Last summer, I asked Alexie what she wanted to learn and do in her homeschooling this year. She had a few suggestions. One of them was to have more tea parties. That’s certainly an idea I can get on board with. Poetry teatime was an idea from “Brave Learner” author Julie Bogart. The concept is…
What Should My Kindergartener Know?
People often wonder, “Is my kindergartener doing enough? Are they behind? What do they need to know?” We are answering that question today! First off, let’s establish a timeline, a base age. When we’re talking about this, we’re talking about what kids should be able to do by the end of kindergarten or by the…
Quarantine Easter Ideas
This easter is going to look a little different. Ok, a lot different. With all the social-distancing and self-isolation, this holiday is going be unusual for a lot of people. We aren’t going to church on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. We aren’t visiting the grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins. Even our plans for a…
Now is NOT the time to start homeschooling!
With everything that has been happening with the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of things have changed. Many people are self-isolating and trying to flatten the curve and most places are closed. In Ontario, every school is currently closed. That means that thousands of parents are now suddenly trying to “homeschool” their children. Within hours of…
How to Hold a Pencil: And other tips to get kids to enjoy writing
So many parents complain about their kid’s inability to hold a pencil properly. We hear this a lot, especially from the parents of kindergarteners and preschoolers. Being a teacher, as well as a homeschool mom, I have a few tips and tricks to not only encourage proper grip but also the enjoyment of writing. Alligator…
Are You Qualified to Teach Your Kids at Home?
A lot of parents are concerned that they are not qualified to teach their kids at home. They doubt themselves and their abilities to homeschool their kids. And, society reinforces that fear. After all, a teacher goes to school to learn how to teach kids right? They get a university degree and then go to…
Homeschool Rules in Ontario
Is homeschooling even legal? What are the rules? Do you have to tell someone about all this? First off, homeschooling is completely legal all across Canada. Secondly, the rules for homeschooling vary greatly from province to province. Each province has it’s own set of rules, regulations and requirements. Some provinces have very strict rules like…
We Don’t Homeschool in December
This might surprise many people, homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers alike, but we don’t homeschool during December. Yep, that’s right. During December, we don’t do any work in our workbooks, journals, or flashcards. We even take a break from our novel studies. This might seem odd to most, but it’s a very conscious decision on our part.…
Books Under the Tree
Last year we started a tradition. During the month of December, the girls really look forward to two things. They love to do their daily advent activity and they love their daily Christmas book. You see, on December 1st, the girls wake up to find the advent calendar set up and 24 presents under the…