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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
Black American Fiction (1900s)
Most of the titles in this booklist of Black American fiction are truly historical fiction, taking readers to a past time and place. However, a...
Topical Nonfiction Black History Books (1900s)
I rely heavily on topical nonfiction Black history books in our school lessons. As mentioned in my post on Infusing Black History into a Traditional...
African American Biographies & Memoirs (1900s)
African American biographies and memoirs are critical components of our history lessons. In my book A PLACE TO BELONG, I write, "Biographies help us...
Black History Children’s Books (1900s)
Black history children's books covering some of the major people and events of the 20th century are a superb addition to modern history lessons. I...
Promoting Division in the Homeschooling World
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be hunted? To have people sniffing around, salivating, waiting for you to say or do something “wrong” so...
Why Our Worldschooling Trip Ended Early
After our previous worldschooling trip unraveled, my family was ecstatic about the opportunity to head out on the road for a redemptive adventure....
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Soul Food: Picture Books About Cooking and Family
To say that food is important to my extended family would be an incredible understatement. Food is the undercurrent of all of our activities and a...
Scheduling My Charlotte Mason Homeschool Day
After posting a picture of my kids' notebooks and independent work checklists on Instagram earlier this week, I received many requests for a...
Redefining the Charlotte Mason “Feast”
Hey there! Can we talk for a minute? We all know that Charlotte Mason uses food as a metaphor for knowledge throughout her volumes, and the...
An Atmosphere of Learning Bundle
I’ve teamed up with some amazing creators to provide this curated bundle of Charlotte Mason resources JUST FOR YOU! The Atmosphere of Learning...
Video: Pros & Cons of Classic Books
Last week, I had the chance to chat with my new friend Katie Chancellor from Learning Through Literature, and it was so fun! We discussed the pros...
Yes, Even Shakespeare Can Be a Mirror
I'm the first to admit that Shakespeare was not something I was dying to teach my children. I remembered reading some of it in high school, and I...
A Bouquet of Brown: African American Picture Books With Kids Just Being Kids
When selecting titles for our bookshelves, I search trusted lists, read reviews, and listen to the recommendations of friends – both old and new....
Heritage Packs: Adding Color to Your Curriculum
It's no secret that most homeschool curricula is lacking in...well...color. There is certainly room for many lesson plan providers to grow in that...
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....