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At the top of our stairs, a little double-sided easel, half chalkboard, half whiteboard, is balanced on the banister. It appeared there a few days ago. On one side, my daughter’s eight-year-old handwriting scribed, Good Morning Mom. On the other side, she wrote, Good Morning Sophie. Next to the easel is a piece of chalk for me […]
The materials we use are an important piece of each homeschooling year. When it comes to a homeschool curriculum for upper elementary students, I look for resources that invite critical thinking, independence, focus on process and sequence, and speak to my children’s interests. With a little guidance, my kids choose the curriculum they use. Below […]
When I started homeschooling my son in the middle of second grade, I realized I wasn’t exactly sure what the early elementary years were supposed to look like. I knew they included things like reading, writing, and math, and I, of course, had my own experiences to look back on, but I remember feeling overwhelmed […]
The car’s packed; no one but the driver has leg room. Snacks, books, vacation essentials- check, check, check. The GPS shows twelve hours remaining. It will be more like fourteen. We pull out of the driveway, “Goodbye house,” a little voice says from the backseat. My mind races: chargers, Dramamine, boogie boards, goggles, glasses. […]
Today, on a walk with our dog, a flock of Canadian Geese flew overhead. As I paused and watched them go by, I wondered about the lead goose- was it always in front. Turns out geese take turns leading the way. When the lead goose needs a break, it moves to the back where […]
A couple of months ago, my eight-year-old asked if I’d give her art lessons. She’s been in love with drawing for years but was resistant to any formal instruction. Every couple days, upon her request, we sat down together. She wanted to learn how to shade and how to make a human look human. […]
How do frogs breathe underwater? How much water does a tree drink in a day? Why do hedgehogs curl up in a ball? What would happen if we cut down all the trees? Children ask great questions! They are explorers. They smell the flowers, spot teeny tiny bugs, stop to watch bunnies, butterflies, and deer, […]
Our family takes a vacation twice a year. Sometimes we visit family. Sometimes our vacation is a long weekend just a couple hours away. Camping, long road trips, overseas travel, I love our time together and a break from our routine. Travel is one of our family’s top priorities. I didn’t always love our […]
When my kids were younger, reading with them was pretty easy. They’d often toddle over, a book in hand, and happily, sit on my lap throughout the day. The older they get, the more I’m finding distractions, separate interests, and outside commitments pull at our time together. As my kids get older, reading together has […]
Two of the best classroom tools I used began the moment my students walked into the classroom and in the moments before they left. Our beginning and ending routines not only allowed students to transition, but they also allowed them to engage in their interests, check in with me individually and gave me time to […]
Our family vacation to Idaho begins in just a few days. We’re heading west to see my folks and sister, to check out Craters of the Moon National Park, Sawtooth National Forest, Redfish Lake, and all the things Eagle and Boise have to offer. We’re excited! In preparation for the long plane and car rides, […]
A body biography invites students to recall what they know about a character and turn their findings into a life-sized version.
What mother doesn’t love a poem from a child they love. I’d take one any day. Don’t get me wrong, pasta necklaces, coupon books, and playdough projects are sweet, but a poem is something to keep forever. There are all sorts of ways to create a Mother’s Day poem. Below you’ll find prompts for kids of […]
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives,”~ Annie Dillard Grab your free copy of Create a Family Rhythm here I’m often struck by Dillard’s words; the simple reminder every minute and hour eventually adds up to a life. Looking back at yesterday, last year, or even just an hour […]
My children became interested in cooking when they realized if they learned to bake, we’d have more sweets in the house. While I enjoy cooking, baking is not my favorite pastime. However, our time in the kitchen quickly became a priority when the more I said yes to baking, the more I watched my children […]
