Unschooling NYC

As part of my new website – coming later this month – I’m putting together a list of the most asked or most controversial questions regarding unschooling, and I’d like you guys to weigh in.  (You no longer need to register to comment, by the way, in case that was holding anybody back.)

If you are unschooling, please tell me what question or comment you get the most when you tell people your kids don’t go to school and don’t follow a curriculum.   Don’t leave anything out, please!   A good anecdote is gold.  (And please let me know if I … Read more

It’s been a slow news day around here.   Nothing momentous to report, nice weather, kids are happy.   The Voice entertained us and now we’ve all retreated to our respective night-time corners.

Sometimes the slow days are the best.

I’m feeling lazy and won’t be regaling you with any profound educational thoughts tonight; instead I’ll be posting some profound thoughts from other people.

I like them because they make me think.  Whether they remind me to appreciate my life a little more than I do or hold up my own flaws and challenge me to better myself, or just make me … Read more

Ben’s birthday is Tuesday, but we had a small party today.  A good time was had by all.   The photos pretty much tell the tale….

Cake courtesy of Magnolia Bakery….yummm

That's one happy 'Angry Bird'

Ninjago, Ben & Jahsaia

… Read more

Ok everyone, get out your pens. (or open your laptop calendar.  Whatever.)

If you are fortunate enough to be in New York on the evening of April 25th, you are hereby invited to join the NYC Home Educators Alliance for An Evening with Michael Ellsberg.

Michael, in case you’ve been living under a rock or haven’t read my blog before (tsk, tsk), is the author of “Education of Millionaires: It’s not what you think and it’s not too late”.   If you haven’t read the book, go to Michael’s site and download the first chapter for free.  I guarantee you’ll be … Read more

Rick Santorum believes that not everyone needs a four year degree.

I agree with him.

Unfortunately, he always goes on to say that the reason not everyone needs a four year degree is that universities are indoctrination centers, robbing children of their good Christian morals, thus ensuring the domination of the godless liberal left.

Or something like that.

Most of the education rhetoric spewed by Mr. Santorum has nothing to do with education and everything to do with his own religious beliefs.

I don’t really care about anyone’s religious or spiritual beliefs when it comes to education.  It’s a free … Read more

It was 70 degrees today in Central Park.   On the north end, at the Harlem Meer, the red-eared sliders and Canadian geese were reveling in the sun and the water.

So was Ben.  (More in the sun, less in the water, thank goodness.)

Images of Spring – a few weeks early.

Seriously thin ice….

Climbing

At the Farmer's Gate with the ball he fished out of the Meer

… Read more

When I think back on it now, it’s kind of amazing that I went to college and graduated.   If I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn’t.   I’d bump Plan B up to first position and go backpacking across Europe.

My approach to college was lackadaisical, at best.

While my high school classmates were busy meeting with their advisors and applying to multiple colleges, I was dumping college brochures in the trash by the cartload.  (I’m sorry, did you say ‘recycling’?  Surely you jest!)   The only reason I looked at the brochure from Earlham College was that I’d … Read more

Last month at Maya’s book club we read the book “The Eiffel Tower’s Daughter”.   It was chosen primarily because its’ author was 10 years old when she wrote it,  and the girls were duly impressed.   A published author – of a YA novel no less – at the age of 10!

Parents read the books for the club as well, and although I read “Eiffel Tower’s Daughter” with the constant caveat of “Yes, but the author was 10” running through my head, I was puzzled.   The story was impressive in scope, but there were holes and jumps in the narrative … Read more

Normally I love days where we have nothing planned; where it is a little bit gray outside and we can just hang out and do whatever.

And then, every now and then, a day like that makes me feel like I need to peel off my skin or run around screaming, or both.

Today was one of those days.

Nothing suited.  I had no energy to organize closets (a go to for catharsis, on occasion), write, sew, go out.   Every thought was followed by “Yuck”.

My kids, faced with the unusual sight of me sighing loudly every few minutes and … Read more

With all the recent political rhetoric regarding the state of our nation and the separation of church and state and what kind of nation we are or should be, I’m going to take a sidewise step from my usual topic tonight and jump into the fray.

Sort of.

As you all know by now, my home state of Indiana was ravaged by tornadoes yesterday.  I think there were 17 in all and the current death toll stands at 13.   My brother Doug, who serves as a lay minister in a small church in southern Indiana, was up most of the … Read more