When our kids were 7 and 9, we thought homeschooling might be a good fit for us. We started with a Calvert Homeschool boxed curriculum, a basic platform that allowed us to plan our days and supplied a vehicle for growth. Quickly realizing I could make the learning more fun, I added workbooks, reading time,…
Category: Boat School
Summer Reading How-to Guide
Warm sunshine, cool breezes, gentle rains, sunrises, lazy mornings, beach afternoons, and late nights are all perfect times to read. Reading more (like drinking water or increasing activity!) is a powerful lifestyle change almost everyone aspires to make. Small changes in daily habits can greatly improve our well-being and enjoyment of life. I can’t help…
ACT/SAT for Homeschoolers?
Many colleges claim to be “test-optional” when courting applicants. However, does this apply to homeschoolers? Not necessarily. Most often, even test-optional colleges and universities will want to see some proof of test-taking ability from a college-bound homeschooled student. This should not come as a surprise, and frankly, it is not the only reason to ensure…
Keeping Track: Sports & Activities
Parents of high schoolers, this is for you! Non-sporty teens and student-athletes alike know they have to be highly involved in their community in order to score those coveted college acceptance letters. Keeping a running log of their sports and hobbies will help them exponentially down the road. Competitive colleges look for active students, and…
Create Space for Writing
“What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children’s growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn’t a school at all.” — John Holt When learning is the goal, our environment is everything. Dedicating space for learning is critical…
Playing the Brain Game
“Music is a universal language. It can transport us; help us relive special moments; make us healthier, happier and more connected as family, friends, and as part of a larger community.” – Concord Conservatory of Music The benefits of playing a musical instrument are well-documented and vast. Our children are piano players. Playing a musical…
Home Sweet (Home) School
It’s a beautiful thing, sitting here, on the other side of fierce and giant and scary risk. I do like to dip my toes in things that scare me, but right now, I am happy to bask in my comfort zone for a while. Ten years ago, we had an idea to try homeschooling so…
Brave, Strong, Smart.
“Motherhood is not meant to be done alone,” she said. As I read this in an Instagram post, it hit me like a punch. Though I do have Tony’s help and support always, the homeschool role in our family is largely my responsibility. Where we live, there is not a real homeschool mom group where I can…
What is ‘Normal’ Anyway?
“Your kids will never be normal,” a friend said to me with a smile as we snacked on fresh guacamole and homemade chips. It was unusually windy that day. We had to stand in a wide stance so each leg could alternate, absorbing our weight as the boat swayed from one side to the other, our…
A Little Christmas Library
Our Victorian-era house has a small library, so collecting gorgeous and favorite books is not a new thing for us. Our library is ‘artfully curated’ – which means it is interesting, but not exactly organized. I have it laid out in sections by genre and again by the author but fall short of actual cataloging,…
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