Thinking:
I found this through Lindsay and I loved it. For all us parents who have artistic kids, this is so wonderful and encouraging. I had my boys watch it. This artist also gives a Tedx Talk (it’s long but really good!) about the lost art of penmanship and cursive writing. Do your kids still learn cursive in school? Mine do and I would have to teach them if they didn’t. I loved learning cursive, and the nuns that taught me expected perfection so I’m good at it. We used Golden Rod tablets and thick pencils and practiced, and practiced, and practiced.
Playing:
ThinkFun Zingo
(40% off at Amazon)
Janey loves this game-they all did (can you tell?) Janey and I play this way-we each lay three cards out, and then she does the little swiper that makes the pieces come out and she takes them and matches them up, and if she doesn’t have a match she throws them to me.
Razor A Kick Scooter (Blue)
(30% off at Amazon)
Another toy we’ve had forever and a day. That is my now 21 year old up there seven or eight years ago. I think I might go get some tissues. It’s still the first scooter they grab and it’s lasted through many a sweet jump (or dramatic spill).
Reading:
Gertruda’s Oath: A Child, a Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II
This is SUCH a good book-a true story, a Catholic nanny takes care of a little Jewish boy, risking her life to claim him has her son, through World War II in Germany and Poland. You will need tissues through this book, but it’s a wonderful story.
I am reading this to Patrick (Andrew listens in although he read it with his class last year). I LOVE this book-we are reading about two or three chapters a night because we want to keep going and going.
The Cat and the Mouse and the Runaway Train
The boys have loved this one but Janey gets it out every evening.
Pendragon: The Merchant of Death; The Lost City of Faar; The Never War; The Reality Bug; Black Water
My older three have all read this series, but for some reason Book Three was missing and I promised Andrew (12) the night before that I would go to the bookstore THAT DAY and get it, as he couldn’t wait another minute (he actually asked me to go that evening and I vetoed that idea as fast as I can say ‘no way’, but I also know what that desperation feels like.)
I could never read Red Fern out loud – that book makes me cry. Ugly cry. Will have to look into Pendragon series – my boys are a little young still, but I like to be prepared!
I know me too with the crying-I love the relationship between Billy and his parents. (Andrew is on the young side for Pendragon-he told me it has some bad words (mild ones not super bad) but I would say late junior high/high school for sure.
I have always loved your book recommendations. Thank you, Sarah!
My Montisorri kids learn to write in cursive from age 2 when they write their name. My 5-year-old has better cursive than me! It really is a beautiful thing. My older girls don't love it so much. They have to pass handwriting before they learn typing on a computer.
My mom is a Montessori teacher-I LOVE how they learn to read and write-"the hand is connected to the brain" just like he says in the video!
Yep just like the vidio. 🙂 That's awesome that your mom is a Montisorri teacher. I have often though your home is very Montisorri. Your blog has been one of my favorites for a couple years now. Thanks for making time for it in your busy days!
Zingo sounds like such a fun game! 🙂
My kids still learn cursive in 3rd grade! So glad. Where the Red Fern — one of my favorites, but always, always cry at the end.
I CANNOT read Where the Red Fern Grows without crying my eyes out.
Sarah-
I love your blog so much. It has blessed me in SO many ways! I have a question for you though–i'm curious to hear your take on homeschooling. Have you ever considered it? Why or why not? (If you don't mind me asking, of course).
Sarah–I am still so curious about this question ^^ 🙂
Sorry Lacey, I saw your first comment, and then couldn't remember what post it was under to answer! I think homeschooling is awesome, and it hasn't been till recently that I considered it. Back when my first started school I had never even heard of the word home school! Now I think it is more common and there are so many great resources and so much support. We have always sent our kids to a small Catholic school nearby and I am more than ever happy with the education they get there, and the small group of kids they attend school with-all the way up to 8th grade. I think home school is probably as successful as the teacher (mom) and I am afraid of myself-I feel like right now in my life "if it isn't broke don't fix it"-I also like to do for one as I do for all and have some consistency in place that way. And when I look back at my older kid's younger years, the fact they I had hyperemesis for months during each pregnancy, the fact that we always bought huge fixer uppers, I think they would have lost so so many months of school because of that. Now of course it would be easier with the little ones.
I do think there is a lot of time wasted at school no matter what, and that home school done the right way can turn out some pretty deeply educated children-it can't help but be appealing to many a family!
Let me know if you have any questions-you can always email me too!
Thank you for that response 🙂 I feel similarly. It's a hard decision to make, especially when we have similar hearts that are so tightly knit to our children-but I think it's important to keep balance and to be realistic as well. I love your blog, and have a good "coming home" story if you are still doing that series 😉
Yes I would LOVE to add to that series, email me and I will send you some prompts (if you need them).