Homeschool Philosophy & Practice

Through the Years

Learning with littles is where our home education journey began. We carried that interest-led, relaxed approach into the early years education. Our philosophy remains the same but due to a life changing move and our children's growth and development, we are now progressing in the middle years. High school is years away (but getting closer!) and we plan to homeschool through those years as well.

But what does this look like on a daily basis? This page is a sampling of posts that provide everyday examples to the why's and how's of our particular homeschooling experience. 

Learning Philosophy

• When To Stay the Course *
• All You Need is Love
• Growing Up Looks Like... (in the middle years)
• My Biggest Homeschool Mistake: Giving In To Fear *
• Waldorf Inspired Homeschooling ~ An Interview
• Holiday Un-School
• 3 Lessons Learned for the Beginner Homeschooler
• Project Learning
• Insecurities and Graduation Goals
• Summer Non-Boredom
• Confessions of an Errant Homeschooler
• Kindergarten, Easy Does It

Family Life

• When You Feel Inadequate
• Changes in These Middle Years ~ Defining Structure (video)
• Helping Children Embrace Lifestyle Change **
• Why we Homeschool ~ An Outdoors Perspective
• Be your own Family
• Involving Dad in Your Homeschool *
• Defining Priorities to Make a Family Schedule

Organization & Assessment

• My Five Favorite Time Management Strategies
• Resources to Help You Get Organized
• Getting Organized for the Upcoming School Year *
• Anchoring: An Organizational Tool *
• Homeschooling on a Budget
• Weekly Blocks, A Planning Tool
• Homemaking and Homeschooling
• Portfolio Review (an assessment tool)

Curriculum & Schedules

• A Barebones Homeschool Schedule
• Finding our Late Elementary & Transition Years Homeschool Groove
• Our Homeschool Day in the Life (at 9, 10 & 12) *
• Relaxed Elementary Education *
• Our Homeschool Day in the Life (at 8, 9 & 11) *
• Wednesday's Journal ~ A Day in Our Life (what a schedule looks like in real life)
• Summer School
• A Learning List for Spring
• Homeschool Schedule Fall 2008 (at 9, 7 & 5)

Creativity

• Encouraging Creativity in Your Homeschool *
• Supplies for Creativity ~ Paper Crafts
• Creativity in Our Homeschool ~ A Little History
• A Cardinal in an Evergreen (Laurent's artist talents)
• Paper, Prints, Pen & Paints
• Planning, Sketching, Dreaming
• Fantasy & Learning
• Education and Doll Making
• Creative Freedom (& and TED talk)

In the spring of 2012 I published my first e-book ~ Nurturing Creativity: A Guide for Busy Moms.

Nurturing Creativity is about embracing the seasons of motherhood and appreciating where you are, while helping you make creativity a priority in your life. Although written for moms specifically the practical advice and encouragement  in this book will help you nurture a creative homeschool environment also.

To buy or read more click here. 

Reading

• Becoming an (e)Reader
• Learning to Read Part 1 & Learning To Read Part 2
• How to Use The Library in Your Homeschool *
• Audio Books ~ A Mother's Sanity Saver
• Spring Reading at the Library
• A Bare Bones Home Library and Reluctant Readers

Outdoors

• Lessons Learned while Camping *
• Great Books for an Outdoors Education
• Adventure Education
• An Outdoors Education

Nature Study

• Child Led Nature Study
• Monarchs
  • Raising Monarchs
  • Monarchs in my Back Yard (with book list)
• Pond Study

Math & Science

• Spring is For Science & More Spring Science
• 4 Simple Methods for Teaching Elementary Science *
• Sick Day Science
• Easy Science
• Early Years Math
• Take Apart Science
• Homemade Silly Putty (Chemistry)

World Study

• Celebrating Chinese New Year
• Studying the World through Reading and Creative Play
• Medieval Studies & Medieval Party Play
• Victorian Dollhouse Tour

Community, Art & Music

• New art supplies and Drawing with Children
• Culture in your neighborhood
• Cooking with Lots to Gardens

Go With The Flow

• Sweet Breaks
• Three Days Till Christmas: Three Activities Worth Doing*
• Not Back to Homeschool
• Doubts and Reassurances
• Fun & Games
• A One Room School House and Christmas Break
• Free Rainy Day activities

Video

• Changes in These Middle Years ~ Defining Structure
• In The Middle Years ~ Our Homeschool Philosophy
• The Good, The Bad, The Embarrassing (I'm not all put together)
• Getting Organized for The Upcoming School Year
• Homeschooling in the Early Years

* My posts at Simple Homeschool.

** Guest posts published on other blogs.