Aveline has spent the last several weeks creating a pixel art reproduction of Katsushika Hokusai’s famous woodblock print The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. (Do you think Hokusai realized we’d still be obsessed with his views of Mount Fuji all these centuries later?) With 13 different shades of blues, greys, and browns, she’s brought Hokusai’s masterpiece to life — I love it so much.
Continue reading “Create Pixel Art with Pix Brix: Great Wave Off Kanagawa Review”
Disclosure: Sonlight provided me with a Hands-on History box, and compensated me financially for this post. I have used many Sonlight products in our homeschool prior to reviewing this product. All opinions — and photographs! ;) — are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.]
Sonlight is synonymous with literature-based learning. Think Sonlight, and you immediately think excellent books. (The phrase “no more boring textbooks” leads Sonlight’s educational philosophy.) But over the past several years, Sonlight has added more and more hands-on homeschool options to complement the treasure trove of literature.
Continue reading “Using Sonlight Hands-On History as Homeschool Enrichment”
It’s been so fascinating watching as Lochlan (age 3.5) begins to be enamored with the alphabet. Aveline was obsessed with letters from an early age, but since I knew her journey wasn’t typical, I didn’t expect Lochlan to be the same. I assumed he wouldn’t show much interest on his own, and imagined I’d teach him his letters at five or six, especially since — as everyone keeps reminding me — “He’s a boy!“
But I also believe in honoring the marvelously individual child God created, truly seeing their unique individuality, and following their cues.
Continue reading “A-Z Magnatab: A Hands-on Activity for Teaching Preschoolers Letters”
Mandarin Chinese has been a foundational part of Aveline’s educational experience for years. In fact, six out of seven days of the week involve some sort of Chinese learning, and she’s spent spent every Saturday at Chinese school for the past 9 years. (Josiah, her faithful chauffeur, is a saint. And Aveline is incredibly devoted and focused, because she’s the only one in our family who speaks Chinese.)
Continue reading “Teaching Chinese Brush Painting in your Homeschool”
It’s been a rough school year. It really has. February is always a strange month in homeschool — and private school — subculture, anyway. We’re really only a few weeks into the second semester, but people begin to talk as though the school year is over. (Maybe they subconsciously want it to be.) It’s only just past Valentine’s Day, but people are already rolling out the class schedules for 2023/2024. I’ve been there, too. I’ve spent over-caffeinated Februaries gleefully pre-reading stacks of books for co-op classes, mapping out assignments for next year’s sweater weather while still wearing this year’s sweaters.
Continue reading “Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 Pencils (A Timberdoodle Review)”
Aveline likes to circle wishlist items in the Timberdoodle catalog (seriously; who needs Toys R Us?) She’s a mathy kid with an artistic twist — a fan of tessellations, logic puzzles, intricate geometric art, and Mondrian’s blocky masterpieces — so Illusion Cubes immediately intrigued her.
Continue reading “Illusion Cubes: Create Your Own Optical Illusions”
My kids are 12 and 3, so on any given day, my brain swings from helping with algebra to helping with play dough — and back again.
It’s a wild ride.
Continue reading “Fanta Color Baby: An Independent Game for Toddlers and Preschoolers”
Phew, a new year! Are you ready? Flipping the calendar page this year has been crazy. Our January has been an absolute blur, and not in a good way. (Go away, germs. You’re no longer welcome here.) With everyone at my house being in various states of illness and quite frankly disrepair, independent activities for each person have been a lifesaver.
Continue reading “8 Reasons You Need IQ Six Pro, A Popular Logic Game”
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