Oh, Monday morning woe! Dishes piled in the sink, counters overloaded with random bits, laundry mounting high out of the hampers. Extra gunk on the floor, toys left out, books strewn everywhere. Everywhere I looked, I saw evidence that I was starting the week behind. Everywhere I looked, I saw that I did not spent the weekend as I ought. I clearly did something wrong. I used to think that I had to earn Sunday rest. After all, I couldn’t … Read More
Norms and Nobility is a classical education essential, but it’s also a difficult read. Take it in the bite-sized portions provided (the numbered sections), and think about it over the course of a year or two. Better yet, do so with me in this slow-drip series. Previous: Classical Education’s Map (chapter 2, section I) Next: Classical Education’s Master (chapter 2, section III) – planned for November 7 In this section, Hicks contrasts two uses of – and two feelings about … Read More
Some education principles are broad and deep with numerous applications. Intelligent people write volumes on them and we, the average homeschool mom, read and reread, slowly coming to a better understanding. Other education principles are simple, straightforward, and common sense. Yet, that doesn’t seem to make them easier to apply. It just makes me stupid when I don’t. Today’s piece of homeschool advice is one such principle, told to me multiple times by multiple older moms and confirmed by my … Read More
Every time I share a photo of our kids’ homeschool checklists, I get requests for the template or questions about our implementation. We’ve been using weekly checklists for more than 5 years. For a year and a half we used Trello for our homeschool checklists, but then returned to paper in order to reduce screen time and screen-distraction excuses. Now all 5 students have a weekly checklist, even the 5-year-old. She is the first 5-year-old to have a checklist, though. … Read More
Years ago when my oldest started getting into “real school” and I was adding students both in the phonics-stage and in the pregnancy-stage, I looked at the goals I had written out, I looked at the books I was collecting, and I looked at my pillows (with longing). I realized I was going to have to up my game every year if I was going to keep up – and keep up, I was determined to do. Ironically, the method … Read More
So I have a new rule for these monthly book posts. I can’t include any book in my “currently reading” stack that I haven’t actually read in that month. Sometimes books get put on hold, and that’s ok, but I’m not really “currently” reading it if I’m not picking it up. I think it will force some honesty, which is always good! Books I Finished So back in April Pam raved about Louis L’Amour’s novel, Lonesome Gods. While we were … Read More
Season 12: Finding Rest as a Homeschool Mom This season of the Simplified Organization Audio Blog is excerpts from an hour-long live chat all about resting as a homeschool mom. Find the link below to access the replay in its entirety! Decision fatigue is super real, and it’s not just our kids pestering that puts us over the edge, it’s ourselves also. Our own minds are always going, going, going. And that’s one reason why we’re brain dumping, we’re getting … Read More
Wow – time flies when you’re….busy. Ha! This has been a more action-packed school year than we’ve ever had before. People told me that happened with teens, but I didn’t believe them. Those experienced moms, people. They know what they’re talking about. Listen, even if you don’t like what they’re saying. Cindy Rollins is the real deal. Speaking of experienced moms to listen to, Cindy Rollins is high on that list. The highlight of my September was not only meeting … Read More
Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education Seneca here warns us of two opposing dangers, two ditches on either side of our right path: either building resentment and anger in our children (how he says this happens might surprise you) or by stifling and smashing their personalities and energy. In our talk of classical education or a liberal arts education, we must keep our definitions and our aim in view. The liberal arts boil down to studying wisdom. Wisdom comes … Read More
Season 12: Classical Voices on Classical Education The classical tradition does not see itself as a new thing, but as part of the stream of Western civilization that started in Greece, grew in the middle ages, has suffered much recently, but still exists, particularly if we educate our children in its gifts and blessings and warnings. It is the culture of a people who sought truth, of a people then who met Truth, of a people who tried – though … Read More