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By Brigette Danielle



Hey y'all!

Boy do I have a list for you.. 40+ FREE resources for homeschooling grades k-12!

I honestly have been working on this post since last year and I never seemed to have the time to get around to it. Between work, homeschooling and wife duties, there really isn't a lot of time for me to sit and hash out a huge listicle lol.

Since we have been in self quarantine/ shelter in place orders/ afraid of fighting over toilet paper, I finally had some time on my hands to create this list of free homeschooling resources. 

As you know we are a homeschool family and we have been for 4 years now. We started with a third grader, kindergartner and pre-schooler. Now we have managed to make it middle school and we are still going strong.

A lot of people, including myself, have often questioned if they are skilled to homeschool. The answer is yes.. YOU CAN. There are so many free resources you can use to homeschool your kiddos.

Check out these awesome FREE sites/apps for homeschooling.


Elementary School:

ABCya!- Looking for something based on the common core? ABCya! has games that cover all subjects ranging K- 6th grade.

All in One Homeschool- This is a complete curriculum for all grades (even through hs). You can keep track of assignments, focus on specific subjects and more with this completely free FULL homeschool curriculum.

Cool Math 4 Kids- This free site is great for all early math learners. They cover addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions. Plus, they have recently added a section dedicated to using manipulatives, brain teasers, quizzes and lessons.

Earthquakes for Kids- This free site allows you to study earthquakes safely. Check out animations, learn some cool facts and more.

e-learning for kids-Take lessons in math, life skills, computer, science and more. This program ranges from kindergarten to 6th grade.

Fuel the Brain-This educational site is great for young learners. Your child can play games, read books and complete printable worksheets. 

Google Earth- Google Earth is a great resource to use for homeschooling. You can show the kids the world around you all from your kitchen table. Create stories using Google's maps and play games to test out your knowledge of latitude and longitude. Plus, check out their really cool time lapse of  satellite footage.

Grid Club- This online learning hub is FULL of  different subjects that will make homeschool learning a walk in the park. Learn about different math formulas, history, the world around you.. including a second language.

Highlights Kids- Highlights is a classic resource that makes learning fun. Your child can play games, do activities, listen to kid friendly podcasts and of course find all those hidden images in their Hidden Pictures online game. 

Mr. Nussbaum- This site offers free educational resources for subjects including science, US history, holidays, trivia and more. There is an upgraded membership price but it is not required for the main site.

NASA Kids' Club- Explore space, do stem activities and more with NASA. This free learning site is outta this world.

Nat Geo Kids-National Geographic is known for their extensive learning tools and resources. Their site has tons of videos, games, resources and experiments.

PBSkids-PBS is home to many well known shows and characters such as Elmo, Arthur, Clifford and Daniel Tiger. You can either play as a guest or create your child an account so they can learn more and save their creations.

Scholastic Study Jams-Make math and science fun with Scholastic Study Jams! They have over 200 songs that teach you everything you need to know on both subjects.

Seussville- The beloved Dr. Seuss and his characters are all online and ready to learn.

Star Fall- Star Fall is a free online platform for preK- 3rd grade. They cover all the basics including music, social studies and a lot of phonics. They also have a paid membership which provides even more games and learning tools.

Steve Spangler Science- Take science up a few notches with some amazing experiments. With over 100+ experiments, you can enjoy science all year long.

Storyline Online- Listen and follow along to fun and unique audio books online, read by some of your favorite celebrities.

Story Starter Jr.- Help your young writer create short stories, books and more with Story Starter Jr. 

The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids- This site offers free learning tools, free stories and activities, weather study tools and more.

Turtle Diary- Turtle Diary is a hub for learning and great for homeschooling. Grades K-5 can learn a wide range of subjects through games, videos, printables and quizzes.

TVOKids-Like PBS, this public channel offers shows that are educational and entertaining to young audiences. With a few favorite PBS shows, TVO has a few Canadian shows that are equally as fun. Their site offers fun games, clips and episodes and more.

Youngzine- Youngzine is an online magazine filled with current events, as well as technology, history and science. Your child can even have an opportunity to submit their work and write for them!


Middle School and High School:

BBC History- This site allows your kids to learn about European History, Ancient History and World History. Although this page has been archived, you are still able to utilize the lessons which include fun games and quizzes.

Cells Alive!-This cool site is great for those that love science, don't get it or just don't even care lol. Cells Alive! covers everything from cells, viruses, microbes, immune systems, genetics and more. Plus they also offer power points, videos and quizzes as extra resources.

