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BLACK CULTURE, HOMESCHOOLING, TRAVEL (AND OTHER THINGS FROM MY SWEET, IMPERFECT LIFE)
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I’m Amber
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My name is Amber O’Neal Johnston, and I started this website to document and discuss the joys and trials of raising my kids to love themselves and others.
The Latest Posts
Books About Ghana for Kids
In the months and weeks leading up to our trip, I sprinkled in books about Ghana throughout our learning time. We tried to soak up what we could...
Worldschooling in Ghana: Part 1
For the first two weeks of our time worldschooling in Ghana, we participated in a cultural immersion program that gave us a wonderful introduction...
Nina Simone and Christian Robinson
Earlier this week, I was chatting with a friend about the inspiration behind our children's names. It reminded me of how much thought went into...
Worldschooling in Paris
After spending a little time in London, we headed to France for some worldschooling in Paris. This has been a #1 destination for our family for a...
Fostering a Healthy Literary Life
Though I speak and write about many other things, books have always been one of my core passions in this space. I decided early on to raise my...
Worldschooling in London
Before heading to Accra, Ghana to settle in for an extended stay, we decided to detour to Europe for a little worldschooling in London. The city is...
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Chapter Books: Black Boys Having Fun
Because I was a girl mom first, my boys inherited shelves full of chapter books featuring black girls. I took care to add picture books featuring...
Book Review: Tobe by Stella Gentry Sharpe
If you follow me on Instagram, you recently saw a photo of my son sleeping with a book in his arms. Maybe that's a common occurrence in your home,...
Charlotte Mason and Your Heritage
There is a reason that my blog is called Heritage Mom. When I first started writing in this space, I was just coming out of a period of confusion. I...
Why Are Homeschooled Kids Weird?
"I've thought about homeschooling, but I don't want my kids to be weird." <<< I think this is such a funny thing for people to say to me...
Mirrors & Windows: When Living Books Are Not Enough (Video)
A mirror is a story that reflects your own culture and helps build your identity. A window is a resource that offers you a view into someone else’s...
The Dæmon of Exclusiveness
In my talk today at the Charlotte Mason Inspired Online Homeschool Conference, I quoted Charlotte Mason and her warning against idolizing beauty...
My Favorite Resources for Finding Diverse Books
I've been wanting to write this post for a long time, but my fear of forgetting someone kept me from moving forward. Everyone is in planning mode...
Juneteenth Is Our Fourth of July
Today is our Fourth of July. Juneteenth is a commemoration of our freedom and opportunity to join in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness....
Should I Scrap My Charlotte Mason Curriculum?
Recent national conversations have trickled down into the homeschool world and caused somewhat of an awakening among home educators. Many are...
Is a Charlotte Mason Education Good for Black Children?
Charlotte Mason was a white educator who lived in England from 1842-1923. What on earth does she have to do with black children living in America...
Join Me For a Virtual Homeschooling Conference!
I'm happy to announce that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Charlotte Mason Inspired Online Homeschool Conference. This 5-Day live online event is for...
Chapter Books: Black Girls Just Being Kids
I recently received a comment asking for chapter book recommendations for a book club of girls in 2nd-5th grade. The mom said that what she wants...
To Read Aloud, or Not Read Aloud, That Is the Question
"Amber, you seem to have plans to read several of these African American early modern history books aloud. Aren't your older kids supposed to be...
African & African American Resources for Early Modern History (800-1650 AD)
Finding Black history resources for Early Modern History* (800 -1650 AD, Middle Ages Medieval time period) has not been easy. In fact, it's been the...
Video: A Black Homeschooling Mom’s Response to Harvard’s Elizabeth Bartholet
I've been watching from the sidelines trying to get my thoughts together on Elizabeth Bartholet's call for a presumptive ban on homeschooling, but...
African and African-American Culture: Early Elementary Books
When I recently shared my Black history lesson plans for our 20th century studies, I included a list of picture books that I'm using for my 1b (Year...