“Does it make you sad that your kids won’t be able to go to college?” my mother-in-law asked as we nibbled on the delicacies provided for my nephew’s high school graduation party. I nearly choked on my cookie. “Um…what do you mean?” I spluttered, sure I must have misheard. “Well, you know, since they’re homeschooled. […]
The Puppy Midwife: Unschooling Science in Action
When it comes to due dates, apparently dogs and humans have something in common: they are rarely correct. We already had an inkling about that, since our dog, Honeybee, had delivered neither of her previous two litters when she was “supposed” to. But that had hardly mattered to us, since we’d already delivered her to […]
When the Work is for Pleasure
Early in my homeschooling journey, I was still very much a traditional teacher at heart. It’s taken me a long time to learn new ways to think about a child’s learning. One of the things I have been thinking about is the value of “output.” Output can be described as what we ask students to […]
Beyond Traditional High School Subjects
One of the great advantages of unschooling through high school is being able to design a truly individualized curriculum. When my oldest became the equivalent of a freshman, we spent a lot of time exploring options. And while high schools today offer way more interesting options than they did back in my day, I was […]
…And We’re Back!
Hello friends! It’s been four years since I’ve posted here, and even longer since my posts contained any stories about my kiddos. While that’s partly due to the general whirlwind that is my life, mostly it’s because my children asked me to take a break from broadcasting their lives to the general public . Recently, […]
Outschooling
One thing I love about unschooling is that it’s never boring! Just when I think we’ve got our groove on, my kiddos get older and interested in new and different things. It certainly keeps me on my toes…and I wouldn’t have it any other way! This year has been a turning point for my three […]
uCurriculum: Learning Experiences Designed for “U”
I’m so excited to share my latest adventure…designing online classes that are based on the unschooling philosophy! As my kiddos have gotten older, I’ve really enjoyed sharing my passions with them. For better or worse, they are now fans of Broadway musicals, American Sign Language, Jane Eyre, and the television reality show Face Off. (Wow, that […]
Our Favorite Nursery Rhymes & Fairy Tales
I’m a big believer in sharing fairy tales with my children. These stories are woven throughout our culture, and I want my kiddos to be familiar with them. BUT, I’m also a big fan of exploring fairy tales with a twist. In this list, you’ll find some of our favorite traditional fairy tales, but also […]
Picture Book Picks…Our 50 Faves
I’ll let you in on a little secret…one great thing about having four kiddos is that I have a really, really good excuse for my enormous collection of picture books. It’ll be a lot harder to explain when the kids are grown and gone and the books remain – at least until the grandchildren come along! […]
25 Favorite Board Books
I have a weakness for children’s books. Anyone who knows me well will tell you I can rarely pass by a bookstore – and once in, I never leave without at least one must-have gem. Unlike my weakness for chocolate, this vice has served me well over the years, first as a teacher, then as […]