CK-12- Need help with math, english and everything in between? CK-12 has learning tools to help you master your lessons. They even have college subject tutoring. 

CNN 10- CNN 10 is a great resource to use when talking about current events with your kids. They cover the news in under 10 minutes by talking about key details.

Cool Math- This version of Cool Math is geared towards older learners as it tackles subjects like Algebra and Pre -Calculus in a fun way. They even have reference guides to help along the way.

Crypto Club- Take on a new challenge by solving puzzles and ciphers and creating your own coded messages.This is a fun and unique way to learn math.

DOGONews- Like CNN 10, DOGO News is another resource for kids to stay up to date with current events. However, DOGO News covers more than just current events, they also cover more fun filled things happening around the planet as well (i.e. national PI day :D).

Duolingo- This site is also available in the app store! Learn any language at your own pace for free. 

Fun Brain-This free site is suitable for younger learners as well, capping at grade 8. Here you can watch videos, play games, and read some of your favorite books.

Google Arts & Culture-  Explore artists, themes, collections and more with Google Arts & Culture.

Khan Academy- Khan Academy is a free resource that will teach you anything you want to know.
You can discover different topics within math, language arts, history, AP classes, SAT prep and even more after that. 

Magic Tree House- The Magic Tree House series are a well known collection of books through out many middle schools. Their website allows you to take the adventure online by completing missions, collecting stamps and logging books to earn more prizes.

Mission US- This free site brings history to life by allowing you to explore US History in a fun, interactive game. 

NGA Kids-This app is a great way to get your creativity flowing. There are activities as well as free hand draw so you can perfect your craft.

Nova-Nova is the number one science series in America. You can access their latest videos as well as articles ranging in a wide variety of topics including world news, body and brain, ancient worlds and more.

Science Bob- Another great site for science lessons is Science Bob. You and your child can do experiments, get help with research topics and find inspiration for your local science fair!

Smithsonian Learning Lab- The Smithsonian is open for learning with their online learning lab. Learn about art, history, culture and science through their resources.

The Story Starter- This online generator helps you write fun, interesting and unique stories. The Story Starter generates a starter sentence that allows you to then create the remainder portion of your essay, short story or book. 

Varsity Tutors- This online platform has around 200 free, live K-12 classes available all day long intended to help parents fill their children’s day with enriched learning. Some popular classes are "Intro to Spanish for Kids", “Coolest Women in History”, “Java Programming Basics”, and “The Story of Your Favorite Fairy Tales". You can enroll in a virtual camp or take an assessment to see where your child is thriving and where they need to focus more. They offer over 250,000 free practice problems in 200+ subjects. 

So there you have it, this huge list of FREE sites/apps that are great for homeschooling grades K-12! Are you a homeschool family? What made you make the switch? Let me know in the comments below.

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Hey, y'all! 
Spring is officially here and you know what that means.. warmer weather, fresh air, and trips to the farmers market. Another thing about spring is the amazing combinations of fresh produce that seem to go hand and hand with these warmer months. Thus making salads a star through the spring and summer months!

Is there one food that you just love no matter the weather, or time of year? Yes? ok, then we are on the same page lol. For me it is Salad! I consider myself a salad connoisseur, I could eat a salad all day every day for every season. So, it's only right I shared some of the BEST salads for spring!

These salads  (as with most food) are great in appropriate portions as well as nutritious. So grab a notepad, pencil, marker..... crayon.... lol, whatever you write with, and start making that grocery to pick up some of these key ingredients to make the best salads you will ever eat!

(ps, this was originally written before many stores were limiting hours, produce, and availability due to Covid- 19. If reading this, please stay safe, indoors, wash your hands, and only shop if needed. You can always PIN this for later :D )

Now, let's jump right in with this list of the best salads for spring, starting with my personal favorite, the Berry Almond Chicken Salad!
Get this recipe from Joyful Homemaking
1. Berry, Almond Chicken Salad- This spring salad is my favorite for many reasons. I personally love the strawberry and Asiago cheese combo. It is something that you wouldn't think to put together. I first had a berry almond chicken salad at Wendy's a few years ago believe it or not lol. Once I had it, I immediately went to the store and grabbed all the ingredients to make this mouthwatering salad at home. This salad contains blueberries, strawberries, sliced almonds, Asiago cheese, grilled chicken, and raspberry vinaigrette atop a bed of spring mix. Truly one of the best springs salads ever. 

