I began the writing workshop with Cuisinare rods and colored pencils. My writers looked puzzled. “Today you’re going to make a Cuisinaire construction and then describe how you made the construction with words on paper so that a reader will…

words, mystery, westing game, ellen raskin, literature, elementary

Q: What do readers like best about Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder?A: The FOOD! Last week I celebrated the end of an era, read the last pages of Farmer Boy with my youngest son, Søren and his literature circle…

There is always hope, or so they say. I went out to check on my garden after being gone on vacation. I had asked my teens to water while I was away and for the most part they got it…

Fall is cozy….and has to be the best season for making! We had so much fun this year getting creative ideas from many of you around the wonderful-wide-web! It's a blessing to be able to find inspiration at your fingertips…

I shrink in the company of Sarcasm. I’m admittedly deficient, two steps behind when it comes to her volley of shrill phrases. When she enters the building, I chuckle a bit but rarely participate. I acknowledge that, on edge of…

One week into the adventure, our errands accomplished, we were still in the van at twilight. Moving to the city was not what my husband and I had envisioned for our family, but food on the table is always a…

We use a whole-lotta-lead in our little cooperative school. This year I got wise, I go directly to Dixon for the goods! But sometimes, especially as young ones are honing their reading and writing skills, they need work that does…

At the end of back-to-school week #3 I was exhausted and, frankly, a bit discouraged. The tower of blocks was skewed and teetering: Three sons and a daughter on top of Laundry with a capital L on top of an…

This past week Søren added JFK to his Book of 100 Heads. This time I noticed that he drew in two sessions instead of one. He told me that after he set it aside the first time and looked back…