Homeschooling Tips from a Certified Teacher

Confession. I was forced into homeschooling this week just like everyone else.
I have no idea if I'm doing it right anymore than anyone else does.
But a few people have told me they enjoyed my homeschooling posts on FB, and I am a teacher, so I thought I'd share what I'm doing and invite you to follow along.

Here are my tips:

• Kids need structure. Yes, even right now. But that can vary from family to family and even kid to kid so do what works for you. Just be consistent. I use a daily checklist. She knows where to find it. She gets started on her own and checks in with me after each task. If you feel an hour to hour or even block schedule works best for you do it. Just do the same thing every day.
• Basics Focus on the basics right now. Unless you're the homeroom mom, chances are you're not quite sure exactly where your kid was in their academic units. (I'm a teacher and even I can't figure out where they stopped to just pick up there.) It's always a good idea to revisit basics, and you can usually find a list of standards they should know by the end of the year on your online. (For example, search 2nd grade common core standards. Some states will use their own lingo but they're pretty much the same.)
• Use your resources. I think this is funny because it's what we tell the kids. People are posting a ton of things online right now, and there is a lot of free or discounted educational content at the moment so take advantage of it. I'll even post ELF's daily checklists here and you can follow along with us. If you're going to do this, you should know my checklist is designed for a 2nd grader who is WAY above average in ELA/social studies/dance/art and completely average at math. Modify this to fit your kid. 

How is it going?

I hope you're all doing okay, and staying well.
It was hard to get used to such a stark change of pace, but at this point, I'm actually happy to be at home.
I'm homeschooling the ELF (something A LOT of people have been forced into recently) and trying to pick up the writing career I was more or less forced out of when I had to go back to work in 2014. I get it. I know a lot of you write, take care of your kids, and work too. I've never managed to get it together enough for that.
But this is my chance!
I know blogging died a slow and painful death while I wasn't paying attention but I miss it. I think while we're in this retro era we might as well bring it back.
So, if I remember how to find a linky would you guys be interested in an old school, 2010 style blogfest?

Corona Blues, Baby

Really long time no.
Got it.
I hope you're all doing fabulous, staying safe, and keeping your family safe.

I've also got the Corona Blues. Part of me can't help but feel that society, and specifically my country is on the verge of collapse. (Although, it could be argued the collapse of the U.S. started waaay before now.)
Still, my family is healthy. And there are worse things than us being at home together. (I originally wrote that last sentence grammatically correct and realized I sound like an old lady. Teaching English is suffocating my voice.)
Blogging always helped me stay sane. I built so many relationships here, and being home all day again reminds me of the glory years. I've wanted to restart blogging for a long time. But FB has its tendrils in me and can be a hard habit kick.
Now that we're all forced to be home, I have plenty of time to blog and it's just my outlet. I'm back here, baby.
And since I can't work, I'm going to try one more time to get a writing career going.
Third time is the charm?
Or not.
Cornoa's gonna happen anyway.

How are you and your family doing? Is there anything I can help with?

His First Lady is out!

It's release day!! And I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with this picture of HFL in the wild!!

My campaign manager says no one wants a bachelor in the White House and this election is drawing near. The solution? To hold a cattle call, and what’s up for auction? Me.

Lucky for me I cross paths with Mandy Buchanan—a feisty blonde who isn’t afraid to call me a jerk to my face. But she’s in quite the predicament herself. Mandy needs money since her dad refuses to pay for a frivolous degree. So, we strike a bargain.

I get a wife, and she gets her degree.

The deal was simple. No complications. No problems.

While Mandy pretends to be the perfect First Lady, I start noticing her in a way that has nothing to do with politics or practicality. Those curves. Her eyes. The way her face lights up when she talks about her work. She’s beautiful.

Suddenly she’s no longer just a pawn to help me get into the White House. She’s more than that, and I no longer want to play pretend. I want her to be mine in every way.

Now I just need to convince her that our sham marriage might just be the real deal.

If you haven't picked up your copy yet, you can do so here.