Cobb Salad from Food Network

2. Cobb Salad- Another favorite of mine is the Cobb Salad. I make this one regularly simply because it has ingredients we use almost daily. It is full of protein and is actually on the cheaper side for most salads. For a cob salad, grab some romaine lettuce, boil up some eggs, bacon bits( we use turkey bacon and make our own bacon bits), chicken, cheese, and tomatoes. Traditional Cobb salads also use avocado and blue cheese but we happily omit those ingredients. As a side note and fair warning... blue cheese and avocados are big no's for me! 



Chicken Waldorf Salad from Pioneer Woman

3. Waldorf Salad- The Waldorf salad is light, fresh, and crunchy.. the perfect combination for a spring salad! When I first had this salad I wasn't much of a fan. After a few more times here and there, I started to appreciate its uniqueness and combo of sweet and tart flavors. A Waldorf salad consists of apples, walnuts, chicken, celery (I am not a fan of celery lol), and green leaf lettuce. You can also add fresh fruits like dried cranberries, raisins, or pomegranate seeds.


Berry spinach salad in a large bowl.
Recipe from Downshiftology.com

4. Berry Spinach Salad- This simple salad can be enjoyed with or without meat. Spinach, strawberries, apples, and a light vinaigrette are all you need. If you do decide to add protein, chicken or chopped walnuts go perfectly.
Southwest Salad from McCormick


5. Southwest Salad- Another delicious salad in spring is southwest. Fresh tomatoes, romaine lettuce, onions, corn, black beans, and steak make this a huge crowd pleaser. I like to serve mine with avocado ranch or drizzle with regular ranch and BBQ sauce. 

Classic Chef's Salad
Chef Salad from Sargento

6. Chef Salad- A chef salad is a pretty basic salad, but when you throw in a few extra items, it really takes it over the top. For my chef salad, I use turkey or chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, boiled eggs, tomatoes, raisins, sunflower seeds, and crackers. Whenever we head to a salad bar, this is one of the first things on my plate!

Image result for classic chicken salad
Recipe from Dinnerthendessert.com

7. Chicken Salad- In my house, we go back and forth from tuna salad and chicken salad. Yes, I know these are technically not a salad, but they are delicious! Over the years I have become more and more fond of chicken salad. For one, it's easy to make and it's very inexpensive. Second, it is very fulfilling and nutritious. In my chicken salad, I use fresh chicken, boiled egg whites, mayo with olive oil ( so GOOD), yellow mustard, diced onions, and Best Maid pickles. I'll tell you like I tell everyone. Best Maid Pickles are THEE BEST! My husband likes to eat this chicken salad with crackers or bread. I personally love putting some on a leaf of romaine and eating it as a wrap!

Image result for caesar salad with steak
Recipe from Betty Crocker

8. Steak Caesar Salad- Forget Chicken Caesar Salad. Steak Caesar Salad is king in my book! Especially when the steak is cooked to perfection. Add some salt and pepper with a squirt of lemon and you are ready to go. This is another go-to salad when we are dining out at places like Outback or Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen.

Image result for greek salad
Recipe from Foodie Crush

9. Greek Salad- I have tried to make a Greek salad many times. Every time I do, something always ends up missing. So for this one, I ALWAYS enjoy this one outside of the home lol. Most Mediterranean/ Greek restaurants offer traditional Greek Salads which consist of greens, onions, olives, tomatoes, feta, and a cucumber dressing. My favorite place to grab a Mediterranean salad is Kebabs To Go. So if you are ever in the DFW area.. you must stop by!

Sliced cantaloupe and strawberries tossed with blueberries in a clear bowl.
Recipe from Hungry Enough to Eat Six

10. Fruit Salad- Nothing says spring like a fresh fruit salad. My personal favorite is strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, and blueberries with a little honey drizzle or a dollop of Greek Yogurt. Talk about dessert/snack/salad all in one lol


There are so many ways to make a salad great... these are some of my personal faves that are perfect for Spring! What is your favorite? Have you tried these? Let me know in the comments below!






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Hey y'all!

So if you haven't been watching the news, scrolling through social media or you have been dodging everyone's calls or texts.. you should know by now that majority of the world is either self quarantined, on lock down or simply just not caring about this crazy Covid-19. Better known as the Corona Virus. What  way to start off 2020.

While all this is happening in the world around us, we have to continue to see the silver lining. 

I know it is easier said than done. 

On a lighter note,


Today is Thailand's birthday, sure to be one she will never forget. Being able to celebrate another year of life is plenty of silver lining during this crazy time. While we won't be able to do some of the things we planned for her birthday, we are more than making the most of it.

So as our tradition continues, here is how Thai has changed or not changed since her last birthday! 


