doesn't have to be.
My sincerest thanks for your continued support of my work here. I appreciate the generous community that you've helped to form with every comment, suggestion, and reshare. Thanks especially for your wide-armed welcome of both Homeschool Bravely and Holy Hygge. I'm looking forward to all that 2023 has to offer as we gather here, at the Mom to Mom Podcast, on Jamie Erickson.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram to encourage one another to keep doing the good-hard work of teaching and training the next generation for Jesus!
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