Little Green Thumb: Gardening with a Preschooler

Little Green Thumb: Gardening with a Preschooler

One of our big summer goals for this year has been keeping a vegetable garden.  We tried last year but without much success (weeds, squash bugs, some kind of hex on our peppers…), so we are being more deliberate and

Follow the Child

Follow the Child

Just yesterday I wrote that I wasn’t sure if my three-year-old was ready to try handwriting yet this summer. He’s been loving with the Ron Paul Curriculum this summer, but mainly focusing on phonics, not handwriting. Then today he went

Summer Goals

Summer Goals

Finally, finally, finally, summer is here! You cannot know unless you have ever taught middle school the blessed relief that Memorial Day weekend can bring. This new season brings a major shift in our day to day routine.  No more

No Wind, No Problem

My three-year-old is forever teaching me about determination (or “stubbornness,” depending on the particulars).  This week, it was the kite he got in his Easter basket.  Every day, he’s been looking out the window and declaring that it’s really windy

Threading: Fine Motor Skills

I’ve seen this activity suggested on Pinterest, but this was our first time trying it.  We used 18 mm plastic beads, regular spaghetti stuck in a little blob of Play-Doh, and an enthusiastic three-year-old.  On top of building those fine

Containers: Fine Motor Activities for Littles

Containers: Fine Motor Activities for Littles

Our baby has hit that glorious stage: Putting Things in Things!  He wants to take every object he can get his paws on and put it into any kind of container he can procure.  It may be tempting to start

Brothers

Brothers

“Behold how pleasant and how good it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1 One of my biggest draws to home schooling is these two besties getting to spend more of their time together. How has home

A Fierce Independence

A Fierce Independence

A bit of wisdom from Maria Montessori today: “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” For our older son, that’s basically every task now. Last month he hit three and dove headfirst into

All Aboard!

All Aboard!

Albert Einstein said, “Play is the highest form of research.”  This is most true when our children play with toys that allow them to create, experiment, and solve problems. Our three-year-old is enchanted with his wooden train set these days.