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…

Our fall iMadonnari project is well underway. Stay tuned for progress!

Haiku are the little powerhouses of the poetry world! They are a fun challenge involving the best of word play, mixed with a little finger counting to get the syllables just right! Here's a brief "Haiku 101" to help you…

I know this has nothing to do with my usual posts, Home Ec, but I just had to share this little garden delight with you. Almost everyday when I go into the garden, I run into this very industrious spider's…

This past week my students completed reading the first book of the year, The Family Under the Bridge. I was delighted that my youngest son not only knew what to do but dove into the work headfirst! He began by…

Almost exactly a year ago we posted about observation journaling (A Closer Look – Part 1 & Part 2). Working on this kind of journal is an important and holistic endeavor that builds science, reasearch, art, and writing skills. At…

Douglas Florian is a poet and artist extraordinaire! Winner of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and recipient of an ALA Notable Children’s Book Award, he is the author and illustrator of many delightful children’s books. Douglas Florian believes there…

It’s time to transition from summer back-to-school. Coming Soon…“Welcome Fall!” iMadonnari Celebration fashioned after Edward Hopper’s Approaching a City, 1946.