By Holly Giles | Inspiration
The Mad Rush The bustle of the holidays is over. Now you are gearing up for the race to the finish of your school year. The activities, co-ops, sports and the looming chapters of that math book will have you worn down by the end of March and ready to throw in the towel. Fitting […]
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By Holly Giles | Inspiration
Walking through sorrow together is something that seemed so foreign to me. When my boys were born all wanted to do was protect them from pain. I tried to do everything in my power to keep them from being lonesome, missing a loved one or having to experience loss in their childhood. By the time […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , homeschooling
Nature on its own is a powerful tool to learn. Nature is a classroom. Extended periods of outdoor time increases attention, yes, INCREASES attention in children. It aids in behavior, activates creative development and all senses are activated in nature. What do you see? What do you smell? How do different things feel outdoors? Use […]
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By Holly Giles | homeschooling , Inspiration
Favorite Mason Jar I picked some camellias from my neighbor’s yard. It is not technically stealing because they aren’t in town and she told me I could. They are just the most beautiful pink color and they make me smile. Anyway, I grabbed a blue mason jar off the top of the laundry room freezer to […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Inspiration
The Tradition Quail hunting was a staple in my grandparent’s generation in providing food for the family. I never experienced a hunt myself, but I remember having quail for dinner. My grandfather cleaned and dressed them out behind the barn and my grandmother would coat them in flour and fry them up in her cast […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , homeschooling
Many families view home education as a lifestyle. Learning is not bound by a specific schedule, routine or curriculum. Families who embrace a learning lifestyle weave education into their daily life. Generally, they do not compartmentalize learning into subjects or grade levels. In the philosophy of education, learning is the product of living together as […]
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By Holly Giles | homeschooling , Inspiration
My Parenting Truth I spend a lot of time worrying. Worrying that I do not spend enough time doing “school”, building character, or exposing EVERYTHING there is to learn about the world to my sons. I contemplate handing them over to the “system” so they will get what they need and I don’t have to […]
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By Holly Giles | Family , Florida , homeschooling , Inspiration
This week I put Grayson, 15, on a plane to New Mexico. I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye as he waved goodbye and boarded the plane. I knew he was headed for an adventure that he has longed for, but I wasn’t quite ready for him to go. […]
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By Holly Giles | Family , Inspiration , Mama's Musings
Crafting and sewing was a big hobby of mine. Finding old things at yard sales and turning them into something new was my favorite pastime hobby. I really enjoyed. Then, at the beginning of the little years, I just wanted to know everything there was about nurturing my boys. I read every book and took […]
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By Holly Giles | homeschooling
I see a trend in homeschooling that is centered around the public school textbook model. Set hours, many subjects, school rooms and mothers who switch roles of teacher and mother each day. For many it is exhausting and the joy they expected from homeschooling disappears. When we began to homeschool I created a mini school […]
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