Archive for December, 2010
Kapla Building Blocks
Kapla blocks are beautiful, smooth-sanded pine building planks for people of all ages. We got a set of these when Ben was about thirteen, and we’ve loved them ever since. We keep them in a pretty basket in the living or family room so they’re always ready to [Read More]
Math and Literature
When Ben was younger, I loved reading aloud to him. We enjoyed all kinds of good children’s literature. Reading together was a sweet way to spend time together, to learn new things, and to enjoy good stories. At some point, I became familiar with books that [Read More]
Creating Our Own Path
Every day, as much as we can, we try to create the life we want to live, not the life someone else wants us to live. We do our work, our projects, earn income, keep house, grow things, and build things. We read real books, talk with interesting people, go places, explore [Read More]
Homeschooling Authors & the Books We Love
If you’re looking for some good homeschooling books and authors to inspire you, check out my ever-expanding list of favorites on my menu page. Whether you want some practical everyday ideas, some new inspiration and encouragement, or some thought-provoking [Read More]
Beautiful Pattern Blocks
I love wooden pattern blocks. They feel good to the touch, come in bright colors, and are wonderful for creating beautiful designs. We have a large collection of them in a basket in our living room, and whenever I put them out on the coffee table, people of all ages [Read More]
Instead of Curriculum
A variety of good books and magazines according to our interests Games, puzzles, building toys, and other fascinations Family activities, field trips, and travel adventures Musical instruments, power tools, and project supplies Road trips, train trips, and camping trips [Read More]
Projects
In our family, we love projects. Big projects, small projects, projects of all kinds. They all involve real activities we pursue because we want to build something, create something, grow something, or find out about something. I’m not talking about projects that we [Read More]
Early Reading vs. Later Reading
Here’s a great article summarizing some newly published research about children learning to read at various ages: Research Finds No Advantage In Learning To Read from Age Five. It’s worth reading. I thought these were a couple of the best quotes: [Read More]
You’ve Got Lots of Time
There’s no need to rush. The days might go by quickly, but the months and years meander slowly on their way. People are often in a hurry to make kids grow up. We want them to be independent at a young age, sleep on their own, wean early, tie their shoes by themselves, [Read More]