Circle In The Sand by Tracy Krimmer

 My friend Tracy Krimmer has a new book out. And if you like romantic comedy, you'll love this.

"Living by these words didn’t put librarian Isla Hunter any closer to the life she imagined at thirty. With her birthday in only a few days, she can’t wait to sail away on a week in the sun with her friends Asher and Charlotte. It may be just what she needs.

When an attractive woman takes a liking to Asher, Isla’s heart feels threatened in an unfamiliar way. She’s used to Asher flipping through women like a playbook without a second thought, but this time it’s different. As she tries to sort out her emotions, she struggles with Asher’s connection with this woman. Is it time for Isla to finally break the rules or will that only lead her into hot water?"

I can't wait to read this one! Have you picked up your copy yet? If you havne't yet, don't worry. Here's the link.

Thoughts on Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

 OMG! This book is All The Things. Except one, but I'll get to that later. Since I know I have a lot of YA readers on my blog the mom in me has to say, "Not for younger readers."
And now that we have that out of the way let's move one. Because I finished this book just before 4 am and am dying to talk about it.
It could have been about me and my husband. Straight-laced Asian boy wonder and a white bread American girl who is doesn't fit the mold. Any mold.
It's one of the things I love about this book. Books about interracial relationships are so rare that when I'm writing I usually can't find stock photos. We have to go with legs or shadows.
Both characters have a really strong voice and I admire Hazel's voice because she's so energetic that had to be hard to keep consistent for 300 pages.
And most important for any romance, JOSH IS HOT!!! REALLY HOT. And bonus points here, but it in some ways reminded me of meeting my husband in grad school all those years ago.
Like I said, all the things. Except one. Interracial, intercultural relationships are very hard and that was never shown. I get it. Not every book has to be about the challenges of intercultural relationships, but because they are so rare it would be nice to catch a glimpse of that, like girl, you're not alone. And I also thought Josh's parents weren't that consistent. In some ways, they're very traditional. "Korean kids don't disobey their parents." (Umm...I know lots of second generation Asian kids who don't believe that, like at all. Kinda wish they did actually.) **Spoiler Alert** And then when Crazy Hazie is pregnant at the end of the book Josh is thinking about how happy his parents are going to be. Just doesn't seem consistent, and it's one of the places where I felt like cultural differences should have played a role.
What are you reading?

Thoughts on A Diamond For a Duke

"Jules, Sixth Duke of Dandridge disdains Society and all its trappings, preferring the country’s solitude and peace. Already jaded after the woman he loved died years ago, he’s become even more so since unexpectedly inheriting a dukedom’s responsibilities and finding himself the target of every husband-hunting vixen in London.
Jemmah Dament has adored Jules from afar for years—since before her family’s financial and social reversals. She dares not dream she can win a duke’s heart any more than she hopes to escape the life of servitude imposed on her by an uncaring mother. Jemmah knows full well Jules is too far above her station now. Besides, his family has already selected his perfect duchess: a poised, polished, exquisite blueblood.
A chance encounter reunites Jules and Jemmah, resulting in a passionate interlude neither can forget. Jules realizes he wants more—much more—than Jemmah’s sweet kisses or her warming his bed. He must somehow convince her to gamble on a dour duke. But can Jemmah trust a man promised to another? One who’s sworn never to love again?"

I have no idea how to rate this one, so I'm going to give two separate ratings. Here goes. I really loved Cameron's writing style and it was super cute and oh-so sugary sweet. All the things I look for in romance. This baby could be realistic historical Twilight. Yeah, that cute. So on the Jen adores scale 4/5.
Now, on the craft and story structure scale 2/5. I know what you're thinking. How can a book Jen adores be so low rated. I'm about to explain. There was no conflict. Nowhere. At all. I'm at a time in my life when I'm happy to read zero conflict and laced confectioner's sugar, but it's the cardinal sin of story structure. There was also some clumsy sentence structure here and that was a much smaller problem. And if conflict doesn't matter to you, you'll find this book amazing. However, if you're into the thriller ride this might not be the book for you.