Exploring the AT at Rock Gap. We have had an extraordinary past two weeks playing around Georgia and the Carolinas. The first part of our trip was spent at Standing Indian Campground in Nantahala National Forest, at the headwaters of the Nantahala River, a river that is very popular for whitewater rafting. (Something to do … Continue reading Our adventures in Nantahala National Forest, part one: Standing Indian Campground
Tag: Homeschooling
A review of Tara Westover’s Educated (by a homeschooler)
On Saturday mornings, we drive our daughter down to Naples for fencing lessons. Although Naples is not far away geographically, it takes roughly 45 minutes each way to get there with stop-and-go brunch and farmer's market traffic. Then her fencing lessons usually run about two hours long. This ritual requires that I tow along a … Continue reading A review of Tara Westover’s Educated (by a homeschooler)
Good works
As it is not one swallow or a fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics One of the strange things about being a Roman Catholic is all of your non-Catholic friends and acquaintances will eventually start peppering … Continue reading Good works
The start of a new homeschooling year
Our daughter, Elise, will be 10 years old at the end of January, but last week began what we are calling 6th grade. I say "we are calling" it 6th grade because, in reality, she's already doing high school- and college-level work in most subjects. But the first question adults ask your child when they … Continue reading The start of a new homeschooling year
How “Christian” homeschooling publishers like Memoria Press are selling out during the school choice boom
Long-time followers know that I am not much of a fan of social media. However, sometimes you learn some interesting things from participating in Facebook homeschooling groups. Today, I responded to a woman who was ranting on Facebook about Memoria Press's history curriculum. Specifically, she wanted to know why Memoria Press "deified" the Founding Fathers … Continue reading How “Christian” homeschooling publishers like Memoria Press are selling out during the school choice boom
A politics and law homeschool curriculum for middle school-aged kids
As promised... Here is a curriculum for introducing middle school-aged kids to topics in law and politics. (I'm planning to work through this material with our daughter next year.) It starts off with a general overview of political systems and how they have evolved from ancient times. It then gets into a discussion of how … Continue reading A politics and law homeschool curriculum for middle school-aged kids
An economics and finance homeschool curriculum for middle school-aged kids
Photo by Ibrahim Boran As I have mentioned here before, I have worked in economics and finance for decades. I started off managing portfolios for high net worth investors, worked as a government economist, then managed a multibillion-dollar portfolio of government debt as the head of a government agency. My husband and I now own … Continue reading An economics and finance homeschool curriculum for middle school-aged kids
Education and school choice links, 8/5
Here in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order banning school districts from forcing children to wear masks. His EO referenced the state's Parents' Bill of Rights, which would allow the government to strip funding from schools that did not comply. Several districts announced yesterday that they would not comply. In response, the Florida … Continue reading Education and school choice links, 8/5
The art of reading homeschooling curriculum reviews
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio Parents who are new to homeschooling face a conundrum almost from the beginning: There are myriad curriculum options out there - many of which represent a significant financial investment - and almost none of the publishers allow you more than a brief product sample online. If you have a limited budget … Continue reading The art of reading homeschooling curriculum reviews
A major win for school choice in California
Photo by Luis Quintero Late Friday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (yes, the infamous 9th Circuit) ruled that California Governor Gavin Newsom violated parents' rights by forcing private schools to remain closed during the pandemic. The governor has the ability to ban in-person learning in public schools, but has no such authority with respect … Continue reading A major win for school choice in California