Category Archives: Homeschooling

Large rock climbing and a memory

Posted on by
7

Yesterday we met up with other homeschoolers to tramp about at Ringing Rocks. We climbed on rocks, hiked to a waterfall, admired beauty. The peanut butter granola bars back at the car were a big hit. None of my kids got outrageously wet. Proof all are growing up, or maybe just really good at not slipping on mossy rocks? I’m going with a bit of both.

Ringing Rocks is one of those places I have tucked away in my heart as extra special. Doc popped the question there 13 Junes ago as I sat on one of the large rocks near the waterfall. He was nervous. Silly man, I thought at the time. Why is he nervous? Doesn’t he know how crazy in love with him I am?

All these years of living later and I’m having a hard time remembering exactly which rock I rested upon. The romantic in me wants to remember the spot. Why didn’t I mark it somehow? Because it never occurred to me the memories would fade over time.

Here are a few pictures:

Climbing on the rocks in the wrong type of shoe:

climbing on the rocks in the wrong type of shoe

The waterfall:

waterfall at Ringing Rocks, PA

I’m not 100% sure, but I think this is The Rock of Romance (aka Where I sat to say “Yes, of course.” ) :

not just a large rock at Ringing Rocks, PA

I don’t have much else to add other than it was a pleasant, cool-ish day. A good day for a day hike and to revisit a memory with my kids. My friend Jill has more pictures and video of why it’s called ringing rocks and screaming girls catching a frog. Very fun.

Question: What’s your favorite book about homeschooling?

Posted on by
10

The answer has changed over the years. In my early years of homeschooling, I liked books that gave me a formula to follow in teaching and books that recommended curriculum to buy. I don’t read or buy those types of homeschooling books anymore. Now just give me the books that encourage me to follow my heart to watch the learning that will take place.

Homeschooling: A Family’s Journey by Gregory and Martine Millman is such a book. In the beginning, the authors describe how they left behind Catholic education to homeschool in New Jersey (yes, another plus for me: this is another New Jersey homeschooling family), how homeschooling works as a better way to educate our children and the failure of public education today. The book ends with a advice on college. Everything in between those chapters – how the Millmans taught at home, the heart of their journey as a homeschooling family.

I didn’t need any convincing to leave public education, yet I enjoyed reading these chapters. If you have a skeptical family member or spouse that has yet to get homeschooling, these chapters are recommended reading.

Then we have the testimony of how the Millman children learned, grew and thrived at home. The Millmans do various activities and call it school. Life (moving to a new house, tragedy, and the unpredictable nature of daily living) trumps what the outside world would call schoolish learning. I love it, love it. These chapters made my homeschooling mother’s heart sing.

They take on the label “unschoolers” and we all know how the media has been presenting these people in the news lately. I would love to see a follow up book by the authors touting the benefits of unschooling.

Two of the children go to the public high school but quickly return home. I love that story. Read it for yourself to find out why. This family loves to read, they have a party as each child joins that club of Reader. The authors discuss the benefits of traveling to foreign countries as learning.

The chapter about choosing a college is excellent. Another recommended reading.

What else? What else to gush about?

I wish I had the book here right now so I could pull quotes, but, alas, a homeschooling friend has it on loan. I’m sure you’re not surprised. This is the homeschooling book you want all of your friends and family to read. Here is my Amazon affiliate link if you are so inclined: Homeschooling: A Family’s Journey

Gotta run. Meeting up with friends. Maybe pictures later,

~ Monica

Edited to trackback to The Homeschool Village’s Mr. Linky. Homeschoolers, add your link regarding your favorite book about homeschooling or read what other homeschoolers recommend.

You had me at imagination

Posted on by
4

Books That Build Character by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe

From Books that Build Character (A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories) by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe:

If you’re a parent, you’ve got a battle on your hands — a battle with popular culture over your child’s imagination. And like every battle this one has moments when it seems impossible to carry on. But it’s not all grim, because one of the best ways of empowering your child’s imagination is also one of the most enjoyable. The books we’ve listed are stories of virtue and character, but they are many other things as well. Some of them are hilarious, some mysterious, some adventurous, some heart-breakingly poignant, some a combination of all of these.

As a mother and homeschooler, I’m  loving this book. From page 60 to 313, it’s lists of picture books, juvenile fiction, YA, fantasy and science fiction, biographies, fairy tales, historical and contemporary fiction, folktales, myths and legends – all with the indent to build into the moral lives of young readers. There is even a small list of sacred texts.

This is the kind of book you want to bring with you when it’s time to go book shopping.

The author’s summarize each book so you can do a quick preview. Good if you are unsure a book is a good match for your reader.

For more about teaching good values using great literature, especially to boys, visit the MOB society blog today.

Disclaimer: Yup, affiliate links. Yet this is a book I purchased, learned to love, and now want to spread the word, just one book-loving, homeschooling parent to another. Hope it helps your homeschooling adventure.