The thing about homeschool schedules is that they're difficult to keep. As real life happens, flexibility is essential. However, as my children get older, we're moving from a loose homeschool rhythm to a slightly more disciplined schoolwork schedule. When planning our year, I use two important tools: a paper teacher planner and a digital calendar. … Continue reading How I’m Scheduling our 2021-2022 Homeschool Year
It's hard to believe that we're heading into our seventh year of homeschooling in September. Last year, I was pretty near ready to give up, so we embraced a year of more relaxed homeschooling. As we head into summertime, I'm feeling much more refreshed and prepared to tackle homeschooling again in the fall. My oldest … Continue reading 2021-2022 Curriculum Choices
Our family has been volunteering alongside goats. Yes, you read that correctly. Not with goats. Alongside goats. We've been helping remove invasive buckthorn. And so have they. It all started when I saw an Instagram post from our local naturalist club describing their eco-goat program and asking for volunteers. Having recently finished the Ontario Master … Continue reading Volunteering alongside … Goats?
It all began with a library book, our Firefly Nature School subscription, and our Wild Life camp kit. You see, everyone had the same idea. Build a moth trap. It's actually the simplest thing in the world. You need a black light, a regular light, and a white sheet. Shine the lights on the sheet … Continue reading Making a Moth Trap
For a long time, I've been searching for the perfect subscription box for our family. I wanted something that would include outdoor activities, nature exploration, crafts, and fun incentives. My girls are active and love being outside. We enjoy hiking, biking, paddling, and backcountry camping. We're also homeschoolers, so whatever subscription I chose needed to … Continue reading Kicking off Summer with Wild | Life Outdoor Adventure Camp in a Box
The liberty bell. This bell rang out each time an escaped slave made it to Buxton. There are many dark parts of Canadian history, but I'm proud of this part. Buxton was the last stop on the Underground Railroad. Canadian soil. Freedom. We recently read Elijah of Buxton, a delightful yet important work of Canadian … Continue reading Buxton National Historic Site
We found our rhythm after Christmas break. Finally. Our few months of relaxed homeschooling was needed and restful, but in January, we were ready to dive into the deep end again. The thing I love most about homeschooling is that it's flexible enough that we can shape it to fit our needs. And sometimes, needs … Continue reading A Homeschooling Update
Anyone who says that homeschoolers aren't socialized has not met my children. Or most of the homeschooled children that I know. Even during a pandemic when gathering sizes are limited and social distancing rules are in place, there are plenty of opportunities to interact (safely) with others. Last week: music lessons, hikes with friends, outdoor … Continue reading An (Almost) Unschooling Update
A friend suggested that I keep a record of our year of relaxed homeschooling, either online or on paper. I've chosen to do both. Let me begin by saying that we started school today with a discussion on hopefulness, the character trait of the week in A Year in the Hundred Acre Wood. Hopefulness. It's … Continue reading Knotty Wood, Ukulele Lessons and Hopefulness
Confession: I'm not a good unschooler. I had intended for this year (or at very least the first few months) to be a break. Aside from Morning Time (A Year in the Hundred Acre Woods), math and reading, our learning was supposed to be entirely delight-directed. We were going to dive into the world of … Continue reading A New Year of Homeschooling
The Grace-Filled Life 