2019 Homeschooling Books Grades 4th through 12th (updated regularly)

Welcome to the place I park my book ideas for reading to my kids for homeschooling. If you're looking for a list of books that I have read in 2019 and the ones I plan to read (some may end up flowing over into 2020), just click here. (disclaimer: I might get a few cents if you buy a book or ebook using the links in this post)

Please check back because as of August 11, I am still working on their reading lists for 2019/2020. This post only has books for 2019 but I'll give you the sneak peek for 2020 books as well.

If you purchase something using my links below, I might get a few pennies from Amazon. But I also recommend Scribd because many of these books can be found on that audio and ebook service for just $8.99 per month (you get two months free to try it first) and you can organize your choices by child or topic or grade... however you like! Some choices are on audio AND ebook, which just gives you more choices for that kid who likes for you to read to them or they read to themselves but also sometimes you want to snuggle up and listen together!

Let's meet the kids!

L-R Callie (14), Joel (18), Samuel (9), Eva (11), Michael (16)

Joel is 18 and a senior this year. He'll be taking an online Psychology course at our "local" community college this fall. I put local in quotes because we live in a rural area and our city definitely does not have a college. I consider us extremely lucky to have a winery, a greasy spoon, and an amazing drive-through coffee spot, as well as some dang good tamales! Joel also works for a lawncare company and will be taking Biology at home. This kid likes to go to the gym and hang out with friends.

Michael is 16 and a sophomore. He'll be taking some fun classes at co-op (half an hour away) one day a week, like Cooking/Baking, Psychology, Build a Business, and Lessons with Father Mike Schmitz. He just got his first major job, half an hour away, so he'll be getting himself a car soon. This kid likes to read for pleasure, as well as engineer cool LEGO creations and play Minecraft.

Callie is 14 and 8th grade. She also will attend co-op one day a week, taking Creative Writing (taught by me), as well as PE, Study Skills, Build a Business, Speech, Games, and Drama (taught by me). She loves creating fun Instagram posts, staying organized, being with friends, and creating cool outfits out of what she has in her closet.

Eva is 11 and 6th grade. At co-op one day a week, she'll take Creative Writing (taught by me) and other fun classes like Art, Geography, STEM (taught by me), Build a Business, Games, and Drama (taught by me). This kid likes to read for pleasure as well.

Samuel is 9 and 4th grade. At co-op one day a week, he'll take a class on States (taught by me), as well as Creative Writing/Drama, PE, STEM (taught by me) and Art.

"To be brave in whatever situations you encounter—to be someone who can be kind...you've lived those hard decisions in your imagination, which is really almost as good as experiencing it yourself," Carolyn Leiloglou, children's book author on an episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast.

*Please leave book recommendations in the comments!

I used this as a guide for some of my choices I've parked here:


Reading this during the summer to my teenage boys for homeschooling:


And before that we read this, then watched the movie:


And before that we did this one:


And this is what I'm reading to Callie, who is 14:


This one will be on our school year list for the big boys:


This is what's next for the big boys:


And I should have read this a long time ago to them. One of my favorites. "Nothing gold can stay":


Important:


I also like this:


Can you believe I never read this one? Time to read it to my kids!


Sam and I are reading this first this year:


This is what Eva and I started on audiobook August 27th by the pool:


This one looks good and is recommended in The Read-Aloud Family as well:


Also looks good. We love historical fiction and anything with a good message of understanding other people:


This one looks great too … my husband likes to read to the kids at night as often as he can and this kind of thing looks perfect for all the kids to listen to and fall asleep to:


And this:


More important messages:


Curious about this one:


Preach it, Mrs. Roosevelt!


As a girl growing up watching all things Little House on the Prairie, this is a must!


We read the summer version of this family's adventures and want to read more!


This kid reminds me of Eva, so it's on the list!


Love this for reading a little at a time and keeping it by the nightstand in my room:


As well as this one:


Then I should also get this one!

Home Decoration That Stands Out

Have you ever been to someone’s home and thought: ‘Hey, these pieces of furniture look familiar'? Chances are you have been to multiple homes, and you could go up to a bookcase, table, couch or chair and say: ‘I have one of these too!’ In a world where flatpack furniture has dominated the scene, it’s not so much a surprise anymore that everyone and I mean everyone, has gotten at least half of their home decor from just a handful of furniture stores. 

