Although I’ve always known we’d be on the path to homeschooling, this year we really got down to business and made a commitment to this way of life and we’re so glad we did! Our kids Luca (age 7), Rose (age 5) and Remi (age 3) explore life and learn every day through reading, imagination, play, and time spent together and with our community. We are documenting our experience here. Enjoy!
In March we were all about Egypt! Ancient Egyptian games, weapons, attire, stories and enough bits and pieces to make it feel like something substantial without losing the spark. And speaking of the spark…
I’ve discovered a few homeschooling mothers/pioneers that I just adore: The Homeschool Sisters and Julie Bogart. I’ve been listening to their podcasts and down-to-earth advice and guidance while fixing dinner or during our afternoon quiet time. Listening to these women talk about their own journeys, the magic of childhood and the trials and joys of raising children has been incredibly helpful for me in these past few months of full days with three energetic children and one on the way. Today I am especially inspired by Julie Bogart and what she calls “Enchanted Education” – which basically is this: giving our children space and pause in which to cultivate magic. That learning does not necessarily fit into a box or need to look like education. Following the magic, the enchanted path with your kids is all you really need. As Julie says, “Sometimes the most sacred moments in our days with our children show no outward educational value.”
This video and live conversation about Enchanted Education is really wonderful!! The video clip has a bit of an introduction while she sets up and says hello, but when she gets going I absolutely LOVE her insights.
And so on to March…
Here is the gang painting away on arm bands and other Egyptian weaponry
I maybe had the most fun with the necklaces, getting lost in all those dots and dashes!
Luca’s arm bands
Rose modeling the necklace
Rose’s Egyptian eyes, which she decided she didn’t like at all and went instead for the pink princess look further below
A Remi Bat!
Luca with his god of the dead jackal mask and rose with her cat mask.
Luca painting his jackal mask – it really turned out great!
Luca always loves making swords, shields and anything having to do with armor. I remember him saying that the Egyptian armor is “awesome!” and that it might be his favorite.
Rose coloring an Egyptian princess
One of our favorite books this month was a great find at the thrift store called “Temple Cat” by Andrew Clements
Playing the ancient game of Senet!
Senet was a lot more fun than even I had imagined it would be! So we decided to make our own board with Star Wars characters (of course!), but it is still in the works as I write this…
Library Friends is always a good time – one week in March was all about maple sugaring and the native names for syrup, tree and house. The kids made a beautiful sugar bush forest with wee sap buckets!
Outdoor Adventures – this month the kids were able to join a nature mentor and a bunch of their buddies on the land of a good friend – exploring the forest, building a fire and generally having a wonderful time in the woods!
Bird watching from our window
Time to plant seeds!
They are up!
We love our weekly Art Hive afternoon! Free form art exploration and general playing (usually involving forts under the table) are always a great way to finish off the week!
Checking out the cool clear tape people at Art Hive
Luca is really enjoying the piano app
It is great to see them helping out each other on a sleepy morning
Nothing like a pop-up band and march thru the house!
Don’t ever throw out rubber bands or cardboard! They become so many creations complex and simple
Sandy and Rose adding in the little letters to our alphabet poster
Remi using the ipad to match letters on the poster
More color wheels happened!
We were invited to a friend’s house for a Literary Lunch! We were asked to pick a book and bring food corresponding to that story. We chose one of the Little House books and packed a picnic of bread, butter, cheese and hard boiled eggs. But of course we had to imprint patterns on our butter just like Ma does! The kids found lots of great little bits and pieces to pattern with – mostly Lego!
R2D2 face plants
Rose’s pizza box drawing that I just can’t part with – pizza grease stains and all!
Going out to the compost bins
Rose’s Art
Poetry Teatime with Lazy Dazy Cake and poems about teapots
Playing a very looong game of Risk – can you see how tired we are! But the kids loved it!
All about the enchanted play…
