My Little Poppies’ Picks
{weekend wrap-up}
This week, I’m trying something new over here. I wanted to highlight some of the wonderful that happens each week. Every week, I read so many wonderful posts and articles and ideas. I try to share some of them on Facebook, but the reality is Facebook doesn’t reach everyone these days. So, without further ado, I present to you My Little Poppies’ Picks from this past week.
Links from around the web:
Kid who got in to every Ivy League school is going to the University of Alabama — and it’s a brilliant decision ~Peter Jacobs, Business Insider
This thought-provoking article spurred some great conversation on our Facebook page, as folks wondered how much those fancy big-name degrees actually matter.
Grade levels could be a thing of the past in schools focused on competency ~ Anika Ananad and Anne Schimke, PBS News Hour
Loved all of the conversations around the web inspired by this piece. It’s interesting to think of this in terms of homeschooling, as homeschoolers have the luxury of ignoring grade levels entirely.
Making Space for Stillness ~ Laura Grace Weldon
I love everything that Laura Grace Weldon writes, and Free Range Learning is one of my top favorite pages on Facebook. This is a fantastic post, folks! Here is a wonderful quote from the post:
Parents naturally recognize that a long bath settles a restless toddler, that snuggle time is a necessary oasis in a child’s day. We notice when children have solitary moments they tend to daydream, a natural form of meditation. We see even the most active kids settle into stillness, quietly swaying on a backyard swing or humming while looking out the window, entirely at peace until a new idea grabs them or (more frequently) someone interrupts them to do something.
When You Aren’t Smart Enough For Your Six Year Old ~ Through A Stronger Lens
Do you guys follow Through a Stronger Lens? If not, you should. Nikki is a GHF friend of mine and I often feel that she leads the same life as I do, except a west-coast version!
Four Words to Help Calm an Anxious Child ~ An Everyday Story
A great post from another site I love. Do you have an anxious child at home? Here are some tips from Kate, a mom who is in the trenches with the rest of us.
Dear Mom of an Adoptive Child ~ Kathy Lynn Harris, Huffington Post
Beautiful! Get the tissues ready, folks! I loved this especially,
I’ve seen you cringe just a little when someone says your child is lucky to have you. Because you know with all your being that it is the other way around.
Do We Have the Right to Educate Children? ~ Happiness is Here
I love Happiness is Here- the stories, the writing, the images. This post inspired some great conversation over on our site. What do you think, folks?
Man With Autism Becomes First Student at Cal Western to Pass Bar Exam ~ Megan Tevrizian, NBC San Diego
I don’t know about you guys but I love when I find a news story that is positive. Here is a fantastic one for you, folks- it’s guaranteed to make you smile!
New from My Little Poppies:
Games that Encourage Imagination and Creativity
By now, everyone who follows this site knows that we are game-obsessed. Here are a few of our favorite games that encourage creativity and imagination. I’d love to hear your favorites so pop on over and leave a comment with your favorites!
DIY Traveling Journal Homeschool Project
Are you looking for a fun and super-easy way to work in some geography and social studies this summer? Look no further- this project was the easiest and one of the most interesting that we’ve done all year and all you need is a composition notebook!
The Space Between: The Luxury of Discovering Your Own Happiness
This post is part of the Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page June 2015 Blog Hop: The Gift of Free Time. In it, I discuss how free time –the space between all the other things- shaped who I am today and encourage other parents to think about the space between and their own children.
I’m still giggling about this, you guys. I have stacks and stacks of Usborne books around my home and an Usborne wishlist a mile long. WHY did it take me so long to realize that perhaps I should become a consultant? It’s a no-brainer but this year was such a whirlwind that it only just occurred to me now.
FREE For the Summer {7 Award-Winning Products That Kids LOVE From Homeschool Buyers Co-Op}
Who doesn’t love free resources? Homeschool Buyers Co-Op is providing access to seven award-winning and big-name resources this summer- no strings attached!
The Books that Fill Our Shelves
Want to see what the poppies have been reading this week? Check out The Books that Fill Our Shelves weekend wrap-up!
My Little Poppies elsewhere:
Asynchronous Development: Many Ages at Once ~ Secular Homeschool
This week, I had the pleasure of being a featured poster over on Secular Homeschool’s From Soup to Nuts: Discussions that Matter forum. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the concept of giftedness as asynchronous development. Many thanks to all who participated- you made my week!
Little Kids with BIG Worries ~ Simple Homeschool
Since embarking on this homeschool journey, I wake up every morning and check out Simple Homeschool. I have learned so much from the site and so I was honored and over-the-moon excited to appear as a guest post this week. My post, Little Kids with BIG Worries, discusses our struggle with the worry monster and strategies that have helped over the years.
10 Amazing STEM Books ~ Year Round Homeschooling
10 Amazing STEM BooksDid you know that I am a contributor for Year Round Homeschooling? I write about literature and special needs, two of my passions. This month, I shared our family’s favorite STEM books. I’d love to hear your favorites! Want STEM toys to go with those books? Check out our favorite STEM resources here!
A Mindful Month of Books ~ MLP {Virtual} Family Book Club
The MLP {Virtual} Family Book Club is preparing for summer by focusing on mindfulness. If you’d like to join in the fun, click here.
Granite State Gifted
Creating a group for gifted and twice-exceptional parents and their children has been a goal of mine for almost a year now. This week, this dream came to fruition. We had our first meet-up and it was amazing to watch our children play and converse together. If you know of gifted and 2E children in NH or MA, please send them my way! And, if you’re having trouble finding your community, don’t forget that you can take matters into your own hands!
Recommended by My Little Poppies this week:
This classic game from childhood is over 25% off at Amazon this week, folks! I love playing my favorite childhood games with my kiddos!
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Weather Wendy Ambient Weather Dual-Zone Wireless Weather Station for Kids
Weather Wendy is, at this point, an official member of our family. She’s been hanging out in my kids’ bathroom for a few years now. My children love to check in with Wendy each morning. They have learned so much: numbers, temperature, date, time, seasons, and they have learned to dress [somewhat] appropriately for the weather! When I saw she was over 40% off this week, I had to share!
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Step 2 Naturally Playful Sand and Water Center
We have had this sand and water table for over six years and it’s still one of my children’s favorite summer activities. It is 34% off on Amazon. I love using it as a sensory bin when the weather isn’t warm enough for water. So many uses!
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Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Harry Potter series was on sale this week over on Amazon. Leo has rediscovered the books and so we’ve had a Harry-obsessed couple of weeks over here!
Thanks for including me in your fantastic list! I missed a few of these links last week, and now I have them all in one spot! 😀
Have your kids played Zeus on the Loose? It’s the latest favorite in our house.