Here's to leaps of faith!

My first post. YIKES!
I have been so timid about starting a blog to merely share what we do on an educational learning level here in our home. But here I am, taking the leap!

Backstory on myself. I LOVE teaching. It is and has always been my favorite thing to do. I can remember being in Kindergarten myself and knowing I wanted to be a teacher just like mine. She was amazing, kind, thoughtful and FUN! Do you ever wish you could go back and tell your teachers just how amazing they were and what influence they had on your life? Yes, me too.

I went on to grow up babysitting and creating activities for the kids I cared for and from there went to school to get my degree in Early Childhood Education with a Masters in Reading Education. I taught for a few years in the public school system. I then decided  I wanted to stay home with my two babies playing with them and just having fun. I didn't know then that I would homeschool until my oldest became Kindergarten age and I knew I wanted to have a strong role in their educational foundation. I knew I wanted them to have a longer childhood of play and time for their self directed interests.

So, here I am. Mother to a 6 year old (first grader) and a 4 year old (preK), teaching them through play based hands on activities that cater to their interests and educational needs.

I like to incorporate several learning styles into our day as each as a part that really strikes me as essential to being sure my girls are getting the most out of their childhood.  I utilize Montessori, Reggio, Charlotte Mason, Nature and Whole Body Learning woven in and out of each bit of our days. I am NOT officially trained in any of these areas. In fact, I feel my actual educational background is quite the opposite of these paths but I feel my role as their teacher is to include them as it best suits their sensitive periods.

As I have been through this journey, I have found several friends that have benefited from my hands on lessons and wanted to also share with more as I know this homeschool journey can be so tricky to navigate without having to add coming up with fun lessons for your kids to the plate. My hopes through this blog is you find even a small nibble of something you can incorporate into your own homes or even classrooms if is allowed and somewhere children will reap the benefits of play based hands on activities and their minds will be opened and treasure the moments that occurred from the lesson from teacher to student.

Thank you for all the support. Much prayers have gone into these first steps and because of you all I have gained courage to share.