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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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Podcast: How to Diversify Your Classic Literature Library
"In the past, a lot of focus was put on being "color blind," but now that we know better, we want our children to have "color-full" experiences, and...
Video: “A Homeschool Invitation” Interview
I had a great time chatting with Kerry Ann Todd when she interviewed me for her new Homeschool Invitation series. We talked about the one piece of...
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...