Banging on pots & pans. It’s fun! It’s cheap! It’s already in the house! Most importantly, it holds my little girl’s attention long enough to keep her from climbing into the oven while Momma tries to cook dinner, grade math,
Benjamin Franklin tour of Boston
We have been studying Benjamin Franklin as part of our recent study of The Hatmaker’s Sign. (Lots of resources at THSM, btw) He is a really fascinating guy. Anyone who can invent the lightning rod, convince the French to help
Filing aka. Hiding the Mess
This time of year always finds me filing. I love to be organized, although you wouldn’t know it by looking at my kitchen counters on most days. I like the newness of taking all of last years bills and financial
Nature study for non-artists
Recently, I’ve been reading Pocketful of Pinecones (great book BTW) and mulling over the whole Charlotte Mason style emphasis on Nature Study. Nature is fun. It is interesting. So, why do so many of us avoid teaching it? Okay, to
1st day of Kindergarden
Better late than never, right?
Destination School
This morning I woke up late (thanks to a very considerate husband) and didn’t want to get out of bed. Pure laziness had me in its grasp. I wanted to have fun rather than teach lessons. ~ Picture a stubborn
Pip-squeak Photographers
I realized recently that my kids can take photos that I can’t. They look at the world from a different angle (quite literally) and people just act differently when a kid points the camera at them rather than an adult.
The Door in the Wall – literature adventure lesson plans
“Can we read it again tomorrow? Please!” Success! Anytime my kids leave a book searching for more, I know that our reading has been effective. (Caution: Extraordinarily long post. If you aren’t a teacher and you are reading my blog
Autodidact
I stumbled into this word while reading during my trip to Illinois this past week. It was in reference to Thomas Jefferson. I read it aloud to my sister, and remembered that I had heard the word before and therefore
Making Medieval Swords
While getting together for our “The Door in the Wall” book group this week, we made the easiest, cheapest toy. Foam swords! We took pool noodles and cut them using a large kitchen knife into quarters (first lengthwise and again