Hey there! I'm Em.
Hi, friends!
Well, this may be only a temporary blog to bridge a gap (do you think someday we'll call people who started homeschooling during the corona virus scare, "Coronaschoolers"?) but I do hope you find it helpful!
I have three creative and curious children--two boys, Danger (7) and Justice (almost 6), and one girl, Valor (3). We homeschool all of them, though via our state requirements, only Danger and Justice are officially "homeschooled," in first grade and kindergarten, respectively.
My sister and I were both homeschooled, starting for me in fifth grade, and my sister, starting seventh. My mother, a retired international journalist and full-time church lady and crafter, threw herself into educating us wholeheartedly. My dad, a computer programmer and one of those people who learn everything about everything FOR FUN, also enthusiastically took part in our education. While being an extremely bookish family naturally, my parents were quick to find alternative options when one method or curriculum didn't work, especially as my sister, like my dad, retained every single thing she read and read voraciously, while I preferred to do other things and didn't absorb information as easily. My parents love to travel, and we would often hop in the car and do daytrips and roadtrips chock-full of history, science, economics, politics, sociology, and a plethora of other disciplines and educational value. I once developed a condition, or so I told my dad, of "battlefield fatigue," from having to tour every civil war battlefield where dad took us hiking thither and yon to see the various charges and perspectives of various key moments. (My dad's tour of Antietam life-changing--no joke.)
My husband was also homeschooled, though he is a "purebred" homeschooler--that is to say, he was homeschooled from the beginning and never went to a public or private school. His parents homeschooled four kids all the way through to graduation and encouraged about a billion others. His mom is currently a consultant at a national homeschool organization and encourages the next generation in their homeschool endeavors!
All my husband's siblings and himself went on to higher education and graduated with bachelor or vocational degrees, and my sister and I also got our bachelor degrees, and all of us are productive members of society, so I think you could say that our education didn't "fail" us? More importantly, I think all of us love Jesus, are morally sound, and are living what I would genuinely say are our best lives (though, of course, everyone has ups and downs!) so I call that a win!
So I basically think homeschooling is the bomb-diggity. We (my husband and I) definitely feel called to educate our kids at home and I love encouraging others in the same! What could be more exciting than curating the education of the little humans under our care? We get to watch and take part in the discovery of the universe by our kids, and it is fantastic. We also get to prepare them, day by day, as they learn to face the brokenness in the world around them.
Now, I'm not trying to talk those of you who don't think homeschooling is for you into becoming something you aren't. I truly believe you should not homeschool--I mean, except when you have to because of school closures for pandemics and whatnot--unless you are CALLED to it. But if you are called to it, then I promise you, 100%, you can do this, and you can do it well, and you can thrive. The worst is when someone who wants to teach their kids at home feels under-qualified. Mama (and Dad!), if you have kids, I promise you can teach them. There are resources available to bridge any gap, and believe me--we've ALL got gaps!
Anyway, this seemed like a good time to make some simple resources available for the inflated number of (temporarily) home-educating families who may need a little direction and help finding footing in this parent/self-directed method of education. So, in the next few posts, I hope to have some things available for you to utilize for your home school!
My emphasis, obviously, will be toward more active learners (LITTLE BOYS) and creative solutions to teaching foundational knowledge (for Pre-k, kinders and early elementary). My goal, always, is to instill a life-long love of learning, to encourage creativity and curiosity, and to develop self-driven learners.
Feel free to shoot me questions!
Be sweet,
Em
Well, this may be only a temporary blog to bridge a gap (do you think someday we'll call people who started homeschooling during the corona virus scare, "Coronaschoolers"?) but I do hope you find it helpful!
I have three creative and curious children--two boys, Danger (7) and Justice (almost 6), and one girl, Valor (3). We homeschool all of them, though via our state requirements, only Danger and Justice are officially "homeschooled," in first grade and kindergarten, respectively.
My sister and I were both homeschooled, starting for me in fifth grade, and my sister, starting seventh. My mother, a retired international journalist and full-time church lady and crafter, threw herself into educating us wholeheartedly. My dad, a computer programmer and one of those people who learn everything about everything FOR FUN, also enthusiastically took part in our education. While being an extremely bookish family naturally, my parents were quick to find alternative options when one method or curriculum didn't work, especially as my sister, like my dad, retained every single thing she read and read voraciously, while I preferred to do other things and didn't absorb information as easily. My parents love to travel, and we would often hop in the car and do daytrips and roadtrips chock-full of history, science, economics, politics, sociology, and a plethora of other disciplines and educational value. I once developed a condition, or so I told my dad, of "battlefield fatigue," from having to tour every civil war battlefield where dad took us hiking thither and yon to see the various charges and perspectives of various key moments. (My dad's tour of Antietam life-changing--no joke.)
My husband was also homeschooled, though he is a "purebred" homeschooler--that is to say, he was homeschooled from the beginning and never went to a public or private school. His parents homeschooled four kids all the way through to graduation and encouraged about a billion others. His mom is currently a consultant at a national homeschool organization and encourages the next generation in their homeschool endeavors!
All my husband's siblings and himself went on to higher education and graduated with bachelor or vocational degrees, and my sister and I also got our bachelor degrees, and all of us are productive members of society, so I think you could say that our education didn't "fail" us? More importantly, I think all of us love Jesus, are morally sound, and are living what I would genuinely say are our best lives (though, of course, everyone has ups and downs!) so I call that a win!
So I basically think homeschooling is the bomb-diggity. We (my husband and I) definitely feel called to educate our kids at home and I love encouraging others in the same! What could be more exciting than curating the education of the little humans under our care? We get to watch and take part in the discovery of the universe by our kids, and it is fantastic. We also get to prepare them, day by day, as they learn to face the brokenness in the world around them.
Now, I'm not trying to talk those of you who don't think homeschooling is for you into becoming something you aren't. I truly believe you should not homeschool--I mean, except when you have to because of school closures for pandemics and whatnot--unless you are CALLED to it. But if you are called to it, then I promise you, 100%, you can do this, and you can do it well, and you can thrive. The worst is when someone who wants to teach their kids at home feels under-qualified. Mama (and Dad!), if you have kids, I promise you can teach them. There are resources available to bridge any gap, and believe me--we've ALL got gaps!
Anyway, this seemed like a good time to make some simple resources available for the inflated number of (temporarily) home-educating families who may need a little direction and help finding footing in this parent/self-directed method of education. So, in the next few posts, I hope to have some things available for you to utilize for your home school!
My emphasis, obviously, will be toward more active learners (LITTLE BOYS) and creative solutions to teaching foundational knowledge (for Pre-k, kinders and early elementary). My goal, always, is to instill a life-long love of learning, to encourage creativity and curiosity, and to develop self-driven learners.
Feel free to shoot me questions!
Be sweet,
Em
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