And to be honest, it’s not surprising that people would go for decent quality furniture at a reasonable price. Even more so, the people you hang out with are usually similar-minded to you. And what you think is pretty and where you shop could likely be the things they appreciate and hang out in too. So yeah, seen one home decor could mean you would have seen them all.

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

So, having fairly similar decors is going to happen, so you better get used to it. But should this really be the case? If the idea of having the exact same interior decoration fills you with a sense of dread, you might want to consider stepping out of line a bit and taking things a little bit over the top. Not so much so that you make it farcical, but enough for people to say: “that’s cool” and “I wouldn’t dare to do that myself.” It’s about striking a balance to what you feel comfortable with and getting into a side that is more playful and less visible to others. This could be the perfect opportunity to show off a side to you that you don’t often show. Here are some ideas to help you on your way.

The Sea

If you love the sea and everything about it (and maybe even live quite land-locked), try a nautical theme? This could be simply the simple addition of some shells and a painting of the sea. Or it could be a model ship you or your partner has spent ages making. It could be in the colors you use, such as deep and green-ish blue. It could be windows that look like portholes. Fans that provide a maritime seaside breeze. What about the smart placement of mermaid ornaments and references to anchors. Or have an aquarium as the centerpiece for the room. It can be as obvious or subtle as you want. Be careful though, there is a fine line between enjoying an ocean vibe and feeling you’re in a Jaws-type film.

The Old West

Or maybe you love the idea of the Old West. We are talking wood here, lots of it. Consider wood paneling to start. Avoid going full wood panel as it will look like a cabin quite quickly (unless that’s the look you’re going for). Leave some brickwork exposed. Think fireplace and an animal skull ornament on the wall. We might even be talking bearskin (replica of course) on the floor. Leather couch and chairs. Finishing touches would be perfect, such as a cowboy boot lamp. A few cowboy hats hanging somewhere would be an excellent addition. You might even want, and this is very much debatable, a picture of yourself in the form of a wanted poster. Wood and earth tones are the way to go. The trick here is to make something genuinely have that Western feel, but avoid making it into something you might find in a theme park.

The Forest

A really cool theme to use in your home decoration is the forest. Think loads of plants and smart use of green colors. You could incorporate wallpaper that has a distinct woodsy feel to it, accents of brown here and there. The important thing here is to play with light and shade a lot. If you have a living room with big glass doors towards your garden, consider trying to tie the outside area to the inside area. You could do this by having a green carpet or rug that virtually continues into the grass outside. Leafy plants and maybe even a water feature will bring in sounds and smells of the forest. A rugged-looking table made of solid wood will tie nicely into the theme. The critical thing to consider is to not overdo it. A forest can quickly turn into a jungle and also consider the maintenance and care you will have to provide for your plants.

So there you have it, 3 themes that can tell the world a slightly different story of who you are. 

How To Take Care Of Your Home's Central Heating System

Taking good care of your central heating system and being able to understand where there is a problem could save you a lot of money and a lot of hassle. Some issues that may occur with your central heating system can be fixed by yourself, whilst other issues may need a professional. If you want to take good care of your system to avoid the need for emergency bills, here’s how you can take care of your home’s central heating system.

Replacing an Old Boiler

First things first, having a central heating system that is new and is legal is essential in maintaining a healthy central heating system. Your boiler should be a condensing system, and this is now a legal requirement. Not only this, but very old boilers (typically those over 15 years old) will cost a lot more to run and are significantly less efficient than new boilers. If you want to cut down waste and save money, the first thing you need to do is get a new boiler.

Looking After Your System

You may not use your central heating system at all during the summer months but if you have a combi boiler the system still needs to be switched on so that you can use the hot water taps around the house. If this is the case, you will be able to program the boiler to just be used for heating the water. You can also turn off any radiators that you don’t want to use around the house so that you aren’t wasting energy heating up empty rooms. Whilst keeping your system off during summer can save money and energy, you should still check the system each month to ensure everything is in working order. You can do this by checking each radiator is working properly and not leaking, check your water pressure, check the pilot light (this should be blue) and ensure your carbon monoxide alarms are working. The usual water pressure on your boiler should be between 1 and 2 bars. If you are unsure on how to read your water pressure you should refer to your manual.