1. What is your favorite Subject- Math
2. What is your favorite color- Red, green and baby blue
3. What is your favorite activity- Writing songs
4. What is your favorite book- Comics/graphic novels
5. What is your favorite food-Cajun pasta
6. What is your favorite movie- ummmm... Lego movie 2
7.What is you favorite sport-volleyball
8.What is your favorite animal-dogs, lions, cheetahs, white tigers, wolfs, foxes, cats, 
9. What is your least favorite subject- Language Arts
10. What is your favorite TV show- Ninjago
11. What do you want to be when you grow up- song writer and rich 
12.What do you think 12 will be like- the same.. probably get more stuff to play on.. but mostly the same. 

BSE

Want to see how Thailand has changed since last year? Here is her interview from 2019 >> https://www.bybrigettedanielle.com/2019/03/this-is-11-thailands-birthday.html 


Thailand, you know you are the strongest, toughest and most loving kid I know. The way you don't let other peoples opinions get you down, the way you keep fighting to learn and push through your dyslexia and memory processing. You are a true inspiration to the entire family. We all love you more than you will ever know. Each day I look at you, I am inspired to do more, be better and love harder. Happy birthday Thailand, we LOVE you!


Do you have any special traditions that you do on your child's birthday? Let me know in the comments!






Daddy Daughter Dance

BFFS

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Hey y'all!
Spring time is here and you know what that means.. time for a wardrobe revamp! It's March and that's when "life" starts to come back into the world lol. With new life comes new weather and new weather means new clothes...(pause for dramatics).

At any moment, the bluebonnets will be blooming, thunder storms will be brewing and the subtle hues of pink, and florals will be crowding every shelf of every store you walk into. While spring time does require you to toss/pack away those winter coats and gloves, it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to replace them. That's where thrift store shopping comes in!


If you didn't know, I love thrift store shopping. The challenge of  finding something new at a fraction of the cost is one of my favorite things to do. There are thrift stores in every major and minor city and even though it can be hit or miss at some, a lot have great deals and finds.
So, before you start searching for your next thrift store find, take these thrift shopping tips into consideration so you can score BIG at your local thrift store.

1. Location- Okay, this one is pretty obvious. Location is EVERYTHING when it comes to finding a thrift store near you.  Thrift stores seem to be in just about every city around Dallas, so finding one that I like isn't really hard. If you are pretty particular in what you are looking for, then head to 
the towns that have a higher average income. 

2. Sales- Yes! Thrift stores have sales, most of them have different ones every day. Once you find your thrift store location, check their online calendar/socials or give them a call for their daily tag sales. My local thrift shop goes by tag colors, but I have been to some that go by department.

3. Timing- Once you find the location and the sale dates, knowing when the thrift store opens is key. You want to get there first thing in the morning so you can see all the new items that were put out the night before and of course, beat all other thrifters to the punch. One of my local thrift stores has a $.25 day. The catch is they are only open for a few hours so you have to be one of the first ones in line to get the good stuff.

4.Know before you go- Know what you are looking for BEFORE you go. Jot down sizes, colors interests and anything else that may be of importance. My last shopping trip (see video below) was all about my son. I knew what size and what styles I was looking for before I went. Knowing before you go into the thrift store will keep you on track with what you need, wandering off into a different department takes time away from what you are looking for as well as the risk of missing out on a good find.


5. Label check- Labels are so important when thrift shopping. Check to see if what you are buying is worth the price they are selling. For example, a George shirt from Walmart usually costs around $7-$9. Buying one for over 6 really isn't worth it. Finding a shirt from Nike, Jos. A Bank that sells for $8 is definitely worth it. Another thing to check is if something is dry clean only. If you don't normally do dry clean, then you may want to pass on it (unless it is an amazing find), don't worry so much about taking one item to the cleaners while the rest can be hand washed.

6. Clear your schedule- It takes time to go thrift shopping so plan accordingly. If you are searching a big store, you want to allow yourself plenty of time to not only search each one, but try on and check out as well. 

While thrift shopping for a new wardrobe can seem intimidating, don't be afraid to take this challenge head on. You will be surprised what you can find and how little it will cost.
check out this YouTube video I posted recently where I head off to the thrift store to find my son some new clothes. 


Do you like to go thrift shopping? Are these thrift shopping tips helpful? Let me know in the comments below.





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Welcome to By Brigette Danielle!

I'm a full time Texas mom of 4, wife, homeschooler and coffee lover. This blog is dedicated to sharing family topics, beauty, plus size style, mom hacks and more. Welcome to my little world, I'm glad you came to visit.


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