The holiday weeks have come to a close and although, in our house, we wouldn’t mind having one more week to putter, read, knit, sew, cook, and sleep in, we were in good spirits this first Monday of 2015. We think we are finally getting the hang of this! We’ve learned that we can choose what kind of show we want “the holidays” to be. Our goal this holiday season was to find a happy balance of activity and rest during the two weeks, versus juggling so many activities that we would end up feeling exhausted by January 1. Thus, for each active or social day, we balanced it out…
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Are You Doing Too Much Homework?
“Race to Nowhere” is a powerful documentary that has brought to light the negative and frightening consequences of high-pressure schools, where numerous hours of homework, stringent (and not necessarily illuminating) AP courses, and high GPAs are the ultimate goal. The film continues to be screened around the country stirring up conversation and awareness among students, parents, teachers, and some administrators who are beginning to realize the high cost of too much pressure on both physical and mental health. The film is emboldening individuals and communities to advocate for change. An announcement I received for upcoming screenings includes the story of Elle DelGrosso. Elle was a junior in high school…
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Pamela’s Interview at Lifebyme.com
uncertainty innovative home schooler. lifelong learner. possibility seeker. Pamela Beere Briggs is a filmmaker, writer, and the mother of a happy teen. Her passions include good food, engaging books, and re-thinking the wisdom of middle school. When we’re learning, we’re so much more open. There’s a freedom, a feeling of being able to change, of knowing we can make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. My central goal is to always be in that process of learning. My husband teaches at the University of California in Los Angeles and his dean’s favorite piece of wisdom is “The gift is in the problem.” When I’m learning and having fun, I’m aware…
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A Parent Asks About High School After Home School
A mom recently sent me an email to say that she is thinking about home schooling her son for a year or two to allow for opportunities that aren’t possible because of the cultural pressure to “keep moving fast and forward without much time to reflect and be centered.” She also asked some excellent questions: How is Natalie adjusting to high school? Has she gotten a lot of questions from kids or been viewed negatively? While she was homeschooled, how did you make sure her social skills didn’t get neglected? Did she have opportunities to work and play with kids her age? Here is my answer to her email and…
