http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net The world is our classroom Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:41:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Our current read-aloud is this wonderful book: In a Patch of Fireweed by Bernd Heinrich The children and I are utterly absorbed by Heinrich's descriptions of his adventures as a budding naturalist. This passage we read today rang especially true for us as nature-centered us-schoolers: (After a short description of the value of ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/19/on-the-educational-value-of-play/ One thing I love about Montessori methods is that they encourage children to be independent and to do real, meaningful work. I find that my children love to feel like they are useful contributors to the household, and I try to give them real work to do whenever possible. Here ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/17/going-bananas-the-montessori-way/ Sorry I've been so lax lately in posting here. I've had migraines which have kept me off the computer. Those of you who suffer migraines know excatly what I am talking about--just looking at the screen is painful. Thankfully I am feeling much better this afternoon. So, what have the kids ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/15/the-eyes-have-it/ Our first day back to school. Whatever that means. Superboy's highbush cranberries. JBug's Larkspur (aka wild delphinium.) Hope your first day is/was as bountiful. http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/12/the-remains-of-the-day/ everyone's doing it! Except me, of course. Since we are moseying along in our us-schooling kind of way I have been feeling kind of out-of-the loop in homeschooling circles lately as nearly everyone's thoughts turn to planning, curricula, schedules and such. That shouldn't come as such a surprise to me as ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/08/planning-planning-planning/ In our family we have a tradition of the birthday boy/girl choosing whatever they want for dinner and whatever kind of cake and ice cream they want for dessert. Well, yesterday was Superboy's 13th birthday, so he got to choose  the night's menu. So, what does an Alaskan boy request ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/05/alaskan-birthday/ Wow! Did you guys see the article about us in the Washington Times? I have to say I was stunned when the link to the article showed up here on my dashboard. I had no idea! Little ol' LaPaz blog makes the big-time. Who would have thought? But it sure put ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/08/04/im-blown-away/ Or...What do we do when we are bored around here? If Superboy is bored, he goes outside (despite the weather) and finds some berries, and then comes in to identify them to see if they are edible (sharpening his survival skills, you know). This is Dwarf Cornel or bunchberries. They look like ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/07/29/rainy-day/ Care to follow JBug on a walk around our new yard? We have so much to discover! http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/07/24/welcome-to-my-yard/ What great fortune for us to be able to attend the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics! Far from the spectacle of pomp, parade, and glittering spandex that will soon be taking place in Beijing, these Olympics were casual, warm and inviting, with the  joyful, enthusiastic air of a high school track meet. The ... http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2008/07/22/we-went-to-the-olympics/