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
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?
Spring is coming. Although it's still cold and damp, it has been raining rather than snowing. Patches of bare ground, barely visible a week ago, have now almost completely taken over. Mud and hope scent the air. It's the promise that new life will come. It has been a few weeks since I've written … Continue reading The Week in Review
Slips of white paper curled and blackened as flames licked the edges. We gathered round, my three daughters and I, and watched our handwritten words fade into fire. And then they were gone, and all that was left were a few glowing embers and a bowl full of ash. I added a little bit of … Continue reading The Grace-Filled Homeschool: Rituals that Touch the Heart
Happy belated Valentine's Day! I hope your week has been filled with sweetness. In honour of Valentine's Day, the girls and I have been memorizing some verses about love from 1 Corinthians 13. It's so precious to hear them talking about that passage throughout the day, although we all need to work on living it … Continue reading The Week in Review
Here's this week's update from The Grace-Filled Life. Have a wonderful weekend! ~Mary-Ann This Week on TGFL Spreading the Feast: Nourishing Your Homeschooler’s Body and Soul - In this article, I share all about our favourite Monday routine, one that gathers us together, sets the tone for the week, and helps my little ones learn. This … Continue reading The Week in Review
I've been quiet this month. I've put blogging on the backburner for the past few weeks. However, I have a few posts up my sleeve for the coming months that I'm excited to share. And one that I've shared earlier this week. You can find a link to it below, along with other inspiration … Continue reading The Week in Review
Perhaps it's because of illness. Perhaps it's because of grief. Perhaps it's because of a happier event like a new baby or a vacation or a big renovation. Whatever the case, there are times when school just doesn't happen. And you know what? That's okay. Sometimes, life happens and school doesn't. Sometimes, there are more … Continue reading Homeschooling Through Difficult Circumstances: When Life Happens and School Doesn’t
I gently lay a cloth over the table and set out the tea things. On the wall, our back-to-school banner hangs above the plate rack. The sideboard proudly sports a display of Eastern European-flavoured objects: matryoshka dolls, an accordian, brightly embroidered clothing, little felt and cardboard figurines that I picked up on a trip out … Continue reading The Week in Review
The Grace-Filled Life 