I am not a morning person. I am, by nature, a night owl. I have, however, discerned that I need a quiet and prayerful start to every day. Stealing the term from Jen Mackintosh, I have dedicated 30-60 minutes every morning for my Mother’s Morning Basket. "Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer … Continue reading Fall 2018: Memory Walk
Fall 2018: Weekly Planning
Weekly Planning I said in the Monthly Planning post that I do my best work when I plan weekly. Over the years I have found that I am most likely to plan appropriately if I plan just enough for the week ahead of me. This allows me to take our family calendar into account, consider … Continue reading Fall 2018: Weekly Planning
Fall 2018: Big Picture Overview
Big Picture School Planning In my homeschool, we practice a relaxed classical approach. Practically, this means that we are a hybrid of Charlotte Mason and Classical philosophies. Add to that mix that we are Catholic. When I consider my homeschool planning, I put the highest priority on holy mass and the sacraments, nature study, the … Continue reading Fall 2018: Big Picture Overview
Fall 2018: Monthly Planning
Some homeschoolers plan their whole year at one time. Others plan by semester or term. That just doesn’t work well for me. I have learned that I do my best planning when I have a general year plan and then do my actual lesson planning one week at a time. For this reason, the monthly … Continue reading Fall 2018: Monthly Planning
Fall 2018: General
A funny thing happened to me this summer… a number of local friends asked me to walk with them as they map out their school year. I am flattered and confused. Confused because I don’t feel expertly qualified or particularly knowledgeable to mentor anyone else in this hard vocation. I am always seeking mentors for … Continue reading Fall 2018: General
Fall 2018: Planner
A planner is a tool - not a tyrant. It won’t do the work for you, but it may make it easier for you to do the things you must and the things you want to do. There is no one perfect planner, but there may be a perfect planner for you. In my experience, … Continue reading Fall 2018: Planner
Teacher Planner – Student Clipboards
I have waited to write this post for what seems like forever because I want to have all of my ducks in a row before I do it. Today, however, I surrendered to the truth that I will never have my ducks in a row. Not even close. So, why wait? I am going to … Continue reading Teacher Planner – Student Clipboards
American Literature Course
In my review of The Last of the Mohicans, I mentioned that I was reading it for an American Literature class I’m teaching this year. My students are four homeschooled girls, ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. We meet once a week for two hours. We devote the majority of our first hour to the … Continue reading American Literature Course