Among the most recognizable of all of Charlotte Mason’s words, “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life” are probably at the top of the list. As a home educator that is inspired and driven by Mason’s philosophy and methods, I keep this at the front of my mind at all times when I’m Read More
Dear New Homeschool Mom: Things I Wished Someone Had Told Me
I need to preface this blog post by saying very clearly that I am not a seasoned veteran of homeschooling. We’re in our 5th school year as a homeschooling family, and some days that feels like such a long time. Other days, it feels like we’re still getting started. There are a few things that Read More
Cultural Literacy: Should Secular Homeschoolers Teach Bible Stories?
Cultural literacy is something I try to keep in mind as I go about this job of teaching my children. I want them to be aware of current trends, and great books and movies of their generation (and the classics of mine, too!). I want them to feel comfortable walking into a group of peers Read More
Secular Homeschooling: The Struggles Are Real
You guys know me and you know that I’m pretty loud and proud about being a secular homeschooling mama. My family is committed to using modern, secular materials in our lessons and we’ve been able to stick pretty close to our ideals in the (almost) 5 years we’ve been doing this thing. Here’s the thing Read More
Growth Mindset and the Power of Knowing When You Just Can’t.
If you’ve been reading blogs, listening to podcasts, basically being alive and even remotely connected to the world – – then you have probably heard of ‘growth mindset‘. But just in case you might not know what that term is all about, it’s basically this: with a growth mindset, you believe that with hard work, Read More
Homeschooling Your Anxious Child
It was just a few weeks after pulling my two children from public school when my son stopped what he was doing, looked right at me, and said: “Mom. You know what the best thing about homeschooling is? I don’t feel sick in my stomach every day now.” So matter-of-fact, so calm, he was just Read More
Comparison – Thief of Joy and Happiness
Comparison. That thief of joy and happiness and contentment. It’s not something that we home educators are unfamiliar with. Looking around, seeing what others are doing and feeling like we aren’t doing enough, planning enough, learning enough. Comparing our lives to the lives of others can feel terrible, and is a pretty surefire way to Read More
The Good, the Bad, and the Unplanned.
I have heard from many of you, my lovely readers, wondering if I can post our plans. Our schedule. Our list of books. I can do that, I promise I will, but today I have to chat with you about something first. It is so easy to read a blog and think “oh they have Read More
Homeschool Confessional
Friends, readers, loved ones… Come, pull up a seat, pour a big cup of coffee, snap off a piece of that delicious dark chocolate you have hiding in the freezer (we ALL have the stash, you don’t have to hide it from me!). It’s time for the Homeschool Confessional! The Homeschool Confessional. I’ve had a Read More