Development
My awesome girlfriend from law school, Nicole, is an expert on many things. Remember her two part series on her son’s autism? Parts one and two for your perusal. One of her passion topics is reading and literacy in general. I was messaging with her one day about reading and when should SuperBoy really be really reading and what does that mean??? She was gracious enough to share her expertise with all of us today. So sit back and read her essay on not stressing about reading. Because I really enjoyed it and I think you will too. She also just wrote this fantastic piece over here. — I am a teacher, a homeschool parent, and perpetual graduate student. Looking into many homeschool groups, I see there is often a lot of anxiety surrounding reading and I know a lot of parents worry about it. Even the government is pressuring pre-school and kindergarten teachers to get their charges to read at younger and younger ages. This anxiety seems well-placed because reading is a foundation skill; if you can read, you can teach yourself to do anything else. But…I don’t worry about reading. Seriously! There is an approved-and-perceived-to-be-correct way to teach reading, and I’ll tell you the secret of that method, but first, I’ll tell you what the trained teachers often don’t know about reading and that you, as a home-based educator need to know in order to make sense of everything to decide when, how, and if you want to teach reading. Yes, I said if.…
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I am a notorious last minute shopper. But this year I did it. They’re all done. I mailed the boxes to family out of town, wrapped the gifts for family in town, and shipped off all my etsy orders in time for their holiday celebrations. BUT if you’re like me and are usually running around right before Christmas trying to find something for your every loved one, look no further. Gift guide! Couples My go-to this year: my girlfriend Kelly’s work at Of Thistle & Thyme. Perfect for a couple. No one would not love her beautiful wood wall art. She is kind enough to offer a discount to my readers: THANKSNELL for 15% off. HOP over there now. I bought a number from her this year and was allowed to review a set!. Love them!! This? Or that? Adult Women Hair products? Jewelry? A good book? A knit scarf? My friend Mandi sells Lila Rose and I use my hair sticks all the time. And when I can coax her into it, my daughter uses her bobby pins. Buy from her here. And see my review of her products here. Jewelry? Try our sponsor Christian Bling. LOVE their unique work and love that it can be religious without being overtly gaudy. Sorry, but some religious jewelry isn’t beautiful. Weird, but true. Scarves? My friend Anna knits beautiful ones! Remember her? Interview here & shoppe here! Adult Men Facial hair maintenance. Panasonic Nose, Ear and Facial Hair Trimmer Wet/Dry. Thank me later.…
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About a month back or so, when the time came to send our four and a half year old to the music preschool, one day a week, one hour and a half–(4.5 year old to 1 day a week, 1.5 hours)–I panicked. I posted on a fb group I’m freaking out about dropping off my son at music class!!! Backing up. This teacher, and this school, are phenomenal. We took a year long class together with the teacher. If anyone tells you pre-k music is just a time-filler, they haven’t had the experience I have. Wow. Not only is the curriculum geared toward building their little minds and skill sets, it’s artfully woven into a fun time and a silly time and a playing music time. And most especially, a time for exposure to instruments and musical ideas I simply cannot provide. BUT we’ve never dropped our kids anywhere. Only a few friends have babysat, otherwise always family. We’ve never left that at a gym play area, a church play area, a crafts play area, a daycare, a school, nothing. Returning to my panic. I called my sisters, my friends, my husband at work, and my mom, is he ready? what if there are peanuts? what if he poops and doesn’t wipe all the way? what if he’s mean to another kid? what if he’s the sassy boy in class? I texted my bloggy mommy friends. I freaked out. My fb group was soothing, for the most part. The moms reminded me that…
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