“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. […]
Unschooling
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 […]
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 […]
Parenting Telesummit 2016
Have you ever asked yourself these questions? Why it is that some children love learning and mine is continuing to struggle? Is it possible to leave behind arguing and fighting and learn how to focus on my child’s strengths? If so, I’d like to invite you to the Parenting Your Learning Challenged Child Telesummit, an […]
The Day Durinda Disappeared…The Story Behind My Latest Book
I was four years old when my baby brother entered the world and took center stage in my family – or at least, that was how I felt. Until then, everything I’d said and done had been noticed – celebrated even. Suddenly, my accomplishments were old hat, and all eyes were focused on this small, […]
The Story Behind the Santa Secret
One muggy July evening my eleven-year old son surprised me with a question. “Is Santa real, Mommy?” he asked, with saucer-big eyes. The question itself wasn’t all that surprising. I’d known for quite a while that he was getting ready to say goodbye to that magical part of his childhood. The previous Christmas, his letter […]