I can’t speak for every geekling, but I know my own two both went through phases where they wanted to be paleontologists. I can’t blame them, dinosaurs are such a fun topic to learn about with a lot of opportunity for hands-on play.
Those who follow me on Facebook may have noticed that I recently shared a Wired article by Jason Tanz about techie homeschool families in Silicon Valley. While I didn’t agree with everything Mr. Tanz wrote, I appreciated the way his interviewees responded to questions about homeschooling. Much of the reasonings and rationale behind my decision to homeschool was similar to that of a mother featured in his article.
Today I read an article written in response to that first article I shared on Facebook. Coincidentally, the response article was also published on Wired, this time by a Marcus Wohlsen. Mr. Wohlsen’s take on homeschooling is very simple, it boils down to this: homeschoolers are wrong for pulling their children out of the broken public school system rather than taking the time to try and fix the system for everyone’s children.
We are members of a couple different local homeschool groups. One of our groups meets monthly for “gym day” which is basically just a time when the children can run off some energy with their peers in a safe, enclosed area. Of course free play is encouraged on gym days but we also supply activities to entertain the children. Because gym days are a monthly event, we try to keep supplies and prep time to a minimum. This month was February so we planned a Valentines theme to our activities.
This week my STEM Saturday co-hosts and I are doing something a little bit different, we’ve decided to have a theme to our posts this week. So when you’re done reading about our scented hearts experiment, you should head on over to check out:
Candy Heart Catapult: Measuring Distance from Stir the Wonder
Flying Cupids | Static Electricity for Valentine’s Day from The Science Kiddo
Lego Candy Box for Candy Hearts Building Challenge from Little Bins for Little Hands
We are members of a couple different local homeschool groups. One of our groups meets monthly for “gym day” which is basically just a time when the children can run off some energy with their peers in a safe, enclosed area. Of course free play is encouraged on gym days but we also supply activities to entertain the children. Because gym days are a monthly event, we try to keep supplies and prep time to a minimum. This month was January so we planned a snow theme to our activities.
As a graduate of the public school system, I had a lot of 1st hand experience with teachers growing up. I was lucky that most of the teachers I came into contact with were good people who did their job well. I truly believe that the majority of teachers in America’s public school system are good people who strive to do their job well. To those good teachers, I mean no disrespect, however we have to realize that not all teachers are good teachers.
Trigger Warning:
If you are a sexual assault survivor or if you have had traumatic experiences in the public school system then the following paragraphs maybe especially upsetting for you. Proceed with caution. (more…)
We are members of a couple different local homeschool groups. One of our groups meets monthly for “gym day” which is basically just a time when the children can run off some energy with their peers in a safe, enclosed area. Of course free play is encouraged on gym days but we also supply activities to entertain the children. Because gym days are a monthly event, we try to keep supplies and prep time to a minimum. This month was December so we planned a Christmas theme to our activities.
This morning an alarming article was shared in one of my local homeschool Facebook groups. I clicked on it not quite knowing what I was in for, and I ended up suffering the rest of my day from reading it.
I, like many survivors, experience physical and emotional symptoms when triggered. Triggers vary from person to person, but a common trigger is to read or hear details of another’s abuse. I am not angry that the person who shared the article did not put a trigger warning on it. I was glad to have read the article despite the state I was in upon finishing it.
That said, I am going to advise those reading this that the following paragraphs and the article I link to may be triggering. If when you finish reading you intend to share this post, as I hope you will, then please let those you share it with also know that this could be triggering.
I recently moved to a neighborhood that has so many children, there is always someone to play with! (more…)
*** Attention Homeschoolers: Be sure to read through to the bottom of this post for the chance to win $500 in PayPal cash!***
Like most moms, I haven’t got a degree in child psychology. I can’t claim to have the answers to your problems, nor can I claim to have it “all figured out.”
Truthfully, after reading countless books and articles, spending innumerable hours collaborating with other parents, and generally studying my children everyday of their short lives, the only thing I’m an expert in is knowing my own shortcomings as a mother and a homeschooler. (more…)
