How to help your kids fall in love with history

by on May 14, 2013
in methods & philosophies · 22 Comments

how to help your kids fall in love with history
Written by contributor Kris Bales of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

History is boring!

Okay, not really, but that’s definitely how I felt when I was in school. Now, history is my favorite subject to learn alongside my kids and one of their favorite subjects, as well.

What’s made the difference?

In large part, it’s due to learning history through historical fiction and biographies, rather than a textbook. Nothing puts a reader in a particular place or time better than getting engrossed in a great story.
[Read more...]

Weekend links

by on May 12, 2013
in links ·

The love of a mother

Happy Mother’s Day, hard-working mamas out there! Enjoy this short video, honoring you:

Those reading via email will need to click over to watch: Career Day from Garrett Marks on Vimeo.

PC_3

And the winner of this weekend’s giveaway by Green Kids Crafts is Tori Maurer. Congratulations! If you didn’t win, head here to find out more about this eco-friendly arts & crafts mail-order (& digital) subscription service. My kids love it!

“The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Weekend giveaway: Green Kids Crafts

by on May 10, 2013
in giveaways ·

greenkidcrafts1

This giveaway has ended. Thanks for entering!

This weekend I’m happy to introduce you to one of our family’s favorite recent discoveries: Green Kid Crafts. Are your kids as excited about receiving mail as mine are? Each month when they discover a Green Kids package in our mailbox, there is much rejoicing. (One just arrived yesterday, in fact!)

For those of us mamas who don’t consider ourselves super-crafty, Green Kid Crafts is like an art lesson for littles in a box–including all the supplies you need to complete three separate crafts. (No hunting around to locate the pipe cleaners required!)

More from Green Kid Crafts:

PC_1

* Green Kid Crafts delights kids and their parents with fun, creative and earth-friendly craft activities, delivered right to their door!  Every month’s Discovery Box is packed with three unique and engaging activity kits designed to foster a child’s creativity and confidence while developing their respect and love for the environment.
[Read more...]

Learning through community service

by on May 8, 2013
in family time · 7 Comments

flowerWritten by contributor Amida of Journey Into Unschooling

About five years ago, I signed my family up for a community service event. It was one of those random, spur of the moment deals. I saw a posting somewhere to participate on some restoration work at a local park and decided to give it a shot. With a two-year-old on my back and seven- and ten-year-old in tow, we set off.

I am a total introvert and don’t exactly shine in the meet-and-greet department, so I was cautious and nervous, to say the least. Worse, they started off by making a big circle and doing “fun” introductions — you know, give your name and dance move, that kind of thing.

Luckily, I survived and we spent an awesome day learning about the native plants and visiting a tide pool afterwards. And as it often happens in our close knit homeschool community, someone knew me through a mutual friend, and we got to meet and became great friends. Small world, right?

It is in this small world, though, that I have discovered a whole new lifestyle.

[Read more...]

Take home lessons from a Waldorf preschool

by on May 6, 2013
in methods & philosophies · 27 Comments

The following is a guest post written by Kara Anderson.

For three years I had been wondering about joining a particular local weekly homeschool co-op.

And, then, last winter, I got my sign — they were offering a Waldorf preschool class, taught by a trained Waldorf teacher.

We try to be Waldorfy, I thought, as I recalled all the failed circle times and the fact that despite following the “rules” my son started reading at 3.

As we entered that beautiful classroom on the first day, I was so excited. Finally, I will get to see all this Waldorfness in action and transfer it to our life.

While it is true that I learned a lot (I was invited to observe and at times pitch in a bit) the lessons were unexpected. But bringing what I learned home has helped us find a balance that truly works.
[Read more...]

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »