Homeschooling quote of the week: “I am not talking to myself, I’m hosting an impromptu parent-teacher conference”
We managed a little walk in the woods together, I believe for the first time all summer. And a trip to the pond as well. In a normal year we would go from the end of spring, through the beginning of autumn at least once a week for the better part of the day. I think this was only our third 1-2 hour visit of the year, so it felt like a big deal. The teeny-tiny people on the teeny-tiny island out in the middle there are my great-big boys. We came home with a bucket full of treasures and much to detail in our nature journals.
I’m not squeamish about snakes, and I say this as someone who has been bitten by a snake- everyone present freaked out, I found it totally (perhaps morbidly?) fascinating (it didn’t hurt at all, it was crazy to see this thing attached to me and the fang marks on my arm were pretty cool). Snakes don’t bother me, except when there is the possibility of an overlap between bare baby feet and poison/fangs. Last summer Steve and Iain were pretty sure they spotted a copperhead sunning itself in our squash garden. And while I don’t mind snakes, I’m also not particularly knowledgeable about them, though we all learned quite a bit in this last week. So we were very cautious around and in identifying this neonate that we found on the driveway. Thankfully, from what we can tell, this one appears to be a type of brown snake, and therefore harmless. Unlike the poisonous “White Baneberry”, also known as “Doll’s Eye’s” (Actaea pachypoda) that we came across later in the woods.
My first batch of apple themed books came in from the library. Emily of New Moon is not, in fact, apple related, but with the pretty apple speckled cover on this edition, it fit right in.
We started school a week earlier than usual this year, because there have been some big changed in our little homeschool. With the intention of earning an official high-school diploma in a couple years time, Iain is now enrolled in a virtual high-school. Classes started for him this week and I wanted to be sure we had a bit of time together, to ease into the school year, before so much of his day was taken up in a room closed off from us. This is a totally new experience for our family. So far it has been much more time intensive for me than I was anticipating!
Speaking of time, there is none. Ever again. In August I sat and got my homeschool binder in order and it seems our calendar is full to bursting, and still going strong three to four months out. I refuse to look beyond that point. I’m not sure how this is even possible.
I saw you have a Pinterest board of French books – we also try to get one or two French books every time we are at the library. Because we live in Ottawa everything is bilingual so it’s very easy to find good books. I want to recommend our favourite, Le Chagrin by Audrey Poussier. It’s a board book so it would be the right speed for Seraphina, but it’s easy enough that some of the older kids could read it to her and translate. Super super simple. But so cute!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Mairi and Galen are both learning French, and kind of by default, I am along with them. Bilingual books are not easy to find here. And the ones that are tend to be Spanish.
Oh I love this post!
Our coming months are also full to bursting which is lovely, but also rather depressing… I miss those quiet days with only little ones, days at home playing and such! And i feel bad for my littlest two now, who have no choice but get caught up in the busyness! My high schooler is highly sensitive and struggling to adjust to all she has to do now, while at the same time enjoying it. I totally relate!
Hugs
Hello! I love reading your blog! You are an amazing mama and creating a beautiful life for your family. I am a mama of twin boys, age 4 1/2 y. o. They just started kindergarten and I am less than impressed with the factory system of education thus far. I am inspired by you homeschooling five children! I’m considering it, and feel confident I can do it. I welcome your recommendations ( or Waldorf , forest/nature based approach). Warmest regards, Rebecca