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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
HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience
Attending an HBCU changed my life, and the new book HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience reminded me of how profound the...
Why Race Matters in Children’s Literature
If I had a dollar for every time someone tells me that race shouldn’t matter when it comes to choosing children’s books, I’d be writing this post...
Historic Home Field Trips: Frederick Douglass’ Cedar Hill
I love taking historic home field trips with my family. Scroll to the end to check out the article I wrote for Simple Homeschool to learn more about...
Picture Books Aren’t Just for Little Kids
Picture books aren't just for little kids. Some of the best books my family has read are illustrated children’s books intended for a young audience...
Book Club Notes: Nic Blake and the Remarkables
My Tweeners book club (4th and 5th grade boys and girls) recently read Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas, and everyone loved it. The...
Book Club Notes: Talkin’ About Bessie
Our 4th and 5th-grade book club recently wrapped up a meeting on Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman, an illustrated...
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Is It Ever Okay to Read Twaddle?
In a recent interview, I shared my thoughts about the use of twaddle in a Charlotte Mason home (or any home, for that matter). I've linked to the...
1800s Black History Books
My family will be studying the 19th century in the fall, and I’m excited to share my 1800s Black history books on enslavement, the Civil War, and...
My Charlotte Mason Homeschool Schedule
A while back, I wrote about Scheduling My Charlotte Mason Homeschool Day, and much of what I shared then still applies. We tweak things each term...
Our Morning Time Booklist
Morning time can mean many things to different people, but one aspect that I find consistent is that it's an important and well-loved time of day in...
Diversity in a Charlotte Mason Education
Some people feel that a Charlotte Mason education lacks diversity, and I understand where that idea is coming from. There are those who feel that...
African American Historical Fiction: Stories of the 1800s
Of all the elements of our Black history studies, African American historical fiction is a runaway favorite for my children (and for me too!). These...
Black History Books: Nonfiction Covering the 1800s
These nonfiction Black history books covering the 1800s are part of our broader history plans for the time period. The selections shared below cover...
African American Biographies: Life in the 1800s
These African American biographies covering the lives of people from the 1800s are part of a series of posts on this time period. In my book, A...
Paul Laurence Dunbar Poetry Study
Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer of the late 19th and early 20th...
Picture Books About Slavery and Freedom
I’ll be reading these picture books about slavery and freedom aloud to all of my children during our family morning time next school year, right...
Middle Grade Leisure Reading: An Insider’s View
I'm often asked about what my kids like to read in their free time, and it's always a bit difficult to say because each child prefers different...
A Place to Belong: New Book Announcement!
It is with great pleasure that I announce my new book, A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond. Since beginning...
Things to Do When Kids Are Bored
Every parent has experienced what happens when kids are bored, and my family is no exception. All of my children have been through the various...
Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance
As part of our Colonial American and Revolutionary War history studies this year, we've been reading through No More! Stories and Songs of Slave...
African American Picture Study: Faith Ringgold
Faith Ringgold (born October 8, 1930 in Harlem, New York City) is an American painter, writer, mixed media sculptor, and performance...
African American Christmas Books for Kids
It took several years, but we finally have a beautiful collection of African American Christmas books for kids that my entire family enjoys. Each...