unschooling

elevens

By marybethrew, on December 14th, 2012%

sometimes academics happen at bedtime. the other night, quinn was trying to figure out what time it was and we ended up having a whole math lesson on counting by fives (he took over at 55 and went to 100 after i got him started) at which point we learned it had been 7:35 (but . . . → Read More: elevens

magic and wonder

By marybethrew, on December 5th, 2012%

you get to me like old time religion did

in my heart when i was a kid

you’re sweet gospel music to my ears

know how to ease all my fears

from my heart to yours all i can say is

hey baby . . . → Read More: magic and wonder

ornithology of gratitude

By marybethrew, on November 27th, 2012%

friday found me sandwiched squarely in the center of a kitchen full of women, two of whom are older than me (the three of us singing along in four part harmony to arlo, doing our part to end war) and two of whom are younger than me (an attentive young mother who parents by instinct . . . → Read More: ornithology of gratitude

in your mind

By marybethrew, on November 5th, 2012%

i want to be like quinn when i grow up. i want to be able to be anything at all, in my own mind, in any given moment, just like him.

ordinary games of chess become wizard’s chess, and we are harry and ron, playing each other.

an ordinary train becomes the . . . → Read More: in your mind

~a month of unschool~

By marybethrew, on October 1st, 2012%

it has taken me a while to write this post, and for that reason, a month of unschool is several months behind. i’m ready to update now… getting past this particular month of going to school and then coming back home took me a while to process, but i still feel that documenting the learning . . . → Read More: ~a month of unschool~

in which i eat my words about labels

By marybethrew, on September 27th, 2012%

on wednesday afternoon i picked quinn up from his dad’s. shortly thereafter, i texted my best friend that i had just realized i was now breathing again. until then i guess i had been holding my breath and when i had him back in my arms it was okay for life to resume. tuesday had . . . → Read More: in which i eat my words about labels

diversity

By marybethrew, on September 11th, 2012%

ms. jessa told me with a smile and a chuckle after school on quinn’s third day that he had been particularly attached to her that afternoon. specifically, attached to her arm, touching her skin. later when i asked him about it he told me it was because, “her skin is just like chocolate, mama. and . . . → Read More: diversity

in his lunchbox

By marybethrew, on September 5th, 2012%

i asked quinn about his preferences for what kinds of foods he’d like to pack in his lunchbox for school, and we ended up having a splendid conversation. first, i told him my reason for making a list, which was both to refresh my memory on days when i couldn’t remember what to pack, and . . . → Read More: in his lunchbox

first day of our living school

By marybethrew, on September 4th, 2012%

when i went in to wake him up, he was already sitting up in bed, and with a big smile asked me, “is today my first day of school?”

see those twinkling eyes when i answered yes?

. . . → Read More: first day of our living school

educational priorities ~ a mamafesto

By marybethrew, on August 6th, 2012%

custody mediation is a roller coaster ride. focusing on one of the peaks of the experience, i had the opportunity to spend time writing up my priorities for quinn’s education, and i find that i continue to think about it and tweak it even though the decision has been made and quinn is, for reals, . . . → Read More: educational priorities ~ a mamafesto

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