Dealing with An Emergency

Unfortunately, emergencies do occur and if this happens during the winter months you want it sorted straight away. Having emergency cover for your home is one of the best ways to ensure that you have cover no matter what time of year it is. For some, emergency cover isn’t an option within their budget and so a short-term loan may be required to get your central heating system back in working order as soon as possible for the family. If you are looking for a Payday Loans direct lender, then try Bingoloans. 


Switching your system on each month and checking for any signs that something may be wrong means you could fix the problem before it becomes worse. If your central heating system is on the blink, don’t attempt to fix it yourself unless you know how. Call a professional who will be able to come and identify the problem and help you get your system back in working order.

Summer Madness

There are no two words that parents dread more than “summer vacation.” The vision of weeks and weeks rolling by having to find something, anything to entertain the kids as you try and fit in work and home around everyone. It’s not easy and there if you’re on a budget, then holiday clubs are going to be off-limits so it really boils down to you and what you can do to keep everyone from going crazy.

We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we can offer one or two solutions that might just help make those weeks fly be and also include some much-needed time for yourself.

Safety in Numbers

Nothing makes for a more enjoyable afternoon than the company of other parents in the same boat. It doesn’t matter if your day job is working for one of the biggest Defense Base Act law firms, when you’re in the park you’re just mom or dad. 

How Presentation Software Can Enhance Your Meetings

Photo by 祝 鹤槐 from Pexels

When you are having a meeting, whether it is with your teammates or with a client, it is important that you are fully prepared. Planning beforehand what you are going to say, it is a way of showcasing upcoming projects and proposals. However, simply standing up and talking about the project isn’t the most efficient and interesting way of doing business. In order to enhance the meeting, you can use presentation software to help visually aid each point you are making. But that’s not the only benefit that comes with presentation software. They will also allow you to:

Lay Everything Out Clearly

Not only are they a visual aid for you and your audience to follow, but they can also be used to lay the information out clearly. From images to statistics and infographics, you can demonstrate certain points in an engaging and creative way. You want to find a balance between the written content and the visual content, however, so that your audience will listen to what you are saying, whilst looking at the supporting information.

Collaborate with Teammates

When you are preparing a presentation for a client meeting, it is important that it includes all of the essential information. Therefore, it is good to have more than one person working on the presentation. When you are thinking about what to include, make sure you get a presentation software that lets you collaborate with your teammates by allowing you to send it to them to edit. By having more than one person working on it, any mistakes can be spotted and anything missed can be added in with a click of a button. Making the presentation more professional and accurate, it is an invaluable feature that can greatly enhance the meeting from the get-go.

Use Customizable Templates

Businesses want to have a fluid brand style. That’s why it is vital to use the same fonts and design on each slide presentation. By using the software, you can do exactly this, choosing the right template for each project. Anyone can edit them to look professional and beautiful - you don’t have to be a designer to create an unforgettable slide presentation. Breathing new life into an otherwise normal-looking slide presentation, the customizable templates create a visually compelling and impactful appearance. 

Be More Versatile

One of the reasons as to why more businesses are turning to presentation software is that it is incredibly versatile. Not only can you/your audience view the slides on desktop, but many platforms allow you to view the content on mobile or tablet – meaning that you can be anywhere viewing it. Ensuring that you never miss out on an important meeting, this flexibility is very beneficial in the long term. It also means that you can send clients the presentation to view again after the meeting, keeping your project fresh in their minds for longer.

Show Past Data

When you are having whole staff meetings to showcase how the business is performing, it is good to have slides demonstrating past vs. present statistics. Presentation software will allow for this, giving you the opportunity to input the essential information into tables and graphs. By using them in a meeting, staff will be able to see where they need to improve and start to think of solutions. For clients, you can also use it to display why they should choose your business over your competitors, with insightful percentages or relevant case studies.

Final Thoughts

So there you go. There are just four of the ways that presentation software can enhance your meetings – no matter if it is an in-house meeting or a sales pitch for a client. With so many benefits, it is clear that presentation software will be used by millions of companies across the world for years to come. However, it is essential that when it comes time to preparing for a presentation, you don’t rely fully on the slides. You need to use them to support what you’re saying and not make your audience think that you are using them as a crutch. 

When you are considering using it within your business, it is vital that you research and compare the different companies that offer presentation software, paying close attention to the pricing, how they work and the features that they offer. With a variety of software on offer (it is not only PowerPoint that offers it), you are guaranteed to find the right one for your requirements - whether you are a start-up or a long-established business that’s looking to upgrade their software and improve on their presentation skills.