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
From wrapping each other up in toilet paper when learning about mummies to building the Great Wall of China out of blocks, we've always had so much fun studying ancient times. I've mentioned in previous posts that we do a four-year history rotation (ancient, medieval, renaissance and modern). We've done two cycles of ancient history … Continue reading Ancient World History: Living Books and Resources
What do you picture when you think of the Middle Ages? Do you imagine castles and knights and damsels in distress? What about smelly cess pits or teeth-pulling barbers or the bubonic plague? There are so many interesting things to learn about when studying medieval times. I've always found the Middle Ages to be the … Continue reading Living Books and Other Resources for Medieval History Studies
What's so great about a vernal pool? A lot, it turns out. For us, it all started with a picture book. A beautifully illustrated picture book by Kimberly Ridley called The Secret Pool. It's a book that is absolutely packed with information about vernal pools, seasonal ponds that provide a habitat for a variety of … Continue reading Homeschool Nature Study: What’s so Great about a Vernal Pool?
There's something so beautiful about the wide open space of a new calendar year, isn't there? It's a chance to start fresh. The first few months of school have centered around creating routine and a sense of normalcy for my girls in the midst of challenging circumstances. Although we start our school day a little … Continue reading Starting the New Year with A Year of Tales
Charlotte Mason Style Watercolor LessonIf I'm honest, I have to admit that art is the first thing to fall by the wayside when homeschooling gets busy. It's not just because I find drawing stick people a challenge, it's also the mess that bothers me. Paint splatters, pastel dust, spilled watercolours ... and don't get me … Continue reading Bringing Art Into The Homeschool When You’re Not Artistically Inclined
"Are these my books for homeschool?" My five-year old eagerly eyes the stack of books beside me on the table. I'm inputting lesson schedules into a newly-discovered online planning program and she's right at my elbow. We're almost buried in the stacks of books around us. "Some of these are yours." I pull her few books … Continue reading Our 2019-2020 Homeschool Curriculum Choices for Kindergarten
The Grace-Filled Life 