Part of the beauty of summer is the extra room to breathe. It is a time to enjoy picnics and watch the fireflies at night. It is a rare chance to read that book that has been calling your name, the opportunity to try that new art project, the mental capacity to think about the […]
Younger Years: K-8
Living in the Right Season
I come from a long line of farmers and ranchers – men and women who were patient stewards of the land and the animals that lived there. While the workload is incredible and the stressors many, there is a certain measured stride in the life of any farmer because they are forced into the rhythm […]
An Off-Road Education
Years ago, when we made the heady decision to bring our children home to educate, we didn’t foresee how difficult it would be. Had I stayed with the status quo, there would have been no parent/child conflict over academics or schedules, no sleepless nights questioning my ability to do this crazy thing, no defending […]
Summer Plans and Pitfalls
Spring is not yet here, but I am answering parent questions daily about how to structure their child’s summer. Usually, the temptation is to fill it too full, to sacrifice quality for quantity. If we are not careful, we can start to view summer as a time to build resumes with flashy credentials rather than […]
Creating an Excitement for Learning
The world is such a fascinating place, filled with interesting people, exciting things to learn about, and endless possibility for exploration. Why is it then that so many kids are jaded and have not the slightest curiosity about how life works? With more data available quicker today than ever before, it appears our young might […]