NorthStar Educational Explorations

Learning is messy! Before you panic - this is paint made from chalk and totally washable. My daughter went a little nuts with it. But to her this was the fulfillment of all her artistic desires. She worked hard to pound the chalk, she mixed it all by herself! The recipe is simple - chalk, water and a touch of cornstarch. I can’t imagine a project like this happening with 30 kids in a crowded classroom…I’m so grateful my has this opportunity at home.

Meet our kitten, Percy!

This is your permission to slow down and follow their lead.

Life with young kids, homeschooling, it's an intense journey sometimes. Some days are hard, full of needs, hectic with activity and bustling here and there.

Last month, everyone in my house got sick and everything stopped. The cough held on to me the longest. And that was hard, but it was also a forced reminder that I don't have to "do" everything. I (and all sahm parents) also deserve rest and support however I can find it. It's not my job to entertain the kids constantly and when I am not driving the agenda, they definitely pursue their own ideas more. I believe whole heartedly in child-led learning, but I'm not immune to fear and feelings of pressure from the outside world.

Our life is back up and moving again, but I'm determined to learn these lessons that I seem to keep needing to relearn. So I'm sharing them here with you, in case you too need this. ❤️ Solidarity.

Give me a 👍 if you need this too.

POV: You are sick. You've been home with the kids all day and it's been hard. One of your kids (neurodiverse) is having a lot of extra emotional dysregulation lately. (Too much screentime makes this worse for this kiddo). Your youngest is starting to skip naptime and did this today (which always results in hyperactivity and big emotions). You are on total sensory overload. You just found out the cavalry (aka your partner) isn't coming until late this eve. What do you do?

(See my solution in comments)

I have tears in my eyes as I write this.

I haven't posted in a while. I probably won't be posting as much, which is disappointing for sure. Though I love making the science guides and sharing them with others, I'm a real homeschool mom, I'm neurodiverse, I've got my share of personal challenges, and my kids too have their struggles. It's hard, a lot, and I need to scale back.

But I wanted to share today, my deep gratitude for this homeschool community we have found ourselves in. My child had a very difficult day yesterday. We've been having a very hard time, a lot lately, and have been struggling to find the support we need. Waitlists for this kind of stuff are much too long and confusing to navigate. So after my child was visibly struggling in a homeschool group yesterday, I came home feeling so defeated and scared. I worry about how this kind of thing could effect relationships with other kids. I worry about how well I managed myself (while trying to help my child) in front of others and feared their judgement.

Yet over the last day, several parents from the group reached out to see how I was doing, several kids also had mentioned what happened to their parents, and expressed that they understood and empathized with what was going on. I have such deep gratitude that I'm able to homeschool. I don't always have faith that it will get better, but this bad experience actually left us feeling very cared for and supported, which means a lot. ❤️❤️

Use time in nature to practice mindfulness. Engaging the senses in this way is so helpful for emotional regulation. It also teaches observation skills that are key to many fields of study, including science and art. Describing these observations out loud or in a journal helps with literacy skills too. Head over to our store to get your FREE Nature Journal for your next adventure. Link in bio or go to northstareducationalexplorations.com

Nature can be a powerful tool for learning. But studying nature shouldn't be complicated. The goal is to help children notice the world around them and follow their natural curiosity. So, how do you get started with nature study in the charlotte mason-inspired secular homeschool? Read our blog for the top 5 beginner’s tips for nature study! FREE Nature Journal to help you get started!

Link in bio or go to Northstareducationalexplorations.com

What is nature study anyway? 🍂 For beginners, the concept of nature study for kids can seem confusing and intimidating, especially if your family isn't very outdoorsy. However, at its core, nature study is simply open-ended exploration and observation of nature. Head over to our blog to find out the top 5 tips for nature studies! Don't miss out on our FREE Nature Journal!

Link in bio or go to northstareducationalexplorations.com.

Guess what! I'll be at the Alder Commons Festival this Saturday making slime with kiddos. Come to this awesome free festival. Got questions about child-led learning? I'd love to chat! Want to flip through some of our science guides and see if they would work for your kiddos? I'll have a few copies to look through and purchase! Can't wait to see you ❤️

https://aldercommons.org/festival-2022/

Without a homeschool plan or a schedule, it’s easy to feel a bit lost and disorganized. Too much structure feels constraining and burdensome, with no room for exploration. My goal is to help homeschool families feel organized and successful while giving kids the freedom and flexibility to develop deep passions that will drive them to pursue their own learning path. Head over to the blog to learn more on how to create a flexible homeschool plan. BONUS: Free book tracking printable PLUS the surprising homeschool planning app we recommend! Link in bio or go to northstareducationalexplorations.com

In case you missed it...go to our blog to learn more! Don't miss our Not Back to School Sale! Use code: EXPLORERS to receive 25% off your entire order! Sale ends 8/31.

Link in bio or go to Northstareducationalexplorations.com