Making homeschool decisions easy
This past September, I made my biggest curriculum mistake yet. I had researched and thought and finally purchased a curriculum. But when it came time to start school, I realized that I would have to do heavy editing to make the curriculum match my student’s level. I set it aside and bought another curriculum–happily, one that we have been making progress in all year long.
Four years ago we moved into the Owl House. A generous friend asked if we had room for a piano–their family was growing and they could use the space. We said yes, and a team of neighbors delivered a shiny, black piano and then tucked into the corner of our dining room. The only problem? No one in our house played the piano! Enter Mr.
One of the most appealing aspects of a Charlotte Mason education for me is the seamless interplay between art and science that is possible with nature study. Nothing compares to tromping through the woods in all weathers to track the first crocus. Alright, we usually just walk around our neighborhood…and only when it’s not too wet! But we still keep our Calendar of Firsts, and
The dark comes early these days, and the temperatures stay cool. That makes winter the perfect time for stories! Recently, our family had the opportunity to try out Bookroo–a subscription book service. Every month a handsomely wrapped package arrives filled with your choice of board books or picture books. What a fun morning we had receiving our package from the letter carrier, then tearing open
On any ordinary day, after we have put in a good share of work, you can find us gathered at the table sharing a pot of tea. After everyone is settled with tea and cinnamon toast, I open a book of poems and read one. We might return to the poem again in the coming days. But that’s the heart of our simple practice–tea and
The Christmas Creep–it comes earlier every year! In our local stores Christmas decorations are already out, right next to the Halloween candy. It seems like the push to extend the Christmas shopping season always gets stronger. We know the reason for the season, but sometimes the gift lists and party obligations can put us on edge and cloud our vision. If we’re going to observe
I first came across the idea of Circle Time from Kendra Fletcher at Preschoolers and Peace when my oldest was four years old. We’ve been reveling in leaning together for five years now. And after all these years, that’s still my favorite part of the practice–that we spend the bulk of our time learning, reading, and experiencing together. Circle Time in our homeschool is anchored
Choosing math curriculum has got to be one of the hardest parts of homeschooling. Okay, actually doing math lessons every day is probably harder! But it’s difficult to keep from thinking that if we only had a better/different/new curriculum all our math woes would be gone. Everyone would understand and complete their lessons with minimal effort and drama. In reality, the best math curriculum is
