Sooooo. To continue with improvements we’re trying to make around here let’s talk about item number two: the schedule. Up until 2 weeks ago the general plan was to wake up when we wake up in the morning, then roll with school after breakfast. The burden was on me to get the boys to get [...]

Okay. As of today, the boys and I are still at home doing school. We don’t have everything solved, but I think we made a good decision or two last week. There are multiple issues: scheduling, responsibility, and the whole unwillingness to leave the house or try new things thing. I’ve talked to the boys [...]

I’ve had the “add new post” window open on my laptop for two days now. I stare at the blank screen, unsure of what to type exactly. I want to tell you about our latest homeschooling…..mess. But it’s messy. I don’t even know how this is all going to turn out, and I’m not sure [...]

Gillian from LittleHeroes.com wrote a post about children and reading readiness that really struck a chord for me.  Learning to Read: Boys are from Mars, Girls are from Venus points out the vast differences between boys’ and girls’ development. Teaching my first two boys to read was quite challenging, and I’ve often thought readiness was [...]

I’m thrilled to announce that Captain Earthquake and The Manager finished their entire phonics book last week. We were using The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading, which is wonderful and well-done. But it has 231 lessons. 231. We worked on that book for a year and a half. By the time we finished up [...]

Last May the boys and I went to the city to visit a museum and we walked over to the fish ladder. When we returned to the van we were horrified to discover a parking ticket on the windshield. I’d checked the signs and parked in what I thought was a legal spot. Turns out, [...]