homeschooling

how does a child REALLY learn to write?

January 20, 2012
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Mr. T is just beginning to type his writing on his own. Warning: some of what follows may sound like heresy to traditional educators. Recently a reader of this blog sent an email asking for advice. She’s a homeschooling mom, and she wrote after spending time with other homeschooling friends, and hearing how they teach [...]

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“don’t put this on your blog!”

December 8, 2011
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Dearest H, I know, I know, you told me not to put this on my blog. I understand that you’re nineteen and a college student and all, and being written about on your mom’s little blog could be pretty embarrassing. But really, buddy, who’s gonna know? I don’t use your real name, so anyone googling [...]

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living history

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This year Mr. T and I are delving into California history. With a few other families, we’re visiting a different historical site each month. We’ve already had a few wonderful experiences, which I’ve neglected to share here.  One of these days I’ll catch up. Meanwhile, this week we went on an overnight living history trip [...]

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it’s just something you do

November 22, 2011
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I went away for a writing retreat with friends this weekend. For years we’ve gathered at the coast, but this time we found ourselves on the backroads of Northern California. Instead of looking out over beaches, we had buttes. And a most changing landscape–for a landscape that at first seemed unchanging. We were astonished by [...]

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DIY home page, DIY learning

November 14, 2011
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So I have a new home page. Maybe you’ve seen it? You can check it out here, or by clicking about me in the menu above my header. The home page is at patriciazaballos.com, where the blog used to live. The blog now gets moved next door to patriciazaballos.com/blog. I’ve been assured that the change [...]

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three days of reading and writing: an incomprehensive list

October 28, 2011
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Oh, what  a crazy time it is. Mr. T turns ten today, and Lulu turns sixteen on Halloween. Multiple cakes and celebrations are involved. Also, I’m trying to fabricate a Thor costume primarily from duct tape. But that’s the sticky stuff of another post. I haven’t managed a post here in a few weeks. But [...]

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love reading today! love writing today!

October 14, 2011
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What would a teacher say about that writing posture? That pencil grip? The other day I read these words in a comment from Amy: “…So many of your suggestions for working with little (pre) writers and readers have wisely echoed in my brain right as I am about to pull the panic trigger and rap [...]

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