Designing a home-centered life: learning, exploring, and creating with our five littles
"...he called out, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'" Luke 8:8 Christmas is such an exciting time in our home, as I'm sure it is in yours too. We want to seize this exciting time to tell our children over and over again about Jesus. To praise His name, to speak of our love, to tell His story. It naturally provides even more … [Read more...]
"Art is one of the basics for little children. They love talking, listening to stories, and drawing or painting." Isn't what Susan Schaeffer Macaulay shares in For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School true? Put two of those together and I think you have some of the best building blocks for teaching art. I've made … [Read more...]
Charlotte Mason promoted handicrafts as an opportunity for children to spend careful attention + neat effort making useful products while encouraging them to build skills that would help them to be industrious adults. Doesn't that sound noble? While she was suggesting this in the early 1900s, I think they're still an important part of a … [Read more...]
Us homeschoolers, we're renegades, right? Let's ditch the primary colored wall posters and seasonal cork boards to create our at-home "schoolrooms". Instead of making our homes look like classrooms, let's make learning look good. In our home, we happen to have a dedicated school room, but our learning certainly doesn't keep to only that … [Read more...]
We are a baseball loving family. I can remember being a young girl having fun on the sidelines of my dad's games and as a college girl, there was no better way to spend a spring or summer night than cheering on my future husband. Now as a mom of three boys who are playing, I spend even more time (lots and lots of time!) on the sidelines … [Read more...]
I have never before used a homeschool planner. While I am very much a planner, they all felt a little intimidating and not quite what I needed. However, when I saw the chatter on the Classical Conversations group Facebook page about the Homeschool 18-Month Classical Planner by Hot Pink Lime, I was instantly interested. The folks over at Hot Pink … [Read more...]
What a treat! Today I'm sharing photos from Lindsey & family, of Simply Diligent, who captured some stunning shots with the Flat Littles in Wyoming. We haven't been to Wyoming as a family yet, but these pictures have me more excited than ever. Wyoming has some history to offer among all the natural beauty. … [Read more...]
I am all about efficiency around the home. I like things done well, but quickly. I joke with my Six Sigma trained husband that I'm the real Six Sigma expert around here. (Maybe you're asking, "What is Six Sigma?" Definition by Wikipedia: a set of techniques and tools for process improvement. My husband uses it in business.) I'm totally not. … [Read more...]
As a mom who homeschools, I have five littles who I teach and feed and clothe and clean and discipline and direct and wrangle and snuggle (etc etc etc!) with me most of every day. But sometimes I forget to simply enjoy my children during that time. The practical responsibilities of home, school and family can overwhelm me. But, I have found … [Read more...]
I'm a find what works and stick with it kind of girl, so it might not surprise you to know much of our summer plans are the same as last year. And our goal is most definitely the same: We're taking a summer break without taking a brain break. All that said, here's what this summer looks like for us -- Math: We're using Life of Fred as a … [Read more...]