Winter has, unsurprisingly, been a running theme through our homeschool this last week. As well as tracking the weather and temperature on our weather chart, we have been indulging in some winter crafts. We’ve made paper snowflakes for our window, made icicle bird feeders to hang outside our windows (as the ice melts the seeds fall to earth, we actually had some very tall sunflowers grown from dropped seeds last year), brought snow inside for sculpting and sung songs about this chilly season.
I love that homeschooling allows us to be influenced by what is around us, we aren’t tied to a specific curriculum so we have the freedom to enjoy the best of what the seasons have to offer. If a day dawns sunny and bright, we can take off for a nature walk. When we get home we fill in our nature journal to record some of the details of our walk. I have set up a pro forma on my computer and I fill it in as Huwyl dictates to me. It encourages him to recall details from our day as well as letting him know that I take his words seriously; enough to write them down and put them in a special file. It is also a record for us for years ahead, a slice of this moment, a record of the way he thinks now. I know that will change and so many little details will be lost, I hope we can capture a few of his thoughts for posterity.
Just as the ice holds the seeds for a while, so I try to hold the sound of his voice, the cadence of his words. The special thoughts that could come only from his mouth. Then, like the seeds do, this time will fall away and a new life will be born out of them. Though our days are not always plain sailing I am grateful for the chance to be present to see the blossoming and growth of those little seeds. I am curious to see what they grow into and hopeful that my willing ears will always be a welcome audience.
Emmalina and Her Unfeasibly Large Bonnet 
That is so beautiful. I think that winter is such an incredible time for nature learning, for both children and adults. There is something in it’s bareness, in it’s serenity that so perfectly mimicks our own feelings at this time of year.
As usual, Heather, your words couldn’t be more perfect. I agree that this stark winter time allows little space for hiding from ourselves or our circumstances. Ironically we are often out in nature much more than we are in summer and I find it to be often very liberating. Perhaps it is the simplicity of it all that I love so much, a clear landscape with little ‘clutter’. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Hi 🙂 I’m popping over from earth mama’s blog and wanted to say hello from BC. We homeschool as well and i love the freedom that it gives us to delve into any topic or activity that is most interesting or exciting at the moment 🙂 Love your photos of winter and I must see if I can find a copy of the bread book you mentioned below. I’m addicted to making bread *grin*.
Hi there BC! Thanks so much for your nice words, always lovely to hear something nice! I too am rapidly becoming a bread addict, now I hate to buy store bought. My next step is to start making my own sour dough, I’ll let you know how that goes : )